find your cause

In this episode we interview Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering They discuss AmeriCorps' mission, partnerships with various organizations, and the opportunities they offer, including education awards and new experiences. They also highlight the importance of diversity and equity in their programs and provide tips on how to get involved. Listen to this inspiring conversation to learn more about AmeriCorps and how you can make a positive impact in your community.

In this episode we interview Scott Meyer, CEO at BenchmarkAI. BenchmarkAI’s mission is to make public data accessible and actionable. They help nonprofits use information from IRS tax forms - 990s - to create benchmarks to key data in the nonprofit sector.

Scott explains how Benchmark AI's platform, Benchmark 990, helps users search and analyze data from nonprofit tax returns. We discuss the benefits of AI in nonprofits, including improved efficiency and productivity. Scott also shares examples of nonprofits using AI tools and discusses legal considerations. He predicts that AI will continue to transform the nonprofit sector in the future. To learn more, Scott encourages listeners to visit Benchmark 990 and try out the platform. Want to dive deep into AI? Scott also runs an awesome YouTube Channel called Chipp with bite-sized trainings and tutorials about how to use AI to improve your life!

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Guest Information

In this episode we interview Mary Zeien, Founder/Executive Director at The Well of Mercy. The Well of Mercy provides a caring, cooperative community home environment to single women who have little or no support. The mothers are physically secure in a safe and loving environment that upholds a process of accountability, as each resident works toward personal holistic goals.  They are provided with educational guidance as they work to build a poverty-free future for themselves and their families.

The WOM offers holistic interventions including financial literacy mentor, educational guidance, physical well-being (diet, nutrition, exercise), emotional support. Each woman has a personal mentor who expands her world through local cultural activities such as visiting museums, attending concerts, free events, holiday celebrations  etc. The women attend classes in Grief and Loss, Parent Training through Love and Logic, Domestic Violence Awareness program, and Boundaries. Through financial literacy guidance, the women learn to pay down any debt, save and invest money. The women not only receive driving lessons but many are able to purchase their first car. 

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In this episode, Joseph interviews Arnold Westphal, the Executive Director and Workshop Presenter at Breakthrough for Men, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting men in leading more fulfilling lives. Arnold shares that Breakthrough for Men's mission is to help men uncover their aliveness and deepen their relationships by providing tools and practices for living with more authenticity and love.

When asked why he chose to dedicate his time to this mission, Arnold explains that he personally felt a sense of disconnection and wanted to find more meaning in his life. Through his own experience with the Breakthrough community, he discovered a set of tools and practices that transformed his relationships and every aspect of his life.

He became passionate about helping other men live more authentically and lovingly, and it became a calling for him. Arnold goes on to explain that Breakthrough for Men focuses on men because societal expectations and cultural conditioning often prevent men from expressing their emotions and being vulnerable. The workshop helps men challenge these expectations and create deeper connections with themselves and others.

He emphasizes the importance of providing a safe and confidential environment where men can share their feelings and be met with acceptance and non-judgment. Joseph raises the point that societal views on masculinity have been changing, and it is now more acceptable for men to have open and vulnerable conversations. Arnold acknowledges this but also points out that there is still a level of vulnerability that many men are hesitant to embrace.

He believes that men have been taught to medicate their feelings and have not been taught the deeper process of being truly intimate. The workshop helps men move beyond the surface level vulnerability and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions.

Arnold shares some of the tools and topics covered in the workshop, including recognizing one's inherent worth and value, exploring childhood traumas and their impact on adult behavior, and learning the language to talk about emotions and needs. He mentions the "Five A's" of love in action: attention, acceptance, appreciation, affection, and allowing.

These concepts are explored in depth during the workshop, and men are encouraged to practice giving themselves love first before extending it to others. In conclusion, Arnold emphasizes that Breakthrough for Men aims to empower men to live more deeply and authentically, which in turn positively impacts their relationships, families, and communities. He believes that by breaking free from societal expectations and embracing vulnerability, men can create a more compassionate and loving world.

Arnold and Joseph discuss the impact of the Breakthrough Workshop on personal growth and relationships. Arnold shares how the workshop helps individuals show up better in their relationships with children, family members, and colleagues. He emphasizes the importance of seeing women as equals and creating a human-to-human world. The workshop takes 26 weeks to complete and focuses on self-exploration and building skills.

Arnold also highlights the community aspect of the workshop, with check-ins and support from partners. He explains that the workshop is accessible to all, regardless of financial situation, and encourages donations to support their mission. Arnold expresses the desire to expand the reach of the workshop through online content and partnerships with other organizations. He invites engagement through applying for the workshop, making donations, sharing resources, and connecting with interested organizations.

The conversation concludes with the importance of self-esteem in loving others and the transformative power of vulnerability.

