Community Possibilities

Send us Fan Mail Walking into a federal prison for the first time can mess with your head: the locked doors, the strict procedures, the feeling that you do not belong there. But what happens after you sit down and simply listen? I’m joined by Shazad Carbaidwala and Dr. Leila Richards, two board members of Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS), a national volunteer visitation program serving people...

Send us Fan Mail Most nonprofits don’t lose grants because they “aren’t doing good work” they lose because they aren’t ready to prove it. Grant strategist Lisa Eaves joins us to break down what funders actually look for, why preparation matters more than last-minute writing, and how small organizations can build a real path to sustainable nonprofit funding.  Lisa shares the story behind her consul...

Send us Fan Mail Real community change rarely fails because people do not care. It fails because leadership gets reduced to titles, meetings turn into status updates, and “helping” unintentionally reinforces the very conditions we are trying to change. We sit down with Gabrielle Hawkins Stewart, a consultant and facilitator who brings systems theory, racial equity practice, and a poverty-informed,...

Send us Fan Mail These days, federal funding can feel like a door slamming shut, in this episode, we sit down with Tonia Brown-Kinzel, grant compliance manager at The Grant Plant, to map what is actually happening in the federal grants landscape and what nonprofit leaders can do right now to stay competitive without losing themselves in fear or guesswork.  We get concrete about grant compliance an...

Send us Fan Mail Funding is moving, deadlines are looming, and your team is stretched. In this episode, Dr. Brandi Rae Hicks, a grant strategist, educator, and builder of billion-dollar portfolios, shares a clear resilience framework that any nonprofit can use to stay steady amid disruption and grow stronger on the other side. Her Six-step framework includes: mission clarity, collaboration, commun...

Send us Fan Mail Grants don’t fund ideas—they fund clear stories that solve real problems. We sit down with Dr. Natasha Goldman, an art historian turned grant strategist, to map out a practical path from fuzzy concepts to fundable proposals. Natasha shares a simple five-part framework—what, why, how, who, and how much—that helps teams decode dense RFPs, align their plans, and write with confidence...

Send us Fan Mail Funders are closing doors, deadlines are tighter, and “spray and pray” proposals aren’t landing. We sit down with grant strategist Betty Barnard, President and CEO of Resurgens Impact Consulting, to map a smarter way forward for small and mid-sized nonprofits serving health, human services, and movement-building work. The conversation starts with values—care for communities, clari...

Send us Fan Mail What if philanthropy wasn’t about wealth at all, but about love made practical? I sit down with my friend Rena Olsen—storyteller, nonprofit pro, and founder of Uncommon Philanthropist—to explore how ordinary people can spark extraordinary impact through simple, repeatable acts of service and smarter giving. Rena shares her winding path from broadcast journalism to agency work to f...

Send us Fan Mail What if we could bridge the generational divide while preserving the rich stories of our elders? This question drives Ariel Galinsky, founder of The Legacy Project, a nonprofit that pairs college students with older adults. Ariel's journey began with personal loss - her grandfather's passing when she was just ten, leaving stories uncaptured. While working in a senior com...

Send us Fan Mail Courtney Teasley takes us behind the curtain to expose how arrests and charges require only "probable cause" – essentially, that someone probably committed a crime. This low standard follows individuals through most of their journey until trial, but with 97% of defendants accepting plea deals before reaching that point, most convictions occur without ever meeting the &qu...

Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to lasting health change isn't in your next program, but in how you invite communities to lead the work itself? Drawing from my experiences with over 50 coalitions, this episode unpacks why so many well-intentioned organizations struggle with community engagement and offers a practical roadmap for building authentic partnerships. We explore the uncomfortabl...

Send us Fan Mail The tension between creative expression and rigid reporting requirements creates a disconnect that undermines both funders and grantees. What if there's a better way forward? Kelly Feltault and Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld join us to unpack how traditional accountability frameworks often miss the mark when applied to arts organizations. Drawing from their work with Creative For...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Emia Oppenheim shares the powerful impact of Farm to Early Care and Education programs that connect young children with local food systems through gardening, hands-on learning, and fresh local foods. • Public health nutrition focuses on population-level changes rather than individual interventions • Children's food preferences often develop before age three, making early...

