Your Nonprofit Life (Laura Zielke: Nonprofit Leadership Advocate)

I’m about to introduce you to a woman who is proof positive that the mission her organization passionately pursues on a daily basis works amazingly well.

My guest, DeLashea Strawder, is the Executive Director and Artistic Director of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit—a creative youth development organization. In other words, Mosaic is a nonprofit organization which helps to unleash and explore the creative talents of young people all while developing leadership skills which will serve them the rest of their lives.

DeLashea first learned about the organization in middle school, and after much prodding in high school by friends and teachers, she auditioned for and was accepted to Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and participated until she graduated. And though she never planned to return to Mosaic after graduation and heading off to college, the universe had other plans.

As you listen to DeLashea’s story, you’ll be inspired by her strong commitment to both her career and her family, and you might be surprised how a turn in her grandparents’ health turned DeLashea’s plans upside down...but her journey into discovering her purpose in life right side up.

I really appreciated DeLashea’s vulnerability as she shared about the intersectionality of being a young, black, woman running an established nonprofit in Detroit and the courage she has every day to lift up other people and make sure that the conversations that need to be had are had.

You’re gonna love this interview with wife and mother of four, DeLashea Strawder, the Executive and Artistic Director of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep17-delashea-strawder

🏳‍🌈 We’re still celebrating PRIDE, and today’s guest, Anne Friedman, is the Executive Director of Gay for Good. Gay For Good energizes and mobilizes the LGBTQ community to interact with the greater community by volunteering their time to various social welfare and environmental service projects.

Anne started volunteering with Gay for Good while she was working full-time at a nonprofit foundation; however, after a tragic event, Anne found herself re-evaluating her priorities and what happened next surprised everyone!

Links and more information available on the show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep16-anne-friedman

This episode features one of the most unique nonprofit organizations I'm aware of. In fact, as far as we know, this is one of only two organizations with this mission in the entire world. Let's set the stage a little bit.

Like many of you, my family switched to watching Sunday Services online when the pandemic was declared. Last week's sermon was based on a passage in the book of Numbers in the Hebrew Scriptures where the people were being bitten by snakes. Not exactly the kind of story you're expecting to hear on a Sunday morning! Then the priest shared a story about her own experience being trolled by a snake in her backyard. She cannot stand snakes!

Maybe you're now thinking about all the movies you've seen where snakes are the representation of evil, or maybe even they're the villains themselves.

Well, today we're here to flip the narrative around snakes and learn about them from a completely different perspective.

My guest today is Melissa Amarello, the founder and executive director of Advocates for Snake Preservation (A.S.P.).

Asp! Isn't that a cool name for this organization?!

Melissa has been fascinated with snakes since she was a little girl, but it wasn't until she was in college that she saw her first rattlesnake out in the wild. And that experience changed the trajectory of her career.

Over time, Melissa realized that she had a gift for helping people better understand snakes. She found that being face-to-face with people, she could break through the misinformation and help people care about the snakes they might encounter in their yards or out on a trail.

Melissa focused her passion, started a nonprofit from scratch, and is now the first paid staff at her organization, the Executive Director. Her story will inspire and educate you.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e06-melissa-amarello

Kayla Abramowitz is the founder and "Chief Kid Officer" of Kayla Cares 4 Kids. You might recognize Kayla as a guest on Joan Garry’s “Nonprofits Are Messy” podcast or maybe you’ve seen her on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt’s “Inspiring America”. Kayla is an amazing and resilient young woman.

Drawing on her childhood experience with multiple chronic illnesses, she has created something really special for children who spend a lot of time at hospitals and families who stay at Ronald McDonald Houses® throughout the United States, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Enter Covid-19... Listen to learn how Kayla Cares 4 Kids has pivoted during the pandemic.

Connect with Your Nonprofit Life: 
http://yournonprofitlife.com/bonus1-kayla-abramowitz/

Connect with Kayla Cares 4 Kids:

• Website: https://kaylacares4kids.org/
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/KaylaCares4Kids
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KaylaCares4Kids
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KCares4Kids
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/kaylacares4kids 

Sharnette Lewis, the Executive Director of Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing the chained or penned dog as well as helping the dog who is abused, neglected, homeless and abandoned. Their goal is to rescue, rehabilitate and help the dog find a home where they can live inside with a loving and caring family.

Dogs Deserve Better has multiple locations, and their main headquarters is located in Smithfield, Virginia on the property once owned by Michael Vick. During this interview, Sharnette shares the story of what they’ve done with the former dog fighting compound and how they have memorialized the dogs who died there. We also talk about how Dogs Deserve Better is working to break through cultural traditions and stereotypes to help people appreciate dogs as companions.

Please pay close attention to Sharnette’s words as they are sometimes hard to hear due to background noise. Her message is clear, powerful, and applicable across the sector, no matter what your mission is.

You’ll walk away from this interview understanding why it’s so important that we, as nonprofit leaders, meet people where they are and build relationships with them to spark change.

It’s the genuine relationship that creates the circumstances conducive to change in behavior, attitude, and expectation. I can’t wait for you to meet Sharnette Lewis, a woman who has a heart for all animals and a passion to break the chains of dog abuse and neglect. Let’s get started.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e07-sharnette-lewis

EPISODE 11: CONTENT WARNING
This episode includes discussions about complex trauma. While we don’t get into specifics, we do explore how sustained, severe childhood abuse impacts the brain and what is being done to support survivors. Listener discretion advised. 

Every time I talk with Amy Bradley, I hear about some new program she’s developed or a new plan she’s created to help bring love and healing to people who’ve survived the unimaginable. She founded Hesed Place only a few years ago, and has already received national attention for her trauma-informed town-within-a-town model. She is a visionary leader whose passion for hurting people has resulted in training numerous community partners how to provide trauma-informed care. 

Although we start out talking about coffee, Carolina Pottery mugs, and Tanzanian art, our main conversation revolves around Amy’s decision to found a nonprofit organization and develop a unique model for helping survivors of complex trauma — one could be replicated nationwide. I can’t wait for you to meet Amy Bradley, the founder and executive Director of Hesed Place in New Bern, North Carolina. 

To view photos of the artwork Amy has hanging in her office, check out the show notes page: 
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep11-amybradley/

In this podcast, you will meet the Reverend Young Lee Hertig. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of both the Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity AND Asian American Women On Leadership. She’s also the Editor-In-Chief of ChristianityNext, and the author of The Tao of Asian American Belonging: A Yinist Spirituality.

