cityCURRENT Radio Show

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews the award-winning chef, best-selling author, restaurateur, and featured television personality, Ben Vaughn, who shares his journey to becoming Founder and CEO of The Center of Culinary Cultivation and The Sow Project, and Culinary Director for Brewed to Serve Restaurant Group and Be Nice Hospitality Group.

During the interview, Ben talks about his journey from a 30-year career as a chef to launching the nonprofit organization that is focused on transforming culinary workforce development through a no-cost, paid apprenticeship program that combines on-the-job training, industry mentorship, and job placements for individuals seeking a new path forward in Memphis. The program currently serves high school students and adults. It has grown from teaching basic cooking skills in a home kitchen to operating a fully developed 6-month curriculum approved by the Tennessee Department of Labor, serving approximately 90 students annually. Ben discusses the growth of their program, success stories, their collaborations for kitchens and training space, and how they now provide healthcare access through a concierge program and partnership with Lifedoc's VidaPlus. He outlines plans to expand into a 10,000 square foot space at 409 South Main, where they will establish a student-led restaurant and teaching center, and discusses their partnership with IOTA Community Schools, which will be expanding to serve 50 students in the 2026-2027 school year. Ben encourages community support through donations, volunteering, and helping with student transportation.

Visit https://www.sowproject.org/ to learn more and get involved with The Sow Project and The Center of Culinary Cultivation.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Cecily Berry, Miss Shelby County 2026 and financial advisor with First Horizon Advisors, who discusses her journey in the Miss America organization and her work promoting financial literacy through Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South. Cecily talks about her ties to and passion for Memphis, her recent graduation from Union University with degrees in economics and executive leadership, and how her mother's previous competition 30 years ago inspired her to join, describing the organization's focus on developing professional leadership skills in women while serving their communities. The program involves various components including interviews, public speaking, and on-stage presence, with significant emphasis on community service and advocacy.

Cecily discusses her work as a financial advisor and her decision to volunteer with Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South to address a lack of financial literacy in early education. She explains how Junior Achievement's experiential learning programs, from 3rd grade to high school, help develop essential financial skills like budgeting and investing. She shares how volunteering has transformed her as a leader, allowing her to better teach complex financial concepts to both children and adult clients, and demonstrating that financial education can be effective at all age levels.

The conversation covers her experience competing at local, state, and potential national levels, emphasizing the personal growth in confidence and professional development that comes with representing the title, as well as the responsibility of representing the organization and cause. Cecily shares how she has built friendships and been inspired by the other contestants, and how the competition has brought her closer with her mother. She explains the differences between local, Miss Tennessee, and Miss America competitions, noting variations in scoring systems and the number of participants. She discusses how competing in these events has helped her grow in confidence and professional development, particularly in networking and public speaking situations. Jeremy asks how others can support and follow her journey, to which Cecily suggests following her on social media and providing support through likes and comments online and through support of Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South.

Follow @MissShelbyCountyTN on Instagram.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Megan McInnis, Founder and Executive Director of Doing Good, a 501(c)3 B2B nonprofit that serves other agencies by providing marketing and PR tools and opportunities. She describes how the organization started when she was looking for positive information about nonprofits in Nashville, eventually speaking with over 300 people about their experiences with nonprofits. Megan outlines their current monthly process of celebrating one organization through podcast episodes, blog posts, social media, and press releases, while also serving as a matchmaker to connect nonprofits with other potential media and marketing partners. She explains that Doing Good is entirely volunteer-run with team members located across the country, though about half are in Middle Tennessee. She describes the volunteer base as diverse, including creative people at various experience levels who volunteer remotely to help celebrate the work of nonprofits across the country.

Megan explains how Doing Good seeks to celebrate nonprofits and volunteers through nominations on their website, with a focus on providing visibility during relevant times or events. She notes that while planning can vary depending on the situation, they prefer working further in advance to allow for more creativity and additional opportunities for the organizations being featured. Megan mentions the example of the Middle Tennessee Space Society being highlighted during the eclipse as an instance of timing-specific celebration.

