Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, if you follow the Viscardi Center and maybe my
Instagram named Alex Jeneen, I see one. Some news has
officially been announced today. This podcast has found a group
in Ideas Park that is intrigued in watching one leg
(00:21):
up Alex grow and yesterday Steve Ferrella, who was one
of the judges of Ideas Park Pitch Best twenty five
we got into the Idea Spark in a bit, said this,
First of.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
All, all of the ideas were really good, some more
innovative than the others. But it's I've built a number
of businesses. It's really something to take what you have
in your head, put it on a piece of paper
and work on it. And that's what everybody here did.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I really, I really was very dark.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I just want to say that about everybody. What we
looked for were ideas that were maybe more easily implemented
than other ideas, so so because they were all terrific,
But what can you get done right? I mean we
can imagine you were two ideas getting done tomorrow. We
want to make sure they're getting done tomorrow. There'll be
a follow up. So uh, and ideas that we understood,
(01:19):
I mean, you only had a couple of minutes, so
you needed to communicate it, like what's your elevator speech, right,
So so we thought you did a great presentation. We
thought you had an idea that we can easily easily
get done. So so we're gonna say the number one
because there needs to be.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
A number one.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But they were all really really good.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Is Alex just what I'm talking about? That's what we
liked the idea. We like your enemy, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And we think that that that it's a great thing
that you could do tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
You better do it tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And I was going around the room after I was
very fortunate and blessed, I guess, and and and really
honored to have won Idea Spark Pitch Best twenty twenty
five during the ranks of Kimberly Minto and of course
Eric Ryan who's had on Sitting Beauty as well as
Tripper represented in those two right there and now one
(02:36):
leg up Alex uh. But I wanted to truly stick
to the fact that it has to start tomorrow, which
is today now, And that's why I didn't want to
do any other podcasts except for featuring this Idea Spark
and why it's so important to the disabled community. Why more,
disabled entrepreneurs should not be afraid to share their business brand,
(03:01):
share their model, share their idea and dream and as
Steve Fella said, their vision. Bring it out of the world.
Don't let it stay contained in our brains. Let it
be shown and out there and pitch your vision. That's
what doctor Viscardi created the center for in.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Nineteen fifty two. And so to stay.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
True to my promise of starting tomorrow, which is today. Now,
I want to introduce doctor Christoph Winkler, the founder of
the Heinz Institute, and why he and the Viscardi Centers
doctor Chris Rosa partnered up to create eight Ideas Park.
We're up here at Iona University. If my heart is racing,
(03:46):
it's just because something very special happened at Ideas Park
twenty twenty five. And the man who founded the Hinstitude
and the basically helped create Idea Spark, doctor Christoph Winkler,
is here with me. Doctor Winkler, thank you so much
for opening this space for disabled entrepreneurs.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, thank you, Alex and first of all, congratulations on
the big win today. Your pitch was really a testament
to the entrepreneurial spirit and also what it means to
you know, lift out that spirit through action, but also
action to empowerment. And I think we've seen this not
only with your pitch, but all the participants today and
(04:23):
it was really wonderful to come together and celebrate all
of these wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Now I have this podcast about the backstories.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
How did all this come about? For Ideas Park?
Speaker 4 (04:30):
So Ideas Park, you know, it was really you know,
came through a conversation with doctor Chris Rosa was the
CEO of the Viscardi Center, who is a very good
friend of mine.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
And while I was building Hines.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
And stood here and he assumed his role as Viscardi,
we kind of came to get into like we can
can we partner, can we create something?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
How can we support entrepreneurs with disabilities? And yeah, that
was the genesis a conversation. And next thing is.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
We brought our teams together and it was just a
match made in heaven because our missions aligned, Yes, and
our desire to create positive impact in our communities is paramount.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I don't think it's far aft to say this kind
of program is what doctor Vuscardi's idea was in nineteen fifty.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Two, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
I mean he was really somebody, a trailblazer who really
envisioned access to economic opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
And the Viscardi.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Center is really I think living out admission in ways
that you know are manifested throughout the community. And I
think being able to partner with Viscariti from an Iona
perspectives really shortage.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Now.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I know doctor Roh is very connected with a lot
of colleges and universities. Do you find that it's become
a pipeline to I owner kids from Viscardi that graduate
come up here.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Well, I do not know the data, but for us,
I think as a as a primary objective, it's really
can we create synergies and opportunities. Ultimately it's the students
at the center here, so bringing entrepreneurs together by combining
our efforts to meet these are students individuals that you know,
are you know, coming through our doors and then exiting
(06:04):
out into the community, but also not becoming part of
a larger community that I think really blends Iona rescarding
so manywhere.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Now, I told you and Marazel my first job was
going to be promoting idea Spark even more than I
was when I was during the training, So how do
we grow this from you know, now it's three years?