Did you catch that? She literally wrote the book on Asian American Christianity...because there wasn't one!!! Her book lifts up the voices of female, Asian American in Christian ecological theology. She coined the term yinist in the 1990s to “name the nameless Asian American feminism.” Her organization is progressive, intersectional, holistic.

My personal educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies and Archaeology so I was basically fangirling the entire time. It was an honor to interview someone who shares my love of theology and passion for elevating the voices of women—especially minority and marginalized women in Christianity.

We have such an incredibly diverse group of nonprofit leaders we support in the Nonprofit Leadership Lab. They are incredible human beings, and Rev. Hertig totally filled my tank.

Without any prompting from me (I promise!), Dr. Hertig shared her appreciation for the Lab and said our resources are what helped her get out of the catch-22 of not being able to raise money for her 15-year old organization.

Wow... I'm on cloud nine right now... just to have the opportunity to interview Young and learn the details of her own journey into the nonprofit sector. You will be inspired and motivated when you hear why they changed the name of their organization without losing the acronym ISAAC.

I cannot wait for you to meet Rev. Young Lee Hertig, co-Founder and Executive Director of ISAAC: Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep12-young-lee-hertig/

Have you ever heard of Fragile X? Not a “fragile” ex-husband, ex-wife, or ex-partner. Not that kind of ex. But Fragile X, as in the chromosome: X. 

Do you remember learning about X and Y chromosomes in your high school Biology class? Well, dust off your memories of the blue eyes/brown eyes chart because we’re going to learn a little bit about a rare mutation in the X chromosome which results in a disorder known as Fragile X. 

July is Fragile X Awareness Month, and my guest is the Executive Director of the National Fragile X Foundation, Linda Sorensen.

In this episode, Linda shares how she first learned about Fragile X Syndrome through one of her husband’s coworkers, and how one of her book club buddies recommended her for a development position at the Foundation. 

In addition to learning about the disease, we also discuss the challenges Linda faced working under three different—very different—Executive Directors while at the same time working on her own leadership skills.

Although Linda didn’t set out to become an Executive Director, guess what? The board noticed her awesomeness and passion for the cause, and when the position opened up for the fourth time… Well, I’ll let her tell you what happened next.

Listen online or on your favorite podcatcher. Click here for show notes and links: https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep19-linda-sorensen/

The career switch demanded by a broken system and a heart determined to make a huge difference in the lives of abused and neglected children.

My guest in this podcast is Cara Gerdiman, the Executive Director of Kids’ Harbor Child Advocacy Center. Even from a young age, she knew she wanted to make a positive difference in her community. After college, she began her career working with kids and teens who were caught running away from home, committing petty crimes, and children who were abused.

It wasn’t long until she observed firsthand the cycle of poverty, incarceration, abuse, and neglect she had learned about in college. When the opportunity came for her to move from the public sector into nonprofit service, she jumped at the opportunity and then over the years she worked her way into a position of leadership at her organization.

This interview will not only cover Cara’s journey into nonprofit, we’re also going to talk about some of the challenges that she had shifting from the position of co-worker into one of leadership and running the nonprofit–especially considering she had not yet had the training for that.

Visit the show notes page to connect or browse the resources we mentioned during the broadcast:
http://yournonprofitlife.com/ep8-cara-gerdiman/

Connect with Kids’ Harbor Child Advocacy Center:

• Organization Website: https://kidsharbormo.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidsHarborInc/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVZhTi2nW6ClqYSHmSdw5w

Additional Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Stewards of Children® from Darkness to Light
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber

When word gets out that the top leaders of a nonprofit in a small town have been misappropriating funds and behaving unethically, everybody hears about it. Everybody. And it’s up to the board to act quickly with integrity to find someone who can immediately step-in and LEAD...

Visit the show notes page for links to resources mentioned in this episode and to share your favorite leadership books: 

https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep10-ginodemaio/

CONTENT TRIGGER WARNING:
This episode includes discussions about sex trafficking, commercial sex exploitation, and pimp culture. So, if this is something you want to skip, you should skip it. Listener discretion advised.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month so I’ve been interviewing a variety of nonprofit leaders—founders, ceos, and executive directors—who run organizations addressing the horrible evil of human trafficking.

Today's guest is Natasha Paradeshi, the Co-Founder of The Landing, a drop-in center for survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in Houston, Texas. Whether providing them with an advocate, reaching out to them in the red light district, the folks at The Landing intend to meet people where they are—wherever it may be—and support them throughout their journey.

In this interview, Natasha will share how she became interested in nonprofit service while she was a college student, and how her heart was stirred to action when she learned about the horrors of human trafficking at a conference. One of the gaps she recognized was the lack of identifying victims of human trafficking, so she and other co-founders established their first (and only...so far) “Drop-in Center” in the red light district of Houston.

At The Landing, they seek to meet people where they are, honor their inherent dignity and worth, and walk alongside them on their journey. This organization was started out of the deep faith of the founders, and so as you might expect, it comes up. Whether or not you share her faith, you will LOVE hearing Natasha’s story and her passion for serving and identifying victims of human trafficking. The Landing offers a fair, just, and healthy culture of inclusion, diversity, and empowerment for all victims of human trafficking.

As heavy as this topic is, I’m still excited for you to meet this amazing woman who is making a tangible difference in the lives of victims of human trafficking—even if they don’t yet realize they are being trafficked. You’re going to love Natasha Paradeshi, co-founder of The Landing in Houston Texas.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e03-natasha-paradeshi

September is Hunger Action Month, and today is our second episode focusing on innovative ways small nonprofits are making a big difference for the food insecure.

Jen Nelson is the Senior Vice President of Do Good Auto Coalition—a brand new nonprofit that was started earlier this year (2020) by entrepreneur Diana Lee in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Today we’re looking at the direct connection between local food pantries, the logistical nightmare it can be to transport food from the donor to the pantry, and one woman’s mission to optimize the entire process while ensuring equity in distribution.

On a more personal level, I’m grateful for Jen’s vulnerability in this interview. I was shocked at what someone said to her following her first promotion at the nuclear power plant. She’s put up with a lot over the years, and now that she’s at Do Good Auto Coalition, she’s stretching her beautiful wings and showing us what it’s like to be a “brainiac” nonprofit leader with a passion for equity in food distribution across the entire sector. 

With this episode, we conclude a series of four podcasts which have informed us about a variety of hot-button issues including the humanitarian crisis at the southern border, the shrinking resources available to refugees who were invited to resettle here in America, and the fight against voter suppression in California and across the nation.

