Community Possibilities

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Nicole Bowman joins me to talk about the rich tapestry of traditional knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing. Nicky, known as the "Blue Collar Scholar," shares her transformative journey as an advocate for culturally responsive and Indigenous research, policy, and evaluation. We dive deep into the necessity of challenging norms and advocating for marginalized commu...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Winograd Babayeuski is a relentless advocate for families involved in the foster care system. Sarah joins me for the second time on the show to update us on the latest transformation of the nonprofit she founded. Together With Families (TWF) harnesses grassroots efforts and community resources to prevent family separations due to poverty. Sarah's shares the evolution of...

Send us Fan Mail Emily Ann Ball and Audrey Itikata of Resilient Georgia join us to talk about their work with the organization marking its fifth year of dedication to trauma-informed approaches, child wellness and early brain development. Resilient Georgia combats mental health stigma and supports trauma-informed practices through partnerships with 16 regional coalitions spanning 120 counties. We...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you prioritize authentic relationships over financial gains in community work? Join us in this enlightening episode of Community Possibilities as we sit down with the inspiring LaDonna Collins. Fresh from her role as executive director of the Rome Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth, LaDonna now brings her transformative vision to the National Family Su...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on Community Possibilities as John Silver, a registered nurse, shares his vision of a future where healthcare operates as a hybrid public utility, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary approaches and political advocacy to address systemic issues like access and resource distribution. John and his collaborators establised Nurses Transforming Healthcare, an organization...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever stood at the crossroads of career and calling, unsure of which path to take? Christa Barfield didn't just stand at that crossroad; she blazed a trail from a decade-long healthcare profession to revolutionizing urban agriculture. Our latest episode charts Christa’s remarkable pivot, capturing her transformation from burnout to beacon of change. With the birth of...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Community Possibilities, Kali Thorne Ladd, Executive Director of the Children's Institute joins me. Kali shares her journey from passionate classroom teacher to a visionary leader, driving policy change to bolster the well-being of children and, subsequently, Oregon communities. I first learned about the Children's Institute when I saw a video sponsore...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Community Possibilities, Dr. Tasha Parker shares her story and work as community psychologist and liscenced clinical social worker.  Tasha's personal story influences her approach to collaborative systems change, challenging the popular yet insufficient concepts of 'resiliency' and 'grit'. Our conversation navigates the intersection of e...

Send us Fan Mail Following a car accident  at 16, Addis Alemayehu Gonte's life changed forever. Eventually he recovered from multiple traumatic injuries. Addis shares the challenges of living with visable and invisible disabilities. While in college he founded a nonprofit, ABLE Mindset, that works to uplift and empower lives through the creative arts. Addis reflects on the isolation often fel...

Send us Fan Mail Shen Chefalo's journey is a testament to resilience and the power of healing. Our conversation highlights the profound impact how our own lives can lead us in unexpected places. We delve into the heart of what it means to create trauma-informed communities, addressing root causes in health and social challenges, and the power dynamics within organizational environments, offer...

Send us Fan Mail Johann Jacob and Helen Kinsella, two residents of Co-Habitat Quebec's, join me to share their community in Quebec, Canada.  I met Johann at the Canadian Evaluation Society and he and his partner graciously hosted me and another friend for dinner at their community. I was excited to learn about this way of living in community. Johann and Helen share the history of Co-Habitat Q...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to  be an advocate, a parent, and a community leader? Angela Masden is all of those things. In this episode, Angela shares her story and shares her lessons learned.  She shares her inspiring journey as single parenthood who found her voice  advocating for her son in a system riddled with systemic biases. We cover a myriad of topics from Angela's impactful co...

Send us Fan Mail How do you usually great veterans? Do you nod and thank them for their service? In this episode, Dr. Qwynn Galloway Salazar, an Army veteran and military spouse, joins me for a second time to revisit her work with veteran and military communities. Her role as an end-of-life doula, educator, and facilitator uncovers unique perspectives on addressing trauma, suicide prevention, and...

Send us Fan Mail From a career in banking to fortifying families against child abuse, our guest today is a testament to the power of following your passion. Jennifer Stein, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, joins us to share her inspiring journey and the transformative work her organization is doing to safeguard children. She sheds light on the critical role her team plays in stre...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we journey alongside Dr. Alie Redd, Executive Director of Covenant House, Georgia. "Dr. A" was raised in the 70's as a 'parentified kid' and faced homelessness during her undergrad years.  Alie's life story is one of grace, resilience, and self-reflection. Today, she is dedicated to supporting young people who have suffered trauma and are h...

Send us Fan Mail Join me as I sit down with Nonet Sykes, the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Atlanta Beltline Inc., who reveals the many changes brought about by the Atlanta Beltline project. Nonet describes how the Beltline, beyond its identity as a walking and biking path, is striving to reconnect 45 previously segregated neighborhoods and foster racial and economic equity. Nonet delves de...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on this enlightening convo with Catherine Cote, founder of Project Empathy. A college study abroad experience to Melbourne, Australia, changed her life. Catherine's story is one of personal growth and social awakening.  Catherine's passion project, Project Empathy, is her remarkable initiative that aims to open up dialogue and understanding through the power of s...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to understand community level change? Buckle up as my business bestie, Dr. Susan Wolff, and I share our experiences working with community coalitions and community-based nonprofits. We share our highs, our lows, and those 'aha' moments that keep us going in our quest to effect change. We've poured our expertise into a co-authored book, " Guidebook...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, advocate, evaluator, city councilman, and recently new podcast host, David Shorr joins me on Community Possibilities.  We met through our mutual colleague and friend, Kathleen Sullivan. Kathleen has the distinction of being my most popular episode to date. There is a lot of interest in advocacy, and David knows advocacy like few others.      In this episode we tal...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Allisaon Padilla-Goodman, Vice President of the Southern Division of the Anti-Defamation League joins me. As Vice President of the Southern Division, Allison Padilla-Goodman and her team work daily to fight antisemitism and all forms of hate in the Cleveland, Florida, South Central, Southeast and Washington, D.C. regional offices.  In this episode we talk about: A...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ann speaks to Maryum Lewis, President & CEO of Jerasulem House, now known as Status:Home . We talk about: Maryum's journey from the family farm to the city and why she chose to work in the nonprofit space.  The history of Jerusalem House,  Atlanta’s oldest and largest provider of permanent housing for low-income individuals.  Why housing is healthcare and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Community Possibilities , you will meet Amy Ard, Executive Director of Motherhood Beyond Bars. Being a nonprofit leader was not Amy's career plan, but sometimes, life takes you in unexpected places. One profound experience in her life that led her back to her home, Atlanta.  We talk about how Amy first become aware of  incarcerated women who are pregnant an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Community Possibilties , Dr. Joe Gone, Professor of Anthropology and of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University,  joins me to talk about his work at the intersection of culture, coloniality, and well-being in Indigenous communities. An enrolled member of the Aaniiih -Gros Ventre tribal Nation of Montana, he has investigated these issues through c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Community Possibilities, Sam Gill joins me to talk about his work with the Doris Duke Foundation. She was "always a woman of her times" and that is reflected in her funding priorities and the Foundation trys to follow her example today. Sam shares the history of the Doris Duke Foundation and who Doris Duke was. She was a woman a head of her times in ma...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Community Possibilities, Crystal Atson joins me to talk about her work with The Ford Family Foundation and their work in rural communities. We talk about: We dig into why they work in rural communities and what that looks like. How they developed their Community Building Approach and the way it guides their work.  The four principles that guide the work of the F...