We talk about young people constantly - in policy reports and donor strategies. And almost always, we talk about them as the future. As something to invest in for later. But what if that framing is exactly wrong? What if young people are not the future, but the present, already leading and solving the world's most pressing challenges right now?

In Episode 14 - Part 1 of a two-part series on youth development, dialogue, and impact - Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Christina Sass, President and CEO of the International Youth Foundation (IYF), about what it truly takes to unlock opportunity and agency for young people who have been most overlooked and underinvested - and why this moment demands a fundamental reset in how the world thinks about and invests in the next generation.

Christina's path to leading IYF reads like a masterclass in building toward purpose - from co-founding Andela in 2014 and scaling it to six countries across Africa, to raising over $181 million in venture capital, to becoming IYF's fourth CEO in 2024. She brings a practitioner's lens, a founder's conviction, and a deeply personal belief that young people have the power to solve the world's toughest problems - if we invest in them properly.

Together, Dorothy and Christina explore:

• Why young people are not just the future - they are the present, and the conversation starts with resetting that assumption
• How IYF has reached more than 15 million young people across 105 countries in 35 years - and what drives its extraordinary program outcomes
• Why top-down international interventions falter while direct investments in local systems endure - and what IYF's model actually looks like on the ground
• Why life skills are the ultimate AI-proof asset - and what that means for the future of youth development and workforce readiness
• What the dismantling of USAID and global funding cuts mean for the young people IYF serves - and what the sector must do differently

Part 2 of this series features Global Nomads Group - an IYF grantee bringing young people together across borders through dialogue, technology, and cross-cultural exchange. Listen to both for the complete story.

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support IYF and its mission to unlock opportunity and agency for young people around the world.

🤝 Support IYF through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

There is a persistent myth that Korean Americans - and Asian Americans broadly - are a model minority community that is doing just fine. The numbers tell a very different story. Eleven percent of Korean Americans live in poverty. AAPI organizations receive less than 0.2% of philanthropic giving from foundations - a percentage that has barely moved in three decades. And the needs of Korean seniors, immigrants, and low-income families remain largely invisible in public discourse.

In Episode 13, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Kyung B. Yoon, President and CEO and co-founder of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF), about what it really means to build a culture of giving within an immigrant community - and why this moment in Korean American history calls for deeper investment than ever before.

Kyung's path to founding KACF reads like a masterclass in building toward purpose - from Wellesley College to a master's in development economics at Johns Hopkins SAIS, to the World Bank Institute, to becoming the first Korean American broadcast reporter in New York City at WNYW-Fox 5, to co-founding KACF in 2002 and leading it for more than two decades. Earlier this year, KACF completed a historic merger with KACF-San Francisco - forming one unified national organization and marking a powerful new chapter in Korean American philanthropy.

Together, Dorothy and Kyung explore:

• Why the model minority myth obscures real need - and what Korean and Asian American communities actually face
• How KACF has invested more than $24 million in communities nationwide and what it has taken to build a genuine culture of giving from within
• What jeong - the Korean concept of deep emotional connection and caring - means in practice, and how it shapes KACF's entire approach to philanthropy
• How KACF is empowering the next generation of Korean American philanthropists and standing as an ally to the broader Asian American community

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support KACF and its mission to build the philanthropic infrastructure that Korean and Asian American communities deserve.

🤝 Support KACF through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

Black women in the United States experience domestic violence and sexual assault at disproportionately high rates. And yet for too long, the services built to help them have failed to reflect their culture, their community, or their experience - leaving Black women survivors without the culturally specific, trauma-informed care they deserve.

In this episode, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Alana Brown, founder of The Safe Sisters Circle, about what it truly takes to build an organization made by Black women, for Black women - and why that distinction changes everything for survivors.

Alana's path to this work took her from Georgetown Law, to prosecuting cases, to advocating for survivors at domestic violence nonprofits, to fellowships with human trafficking and international gender-based violence organizations - where she witnessed again and again the profound disconnect between the systems built to help Black women and the women those systems were supposed to serve. In 2018, she decided to do something about it.

Together, Dorothy and Alana explore:

• Why the existing domestic violence and sexual assault support system has too often failed Black women survivors - and what culturally specific, trauma-informed care actually looks like in practice
• How The Safe Sisters Circle provides free legal representation, mental health support, and holistic healing services - including the 10-week Healing Project - to Black women and girl survivors in Washington, DC's Wards 7 and 8
• What it means to staff an organization with Black women attorneys so that clients are served by people who share their culture and understand their experience
• What it will take to build the systems, the services, and the communities that truly keep Black women safe

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support The Safe Sisters Circle and its mission to ensure every Black woman survivor has access to the culturally specific care she deserves.

