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When families are forced to flee their homes, starting over in a new country can feel impossible. In this episode, Joseph Smalzer speaks with Shawn Smith, Executive Director of Global Impact Initiative, about how his team helps refugees rebuild their lives in Central Texas. From finding housing and learning English to gaining employment through CDL training and the Refugee Sewing Collective, GII p...

In this episode we interview Livi Kerszenbaum, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Orange County United Way. Orange County United Way’s mission is to improve lives in Orange County by delivering measurable long-term solutions to complex issues in education, financial stability, health and housing.  Orange County United Way’s unique approach comes from an understanding that...

In this episode we interview Isaac Esene, Founder/Director at GoodWorks. GoodWorks’s belief is clear: to create safer communities, we must foster a more informed and proactive generation. Beyond just witnessing, we are cultivating a generation equipped to act, ensuring fewer preventable deaths and injuries in emergencies. Through tailored workshops, strategic partnerships, and cultural engagement,...

In this episode we interview Robb Munger, Founder & President of Exodus Place. Exodus Place’s mission is to Glorify God by meeting each man where they are. We provide a hand up rather than a handout by equipping these men with physical, emotional, mental and spiritual tools for successful reintegration into the community.  Exodus Place is the largest transitional Housing Facility for men in Mi...

In this episode we interview Elizabeth Cushing, CEO at Playworks. Playworks’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s physical and emotional well-being. With more than 25 years of experience, the organizati...

In this episode we interview Diana Canant, Founder and CEO at LifeSpheres. LifeSpheres’s mission is to To build resilience that empowers people to thrive by resolving trauma in peer-communities globally. LifeSpheres, a California 501(c)(3) Public Charity and a South African NPO, facilitates trauma healing through a community program. They create safe spaces for deep listening and mutual support, a...

Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradle to Crayons, discusses the mission of the organization to end clothing insecurity for children. She shares her personal inspiration for starting the organization and the initial activities they undertook to understand the needs of families. Lynn highlights the growth of Cradle to Crayons over the past 20 years, from supplying 2,000 packages to children in t...

In this episode we interview Nate Pietrini, Ed. D., Executive Director at High Jump. High Jump equalizes access to education for Chicago middle school students who have exhibited academic ambition and potential and who are of limited economic means. We provide academic enrichment, counseling and support to students of diverse backgrounds, with the goals of sending our participants to superior coll...

In this episode we interview Ausra Tallat-Kelpsa Di Raimondo, Board President at Blue/Yellow USA. Blue/Yellow USA's mission is to provide medical care, humanitarian, and non-lethal aid to Ukraine. Blue Yellow USA's mission is to provide non-lethal medical aid and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. They deliver aid to high-risk areas near the front line and underserved areas. The organization was founded...

In this episode we interview Vriti, Co-founder & President and Mike Peck, VP at Ed3 Dao. Ed3 DAO’s mission is to empower educators with the knowledge and tools in emerging technologies like AI & Web3, ensuring every student is equipped for the future workforce. Ed3 DAO is a global community for educators who wish to catalyze innovation in education and reimagine learning with emerging tech...

In this episode, Joseph interviews Kerry Brodie, the Founder and Executive Director of Emma's Torch. Emma's Torch is an organization that empowers refugees and survivors of human trafficking through culinary training and workforce development. Kerry explains that she founded the organization after realizing that she had the passion and idea to create a culinary training program for refugees and su...

Lyric Amodia, Founder and Executive Director of The Movement Street, joins Joseph in this episode. The Movement Street is a nonprofit organization that redefines community service through impact and style. Lyric was inspired to start the organization after witnessing the effects of the Flint water crisis and wanting to make a difference. The organization aims to make community service more attract...

In this episode we interview Tony Woods, Founder & Executive Director at Public Equity. Public Equity’s mission is to improve the quality of life and access to resources for the most vulnerable communities. Public Equity believes that community members are the experts on their neighborhoods, their voices should be heard, and that genuine relationships with the community are crucial to mitigati...