Today, we’re going to learn what’s being done to bring healing and hope to some of the most marginalized and oppressed people in our society: black women and other women of color.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and I’m honored to introduce you to Alana C. Brown, the founder and Executive Director of The Safe Sisters Circle—an organization founded by black women in a historically black community serving Wards 7 & 8 of the Washington DC metro area.

Alana knew from a young age she wanted to make a positive impact in her local community. She left DC to attend college in New York and then returned to DC and graduated from Georgetown with her law degree. Then, back to New York where she served as a prosecuting attorney in Manhattan.

You’d think that’s it, right? Nope. Alana’s dream to help women back home never dissipated, it only grew stronger, and she eventually moved back to the area where she worked and volunteered. It wasn’t long before she recognized a need for representation among those serving survivors.

And, sadly, it took even less time for some people to tell her not to do it. They’d say things like “your work isn’t needed here” and “you’ll never make it.”

Obviously, Alana didn’t listen to the naysayers. She founded The Safe Sisters Circle, and she plans to grow and expand her service area. Alana talks fast, so buckle up, and get ready to meet an amazing African American woman who is making a big difference in the lives of women of color in Wards 7 & 8 in our nation’s capital.

The Safe Sisters Circle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free culturally specific, holistic, and trauma-based services to Black women survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault primarily living in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep29-alana-brown/

This month, we are honoring nonprofit leaders and organizations who serve people during some of the most emotionally tender times of their lives. Whether due to natural causes, tragedy, or the pandemic, I’m sure we all know someone who has suffered loss this year.

And one of the most significant losses a person can experience is the loss of a spouse, and sometimes when you’re the close friend of a widow, you swoop in to help in the short term… but how do you continue to support your friend over the long haul?

Sadly, what happens with many of us is that we don’t know what to NOT say, and so rather than say or do the wrong things, we say nothing. We back off. We give space. But is the space helpful? Is it best if we don’t mention the name of the spouse when we're together?

Rather than google the answer to this, how about I introduce you to my guest on today’s episode. Marina Mitchell is the Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Share, an organization created to assist the burdens of our sisters and girlfriends grieving the loss of their spouse and share with others the treasure that is walking alongside these widows in their pain.

Marina comes from a humble background. Her parents were entrepreneurs and raised her and her siblings in Northern Northern California. You could say her life was sheltered, but after visiting one of her relatives in another country, Marina realized anything was possible! Listen to Marina’s journey into the nonprofit sector and be inspired by this woman who learned how to walk with widows and now spends her life helping other women strengthen relationships after the death of a friend’s spouse.

Show Notes:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep33-marina-mitchell/

Meet Helen Perry, Executive Director of Global Response Management. GRM delivers emergency medical care and humanitarian relief to vulnerable people in the most high-risk areas. Founded to respond to crises in countries like Yemen, Iraq, and Bangladesh, GRM is now working much closer to home: across the border in Mexico. Helen is a fearless leader who has taken this organization from the brink of extinction to a place of thriving and growth.

Show Notes:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep26-helen-perry/

Today’s guest is Henry Burrell, the founder of the Jonesboro Business Association. Originally from New York, Henry relocated to Louisiana and now resides in Jonesboro, Arkansas—and we’ll talk a little bit about the difference between life in Queens as opposed to life in the South.

Here’s what you need to know about Henry. First and foremost, he is a successful businessman. He has been in the hospitality industry for decades developing leaders and pouring his life into his community. After moving to Jonesboro, he recognized a gap in the local business sector and began brainstorming how to fill it in such a way that the community would be stronger AND locally owned businesses would collaborate for a bigger impact — especially with the students in Jonesboro.

And isn’t that the way it happens with nonprofit Founders? They see a gap or a need, envision a way to address it while changing lives, and then they rally other leaders to join them for greater impact?! You should be nodding your head up and down right now, because that’s exactly how nonprofits get started.

I can’t wait for you to meet Henry and hear his story about what it’s like to develop leaders in both the for profit and nonprofit sectors of Jonesboro, Arkansas.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep10-henry-burrell/

🏳‍🌈 It’s PRIDE month and this episode’s guest is Leo Preziosi Jr. the Founder and Executive Director of Live Out Loud!

Live Out Loud inspires, nurtures and empowers LGBTQ youth to build a successful future by connecting them to positive role models and affirmative experiences in the LGBTQ community.

By providing youth with opportunities to interact with adults who understand the realities of living openly as a member of the LGBTQ community, Live Out Loud helps young people to achieve academic success, healthy relationships, rewarding careers, and a fulfilling life.

Connect with Live Out Loud!

• Organization Website: https://www.liveoutloud.info/
• Donate: https://www.liveoutloud.info/donate/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LIVE-OUT-LOUD/15320494719
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/liveoutloudinfo
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/liveoutloudinfo

Mentioned in this episode:

• Gay-Straight Alliance: https://gsanetwork.org/
• GLSEN: https://www.glsen.org/
  
  

The Your Nonprofit Life Podcast is produced by the
Nonprofit Leadership Lab. Learn more about the Nonprofit Leadership Lab and our exclusive online community “The Village”:

• Podcast Website: https://yournonprofitlife.com
• Lab Website: https://nonprofitleadershiplab.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitleadershiplab 

Terence Narcisse is 30 years old and he’s already raised millions of dollars to impact his local community in East Harris County, Texas. Terence is a servant leader. He’s a visionary. He’s a man on a mission. He’s an incredible change agent in his local community.

As the founder and Executive Director of East Harris County Empowerment Council, Terence is absolutely committed to the success of students in this unincorporated area outside of Houston proper. 

He founded the organization 12 years ago, and he spends his days now writing grants and finding ways to serve all the residents of East Harris County in every way possible, especially during this pandemic. 

In this episode, we talked about what life is like in an unincorporated town and who advocates for them during a natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey or a global pandemic like COVID-19. We talked about the tragic event that sparked his desire to leave a legacy, and why it’s important to leave a legacy in your own community. 

You’ll be inspired and encouraged by this conversation, because Terence is a man who is not only changing his own community—now and for generations to come—he’s also helping to heal the world.

Click to connect with Terence and view the show notes:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep20-terence-narcisse/

If you're wondering how to keep your board engaged and activate their fundraising gene, then you don't want to miss out on my conversation with Teri Todd, the Director of Development and Marketing for the Children's Protection Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. She's amazing!

