Bridging Chicago

Dion Dawson is a motivational leader who is a man of action and purpose. A veteran and native of the Englewood community in Chicago, Dion has made it his life's work to help bridge the need gap in his community in whatever way he is able. Dion shares with us about what he loves about his neighborhood, and about the reality of food insecurity in Chicago. This episode is honest, real, and motivating and you simply won't want to miss it.

Photo Credit: Amber Green Photography

In this episode we continue our conversation with Olga Camargo and Juan Carlos Avila from Shenix, who share what their web-based app is and how it is helping people find their way to financial health and future planning. As you’ll hear in the episode, when you empower people, and especially women, to take hold of their financial health, the ceiling is huge on what they can accomplish. They also share about the ins and outs of what to consider when it comes to finances and why starting early is always better. If you’ve been wondering what resources are out there to help you learn and grow, this is a can’t miss episode!

Today Olga Camargo and Juan Carlos Avila from Shenix join us to share about their path to Chicago, how their families shaped their work, and why it’s so important to them to educate the Latinx community about financial literacy and building goals. Planning for your future comes with so many questions, and though the answers are not always very clear, learning to ask the right questions is very important. This episode shines a light on how lifting up one community can definitely lift up all communities, people and future generations. The first part of a two-part series, this episode is honest, vulnerable and thought provoking and we hope that it inspires you to be a leader in your financial future.

Feeling the winter blues? Why not put on your dancing shoes! If you need some inspiration, no doubt this episode with Chelsea Hoy and Mark Howard of the Trinity Irish Dance Company will get you ready to move. Chelsea and Mark join us to share how they helped put Chicago on the map for Irish dance and what they're doing that is truly special. Their journey in dance and teaching is one of hard work, determination and celebration that is bringing our city closer together and making dance accessible for everyone.

What a better way to show the love than with chocolate? How about the premiere of season 6 of the podcast? Well today we doubled to love and are kicking off our new season welcoming back the AIDS Foundation Chicago to share about their annual event, the World of Chocolate, back in person for the first time in a long time! This fundraiser is the perfect mix of fun, friends and chocolatey goodness in all its forms. Our guest, Madeline Miley joins us to share about the event, the foundation, and the amazing work they continue to do in our city. Share this episode with the people you love and get excited about this one-of-a-kind event!

Need to warm up on a cold day? Grab a coffee or tea and take a listen to our Giving Tuesday special with Serving People With A Mission. Co-Founders Jacque Stefanic and Carlos Martinez share their heart and the heart of their organization, which is encouraging young people to be a mentor to younger people in their communities. SPWAM believes that there is nothing that precludes people from serving their communities, and is putting the mission of the organization first. Jacque and Carlos are the definition of servant leaders and we hope you are inspired and motivated by their story. Be sure to join us in supporting Serving People With A Mission this season.

Let's check in with The Firehouse Dream, an organization dedicated to providing safe spaces for BIPOC creatives. Their work in Chicago is empowering, resourcing and encouraging youth to put who they are into their work. Be sure to check out their full episode from earlier this season to hear more about the work they do and join us in supporting them this Giving Tuesday season!

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the topic of sexual assault healing and health.

In this Giving Tuesday Special, we're checking in with Greenlight Family Service, whose mission has continued to grow since our last conversation with them. Greenlight is making a difference for families in Illinois through their adoption services, and now they are also focusing on helping students in college who are victims of sexual assault get the counseling they need. People have always been at the heart of Greenlight, and allowing people to take control of their story and achieve their dreams fuels their staff to keep reaching higher. Bridging Chicago team members John Campbell and Nathan Ciulla are proud board members of the Greenlight board and know firsthand the impact the organization is making.

Molly Matelski is a veteran of the Chicago food service industry, so she knows what it means to give people a food and beverage experience that impacts more than just that moment. When she and her partner decided to make their dream of curating wines that every person can enjoy a reality, they knew that it had to be a wine that was accessible, genuine and one that you could just enjoy. Now their wines can be found throughout the city and suburbs, and growth is certainly in their future. In this episode, Molly shares how Chicago helped to shape MMMM…Just Enjoy, the role her family played in starting her own business and why they made the choice to highlight Chicago non-profits and the arts in their company.

Our coffee shop series finale comes courtesy of Back of the Yards Coffeehouse, a single shop local business that is all about Chicago and its people. Small but mighty, the shop, located in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood, brings something familiar in a new way. Their goal to serve the best cup of coffee is coupled with their desire to lift others as they climb. Jesse Iniguez also shares how they participated in the most recent cohort of the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab to grow their way so that the entire community is better together. Be sure to listen to all our coffee-centric episodes from these small, local businesses.