Spotlight on the Community

Center Provides Employment Opportunities for Justice-Impacted Job Seekers Rob Smith, San Diego Site Director for the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), talks about the mission of CEO to provide immediate, comprehensive employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Smith discusses CEO's connection with hiring employers; its holiday toy drive; quarterly milestone celebr...

Bill Birnie, President & CEO of Frontwave Credit Union and a Marine Corps veteran, is joined by Sarai Rodgers, Frontwave's Chief Human Resources Officer, to shout out the founding of the credit union and the launch of its Foundation.  Birnie and Rodgers chat about the Foundation's five pillars of community support and its upcoming December 2 golf tournament.  About Spotlight and Cloudcast Medi...

Neil O'Connell, Executive Director of the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, discusses the Memorial's Saturday, November 9 Veterans Day Ceremony honoring Korean War Veterans.  O'Connell chats about MSNVM's education program and its membership strategy. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted...

Eva Matthews, CEO of Mama's Kitchen, the largest nonprofit provider of home-delivered meals in San Diego County, chats about the 20th Annual "Mama's Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale."  Matthews discusses the 34-year old organization's life-changing programs and services. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuousl...

Stephanie Nichols-Rodas, a spinal cord injury survivor and Director of Communications for Rally4Reilly and Friends, and Belinda Drieci, a Rally4Reilly and Friends Director, chat about Stephanie's journey, her resilience and the organization's mission and programs. They are joined by Jeff Sohlina, a Kinesiologist for Reneu Health -- who is also Stephanie's trainer -- to discuss Stephanie's extraord...

Charles McPherson, internationally recognized jazz alto sax virtuoso, is joined by Luke Little and Dylan Soto, students in SDSU's highly acclaimed jazz studies program, to talk about the November 14 "Charlie Parker With Strings" concert at SDSU's Main Stage.  McPherson, Little and Soto discuss their musical journey, along with the benefits of being in SDSU's Jazz Studies Program, led by Bryan Levy...

David Koontz, Director of Marketing for the USS Midway Museum and Chair of the San Diego Veterans Day Parade, chats about the November 11 parade, which will honor three D-Day veterans, all more than 100 years young.  Koontz talks about this year being the 20th Anniversary of the opening of the Museum; its upcoming "Jingle Jets" holiday tradition on the Midway; and it's huge Freedom Park undertakin...

Deacon Jim Vargas, President & CEO of Father Joe's Villages (FJV), and Mary Jo Scarpitti, FJV Clinic Director, chat about the organization's recovery, detox and sober living programs.   About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 18 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast M...

Diana Macis, Protective Services Program Manager for the County of San Diego Child and Family Well-Being Department, talks about supporting youth in care by becoming a foster parent, mentor of Court Appointed Advocate. Macis is joined by Yvette Romero, a former foster youth, who discusses her experiences in working with Denise and her colleagues.  About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On...

Sharon Blanchet, Board of Trustees Chair for the San Diego Humane Society, talks about the uniqueness of the Society's Behavior Center. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 18 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the...

Bridget Wright, Program Coordinator for the Sheriff Department's Reentry Services Division, chats about her division's mission and programs and its Peer Reentry Leadership Academy (PRLA). About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 18 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Med...

Tyler Muzic, Coordinator of the Sheriff Department's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Unit, talks about his dream job.  Muzic discusses the current UAS (drone) pilots, roles and duties; the UAS missions, flights and trainings; and future of UAS technology in law enforcement. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, con...

Ashish Kakkad, Technology Manager for the Sheriff Department's Technology Services Unit, chats about the role his team plays in ensuring that all of the department's assets -- from squad cars to computers to cell phones and beyond -- are working at the highest levels. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuou...

Rick Lopez, Commander of the Sheriff Department's Law Enforcement Services Bureau, discusses the newly launched "Rise Above" Youth Empowerment Program and his longtime work with the gang unit.  Lopez talks about other units under his watch, such as SWAT, Canine Unit, Search and Rescue and Emergency Planning to name a few. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media "Spotlight On The Community" is the long...

Laurie Purcell, Vice President of Residential Services for Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), and Jill Thomas, Development Project Assistant for HGH, chat about the organization's programs and events that enable those with intellectual and developmental challenges to live independent and full lives. A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podc...

Chris Vance, a Criminalist with the San Diego Sheriff's Department, talks about the work of a Forensic Scientist and the types of jobs the Forensic Chemistry Unit handles; the collaboration with the Medical Examiner's Office; the discoveries of the Marijuana Enforcement Team; and the challenges of the ever-changing seized drug landscape in our region. A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotli...

Ian Crawford, a Tactical Flight Officer for the Sheriff Department's aviation unit, ASTREA, chats about the different types of missions of the unit; the importance of knowing your GPS coordinates when you doing outdoor activities such as hiking in our numerous mountain trails; and the Auto Helo Phone Number (858-866-4356). A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the...

Agustin Pena, a Deputy District Attorney and the President of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (SDLRLA), shouts out the Association's mission to advocate for Latino representation in law.  Pena discusses his journey to the law profession; SDLRLA's Project L.E.A.D. and Trial Advocacy programs; and the 2024 SDLRLA Holiday Gala in December. A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight O...

Lindsay Smith, Executive Director of Girls on the Run San Diego, talks about the impact of running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.  Nelson discusses the 1,200 girls that are annually served by Girls on the Run. A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for...

Ed Abeyta, Associate Dean of UCSD's Department of Education and Community Outreach, is joined by his longtime colleague, Morgan Appel, a UCSD Assistant Dean, to chat about their innovative, transformational work in the post secondary space.  Abeyta discusses his newly released book,  Reinventing Lifelong Learning: The Coming Renaissance of Continuing Education and Community Outreach . A bout Spotl...

Mark Amado, Site Director for the Tomlinson Touching Lives Foundation, discusses the mission of the Foundation, founded by Hall of Fame running back, LaDanian Tomlinson.  Amado is joined by Todd Ullah, Chief Strategy Officer for EdforTech, and Danielle Bush, EdforTech's Project Manager, to talk about STEAM Camps with Edison STEAM Elementary and Normal Heights Elementary schools. A bout Spotlight a...

Jenn Nelson, CEO of the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP), is joined by SDVLP Director of Development Philip Stutzman, to chat about the organization's mission; its work with survivors of domestic violence; its Nonprofit Support Program; and its recent acquisition of  "Free to Thrive." A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community pod...

California State Assemblymember Brian Maienschein chats about his passion for supporting the San Diego Humane Society.  Assemblymember Mainschein has authored more animal protection bills than any other California Legislator. A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 yea...

Richard and Sharon Bockoff, the San Diego Humane Society 2024 Fur Ball Honorees, talk about the importance of spay and neutering as an important solution to shelter overpopulation.  The Bockoff's discuss the therapeutic impact of the human animal bond with seniors, children and everyone in between. A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community...

Michael Landau, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of Mission Fed Credit Union's Clairemont Branch, chats about how the adoption of his dog Barkley from the San Diego Human Society has changed his life.  Landau discusses Mission Fed's support of the human-animal bond. A bout Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the countr...