Listen online or on your favorite podcatcher:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep7-teri-todd/

Photos, links, and resources available on the show notes page:

https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep7-teri-todd/

Connect with Children’s Protection Center:

• Organization Website: https://www.childrensprotectioncenter.org/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensProtectionCenter/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cpc_littlerock/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CPCLittleRock  

The Your Nonprofit Life podcast is produced by the
Nonprofit Leadership Lab. You can learn more about the Nonprofit Leadership Lab and our exclusive online community “The Village”:

• Website: https://nonprofitleadershiplab.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitleadershiplab 

My guest's life changed completely when she and her husband, already parents, fell in love with a sweet little girl who was living her worst life at an orphanage in China. They soon learned that unconditional love and proven parenting practices were not enough for their newly adopted daughter. In desperation, they reached out via telephone to a relatively new organization run by a former veterinarian who knew how to help them navigate attachment disorder.

Julie Beem began her relationship with the Attachment & Trauma Network as a parent in need of support and advice. It wasn't long until she began volunteering, and eventually she was hired as the first Executive Director, following the founder and helping to guide the organization into new territory with an annual conference for teachers! Not only that, but they just landed a huge grant to help them expand their online services.

To connect with Julie, ATN, and/or Your Nonprofit Life, please visit the show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep9-julie-beem/

In this episode, you’ll meet Amy McLaughry, an entrepreneur and nonprofit leader who lives and serves in beautiful Colorado. She is the owner of ADEM Bookkeeping, a nonprofit accounting firm working virtually with nonprofits from all over the U.S., and she’s also a long-time board member of the Community College of Aurora Foundation.

Under Amy’s board leadership tenure, the Foundation has navigated some really uncomfortable, sticky situations, and her story will remind all of us why board service is not for wimps! Like Joan Garry says, “At its best, a great board serves as the strategic partner of the CEO on long term planning and short term crisis management.”

Two things to remember: Nonprofit board members are volunteers. Most have full-time job outside of the organization. And when a “crisis” arises, it’s the board members who often partner with the ED (or take control if the situation requires it) and help the organization come out on the other side of it stronger than before.

Amy is a strong leader for her organization, and her case in defense of the big hearts of board members is something we all need to hear.

Show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep30-amy-mclaughry/

🎧 NEW EPISODE!

September is Hunger Action Month.

My guest in this episode is Robin Peacock, the Executive Director of M.E.N.D. (“Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity”) in New Jersey.

I actually had the pleasure of meeting Robin in person last year when I visited @JoanGarry up in Montclair, New Jersey, and I got to see her in action. (See video of my visit to their renovated school bus on the show notes page).

Robin has her finger on the pulse of hunger in her local community, and she has built relationships with more than 20 food pantries…and she’s just getting started.

Connect on the show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep22-robin-peacock/

If we are interested in becoming a more equitable society, then we need to understand the impact hidden biases have on newborns and their ability to bond or attach with the person breastfeeding them.

In this episode, Arissa Palmer, Executive Director of BreastfeedLA, explains what’s being done to improve the odds that people of color be given the same opportunity to breastfeed and bond with their babies as majority population.

And if you listen to the end, you’ll learn about a wonderful opportunity to sponsor a person of color to earn their certification thanks to a matching grant.

Today's guest ran a corporate business for twenty years and then sold it to his employees. Then, he transitioned into the nonprofit sector. He served as Executive Director of an organization that provided camp experiences for teens, and one day, while loading a trailer with camp gear, he had a heart attack, and everything changed.

Links and more information available on the show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/podcast/ep17-bob-harris

Whether from natural causes, tragedy, or the pandemic, most of us know know someone who has suffered loss this year. In the same vein, it’s also possible that you know someone who is nearing the end of life and hospice has been called in to help with nursing care, medications, and other medical needs related to a terminal illness.

Today's guest today is passionate about honoring hospice patients in very practical and tangible ways at the end of their lives.

Meet Jean Rosenbaum, the founder and Executive Director of Gifted Wishes located in Oregon but serving hospice patients throughout the United States. In this episode, Jean shares how her nonprofit was birthed out of her own personal health crisis and a desire to serve those on the cusp of eternity.

Whether a precious one year old or someone who is 100 years strong, Jean’s organization is ready to enhance end of life care with “gifted wishes” which could range from purchasing basic equipment to cords of wood or providing a wonderful meal with a longtime friend who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to say goodbye. Jean’s mission will touch your heart, and her enthusiasm for life will inspire you to set strong boundaries and get clear on the things that matter most.

Remember, nonprofit leadership is about more than the mission itself. It’s about making sure you’re here for the long haul so you can move your mission forward without burning out. I think you’ll enjoy this conversation with Jean Rosenbaum who might just be the only nonprofit founder you know who took a selfie in the trunk of her Tesla.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/podcast/ep034.mp3 

In this episode you’ll learn how this 100-year-old organization was founded by women who fought hard for the 19th amendment granting white women the right to vote and how over the past century they have advocated for voter rights and provided nonpartisan voter education for everyone.

Stephanie Doute is the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of California.

Stephanie also shares how everything changed after her father’s sudden illness and death. She re-evaluated her life and made a meaningful move.

Show notes & links:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep28-stephanie-doute/

There’s something you need to know up front about this particular episode: It’s for the birds! All of them! Raptors, Songbirds, Scavenger Birds, Owls, I could go on and on.

🐦🦅🦃🦉

Mainly because I love trying to identify different types of birds. In fact, one of my family’s favorite movies is called “The Big Year” with Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. We watch it frequently and enjoy identifying the various birds who land on our fence or in the trees next to it. But this is nothing compared to today’s guest. Her whole life is birdified!

Wendy Perrone is the Founder and Executive Director of the Three Rivers Avian Center (TRAC) in Brooks, West Virginia. TRAC is located right next to the New River Gorge National Park in the southern portion of the New River Gorge National River down by Sandstone Falls Overlook.

Wendy and her husband Ron founded TRAC back in 1990, and they still run it to this day. That’s 31 years of bird rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction from the property on which they live. 31 years is a long time so you can count on my asking Wendy about succession planning and the future of the organization.

Wendy was a delight to interview. I always find someone’s path into the sector interesting, and you’ll be amazed at what Wendy and her husband did prior to starting TRAC! The thing is, now that they’ve had the organization for so many years, it’s hard to imagine them doing anything else!

