In this episode we interview Amy Van Polen, CEO of Bridge Communities. Bridge Communities’s mission is to transition families facing homelessness to self-sufficiency by working with partners to provide mentoring, housing, and supportive services.Bridge Communities is a dynamic, grassroots, non-profit organization committed to transforming the lives of families facing homelessness through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in our community.

Our program of housing, mentoring, and empowering families focuses on moving them towards a goal of self-sufficiency. In our 35-year history, Bridge Communities has had the honor of serving over 950 families facing homelessness in DuPage County.

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Luena Foundation’s mission is to serve and safeguard vulnerable children around the world by protecting their basic human rights and by fostering love, hope, strength and joy. They use the donations we receive to invest in locally-led grassroots projects and organizations whose mission is to create a more compassionate world for children everywhere.

Luena believe that the people most affected by poverty and social injustice are the ones who should have both the power and resources to lead the decision-making processes that impact their communities. So they search for the local leaders… the individuals and organizations that have the indigenous knowledge and local capacity to elicit sustainable development from the inside out. By seeking out and strengthening these community-based local actors, they are changing the paradigm on poverty reduction to one of localized humanitarianism.

Luena's strategy is to implement "localized humanitarianism" is project-based. The projects we take on are always brought forth by the communities themselves, and they are always deeply involved from the planning stages through the execution and later on through the follow-on analysis. Luena requires a minimum 25% community contribution, including at least 10% community cash contribution to the total financial cost of the project. When the community invests in this way, the entire project becomes more sustainable, as the community feels a greater sense of ownership in the process. Children and the communities they live in become their own agents of change.

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In this episode, Joseph interviews Joe Jackson, the Executive Director at Hesed House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, and giving people a chance to hope again. Joe shares his personal journey from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector, driven by his wife's experience with homelessness.

He explains that the mission of Hesed House is simple yet powerful: to provide basic needs and hope to those in need. Joe discusses the different programs and services offered by Hesed House, including a soup kitchen, food pantry, clothes closet, and shelter. He emphasizes the importance of individualized care and addressing the root causes of homelessness.

He also highlights the significance of preventing homelessness in the first place and the need for more affordable housing. The conversation delves into the impact of Hesed House, with tens of thousands of individuals served over the years. Joe expresses his pride in the dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners who make their work possible, especially during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He mentions the ongoing expansion of their shelter and their efforts to advocate for affordable housing. In terms of engagement, Joe encourages listeners to get involved in any way they can, whether through volunteering, donating, or simply showing empathy towards those experiencing homelessness. He invites people to visit the Hesed House website for more information and to participate in their annual Kentucky Derby fundraiser.

The episode concludes with a reminder to have empathy for individuals experiencing homelessness and to recognize their humanity. Joe emphasizes the importance of treating them with dignity and respect.

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In this episode we interview Amy Javaid, President & CEO at A Wider Circle. A Wider Circle’s mission is to advance equity in the greater Washington, DC region by fostering the exchange of goods, skills, and connections from neighbor to neighbor, and by engaging in advocacy to address the root causes of poverty.

Every year, A Wider Circle provides vital services to thousands of children and adults throughout the greater Washington, DC region. Our interrelated programs provide neighbors experiencing poverty with basic need items (including beds, furniture, and professional clothing), career development and coaching, and neighborhood-based programming.

We believe that every individual, family, and community should have access to the resources they need to thrive. Since our founding in 2001, we have worked to create a region where children and adults are able to live safe, stable, and comfortable lives and have the opportunity to succeed.

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In this podcast conversation, Jingwen and Joseph discuss the mission and work of Lighthouse DC, a nonprofit organization that helps create homes for formerly homeless and low-income residents in Washington, DC.

Jingwen, who is a co-founder and director of operations at Lighthouse DC, shares that their organization focuses on providing furniture and creating a home environment for individuals who have already secured housing. They follow a "housing first" approach, which prioritizes providing stable housing before addressing other needs. Jingwen explains that the idea for Lighthouse DC came about when he moved to DC and was shocked to see the number of homeless individuals in the city.

He felt compelled to do something to address the issue and help those in need. Lighthouse DC was founded in 2017 and has since grown significantly, serving over 5,000 residents in the past six years. The process for individuals to receive assistance from Lighthouse DC involves being referred by housing providers who have already secured housing for them. Once referred, clients fill out an intake form specifying the furniture they need.

Lighthouse DC then delivers the furniture directly to the client's home, eliminating the need for them to worry about the expense and logistics of furnishing their home. In terms of procuring furniture, Lighthouse DC relies on individual donors who may be moving or downsizing and no longer need their furniture. They also have partnerships with other nonprofits, such as A Wider Circle, which provides additional inventory for Lighthouse DC to distribute.

Jingwen shares a memorable story of a family who received a nightstand and a lamp from Lighthouse DC, and the children were thrilled to have their own furniture. He emphasizes the importance of providing basic household items to create a stable and comfortable home environment for individuals and families. When asked about future plans, Jingwen expresses a desire to continue growing the organization both in terms of the number of clients served and geographic expansion.

They hope to expand beyond DC to serve neighboring areas in Maryland and Virginia.

