Kassandra Garcia

Inside the Impact: United Way of the Mohawk Valley Podcast

Society EN ↓ 5 episodes

Inside the Impact takes you into the heart of the Mohawk Valley, sharing the people, programs, and moments that are making a real difference. We go behind the scenes with our United Way team to highlight our services and programs, and through honest conversations and inspiring stories, we show how community members, local partners, and organizations are coming together to strengthen our region and create lasting change.

Author

Kassandra Garcia

Episodes

Episode #5: Ready for the Storm w/ Tito DeJesus 27.06.2026 22:10

One year ago, our community was hit by one of the most devastating tornadoes in our history. While the initial shock has faded, the vital work of protecting our neighborhoods, supporting our neighbors, and planning for the future never stops. In this episode, we take a deeply personal look back at that day and explore what it truly means to build long-term resilience right here at home so we are f...

Episode #4: Neighbors Caring for Neighbors: Why Clean Spaces Matter w/ Gene Allen 30.05.2026 16:29

In this episode of Inside the Impact, host Kassandra is joined by Gene Allen, a leader within the City of Utica and a key voice for Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful (KMVB). Together, they dive into why we can no longer let community spaces sit ignored and how clean neighborhoods directly impact the families living in them. Tune in to hear about the power of local collaboration, growing stronger every...

Episode #3: Honoree Breakfast Spotlight: Ron Klopfanstein 16.04.2026 25:38

Local stories don’t magically appear. They’re found by showing up when it’s inconvenient, asking one more honest question, and caring enough to listen for the human thread. We sit down with Mohawk Valley multimedia journalist Ron, a familiar voice on local radio and a recipient of a Communications and Community Awareness Impact Award, to talk about what it really takes to elevate neighbors and str...

Episode #2: Honoree Breakfast Spotlight: Jesenia Wright 16.03.2026 36:35

In our second episode of Inside the Impact, we celebrate Women’s History Month with a homegrown leader who defines "grit and grace." We sit down with Jesenia Wright, our 2026 Community Voice & Advocacy Impact Award recipient, for an inspiring look at the journey of how her life came to be. Jesenia shares how her lived experience in the Mohawk Valley fueled her passion for advocacy an...

Episode #1: Behind the Scenes, with our CEO 16.02.2026 20:43

In our first episode of Inside the Impact, we sit down with United Way of the Mohawk Valley CEO and Executive Director Sue Litera to deep-dive into leadership, community, and the work happening behind the scenes. Sue shares insights into what drives her, the values guiding United Way, and how everyday efforts come together to make a difference in the Mohawk Valley. Through the discussion, it will...