Opening the Next Door: FITRAH Turns Opportunity Into a Path Forward

Nadia Buron: [00:00:00] I wanted to create opportunity becoming part of something, like, real and meaningful. So at the same time, I met a woman who completely changed that trajectory of my life. So it was a homeless woman. She experienced 19 years on the streets of Sacramento. Hmm. She was 60 at the time. I tried to help her, and I just became overwhelmed of how complicated the system was.

That experience really opened my eyes to really the realities of long-term homelessness. So I asked myself, "How can we intervene earlier and prevent more young people from reaching this point?"

Jeff Holden: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Our purpose and passion are simple: to highlight the incredible nonprofits that make our community stronger. Each episode is a chance for these organizations to tell their story in their words, sharing not [00:01:00] just what they do, but why it matters to the people they serve, to their supporters, and to all of us who believe in the power of community.

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Our episode sponsor is Sacramento Venture Philanthropy, a community of generosity combining people, [00:02:00] expertise, and capital for good. There are organizations that provide services, and then there are organizations that create an environment where someone begins to see themselves differently. Fitra does both.

The name itself is an Arabic word referring to our natural state of goodness, dignity, and potential It's also become an acronym, Foster Youth in Transition Rise Above Hope. And when you hear the story of this organization, both meanings fit remarkably well. My guests are FITRA founder and CEO Nadia Buran and Stallion King, who first came to the organization looking for a job, and five years later has become an employee, trainer, mentor, and perhaps one of the best examples of what happens when opportunity is paired with someone who genuinely believes in you.

FITRA primarily serves young people ages 16 to 24, many of whom have [00:03:00] experienced foster care, homelessness, involvement with the juvenile justice system, or simply a lack of the relationships and professional networks so many of us take for granted. What makes their model particularly interesting is the use of social enterprise as both a funding mechanism and a training ground.

From online resale and vintage merchandise to retail, live auctions, and now vocational opportunities in the automotive space, young people are earning a paycheck while learning workplace skills, building confidence, and discovering career possibilities they may never have considered. But as Nadia makes very clear, employment alone isn't enough.

Sometimes the barrier is transportation, sometimes it's housing, food, mental health support, or simply not having an adult who says, "You can do this." Nadia Baran, Stallion King, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Thanks for having us. I am so excited to have this conversation. Pleasure. [00:04:00] Let's help the listener with an answer to the very first question I think that comes up often when people see the name of the organization, Fitrah.

Nadia Buron: And I think, oh, is that an acronym for something? Does it... What does it mean? What is it? And, and I know a, a little bit that it's, it's an Arabic word 'cause we had this conversation, but explain it to us, would you? Yeah. First off, Jeff, thank you so much for having us. This is actually, it's a real honor to be asked on your show.

I mean, it's, it's such an amazing production you have going on here, and I love this studio, by the way. But so happy that you've allowed me to bring on Stallion, so this is really special. But yeah, the name is really, really, really important to us. It is an Ar- Arabic word, and it refers to our natural state of being, that goodness, the dignity, like, potential that really every human being has and born with.

So when I first really [00:05:00] learned about the word, uh, years ago, it was like I was in love with it immediately, just that whole meaning, and I really wanted to name the, the nonprofit Fitrah immediately, just the word, but I really hesitated. You know? I was, like, kinda worried that people might assume that we were a certain type of group, maybe religious organization, and that it wasn't meant for everyone, so I really created an acronym.

It was Foster Youth In Transition Rise Above Hope. It's both. And I know. I just... I, it took me a little while, but I got it, and I was like, "Okay, I got..." But I was surprised that the more I shared it with our board members, volunteers, people in the community, everyone loved it. It, it became, like, not... People understood it as not about...

Oh, and about recently at the SVP, I, I did- Sacramento Adventure Philanthropy. Yes. I, uh, mentioned the name, and everyone loved it there. They understood that that was not about one faith or one community, but it was about a shared humanity. [00:06:00] So the name represents how we see every young person who comes through our door, that we don't define them by their past, their circumstances, or, like, the systems they've experienced.

We don't try to fix them. Our job is to create opportunities and relationships to help them rediscover the strength, goodness, and potential that really always has been inside of them. And you do that through creating opportunities for employment, engagement, and jobs and, and a variety of other things.

Jeff Holden: Let's talk a little bit about that. Uh, and you mentioned youth, youth in transition, foster youth in transition. Tell us a little bit b- first about who it is you serve. Is there an age range specifically, and what do the clientele look like? And I know we've got one of them sitting here with us as well, so we get to physically see what one of them looks like, and we're gonna bring you in here soon, Stallion.

Nadia Buron: Yeah. So we primarily [00:07:00] serve youth and young adults between 16 to 24, and many of those young people that come to us have experienced the foster care system, homelessness. They could have been involve- have involvement with the juvenile system, instability at home, or disconnected from school or even employment, and some of them are still in high school.

Others, like, could be- could have gone- graduated, but just not have a clear, like, next step, you know? So some of them maybe left even school early or have been trying to find their way back into the education, you know, finding their way back into school or even employment. So a lot of them have really just never had access to even, like, professional networks.

You know, I think of myself as a, as a mother of three. I have a net- You know, they need a job, like, I can call maybe someone to get a, an internship, right? They don't have [00:08:00] access to a professional network, meaningful work experience, or just adults who can help them understand, like, what are the opportunities that are available for them.

So we often, like, refer to them as opportunity youth because we don't wanna define them by just all the challenges they've had, but really just they have this tremendous opport- tremendous potential. Mm-hmm. You know, they have this ability and potential, but they just need someone to really help them o- open that first door, you know?

So at Fitra, we combine that. Just we combine paid work experience with, like you said, mentorship, life skill education, case management, and then really just connections with the community. So employment, you know, we know is really important, but it's not enough. Like, they need... They have a [00:09:00] lot of just barriers, so dealing with transportation, housing, food security, mental health.

They just have... So we a- we ask our youth, we don't ask them what is wrong with you. We ask them, "What happened?" What are the barriers? Tell us your story basically, right? Yeah. Yeah. What are the barriers that, that are standing in your way so that we can help you support and get you to move forward? And so those, so when we think of opportunity, that's what we, that's what we do with our youth, and that's where, yeah, that's the youth that we serve.