🤝 Support The Safe Sisters Circle through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

• For $25, you ensure a survivor is able to safely get to and from a court hearing without interacting with or being followed by their abuser.
• For $50, you help a survivor cover the cost of essential case filing fees and/or court costs.
• For $100, you provide a group of survivors access to Know Your Rights workshops which help them navigate the various aspects of the legal system. 
• For $175, you give a survivor a counseling session to work on healing from their trauma. 
• For $250, you sponsor one survivor's full month of holistic support, including case management and flex funds. 

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

Rising hate. Fading memory. And a generation of young people who need to be equipped to recognize the warning signs before it is too late.

In Episode 11, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Morgan Blum Schneider, who leads the Jewish Family and Children's Services Holocaust Center, about what it truly takes to teach history in a way that inspires moral courage - and why that work has never felt more urgent than it does right now.

Morgan has led the JFCS Holocaust Center since 2005, building it into one of California's primary resources for Holocaust and genocide education. Her path to this work began in childhood - checking out every Holocaust book from her school library - and took her from Clark University's Holocaust and Genocide Studies program to a master's thesis in Australia on the forced removal of Aboriginal children as a case of genocide, to nearly two decades of leading one of the most innovative Holocaust education institutions in the country.

Together, Dorothy and Morgan explore:

·       Why Holocaust education is not about the past - it's about the moral choices we are all making right now

·       How the JFCS Holocaust Center is reaching more than 167,000 students, teachers, and individuals every year - and what that education actually produces in young people

·       What we lose when the last Holocaust survivors are gone - and what literature, testimony, and education must do to fill that space

·       How patterns of dehumanization repeat across history and across communities - and why combating one form of hate requires understanding them all

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support the JFCS Holocaust Center and its mission to inspire moral courage and social responsibility in the next generation.

🤝 Support the JFCS Holocaust Center through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke:
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/
  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty - the Korean Wave has put Korea on the map in ways few could have predicted a generation ago. But Korea has always been on the map. Long before BTS and Squid Game captured the world's attention, the relationship between the United States and Korea was already one of the most consequential partnerships in the world - spanning diplomacy, security, trade, technology, and a people-to-people connection that runs deeper than most Americans realize.

In Episode 10, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Dr. Abraham Kim, President and CEO of The Korea Society, about what lies beneath the cultural moment - and why investing in the U.S.-Korea relationship matters more now than ever, as that relationship expands beyond Washington and New York into communities, classrooms, and people-to-people connections across the country.

Abraham is the first Korean American to lead The Korea Society in its nearly 70-year history. His path here reads like a masterclass in building toward purpose - from political risk analyst at the Eurasia Group and CSIS, to leading the Korea Economic Institute of America and the Mansfield Center, to building the Council of Korean Americans into a national force for civic engagement and leadership development, before arriving at The Korea Society in January 2026.

Together, Dorothy and Abraham explore:

• What the U.S.-Korea relationship really looks like beneath the surface of the Korean Wave - and why it matters for diplomacy, security, business, and culture
• Why The Korea Society is investing in next-generation leaders who will carry the U.S.-Korea relationship forward for decades to come
• What Abraham's own career path taught him about identity, purpose, and what it means to build bridges between communities and nations
• Why civil society organizations play a role in international relations that governments simply cannot - and what The Korea Society does to complement governmental efforts

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support The Korea Society and its mission to build lasting understanding and cooperation between the United States and Korea.

🤝 Support The Korea Society through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke:
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

Every kid has talent. The question is whether they ever get the discipline, mentorship, and opportunity to discover how far it can take them.

In Episode 9, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Katrina Adams, President and Executive Director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program (HJTEP), about what it truly takes to turn access into opportunity - and how tennis as a sport can be a powerful tool for building leaders.

Katrina shares her own journey, from picking up a racket at age six in a Chicago parks program, to a celebrated career on the WTA Tour with 20 career doubles titles, to becoming the first African American President, Chairman, and CEO in USTA history. Today, she's bringing that same belief in access and excellence back to the young people of Harlem through HJTEP, where she's grown enrollment to over 1,000 participants and the organization's operating budget to more than $1 million.

Together, Dorothy and Katrina explore:

• Why talent is everywhere, but discipline, mentorship, and opportunity are not - and what it takes to close that gap
• How HJTEP uses tennis as an entry point to build character, education, and lifelong opportunity for Harlem's young people
• What Katrina's career on the court and in leadership taught her about access, representation, and resilience
• How communities, volunteers, and donors can help HJTEP open doors for the next generation

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support HJTEP and its mission to give every young person in Harlem the chance to discover what they're capable of.

🤝 Support HJTEP through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke:
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

💎 Wearing Anne Woodman Jewelry - pieces grounded in craftsmanship and intention. 10% of sales support the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://annewoodman.com/?utm_source=DoGood&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=givingcircle

When a person is forced to flee everything they know, humanitarian systems are often built to provide a short-term safety net - food, shelter, the basics needed to survive the immediate crisis. But survival isn't the same as thriving, and too many displaced people are left without a clear path toward what comes after the emergency: rebuilding a livelihood, regaining agency, and creating a life of their own choosing.