How do we make it ten years online, twenty years,
thirty years?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
So we already got commitments to run this for another year.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
So the goal is really to reach out more into
the community to get the financial support that we need
in order to you know, help support our entrepreneurs because
it's not just the competition. It is really an education
experience building capacity through the programs we have here. So
again the growth piece is essential, but in order to
(06:47):
grow you need partners. But I think with a compelling
story to tell. The proof is in our students and
our graduates, in our successes like us today. And we've
also seen by the judges, our previous winners who came
back that this is really, you know, not just the
one kind of off thing. This is really part of
something that is much bigger than the core program.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Now and I only a university student that knows about
this or here's about this? How can they join the
Entrepreneurship innistrate herehind and then become a mentor for someone
like this.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
So something like the hinds in students really for all,
I own a students so we really run program across
the various schools and our students participate through different avenues.
The students who actually hear experimenters really grew out of
a desire not only to take advantage of the resources
to start their own businesses, but they've also learned to
appreciate the process and also now giving back to helping
(07:35):
other students when it's through this competition or other competition.
So it's really, you know, we are really trying to
provide a platform for students to create experiential opportunities, and
when it's starting a business or helping support an entrepreneur,
we dodn'testually want to make that distinction because ultimately it's
about how can you create opportunities for yourself but in
the process also impacting positively on you know, various communities.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Have the idea's been getting more innovated and it's just
gone on the last three years or what.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Uh, that's hard to say, but I do have to
say this year was was really really tough. Lots of
amazing ideas, ideas that are already being implemented, being.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Pushed out into community.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
So I think from that perspective, I think we've seen
a gradual sort of growth alsore, like how we can
become you know, inclusive in a way where we bring
in different kinds of perspectives in terms of what it
actually means to be an entrepreneur.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Uh. And from that perspective today it was just a
wonderful celebration.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Obviously, I follow sports on you know, I follow the
Gaels Go gels right, yes, yes, And maybe we can
use some of this to develop an adaptive sports program
up here that would be awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
I think we see more and more that you know,
sports is a is a is a convenient in many
many different ways when it's you know, through our d
one program here, but also as we see you know,
making also sports more accessible, and I think we see
more and more that you know, there's potential for opportunity
and you know, whether it's through you know, tennis, so
(09:03):
basketball all or others like this, there's a lot of
luck opportunities here and that I would love to further
explore it as well.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Now, when you take a financial you know, investment in
as what's your next expectation as the founder of.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
All this, Well, the expectation for us is that ultimately
it's about how we can create positive impact.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Right for us, I think an important metric is how can.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
We do that while educating our students, sure, and our
students anybody who walks through those stores, And I think
that's really what what it means to be in the
highjucaged environment. But also I think breaking down some of
the traditional silos. So ultimately, when you come in here,
and I would love to hear from you how you
felt that way, But.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
We don't really make a clear distinction. He is a
faculty member and he's administrated.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Here's a student, and here's a he's a you know,
an entrepreneurship student.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
He's like, we all come together.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Because of it's a family almost, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
And everybody can help. So everybody is a story to tell.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Everybody has skills, and if we can understand that and
leverage that, it doesn't matter what Tiler all is really
about how we can support each other to in order
to achieve the outcomes that they've redesigned.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Now for those who you know, do not rank in
the top three, there still have a place here in
the sense that you guys keep an eye on them
