Beyond The Blog

This podcast episode explores the Nonprofit Internship Program, a collaboration between The Patterson Foundation (TPF) and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Hosted by TPF Fellow Ericia Henry, the episode features a conversation with Dr. Don Bowman, lead consultant for TPF's Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative, as they discuss the program's purpose, evolution, and impact.

Key Podcast Themes

• History and purpose of the Nonprofit Internship Program.
• Dr. Don Bowman's role and insights as a consultant.
• Real-world outcomes and student experiences resulting from the program.
• The value of bridging classroom learning with nonprofit practice.
• The broader impact on the nonprofit sector and leadership pipeline.
• Encouragement and advice for students, nonprofit organizations, and potential supporters.

Timestamps 

• 02:01 – Overview of The Patterson Foundation's Nonprofit Internship Program
• 05:43 – Dr. Don Bowman shares his role and the evolution of the program
• 09:57 – Outcomes from the partnership with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
• 13:15 – Where to find blogs from past internship participants
• 13:29 – How the program bridges the gap between academic learning and nonprofit practice
• 17:41 – Biggest takeaways for students who've participated in the program
• 21:32 – Don's advice for students and aspiring nonprofit professionals

Links to Learn More

Donald R. Bowman, Ed. D.

Ericia Henry

Advancing Philanthropic Leadership

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Nonprofit Internship Program

Blog: The Patterson Foundation Internship Program: A Deep Dive

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In this episode of Discover DeSoto, we sit down with Karissa Roosa, Director of All Faith’s Food Bank Food and Resource Center in DeSoto and a passionate Public Innovator. From connecting neighbors to essential resources to building collaborative partnerships and community-led solutions, Karissa shares her journey, leadership philosophy, and the heart behind her work. Tune in for an inspiring look at how one leader is helping DeSoto grow stronger together.

Key Podcast Themes

Community Impact Through Local Leadership – Karissa Roossa shares how her work through All Faiths Food Bank is deeply rooted in meeting the needs of local community members and supporting long-term positive change in DeSoto County.The DeSoto Food and Resource Center is more than a food bank. Karissa explains how they connect neighbors with a wide range of services, including housing, healthcare, and employment, by partnering with other local organizations to serve the whole person.

Leadership Beyond the Job Title – Karissa is more than a nonprofit director, she’s a public innovator. After completing training with the Harwood Institute through The Patterson Foundation, she has embraced a community-centered leadership style that amplifies aspirations and fosters meaningful change.

Active Participation in Community-Building Initiatives – In addition to her daily work, Karissa is highly involved in multiple initiatives with The Patterson Foundation. She is often involved in programs and events, contributing her energy and ideas to various community-focused regional efforts.

Timestamps 

• 00:22 - Introduction to Karissa and her role with All Faith’s Food Bank Food and Resource Center in DeSoto.
• 01:17 - Karissa shares what brought her and her family to DeSoto County.
• 03:00 - Karissa shares what makes DeSoto County unique.
• 06:01 - Karissa discusses her early involvement with The Patterson Foundation and key events that shaped her engagement.
• 08:39 - Karissa discusses her experience hearing Rich Harwood speak at a local school in DeSoto County.
• 10:19 - Karissa reflects on being a member of the round tables for nonprofit leaders in DeSoto County and what she took away from that experience.
• 12:25 - Alicia discusses the Public Capital report and recommendations from that report. 
• 13:45 - Karissa describes her experience at the Public Innovators Lab, a two-day event with over 50 local leaders.
• 17:57 - Karissa and Alicia discuss the four teams that have emerged since the Public Innovators lab (Housing, Health, Faith-Based, and Youth).
• 18:53 - Karissa answers, “What are your aspirations for DeSoto County?”
• 21:48 - All Faith’s Food Bank in DeSoto County: Karissa shares helpful details about what the food bank can provide (like food, support programs, or referrals) with community members who connect with her.
• 29:40 - Karissa breaks the rules and provides listeners with two favorites for her Discover DeSoto highlight: Porch Night and Farmhouse Coffee.

Links to Learn More

DeSoto County Ahead

Public Capital Report

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Learning happens everywhere - inside classrooms and far beyond!

 In this episode of Connecting Communities, host Laurie Miller chats with Yu-Ling Cheng, Co-Producer of the national Remake Learning Days festival, and Leah Verier-Dunn, consultant with The Patterson Foundation. They explore the origins of this inspiring movement and the meaningful impact it's making across the Suncoast region. Listen to this episode to discover how you can get involved in this exciting festival and explore hands-on learning in your community.