In Episode 8, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Jocelyn Wyatt, CEO of Alight, about what it truly takes to move beyond short-term relief toward long-term dignity, and why co-creating solutions with communities, rather than delivering aid to them, is part of what makes that shift possible.

Jocelyn shares her own path from Acumen Fellow in Kenya to co-founding IDEO.org, where she spent a decade bringing human-centered design into social impact, and how that philosophy now shapes her leadership at Alight, an organization serving more than 3.5 million displaced people across more than 20 countries.

Together, Dorothy and Jocelyn explore:

• What it takes to help people build toward long-term stability and self-determined futures
• How Alight has grown into a global organization built around "unleashing abundance" 
• What Jocelyn's career has taught her about co-creating solutions with the communities Alight serves, not just for them
• How the global aid sector is being forced to rebuild itself in the wake of USAID's dismantling,  and what that means for the future of humanitarian work

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support Alight and its mission to help displaced people build dignified, self-determined futures.

🤝 Support Alight through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke:
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

💎 Wearing Anne Woodman Jewelry - pieces grounded in craftsmanship and intention. 10% of sales support the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://annewoodman.com/?utm_source=DoGood&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=givingcircle

When a child enters foster care, the first message they often receive is delivered not in words - but in a trash bag. It says: your belongings don't deserve a suitcase. And for too many children, that message stays with them long after the bag is gone.

In this episode, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Rob Scheer, Founder and CEO of Comfort Cases, about what it truly takes to restore dignity to children in foster care - and why something as simple as a backpack can be the first signal a child receives that they are worthy of love and care.

Rob shares his own story of growing up in foster care, aging out at 18, and becoming homeless - and how decades later, watching his adopted children arrive at his home carrying trash bags moved him to build a national movement.

Together, Dorothy and Rob explore:

• Why dignity from day one matters - and how a backpack communicates love when words fall short
• How Comfort Cases has grown from 500 cases in its first year to more than 250,000 delivered across all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the UK
• What Rob's personal experience in foster care taught him about resilience, belonging, and what children actually need to feel safe
• How communities, volunteers, and donors can join the #NoMoreTrashBags movement and make a direct impact for children entering care

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support Comfort Cases and its mission to ensure every child entering foster care receives a case filled with essentials, comfort items, and the quiet message that they matter.

🤝 Support Comfort Cases through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

When we talk about solving youth violence, the conversation usually starts after crisis has already hit. But what if the most powerful - and most underfunded - work happens long before that? In the daily relationships, mental health supports, and safe spaces that help young people feel seen, connected, and capable of building a future?

In Episode 6, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with Celina de Sola, co-founder and President of Glasswing International, about what it truly takes to support young people before crisis takes hold - and why prevention-focused community investment is one of the most powerful levers we have for building safer, more resilient societies.

Celina shares how growing up in El Salvador shaped her profound understanding of inequality and led her to co-found Glasswing International, an organization now working across 12 countries to strengthen youth wellbeing and community resilience through mental health, education, and grassroots partnership.

Together, Dorothy and Celina explore:

• Why mental health, trusted relationships, and safe spaces are the true foundation of violence prevention
• How Glasswing partners with schools, healthcare workers, volunteers, and community leaders to build environments where young people feel supported and empowered
• What prevention-focused community work looks like in practice — and why it outperforms crisis intervention
• How communities across Latin America and the United States are building resilience from the inside out

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support Glasswing International and its work strengthening mental health support, youth development, and violence prevention across 12 countries in Latin America and the U.S.

🤝 Support Glasswing International through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle – https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke

Sport can build far more than athletic skill - it can build confidence, resilience, belonging, and a sense of what's possible. But only when young people actually have access to it. What happens when you bring tennis into communities where that access has historically been limited?

In Episode 5, Dorothy Stuehmke speaks with John Borden, CEO of Tennis Memphis, about why access to sport is really access to opportunity - and how tennis is creating lasting change in young people's lives far beyond the court.

John shares his journey from childhood tennis enthusiast to leading youth programs in Washington D.C. and now Memphis, offering a grounded, personal perspective on youth development, community-building, and the power of sport to shape who young people become.

Together, Dorothy and John explore:

• How Tennis Memphis uses tennis to help young people build confidence, resilience, self-reliance, and essential life skills
• Why safe spaces, trusted mentors, and a sense of belonging matter as much as athletic development
• What John's path from D.C. to Memphis revealed about community, opportunity, and what young people really need
• Why investing in young people through sport pays dividends for entire communities - on and off the court

This episode connects to the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle, where you can directly support Tennis Memphis and help expand opportunity for young people through sport.

🤝 Support Tennis Memphis through the Do Good on Purpose Giving Circle – https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/LjPhN5M/Do-Good-on-Purpose-Giving-Circle

🔗 Connect with Dorothy Stuehmke:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothystuehmke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothystuehmke/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorothystuehmke