309 | Empowering People to Transform a Dangerous Neighborhood with Juan Stiven Alvarez Garro
Our guest this week on the pod is Juan Stiven Alvarez Garro. Stiven is the Co-Founder of Zippy Tours, an impact focused tour company that shows visitors how District 13 - formerly one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Medellín - uses art, dance, music and entrepreneurship to transorm the neighborhoods it operates in.
This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of our host, Zelizer Consulting Services.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Empowering People to Transform a Dangerous Neighborhood - an interview with Juan Stiven Alvarez Garro of Zippy Tours.
NOTE: While it’s not perfect, we offer a transcript and the below summaries by Castmagic for those who are hearing impaired or who don’t find listening to a podcast enjoyable or possible.
Full transcript of the interview is available here.
Time Stamped Overview
4:15 How violence led to Stiven and his family moving to Medellin.
9:33 Background: Colombia’s 50+ years of civil war and the economic and political implications.
13:46 Colombia's drug trafficking history and how it’s connected to District 13's poverty.
19:45 How Zippy Tours got started.
22:46 Zippy Tour's leveraged Instagram and word of mouth for growth.
29:14 How founders built relationships with existing tourist focused businesses.
36:50 How Zippy Tours has transformed Stiven’s life in a holistic way.
40:48 Bought land, planted avocados, future exports expected.
44:28 Community 13's pandemic recovery.
46:54 Latest initiatives in District 13.
54:46 Interview wrap up and how to get ahold of Zippy Tours & Stiven.
Keywords: medellin murals, medellin tours, medellin social impact, Zippy Tours Medellin, Juan Stiven Alvarez Garro