Jeff Holden: Do you find, is there a percentage that are looking for greater academic achievement? I mean, they wanna get through college or whatever it is, high school, whatever the case may be. Or are the majority looking to get out into the workplace so they can earn some money and, and grow that way? Or is it a 50/50?

Nadia Buron: What, what roughly would the percentages [00:10:00] be? I can't even see that as a percentage, and maybe there is a percentage. It's hard for me to determine because, you know, the way I see it is they don't even... They, they're, they need that guidance. Oh. They need someone to- Well, all the way around ... they need someone to really show them that if you thought that college is not feasible, we can help you.

If you didn't know about the fact that you don't like that pathway and there are so many others, there's apprenticeship and there's, you know, all these, the s- the trades opportunity, we wanna show you that. And we wanna... So the career exploration is really kind of the avenue we're going to, and I'll, I'll talk a little bit more about that when you want me to.

But- Yeah ... that's really where we're going with that. I'm so glad you asked that question because it's so important to understand that there's not... Like, the- they come in sometimes not even ever having someone kind of dive deep into that [00:11:00] with them. Which again, if you're a parent, you kinda know that's what we always do.

We're kinda like, we're like 10 steps ahead, like knowing where you wanna go, here's the skills you need. You need to go into, you know, you need to work on these skills so that you can go here. And so we've kind of helped them map that out as they go, but a lot of these youths never had any of that. So they have, they're coming in going, "Well, my idea is to go on TikTok and resell items for a living to get by."

Jeff Holden: Well, that's not just, that's not the only opportunity. They're a- That may not work too well, right? Right. And interestingly- And they could, but it, they don't even have the plan for that. So it could, but no one's ever taught them that, well, okay, this is how they've been successful. They've had to really grind.

They've had a whole business plan in order to be successful at reselling. Yes. Right? What I'm trying to get at is they have s- this image of, well, we [00:12:00] can make quick cash, and that'll be fine, and we'll be good to go. Oh, boy. And it's like they- Is that ever another conversation. Right. You know, we can do this quick.

It's just get up on TikTok or get on Instagram and b- I'm gonna be a social influencer, and here I go. Right. And, and nothing could be further than the truth. And I think the other part of it that's interesting is, as you mentioned, just TikTok and reselling. Reselling is a part of your funding mechanism, which we will get into in just a second.

You know, I, I wanna ask Stallion a question. Originally you started out as, as books and almost like a little baby Amazon of sorts, right? And, uh, and Stallion, you've been with the organization as first a client- Mm-hmm ... and then coming in as an employee- Mm-hmm ... since 2019. 2021 actually. Oh, okay, okay. It's been, it's been five years, yeah.

Stallion King: Yeah, recently it's been five years, so I'm very, uh, blessed to be a part of this, uh, what I consider a family, so I'm very blessed to be here. And as a, a transitioning high school graduate- Mm-hmm ... coming out into the world, what was it that [00:13:00] attracted you to Fitra? Well, originally, I'm gonna be really honest, and I don't know if Nadia's really gonna like this answer, but I think originally I wasn't really attracted to Fitra.

It wasn't really part of the game plan. It just was a happy little accident. So I got out of high school, was looking for a job, um, and got some help from another agency that was kinda helping me out, and they were like, "I think you would really like Fitra. They're related to books. They're related to writing.

Y- it's kind of connected, right? Books and writing." And I was like, "Uh, I don't really know if I wanna do that." Um, but then I was like, you know what? They're offering me a paid position. This agency is partnering with Fitra and giving me a paid opportunity. So I was like, at least I'm getting money out of it, so I was like, "Okay, I'll, I'll, I'll do it."

And then later on, months later, I started to realize Fitra was more than just a job, and I [00:14:00] think when you realize that as a person, I think you fall in love with it. You know what I mean? So for me, I started realizing Fitra is where you build relationships, obviously, as Nadia said, and where you get to grow and evolve.

And so I think what really attracted me was the relationships I built, uh, specifically with Nadia and then with a bunch of other employees that work there. And I think that relationship, like, really gravitated towards me, and so I'm like, "I'm s- staying here forever. I like all of you," so now I'm here. And so I think that's really the reason I'm still here and the reason I continue to choose to stay here, so.

That's great. Yeah, I didn't realize I'll be crying in this- ... um, studio today. We have Kleenex here- I'm feeling like ... for, there's actually a purpose for this- Really ... box of Kleenex. Stallion, you've really, you're, you've really touched me. Thank you so much for your- You're a very important person to me, so. Um.

Jeff Holden: Okay. One of the things that you do that's unique is you have these, these s- [00:15:00] social enterprises sitting underneath, and, and let's hold off on the monetary part of it, the funding part of it, and talk about it as a part of the structure of the organization because- That is a bit novel. It's certainly a way that a lot of people are having to go today because of funding and things changing, so they need to address that income in some way, shape, or form, so they are building social enterprises underneath their organization to make them fit.

And you've, you've been doing that since basically the orientation with a little bit of a shift from, from books when you realized, "Hey, this is not enough to sustain us." Tell us a little bit about those programs because I think that's the unique part of Fitrah as well. Yeah. So actually, it's actually a very personal story because Fitrah didn't begin with a nonprofit.

Nadia Buron: It began with an online business. So going back to 20- no, actually 2008, okay? Oh my gosh. During the economic downturn- Yes ... if you remember. [00:16:00] Oh yeah, that was the, the mortgage crisis. Yes. I lost my job. I was in the corporate world. I had... I was a branch manager for a huge staffing company. Had 300 employees. I mean, I, I was in...

I was really in deep with the corporate world. And at the same time, you know, when I lost this job, I wanted to be at home with my children. I already had two at the time. I have three now. So I decided to take a chance on creating something really of my own, okay? I started selling online, and then it became books, and I thought to myself, I taught myself how to do everything, like research, how to manage this inventory, you know, customers, all that stuff.

And after 10 years, I built that business from the ground up. So business became really more established. People started asking, like, okay, you know, especially those around me that are close around me, like, "Maybe you wanna h- get some help," because it's, it was starting to really grow. "Maybe you wanna, you know, get some employees and make it big."

