Trailblazing Latinos's Podcast

Dr. Victor Rios’ story is one that has many twists and turns: he was in a gang, he dropped out of school, and he was incarcerated. What makes Dr. Rios’ story different is that he overcame those obstacles and he is now an award-winning sociology professor at the University of California Santa Barbara.  So, how did Dr. Rios obtain his Ph.D. and become the epitome educator, researcher, and community leader that he is today? After a life-changing incident, Dr. Rios realized was ready to change. He couldn’t do it by himself. Luckily for him, he had a teacher who cared about her students.  Her name is Ms. Russ, and Dr. Rios credits her wholeheartedly for helping him change his life. She supported, guided, and advocated for Dr. Rios. Instead of seeing him how society labeled him, Ms. Russ saw Dr. Rios with unlimited potential.  Dr. Rios is now taking what Ms. Russ saw in him and he is shining that same light on adolescents in urban areas. He has a name for the unlimited potential that his teacher saw in him: it’s ca