However, they want to ensure that any expansion is done in a strategic and responsible way, focused on meeting the needs of the community.

To get involved with Lighthouse DC, Jingwen recommends volunteering, donating, or attending their events. They are active on Facebook and also send out a monthly newsletter to keep supporters updated on their work.

Overall, the conversation highlights the important work that Lighthouse DC is doing to provide furniture and create homes for those in need, and the impact that a stable and comfortable living environment can have on individuals and families.

In this conversation, Marcie Finney, the Executive Director of Cleveland Cord Blood Center, discusses the mission and work of the organization. The mission of the Cleveland Cord Blood Centre is to advance umbilical cord blood cell therapy treatments, saving lives, enhancing health, and expanding knowledge one birth at a time. The organization is a public umbilical cord blood bank where families can donate their cord blood for research and to treat people with leukemia.

Marcie explains that there is a disparity in availability for stem cell transplants, with Caucasians having a higher chance of finding a match than those of different ethnic backgrounds. She also highlights the altruistic nature of cord blood donation and the potential benefits of storing one's own cord blood for future use. Marcie discusses the process of cord blood donation and the challenges faced by public cord blood banks in terms of partnerships with hospitals.

She explains that public banking options are not available everywhere, which limits the opportunity for donation. Marcie also addresses common reasons why people may not donate their cord blood, such as lack of awareness and concerns about the use of cord blood in research involving animals. She emphasizes the importance of educating the public about cord blood donation and the need for support of the public banking system.

Marcie goes on to discuss the significance of cord blood in stem cell transplants for treating leukemia and the process of regrowing the immune system. She explains that cord blood is a valuable resource because it contains stem cells that are less exposed to viruses and environmental factors compared to adult stem cells.

Marcie also touches on the future vision and plans of the Cleveland Cord Blood Centre, which includes expanding the use of cord blood in regenerative medicine and partnering with researchers for new therapies. The conversation concludes with a discussion on engagement and the importance of financial support for the organization. The podcast hosts express their gratitude for the conversation and the opportunity to learn more about cord blood donation and its impact on saving lives.

The Center strives to foster greater awareness of the life-giving and lifesaving potential that cord blood stem cells hold.

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Vijana Wetu Initiative's mission is to help the young boys and girls of Kibra (the second largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya) lead a happier and healthier lives through presence, group activities, education, and mentorship.

The children in Kira suffer from lack of food, inadequate shelter, and limited access to basic facilities like toilets and bathrooms. Many drop out of school or engage in risky behaviors, such as early pregnancies, due to the desperate circumstances they face. Lydia emphasizes the vulnerable position of the boy child in Kira, who often spends time idling at a makeshift base near the road, where they may be exposed to drugs and exploitation.

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In this episode we interview Larry Jackson, President and Founder at Ben Jackson Foundation. Ben Jackson Foundation’s mission is to The Ben Jackson Foundation recognizes the sacrifice that newly enlisted members of the military have chosen to make and provides financial assistance to help them visit home from their first permanent duty station.

Flights and other travel expenses make up a substantial portion of what younger enlisted personnel earn in a month. We want to make sure that new military members are able to take a trip home to see family and friends, especially when they are first starting out and a long way from home.

Those enlisted in any branch of the US Military are eligible to receive a Ticket Home Award from the Ben Jackson Foundation. This is our commitment to support them. Once they get to their first permanent duty station and then return home, they are eligible to receive payment for the Ticket Home Award.

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In this episode we interview AnnMarie Halterman, Executive Director at Uniting US. Uniting US impowers veterans, military, and their families to inspire communities to heal, find wellness, and unite through art.

Uniting Us’s innovative therapeutic arts programs and public arts engagements help Veterans, Military members and their families express their triumphs and struggles to foster healing, empathy, and self-reflection in public spaces and encourage others to be involved in the arts. The Uniting US featured Integrative Arts Activities program incorporates art making classes and workshops, display of art creations and performances, and art festival events hosted by Uniting US military, veteran, spouses, and family member participants who provide free, family friendly activities, demonstrations, and performances.  

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Guest Information

In this episode of the Greater Than Zero Percent, Adelaide Canino, Founder and CEO of Dev 46 talks to Joseph about her mission to increase the representation of Latinas in the tech industry in Puerto Rico. Adelaide highlights the lack of opportunities and options for Latinas in the tech industry and how Dev 46 is addressing this issue by providing technology education to young girls in Puerto Rico.

She emphasizes the importance of starting technology education in pre-K, with an emphasis on logical thinking and creative thought, to increase representation and empower young girls. Dev 46 has three major components: technology education, nutrition education, and personal development, with a focus on self-esteem and mentorship. Adelaide also discusses the larger tech industry and the lack of representation for women and Latinas.

She emphasizes the importance of individual growth and empowerment in Dev 46's program and highlights the need for inclusivity in the tech industry. Adelaide and Joseph also discuss the challenges facing Puerto Rico, including low math and reading rates and high poverty and dropout rates, and how Dev 46 is addressing these challenges.

The conversation concludes with a discussion of the organization's website and the importance of duplication and expansion of their program to other regions of the island.

Overall, the conversation highlights the organization's dedication to empowering Puerto Rican youth through technology and personal growth.

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