And I was... I kept asking myself, [00:17:00] I was actually not asking myself how to grow the business. I was asking, "How can I make it matter?" And so I spent 10 years building something that I didn't wanna really benefit only me. Like, I wanted to use it to empower someone else. I wanted to create opportunity, becoming part of something, like, real and meaningful.

So at the same time, I met a woman who completely changed that trajectory of my life. So it was a homeless woman, and she was... She experienced 19 years on the streets of Sacramento. Hmm. She was 60 at the time, and by the way, not, not old enough to be considered elder, so that's really difficult on her. And, and then I tried to help her, and I just became overwhelmed of how complicated the system was.

That experience really opened my eyes to really the realities of long-term homelessness and just the overlapping challenges that really can come around that. So I asked myself, "How can [00:18:00] someone, you know, really reach this point?" But really, the more important question was, how can we intervene earlier and prevent more young people from reaching this point?

Because- The statistics when I was researching showed that a lot of foster youth ended up, end up homeless. And so I was just really seeing this and seeing how can I really intervene? So anyways, that experience really gave me that, the direction to, and reflection to really have on my own business. And so I realized that the online business I had spent almost 10 years building could be like a tool or opportunity.

It's just like this aha moment I had after seeing, okay, I wanna do something. I'm at the moment, I'm meeting this woman, I've got now a purpose, like a mission or something. There are no coincidences. Right. Exactly. So instead [00:19:00] of really selling products, it became a place where young people could earn a paycheck, develop job skills, and learn how to serve customers, build confidence, you know, um, discover their abilities.

So that's how really I transformed my online business into a social enterprise. So today, like that really idea really evolved, you know, tremendously. Like we operate now a thrift store, an on- online, several online shops, pop-up retail event, 'cause we're at the- Mm-hmm ... you know, the antique event that every month, um- That's one in Folsom?

Uh, the one actually at the old Sleep Train Arena. Oh, okay, yes. Yeah. Yes. We have live auctions. I don't know if you're familiar with this. It's the best thing since sliced bread, whatnot. Anyway. Mm-hmm. And so, and then we have a vocational train- training, uh, partnership at an automotive shop. So, but our youth really learn, you know, from all of this, whether it's, you know- [00:20:00] researching vintage and collectible items, photographing, just doing a lot of online listings, you know, coordinating customer pickups, things like that.

So they re- they really receive exposures from all the platforms that we have. So like I just mentioned, Whatnot, Etsy. Mm-hmm. We're on Facebook Marketplace, Vinted now, and, and our own online shop on our website. And then on our website, it's like very specialized to gift items because we want people to kind of do that reoccurring - I, I did see that

if they can. Yeah. And I saw that on the website. Okay. Yeah. That's interesting too. And, and, and those items are very specifically curated by our youth, by the way, on, uh, missions that are very important to them, like Black-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, all that stuff. So you can go online and check that out, but yeah.

Stallion King: Oh, very, very neat. I think what a transition from, "I'm doing this now," to, "I can do this with a greater purpose." Exactly. Exactly. And, and then Stallion, did you get involved with any of that online activity? Oh, yes. I have, um... Well, obviously [00:21:00] I don't do as much now, but back when we used to have a warehouse and everything, I was constantly making descriptions constantly.

We used to be on eBay a lot, and so I used to do that a lot. We also sold on Amazon, a lot of our books. Um, and we had an automated system, so I was, I was constantly going through a pile of books pretty much every shift that I was in. So I was constantly either on eBay listing stuff, going through things, and then...

Nadia Buron: Or either listing books. I'm more of a book person. I love looking at the books. I love looking at the titles and then all that. So books were like my favorite thing to do. And I have to interject because I know Stallion is so humble and will not speak So, you know, won't go into all the details of how they emerged in our program, but they really became the trainer of our entire program for everything they just described.

So any youth that were, new youth that were coming in, groups at [00:22:00] a time, Stallion was the one to train all of them, you know, mentor them and all that. And this is coming from someone who could probably barely make eye contact when they first came in. I mean, I, I think I told you before the show started, I was, you know, 19 years old, going through a lot of things.

Stallion King: And, you know, for me, I'm a very, like, private person. I've always been taught, you know, "Don't give too much to people because, you know, you'll never know what will happen," you know? So I'm always very private about certain stuff, so I was kinda always quiet, especially when I met Nadia. And then later on, once I kinda realized I could, like, trust her, and once I felt safe, and she gave me, like, that confidence, like you said.

She's always, like, the one like, "You can do it. You can do anything." And I'm like, "Thank you." And then I think part of that, when you hear that a lot of the time from somebody you really care about, when you're constantly hearing that, you're like, "I got this. It, it might not turn out the way I imagined, but I g- I got it.

I can make it through this." And so yeah, [00:23:00] I think that is why I'm so successful in everything, especially when it comes to this. I think it's because you constantly always lift me up. So I think I'm so good with interacting and doing my job because you're always telling me, "You're doing great. You're doing fantastic."

Jeff Holden: And I think part of that, when you're hearing that all the time, you're like, "Yes. Yes, I am." Oh my gosh, Stallion. And I can continue to be great. This means so much. It- This is so amazing. And, and isn't that awesome? As, as we think about just that little bit of encouragement gives the recipient the, in this case, client, employee, whatever, the encouragement from you to them gives them that confidence to feel they can do anything you're giving them.

Nadia Buron: And it, that's just what it takes. That's just what it takes. It's just that little bit. Someone just to believe in them. Constantly. Someone who believes in them. Right. And I believe in Stallion so much, and, and I keep pushing Stallion. Recently- Oh, can I tell them? Can I tell them? About your journey? About...

Stallion King: No. Well, not that, but- [00:24:00] To- I, I talked about this with you, but Nadia at one point called me one day, and she's like, "I have an opportunity for you." I'm like, "Okay, what is it?" And she's like, "Well, it's for, like, the Juvenile Justice Commission." I was like, "Okay, so, like, what is that?" And she's like, "Well, they work with, like, the Sac County."

I'm like, "Okay, that sounds like a government job. Don't know how I feel about that." So I was, like, really scared, 'cause I've never, you know, I'm... You know, I've never been in, like, a government sector before, so I'm like, "Ugh, that's scary." But she's like, "No, you can do it. Like, out of, like, anyone I can imagine, you can do this."

