Because They Matter

Scott Murray, Stacie Martin, and Rhiannon Graham discuss the financial challenges of spring break for single-parent families and advocate for staycations as a cost-effective alternative. 

Rhiannon shares her experiences of creating memorable spring breaks with inexpensive activities like sleepovers and local outings. Stacie emphasizes the importance of quality time over expensive gifts. 

Scott shares his personal journey and the value of presence in raising children. 

They all agree that presence and intentional time together are more valuable than material gifts.

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Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Co-hosts Scott Murray, Stacie Martin,  and Rhiannon Graham share their personal experiences as children of single parents and the lessons learned, such as the importance of hard work and resilience. 

Rhiannon highlights that 90% of Chicago Public School students are raised by single parents and discusses her success plan curriculum to support these students. 

Stacie emphasizes the need for community support and the creation of a positive legacy. 

They encourage single parents to celebrate their achievements and seek help from their communities. Rhiannon also mentions her efforts to create awareness through legislation recognizing the gold tinsel ribbon for single parents.

Scott Murray provides historical context about National Single Parent Day, created by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.  Stacie discusses the importance of community support for single parents and the role of organizations like Parents Without Partners. Rhiannon shares statistics about the high percentage of children in Chicago raised by single parents and the importance of providing role models for these children.

All encourage single parents to celebrate National Single Parent Day by taking time for themselves and their families. Rhiannon suggests simple ways to honor single parents, such as making a special meal or taking a break for self-care and Stacie  emphasizes the opportunity and importance of community support and the role of organizations in providing assistance and encouragement to single parents and their children.

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Scott Murray, Stacie Martin, and Rhiannon Graham discuss the importance of family dynamics, particularly in blended families. They highlight the impact of recent storms on family life and the challenges of living together. The conversation shifts to love languages, emphasizing the significance of acts of service, words of affirmation, and quality time. Rhiannon shares her experience as Miss Chicago and the importance of self-care. Stacie talks about her personal growth and upcoming projects. Scott emphasizes the value of kindness, courtesy, and respect. They conclude by discussing self-care strategies and the importance of maintaining positive relationships.

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Join us as we celebrate the Crowning of Miss Chicago - our very own Rhiannon Graham.  She shares about turning challenge into triumph, and also how staying the course and not giving up on your dreams are SO important.

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Scott Murray hosts a discussion on the importance of quality time with children during the holidays, featuring Stacie Martin, Rhiannon Graham, and Jelesa Warren. 

Stacie emphasizes the significance of community gatherings and volunteering. 

Rhiannon shares her experience of celebrating Christmas with both parents and the joy of family traditions. 

Jelesa discusses the challenges of split families and the importance of creating unique experiences. They reflect on cherished childhood memories, such as baking with family and receiving meaningful gifts. 

Scott shares his experiences of giving back and the impact of philanthropy. The conversation concludes with a focus on the value of rest and time as gifts.

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Scott Murray, Stacie Martin, and Rhiannon Graham discuss the significance of Thanksgiving and its traditions, including its origins in 1621 and the football tradition. They share personal gratitude stories, highlighting family, friends, and community. Rhiannon emphasizes education and her dream to open a nonprofit for single families. Stacie values family growth and community support. Scott reflects on his parents and children, and his work with veterans. They discuss meaningful gift-giving, emphasizing thoughtful choices and the importance of volunteerism and gratitude. They conclude by encouraging thoughtful gift-giving and the value of relationships over material gifts.

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Scott Murray, of the Scott Murray Scholarship Foundation and Murray Media joins forces with Rhiannon Graham, Miss Capital City and a social work graduate student, who shares her platform of supporting single families, stemming from her upbringing in a single-parent household and Stacie Martin, founder of Single Parent Advocate, highlights their 15-year mission to help families. Jelesa Warren, a single mother and project manager, discusses her journey and the importance of self-awareness, commitment, and community support. The conversation emphasizes the significance of resources, dreaming, and surrounding oneself with positive influences to navigate the complexities of single parenthood.

They recommend single families pursue action items such as: 

• Cultivating a support system and community to help navigate the challenges of single parenthood.
• Committing to being present and engaged with your children, while also acknowledging your own limitations as a single parent.
• Keeping dreams alive and pursuing their goals, and to utilize available resources and scholarships to support their children's education.
• Prioritizing their children, even if they struggle to find balance for themselves.
• Surrounding oneself with positive role models and communities that can help single parents find the resources they need.

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Scott Murray, Rhiannon Graham, and Stacie Martin discuss the challenges and successes of single-parent families. Rhiannon, a 23-year-old social work graduate, founded "Single But Not Alone" to advocate for single-parent families, inspired by her mother's sacrifices. 

Stacie, a mother and founder of Single Parent Advocate, emphasizes the importance of self-care, hard work, and community support. They highlight that over 50% of marriages end in divorce, affecting many families. The conversation underscores the need for positive role models, self-care, and community support to help single parents and their children succeed.

Tune In and hear what Rhiannon, Scott, and Stacie have learned over the years in serving and supporting parents and children.  

Rhiannon discusses her Single But Not Alone message workbook for Single Parent Children and Stacie discusses her SUCCESSFUL Single Parenting message workbook.   Scott also shares his insights as he shares with adults and children regarding Leadership America and how individuals and families can be positive and productive.

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

Rhiannon Graham, Miss Capital City Illinois, and her mother Cindy discussed their experiences as a single parent family. Cindy, a government employee and bartender, shared her struggles with finances, time management, and providing for Rhiannon. Rhiannon highlighted her mother's dedication, which inspired her to pursue a graduate degree in social work and advocate for single parents. They emphasized the importance of community support and creative solutions for financial and time management challenges. Cindy's sacrifices and Rhiannon's achievements underscored the resilience and love within their family, reinforcing the theme of the podcast, "Because They Matter."

We have a meaningful discussion with Rhiannon's mom, Cindy.  Tune in as she shares her 20 year journey raising her amazing daughter.  Truly, they have succeeded together as a team of two where the main goal was to raise an amazing daughter and give her the best life possible with no regrets.

Cindy shares about multiple factors from finances, where she had to cut corners, work multiple jobs, and ensure her daughter would be well rounded.   She digs into time management, playing multiple roles, and putting parenting first rather than personal achievements and/or career interests. 

She is now proud of her daughter's love for children, her heart of gold and how she always loves to help others.  She also loves Rhiannon's willingness to try new things and her go getter spirit.  

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here:

In this episode, Scott Murray takes his turn and shares more about his background and perspectives.  He shares how important it is to him to have positive impact in the community and why he is so passionate about making the world a better place for our children.  

To learn more about Scott and his professional achievements follow this link:  https://www.murraymedia.net/scott-murray/

Send a text

Support the show

To connect with Scott Murray, email him at [email protected]

To connect with Stacie Martin, email her at [email protected]. You can follow Single Parent Advocate on Facebook and join their community.

To connect with Rhiannon Graham, email her at [email protected]

To connect with Jelesa Warren, you can find her on Instagram @Jbirdflew or on You Tube here: