













“It takes a team, a village, a nation to move this needle of building more housing and getting individuals out of homeless shelters into stable housing.” 
– Jenna Juniper



Jenna joins me today to discuss the personal experiences that led her to work in—and advocate for—affordable housing. She describes how having access to housing enabled her to turn her life around.



She explains how the pandemic has affected the cost of living and what it will take to expand affordable housing. She also highlights how volunteers, advocates, and housing workers can better help vulnerable people by taking care of their own well-being and underscores how moments of pause and reprieve can help vulnerable people unlock their potential.











This week on The Mindset Zone:




* Jenna’s story, mission to end homelessness, and passion for expanding affordable housing



* The role of inner work in unlocking human potential



* Humans as connecting and collaborative beings



* Evolving the conversations around homelessness and affordable housing



* Why basic needs like housing are critical to doing inner work and unlocking human potential



* Ana’s PIE method and why moments of pause are critical to vulnerable people



* Why helpers, volunteers, and advocates need to also take care of themselves as they help others








Guest:



Jenna Juniper is a national speaker and housing consultant. She is the President and CEO of the Housing Consultants of America, an organization of affordable housing consultants, auditors, and trainers. Over her 16-year career, Jenna has successfully partnered developers with nonprofits, implementing and sustaining critical and supportive services on low-income properties across the nation. Before her role as President and CEO at the Housing Consultants of America, Jenna worked as the Director of Compliance & Hearing Officer at Gorman & Company. She graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor’s in Computer & Information Systems and holds over a dozen affordable housing designations, including the HOME Compliance Specialist designation issued by the National Center for Housing Management.















Connect with Jenna Juniper:




* Housing Consultants of America



* Housing Consultants of America, LLC on LinkedIn



* Housing Consultants of America, LLC on Instagram



* Housing Consultants of America, LLC on Facebook



* Jenna Juniper on LinkedIn



* Jenna Juniper on Instagram



Changing the Mindset of Homelessness with Jenna Juniper

Our mindsets determine the way we see the world, as well as, the way we behave and who we are as people. It’s very easy and normal to stay stuck in fixed mindsets – limiting beliefs about our abilities and skills that prevent us to learn new things. We can intentionally cultivate a growth mindset that allows us to stretch our minds and amplify the realm of possibilities of what we do, and who we are. Amplifying our mindsets is one of the secrets of success, for most entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals out there.

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“There's a bigger purpose for you.”
-Dawn Marie Rapaport







In this episode, host Ana Melikian is joined by Dawn Marie Rapaport, the inspiring founder of HELP (Homeless Engagement Lift Partnership). Dawn Marie shares her remarkable journey from experiencing homelessness herself as a child to creating a transformative organization that now serves over 300 schools with their H.E.L.P.Snackz program.



Dawn Marie recounts the struggles and traumas she faced growing up homeless in Arizona and how her grandfather's positive messages helped her persevere. She discusses the pivotal moment that led her to start HELP and how the organization has evolved over 13 years. The conversation delves into the powerful impact of H.E.L.P.Snackz and the personalized messages that uplift the spirits of at-risk children.







Ana and Dawn Marie explore the ripple effect of one person making a difference, the importance of empowering homeless children, and the various programs HELP offers to break the cycle of homelessness. They also discuss the vital role of community support, partnerships, and volunteers in sustaining HELP's mission.



Join us in this heartfelt episode that showcases the power of resilience, positivity, and community in transforming lives and expanding what’s possible.



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:00 Expanding Impact in School Districts with Help Snacks



* 00:33 Meet Ana Melikian: Mission to Support and Avoid Burnout



* 01:16 Introducing Dawn Marie Rappaport and Her Mission



* 02:03 Dawn Marie's Personal Journey from Homelessness to Helping Others



* 07:20 The Birth of a Life-Changing Organization



* 10:51 The Evolution of Help Snacks: From Idea to Impact



* 15:58 Expanding Support Beyond Food: Life Skills and Community Engagement



* 18:55 Harnessing Community Support and Volunteer Power



* 22:07 How to Get Involved and Support the Cause



* 24:04 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement to Make a Difference
















Meet the Guest:



Dawn Marie Rapaport is the founder of the Homeless Engagement Lift Partnership (H.E.L.P.), transforming the lives of families with children for over 13 years. Her personal experience with homelessness fuels her empathy and dedication, driving her to help families transition out of homelessness. Dawn Marie's efforts extend to educating and mobilizing the community, becoming a respected voice in the field. 