And I was like, "Uh, I don't know." But then after, like, some convincing... I, I don't know what it is about Nadia, but she is so special. Any time she brings something up to me, I'm like, "Okay, I'll do it. I gue- I guess. Sure, why not?" And I have never been like that with anybody. I've always been, like, hesitant. I'm like, "I don't know if I wanna do that."

And, uh, I don't know. [00:25:00] I, I guess she makes me less stubborn now, so I'm like, "All right, I'll do it." And so when I got the opportunity, I was like, "All right, let's go." And it... I actually in the beginning was very hesitant about it, didn't know if I would do a good job at it, and then later on I was like, "I got this."

You know, and it was fun. I actually enjoyed it, and the people- So Stallion- ... that I was interacting with were really nice. Like, I- Let me tell you, Stallion took the minutes of our commission board meeting Awesome. Yeah. Uh-huh. And did a fabulous job. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was a, it was a very interesting experience.

It was definitely very scary in the beginning. Nadia knows, I think I cried the first time. Well, we have, you know- Yeah. 'Cause, you know, human- ... the judge, the judge of the Superior Court there. We have, you know, sometimes- Yeah. ... we have a lot, I mean, this is a real meeting, and- Yeah ... something- Right. A little pressure on that, huh?

Nadia Buron: It's very... Yeah, it's very- So it's, it's a really great experience, and, and I just... I'm so proud, honestly, that, you know, Stallion's gone this far. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And

Stallion King: it's, and it's really, again, going back to just having someone who believes [00:26:00] in them. Right. Yeah. You know? And that's really where it, where it's been. Yeah, and I think every opportunity that she... You've always given me tons of opportunities. So any time I get one, I'm like, "All right. We'll do it. Sure." I don't know.

Jeff Holden: With her, she gives me so much guts to, like, do whatever, so I'll be like, "All right." Yeah, so I app-... I appreciate that. Um- And I'm sure that transcends- ... all the s- all the youth that come through the organization. Absolutely. We'll be right back to hear more from Nadia and Stallion after we break for a message from those who make this program possible.

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Annually, we survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see [00:28:00] in today's environment. In our more recent survey, we heard concerns about proper board governance, mission-aligned investment, and how to implement alternate investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, look me up, scottthomas@captrust.com.

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Jeff Holden: Learn more about becoming a partner at svpsacramento.org. Tell me a little bit about the programs themselves. You- you've, you've got several. You mentioned the automotive program as well as the [00:30:00] online reselling and everything. Do you see one program with a little more demand than another? Or what, what does it look like?

Nadia Buron: Yeah. Yeah, without a question, you know, the paid workforce development opportunities is really the most requested. Mm-hmm. You know, young people really want jobs. They want to earn money. They want to gain independence, you know, feel productive, and, um, just beginning to take control of their future. So a job can provide that structure for them.

They can, you know, give them that confidence, the hope. So once they enter the program, we often discover that they also need... Then their need extends really beyond also employment. So alongside that work experience, we really help people develop also other things like financial literacy, you know, communication skills.

Like, you know, [00:31:00] recently we partnered with Pro Youth and Families to coordinate- You're teeing up the next question. Yes. We're gonna get there in a second too. Yes. So I'll- But, but go ahead. No, no, you start ... I'll talk about more of those. Yes. Yeah, so it's, they, you know, it's workforce development, but it's also there's that, uh, there's a need to kind of pair it with things that they really, to get them kind of, to get it structured in a way where they are well-balanced.

Mm-hmm. You know, so they have all other skills to kind of really fulfill that mission of theirs to get a job, right? So, so I would say that that's really the most important thing. So because of that, we... I feel like our social enterprise have been kind of the ex- experimental learning work environment, and now we're moving on and focusing on, you know, more, like, vocational training.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. And providing them, you [00:32:00] know, real, real, like, job shadowing and real experience so that there's potential to even getting hired on with these, with some, these employers. Yeah, hands-on relationships- Right ... to where they're engaged, and then the opportunity presents itself. Right. So, so that's what we've worked on, uh, building right now, so we have an environment where, you know, we even have specific stations where they understand, okay, all the tools needed for safety, OSHA basics of, of the environment, and we have all these different stations to understand in this shop that we've, we've kind of created environment.

Nadia Buron: You mentioned Pro Youth. Stacy Anderson is, is fabulous. The organization is fabulous. And that's a, a, a wonderful relationship for what you do, I can see. Are there other organizations? Who else do you collaborate with? Yeah, so I mean, that's like one of the biggest lessons I've learned coming into the nonprofit world, [00:33:00] because I had no experience, um- Do not try to do it alone.

Right. Exactly. You can't solve any of these complex problems alone, and so really quickly I've learned that you really need to build really amazing relationships with also these nonprofits. Um, and, you know, ProYouth just happens to be one, but we build partnerships with pretty much anyone we can in the community, whether it's schools, all these nonprofit organizations.

And for the schools, like, one example is Capital Academy here in- Mm-hmm ... not here, in, uh, Rancho Cordova. It's not a public school there that we coordinated with ProYouth to bring six of their mentors to, to s- school to facilitate the n- Love Notes program. If you're not familiar, that program is- Mm ... it's really to build and help them understand healthy relationships, which is [00:34:00] so important for these youth.

And it was, like, 45 youth going through this program, and it's really through a collaborative, um, initiative. So that was just, you know, one of the, um, that's one of our partnerships. We also, you know, we partners with other schools. Another... Sorry, it's funny, all these capitals, but Capital College and Career Academy- Yes

Jeff Holden: in Del Paso Heights. That's a high school, charter school, and- Well, Kevin does a fabulous job with that. Yes. And, and that's what- Absolutely ... it's three years old. I mean, it's amazing what he's done. Amazing. And, and just the, the whole concept of un- making them understand that they need hands-on learning and, you know, and just career and technical, you know, education is so, so, so impor- important to give them just more opportunities so that there's more of a likelihood that they're gonna be able to see something and, and, and grab onto something they, they like.

