Episodes

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Unlock the secrets to breaking the cycle of poverty through education, work and community with Father Christopher Calderon, President of Cristo Rey High School as he shares the transformative journey of students as they progress through their years on campus. With heartwarming success stories like Ximena's—a trailblazer as the first in her family to attend college—this episode sheds light on the powerful role education ...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... The loss of her grandson, Joshua, to addiction and homelessness profoundly changed Marlene Fitzwater's perspective on caring for marginalized communities. This personal tragedy motivated her to establish Joshua's House, a hospice facility dedicated to offering dignity and support to terminally ill homeless individuals. In this episode, listeners are invited to join a heartfelt discussion with Marlene, the visionary foun...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Imagine standing on a sprawling ranch in Grass Valley, where the chaos of urban life fades away and students in need find a sanctuary of hope. Nate Boyd, Executive Director and Zach Malek, Outreach Pastor join me to share their experiences at Christian Encounter Ranch, a place of refuge and transformation for young individuals facing severe challenges like domestic violence and substance use disorders. Nate takes us thr...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Join me for an emotional and inspiring conversation as I welcome Erica Pope, Executive Director and John Burke Camp Director from the Me-One Foundation to explore their remarkable mission of providing cancer patients and their families with a much-needed escape. We discuss how the foundation was born from the personal journey of Tom and Heidi Wieser, who, after experiencing the benefits of a similar camp in Southern Cal...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Ever wondered how a career path can take unexpected yet rewarding turns? Join me for an inspiring conversation with Lauretta Casimir-Mahoney, the CEO and President of NeighborWorks. Lauretta takes us through her unique journey from aspiring to be a judge advocate general in the US Navy to becoming a powerhouse in real estate and mortgage finance. You'll hear firsthand how an aversion to student debt led her to buy her f...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if we could see homelessness not just as a social issue but as a deeply personal journey? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christina Bilyeu, Chief of Mental Health Services, The Permanente Medical Group, and President of the board at HOPE Cooperative, to explore the layers of homelessness in Sacramento. Dr. Bilyeu shares moving insights from her own family’s struggles with housing insecurity, revealing how thes...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if you could directly impact the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) while fostering a more inclusive society? They could be autism, Down's Syndrome, FragileX and other not so visible disabilities that none the less, create challenging lifestyles for those experiencing them as well as the families who support those with these conditions. Join me, Jeff Holden, for an inspiring...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Join me, Jeff Holden, for an enlightening conversation with Amanda McCarthy, Executive Director of River City Food Bank, as we explore the vital role food banks play in our communities. Amanda breaks down the differences between regional and local food banks, shedding light on how River City Food Bank directly supports nearly 30,000 people each month. Discover the organization's incredible adaptability in the face of ri...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if you could help create a world where people with disabilities thrive in fulfilling careers? We're going to discuss just that. Join me as I sit down with Jeff Dern, President and CEO of PRIDE Industries to uncover the inspiring journey of the organization, a pioneering nonprofit with a mission to foster employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. From their modest beginnings at St. Luke's Church in...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if nearly half the youth in your community felt hopeless? Join me, Jeff Holden, as I sit down with Staci Anderson, President and CEO of Pro Youth and Families to explore how this remarkable organization has transformed over the past forty years to meet the evolving needs of young people. From its beginnings tackling drug and alcohol issues, Pro Youth and Families has expanded to offer resilience-building, leadershi...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if the solution to combating domestic violence, elder abuse, and human trafficking lies in the power of community collaboration? Join me as I sit down with the inspiring Faith Whitmore, a United Methodist pastor turned political figure, who now leads the Family Justice Center in Sacramento. Faith's journey is nothing short of remarkable, and she credits her diverse background for preparing her to champion a cause t...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What critical role do vernal pools play in our ecosystem, and why should their preservation be a priority? Join me, Jeff Holden, as I uncover these questions with Mackenzie Wieser, CEO off Sacramento Splash. Mackenzie offers an in-depth look into these unique habitats, discussing the diverse species they host and their importance in maintaining biodiversity. Highlighting the lifecycle of creatures like tadpole shrimp, M...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What if navigating the healthcare system could be a seamless journey rather than a daunting challenge? Greg Stone, CEO of Peach Tree Health joins me to shed light on the fascinating evolution of Peach Tree Health, from its humble beginnings as a county-controlled clinic in Yuba County to a pioneering independent nonprofit and federally qualified health center. Together, we unpack the collaborative efforts with hospital ...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Join me for a fascinating exploration of Sacramento's significant historical evolution with our passionate guests, Walter White, President of the Sacramento Historical Society, Delta Pick Mello, Vice President and Gregg Lukenbill, Vice President. Listen in as Gregg passionately outlines Sacramento's monumental contributions from the Civil War, the Gold Rush, and the construction of the transcontinental railroad to the e...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What does it take to help newly arriving refugees, immigrants, and survivors of trafficking find stability and a sense of belonging in a new country? On this episode, I welcome Jessie Mabry, CEO of Opening Doors, a nonprofit organization that has been making a significant impact in Northern California since 1993. Jessie takes us through the inspiring journey of how a modest church outreach grew into a robust 501c3 nonpr...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... What can a school garden teach us about community health and education? On this episode of the Nonprofit Podcast Network, I am thrilled to welcome Salvador Ramirez, the inspiring Executive Director of Yolo Farm to Fork. Salvador's journey from an agricultural family background tied to the Bracero Program, through an enriching Peace Corps service in Kazakhstan, to his current leadership role, is nothing short of remarkab...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... How does a small organization tackling hypertension grow into a community health powerhouse? Join me for an inspiring conversation with Deborah Oto-Kent , the visionary founder of the Health Education Council, as she shares nearly four decades of experience transforming community health. Deborah takes us through the humble beginnings of her organization, initially focused on hypertension in diverse, low-income communiti...