With a rather remote location, you might be surprised to know TRAC receives injured birds from all over the state—I think you’ll be impressed with how the birds are transported. Can you say “volunteer coordination”?!

By the time you’re done listening to this podcast, you’ll be observing birds from a whole new perspective. I’m so happy you’re here to learn about the important work Wendy Perrone is doing at Three Rivers Avian Center and what her plans are to keep it going long after she’s gone--not that she’s leaving anytime soon!

SEASON 2, EPISODE 1: CONTENT WARNING
This episode includes discussions about sex trafficking and how sustained sexual abuse impacts survivors even years after they’ve been trafficked. So, if this is something you want to skip, you should skip it. Listener discretion advised.

January is the official National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and this episode was released on January 11, 2021, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Throughout the month of January, I am interviewing nonprofit leaders—founders, ceos, and executive directors—who run organizations which are not only working tirelessly to raise awareness about human trafficking but also walking alongside victims and survivors of sex trafficking while they try to rebuild their lives.

Sidenote: This episode was recorded in late December 2020.

Vanessa Schmidt is the founder and board chair of The Wild Hope, an equine therapy ranch which provides healing, safety, and connection for survivors of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. The Austin-based organization is currently in phase two of start-up having successfully launched their pilot program in October 2020.

During our interview, Vanessa is extremely vulnerable sharing her own life experience of childhood abuse, her incredible connection with horses, and how the vision of this organization went from a dream to reality. You will be blown away when you hear how she got Jewel, the organization’s first mustang, and you will learn about the magic of horses when it comes to helping us humans heal from trauma.

I cannot wait to introduce you to Vanessa Schmidt, founder of The Wild Hope in Austin, Texas where they "hold onto hope for others until they are able to hold onto it for themselves."

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep01-vanessa-schmidt

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States, we are re-releasing an educational and inspirational interview with someone whose people lived here before the country was “discovered.” Krista Beazley is now serving as the Executive Director of the Fort Apache Heritage Foundation. Hear about her journey into nonprofit leadership which began after the death of her husband. Show notes: https://yournonprofitlife.com/encore-s1e32/

Why would an introverted electrical engineer leave her successful and lucrative career in high tech to join the team at a small nonprofit, and how did she go from being part of the team to running the entire organization?

Since March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month, I thought it would be a neat idea to interview Sara Loud, the CEO of Accelerated Cure Project. Not only will we hear about Sara’s surprising career change, we’ll also learn how an innovative approach to sharing research results is speeding up efforts towards finding a cure for M.S. 

OH, and one last thing. Sara and I are both introverts--INTJs on Meyers Briggs. It’s so rare to have two INTJ women in the same space at the same time, we had to talk a little about what it’s like to be an introverted leader and the challenges...

Read more on the YNL website...

If I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s that the path to leadership is never a straight line. More often than not, it’s a long and winding road with curves you can’t see around, potholes to keep things interesting, a couple detours for good measure...and, if you’re lucky, you might see a few deer along the way. Are we there yet? 

When I first met my guest, Jill Brown, the Executive Director of Northwest Kidney Kids, I had no idea she’d entered college as a Political Science major. And I’m pretty sure she had no idea that someday she’d be running a nonprofit! And not just any nonprofit, but the very same organization that would one day support her through the scariest time of her life: her toddler’s kidney failure. In fact, she was recruited by the previous executive director during one of her daughter’s dialysis sessions. 

It takes a special kind of person to take the helm ...

Read more on the YNL website

Heather Lojeski is the co-founder of Faith Hope & Love. Heather and her husband Mark, have been married for over 30 years they have a large family and enjoy spending time with their three grandchildren. Their experience as foster parents and working at a camp for abused and neglected children has given them a desire to help children in crisis situations across southeastern Wisconsin.

Show Notes Page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep5-heather-lojeski/

Connect with Faith, Hope and Love

• Website: https://fhlforkids.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithhopelovebags/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fhlforkids/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHLforKids
• YouTube:
  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUSG7PkglzBtG2fxl-a1Yw

Connect with Your Nonprofit Life

• Website: https://yournonprofitlife.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yournonprofitlife
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournonprofitlife 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/yournplife 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2MhMLQN1riYU1TgvS_iMEw/ 

Learn more about the Nonprofit Leadership Lab and our exclusive online community The Village:

• Website: https://nonprofitleadershiplab.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitleadershiplab

It’s Mental Health Month, and I could not think of a more important way to wrap the month than talking with someone who runs an established mental health agency in Southern California.
I don’t know about you, but if you are like me, you are probably wondering what happens with the unaccompanied minors who have found their way to the land of the free and the home of the brave, right? And how does one cope when they’ve experienced trauma but cannot afford the professional help they need to start the healing process?

Let me introduce you to my next guest because she’s going to educate us about all of this and more.
Teddie Valenzuela is the Executive Director of Amanacer Community Counseling Service in Los Angeles. She’s a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been at Amanacer for more than 20 years starting as a therapist and currently serving as Executive Director. We’re going to unpack her journey over the course of this conversation and you’ll be inspired by what Teddie has been able to accomplish over the years in her different positions.

https://yournonprofitlife.com//s2e08-teddie-valenzuela

My guest for this episode is Founder and Executive Director of H.U.T.C.H. (Help United Through Caring Hands), Armishia Wiley-Adams.

Armishia was raised by her grandmother and uncle after her mother died when she was eight. She became pregnant in high school and dropped out. After having two more children before the age of 22, Armishia became determined to get off government assistance. She earned her GED followed by a Bachelor’s in Organizational Management with a specialization in Human Resources Management and then a Master’s in Organizational Management with a specialization in Organizational Leadership.

Over her decades of working in HR and making job placements, she was keenly aware of the gaps and flaws in the system where women were consistently referred for jobs that they were unqualified to keep. Armishia’s passion for helping women break out of poverty drove her to found her nonprofit H.U.T.C.H. Their mission is to teach women of all ages to become self-sufficient and workforce ready.

During this interview, Armishia and I talk about everything from referrals and assessments to job training and placement; from George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks to voter suppression and what it’s like being an African-American mom in the Atlanta area, and we also talk about the pandemic’s impact on programs and the board. Through it all, Armishia generously shares her triumphs and struggles of running a nonprofit all while holding down a full time job in HR.