Megan discusses feedback from nonprofit partners regarding their service. The partners express amazement at receiving service at no cost and appreciate the overall experience, including their first podcast interviews. Megan emphasizes that the service not only provides valuable content but also shows appreciation for the nonprofits' work. She discusses a new TV show opportunity that is ready to launch but needs funding. The show is planned as a weekly half-hour program combining documentary and reality TV elements, similar to Extreme Makeover Home Edition and Dirty Jobs, focusing on volunteer work across different organizations with the same mission. The show aims to highlight various volunteer efforts, provide visibility to organizations, and surprise volunteers with gifts or celebrity visits. The discussion touches on starting with three episodes and seeking support from both individual and corporate donors to help reach the necessary funding levels.

Megan invites listeners to volunteer with or become media partners for Doing Good, emphasizing the importance of various contributions including donations and providing meeting spaces. She shares contact information including the website doinggood.tv and phone number 615-934-5087. Megan expresses gratitude to Jeremy and the cityCURRENT team for their partnership and shared commitment to community impact.

Visit https://doinggood.tv to learn more and get involved with Doing Good.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Lori Alhadeff, CEO of Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS), who discusses the nonprofit organization's efforts to improve school safety following the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that claimed the lives of 17 people, including Lori's daughter, Alyssa. Lori explains how Make Our Schools Safe advocates for Alyssa's Law, which requires wearable panic buttons for teachers to quickly alert 911 during emergencies, and has successfully passed legislation in 12 states including Tennessee. The organization also operates student-led MOSS Clubs in schools to promote safety culture and awareness, with Lori encouraging listeners to start clubs in Tennessee and advocate for the law through the organization's website. The discussion covers practical safety measures schools should implement, including locked doors, security cameras, and regular lockdown drills, while highlighting the importance of mental health support and community involvement in creating safer school environments.

Visit https://makeourschoolssafe.org to learn more and get involved with Make Our Schools Safe.

Summary

Make Our School Safe Organization - Lori discusses the founding of Make Our School Safe, a nonprofit organization established after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where her daughter Alyssa was one of the 17 victims. The organization focuses on school safety, and its logo features an infinity symbol that represents Alyssa's soccer jersey number 8 turned sideways. Lori explains how the tragedy turned her family's pain into action, leading to the creation of "Alyssa's Law," which aims to transform school safety laws at both state and national levels.

Alyssa's Law Implementation Discussion - Lori explains Alyssa's Law, a wearable panic button for teachers that can trigger emergency responses for medical situations, behavioral problems, or active shooter incidents. She describes how the law was first passed in New Jersey and has since been implemented in 12 states, with her goal to expand it nationwide to ensure consistent school safety standards. Jeremy asks about the implementation process across different states and shares insights from a previous discussion about active shooter drills, including how smoke from gunshots can trigger fire alarms, potentially confusing students.

Make Our School Safe Program - Lori discusses the Make Our School Safe program, which includes student-led safety clubs that help create safer school environments through student leadership and teacher sponsorship. She highlights communication failures during the Parkland shooting in 2018, including problematic radios and delayed cameras, which led to tragic consequences including the death of her daughter Alyssa. Lori emphasizes the importance of learning from these mistakes and taking school safety seriously, noting that Florida has been a leader in creating school safety laws over the past eight years.

MOSS Clubs School Implementation Discussion - Lori discusses the implementation of MOSS Clubs in schools, which focus on activities like anti-bullying, mental health awareness, and school safety through initiatives such as safety pep rallies and mental health journals. She reports positive feedback from schools, including plans for additional training like first aid and CPR. Jeremy inquires about community involvement in promoting both MOSS Clubs and Alyssa's Law.

School Safety and Fundraising Initiatives - Lori discusses school safety measures including locked doors, single points of entry, cameras, and panic buttons, emphasizing the importance of regular lockdown drills involving all stakeholders. She highlights the organization's efforts to promote Alyssa's Act at both federal and state levels through their website and student engagement initiatives. Lori also mentions their fundraising activities, including the Live for Alyssa Gala, golf fundraiser, and tennis fundraiser, encouraging involvement through donations and starting MOSS Clubs at high schools.

