Your Nonprofit Life

My guest for this episode is Founder and Executive Director of H.U.T.C.H. (Help United Through Caring Hands), Armishia Wiley-Adams. Armishia was raised by her grandmother and uncle after her mother died when she was eight. She became pregnant in high school and dropped out. After having two more children before the age of 22, Armishia became determined to get off government assistance. She earned her GED followed by a Bachelor's in Organizational Management with a specialization in Human Resources Management and then a Master's in Organizational Management with a specialization in Organizational Leadership. Over her decades of working in HR and making job placements, she was keenly aware of the gaps and flaws in the system where women were consistently referred for jobs that they were unqualified to keep. Armishia's passion for helping women break out of poverty drove her to found her nonprofit H.U.T.C.H. Their mission is to teach women of all ages to become self-sufficient and workforce ready. During this interview, Armishia and I talk about everything from referrals and assessments to job training and placement; from George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks to voter suppression and what it's like being an African-American mom in the Atlanta area, and we also talk about the pandemic's impact on programs and the board. Through it all, Armishia generously shares her triumphs and struggles of running a nonprofit all while holding down a full time job in HR. As you know, I finished recording all the podcasts for this year months ago, and yet, each one has been released at a specific time for a specific reason. And I've been holding this interview until now because my guest holds a Vision Board Workshop every January…and I want you to consider sponsoring at least one woman to attend this because it will literally change her life. https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2-ep-18-armishia-wiley-adams/

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States, we are re-releasing an educational and inspirational interview with someone whose people lived here before the country was "discovered." Krista Beazley is now serving as the Executive Director of the Fort Apache Heritage Foundation. Hear about her journey into nonprofit leadership which began after the death of her husband. Show notes: https://yournonprofitlife.com/encore-s1e32/

Long time no see. Can you believe it's already October and the holidays are right around the corner? Literally. And I think we're all still waiting to see what it's going to be like this year as we begin peeking out from behind this life-altering global pandemic. I know one of the traditions my family missed out on last year was an in-person holiday handbell concert by the Raleigh Ringers. It wasn't safe and like most arts organizations, they took their performance to cyberspace. This pandemic has really turned the way we experience life upside down, and I truly believe that one of the hardest hit subsectors in the nonprofit world is arts & culture. And yet, the sector rose to the occasion as it provided us with virtual concerts we'd otherwise never been able to attend (Third Coast Baroque and Broadway Inspirational Voices, I'm talking to you!), virtual gatherings to create and reflect on beauty, and so much more. My guest today is Dionne Powlenzuk, the Executive Director of the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington in Bowmanville, Ontario Canada. We recorded this podcast earlier this year before adding video, so ironic as it is, we only have audio for this interview. So… could you imagine how to run a public art gallery during a pandemic? Like how can you even? How do you continue serving your community when everything is on lockdown? Or not? Or again? The fact is: Even though we are finally seeing the light at the end of the Covid tunnel, this pandemic has hit the arts sector the hardest of all. And yet, I cannot fathom how we would have survived this pandemic without leaders like Dionne who took what was primarily an in-person only experience and moved it online and outdoors so we could learn and refresh our spirits during one of the darkest times in our lifetime!. In this interview, Dionne and I talk about how she started volunteering at the organization she now leads, and what that journey has been like. We also explore the various ways the pandemic has changed the way we experience the arts, and how her local gallery has not only expanded their audience, they've also grown the pool of artists they support—with living wages—to include artists worldwide. So with no further adieu, allow me to introduce you to Dionne Powlenzuk, the Executive Director of the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington. https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep16-dionne-powlenzuk