and keep in touch.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Absolutely, the goal is really to build is up now.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We also three years in so I envision as the
next step we also you know, create ongoing Facebook groups
and really build that commut almost an alumni.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
An alumni network.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
That's one thing, and what we also do is part
of I think we also want to understand the experience
that our students have.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
So we're going through kind of a program assessment. That's
part of this.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
All these students have to submit kind of an entrepreneur
mindset profile, and part of this assessment, I will be
having one on one conversations with all the students to
also understand what are their unique needs as they translate
the ideas into the next step. And some of this
also means referring to them to other resources like our
small business development centers and other kinds of entrepreneurship resources
(10:57):
that are available, you know, throughout throughout.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
One thing of the US.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
One thing I will say is I feel like today
proved what I've been saying for a while is we're
not defined by our disability. We have it, but then
the finance and look how many people are willing to
utilize that disability for better and to move it forward.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Absolutely, I think it's I think language is often used
to marginalize and I think we really try to work
against that and really you know, bring people together in
order to make them realize what their dreams are. And
sometimes if society puts constraints on you, it is our
responsibility to be become activist educators to really challenge those
(11:36):
boundaries and really allow our communities to grow u And
you know, I think that's really also at the core
of our mission, because ultimately, I think entrepreneurship is help
building agency, and agency starts from within. Sure, once you
determine that you have the power to create something and
you have a support community.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Around you, I think you know you can just you can,
just you can.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Well you and I should team up and make Mariano Rivera,
who's a big staple in New Roshelle, aware of this program.
That would because I know him personally, So.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
We should, we should reach out, we should, we should
have him. He spoke a couple of years back on campus.
I believe you in uh, I believe there's a there's
a close connection. Yeah, family of Rivera family and Iona.
So we could certainly bring him back and maybe he
would even would like to, you know, share some of
his success with with our students.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Absolutely well, Doctor Windclair, thank you so much for this
time today. Idea Spark twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Thank you Alex in congratulations again.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Thank you very much. So while one Leg Up Alex
wins IDEA Spark, it couldn't have been done with that,
of course the mentor Jared and Marisoa Chappelle and uh
even the encouragement from Eric back in March, and of
course the encouragement from Lauren Marzo and Kim Brussel who
(12:52):
apply to this program to yeah, let's launch one leg
Up Alex. And of course I wouldn't have done any
of this if I didn't recognize the investment that my
mom and dad put into Viscardi twenty nine years ago
when they started me in kindergarten. It wasn't just the
start of a schooling, It was started a building of
(13:13):
a life at Viscarti. And so to be supporting them
once by them, once again feels like a continuation of
the investment my mom and my dad made as long
as my stepdad, who were there day after day at times,
year after year. All three of them were at graduation
in two thousand and nine, and of course the time
(13:34):
an energy spent outside of Viscarti as well is not
lost on me in this whole process. I mean, I
remember in twenty twenty I sat down when my mom
and my stepdad and my dad Vic said well, look,
you got to make something more than just sports and politics.
And here we are talking about adaptability now for five
years or so and really tapping the sable community to
(13:57):
bridge the gap between those brands that served the community
and the disabled community itself that may not have access
to it. So we're gonna work on that and with
this funding, with this grant, I'm very thankful. I also
couldn't have done this without my fiance Gabby. I mean,
she's been there every step of the way. She helped
me in the rush of this, making the PowerPoint ten slide,
(14:23):
pitch teck and a four minute video or so got
through all of that last week. And one other thing
is if you are a full time employee, do not
be afraid to share, to bolster your own passions, to
not be afraid to bolster your own projects. I'm very
(14:43):
proud at the end of the day to have not
only been.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Able to.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Do full time employee work, and I'm gonna keep going
right after I do this podcast at Salem Media, but
also to figure out away to launch this brand even more.