Creating and nurturing H.E.L.P. has been both the most challenging and rewarding endeavor of Dawn Marie’s life. Her unwavering determination to improve the system, work on prevention and reduce the size of the Family homeless community continues to drive her mission forward.







Connect with:




* Dawn Marie Rapaport on LinkedIn








Resources:




HELPing Homeless Kids: Dawn Marie Rapaport’s Transformative Organization















“AI is a 100-foot wave. It's going to disrupt everything in a directly or indirectly.”
-Ana Melikian







In this episode, host Ana Melikian, delves into the intriguing topic of AI and its impact on our emotions and humanity. Ana explores how AI, much like a 100-foot wave, is a force of disruption that brings with it a mix of excitement and apprehension.



Ana discusses various audience reactions to AI, ranging from curiosity and amazement to discomfort and skepticism. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging these diverse feelings and leveraging them to navigate the AI wave effectively. 



Ana shares her innovative approach of using AI avatars in her presentations to engage audiences and gather their emotional responses via surveys, creating fascinating insights.







She highlights the need for a balanced approach to AI, urging listeners to neither ignore nor be overwhelmed by it. Instead, Ana encourages adopting a strategy akin to surfing the 100-foot wave—embracing AI while safeguarding human potential and well-being. She underscores the importance of collective effort, comparing it to the teamwork seen in big wave surfing to ensure AI enhances rather than detracts from humanity.



Tune in to explore how to press the pause button, increase self-awareness, and embrace an experimentation mindset to harness AI's potential without falling into burnout. 



Ana calls for diverse, humanistic voices to join the conversation, ensuring a holistic approach to AI's integration into our lives.



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:00 Introduction and Welcome



* 00:59 AI and Human Response



* 02:12 Using AI Avatars in Presentations



* 03:24 Audience Reactions and Emotional Responses to AI



* 05:15 The Importance of a Balanced Approach to AI



* 07:02 Surfing the 100-Foot AI Wave: A Team Effort



* 10:00 Pressing Pause and Increasing Self-Awareness



* 12:00 Embracing Experimentation Mindset



* 16:51 Bringing Humanistic Voices to the AI Conversation



* 18:16 Conclusion and Call for Listener Input
















Meet Your Host:



Ana Melikian, Ph.D., advises leaders on how to amplify impact while avoiding burnout. She is passionate about teaching others how to unlock their human potential using simple and powerful approaches such as her P.I.E. method.





AI – How does it make you feel?















“Celebrating craft, celebrating what you're good at, is what I wanna spend my life's work on.”
-Adam McKee







In this episode, host Ana Melikian is joined by Adam McKee, a visionary small business owner and craftsman from Lincoln, Nebraska. Adam delves into the ethos of celebrating craft in both business and life, sharing his experiences from taking over Contemporary Woods, a custom cabinetry business specializing in high-end homes.



Ana and Adam discuss the intricate relationship between craftsmanship and mindset, emphasizing the importance of focusing on both the tangible and intangible aspects of one's work. Adam sheds light on his personal journey, detailing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and the transformative power of continuous learning and community engagement.







The conversation also covers strategic and tactical approaches to business, highlighting how maintaining high standards and fostering a culture of teamwork and improvement can propel a business forward. Adam's commitment to changing the legacy of his last name and enhancing the lives of those around him through his work truly encapsulates the spirit of celebrating craft.



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:00 Introduction and Welcome



* 00:21 Ana introduces Adam McKee and the theme of the episode



* 01:33 Adam discusses his background and his business, Contemporary Woods



* 02:33 The concept of celebrating craft and its impact on personal and professional life



* 04:23 Exploring the deeper values behind craftsmanship



* 07:15 The transition from being a craftsman to a business owner



* 10:14 Strategic and tactical learning in business development



* 13:09 The importance of culture and core values in a business setting



* 16:18 Learning from books and the significance of choosing the right mentors



* 19:24 Discussion on personal growth and legacy within family and business



* 22:50 Final thoughts and where to find more about Adam and his work
















Meet Meet the Guest:



Adam McKee is the owner of Contemporary Woods, a family-owned small business that serves their local community by delivering fine craftsmanship with integrity and creativity.