As you know, I finished recording all the podcasts for this year months ago, and yet, each one has been released at a specific time for a specific reason. And I’ve been holding this interview until now because my guest holds a Vision Board Workshop every January…and I want you to consider sponsoring at least one woman to attend this because it will literally change her life.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2-ep-18-armishia-wiley-adams/

How did you come to work in the nonprofit sector? What was a big challenge you overcame? If you knew then what you know now, what would you tell your less-experienced self? These are just a few of the questions that Laura Zielke, Director of Member Experience for the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, will ask leaders from across the nonprofit sector.

In addition to learning about the big difference small nonprofits are making in local communities, each episode is designed to help you feel less alone in your work and inspire you to keep on keepin’ on.

Laura’s specialty is culling out golden nuggets of wisdom from every conversation yielding actionable tips you can put into practice right away.

Discover how so many nonprofit leaders are taking their nonprofits from messy to thriving without burning out in the process.

In this episode, we turn our focus to PRIDE and the nationwide celebration of LGBTQIA2S+ humans who deserve the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness just like everyone else.

We are all image bearers.

Today, I am honored to share my interview with Katie Cox, the new Executive Director of The Equi Institute, a nonprofit located in Portland, Oregon. The Equi Institute exists to enrich the lives of marginalized humans with trauma-informed and culturally affirming care with a little social justice advocacy for good measure.

In this interview, Katie and I will discuss the total metamorphosis of her organization over the past few years.

She will share the interesting story of how a car accident led to her landing a job as the Billing Specialist for the medical doctor who eventually founded The Equi Institute and how her role in the organization evolved during what I'm calling their “caterpillar days.”

Unfortunately, the organization was experiencing financial difficulties about the time Covid-19 was declared a pandemic. They pivoted as much as they could but eventually had to pause programs and go into a "cocoon" state, not sure if they’d ever get out of it.

But here we are in the summer of 2021, and The Equi Institute has emerged as a strong, beautiful, financially stable butterfly ready to take flight.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep11-katie-cox/

Today's guest is a young man who found his life’s purpose while pursuing a music degree at Yale University. He was working toward a career in musical theater (think Broadway) and enjoyed studying alongside so many talented musicians and artists.

He longed for the chance to collaborate with fellow students outside of coursework, but quickly discovered there weren’t actually that many opportunities to be found.

So, as it often happens with nonprofit founders, my guest decided to take action... and now chronically ill children are not only writing their own lyrics and songs, but they are collaborating with professional musicians to produce their songs and share them with the world...

How? That’s exactly what you’ll learn in my interview with Dan Rubins, Founder and Executive Director of Hear Your Song. During our conversation, you’ll learn not only how this organization was born, but also how it has evolved over the past few years, and how it is poised for exponential growth in the very near future.

And let me just say this here and now: Prepare to be impressed. This is a truly unique podcast, because not only will you get to hear all about “Hear Your Song”, you’ll also learn the backstory of a few of the kids’ songs AND actual excerpts that have already been produced.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep14-dan-rubins/

SEASON 2, EPISODE 2: CONTENT WARNING
This episode includes discussions about sex trafficking and exploitation of young children. So, if this is something you want to skip, you should skip it. So, if this is something you want to skip, you should skip it. Listener discretion advised.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month so I’m interviewing a variety of nonprofit leaders—founders, CEOs, and Executive Directors—who run organizations addressing the horrible evil of human trafficking.

My guest in this episode is Heather Bland. Heather is the CEO of My Refuge House, a long-term aftercare home in Cebu Philippines where survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse live in a safe, family-like environment while receiving comprehensive, therapeutic care so they can reclaim their lives.

During our interview, Heather shares how she knew from a very young age what she wanted to be when she grew up, and I promise you it’s something you’ve never heard of before! We also discuss the incredible origin story of My Refuge House and how one small church in Southern California determined to change lives in the Philippines.

Heather is also a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and so we have some bonus content at the beginning of our interview where we discuss the StrengthsFinder Assessment as well as Marcus Buckingham’s StandOut Assessment (which he is currently offering at no charge due to the pandemic). Links to both assessments are in the show notes.

My interview with Heather is a little longer than others, but I promise you’ll go away informed, inspired, and filled-up with hope for humanity—not to mention a little more educated about discovering your strengths.

She’s just a phenomenal leader, plus she’s funny and fun. I’m excited for you to meet her. This was such an interesting, lively conversation—despite the heavy subject matter. I think it’s because what Heather and her team are doing at My Refuge House is so incredibly inspiring.

Enjoy this incredible conversation with this hope wielding, loud laughing, includer, optimist, storyteller, coffee drinker, and inventor of "the good vibe thumb": Heather Bland the CEO of My Refuge House.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e02-heather-bland/

My guest, Andrea Pauls Backman, spent most of her adult life in investment management, but everything changed when her mother was diagnosed with A.L.S. -- a rare disease for which there is no cure.

In this episode you’ll learn how this amazing leader transitioned from decades in corporate America as an investments manager to becoming an invested CEO of a nonprofit in the Chicagoland area right as the Founding CEO stepped down.

To connect with Andrea, learn more about ALS, and view Laura's ice bucket challenge video from 2014, please visit
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep4-andrea-pauls-backman/

Like many nonprofit founders, Kristen Bloom recognized new refugees needed help learning English, and she volunteered to fill the gap…only to realize it was more like a chasm. Tossing out her plans, Kristen created a new organization to address the immediate needs of refugee families.

Kristen shares her journey into nonprofit leadership and what she’s done to manage imposter syndrome. Because. The struggle is real.

Show notes:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep27-kristen-bloom/

Happy Veteran's Day! Every year, here in the United States, we observe November 11th as a federal holiday to honor our military veterans—persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

In this episode, you'll meet a remarkable woman who is not only the daughter of a veteran but the Deputy Director of a nonprofit organization that serves some of the most vulnerable veterans and service members in the country.

KellyAnn Romanych is the Deputy Executive Director of Veteran’s Legal Institute. VLI provides pro bono legal assistance to homeless, at risk, disabled and low income current and former service members to eradicate barriers to housing, healthcare, education, and employment and foster self-sufficiency.

Show Notes:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep31-kellyann-romanych

Happy Veterans Day! Every year, here in the United States, we observe November 11th as a federal holiday to honor our military veterans—persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

“It [Veterans Day] coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day).

In this episode, you’ll meet a remarkable woman who is not only the daughter of a veteran but the Deputy Director of a nonprofit organization that serves some of the most vulnerable veterans and service members in the country.