It takes a lot to do all of this and
to be recognized for that means a lot. And for
(15:11):
the other participants that did this and took the time
and took the energy and have the idea to help
the disabled community, I want to talk to you as well,
the Abbey's, the Waldns, the Kathy's, the Jaquin says of
the group that we had an idea Spark. Your ideas
are fantastic. Let's talk more about it here on one
leg u there's a connection here that has been formed
(15:35):
through Idea Spark and through the Viscardi Center and High Institute,
and I look to grow that connection with everyone I
had class with, and of course g C. Duran who
won the second place, and Edith third place. I mean,
those are top three products right there. What they're doing
(15:58):
to help better the disabl mut unity, it should be
highlighted here and we're going to and we're going to
I want to think again, Lauren kim Alan from Viscardi
for taking pictures of this Brenna Judge, our professor Holly
Blundine all the way from Spain. She's been coaching us
(16:20):
the last few months. Yes, this has not been just
one day. This has been a project undergone since January.
And now there's a bit of nerves, but I think
we'll be fined.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
But when he said.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Start tomorrow, this is tomorrow, This is now and right now,
And of course my sister Abbey, I have to give
her a shout out to you. I love you Abbey
as well. And right now, right now, it starts by
featuring this amazing program to help disabled entrepreneurs. This is
(16:55):
continuing the legacy of doctor Vescardi. Whether I want or not,
I'd always believe ideas park is can continuing the legacy
of doctor Viscardi, who gave jobs to veterans returning for
more that were disabled that at amputations, he gave them
a place to start up again after returning from the war.
(17:15):
And in that same spirit of not letting disabilities stop you.
I believe in idea Spark embodies that as well. After
I went back to Viscari, by the way, I caught
up with my coach Joe Joe Salonica, who is also
very much part of the strategy of how we move
forward from here. For one leg of Alex So I
want to shout out Coach Joe as well. So this
(17:37):
is only part one. We'll be talking to a few
people part of this program as an Idea Spark conversation
and maybe our judges as well, Steven Ferrella, Kimberly and
Eric who were just great and they listened to everybody
and they had great questions for everybody. And I really
(18:00):
do you hope those that were in the program do
not stop working on their vision, on their brand, because
the whole idea is for all of us, all of
us to be productive in society and maybe, just maybe
we all can realize idea sparked and promote that idea
Spark is helping us all help others have one leg
(18:24):
up on life.
Well, if you follow the Viscardi Center and maybe my
Instagram named Alex Jeneen, I see one. Some news has
officially been announced today. This podcast has found a group
in Ideas Park that is intrigued in watching one leg
(00:21):
up Alex grow and yesterday Steve Ferrella, who was one
of the judges of Ideas Park Pitch Best twenty five
we got into the Idea Spark in a bit, said this,
First of.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
All, all of the ideas were really good, some more
innovative than the others. But it's I've built a number
of businesses. It's really something to take what you have
in your head, put it on a piece of paper
and work on it. And that's what everybody here did.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I really, I really was very dark.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I just want to say that about everybody. What we
looked for were ideas that were maybe more easily implemented
than other ideas, so so because they were all terrific,
But what can you get done right? I mean we
can imagine you were two ideas getting done tomorrow. We
want to make sure they're getting done tomorrow. There'll be
a follow up. So uh, and ideas that we understood,
(01:19):
I mean, you only had a couple of minutes, so
you needed to communicate it, like what's your elevator speech, right,
So so we thought you did a great presentation. We
thought you had an idea that we can easily easily
get done. So so we're gonna say the number one
because there needs to be.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
A number one.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But they were all really really good.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Is Alex just what I'm talking about? That's what we
liked the idea. We like your enemy, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And we think that that that it's a great thing
that you could do tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
You better do it tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And I was going around the room after I was
very fortunate and blessed, I guess, and and and really
honored to have won Idea Spark Pitch Best twenty twenty
five during the ranks of Kimberly Minto and of course
Eric Ryan who's had on Sitting Beauty as well as
Tripper represented in those two right there and now one
(02:36):
leg up Alex uh. But I wanted to truly stick
to the fact that it has to start tomorrow, which
is today now, And that's why I didn't want to
do any other podcasts except for featuring this Idea Spark
and why it's so important to the disabled community. Why more,
disabled entrepreneurs should not be afraid to share their business brand,
(03:01):
share their model, share their idea and dream and as
Steve Fella said, their vision. Bring it out of the world.