Alyssa's Law Implementation in Tennessee - Lori discusses the implementation of Alyssa's Law in Tennessee, emphasizing the importance of school districts having wearable panic buttons and conducting drills. She encourages the formation of MOSS clubs in high schools to promote school safety and urged parents to speak up about potential vulnerabilities. Lori provides information about getting involved with Make Our School Safe through their website, social media platforms, and offers thanks for the support in promoting school safety across Tennessee.

Visit https://makeourschoolssafe.org to learn more and get involved with Make Our Schools Safe.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Janet Rives, Chief Operating Officer for CreatiVets, who highlights the Nashville, Tennessee based nonprofit organization's mission and efforts to use art and music therapy to help veterans heal from trauma and prevent suicide. Janet explains the organization's origins, which began 12 years ago when founder Richard Casper returned from Iraq with a traumatic brain injury and found healing through art and songwriting.

She described how CreatiVets now serves veterans nationally using art and music for healing, with programs including songwriting workshops in Nashville with award-winning songwriters, astrophotography, visual arts, and screenwriting initiatives. The programs are offered free of charge through donations and provide veterans with mentorship from other veterans who have gone through similar experiences. She describes upcoming plans for a 3-week accredited art program at Belmont University and mentions their existing longtime partnership with the Chicago School of Arts, concluding with information about their "Scars to Scripts" program scheduled for the Monday before Veterans Day.

Janet discusses how their efforts are focused on preventing veteran suicide through these art therapy programs. She shares stories of two veterans who recently told her they had planned suicide but were saved through the organization's programs. The organization also offers community programs on the weekend for local veterans, including stained glass windows, sewing, and painting.

The organization is currently renovating a 19,000-square-foot former church building to create a 24/7 veteran art and music center. The facility will include an auditorium for music venues, art rooms, a pottery studio, and a woodworking shop, designed to provide veterans with a safe space for healing outside of traditional business hours. The public can support CreatiVets through donations, monthly giving, volunteering, and streaming their music catalog on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Janet emphasizes that all donations support veterans through art and music programs aimed at preventing suicide, and highlights how the organization's music serves as a powerful tool for both veterans and the public to understand and seek help.

Visit https://creativets.org to learn more about CreatiVets and to get involved.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Sylvia Martinez, President and CEO of Girls Inc. of Memphis, who highlights the organization's 80-year anniversary and how the nonprofit inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. The organization provides year-round programming focused on STEM education, leadership development, and life skills, serving more than 1,500 girls across Memphis with a commitment to equity, opportunity, and long-term success.

During the interview, Sylvia explains Girls Inc.'s mission of empowering girls through the "strong, smart, and bold" framework, which focuses on healthy living, education, and independence. She describes how the organization brings in experts to teach specific skills, from farming and food preparation to financial management and sports, while Girls Inc. handles the educational framework. Sylvia emphasizes that the partnership model allows them to provide comprehensive training while leveraging external expertise, with partners either coming to their location or transporting the girls to partner facilities. Sylvia discusses their STEM education program for girls aged 5 to 18, highlighting their partnership with Steve Wozniak who provides curricula in areas like robotics, coding, and cybersecurity. The girls surveyed expressed strong interest in robotics, animations, and coding, with the program offering sequential learning opportunities and certifications like drone piloting.

Sylvia describes her 8.5-acre Patricia C. Howard Campus in Fraser, which includes a teaching kitchen, event space, and programming areas. The property hosts over 500 volunteers annually who help maintain the land and grow produce. The facility is available for team bonding events and rentals, offering both indoor and outdoor spaces for various activities. She highlights the organization's success in achieving 100% graduation and post-secondary education rates, with 97% of participants developing leadership confidence. Their programs serve 1,500 girls across multiple school partnerships and locations, including their farm campus and sites near the University of Memphis, with additional camps at various locations.