Nadia Buron: So, you know, that's who we're partnering right now for our, one of our cohorts, which is approximately six to 10 students every year that's gonna come into an auto [00:35:00] shop that we've built a partnership with for a 16-week job shadowing and career exploration program, and we're calling it Transportation Lab- Love it

because we have all these stations that I just mentioned. And during that experience, students will really get the exposure of customer service, product research, that just, you know, like I said, just that whole environment of how, what is it like to be, because that is what's hap- what's happening is some of the youth are getting jobs even.

If they even land a job, they're having... There's, there's a, a gap in some kind of knowledge in even just how to, to fit in in these environments- Mm-hmm ... or just what the expectation is in these environments. So- Yeah, they're not as well prepared as they should be- Right ... going in. And then, then you have a failure, which is...

It doesn't help anybody's confidence. Right. You wanna have them as prepared as possible. Right. So you wanna have them prepared. You wanna have them excited about something, you [00:36:00] know? Going back to the same thing, getting to know their, their own potential. Once they see they can do something, even something little as putting a tire on a car- Right

it's like something ignites in them that, "Oh, what's the next thing I can do?" Right? So it's really giving them those type of opportunities, hands-on. But we, going back to talking about who we collaborate with, yeah, we collaborate with anyone and everyone we can as far, especially with youth organizations. I mean, Improve Your Tomorrow, Juma Ventures, who was just recently, I guess- Yes

Jeff Holden: on your show. I, I love when I hear organizations that we've had on because they tend to be the ones that are really engaged. Right. You know, when, if we connect, there's a reason we've connected. Right. And the thing about it is, is that, you know, when you hear what they do, it seems like, okay, they're doing the same thing.

Nadia Buron: Is there a conflict there? No. We want It's ne- it's never gonna be a comp- a competition. We want youth to have as much exposure experiences as [00:37:00] possible. So we do want, you know, them to go... I mean, just the other day someone asked for youth to go into their little event they're having and needed some volunteers with a stipend, and it's like, "Of course we're gonna send our youth there."

It's, that's what we all need to do to give them more, more and more opportunities. So the more we partner, the better. But over the last year and a half, for me personally, the juvenile justice system has really c- become an important area of focus. So I now serve as co-chair of the Sacramento County Juvenile Justice Commission, where I just hope to get to just identify ways for more disconnected system of all youth to find direction, you know, and support and opportunity.

And so I'm trying to obtain more partnerships in that direction. But, you know, partnerships also make it possible to provide wraparound support. You know, so through the Fresh Success program, which is funded by the Foundation of California Community Colleges, our case [00:38:00] manager, we have a case manager now, which can- Congratulations.

Thank you. It's, this is such a big step . I can't, can't tell you, um, what it took to get here. But it addresses the broader barriers, which involves housing, you know, uh, mental health, transportation, food access, education, all of that essential services. Because you can't have a youth focus on a job when they don't even have access to food, you know?

And- Or a place to stay. A place to stay. Mm-hmm. Exactly. And this is what's really happening. So, so that is, you know, kind of an important partnership as well. And then of course our volunteers. They're really cr- pretty... They're, they're a critical part of, of the community, and through organizations like the Boys Team Charity and Sierra Service Project, where young people have the opportunities to work alongside young people, and that's what they love to do.

And so, uh, builds empathy, develops, like, leadership. We have those partnerships and they're very strong. And then, you know, volunteer resources like [00:39:00] the city of, what the city of Rancho Cordova offers, including its community volunteer platform that is free. I don't know if all nonprofits know this, but it's amazing.

We reach residents who want to commun- like contribute, uh, with support. Like you need... You have a project going on, um, small organization like ours, if we need, you know, help, it's like you make- you put a posting there and, you know, youth can track their hours. It's amazing, and usually those are very expensive, especially for a nonprofit.

I'll have to get that information from you and- Yeah ... put it in the show notes and maybe reach out to them. Yeah. Yeah. So I'll definitely share that with you, but I'd... It's amazing. Another one that I have to mention, Folsom High. I just love the youth there. They've actually created a club in- Is that that UYE that you have on your- Yes

website? So what... That stands for what? And I... You got me, 'cause I'm just- Like, I've... I'm so... I have such a bad memory. It's gonna get to me in a, in a second and I'll remember it. Okay. But yes, [00:40:00] they, they created this amazing club, and they volunteer, they organize, you know, events for us. Um, they have been really just amazing group that just show up and, you know, and this provides leadership for them.

So our social enterprises have become even more than providing funding and providing a program, but also amazing opportunities for volunteer youth like those at Folsom High. I love to hear that. I love seeing youth get engaged in the community, 'cause- Right ... we obviously are very concerned about what's gonna happen with this transition of, of, you know, the generational wealth that's- Right

Jeff Holden: passing down to a generation that maybe isn't as engaged or as giving or philanthropic. So- Exactly ... it's, it's great to see that whatever that generation is that's in high school today, I, I don't know what they call that, you know, X- Right ... plus. Um, but- Right ... you know, what, what they do [00:41:00] is really gonna portend what's gonna happen, you know, in the future, 20, 30, 40 years from now.

So it's great to hear that that's happening. Right. Right. Let's, let's talk a little bit about the funding. Yes. How, how are you funded in, in scope? And then we'll talk a little bit about the social enterprise's value of that as well. Yeah. I mean, like most profit... like most nonprofits, excuse me, our funding comes from just a combination, you know, it's very diverse, of grants, sponsorships, foundations now, uh, individual donors, community support, and, you know, our partners have been strong partners that have believed in us in, throughout the years and have been kind of...

Nadia Buron: We have a few that are sustainable, like SMUD, Golden 1, Chase, and now Foundation California Community Colleges. So, but we've always kind of been thinking ahead, way ahead, in terms of utilizing the social enterprise and saying we need to keep building that [00:42:00] for circumstances like where we are today. Sure.

Because- Yeah, sustainability. Right, because that has been always... And now that we have been thinking, you know, forward, we really see that it's gonna be a really strong foundation for the future. Right now, our social powers are really... They do generate revenue, but we really never expected them to really completely fund an organization, right?