Don't let it stay contained in our brains. Let it
be shown and out there and pitch your vision. That's
what doctor Viscardi created the center for in.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Nineteen fifty two. And so to stay.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
True to my promise of starting tomorrow, which is today. Now,
I want to introduce doctor Christoph Winkler, the founder of
the Heinz Institute, and why he and the Viscardi Centers
doctor Chris Rosa partnered up to create eight Ideas Park.
We're up here at Iona University. If my heart is racing,
(03:46):
it's just because something very special happened at Ideas Park
twenty twenty five. And the man who founded the Hinstitude
and the basically helped create Idea Spark, doctor Christoph Winkler,
is here with me. Doctor Winkler, thank you so much
for opening this space for disabled entrepreneurs.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, thank you, Alex and first of all, congratulations on
the big win today. Your pitch was really a testament
to the entrepreneurial spirit and also what it means to
you know, lift out that spirit through action, but also
action to empowerment. And I think we've seen this not
only with your pitch, but all the participants today and
(04:23):
it was really wonderful to come together and celebrate all
of these wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Now I have this podcast about the backstories.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
How did all this come about? For Ideas Park?
Speaker 4 (04:30):
So Ideas Park, you know, it was really you know,
came through a conversation with doctor Chris Rosa was the
CEO of the Viscardi Center, who is a very good
friend of mine.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
And while I was building Hines.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
And stood here and he assumed his role as Viscardi,
we kind of came to get into like we can
can we partner, can we create something?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
How can we support entrepreneurs with disabilities? And yeah, that
was the genesis a conversation. And next thing is.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
We brought our teams together and it was just a
match made in heaven because our missions aligned, Yes, and
our desire to create positive impact in our communities is paramount.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I don't think it's far aft to say this kind
of program is what doctor Vuscardi's idea was in nineteen fifty.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Two, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
I mean he was really somebody, a trailblazer who really
envisioned access to economic opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
And the Viscardi.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Center is really I think living out admission in ways
that you know are manifested throughout the community. And I
think being able to partner with Viscariti from an Iona
perspectives really shortage.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Now.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I know doctor Roh is very connected with a lot
of colleges and universities. Do you find that it's become
a pipeline to I owner kids from Viscardi that graduate
come up here.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Well, I do not know the data, but for us,
I think as a as a primary objective, it's really
can we create synergies and opportunities. Ultimately it's the students
at the center here, so bringing entrepreneurs together by combining
our efforts to meet these are students individuals that you know,
are you know, coming through our doors and then exiting
(06:04):
out into the community, but also not becoming part of
a larger community that I think really blends Iona rescarding
so manywhere.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Now, I told you and Marazel my first job was
going to be promoting idea Spark even more than I
was when I was during the training, So how do
we grow this from you know, now it's three years?
How do we make it ten years online, twenty years,
thirty years?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
So we already got commitments to run this for another year.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
So the goal is really to reach out more into
the community to get the financial support that we need
in order to you know, help support our entrepreneurs because
it's not just the competition. It is really an education
experience building capacity through the programs we have here. So
again the growth piece is essential, but in order to
(06:47):
grow you need partners. But I think with a compelling
story to tell. The proof is in our students and
our graduates, in our successes like us today. And we've
also seen by the judges, our previous winners who came
back that this is really, you know, not just the
one kind of off thing. This is really part of
something that is much bigger than the core program.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Now and I only a university student that knows about
this or here's about this? How can they join the
Entrepreneurship innistrate herehind and then become a mentor for someone
like this.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
So something like the hinds in students really for all,
I own a students so we really run program across
the various schools and our students participate through different avenues.
The students who actually hear experimenters really grew out of
a desire not only to take advantage of the resources
to start their own businesses, but they've also learned to
appreciate the process and also now giving back to helping
(07:35):
other students when it's through this competition or other competition.