Today's guest is a young man who found his life's purpose while pursuing a music degree at Yale University. He was working toward a career in musical theater (think Broadway) and enjoyed studying alongside so many talented musicians and artists. He longed for the chance to collaborate with fellow students outside of coursework, but quickly discovered there weren't actually that many opportunities to be found. So, as it often happens with nonprofit founders, my guest decided to take action... and now chronically ill children are not only writing their own lyrics and songs, but they are collaborating with professional musicians to produce their songs and share them with the world... How? That's exactly what you'll learn in my interview with Dan Rubins, Founder and Executive Director of Hear Your Song. During our conversation, you'll learn not only how this organization was born, but also how it has evolved over the past few years, and how it is poised for exponential growth in the very near future. And let me just say this here and now: Prepare to be impressed. This is a truly unique podcast, because not only will you get to hear all about "Hear Your Song", you'll also learn the backstory of a few of the kids' songs AND actual excerpts that have already been produced. https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep14-dan-rubins/

In this podcast, you will meet the Reverend Young Lee Hertig. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of both the Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity AND Asian American Women On Leadership. She's also the Editor-In-Chief of ChristianityNext, and the author of The Tao of Asian American Belonging: A Yinist Spirituality. Did you catch that? She literally wrote the book on Asian American Christianity...because there wasn't one!!! Her book lifts up the voices of female, Asian American in Christian ecological theology. She coined the term yinist in the 1990s to "name the nameless Asian American feminism." Her organization is progressive, intersectional, holistic. My personal educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies and Archaeology so I was basically fangirling the entire time. It was an honor to interview someone who shares my love of theology and passion for elevating the voices of women—especially minority and marginalized women in Christianity. We have such an incredibly diverse group of nonprofit leaders we support in the Nonprofit Leadership Lab. They are incredible human beings, and Rev. Hertig totally filled my tank. Without any prompting from me (I promise!), Dr. Hertig shared her appreciation for the Lab and said our resources are what helped her get out of the catch-22 of not being able to raise money for her 15-year old organization. Wow... I'm on cloud nine right now... just to have the opportunity to interview Young and learn the details of her own journey into the nonprofit sector. You will be inspired and motivated when you hear why they changed the name of their organization without losing the acronym ISAAC. I cannot wait for you to meet Rev. Young Lee Hertig, co-Founder and Executive Director of ISAAC: Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity. https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep12-young-lee-hertig/

Today's guest is Henry Burrell, the founder of the Jonesboro Business Association. Originally from New York, Henry relocated to Louisiana and now resides in Jonesboro, Arkansas—and we'll talk a little bit about the difference between life in Queens as opposed to life in the South. Here's what you need to know about Henry. First and foremost, he is a successful businessman. He has been in the hospitality industry for decades developing leaders and pouring his life into his community. After moving to Jonesboro, he recognized a gap in the local business sector and began brainstorming how to fill it in such a way that the community would be stronger AND locally owned businesses would collaborate for a bigger impact — especially with the students in Jonesboro. And isn't that the way it happens with nonprofit Founders? They see a gap or a need, envision a way to address it while changing lives, and then they rally other leaders to join them for greater impact?! You should be nodding your head up and down right now, because that's exactly how nonprofits get started. I can't wait for you to meet Henry and hear his story about what it's like to develop leaders in both the for profit and nonprofit sectors of Jonesboro, Arkansas. https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep10-henry-burrell/

It's Mental Health Month, and I could not think of a more important way to wrap the month than talking with someone who runs an established mental health agency in Southern California. I don't know about you, but if you are like me, you are probably wondering what happens with the unaccompanied minors who have found their way to the land of the free and the home of the brave, right? And how does one cope when they've experienced trauma but cannot afford the professional help they need to start the healing process? Let me introduce you to my next guest because she's going to educate us about all of this and more. Teddie Valenzuela is the Executive Director of Amanacer Community Counseling Service in Los Angeles. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been at Amanacer for more than 20 years starting as a therapist and currently serving as Executive Director. We're going to unpack her journey over the course of this conversation and you'll be inspired by what Teddie has been able to accomplish over the years in her different positions. https://yournonprofitlife.com//s2e08-teddie-valenzuela