They really serve as really two important purposes. First, they create meaningful paid learning opportunities for young people, but second, the revenue does help offset, like, part of the cost of operating our programs. Sure. So- So some of that, uh, unrestricted funding that- Yes ... you don't have to worry as about as much when you- Exactly

Jeff Holden: you get a grant that tends to be restricted. Yeah. So when someone's shopping stuff, they're not just purchasing, like, a vintage item. They're placing a bid, not just placing a bid on something. They're supporting a local business. Their purchase comes part of, like, [00:43:00] to me, thinking, like, of an investment for a young person's future.

Nadia Buron: And so we're hoping that people start really seeing that connection. And, and really one of the realities of nonprofit is that many grants are, like you just said, like, restricted to specific program or expenses. So it's really, really important to understand that community support gives us that flexibility to respond, like, when we have these urgent needs as we kinda do in, in our current climate.

But speaking of that, I really wanted to talk about something helping with our transportation, someone who can't get to work, purchasing work clothing or tools or, you know, replacing a lost ID, uh, addressing an immediate barrier. So right now we've launched our $20,000 Building Futures matching campaign, which is gonna strengthen that flexible foundation that [00:44:00] really supports Pitra's next chapter.

And what makes this campaign really meaningful is that five of our board members have really come together to provide a combination- a combined $10,000 matching gift. Hmm. So our board members are not really just, you know, asking the community to invest. They're really leading that by example, right? And- Some skin in the game.

Jeff Holden: Yay. And investing, like, really in our mission. So, so during our matching campaign, every dollar contributed by the community is matched up to- Up to $10,000 The $10,000, yes. Yeah. So yeah, $25 becomes 50. Mm-hmm. You know, $100 becomes $200. So- 20 becomes 30, and- Yeah. And, and off you go with it. There you go. And is that, is that being applied to a lot of the social enterprise elements to support the online sales and [00:45:00] things of that nature?

Nadia Buron: Yeah, so, so basically we... The funding we needed comes from every area, whether it be new equipment needed for our new co- our next cohort. It could be stipends for our youth because, like we always say, it's paid played opportunities, and we think they deserve to be paid, you know? Yeah. And just there's all kinds of things from just having a business, right?

I mean, everything from when you're shipping products, you need, you know, you need those items to be able to ship every single product. So there's so much that is needed when you have a social enterprise where you have a program with youth coming in. We even, you know, provide them with sometimes, you know, just food when they come in and they're hungry, and so we want...

We have to make sure they're, you know, they have their- Yeah, well-fed, 'cause it none... You know, somebody who's hungry doesn't work very well if it's- Right. ... on their mind pressing the whole time. It's- Yeah ... I can relate to that. Right. I get [00:46:00] hangry. Exactly. You know? Exactly. But really, I mean, overall, if you're asking what it's come to, is we just wanna be able to say yes to more youth.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. Tell me if the, the funders out there, probably not one of the five people on, on that board 'cause they've already committed, but somebody comes and said, "I love the program. I like what you're doing. I see what you're doing." What would it look like if I gave you an unlimited budget? If I gave you a blank check, how would the...

Nadia Buron: Oh yeah, I see Stallion smiling over there too. Yeah, that'd be awesome, wouldn't it? Yeah, geez. I, I'm a big dreamer, so anytime someone says that, I'm, like, thinking, like, the biggest possible- I think I wanna hear yours too. Oh, really? Okay. 'Cause I was thinking the same thing. I'm like, do you not n- do you know that I'm, like, the big...

I mean, for me, I just, I even see myself as a visionary. If you were to tell me what, what am I, I'm, I'm, I'm a visionary. I think you're a bigger- Yeah. Well, what- ... visionary than I am. Anyway. Well, so, so what would it look like? So, [00:47:00] so my big vision is not just to move into, like, a larger building. My big dream is to create a space that allows us to serve more young people at the same time and become a stronger bridge between high school Vocational education, apprenticeship, college, and, like, meaningful employment.

Like, every year we have young people graduate from high school or leave a school before graduating without really the next step, okay? And some of them aren't even ready for college, or some of them don't feel even the, have the confidence to apply for, like, an apprenticeship, even if you told them, you know, there's an apprenticeship program.

So, you know, you ever- y- we even have others that just don't know what careers really are existing, you know? So they don't know what they're good at and, or just where they even belong. So I... I [00:48:00] mean, that doesn't mean that they just lack that ability or intelligence or ambition. Sometimes it's really just needing more time, more exposure, that stronger relationship that Stalian just mentioned-

and just really a safe place to discover what's possible. So that's the gap that I want FITTR to fill. I envision a large workforce development and career discovery hub where there's a lot of groups of young people that can learn at the same time, and the space would just have a lot just hands-on vocational workforce training stations, similar to what we're developing in the automotive shop, but just expanded across different pathways.

So you might have one group learning automo- automotive fundamentals, tools, and operation, shop operations. Another might be learning, like, e-commerce, online sales, you know, doing the live stream. Another might be developing entrepreneurship or [00:49:00] event, event production skills. So participating in just introductory workshops led by college and tech- and technical schools would be really incredible, too, because, you know, they want them in their programs.

Mm-hmm. So it's a hub where they can kinda come in. So instead of serving one small group at a time, we would have dozens of people learning and exploring pathways that really match their strength and interests. And so I don't want FITTR to become another vocational college or compete with another organization.

That's not what I want. I want FITTR to become a pipeline builder. So I want our role to be to help people become ready to s- succeed in those institutions that I'm speaking of, and we can help them discover their interests, develop confidence, strengthen their workplace habits, understand that different career pathways actually require.

So- Mm-hmm ... then we can connect them to partners [00:50:00] at Los Rios Community College, for instance, NCCT, you know, labor unions, um, so on and so forth. But yeah, so I'd just like to see instructors, industry professionals in those institutions regularly come into FITTR space to provide demonstrations Introductory workshops, hands-on learning, and, and so on.

So I think for many young people walking to a college campus, technical training for the first time can feel really intimidating, or even applying to. And so I imagine that same young person feeling, first meeting an instructor at FITRA in a place where they were already feeling safe and supported, and then, you know, just being able to- Mm-hmm

Stallion King: take that step. So Stalin, you smiled on that, too. What- What would, what would it look like for you? I, you definitely have a more professional answer than I do. Maybe it's 'cause I'm a kid at heart still. But for me, I wanna create a place that is fun, that kids can be kids. 'Cause, you know, as much as, yeah, we [00:51:00] wanna teach them how to act like adults, we still want them to have that pure at heart being kids.