KellyAnn Romanych is the Deputy Executive Director of Veterans Legal Institute. VLI provides pro bono legal assistance to homeless, at risk, disabled and low income current and former service members to eradicate barriers to housing, healthcare, education, and employment and foster self-sufficiency.

Her journey to VLI might surprise you—especially when you hear what her college major was! For KellyAnn, though, every move was made conscientiously as she followed her inner compass which continually directed her on a career path of serving the servers.

KellyAnn is a lover of nature, a gifted writer, and one of the kindest women I know. I can’t wait for you to get to know her better as she shares her story and what it’s like to lead this growing nonprofit in Southern California.

Today is International Women’s Day — March 8, 2021

Today's episode features an interview with a woman who, like the me, is someone with a strong faith and a desire to see more women in leadership roles—both secular and religious. My guest and I have had similar journeys fighting misogyny and patriarchy in our different religious traditions.

Fatima Sadaf Saied is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Organization in Orlando, Florida. She’s a wife, a mother, and a fierce advocate for the women in her community, but especially those in her faith community.

In this interview, Fatima shares how her parents immigrated to the United States from Pakistan and worked to establish a mosque for Asian Muslims who had also immigrated to the same area. We talk about everything from growing up in the nonprofit world and attending the University of Miami to getting married and being a full-time mom, and from that to starting an organization to empower Muslim women with service opportunities as well as trauma-informed training.

We talk about why some Muslim women wear a hijab, why she does, and how wearing the hijab changed her life. We also delve into what it takes to make real, tangible change in a system steeped in patriarchy, and I have to say, her approach is genius!

Fatima is the real deal. A strong woman of faith who works hard every day to elevate the voices of women in spaces where they are often silenced.

I just couldn’t be happier to bring you this interview today. Now more than ever, we need role models of strong women—especially in the faith community which can skew towards patriarchy. We need to hear their stories and see them in action. We need to be reminded that one woman CAN make a huge difference even when the approach towards making that change has to be indirect.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2eb1-fatima-sadaf-saied

Chay Neal is the Executive Director of Animal Liberation Queensland in Queensland Australia.

Animal Liberation Queensland exists to protect all animals from abuse, exploitation and suffering; to foster respectful and compassionate community attitudes towards animals; and to promote veganism as the most ethical and ecologically sustainable lifestyle.

During this interview, Chay reveals when he made the decision to go Vegan (he started at a younger age than you might expect) and how love for his first pet ignited something in him that turned into a lifelong passion of advocacy for all living creatures.

As we do in all our podcasts, we explore Chay’s journey into the nonprofit sector which began with volunteering and protests. He also shares his move from volunteer to board member and then what it was like transitioning from a long-time board member position to being the organization’s first paid staff.

Chay explains the organization’s strategic use of storytelling to help open the minds and soften the hearts of lawmakers inspiring significant change in the animal rights movement.

By the time you've finished listening to this interview, you'll know more about what you can do to make the world a more respectful and compassionate place for all living creatures.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e04-chay-neal

Most of us are aware of foster care and the need for foster parents, but how often do we consider what happens to foster kids when they age out? When they no longer have a place to call home? And what about other young adults who find themselves homeless due to lack of family support?

In this episode, you’ll meet Adrean Stinnett, the Founder of J127 Ministry in Durant, Oklahoma. We’ll learn how this one woman mobilized a community–where nobody knew her–to support young women ages 18-23 who have aged out of the foster care system by providing them with a place they can call home, with long-term mentors to teach life skills, and with job opportunities at local businesses so they gain work experience and eventually thrive out on their own.

In this episode you'll learn how one woman took her vision for a transitional home for aged-out foster kids from concept to reality in less than three years, debt-free!

Visit the show notes page for photos, links, and ways to connect: 
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep12-adrean-stinnett/

How DO you get books out to children who are out of school, sheltering in place, and have no access to books at home? What if I told you there was such a thing as book fairies, and they deliver!

Eileen Minogue, the Executive Director of "The Book Fairies" on Long Island in New York. Believe it or not, but—and you’ll hear the full story in this episode—this organization holds a Guiness world record!

Connect on the show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep24-eileen-minogue/

Today’s guest is Mindy Griffith is the Executive Director of Bag it! They educate, empower, and connect cancer patients and their caregivers with the right information, right when they need it most. The resources they create not only provide a road map to help people navigate a cancer diagnosis, they also offer a step-by-step method for organizing necessary medical records throughout treatment–and it’s perfect for both the patient and the caregiver. Mindy is only the second Executive Director the organization has ever had, and so you know I had to ask her about how the transition went when the founder stepped down. I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised by Mindy’s journey from being an elementary school teacher to becoming the Executive Director of a small nonprofit in Tuscon, Arizona.

Long time no see. Can you believe it’s already October and the holidays are right around the corner? Literally. And I think we’re all still waiting to see what it’s going to be like this year as we begin peeking out from behind this life-altering global pandemic. I know one of the traditions my family missed out on last year was an in-person holiday handbell concert by the Raleigh Ringers. It wasn’t safe and like most arts organizations, they took their performance to cyberspace.

This pandemic has really turned the way we experience life upside down, and I truly believe that one of the hardest hit subsectors in the nonprofit world is arts & culture. And yet, the sector rose to the occasion as it provided us with virtual concerts we’d otherwise never been able to attend (Third Coast Baroque and Broadway Inspirational Voices, I’m talking to you!), virtual gatherings to create and reflect on beauty, and so much more.

My guest today is Dionne Powlenzuk, the Executive Director of the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington in Bowmanville, Ontario Canada. We recorded this podcast earlier this year before adding video, so ironic as it is, we only have audio for this interview.

So… could you imagine how to run a public art gallery during a pandemic? Like how can you even? How do you continue serving your community when everything is on lockdown? Or not? Or again?

The fact is: Even though we are finally seeing the light at the end of the Covid tunnel, this pandemic has hit the arts sector the hardest of all.

And yet, I cannot fathom how we would have survived this pandemic without leaders like Dionne who took what was primarily an in-person only experience and moved it online and outdoors so we could learn and refresh our spirits during one of the darkest times in our lifetime!.

In this interview, Dionne and I talk about how she started volunteering at the organization she now leads, and what that journey has been like. We also explore the various ways the pandemic has changed the way we experience the arts, and how her local gallery has not only expanded their audience, they’ve also grown the pool of artists they support—with living wages—to include artists worldwide.