• Timestamps 
  • 01:52 - Yu-Ling talks about the origins of  Remake Learning Days
  • 04:20 - Yu-Ling explains the inspiration drawn from Mr. Fred Rogers 
  • 05:13 - Yu-Ling explains why learning outside of school is so important
  • 06:14 - How has the festival grown since its inception 
  • 07:19 - Yu-Ling shares what stands out about Suncoast Remake Learning Days. 
  • 09:40 - Yu-Ling shares advice for families that would like to embrace the spirit of this festival in their daily lives
  • 11:26 - Yu-Ling shares her final thoughts - The 10th anniversary of Remake Learning Days!
  • 12:48 - Leah explains Suncoast Remake Learning Days to a child 
  • 15:12 - Leah shares why this festival is so special for the Suncoast region.
  • 17:37 - Leah explains why families should attend Suncoast Remake Days. 
  • 19:18 - Leah highlights some local events taking place this year, 2025. 
  • 23:39 - Leah shares what stands out as both a parent participating and a critical part of the producing team
  • 28:14 - Big Picture Small Steps 
  • 28:26 - Leah's hopes for the future of SRLD
  • 29:41 - Leah explains how families can get involved locally
  • 31:01  - How can organizations and businesses get involved
  • 31:47 - Closing
  • 32:32 - Connecting with kids

Links to Learn More

• LINK to National Remake Learning Days
• LINK to Suncoast Remake Learning Days
• LINK to SRLD 2025 App
• LINK to SRLD 2025 Online Guidebook
• LINK to "When You Wonder, You're Learning" book

Connect Beyond The Blog

• To connect with Yu-Ling Cheng, [email protected] 
• To connect with Leah Verier_Dunn, [email protected]

Want to hear more? Follow us on Spotify and iHeartRadio, or visit us at Beyond The Blog!

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Discover how nonprofit organizations can thrive—not just survive—in the debut episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability podcast. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Corley, initiative lead, to explore the powerful concept of Nonprofit Thrivability—an umbrella of strategic initiatives designed to strengthen organizations through earned income, dynamic fundraising, advocacy, and digital optimization. 

Learn how initiatives like Margin & Mission Ignition and Fueling Dynamic Fundraising are equipping nonprofits with the tools to become more thrivable.

Timestamps 

• (00:00) Welcome to the Nonprofit Thrivability Podcast
• (00:45) What is Nonprofit Thrivability?
• (02:50) What does thrivability mean?
• (04:00) How do these initiatives support the community?
• (06:00) What makes an initiative part of Nonprofit Thrivability?
• (07:00) What should external stakeholders know about these initiatives?
• (08:42) How can TPFers support these initiatives?
• (09:30) Success stories
• (11:00) Final thoughts on Nonprofit Thrivability

Links to Learn More

https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/nonprofit-thrivability

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John Ferguson is the Director of Member Programs for Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), where he develops and directs a comprehensive offering of IPA’s education, networking, and collaboration programming. Before joining IPA, John was a Fellow at The Patterson Foundation, where he contributed to creating and developing several innovative projects, including Digital Access for All (DA4A). While in Sarasota, FL, for the Suncoast Connect Symposium, John sat down for an interview with current TPF Fellow Andrew Spector. John and Andrew discuss the origin story of DA4A, the three stools of digital access, and the current and future strategy of DA4A.

Timestamps

• 00:00 - 00:57: Introduction
• 00:58 - 03:02: Why John Came to Suncoast Connect
• 03:03 - 07:20: Origin Story of DA4A
• 07:21 - 11:38: Three Stools of Digital Access
• 11:39 - 14:57: DA4A Strategy
• 14:58 - 18:40: John’s Takeaways from Suncoast Connect
• 18:41 - 22:50: Future Aspirations for DA4A
• 22:51 -23:08: Closing

Links to Learn More

• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-access-for-all.html
• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-navigator-program.html
• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/the-gap.html
• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-access-for-all/suncoast-connect-innovating-and-thriving-in-the-digital-age.html
• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-access-for-all/da4a-milestones-and-history
• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/dafa-newsletters.html

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Tom Kamber is the Founder and Executive Director of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet from AARP. He is a leading expert on aging and technology and is regularly featured in national media. While in Sarasota, FL, for the Suncoast Connect Symposium, Tom sat down for an interview with current TPF Fellow Andrew Spector. Tom and Andrew discuss the origin and early evolutions of OATS, OATS’s strategy and tactics, OATS’s impact, and how to build high-impact and high-trust partnerships.