So it's really, you know, we are really trying to
provide a platform for students to create experiential opportunities, and
when it's starting a business or helping support an entrepreneur,
we dodn'testually want to make that distinction because ultimately it's
about how can you create opportunities for yourself but in
the process also impacting positively on you know, various communities.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Have the idea's been getting more innovated and it's just
gone on the last three years or what.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Uh, that's hard to say, but I do have to
say this year was was really really tough. Lots of
amazing ideas, ideas that are already being implemented, being.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Pushed out into community.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
So I think from that perspective, I think we've seen
a gradual sort of growth alsore, like how we can
become you know, inclusive in a way where we bring
in different kinds of perspectives in terms of what it
actually means to be an entrepreneur.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Uh. And from that perspective today it was just a
wonderful celebration.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Obviously, I follow sports on you know, I follow the
Gaels Go gels right, yes, yes, And maybe we can
use some of this to develop an adaptive sports program
up here that would be awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
I think we see more and more that you know,
sports is a is a is a convenient in many
many different ways when it's you know, through our d
one program here, but also as we see you know,
making also sports more accessible, and I think we see
more and more that you know, there's potential for opportunity
and you know, whether it's through you know, tennis, so
(09:03):
basketball all or others like this, there's a lot of
luck opportunities here and that I would love to further
explore it as well.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Now, when you take a financial you know, investment in
as what's your next expectation as the founder of.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
All this, Well, the expectation for us is that ultimately
it's about how we can create positive impact.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Right for us, I think an important metric is how can.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
We do that while educating our students, sure, and our
students anybody who walks through those stores, And I think
that's really what what it means to be in the
highjucaged environment. But also I think breaking down some of
the traditional silos. So ultimately, when you come in here,
and I would love to hear from you how you
felt that way, But.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
We don't really make a clear distinction. He is a
faculty member and he's administrated.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Here's a student, and here's a he's a you know,
an entrepreneurship student.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
He's like, we all come together.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Because of it's a family almost, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
And everybody can help. So everybody is a story to tell.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Everybody has skills, and if we can understand that and
leverage that, it doesn't matter what Tiler all is really
about how we can support each other to in order
to achieve the outcomes that they've redesigned.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Now for those who you know, do not rank in
the top three, there still have a place here in
the sense that you guys keep an eye on them
and keep in touch.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Absolutely, the goal is really to build is up now.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We also three years in so I envision as the
next step we also you know, create ongoing Facebook groups
and really build that commut almost an alumni.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
An alumni network.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
That's one thing, and what we also do is part
of I think we also want to understand the experience
that our students have.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
So we're going through kind of a program assessment. That's
part of this.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
All these students have to submit kind of an entrepreneur
mindset profile, and part of this assessment, I will be
having one on one conversations with all the students to
also understand what are their unique needs as they translate
the ideas into the next step. And some of this
also means referring to them to other resources like our
small business development centers and other kinds of entrepreneurship resources
(10:57):
that are available, you know, throughout throughout.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
One thing of the US.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
One thing I will say is I feel like today
proved what I've been saying for a while is we're
not defined by our disability. We have it, but then
the finance and look how many people are willing to
utilize that disability for better and to move it forward.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Absolutely, I think it's I think language is often used
to marginalize and I think we really try to work
against that and really you know, bring people together in
order to make them realize what their dreams are. And
sometimes if society puts constraints on you, it is our
responsibility to be become activist educators to really challenge those
(11:36):
boundaries and really allow our communities to grow u And
you know, I think that's really also at the core
of our mission, because ultimately, I think entrepreneurship is help
building agency, and agency starts from within. Sure, once you
determine that you have the power to create something and
you have a support community.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Around you, I think you know you can just you can,
just you can.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Well you and I should team up and make Mariano Rivera,
who's a big staple in New Roshelle, aware of this program.
That would because I know him personally, So.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
We should, we should reach out, we should, we should
have him. He spoke a couple of years back on campus.
I believe you in uh, I believe there's a there's
a close connection. Yeah, family of Rivera family and Iona.