Sylvia highlights the organization's free programming since 2019 and discusses volunteer opportunities, noting that the farm alone requires 500 volunteers annually. The conversation concludes with information about how community members can get involved through volunteering, donating, or supporting girls' participation in summer camps, with contact details provided for the organization's website, www.girlsincmemphis.org, and main phone line, 901-523-0217.

Visit https://www.girlsincmemphis.org/ to learn more and connect with Girls Inc. of Memphis.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Cornelius Sanders and Ramsay Clark, co-authors of the book "Colorblind: One Coach, One Friendship, and The Lifelong Power of Showing Up," which is set to be released in July 2026 by WestBow Publishing Company.

During the interview, Cornelius and Ramsay each talk about their backgrounds as lifelong Memphians, how they met through basketball at a Boys Club in Memphis, and the evolution of their 50-year friendship. The discussion covers the book's themes of mentoring, faith, community engagement, and the importance of consistency, with the authors sharing how their relationship began unintentionally through basketball coaching and developed into a meaningful lifelong friendship. Cornelius shares how Ramsay has continued to play an important role in his life, and how he has become an ordained Minister and President and CEO of Promise Development Corporation. Ramsay, likewise, shares how Cornelius has played an important role in his life, including deepening his faith. Both authors encourage readers to get involved in their communities and emphasize that meaningful relationships can develop organically through shared activities and consistent presence. The book soon will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.

In this episode of the cityCURRENT Show, Andrew Bartolotta sits down with speaker, author, and communication expert Dave Delaney to explore a powerful and often misunderstood topic: The ADHD Advantage.

With millions of adults navigating ADHD — many without even realizing it — Dave shares how what is often seen as a challenge can actually become a strength when properly understood and supported.

Through his Root Down Framework — Know Yourself, Respect Yourself, and Connect Yourself — Dave provides practical tools to help individuals and organizations better understand neurodiversity, improve communication, and unlock hidden potential.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What ADHD really is — and common misconceptions

• Why many adults go undiagnosed

• How to turn distraction into focus and strength

• The importance of self-awareness and mindset

• Simple communication strategies for better connection

• How leaders can support neurodiverse teams

Whether you have ADHD, work with someone who does, or simply want to improve how you communicate and perform, this episode offers actionable insights to help you thrive in both work and life.

Learn more: https://www.davedelaney.me/

In this episode of the cityCURRENT Show, Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Rob Baughman of Ironsmith Fire to break down one of the most overlooked — yet critical — aspects of running a business: fire protection and safety compliance.

From sprinkler systems and fire pumps to inspections and NFPA regulations, fire protection is more complex than many business owners realize — and missing key requirements can lead to costly surprises, failed inspections, or even serious safety risks.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What fire protection really includes beyond alarms and sprinklers

• Key requirements for commercial buildings and business owners

• What to look for before buying or leasing a property

• How building use changes can impact fire code compliance

• What annual inspections actually involve — and why they matter

• Common mistakes business owners make when it comes to fire safety

Rob also shares insights on building trust in a relationship-driven industry, growing a service-based business, and balancing the technical side of work with creativity and personal passions.

Whether you’re a business owner, property manager, or entrepreneur, this episode offers practical, real-world guidance to help you protect your building, your team, and your investment.

To learn more, visit ironsmithfire.com or connect with Rob Baughman online.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Eric Jackson, founder and CEO of Element 47, who highlights his Nashville, Tennessee-based creative branding agency that helps clients align their core messaging and grow through effective marketing strategies. Eric explains their three-meeting process that helps organizations discover and articulate their unique value proposition, using the example of how Dew Tinnin from Skillway communicates that they help people "crush their sales goals and love what they do." The conversation then shifts to AI's role in branding and marketing, where Eric discussed the CRIT prompting method (Context, Role, Interview, Task) for getting better responses from large language models like ChatGPT and Claude. Eric shares how Element 47 uses AI to automate repetitive tasks, creating a blog writing system that can produce 500-5,000 word posts in 10 minutes while maintaining brand voice and sourcing accurate information, allowing the team to focus more on strategic client conversations rather than administrative work.

Visit https://element47.co to learn more about Element 47 and to connect with Eric Jackson.