Lotus Village Voices - The Official Podcast of Lotus House Women's Shelter

In this episode, we hear directly from our Operations Managers-the backbone of our shelter. They see to the day-to-day operations of our facility and have firsthand experience as guests of our shelter.  Listen to our star team members Theresa, Sharonee, and Irma.  Please note: This interview is partly in Spanish. Want to support Lotus House? Visit lotushouse.org to learn how you can get involved....

In Part II of our teen spotlight, we hear from Alvaro, an ambitious 19-year-old Lotus House alum who’s also college-bound. He reflects on his journey, highlighting the power of resilience, hard work, and staying focused, and how his dreams keep him going. Please note: This interview is entirely in Spanish. Haven’t listened to Part I yet? Go back and check out Episode 30 to hear from Shakainnah. Wa...

In this episode of Lotus Village Voices , we’re centering stories from a generation we don’t hear from often at Lotus House—our teens. First up, meet Shakainnah—a self-described happy-go-lucky teen with big dreams and a bigger sense of humor. She shares the story of a fire that led her and her mother to seek shelter, and how she turned that experience into motivation and is now heading off to coll...

In this special Mother's Day episode of Lotus Village Voices —Georgette Madison, Lotus House Guest Services Director and proud alumna—sits down with fellow alumna Kelly Michel, now Assistant Director of Operations Support at the National Women's Shelter Network. Together, they reflect on what it means to mother through uncertainty, to grow in community, and to carry both past and purpose...

In this episode of Lotus Village Voices , guest host Liz sits down with James Haj, CEO of The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade, to explore how their investments are transforming the lives of children and families across our community. From funding afterschool programs and mental health services to supporting the construction of our new Children's Village, The Children’s Trust is a true partner...

This episode we're celebrating Women’s History Month featuring inspiring perspectives from the women of Lotus House Women’s Shelter. They share what womanhood means to them, the challenges women continue to face, and their hopes for the future. Their voices remind us that history isn’t just made by famous figures—it’s shaped every day by women showing resilience, courage, and strength in thei...

In this special Valentine’s Day episode of Lotus Village Voices , hosts Salleth and Niyah explore the meaning of love in all its forms. Through heartfelt reflections from the women and children at Lotus House, we celebrate connection, kindness, and the people who make life special. But love isn’t just about romance—it’s a transformative force. In honor of Black History Month, we pay tribute to the...

In this special 2024 recap episode, we reflect on the incredible milestones, touching personal stories, and community-driven impact that shaped the year at Lotus House. Hear from dedicated staff, celebrate our accomplishments, and honor the resilience of the guests we serve. Urgent needs wishlist: https://a.co/a9JvJ1e Volunteer sign-up: https://lotushouse.org/volunteer/ All other inquiries email: ...

In this heartwarming Thanksgiving episode of Lotus Village Voices , we sat down with some of the incredible women and children at Lotus House to reflect on gratitude. Tune in to hear what they’re thankful for this season. It’s that time of year again! Help us make this holiday season special for our families: Shop our Holiday Toy Wishlist : Browse the fun here! Amazon Wishlist : Pick a gift and se...

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this special episode of Lotus Village Voices features two inspiring Latina alumni who share their personal experiences as well as what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them.  Please note: Around 3:15, you may hear some thunder in the background, but don’t worry—it only adds to the atmosphere of this heartfelt conversation. Tune in now to celebrate Hispanic Heri...

The kids are back in school—some excited, some not so much. Tune in to hear what they’re most excited about for the upcoming school year. Plus, we have a special guest host, our very own Lotus House alumna Sky'Lynn, who is heading into the 10th grade this year! To support our back to school efforts including donating school supplies, uniforms, and more, please email us at love@lotushouse.org....

In this episode, our hosts hit the streets during our latest community drive to connect with the vibrant Overtown community. Since 2020, Lotus House has been dedicated to hosting community drives, and this month, we took the opportunity to interview local residents. Tune in as we hear firsthand from community members about their experiences, thoughts on the drive, and ideas on how we can better su...

In this special episode of Lotus Village Voices, we celebrate Pride Month with Grecia, a dedicated counselor at Lotus House. Grecia shares her insights on the importance of Pride Month and the ways we can all support the LGBTQ+ community. We dive into the importance of understanding LGBTQ+ issues, fostering inclusive environments, and advocating for equal rights. We're also excited to introdu...