So with no further adieu, allow me to introduce you to Dionne Powlenzuk, the Executive Director of the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep16-dionne-powlenzuk

In this episode, I interview Tracy Baron Phillips, the Chief Development Officer of a private library foundation in Zionsville, Indiana. Tracy is a passionate supporter of anything related to learning, and she’s especially fond of her local library.

What is the impact when a local library closes it’s doors due to a pandemic? And how does a library pivot to continue serving the community through a crisis?

Show Notes:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep25-tracy-phillips/

Today’s interview is with the founder of a Humane Society in southern Texas.

You might not be familiar with this type of organization so let me help you get your bearings. You’ve heard of animal rescues and animal shelters before, right? And when you think about them, you probably imagine they rescue pets like cats and dogs.

And maybe, if you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you also think of birds, pigs, and snakes!

So, let me ask you this. Have you ever thought about what happens to abused and neglected horses? Or what happens when a horse owner loses her job and can’t afford to care for her well-loved four-hoofed friend? Did you realize that horses sometimes need to be rescued? Sheltered? Rehabilitated?

Well, they do, and today you’re going to meet a woman who not only saw the need for a horse rescue, she decided to start a nonprofit organization that does just that.

Today’s episode was so much fun to record. My guest is the Founder and Executive Director of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, Jennifer Williams. During our interview, Jennifer shares about her love of horses and her journey into the nonprofit sector--which, by the way, was never part of her life plan.

She also shares about how she met her husband online back in the mid 90s (something we have in common), and how her life changed after having her daughter later in life.

Additionally, Jennifer has a genetic condition that has made running a nonprofit more challenging than it would have been without it. We also discuss life as a nonprofit founder and how hard it was to build a strong board--but so worth it.

I can’t wait for you to meet Jennifer Williams, Founder and Executive Director of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society in Rosharon, Texas.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep15-jennifer-williams/

Today I have the privilege of introducing you to one of the most fascinating men I’ve never met (in person, that is). James “Jim” Roth spent thirty years of his life as an attorney fighting for human rights both in the United States and internationally. He’s helped start multiple nonprofits in Minnesota including the Center for Victims of Torture and The Advocates for Human Rights. He currently serves on the board at One Voice, Mixed Chorus in Minnesota.

One Voice Mixed Chorus is Minnesota’s only – and one of the nation’s largest – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight allies (LGBTA) chorus. Founded in 1988, One Voice has been “building community and creating social change by raising our voices in song” for 30 years.

Additional links and video performance can be found on the show notes page: 
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep13-james-roth/

EPISODE 18: My guest Noelani Pearl Hunt, shares the good, the bad, and the ugly experiences she's had over the past 20 years in nonprofit leadership.

Every day Noelani leverages her leadership expertise to support members in the Village and our members-only small groups. Whether she’s offering feedback on an elevator pitch or reviewing a logic model or simply holding space in a self-care zoom, you can count on Noelani for honest feedback and an empathetic ear.

Basically, she’s a rock star and we’re lucky to have her on our team!

Connect on the show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep18-noelani-pearl-hunt

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States, I wanted to interview someone whose people lived here before the country was “discovered.” Someone whose people have creation traditions based on this continent. Someone who works day in and day out to preserve her own culture. Despite colonization.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe lives in the central southeast of Arizona on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. In this episode, you will meet a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe who grew up on the reservation and now serves as the Executive Director of the Fort Apache Heritage Foundation. Her name is Krista Beazley.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Krista went from being a wolf biologist and ecotourism guide for the Tribe to being an Executive Director with a small staff, overseeing the restoration of 20+ buildings, and wearing a bunch of different hats at the Foundation.

In addition to hearing about Krista’s journey into nonprofit leadership and the work her organization is doing to preserve White Mountain Apache culture, you’re also going to learn a little more about American history when we discuss the boys’ and girls’ dorms and the culture when Krista shares the traditional foods served at a White Mountain Apache Thanksgiving dinner including things like acorn stew and tennis racquet bread.

Show Notes & Links to Connect:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep32-krista-beazley/

When he was only ten years old, my guest's parents gave him a radio starter-kit, and it wasn't long until he was broadcasting around the block. Over 50 years later, he's still broadcasting, and now, he's transferring his passion for the medium to the next generation. 

🏳‍🌈 We're still celebrating PRIDE  and today's guest, Marc Sophos, is the founder, Executive Director, and Board Chair of MFPG: Media for the Public Good and the Executive Producer of OutCasting.

OutCasting, OutCasting Overtime, and the OutCasting Ga[y]me Show are public radio's LGBTQ youth programs and podcasts, produced by teenagers and young adults.  The programs cover LGBTQ and queer topics, including transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex, non-binary, and other gender and sexuality identities and issues pertaining to them, with particular emphasis on their effects on young people.

Learn more and connect with OutCasting on the show notes page:
https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep15-marc-sophos/

Rutgers is the 8th oldest college in the U.S. having received its charter in 1766—10 years before the Revolution. Recent research documents the university's foundation on land taken from the indigenous Lenape people and at one time benefited from slave labor and funds derived from purchasing and selling slaves.

As you can imagine, it’s not easy creating a sense of belonging for students whose ancestors were directly impacted by this. And for decades...centuries, really... there was no association dedicated to serving the alumni of African descent. But that all changed when students banded together in 1989 to form the original Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance on campus.

RAAA was re-launched in 2001 (and incorporated in 2006) as an all-volunteer organization serving the African, Afro-Asian, Black/African-American, Afro-Caribbean & Afro-Latinx alumni encompassing all of Rutgers University's undergraduate and graduate schools in New Jersey.

In this episode, my guest, Kendall Hall, shares her passion for building unity and developing camaraderie among students, faculty, and staff of African descent—not only as alumni, but possibly just as important, while they are are actively enrolled in studies at the University. She explains how a student’s experience of belonging while studying at the university directly impacts their involvement as alumni which indirectly impacts the experience future students have at Rutgers.

And it makes sense, right? If you don’t feel like you belong at your university, when you matriculate, you walk away.

Envisioning a more inclusive future for both students and alumni, Kendall has actively been involved in running various aspects of RAAA, Inc. since 2001. Notably, she worked directly with the class of 1971 on the their class gift: the Paul Robeson Plaza to honor one of Rutger’s most famous graduates.

Kendall highlights why this project was so significant for the university, and why she was so intent on helping with it even though she graduated more than 25 years after the class of 71.

I can’t wait for you to meet Kendall Hall, President of Rutger’s African-American Alumni Association, Inc.

https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e09-kendall-hall