In this episode we interview Nicole Brandt Minyard, Founder and Executive Director at Daybreak Arts. Daybreak Arts’s mission is a social enterprise nonprofit that creates artistic and economic opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity by providing them access to the creative resources needed to achieve personal fulfillment and success.

Our Artist Collective Program equips people impacted by homelessness with the artistic resources, training, and marketplace to gain financial independence and overcome barriers to employment by leveraging their creative talent to earn meaningful and legal income. Daybreak artists earn 70% commission on original artwork sales and 25% on reproductions (merchandise) with their designs. Daybreak artists also earn income through teaching artist stipends and intellectual property licenses. Daybreak Arts reinvests its portion of earned income back into the organization to continue to provide the space and resources at no-cost to our artists, establishing a sustainable social enterprise model.

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In this episode we interview Kate Watt, Senior Vice President and Community Development at Susan G. Komen. Susan G. Komen’s mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs of our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.

Susan G. Komen is the only breast cancer organization taking a comprehensive, 360-degree approach to fight breast cancer across all fronts, supporting millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide through research, care, advocacy and community. Komen serves as a trusted health care guide, providing millions of people with safe, accurate, evidence-based information and education—as well as direct patient support services including financial assistance, patient navigation services, emotional support and resources. Komen has made more than $3.5 billion in investments in breast cancer research, advocacy and patient support since its founding in 1982, helping reduce the breast cancer mortality rate by 43%. 

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Guest Information

In this episode we interview Anthony Marinos, Director of Business Development and Partnerships at charity: water. charity: water is a nonprofit organization bringing clean and safe water to people around the world.

charity: water is a nonprofit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. With a radically transparent model that sends 100% of public donations straight to the field, charity: water funds sustainable water projects in areas of greatest need and works with local partners to implement them. The organization proves every project, using innovative technology and powerful storytelling to connect donors with their impact. Since 2006, charity: water has funded 121,314 water projects around the world to help more than 16.9 million people get access to clean water, hygiene, and improved sanitation

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In this episode we interview David Michael, Executive Director/CEO at Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State. Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State’s mission is to Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

At Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State we believe that everyone deserves a decent place to live. We partner with individuals and families who simply need a "hand up, not a hand out".  By that we mean the services that we provide are a partnership not a gift or give-away. From submitting an application for housing to the formal loan closing for the purchase of a new homebuyer's house, we work hand in glove with our those we serve. We serve a population whose household income falls between 30% and 60% of the area median household income, has a need for better housing and is willing to put some skin in the game by working on their own house and the houses of others (or what we call "sweat equity". We make sure that no homebuyer pays greater than 30% of their monthly income for housing.  

We were founded in 1990 and serve an area that consists of 6 counties in 3 states - Boyd and Greenup counties in Kentucky, Lawrence and Scioto counties in Ohio and Cabell and Wayne counties in West Virginia.  To date we have completed 153 new house construction projects, 23 accessible ramp projects and 12 Veteran-owned critical home repair projects. In September 2014, we rolled out a very unique housing solution that completes the housing continuum for Veterans who were homeless in our community, then became renters and finally homebuyers. We call this our Veterans Housing Initiative. The houses constructed as part of this program are 1-bedroom and 640 square feet. Not a tiny home but a cottage.  

Most recently we have been working with another affordable housing provider in south eastern Kentucky to provide new homes for people who were displaced and lost their homes due to flooding in July 2022.  

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In this episode we interview Anna Sampson, Director at We Are Neutral. We Are Neutral is an environmental nonprofit that has 15 years of experience helping businesses and individuals understand, track, reduce, and offset their comprehensive environmental footprints, giving them the opportunity to take responsibility for their environmental impact to work towards carbon neutrality and/or Net Zero. 

Donations support community carbon reduction projects, environmental education, climate change victim relief, and environmental policy advocacy. We don’t just think about things in terms of greenhouse gasses, we think about alleviating poverty, reducing inequalities, clean water, healthy oceans, etc. Take a look at the SDGs to see what (on top of reducing greenhouse gas emissions) we are striving towards.

We emphasize comprehensive environmental footprint calculations, industry accountability, and environmental education. 

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Guest Information

In this episode we interview Karina Alcorchas and Cynthia Chavez, Co-Founders at The 2% Fund . The 2% Fund ’s mission is to recognize and support undocumented students across the city of Chicago who demonstrate financial need to continue their education. We aim to increase the 2% of undocumented students enrolled in higher education across the nation.

To help increase the 2% of undocumented students enrolled in higher education across the nation, we offer $1,000 scholarship awards, in addition to leadership and career development opportunities hosted by The 2% Fund team. Any current high school senior who has applied to college and has been accepted or is already in college is eligible to apply. Each application is thoughtfully reviewed and considerations are made for undocumented students who can demonstrate leadership and commitment to their schools, communities and are motivated by making a positive impact.

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