Listen to Episode 5 here 

Watch Episode 5 here

Welcome to Episode Five - Grateful State of Mind with joemil r. santos.

joemil r. santos and I met at the My People's Market event a few years ago, and we became instant friends. He purchased the "Peaceful State of Mind" Sweatshirt from my Refutees booth, and we had an in-depth conversation about community and how we all need a good reminder to keep us going through the day.

A son of immigrant parents who did everything they could to ensure a healthy environment of growth. They nearly went bankrupt and sacrificed so much to get him and his sister through school. Though life isn't always easy, and Joemil needed a way to express his personal story. Poetry helped Joemil have a deeper understanding of family, connection, and what it means to be the poetry he so beautifully writes.

Joemil's work with New Seasons Market has allowed him a platform to take community involvement to new levels and enriching the culture within. Bringing a sense of family and gratitude to work has helped him grow his team, his work, and his own life.

Follow the link to our newest episode, where you can watch or listen on your favorite podcast platforms.

https://linktr.ee/hussein.albaiaty

Host - Hussein Al-Baiaty
Producer & Videographer - Alex Pryce

Follow Joemil on Instagram and see what he's up to next @threeeyesstudios
Follow me your host @hussein.albaiaty

Listen to Episode 4 here

Watch Episode 4 here

Welcome to Episode 4 Network State of Mind with Aakanksha Rane & Jennifer Nolfi from the Portland State University Center for Retail Leadership. 
This is a two-part episode so buckle in for some serious inspiration!

Aakanksha is a student who is ready to graduate but has a unique story from Dubai to study in the United States. Her level of perseverance and stepping into the unknown will have you believing that anything is possible. "Just go for it" her mantra has served her well as she leads the Center for Retail Leadership and helps small businesses and start-ups have a catapult opportunity in the real world. When our plans for opening a pop-up for Refutees at the heart of the PSU business Center store diminished because of Covid, she didn't give up on us.

Jennifer leads the program with heart and purpose, helping students and businesses build connections to getting people in the right space to jumpstart careers. Placing the needs of students at PSU as a top priority, Jennifer indeed leads with love and compassion. Her story of growing up on the Oregon Coast and playing basketball to stay out of trouble led her to some remarkable places and travel. 

Using these skills for good, she has fostered an amazing network of people across Portland and continues to use them for good in so many ways. Jennifer and her team supported our vision of creating this podcast from day one; I'm forever grateful for that.

You can learn so much by visiting pdx.edu and searching the Center for Retail Leadership. They are offering an extensive amount of scholarships ( FREE MONEY)  to those who want to further their careers and, in the words of Aakansha, "going for it!"

Host - Hussein Al-Baiaty
Producer & Videographer - Alex Pryce

Follow Center for Retail Leadership on Instagram and see what's new  @CRLportlandstate
Follow me your host @hussein.albaiaty
Check out everything you need and reach out at refutees.com

Link to Watch on YouTube

Link to Listen on BuzzSprout 

Sitting across from me while getting a hair cut from the infamous Patrick Sidres, AKA PS Styles I met Leslie Green. Les became an instant friend and a mentor back in 2010 when we first met. He began to help shape the way I see the world.

I was still a young man and just wrapping up college with aspirations of working with the big boys and trying to make leaps. Les was already making his mark around Portland hard on the scene with the Wieden Kennedy, and Nike. We spoke about art, fashion, furniture, advertising, and what it means to be a man of color seeking dream opportunities. He always reminds me to bring knowledge and value to the tables that matter.

From South Central L.A. to heading the marketing team for Nike in South Africa. One must gain the knowledge necessary to be in a position to lead. Through trials, challenges, and growth and almost joining the military, Leslie was able to push through. Leading some of the most powerful marketing work from the TRUTH campaigns that we all know and remember to the Nike Tech Pack and ensuring sweatpants were a thing in the sportswear office.

Landing himself a coveted Marketing job through an ambitious mindset at Nike which takes him around the nation and across the world to lead a team in South Africa, then to Mexico. Having an eye for where to go next and how to elevate the people around him, Les has a unique perspective and a sensational story that will have you feel inspired and ready to empower your team and elevate your next move.

Host - Hussein Al-Baiaty Producer & Videographer - Alex Pryce Follow Leslie on instagram see what he's up to next @lesparrish Follow me your host @hussein.albaiaty 

Link to Watch on YouTube

Link to Listen on BuzzSprout

Host Hussein Al-Baiaty

Producer and Videographer - Alex Pryce

My brother Ozzie used to pick me up at around 10 PM during the summers of when I was in Middle School. We would hang out and do something fun. We hopped in a van picked up trays of fresh Donuts and went all over Portland to deliver donuts to 7/11's and mini-marts. Taking out the old and replacing them with fresh delicious Donuts to the early hours. Though it was late and we were tired, Ozzie and I enjoyed every minute, playing music, eating donuts, and talking about girls and life. 

Sesame Donuts offered my brothers jobs when we first came to America and off and on when my brothers need some extra money, Saaied helped them out. Saaid has a heart of a giant never refusing to help Immigrants and Refugees in the community.

Talking with Saaid from Sesame Donuts was very much like speaking to my father. an immigrant from Sierra Leone, West Africa. Our conversation centered around the importance of family, smiling, having a vision, and passing down knowledge, and wisdom. Sesame Donuts is becoming a donut empire and we got to sit in our Art of resilience Mobile Studio and spoke with the Father and Son duo who with the help of family and amazing community support have been able to grow the donut empire Sesame Donuts all over Oregon. 

Link to Watch on YouTube

Link to Listen on BuzzSprout 

Welcome to our First Episode, The Refugee State of mind where I introduce my self the host, Hussein Al-Baiaty. I share my story from Refugee camp, coming to America, growing pains of figuring life out then talking about college and starting Refutees. I talk about the importance of spreading awareness and reaching deep in our layers of resilience to create the change we need now more than ever! This episode is for those who need a little inspiration to get the year off to a great start. We all need accountability and someone to help us through tough times. We started the Resilience Club to help you build momentum to create the change you seek to make.