“Joining us today is Manuel Zavala, an innovative educator and entrepreneur committed to empowering the next generation. He’s the founder and CEO of Student Hires, an organization that partners with K–12 schools to provide after-school and career readiness programs led by local college students. With a background in teaching and a passion for bridging the gap between education and real-world experience, Manuel is helping young people unlock their potential and build brighter futures. We’re excited to welcome him to the show!”

ABOUT MANUEL ZAVALA

Manuel Zavala is an educator and entrepreneur dedicated to enhancing student career readiness through experiential learning. He is the founder and CEO of Student Hires, an organization that partners with K–12 schools to provide after-school and expanded learning programs led by local college and university students.

Zavala’s journey began as a high school computer science teacher, where he identified gaps in the education system regarding practical, project-based learning. In 2015, while attending the University of California, Riverside, he founded Student Hires to address this need . Initially, the organization operated as a student-run creative agency, offering web and graphic design services to local businesses and providing university students with income and portfolio-building opportunities. By 2018, Student Hires expanded to offer educational programs aimed at preparing high school students for technology careers and facilitating their transition into entry-level jobs within the community.

Beyond Student Hires, Zavala has founded other education-focused ventures, including Afterschool.org, and maintains an active presence on platforms like YouTube, where he shares insights on student development and entrepreneurship.

Email: manuel@studenthires.com
Phone: 909-496-7557
Website: studenthires.commanuel@studenthires.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@studenthires
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/manuel-zavala-5017a98a
Manuel website: manuelzavala.com

CONTACT STUDENT HIRES

“On this week’s edition of Indigenous in the News, we’re honored to welcome a passionate advocate, organizer, and protector of Indigenous rights — Robert Rosa, President of the American Indian Movement Central Florida.

Robert has been on the frontlines of some of Florida’s most urgent struggles involving sacred lands, burial site desecration, and the ongoing failure of institutions to uphold Native sovereignty and federal protections like the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act — known as NAGPRA.

As a leader within AIM, Robert has worked tirelessly to hold contractors, developers, and public officials accountable when sacred Indigenous burial sites are threatened or destroyed. His work isn’t just about resistance — it’s about education, justice, and healing.

Today, he joins us to shed light on the battles unfolding across Florida where Native history is being bulldozed in the name of profit — and to share how community members, tribal nations, and allies can take action to protect the ancestors and the laws that were meant to honor them.

About Robert Rosa

Robert Rosa is the dedicated President of the American Indian Movement (AIM) Central Florida chapter and an active advocate for the protection of Indigenous heritage and sacred sites. Under his leadership, AIM Central Florida has successfully intervened in multiple cases where developers attempted to disturb Native mounds and burial grounds. Notably, in February 2023, Rosa played a key role in persuading Jupiter’s Historical Review Board to deny a permit for excavation at a site containing ancient Indian mounds, resulting in the land’s protection.

A member of the Taino community, Rosa has also worked collaboratively with Miccosukee and Seminole tribal representatives to challenge unauthorized digs across the region, emphasizing respect for ancestral lands and cultural sovereignty seminoletribune.org.

He is known for persistent public advocacy, attending local government meetings, raising community awareness, and helping secure protections at sites with deep historical significance.

Committed to preserving these sacred spaces, Rosa continues to lead grassroots campaigns across Central Florida—challenging developers, mobilizing allies, and ensuring that Indigenous voices are central to decisions about land use and cultural heritage.

Indigenous in the News: "Silent No More: A Song for MMIW, Gary Small and Patty Davis Tribute"

“Joining us today are two incredibly talented and passionate artists using their voices to bring attention to an urgent and heartbreaking issue. Gary Small, a four-time Native American Music Awards recipient of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, teams up with acclaimed singer-songwriter Patty Davis of the Comanche Nation. Together, they’ve created a powerful new song titled Silent No More, dedicated to raising awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

For more information or to obtain a broadcast-ready MP3 for Indigenous radio stations and programs, you can contact them at 307-674-4205.

“Every year, thousands of Indigenous women and girls go missing or are murdered across North America. In the U.S., the violence rate against Native women is over ten times the national average in some areas—yet most of these cases receive little attention and often go unsolved. The crisis is real, and it’s ongoing. We urge you to learn more, speak out, and support organizations fighting for justice. Let’s raise our voices for those who can’t. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women—we will not forget.“

• Indigenous women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average in some U.S. regions.
• In Canada, Indigenous women make up 4% of the population, but over 16% of all female homicide victims.
• Thousands of Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been murdered over the past few decades—many cases remain unsolved or under-investigated.

• According to a report by the Urban Indian Health Institute, 5,712 cases of missing Indigenous women were reported in 2016—but only 116 were logged in the Department of Justice database.
• Many Indigenous women disappear in urban areas, where jurisdictional confusion between local, state, tribal, and federal authorities hampers investigations.
• Major contributing factors include systemic racism, violence tied to resource extraction zones, human trafficking, and lack of proper law enforcement coordination.

• The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released a landmark report in 2019, calling the crisis a “Canadian genocide.”
• The inquiry identified over 1,200 confirmed cases, but Indigenous organizations estimate the number is much higher—possibly over 4,000.
• Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women.

• Colonial violence, intergenerational trauma, poverty, and gender-based violence are deeply rooted factors.
• Data collection is poor, contributing to lack of accountability and public awareness.
• There’s often jurisdictional conflict between tribal and non-tribal law enforcement, especially in cross-border or off-reservation cases.

• Grassroots movements like MMIWG2S, Native Women’s Association of Canada, and NIWRC have led awareness campaigns, vigils, and advocacy for policy change.
• May 5 is recognized as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in the U.S., also known as Red Dress Day in Canada.
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Gary Small: revgsmall@hotmail
Phone: 307-674-5204
Website: coyotebros.net
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/garysmallthecoyotebros
Patty Davis: tenbearsdevelopment@gmail.com
Phone: 541-294-1909