Timestamps

• 00:00-00:38: Introduction
• 00:39-1:50: Why Tom Came to Suncoast Connect
• 01:51-4:35: About Tom and OATS
• 04:36-8:49: Origin of OATS
• 08:50-13:35: Early Evolutions of OATS 
• 13:36-22:31: OATS and AARP
• 22:32-31:14: OATS Strategy and Tactics / Relationship with 3-Legged Stool of Digital Access
• 31:15-35:31: 10% of Folks Don’t Use Technology
• 35:32-39:05: Impact of OATS and Senior Planet Community
• 39:06-50:02: How to do Partnership and LWRCC
• 50:02-55:27: Building Trust in Partnerships
• 55:28-58:12: Using Data and AI to Help Older Adults
• 58:13-58:34: Closing

Links to Learn More

• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-access-for-all.html
• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-access-for-all/suncoast-connect-innovating-and-thriving-in-the-digital-age.html
• https://oats.org/
• https://seniorplanet.org/

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Jake Saur, CPE, RPL, ENP, is the ECC Administrator for Arlington County, VA. Jake has dedicated over two decades to advancing public safety and emergency management, beginning as a Paramedic with the Manatee County Department of Public Safety in 2001. Jake is a nationally recognized leader in the 9-1-1 industry, with a track record of driving workforce development and adopting Next Generation 9-1-1 technologies. While in Sarasota, FL, for the Suncoast Connect Symposium, Jake sat down for an interview with current TPF Fellow Andrew Spector. Jake and Andrew discuss how Arlington County uses AI and tech to optimize 9-1-1 operations, the impact of this effort, and the art of public-private partnership.

Timestamps

• 00:00-00:45: Introduction
• 00:46-2:42: AI Focus at Suncoast Connect
• 02:43-3:42: Who is Jake Saur
• 03:43-5:20: Origins of Optimizing 9-1-1 Operations Using AI and Tech
• 05:21-6:54: How Arlington County Started 
• 06:55-9:19: Amazon Relationship and the “Secret Sauce” 
• 09:20-12:09: The Art of Public-Private Partnership
• 12:10-14:03: The Process of Building it Out 
• 14:04-16:00: Using Data to Continuously Improve
• 16:01-21:08: What it Actually Looks Like
• 21:09-23:57: From Machine Learning to Deep Machine Learning 
• 23:58-27:09: The Impact
• 27:10-28:16: How Others Can Get Started
• 28:17-30:21: Connecting it Back to Career Beginnings
• 30:22-32:10: Effectively Using AI
• 32:11-33:02: Jake’s Questions Going Home
• 33:03-33:53: Closing

Links to Learn More

• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-access-for-all.html
• https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/digital-access-for-all/suncoast-connect-innovating-and-thriving-in-the-digital-age.html
• https://www.arlingtonva.us/Home
• https://www.ttecdigital.com/articles/supporting-emergency-dispatchers-with-ai-reinforcements
• https://www.fox5dc.com/news/arlington-gets-new-911-technology

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By pursuing shared aspirations, we can strengthen ourselves and our communities. In this Discover DeSoto podcast, Alicia Exantus, Community Engagement Specialist with The Patterson Foundation,  interviews Cheri Coryea, the Initiative Lead for DeSoto County Ahead, to discuss the incredible work being done to strengthen the community. Cheri shares her insights on how collaboration, participation, and shared goals are driving meaningful change in DeSoto County. 

Key Podcast Themes

• Strengthening Communities Through Shared Aspirations
• Highlighting DeSoto County’s Stories
• Promoting Learning, Engagement, and Action
• Empowering Local Voices and Leadership
• Building Resilience Through Collaboration

Timestamps 

• 01:25 - DeSoto County Ahead in DeSoto County in 2022: “Discovery” 
• 02:24 - Community Conversations start in DeSoto County 
• 04:33 - DeSoto County Ahead in DeSoto County in 2023: “Engagement”  
• 07:14 - Themes arise from Community Conversations 
• 08:33 - DeSoto County Ahead in DeSoto County in 2024: “Evolving”  
• 12:15 -DeSoto Digest Newsletter Begins and DeSoto Residents become Involved 
• 15:31- Other Local Foundations are Involved in DeSoto County
• 17:28 -DeSoto Digest Newsletter: QR Code to Sign Up 
• 21:13 - The Patterson Foundation engages with The Harwood Institute in DeSoto County
• 21:47 - DeSoto County Public Capital Report Published 
• 22:42 -DeSoto County Public Capital Report: QR Code to View 
• 23:00 - DeSoto County Ahead in DeSoto County at the end of 2024 and going into 2025: “Anticipation”  
• 24:10 - DeSoto Community Update Event; Moves to 2025 and is a great success! 
• 27:45 - The Patterson Foundations' “Pay It Forward” Awards and their impact during the DeSoto Community Update Event
• 29:33 - DeSoto County Ahead in DeSoto County in early 2025 introduces a new theme: “Building Our Future With Every Voice”
• 30:35 - Harwood Public Innovators Lab takes place with over 60 DeSoto County Leaders
• 31:00 - If someone wants to get involved in DeSoto County, Here is how! 
• 32:20 -Cheri’s favorite “Discover DeSoto” highlight: Main Street and Downtown DeSoto

