Episodes

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What happens when a small church ministry evolves into a vital community resource amidst a global pandemic? Join me as I uncover the unimaginable journey of the Rancho Cordova Community Food Hub, led by its first Executive Director, Carrie Johnson. You'll learn how Carrie tackled the daunting challenge of professionalizing a grassroots organization, enhancing its financial health, expanding leadership, and upgrading ...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if you could transform your community by making affordable housing both sustainable and equitable? Join me as I embark on a thought-provoking journey with Craig Adelman, CEO Mutual Housing California. With over 30 years of experience, Craig offers a deep dive into the organization's innovative approach rooted in the mutual housing movement of the 50s and 60s. Discover how they structure developments to ensure lo...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... When a board member's family faced the uncertainty of a loved one’s hospital stay, they realized the true value of proximity and support. This episode, I'm joined by Stacey Hodge, Sr. Director of Community Relations and former board member Jerry Alestra, to explore the invaluable role the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Sacramento plays in similar scenarios. Stacey takes us on a journey through her evolution from ...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What happens when a historic theater undergoes a dramatic transformation...through a pandemic and over multiple years? Find out as we chat with Sid Garcia-Heberger, Performing Arts Center and Memorial Auditorium Manager, Megan Van Voorhis, Director of the City's Convention and Cultural Services and Allison Yee-Garcia, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for SAFE Credit Union, as they share the behin...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if you could follow a serendipitous path leading to your dream job in a completely different state? Join me as I sit down with Jeremy Ganter, Executive Director of the Mondavi Center, who shares his extraordinary journey from upstate New York to becoming a cornerstone of Northern California's vibrant arts scene. With 25 years of deep-rooted experiences at the Mondavi Center, Jeremy shares insights into the cente...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... I sit down with Michael Stevenson, Artistic Director, to explore how Capital Stage delivers bold, conversation-starting theater in one of Sacramento’s most intimate professional venues—just 127 seats, no microphones, and acting so close you can feel the breath. We talk origin stories (from a 99-seat space on the Delta King to today’s J Street home), the company’s appetite for risk, why emotionally engaging audiences ...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... The Hispanic Economic Report: Cathy Rodriguez Aguirre, President and CEO of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, joins me to talk about the Hispanic Economic Report. This report, first produced in 2021, provides essential data on the growth, contributions, and economic impact of Hispanic-owned businesses in the Sacramento region. Cathy discusses the importance of localized data, the progress observed since th...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Join me as I speak with Amber Shaver, Center Manager of the Harris Center for the Performing Arts at Folsom Lake College. We take listeners behind the scenes of one of the Sacramento region’s most dynamic performing arts venues — home to three unique stages, hundreds of annual events, and a mission that blends education, entertainment, and community. Amber shares the story of the Harris Center’s founding and vision, ...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Curious about how a regional theater can thrive in a mid-sized city? Join me for a conversation with Executive Artistic Director and CEO, Lyndsay Burch from B Street Theatre as we explore the remarkable journey of this Sacramento staple. From its origins as Fantasy Theater for Children to its status today as a beloved cultural institution, Lyndsay shares insights on how nurturing young audiences and expanding theater...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... How do organizations like the American Cancer Society (ACS) orchestrate a national fight against cancer while making a difference on a local level? Join me as I unravel this complex puzzle with Alexis Padilla, Executive Director of the ACS Sacramento region, who sheds light on ACS's strategic framework rooted in research, patient support, and policy advocacy. Discover how the ACS has supported over 50 Nobel Prize win...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What happens when three visionary grad students decide to tackle food instability in under-resourced communities? Join us as we ask Sam Greenlee, CEO and Shannin Stein, Director of Advancement from Alchemist CDC about their transformative work in community development through food access. They share how their organization is redefining the local food system with innovative programs like farmers' markets, community ga...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... I went into this thinking I knew the American Red Cross—fires and floods, they're there. Disasters? Yep. All over it. What I didn't know is what you're going to hear in this episode and that is what happens the rest of the time. This legacy organization has its mark on our communities in ways I never thought. Jacquelyn Clites, who leads the 26-county Gold Country region, opened my eyes to how local and round-the-cloc...