And so I, I really just wanna create an environment where people feel free to let loose and- We would have you as mentors, too. Right? Yeah. Let them feel comfortable to just explore different things. I, I also think one of the things I would love to add maybe in the far, far future, maybe explore concepts that they really like.

Like, a lot of them say they wanna do, like, Twitch and, like, TikTok, and different things. And I'm like, "Well, I would... I, I'm kinda interested in exploring that concept with maybe youth that are interested in that." I'm like, "I kinda wanna dip my toe in that a little bit and be like, 'Okay, how, how do we make money off of this?

Nadia Buron: Is this something... If, if you really wanna explore it, let's do it.'" I mean- Absolutely. Yeah. That's why I'm saying, like, entrepreneurship is- Mm-hmm Yeah ... if that's their goal, they just need, like, the guidance on how to do that- Yeah ... right, [00:52:00] the right way, the right way, and seeing and understand the grit behind it.

'Cause it's not as easy as- No ... it seems online. Yeah. No, it's, it's a very difficult process. Right. But really, for an investor, what I'm proposing is not s- just an investment in a building. It would be an investment in a regional workforce pipeline where schools, colleges, vocational programs, apprenticeship providers, like employers, nonprofits, all that come together to prepare young people for long-term succe- success.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. And, and we heard it from the, you know, voice of somebody in the space who's enthusiastic about it, who sees what that need could be, what it could look like. S- so back to reality out of the dream of what it could be- ... what, what is the greatest need today? I feel like I haven't seen all your podcasts, by the way, and so I'm just feeling like I'm gonna- Well, there's 160 of them.

Nadia Buron: I wouldn't expect you to have to I'm saying like most- It's a lot ... yeah, most of the ones that are... I'm just wondering, and I'm thinking, I'm probably saying, we're [00:53:00] probably saying the same thing, but it's really flexible, unrestricted funding that allows us to build, like, consistent organizational capacity, you know- Mm-hmm

Jeff Holden: and serve more young people. You know, it's- And, and that's valid. That is certainly the majority, but it's not everybody. I would say maybe 75%, 'cause we do have programs that come in are self-funded. Mm. We have programs that are coming in through, through an alter regional, where they need volunteers. So it does vary, and surprisingly sometimes the organizations that say, "No, no, we're good there, we need this."

Mm-hmm. And the, the, but the, the majority certainly i- in this environment and the way things have changed with, you know, federal funding and, and state funding, the interest is, "Hey, we, we need money. We have to keep this thing going." I, I think what I really like about what you're doing is you've already got it teed up.

You've got this social enterprise. Many organizations don't get it. You know, it's a challenge for them to think, "I'm out of this nonprofit space that I've always gone [00:54:00] after grants and, and donations. Now I have to think about the business aspect of it, the true business." It, it becomes an entrepreneurial-spirited entity, and that's hard for some people because it's transition from what they're used to of the nonprofit business, even though that's still a business with all its expectations and demands and, and income and expense and employees and HR and, and all the regulations.

But it's changing to the point where it has to become a self-sustaining business. You know, that, that other money is gone, and now you are gonna be competing with businesses, real businesses, who do something similar, and that's a difference. And you're well-poised Because you're already in that space to take advantage of, or it's gonna take somebody else some time to catch up, you're a little bit ahead of it.

Nadia Buron: Yeah. I mean, flexible funding [00:55:00] just really allows us to, you know, respond quicker too. Mm-hmm. Because, I mean, sometimes you just... You're, you're crossing- I mean, you're going, "Okay, this is not... We don't have this for- We have this for this," and so it allows you to just go, "Yeah, you need it? You need a bus pass?

Jeff Holden: You need this? We can j- we can do it." Mm-hmm. It's not a problem, you know? So it's really needed. Even, you know, smaller amounts is, is really key. So yeah, but- Y- y- you mentioned bus pass. I wanna, wanna be sure to give a shout-out. Stallion came on a Paratransit bus- Good ... which I think speaks volumes. That, that's y- almost a hidden, subtle, you know- Mm-hmm

a collaborative effort because there's people who need to get around. There's other organizations that do support that, and h- here we are with- ... you in the studio today because of one of the collaborative partners. Right. You know, almost in an indirect way. Right. Right. So it's, it... Y- we, we just sometimes don't even recognize how many influences there are that are coming from other [00:56:00] collaborative partners that are also nonprofits.

Nadia Buron: Absolutely. Absolutely. No, I'm so grateful, like, for... I mean, I can talk, I can keep the conversation going on all the partnerships because, um, it really is the reason why we're able to do the work we're doing. Right. Right. Um, yeah. Yeah. We have Stallion here as a, as a great example of somebody who's come through the program, who's still very involved in the program.

Jeff Holden: Any others that, that maybe you're familiar with that you'd say, "This is how this individual came in, and today"? Oh my gosh. I have youth who have, you know, been with us since they were in, you know, just middle school, started to, you know, come in... We're talking first as volunteers. I mean, there's... W- when I look at volunteers, I've, I've looked at youth who have, like Stallion, been through our program, who've just come and go, and sometimes just [00:57:00] we check in with them and they're, you know, working maybe with Juma.

Nadia Buron: Uh-huh. You know, 'cause they come through our program and then we, we've kinda introduced them to an opportunity, walk them through what they're gonna need to do in an interview with Juma, and but we, you know, keep in contact with them. We have youth through, you know, like I said, come back and we've connected them to another, uh, to an employer.

But the ones that I was just gonna tell you from our volunteers, I mean, we have one... I have stories where I've seen them go through college, and then they needed... Because they've done so many volunteer hours, they needed, you know, all those referrals to get into college. They got into college, then they needed their first employment, and their first employment got them a job because, you know, they had done so much work as a volunteer.

Yes. And now they applied to medical school. They wanted, again, that referral. And just, it just showed, I mean, the progress and everything of one individual. I mean, I'm just [00:58:00] talking about one story, but even the volunteerism is, is huge. But as far as, you know, like, if you're asking how many of them stick, you know, there's a few that wanted to get hired on, that get hired on, but a lot of them, you know, go on to either getting a job or, you know, keep going with their education.