Links to Learn More

• DeSoto County Ahead
• DeSoto Digest Newsletter
• Public Capital Report- DeSoto County Coming Together: Unleashing the Communities Potential
• VIDEO:Public Capital Report- DeSoto County Coming Together: Unleashing the Communities Potential
• VIDEO: DeSoto County Ahead: Building Our Future with Every Voice

Connect Beyond The Blog
Join Cheri Coryea  on Twitter: @ccoryeatpf

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What if a load of laundry could change a life? In this episode of Connecting Communities, we sit down with Jason Sowell and Kelli Karen Smith to explore how Pop-Up Neighbor Through Laundry is turning laundromats into spaces of dignity, connection, and care.

Timestamps 

• 00:28 - Intro
• 01:05 - Kelli explains Pop-Up Neighbor Through Laundry to a child.
• 02:22 - What inspired Jason to start the Laundry Project?
• 07:13 - Kelli walks us through what happens at an event.
• 10:53 - Jason explains why this initiative is important.
• 12:42 - Kelli explains why this initiative is important.
• 14:08 - Kelli shares stories highlighting the impact.
• 15:58 - Jason shares a rewarding moment.
• 17:20 - Big Picture, Small Steps
• 17:35 - Jason shares his big picture goals.
• 18:15 - Kelli summarizes her hopes.
• 18:56 -Kelli shares one small step listeners can take to support this initiative.
• 19:48 - Jason shares an easy, actionable step to help.
• 20:47 - Connecting With Kids
• 21:28 - Closing

Links to Learn More

• All Faiths Food Bank 
• First 1,000 Days Suncoast
• Pop-Up Neighbor Through Laundry
• Volunteer @ SCGLR
• www.laundrybycurrent.org
• @engagecurrent

Connect Beyond The Blog
www.laundrybycurrent.org

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Connecting Communities, a Beyond The Blog podcast, brings you insights and inspiration from the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and beyond. It explores how communities can come together to support the success of our children and families and empower the parents, caregivers, educators, and organizations who care so deeply about them. Episode 2 explores early childhood brain development and ways to foster growth and learning in our youngest minds with Chelsea Arnold, initiative manager of First 1,000 Days.

• Timestamps:
  • 00:09 - Intro
  • 01:02 -  Question of the Day
  • 01:54 - Chelsea’s History
  • 03:50 - Chelsea explains First 1,000 Days as if to a child
  • 04:45 - Chelsea describes First 1,000 Days to an adult
  • 07:01 - School Readiness - Chelsea discusses ways to foster growth and learning in our youngest minds and why it’s so important.
  • 08:38 -  Why read to a 2-month-old?
  • 09:54  - How can families find First 1,000 Days?
  • 12:04 -  What’s in the Brain Development Bag?
  • 13:26 -  Family Navigator program
  • 16:09 - Helpful resources (Vroom)
  • 17:37 - Exciting things coming up for First 1,000 Days
  • 19:15 - How old is a child at 1,000 days?
  • 21:29 - Big Picture - Small Steps
  • 21:45 - Big picture goals
  • 22:40 - Small actionable steps
  • 24:55  - Final tips
  • 26:34 -  Socials
  • 27:06 - Connecting with kids
  • 27:39 - Outro

Links to Learn More (Please include links to topics, articles, videos, reports, etc. reference in the podcast):

• First 1,000 Days  - www.first1000dayssuncoast.org
• SCGLR - www.gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net
• Vroom - www.vroom.org
• Unite Us - www.uniteus.com
• Pop-up Neighbor Through Laundry - https://www.gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net/project/pop-up-neighbor/
• Studer Community Institute - www.studeri.org
• Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation - www.barancikfoundation.org

Connect Beyond The Blog 

• Join First 1,000 Days  on Instagram: @first1000dayssuncoast
• Join First 1,000 Days  on Facebook: First 1000 Days Suncoast 

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