Join us for heartwarming interviews as the little ones at Lotus House share their adorable tributes to the amazing mothers who nurture them. Grab some tissues and prepare for a dose of sweetness as we celebrate the extraordinary bond between mothers and their children. Happy Mother's Day! Urgent needs wishlist: https://a.co/a9JvJ1e DONATE: https://lotushouse.kindful.com Volunteer sign-up: htt...

As National Volunteer Month draws to a close, we're taking a moment to express our gratitude for the dedicated volunteers who tirelessly support the women, children, and staff at the shelter. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization, and we couldn't do what we do without them. Joining us on the podcast are the incredible founders of Men in Pink, Daniel Ramos and Christop...

Before the month ends, we're taking a moment to honor and celebrate the incredible legacy of Black history in America. Join us on the podcast as we shine a light on the often overlooked heroes and heroines who've made remarkable contributions to this country, and continue to inspire us all.  Plus, our very own kid host, Aysha, is back! Urgent needs wishlist: https://a.co/a9JvJ1e DONATE:...

Cheers to 2024! 🎉 Join us in recapping the incredible milestones we achieved in 2023. Our very own alumni, Aysha (a 7th grader!), takes the hosting reins for this special episode. Don't miss a moment – stay tuned to unveil exciting details about our upcoming Children's Village development project.   2023 Annual Report: https://lotushouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-Annual-Report...

Join us for a very heartwarming Thanksgiving special. In the spirit of gratitude, we sit down with the incredible women and children who call Lotus House home, as they generously share what they are thankful for this season.  Help us make this holiday season a special one for our families: Holiday toy wishlist: https://lotushouse.org/2023holidaydrives/ Sponsor a child: https://docs.google.com/form...

We're back with a very special episode honoring Pride Month, featuring special guest Jessica Lam, an advocate and ally for the LGBTQIA+ community.  Jessica shares her story as a trans woman coming out in the 90s, LGBTQ awareness and how we can come together to understand one another. We hope you walk away from this episode just as touched as we are.  HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! Urgent needs wishlist:...

In honor of Women's History Month,  we interviewed Isabella Dell'Oca, the newly appointed Executive Director of Lotus House.  In this episode, we discuss her new role, her journey there, and her passion for the women and children at shelter. Listen to the end to hear a few women from the shelter talk about what makes them strong and resilient. We hope you enjoy this episode! Be sure to s...

We're back with another lived experience episode.  This time we invited Elizabeth to share a heartfelt story on how she overcame living on the streets at the young age of 12 to her journey as Outreach Coordinator at Lotus Village. We hope this episode touches you as much as it did for us.  Please remember to share with a family member or friend. Urgent needs wishlist: https://a.co/a9JvJ1e DON...

We are so excited to introduce our new host Jatericka Lamons, a.k.a. Tay Tay, who currently serves as Programming Coordinator at Lotus Village. In this episode, Tay Tay recounts her personal experience with homelessness. Please help us give Tay Tay a warm welcome by sharing this episode with your family and friends. Urgent needs wishlist: https://a.co/a9JvJ1e DONATE: https://lotushouse.kindful.com...

For our tenth episode, we welcomed a very special guest, Becca McCharen-Tran, who has hosted sewing workshops for the guests at Lotus House, and is also Founder and Creative Director of the Miami-based swim and activewear brand, Chromat. Listen in as we discuss Chromat's brand philosophy and how it intersects with our mission here at Lotus House along with the importance of community,  creati...

We sat down with Shana Cox, Deputy Director of Children's Services, to discuss how she and her team provide individualized, trauma-informed, quality therapeutic services to 250+ children at the shelter.  You can learn more about our services for children and other programs at https://lotushouse.org/ourprograms/ . If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a rating. Urgent needs wishlist: htt...

For the third installment of our Lived Experience series, we interviewed Lotus House alumni Pat Morrell to discuss her experience living at the shelter and how it led to her current position as Youth Education and Programming Coordinator. This episode also serves as Part I of our conversation on youth (ages 18-24) homelessness and how we support this vulnerable population.  You can learn more abou...