August 4, 2026

Season 10, Episode 100: Jose Bodipo-Memba, Chief Diversity Officer at SMUD, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District

By Adrian Ruiz

Growing up as an Afro-Latino in a small town, Jose often found himself between worlds—never fully fitting into one community. Those experiences shaped a leadership rooted in empathy, love, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others.

From high school teacher to leading diversity, equity, and inclusion at Sacramento’s public electric utility, Jose reflects on why titles don’t define us. What truly matters is how our family, friends, and community experience us—and why giving everyone a fair shot has the power to change lives.

🎧 Episode 100 — Season 10 — is live.

Check it out on Libsyn.

Watch it on YouTube.

More Stories

Episode 31: Paul Willis – His Story as an Educator, Artist, and Activist

In episode 31 of in our tribe, we are joined by Paul Willis to discuss his new album Wonderland and his story as an educator, artist, and activist. Check out in our tribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher!...

Episode 46: Henry Ortiz shares his experiences with resiliency

Henry Ortiz is a formerly incarcerated Community Healer and Social Justice Community Organizer.During his 18 years of incarceration he Co-Founded Self-Awareness & Recovery (SAR) #SAR in 2005 as a way to address untreated trauma in the prison system. Since his release in November 2017, Ortiz has been featured...

Season 10. Episode 92: Francisco Castillo

Episode 92 | Season 10 with Francisco Castillo in a conversation rooted in authenticity, community, and purpose. From his childhood in Nicaragua and San Francisco to his work today as a community advocate and government relations leader in Sacramento, Francisco shares a journey shaped by family,...

Season 6 Episode 55: Jason Sitar and Jose Napoles discuss the problems college students face when they lack a stable place to live.

In this episode of in our tribe Jason & Jose, from Lutheran Social Services, talk about homelessness surrounding college students. They touch on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how college campuses go about making students feeling wanted and like they belong. To learn more about Lutheran...