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Growing up in a single-parent household, Michael Lynch found his way to higher education through football. A tragic loss to gun violence transformed his perspective, driving him to uplift his community. Set against the backdrop of financial struggles, Alejandro Galicia Cervantes' journey from street vending to academic passion began with an encounter with Michael and the IYT program, sparking a love for education. Th...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Join me, Jeff Holden, as I speak with Peter Pemberton and Christina Kitchen as they discuss the vast range of services provided by the Salvation Army. Peter, recently promoted to Major and transferred to Sacramento, shares the organization's commitment to evolving and meeting modern needs while retaining its core religious and social mission. Christina, who has been with the organization for nearly 18 years, starting...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Join me as I converse with David Sobon, Founder and CEO of Wide Open Walls, a most unique nonprofit. We discuss the impactful mural movement that has transformed Sacramento into a vibrant city-wide canvas, celebrating diversity, creativity, equity, and civic pride. David shares insights about the genesis of Wide Open Walls, the involvement of local and international artists, and the role of public art in connecting c...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Can a personal tragedy ignite a movement to reshape our healthcare system? Doug Carson joins us to reveal the poignant story behind Albie Aware, a foundation born from the heartache of losing his wife, Albie, to breast cancer. Doug recounts the painful journey that led to the foundation's inception, fueled by the anger and determination to prevent others from facing overlooked diagnostic tests due to insurance constr...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Can a tragic loss transform into a legacy of life? Join us for an emotional journey with Brad Barroso, Founder of Trevor's 2nd Chance, as he recounts the story of his son Trevor, whose selfless decision to become an organ donor saved three lives after he succumbed to an asthma attack in 2018. Through Brad's heartfelt narrative, we uncover the emotional hurdles his family faced and the significant role Sierra Donor Se...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Growing up in a household fraught with challenges, including a mother battling addiction, Paul Somerhausen's relationship with Christmas was anything but typical. Despite these hurdles, Paul turned his early life experiences into a mission of kindness, generating hope for those in need through his involvement with Christmas Promise. After moving to the United States and rekindling his passion for giving during the ho...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if a nonprofit could not only sustain itself but thrive in an ever-changing financial landscape? Doug Bergman, President and CEO from the innovative organization known as United Cerebral Palsy or UCP, shares how they've accomplished just that. Starting from their roots in 1955 focused on children with cerebral palsy, Doug takes us through their dynamic journey to becoming a primary supporter for a broad range of...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What would you do if your mind remained sharp, but your body slowly ceased to respond? Join me as I explore the harrowing reality of ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that traps individuals in their own bodies while leaving their cognitive functions intact. With no cure in sight and a life expectancy of just a few years post-diagnosis, we unravel the unpredictable progression of this disease through real-life stories ...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... How do we truly support those navigating the turbulent waters of grief and loss? How do we even define the nature of what grief or loss may be? Gather insightful perspectives from my guests, Elizabeth Cantu and Suzanne Austen, as they shed light on the profound work of the Bereavement Network Resources of Sacramento. This episode traces the organization's roots from a grassroots initiative by grieving parents, evolvi...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if we could give a voice to those who struggle to express themselves verbally? Join me as I explore this powerful question with my guest, Program Manager, Stephanie Maki from CTEC. Stephanie walks us through the visionary work at the Communication Technology Education Center (CTEC), where speech-language pathologists are transforming lives by crafting personalized communication solutions. From observing client...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if education could be the key to breaking the cycle of generational poverty? Join me as I explore this concept with our insightful guests, Macey Amissah McKinney and Josefina Avena Garcia from City Year. We uncover how City Year strategically places young adults as Student Success Coaches in Sacramento's under-resourced schools, where they serve as full-time tutors and mentors. Josefina, who has risen from an Am...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What transformative power can philanthropy hold in addressing community health challenges? Explore this fascinating question as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Sierra Health Foundation with President & CEO, Chet Hewitt. From its origins as a pioneering health conversion foundation to its role as a national model for over 350 similar organizations, Sierra Health Foundation has redefined community support ...