This episode features one of the most unique nonprofit organizations I'm aware of. In fact, as far as we know, this is one of only two organizations with this mission in the entire world. Let's set the stage a little bit. Like many of you, my family switched to watching Sunday Services online when the pandemic was declared. Last week's sermon was based on a passage in the book of Numbers in the Hebrew Scriptures where the people were being bitten by snakes. Not exactly the kind of story you're expecting to hear on a Sunday morning! Then the priest shared a story about her own experience being trolled by a snake in her backyard. She cannot stand snakes! Maybe you're now thinking about all the movies you've seen where snakes are the representation of evil, or maybe even they're the villains themselves. Well, today we're here to flip the narrative around snakes and learn about them from a completely different perspective. My guest today is Melissa Amarello, the founder and executive director of Advocates for Snake Preservation (A.S.P.). Asp! Isn't that a cool name for this organization?! Melissa has been fascinated with snakes since she was a little girl, but it wasn't until she was in college that she saw her first rattlesnake out in the wild. And that experience changed the trajectory of her career. Over time, Melissa realized that she had a gift for helping people better understand snakes. She found that being face-to-face with people, she could break through the misinformation and help people care about the snakes they might encounter in their yards or out on a trail. Melissa focused her passion, started a nonprofit from scratch, and is now the first paid staff at her organization, the Executive Director. Her story will inspire and educate you. https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e06-melissa-amarello

There's something you need to know up front about this particular episode: It's for the birds! All of them! Raptors, Songbirds, Scavenger Birds, Owls, I could go on and on. 🐦🦅🦃🦉 Mainly because I love trying to identify different types of birds. In fact, one of my family's favorite movies is called "The Big Year" with Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. We watch it frequently and enjoy identifying the various birds who land on our fence or in the trees next to it. But this is nothing compared to today's guest. Her whole life is birdified! Wendy Perrone is the Founder and Executive Director of the Three Rivers Avian Center (TRAC) in Brooks, West Virginia. TRAC is located right next to the New River Gorge National Park in the southern portion of the New River Gorge National River down by Sandstone Falls Overlook. Wendy and her husband Ron founded TRAC back in 1990, and they still run it to this day. That's 31 years of bird rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction from the property on which they live. 31 years is a long time so you can count on my asking Wendy about succession planning and the future of the organization. Wendy was a delight to interview. I always find someone's path into the sector interesting, and you'll be amazed at what Wendy and her husband did prior to starting TRAC! The thing is, now that they've had the organization for so many years, it's hard to imagine them doing anything else! With a rather remote location, you might be surprised to know TRAC receives injured birds from all over the state—I think you'll be impressed with how the birds are transported. Can you say "volunteer coordination"?! By the time you're done listening to this podcast, you'll be observing birds from a whole new perspective. I'm so happy you're here to learn about the important work Wendy Perrone is doing at Three Rivers Avian Center and what her plans are to keep it going long after she's gone--not that she's leaving anytime soon!

CONTENT TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions about sex trafficking, commercial sex exploitation, and pimp culture. So, if this is something you want to skip, you should skip it. Listener discretion advised. January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month so I've been interviewing a variety of nonprofit leaders—founders, ceos, and executive directors—who run organizations addressing the horrible evil of human trafficking. Today's guest is Natasha Paradeshi, the Co-Founder of The Landing, a drop-in center for survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in Houston, Texas. Whether providing them with an advocate, reaching out to them in the red light district, the folks at The Landing intend to meet people where they are—wherever it may be—and support them throughout their journey. In this interview, Natasha will share how she became interested in nonprofit service while she was a college student, and how her heart was stirred to action when she learned about the horrors of human trafficking at a conference. One of the gaps she recognized was the lack of identifying victims of human trafficking, so she and other co-founders established their first (and only...so far) "Drop-in Center" in the red light district of Houston. At The Landing, they seek to meet people where they are, honor their inherent dignity and worth, and walk alongside them on their journey. This organization was started out of the deep faith of the founders, and so as you might expect, it comes up. Whether or not you share her faith, you will LOVE hearing Natasha's story and her passion for serving and identifying victims of human trafficking. The Landing offers a fair, just, and healthy culture of inclusion, diversity, and empowerment for all victims of human trafficking. As heavy as this topic is, I'm still excited for you to meet this amazing woman who is making a tangible difference in the lives of victims of human trafficking—even if they don't yet realize they are being trafficked. You're going to love Natasha Paradeshi, co-founder of The Landing in Houston Texas. https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2e03-natasha-paradeshi

