Camp Blue

In this episode, host Pamela Escobar is joined by Richard Sesler, who was inspired by his son to create Camp Blue Skies…and his good friend, Woody, whose stepson was one of those first campers.

New neighborhoods and homes are popping up constantly in Charlotte. All that construction means one thing: there’s a massive demand for skilled workers.

And right now, there are plenty of young adults searching for stable careers with real opportunity.

So what happens when you play matchmaker between that talent and those jobs?

You get Builders Bridge, a nonprofit that’s training young adults and connecting them with sustainable careers in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and construction.

IN this episode, host Pamela Escobar talks with Bae Reh, who found his career through Builders Bridge, and Jackie Fitzella, who makes these life-changing matches happen.

One in five teenagers has considered suicide, according to the CDC.

When Brooks Turner's daughter was diagnosed with a mental health condition, the journey to find help felt isolating and overwhelming. 

So she did something about it. She created Mind the Gap, a nonprofit designed to make sure nobody in a mental health crisis falls through the cracks.

Today, Brooks joins host Pamela Escobar alongside Mind the Gap's Executive Director, Kimberly Walker-Thurmond.

This episode discusses mental health, including depression and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Just call or text 988.

Recorded at Share Charlotte's Giving Tuesday event at The Pearl in Uptown Charlotte, host Pamela Escobar talks with leaders from four local non-profits who are doing good in the Queen City.

SEGMENT 1 (Start): Disability Rights and Resources Executive Director Samantha Nevins

SEGMENT 2 (17:00) : Achieving Success On Purpose Founder Dr. Kareem Puranda

SEGMENT 3 (27:12) : Assist ME Founder Jack Sheehan, and Community Outreach and Development Chair Jolyn Sloan

SEGMENT 4 (40:55) : Junior League of Charlotte's President-Elect Laura Snead and Vice-President-Elect Mary Behler.

Lions Services has been creating jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired for 91 years.

Host Pamela Escobar talks with Agatha Bisbikis, developmental director for Lions Services, and Raven Joiner, a Lions Services employee and a proud advocate for the low vision community.

Road to Hire and the Equitable Foundation are connected through the Crescent Coalition, a cohort of Charlotte nonprofits working together from middle school through college… and now beyond. 

Their vision - to prepare a talented pool of young adults for Charlotte's employers, and as a result – shape the future workforce of our city.

Host Pamela Escobar is joined by Dr. Monique Perry-Graves, CEO of Road to Hire, and by Jarian Kerekes, Head of Social Impact at the Equitable Foundation.

For many of us, a college education can mean a ticket to a better life. But when you're the first in your family to even consider college, the path forward can feel overwhelming.

That can often be the case for many Latin Americans in Charlotte.

Host Pamela Escobar talks with LAWA President and CEO Daniela Izurieta, who offers bilingual college access workshops (High School Series) in partnership with colleges and universities in the Greater Charlotte area.

Addressing hunger should be about more than just putting food on the table. That's exactly what Angels & Sparrows in Huntersville has been proving since 2008. 

While they’re feeding people, they’re also empowering them to find long-term stability so they can break the cycle.

In this episode, Host Pamela Escobar is joined by Interim Executive Director Brandi Jones to discuss how Angels & Sparrows approach helps people transition from survival mode to thriving mode – and how you can support their mission.

We usually think of mental health struggles affecting our younger generations, but what about our elders and their caregivers?

When seniors feel forgotten and caregivers are running on empty…depression, anxiety, and despair can take hold. But a creative connection could be a turning point.

That's exactly what the Gladys Love Project is proving every day. Their creative projects are fostering deeper connections between elders and giving caregivers space to breathe and heal.

Courtnie Goble used her own experience navigating the college admissions process solo to creat The Academy of Goal Achievers, which connects students with mentors who walk this journey with them…and she’s joins host Pamela Escobar to talk about their work and how you can help.