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text... Can humor save lives? Join me, Jeff Holden, for an extraordinary episode where we'll uncover the potent mix of comedy and mental health with our special guests Brad and Victoria Bonar, and local comedian, DJ Sandhu. These amazing individuals share their raw and real experiences, including Brad's brave recounting of his 5150 hold and his journey to openly discussing his struggles with depression and thoughts of suicide. ...

Love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Send a text... Learn how one parent with twins born with hearing loss was introduced to an effective support program for children as we share the compelling story of Licia Green, the Development Director for CCHAT (Children's Choice for Hearing and Talking) program. Experience the emotional highs and lows of her journey as a parent of deaf twin daughters, from the shock of their diagnosis to the profound relief and optimism found through the nurturing ...

What happens when theater arts meet social-emotional learning and conflict resolution? Join me, Jeff Holden, in this thought-provoking episode as we shed light on the extraordinary work of the NorCal School of the Arts. We'll explore how this organization seamlessly integrates music, theater, dance, and visual arts into educational settings and communities, benefiting everyone from pre-kindergarten students to adults. Michael, a former fourth-grade teacher turned program manager, shares his uniq...

Can horses really sense human emotions? Join me, Jeff Holden, as I uncover the profound mental health benefits of equine assisted therapy with Donna Eckwortzel, Founder and Executive Director of Hearts Landing Ranch. Donna’s unique program at Hearts Landing Ranch allows participants to bond with rescued horses without ever riding them, harnessing the horses' natural instincts as prey animals to create a therapeutic environment ripe for emotional healing. Hear how being present with these empathe...

What if nonprofits could thrive with the same professionalism and efficiency as for-profit businesses? Join me as I sit down with Kim Tucker from The Impact Foundry to dissect the evolving landscape of nonprofit business models and capacity building. Kim unpacks the shift from donation-based funding to earned revenue and why nonprofits must invest in robust internal systems and talent. Discover the misconceptions that hold nonprofits back and the critical distinction between ego-driven and missi...

Imagine a world where neurodiversity is not only understood but celebrated for the unique strengths it brings to our society. ERin Schirm of Meristem joins me for a transformative conversation on how this organization is fostering independence and opening doors to employment for adults on the autism spectrum and other neurodiverse conditions. Erin shares the beautiful metaphor behind 'Meristem'—a place of growth and regeneration—mirroring their mission to nurture potential through the Meristem m...

Have you ever wondered how your individual skills and resources could make a profound difference in your community? Join me as I talk with Brad Squires, CEO of Social Venture Partners (SVP). He'll explain venture philanthropy, a model where engagement goes far beyond writing checks. In a candid conversation, Brad illustrates how SVP Sacramento harnesses the power of the 5Ts—time, talent, treasure, testimony, and ties—to empower local nonprofits. We discuss innovative programs like Fast Pitch and...