In this episode we interview Anna Wassman, Founder and Executive Director at Onco-Ballet Foundation. Onco-Ballet Foundation’s mission is to provide free Onco-Ballet classes to anyone facing cancer.  The Onco-Ballet Foundation was created to share ballet movement tailored and modified for the cancer community to help them get back in touch with their body. Our Founder and Executive Director, Anna W...

In this episode, Joseph interviews Jacque Stefanik, the Executive Director and Co-founder of Serving People with a Mission (SPM). SPM is a leadership development program that focuses on providing young people, particularly teenagers and those in their twenties, with the tools and resources to become servant leaders in their communities. Jacque explains that the mission of SPM is to seek and provid...

In this episode we interview Timothy "Tito" Torres, Executive Director at Moral Compass Federation. Moral Compass Federation empowers veteran communities to address Moral Injury through education, advocacy, and action. By utilizing a coalition-based model, we are guided by our values of honoring promises made to our allies, taking care of those who served our country, promoting sound policies that...

In this episode we interview Sherese Reed, CEO at Reigning Pearls Organization. Reigning Pearls Organization’s mission is to help young ladies who have children with the necessary tools to prosper and attain their life goals. Reigning Pearls will provide our young parents the opportunity to excel, educate and explore a world beyond their expectations.  Show them a different side of life.  Want to...

In this episode we interview Raghav Aggarwal, Founder and President Chess For Trees. Chess For Trees’s mission is to create a chess community that extends past the board, making one move at a time to checkmate climate change.  We host chess tournaments and offer chess coaching to raise money to plant trees and also support young chess players in their journey. We also partner with environmental no...

In this episode we interview Sarah Cady, CEO at REACT DC, Inc.. REACT DC, Inc.’s mission is to provide nationwide resettlement support for sponsorship and wraparound assistance for refugees, visa holders, and parolees in the DC metro area to help newcomers thrive. We value partnerships with non-profits, businesses, and a core group of community and volunteer members supporting our mission. We're o...

In this episode we interview Patrick Keenan-Devlin, Executive Director & Youth Defense Attorney and Kristen Kennard, Deputy Director and Director of Social Work at James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy. James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy provides community-based restorative services for youth and families. Our approach is holistic, healing-centered, client-driven. Our work advances th...

In this episode we interview Erin Barnett, Founder and Founder & Director of Black Girls Dance. Black Girls Dance’s mission is to showcase, highlight, and empower dancers of color through quality training, performance opportunities and monetary scholarships.   Black Girls Dance is inspiring  the next generation of leaders and using dance as a vessel to cultivate confidence, time management, te...

In this episode we interview Elisa Stampf, CEO & Co-Founder at Insure Equality. Insure Equality’s mission is to uplift the voices in our industry that are typically excluded or minimized. Insure Equality is here to make insurance a more welcoming place! Whether you work in the industry or just have to have it, your experience shouldn't be something you dread. Our broader goal is to make insura...

In this episode we interview Alex and Moses at David’s Den. David’s Den is a one-of-a-kind 501c3 nonprofit resource in Nashville for musicians and the creative community. It is a safe space where they can get support, guidance and friendship if and when they are feeling self-destructive, having suicidal thoughts or experiencing internal pressures due to depression or other mental health matters. T...

In this episode we interview Liz Veyhl (Executive Director) and Mikka Parrish (Outreach Manager) at Small World Yoga. Small World Yoga’s mission is to connect people and create community by increasing access to yoga We believe in the power of yoga to transform individuals through healing and connection. We envision a world in which everyone has access to these benefits. By empowering people, we st...

In this episode we interview Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering They discuss AmeriCorps' mission, partnerships with various organizations, and the opportunities they offer, including education awards and new experiences. They also highlight the importance of diversity and e...