cityCURRENT Radio Show

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Andrew Bartolotta , Director of Digital Media for cityCURRENT , who discusses the different roles he plays and how digital media plays an integral role in all facets of cityCURRENT's efforts to power the GOOD through events, media and philanthropy. He then shares some of the lessons learned in 2022 and talks about 3 Social Media Trends we'll see in 2023: #1 Short For...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Donny Granger , Founder and CEO of Creation Studios , who discusses the Art of Caring and importance of knowing your audience so you can connect in a meaningful and impactful way. Donny talks about some of the major disconnects with traditional marketing and the power of making your customer and team the "hero" of the story. He shares tips on how and where to start a...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Jared Barnett , CEO of Slingshot Memphis , who highlights the poverty-fighting center of influence that's igniting a movement to revolutionize the way we fight poverty. During the interview, Jared talks about how Slingshot Memphis has developed a new, standardized methodology to measure poverty-fighting effectiveness and works alongside nonprofits to understand which...

Jeremy C. Park talks with Rokeisha Bryant , Executive Director of Cafe Momentum Nashville , who highlights the award-winning restaurant and culinary training facility for justice-involved youth, ages 15-19, which was originally founded in Dallas, Texas. The organization aims to transform young lives by equipping youth with life skills, education and employment opportunities to help them achieve th...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Chris Fleming , Tennessee State Coordinator for Agriculture in the Classroom , who highlights the program that was initiated in 1981 by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John Block to improve "agriculture literacy" among students. During the interview, Chris discusses how the program uses online resources, county farm days, school garden grants, teacher recognition, prof...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Dr. Scott Morris , who highlights his latest book, "Care: How People of Faith Can Respond to Our Broken Health System," which is now available at book retailers online and around the nation. Dr. Morris is a medical doctor, pastor, and founder and CEO of Church Health, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee and known as the nation's largest charitably funded faith-based...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with broadcast meteorologist Meaghan Thomas , founder of the nonprofit, The Heart of Hearing, Inc., and author of the book, "Heart of Hearing," who shares some of her personal story with hearing loss and how hearing aids transformed her life and career and have become a catalyst for her purpose to help others. "Heart of Hearing" is an animated and entertaining story for c...

Jeremy C. Park talks with Valencia A. Breckenridge , CEO of GraceWorks Ministries , who highlights the nonprofit's mission of "Neighbor serving Neighbor, by the power of God's grace," and their efforts to provide food, shelter and support to those in need in the community. GraceWorks is a faith-based community resource center that was established more than 27 years ago by a group of concerned Will...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Dr. Gretchen Wolfe , Executive Director of Building Entrepreneurs for Success in Tennessee (BEST) , along with Mrs. Karen Vander Molen , Founder of BEST , former Executive Director, retired president of the Board of Directors, and former graduate services director, who both highlight the nonprofit and their 4-phase program focused on reducing recidivism and helping i...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Travis Claybrooks , Founder and CEO of Raphah Institute , who shares some of his personal story and what led him to launch the nonprofit based in Nashville, Tennessee, which addresses issues surrounding youth incarceration and victim trauma by using restorative practices in juvenile court cases. Together, all parties talk about the harm caused, its impact, and ways t...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Pat Lawler , CEO of Youth Villages, who highlights the Memphis, Tennessee-based nonprofit that is a national leader in children's mental and behavioral health committed to build strong families, delivering effective services and significantly improving outcomes for children, families and young people involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems across the c...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Sam O'Bryant, III , Executive Director of Literacy Mid-South , who highlights the nonprofit's mission and efforts to provide literacy resources to learners of all backgrounds and ages. During the interview, Sam shares some of the history for the organization, which was founded in 1974, and how the organization has evolved and expanded to work with adult and student r...

Host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Russ Lehman , founder of Light Garden ; Mayor Ken Adams , Mayor of Olive Branch, MS ; and Michael Bellipanni of Northcentral Electric Cooperative ; to discuss the newest holiday experience coming to Olive Branch, MS -- Light Garden. Located in the Olive Branch, MS City Park, Light Garden visitors enjoy beautiful light displays as well as local flavors, perform...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Elizabeth Langgle-Martin , Community Engagement Manager at The Nashville Food Project , who highlights their efforts and mission to bring people together to grow, cook and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating community and alleviating hunger in our city. During the interview, Elizabeth talks about their gardens, where they grow organic food intensivel...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with David Williams , Regional Director for Vitalant in Memphis, Tennessee and Tupelo, Mississippi, who highlights the national nonprofit blood service responsible for serving 900 hospitals nationwide, 15 in the Memphis area, and 22 out of their Tupelo operation. During the interview, David talks about the life-saving importance of donating blood during the holidays, whic...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Dodd Galbreath , Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Practice Graduate Program at Lipscomb University , who highlights the Southeast's first, comprenshive academic sustainability program. The program offers a Master of Science in sustainability, dual degrees in the MS, and an MBA matched to reduce the total number of required hours from...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Trina Frierson , Founding President and CEO of Mending Hearts , who shares the story of overcoming her own personal struggles with addiction and homelessness and what led her to then start the nonprofit in 2004, after realizing the need for an inclusive recovery program to serve women with similar circumstances. Mending Hearts is a recovery based therapeutic communit...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Jeff McGinnis , Executive Director of the Nashville Coaching Coalition , who highlights the nonprofit's mission and efforts to develop full-hearted coaches that are preparing young people for life. During the interview, Jeff talks about the important role coaches play in the lives of youth, how they are most well-positioned mentors in our society, yet the least resou...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Dr. Bradley Cook , founder of Career Up Now and Super Virtuals , who shares some of his personal story in launching the nonprofit, Career Up Now, and how that led him to start the business, Super Virtuals, in order to help other nonprofits and businesses leverage the power of virtual assistants. Career Up Now engages emerging professionals (18-26 year olds) through t...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Julia Bonne r, Founder and President of Pierce Public Relations , who shares the story of founding the Nashville, Tennessee based company in 2015 and highlights their efforts to help clients around the nation with media relations, executive thought leadership programs, social media strategy and implementation, content strategy and development, and digital marketing....

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with broadcast meteorologist Meaghan Thomas , founder of the nonprofit, The Heart of Hearing, Inc., and author of the book, "Heart of Hearing," who shares some of her personal story with hearing loss and how hearing aids transformed her life and career and have become a catalyst for her purpose to help others. "Heart of Hearing" is an animated and entertaining story for c...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Rachel Ozols Purdom , Community Engagement Manager for International Paper , who highlights the Memphis, Tennessee based company that is one of the world's leading producers of fiber-based packaging and pulp. During the interview, Rachel talks about their community engagement initiatives, areas of focus, and examples of their efforts and impact globally, nationally a...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Trina Frierson , Founding President and CEO of Mending Hearts , who shares the story of overcoming her own personal struggles with addiction and homelessness and what led her to then start the nonprofit in 2004, after realizing the need for an inclusive recovery program to serve women with similar circumstances. Mending Hearts is a recovery based therapeutic communit...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Keith Blanchard , President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis , who highlights their mission and efforts to enable all young people, especially those who need the organization the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.  During the interview, Keith shares some of the local history dating back to 1962, and talks...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Katie George Hooser , Chief Marketing Officer for IMC Companies , who shares some of the history for how the Collierville, Tennessee-based company has grown over the last forty years to become the leading marine drayage operator in the United States. During the interview, Katie discusses the importance of drayage and how it impacts international trade, the national d...