Connect with:




* Adam McKee's LinkedIn



* ContemporaryWoods.com



* Instagram @contemporary_woods












Related episodes:



Listen also to Stickability: An Essential Mindset for Success with Greg S. Reid






Celebrating Craft in Business & Life with Adam McKee















“You will find the critical points in your life where you defy expectations.”
-Ana Melikian







In this episode, host Ana Melikian delves into her personal and inspiring journey of defying expectations, both self-imposed and those set by society. Ana shares fascinating stories from her life, from her experience as a speaker with an accent in three languages, to more profound experiences like dealing with dyslexia and overcoming serious health challenges like inflammatory breast cancer.



Ana reflects on her upbringing during the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, her academic challenges and triumphs, and professional choices that led her to move across continents for love and pursue her passion in a new country. Each story highlights how she surpassed the expected limitations and societal norms to redefine success on her own terms.







She encourages listeners to examine their own life narratives through the lens of defying expectations, whether it be tackling bias about professional capabilities based on physical attributes, or pushing back against cultural stereotypes. Ana's message is clear – embracing a mindset of defiance can lead to extraordinary personal growth and accomplishment.



This episode is a call to listeners to engage in self-reflection, identify their own areas of ‘expectation defiance', and perhaps challenge a few limiting beliefs along the way.



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:00:00 Introduction and Ana's Mission



* 00:01:04 Defying expectations in language and speech



* 00:02:10 Personal history and the impact of the Carnation Revolution



* 00:03:46 Overcoming dyslexia and academic challenges



* 00:06:36 Defying gender norms in childhood and adolescence



* 00:07:55 Multilingual achievements and academic pursuits abroad



* 00:08:44 Personal decisions leading to life in the USA



* 00:10:07 Battling and overcoming inflammatory breast cancer



* 00:11:05 Reflecting on interviews from the podcast that defy expectations



* 00:14:16 The PIE method – Pause, Increase self-awareness, Experiment with defying expectations



* 00:15:31 Additional resources and how to connect with Ana
















Meet Your Host:



Ana Melikian, Ph.D., advises leaders on how to amplify impact while avoiding burnout. She is passionate about teaching others how to unlock their human potential using simple and powerful approaches such as her P.I.E. method.





Defying Expectations: Embracing Challenges and Overcoming Limitations















“Colors evoke emotions conditioned by personal associations, our culture, and historical context.”
-Ana Melikian







In this episode, our host, Ana Melikian, immerses herself in the vibrant world of hues as she unravels the significant role colors play in our lives. Like her cherished collection of scarves, Ana views colors as a means to transform our appearance, mood, and mindset.



She delves into how colors are a silent language influencing our emotions and shaping our actions, an awareness meticulously capitalized on by advertising and marketing industries. Ana highlights the strategic choice of colors by brands to evoke specific feelings—red communicates energy and urgency, while blue is synonymous with trust and calmness, to name a few.







Ana turns to the cultural and historical journey of color perceptions, such as the shifting gender connotations of pink or the power of purple. The episode is a color palette urging audiences to become more self-aware of their color choices. It's an invitation to pause, reflect, and maybe step out of your chromatic comfort zone to see how it changes your feelings and actions.



Are you ready to explore the power of colors in the zone where mindset matters?



Let's dive in!







This week on The Mindset Zone:




* 00:03 Introduction to the Power of Colors



* 01:24 Significance of Colors in Branding



* 02:18 Ana's Personal Connection to Red in Her Brand



* 03:35 The Symbolism Behind Different Colors



* 04:39 How Brands Can Shape Color Meanings



* 06:03 Historical Context and Evolution of Color Meanings



* 07:30 Colors and Their Significance in Eastern Traditions



* 09:02 The Personal Impact of Color Choices in Daily Life



* 11:37 The importance of Color in Business Environments
















Meet Your Host:



Ana Melikian, Ph.D., advises leaders on how to amplify impact while avoiding burnout. She is passionate about teaching others how to unlock their human potential using simple and powerful approaches such as her P.I.E. method.





Changing the Mindset of Homelessness with Jenna Juniper

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