SEASON 2, EPISODE 1: CONTENT WARNING This episode includes discussions about sex trafficking and how sustained sexual abuse impacts survivors even years after they've been trafficked. So, if this is something you want to skip, you should skip it. Listener discretion advised. January is the official National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and this episode was released on January 11, 2021, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Throughout the month of January, I am interviewing nonprofit leaders—founders, ceos, and executive directors—who run organizations which are not only working tirelessly to raise awareness about human trafficking but also walking alongside victims and survivors of sex trafficking while they try to rebuild their lives. Sidenote: This episode was recorded in late December 2020. Vanessa Schmidt is the founder and board chair of The Wild Hope, an equine therapy ranch which provides healing, safety, and connection for survivors of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. The Austin-based organization is currently in phase two of start-up having successfully launched their pilot program in October 2020. During our interview, Vanessa is extremely vulnerable sharing her own life experience of childhood abuse, her incredible connection with horses, and how the vision of this organization went from a dream to reality. You will be blown away when you hear how she got Jewel, the organization's first mustang, and you will learn about the magic of horses when it comes to helping us humans heal from trauma. I cannot wait to introduce you to Vanessa Schmidt, founder of The Wild Hope in Austin, Texas where they "hold onto hope for others until they are able to hold onto it for themselves." https://yournonprofitlife.com/s2ep01-vanessa-schmidt

This month, we are honoring nonprofit leaders and organizations who serve people during some of the most emotionally tender times of their lives. Whether due to natural causes, tragedy, or the pandemic, I'm sure we all know someone who has suffered loss this year. And one of the most significant losses a person can experience is the loss of a spouse, and sometimes when you're the close friend of a widow, you swoop in to help in the short term… but how do you continue to support your friend over the long haul? Sadly, what happens with many of us is that we don't know what to NOT say, and so rather than say or do the wrong things, we say nothing. We back off. We give space. But is the space helpful? Is it best if we don't mention the name of the spouse when we're together? Rather than google the answer to this, how about I introduce you to my guest on today's episode. Marina Mitchell is the Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Share, an organization created to assist the burdens of our sisters and girlfriends grieving the loss of their spouse and share with others the treasure that is walking alongside these widows in their pain. Marina comes from a humble background. Her parents were entrepreneurs and raised her and her siblings in Northern Northern California. You could say her life was sheltered, but after visiting one of her relatives in another country, Marina realized anything was possible! Listen to Marina's journey into the nonprofit sector and be inspired by this woman who learned how to walk with widows and now spends her life helping other women strengthen relationships after the death of a friend's spouse. Show Notes: https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep33-marina-mitchell/

Happy Veteran's Day! Every year, here in the United States, we observe November 11th as a federal holiday to honor our military veterans—persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces. In this episode, you'll meet a remarkable woman who is not only the daughter of a veteran but the Deputy Director of a nonprofit organization that serves some of the most vulnerable veterans and service members in the country. KellyAnn Romanych is the Deputy Executive Director of Veteran's Legal Institute. VLI provides pro bono legal assistance to homeless, at risk, disabled and low income current and former service members to eradicate barriers to housing, healthcare, education, and employment and foster self-sufficiency. Show Notes: https://yournonprofitlife.com/ep31-kellyann-romanych