Good & Grounded

When you are initially worried about a virus being transmitted by touch, how do you keep a library open during a pandemic? Laura and Jim ask our own Denver City Librarian -- Michelle Jeske. She runs the 120-year-old Denver Library system serving more than 4.4 million people across 26 different branches.

The past year has taken a huge toll on the number of people who are food insecure, but the good news is there is more than one way to tackle the issue and our Denver community has an army of people working on it. Jim and Laura speak with three individuals who are tackling food insecurity in three completely different, but amazingly innovative ways. From SAME Café where patrons are encouraged to “pay as you’re able” (whether than means actually paying, or working for your meal), to We Don’t Waste which takes leftover food from restaurants and catering companies to feed those in need, to a 24-year-old relatively new Denver resident who has taken it upon themself to build a new organization called Denver Community Fridges – the need is there and our Denver community is up for the challenge in this latest episode of Good & Grounded.

The Rose Community Foundation’s influence in our community is undeniable and CEO and President Lindy Lent is spearheading the foundation’s work as they continue to reinvest in our community during a challenging time. Lindy joins Laura Love and Jim Licko and explains how the Rose Community Foundation is supporting nonprofits advancing racial justice, the new Colorado Media Project and how the foundation gave away more than $11 million during COVID-19 -- and isn’t even thinking about slowing down in their effort to support our community.

For more than 50 years, the National Sports Center for the Disabled has had an unwavering commitment to seeing the “able” in everyone. No one knows this better than the 12-time marathoner, Tough Mudder adaptive athlete finisher and sit-ski racer pursuing his Paralympic dream for Team USA – Mike Murphy. Mike is joined by NSCD CEO Kim Easton on this week’s episode of Good and Grounded to talk about their incredible adaptive outdoor experiences from skiing, hiking and horseback riding to rafting, archery, camping and more and how you can get involved as a participant, a volunteer or a donor.

Even the best leaders fail during a crisis. But through those failures, we learn lessons that shape us as humans and as organizations. Jim Licko and Laura Love talk with a few of the Colorado leaders recognized in Outside Magazine’s 2020 Annual Best Places to Work List. Ryan O'Donoghue, CEO of First Descents, Dr. Allen Lim, founder of Skratch Labs and Shauna Cobb, HR Director at New Belgium Brewery share tips and tricks for keeping a strong culture in the midst of a year of unrest.

Colorado does so many things so well, but we’ve got a lot of work to do when it comes to our housing crisis. No one is more aware of this than Ismael Guerrero, President and CEO of Mercy Housing, the nation’s largest affordable housing nonprofit. Housing supply can’t keep up with the influx of people moving to Colorado and even when housing is available, working families can’t afford the rent or mortgage. Where is this housing crisis headed? Jim Licko and Laura Love speak with Ismael to find out.

Beginning in March 2020, the U.S. had the largest, coordinated economic stimulus response since WWII. The result? Low interest rates, an increase in household savings as a result of PPP and stimulus checks and a vibrant stock market. Akasha Absher of Syntrinsic Investment Counsel shares her thoughts with Jim Licko and Laura Love on Good & Grounded on the power of Impact Investing.

The Inclusive Economy Movement was born out of the darkest days of the pandemic. On this episode, Jim and Laura talk with Helen Young Hayes, executive sponsor of the IE Movement, about how leaders and CEOs are rethinking the Colorado workforce and are committed to accountability around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts.

In March, the team at Project Angel Heart knew that - pandemic or not - 1,300 people rely on them each week for fresh meal delivery. On this episode of Good and Grounded, President & CEO Owen Ryan shares with Jim Licko and Laura Love how his team of 500 volunteers haven't missed a delivery.

Jim Licko and Laura Love have an honest conversation about a difficult subject – relationship violence – and the impact safer-at-home orders have on those facing domestic abuse. Amy Miller, ED of Violence Free Colorado (www.violencefreeco.org), joins us to share some tips on what to do when you notice that something isn’t quite right with a friend and colleague but you don’t know what to say or do.