Jeff Holden: And some of them just, you know, whether life happens and fall through the cracks and then come back and need help again, so. Sure. Well, it's great that you're there because that 16 to 24-year range, a lot happens in that space, as we know, as I'm looking over at Stallion, who I think is 24. Yes. Uh-huh. I am 24, yes.

Nadia Buron: So now you're at the top of the range for, uh- Yeah ... for FITRA. I'm still gonna... I'm still stuck with you. You can't get rid of me, huh? That's right. Well, they're employ- they're an employee now, so they're not- Mm-hmm ... even part of the program, so they can be... You can be however, however old, old you can be and still stay with us, so we're all good.

Jeff Holden: Let's, let's go beyond the mission for a second. This is the opportunity to learn a little [00:59:00] bit more about Nadia. Just, just the human part because the founder and CEO of an organization is one thing that you carry with you all the time. It's always there, but we do need lives and, and there is a personal side to, to everybody.

So I'm gonna ask you a few questions. They're, they're quick questions, fairly easy to answer, but they give the listener the opportunity to say, "Oh, okay. I, I didn't know that," or, "That's very interesting." Or, "I know Nadia, but I didn't know that about her. How cool." So th- let me ask you, are you an early bird or a night owl?

Nadia Buron: Early bird. Beach, mountains, city on a road trip, which would you prefer? I love road trips. And, and where would you go, though? Beach, mountains, or city? Oh, sorry. Um- That's okay ... mountain. Okay. Favorite place to escape even if it's just for a moment? On the couch with a cup of coffee Perfect. That is, you know, one of the questions I had to...

It's another question, coffee or tea? Will you s- [01:00:00] Actually, both. I can't s- yeah, we'll say coffee Okay. She's obsessed with coffee. Favorite city you've visited? Um, I would say Nabeul. It's a city in Tunisia. Oh my gosh. Yes. And it's Nabeul? Nabeul. Nabeul. Mm-hmm. I, I've not heard of it. N-A-B-E-U-L. Okay. Very cool.

What's the one thing people might be surprised to learn about you? That I speak six languages. And they are? I know three. Chinese, French, Spanish, of course English, Pashto, and learning Arabic. Wow. Wow. Yeah, that's amazing to me. I have such an admiration for people who can speak multiple languages, and those are really diverse.

They're not all root Latin, so- Right ... that makes it really tough, especially the Arabic. Yeah, I feel like it, it connects you with [01:01:00] people. Mm-hmm. And it, it just, I wanna keep on learning because there's something about a, a language that, that noth- that nothing else could really get you more connected in a way.

Like, you know, people think differently in different languages. Right. You know? That, that's so true. Yeah. It is, and it's hard when you're crossing languages in your head to think. Right. So it, it's a challenge both ways. What does exercise mean to you? What does it mean to me? It means energy. It means get my mind off work.

Good. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? To be yourself. Perfect. Yeah. Love that. And then one small thing that's been giving you hope lately? Is that there is a lot of, there's a lot of good in the world. I, I, I thought you might have looked over and said, "Stallion." Oh, yes. I, I was like thinking that too, but then I was like, [01:02:00] that's a little, that's a little much, right?

Stallion King: Actually, I mean- Small thing. People- ... if you're not watching but listening- ... Stallion is, is a tiny young lady. I, I am very tiny, yes. I'm born with cerebral palsy, so right now I'm sitting in like my wheelchair, so I'm very, I look very tiny. And head to toe maybe- ... maybe 4'8"? I'm like 4'9", so you're like not a bad guess.

Jeff Holden: Okay, see, not a bad guess, right? So, yeah What's, what's the best way for somebody to learn more about the organization? If they're interested in supporting, where should they go? They could go online at vitra.org. And if they wanna support, there's so many ways. You can volunteer, you can invest, you can shop.

Nadia Buron: There's so many places to shop. That, I love the shop 'cause that, that very rarely comes up in any of the conversations. And you have so many options, you know, online when you go to the website. Okay, you can go here, here, here, and you express where those opportunities are, which I, I, I love that. [01:03:00] Right. Right.

I mean, you know, there's so- And vintage is a big deal today ... vintage is a big deal, and so we're going into that, and we're going in pretty strong. And it's, it's pretty amazing because I feel like we've just, just ha- slowly kinda dipped our, our hands into it, and, and it's, it's, it's exciting. Yeah. It's exciting.

Jeff Holden: And we'll have that in the, uh, in the show notes as well for anybody. If you're listening, driving, whatever h- case might be, you can't memorize it, it, it'll be there, and you can just grab the link and, and get to where you need to go. Nadia, Stallion, thank you so much for taking the time to come into the studio today.

And I know it's easier for some of us than it is for others, so I, I sincerely appreciate you making the effort to, to make that happen. Thank you for what you're doing. To, to think you're starting from a s- a competitor to bookseller of, of, of one, another big one that we know to, to where you are today and, and the expansion that you've got is really encouraging to see.

And the collaborative efforts that you're making to touch so many different organizations [01:04:00] I think is gonna be what's gonna support you as you continue to grow because you've got something unique that they don't have. And that is that, that mechanism for, you know, the social enterprise in all the different ways that you're doing it.

So thank you. We really appreciate what you're doing, and let's go make something better. Thank you. Thank you. It's been such a blessing. Appreciate, I really appreciate the time. Yeah. It was a lot of fun. It was a true blessing, so thank you. Thank you for listening to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. We hope today's episode inspired you and gave you a deeper look into the work of our local nonprofits.

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And if you're a part of a nonprofit that would like to be featured, we'd love to hear from you. [01:05:00] Just visit the guest tab on our website. The Nonprofit Podcast Network is recorded and produced at Hear Me Now Studio with generous support from our partners, Captrust, fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations, online at captrust.com.

Western Health Advantage, local care with community impact. Find the plan that fits at westernhealth.com. Core, executive leadership and comprehensive support services. Visit cxore.com. And Five Star Bank, a local trusted advisor to community nonprofits for over 25 years, fivestarbank.com. And finally, our episode sponsor, Sacramento Venture Philanthropy, a community of generosity combining people, expertise, and capital for good, sbp [01:06:00] sacramento.org.