Send us Fan Mail Nonprofit leaders feeling the weight of challenging times need more than grit to thrive—they need resilient organizations built on sustainable systems and supportive networks. Brooke Ritchie-Babbage shares her S.T.R.O.N.G. framework for building nonprofit stability while growing impact. • Strategic clarity keeps everyone focused on the "cathedral" they're building b...

Send us Fan Mail Amanda Klein-Cox joins me to talk about KinCarolina, a comprehensive support program for caregivers raising children with disabilities or special health care needs. The program combines peer support, training, financial assistance, and community-building to improve caregiver wellbeing and ultimately benefit the children in their care. • Kinship care occurs when relatives or close...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Dominique Johnson's passion for community transformation isn't just theoretical—it's deeply personal and remarkably effective. From his roots in East Macon, Georgia to founding the Urban Community Empowerment Organization (Urban CEO), Johnson has developed a powerful framework for community-led change that's producing measurable results. The Urban CEO focus...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Nina Sabarre, founder and CEO of Intention to Impact, takes us deep into the urgent challenges philanthropy faces in our current political climate. With federal programs under attack and DEI initiatives being dismantled, foundations stand at a pivotal crossroads – will they retreat or boldly step forward? Dr. Sabarre reveals how foundations aren't responding uniformly to...

Send us Fan Mail When tragedy struck at age 15, Jesse Kohler found himself surrounded by a supportive community that helped him navigate grief and eventually discover post-traumatic growth. This formative experience set Jesse on a path toward becoming a passionate advocate for trauma-informed systems change. As Executive Director of the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP), Jes...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Jimmy Smith Jr., a dynamic leader in public health, reveals the transformative journey from family medicine to becoming the Director of the Macon-Bibb County Health Department. Dr. Smith shares his passion for influencing communities on a large scale, highlighting his mentorship at Mercer University and as the president of the Georgia Public Health Association. His inspiring s...

Send us Fan Mail Darice Oppong's joins me today to share her journey working in community leadership and trauma-informed practices. We explore the vital role of collaboration in fostering resilient communities and the importance of celebrating small victories as coalition members work together to address societal challenges. • Darice’s background in community service and leadership • The sign...

Send us Fan Mail Preventative legal advocacy is reshaping the future of child welfare, and Emily Cook is at the forefront. As a Senior Staff Attorney at the Barton Child Law and Policy Center, Emilie Cook shares her journey from traditional legal practice to becoming a champion for systemic change. This episode explores how neglect, often rooted in poverty, not abuse, constitutes a significant iss...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Donna Beegle's remarkable journey from the depths of generational poverty to achieving a doctorate in educational leadership offers a powerful narrative of resilience and hope. Through her story, we unravel the systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty and the transformative power of education and community support. Dr. Beegle's insights challenge us to rethink our a...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Dawn X. Henderson makes research accessible for marginalized communities. From her beginnings as a middle school science teacher, to founding We Claim Research, Dawn's journey is filled with inspiring stories and groundbreaking work. Dawn’s commitment to amplifying the voices of racially and ethnically marginalized groups offers a fresh perspective on fostering environmen...

Send us Fan Mail Karie Terhark joins us in an enlightening conversation on community empowerment, revealing how her journey as a Technology of Participation (TOP) facilitator has transformed her approach to inclusivity and stakeholder engagement. Her experiences in youth development and working with drug-free communities have shaped her passion for creating spaces where every voice is heard. Karie...

Send us Fan Mail What if health was a guaranteed right, accessible to everyone regardless of race or background? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Brandon Wilson from Community Catalyst as we unpack the concept of health equity. Dr. Wilson's journey from Louisiana's Cancer Alley to being a leading advocate for equitable vaccine access is nothing short of inspiring. His pe...