So we could certainly bring him back and maybe he
would even would like to, you know, share some of
his success with with our students.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Absolutely well, Doctor Windclair, thank you so much for this
time today. Idea Spark twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Thank you Alex in congratulations again.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Thank you very much. So while one Leg Up Alex
wins IDEA Spark, it couldn't have been done with that,
of course the mentor Jared and Marisoa Chappelle and uh
even the encouragement from Eric back in March, and of
course the encouragement from Lauren Marzo and Kim Brussel who
(12:52):
apply to this program to yeah, let's launch one leg
Up Alex. And of course I wouldn't have done any
of this if I didn't recognize the investment that my
mom and dad put into Viscardi twenty nine years ago
when they started me in kindergarten. It wasn't just the
start of a schooling, It was started a building of
(13:13):
a life at Viscarti. And so to be supporting them
once by them, once again feels like a continuation of
the investment my mom and my dad made as long
as my stepdad, who were there day after day at times,
year after year. All three of them were at graduation
in two thousand and nine, and of course the time
(13:34):
an energy spent outside of Viscarti as well is not
lost on me in this whole process. I mean, I
remember in twenty twenty I sat down when my mom
and my stepdad and my dad Vic said well, look,
you got to make something more than just sports and politics.
And here we are talking about adaptability now for five
years or so and really tapping the sable community to
(13:57):
bridge the gap between those brands that served the community
and the disabled community itself that may not have access
to it. So we're gonna work on that and with
this funding, with this grant, I'm very thankful. I also
couldn't have done this without my fiance Gabby. I mean,
she's been there every step of the way. She helped
me in the rush of this, making the PowerPoint ten slide,
(14:23):
pitch teck and a four minute video or so got
through all of that last week. And one other thing
is if you are a full time employee, do not
be afraid to share, to bolster your own passions, to
not be afraid to bolster your own projects. I'm very
(14:43):
proud at the end of the day to have not
only been.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Able to.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Do full time employee work, and I'm gonna keep going
right after I do this podcast at Salem Media, but
also to figure out away to launch this brand even more.
It takes a lot to do all of this and
to be recognized for that means a lot. And for
(15:11):
the other participants that did this and took the time
and took the energy and have the idea to help
the disabled community, I want to talk to you as well,
the Abbey's, the Waldns, the Kathy's, the Jaquin says of
the group that we had an idea Spark. Your ideas
are fantastic. Let's talk more about it here on one
leg u there's a connection here that has been formed
(15:35):
through Idea Spark and through the Viscardi Center and High Institute,
and I look to grow that connection with everyone I
had class with, and of course g C. Duran who
won the second place, and Edith third place. I mean,
those are top three products right there. What they're doing
(15:58):
to help better the disabl mut unity, it should be
highlighted here and we're going to and we're going to
I want to think again, Lauren kim Alan from Viscardi
for taking pictures of this Brenna Judge, our professor Holly
Blundine all the way from Spain. She's been coaching us
(16:20):
the last few months. Yes, this has not been just
one day. This has been a project undergone since January.
And now there's a bit of nerves, but I think
we'll be fined.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
But when he said.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Start tomorrow, this is tomorrow, This is now and right now,
And of course my sister Abbey, I have to give
her a shout out to you. I love you Abbey
as well. And right now, right now, it starts by
featuring this amazing program to help disabled entrepreneurs. This is
(16:55):
continuing the legacy of doctor Vescardi. Whether I want or not,
I'd always believe ideas park is can continuing the legacy
of doctor Viscardi, who gave jobs to veterans returning for
more that were disabled that at amputations, he gave them
a place to start up again after returning from the war.
(17:15):
And in that same spirit of not letting disabilities stop you.
I believe in idea Spark embodies that as well. After
I went back to Viscari, by the way, I caught
up with my coach Joe Joe Salonica, who is also
very much part of the strategy of how we move
forward from here. For one leg of Alex So I
want to shout out Coach Joe as well. So this
(17:37):
is only part one. We'll be talking to a few
people part of this program as an Idea Spark conversation
and maybe our judges as well, Steven Ferrella, Kimberly and
Eric who were just great and they listened to everybody
and they had great questions for everybody. And I really
(18:00):
do you hope those that were in the program do
not stop working on their vision, on their brand, because
the whole idea is for all of us, all of
us to be productive in society and maybe, just maybe
we all can realize idea sparked and promote that idea
Spark is helping us all help others have one leg
(18:24):
up on life.
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