E100. Ever Forward: Then and Now - with Eduardo Canche, Engineer & Ever Forward Club Founding Member

Author: Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask
Published: Tue 02 Aug 2022
Episode Link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/episodes/E100--Ever-Forward-Then-and-Now---with-Eduardo-Canche--Engineer--Ever-Forward-Club-Founding-Member-e1m155b

“I didn’t have much support from my folks at home. I was the first one to go to high school here in the United States. It was, like, uncertainty on what my next step was. And so, going to your class during lunch time, kind of helped me forget about that and just be confident in who I am.” - Eduardo Canche, on his relationship with Ashanti Branch

It’s Episode 100! And Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Eduardo Canche. Now an engineer, Eduardo was a founding member of the Ever Forward Club - 18 years ago at San Lorenzo High School. In addition to having a one-on-one conversation with Ashanti, during the final section of this podcast, Eduardo speaks to some young men in the Ever Forward Club’s Social Emotional Leadership Academy. All of these young men are starting their first year of high school this fall. So, not by coincidence, they’re on the brink of where Eduardo was those 18 years ago…

(7:30) Eduardo introduces himself and how he and Ashanti know each other.

(9:50) Ashanti and Eduardo look back on the masks they wore when they first met 15 years ago. Eduardo examines his lack of self-confidence. Ashanti examines things from a teacher’s perspective, being the only black male teacher at the school.

(19:35) Ashanti and Eduardo look at the bond that Eduardo has made with his high school peers. They observe how different it is now in the smartphone era.

(23:35) Ashanti and Eduardo share the masks that they wear today. Eduardo’s front - calm, poised, happy. Eduardo’s back - irritated, sad, faithful.

(26:40) Ashanti’s front - funny, caring, serious, hard-working. Ashanti’s back - self-doubt, worry, fear. He reflects on his strengths and weaknesses as a leader and Executive Director.

(31:20) Eduardo shares some final words with Ashanti.

(34:10) Eduardo introduces himself to the young men of the Social Emotional Leadership Academy. And the young men ask Eduardo some questions. He looks back on his childhood move to America and some of the supports and relationships he’s had along the way.

(42:20) Eduardo gives some final advice to the youth.

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Connect with Eduardo Canche:

Instagram: instagram.com/eddienine

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks