It’s Your Community

July 31, 2022 ~ Vanessa interviewed Gerry Brisson – Gleaners President and CEO and Ryan Hertz, CEO of Lighthouse. Gerry Brisson has served as President and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan since 2014. A strong advocate for the community’s most vulnerable residents, he has dedicated more than 35 years of his professional life to improving food security. Brisson believes hunger can be solved – and the impact of addressing this problem brings greater health, stability, and empowerment to families.

It's Your Community ~ July 23, 2022

July 17, 2022 ~ Vanessa interviewed Steve Francis, Acting Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is the primary investigative agency of the Department of Homeland Security. He discusses what this new position entails along with his background in law enforcement. He discusses some of the high-profile cases HSI has been working on. He also talked about jobs available with HSI and how people can apply as well as resources for the public as well as community organizations and schools. HSI investigates, disrupts, and dismantles transnational criminal organizations and terrorist networks that threaten or seek to exploit the customs and immigration laws of the United States. In this role, Mr. Francis oversees HSI’s workforce, which consists of more than 10,000 employees to include special agents, criminal analysts, mission support personnel and contract staff assigned to over 220 offices throughout the United States and across 50 countries worldwide. www.dhs.org Hotline for Human Trafficking 866-347-2423

July 10, 2022 ~ Mia Odeh talks to Vanessa about her memoir: "Mia's Odyssey: Taking Back My Soul," in which Mia tells her life story about being married at 16 to an older, violently abusive man. She was brought to Phoenix, Arizona from Palestine against her will, and was subjected to years of mental, physical, and sexual violence, and had to bear five children to this man. She tells the story of how she was able to escape, due to the sole wish of a better life for her and her children.

July 3, 2022 ~ Did you know that our brain is 31% more productive when you practice an attitude of gratitude? Talking about this, and much more with Michael Pfau, Founder and President of Crossways Life Coaching, LLC. Michael is an author, speaker, coach, mentor, and trainer. He holds a master’s degree in education and has more than 4,200 hours of coaching business and individual clients. Michael partners with Christians in mid-life around career development, performance, and transitions. He also mentors’ new coaches around skill and business development. He developed an interest in Neuroscience through the work he does to help clients get unstuck, which often centers around mindsets and beliefs.

June 17, 2022 ~ Vanessa interviewed Detroit Zoological Society Guest Relations Director Randi Hamilton. Having been with the nonprofit organization for nearly eight years, she is an essential part of the guest experience at the Detroit Zoo — leading everything from admissions to rides and attractions to public and private events and more. Visit DetroitZoo.org for more information.

June 12, 2022 ~ Vanessa interviewed Jared Knott, author of the book "Tiny Blunders, Big Mistakes." This book shares how a single tiny mistake causes an entire civilization to collapse, more often than you think! The book demonstrates little things that changed history in a big way. Jared shared how a single document poorly designed by one single clerk in one single county changed the outcome of a presidential election and led directly to a major war. Another story includes how a soldier accidentally kicks a helmet off of the top of a wall and causes an empire to collapse; small mechanical device several inches long fails to function, which changes the outcome of WWII and leads to the death of millions of people; man fails to gather his army in time to defend against an attack because of the temptation of opium and a young slave woman. For more information visit TinyBlundersBigDisasters.com

June 5, 2022 ~ Vanessa interviewed Westland Mayor Bill Wild, Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik and the new Diversity Director C. Pashcal Eze.

May 31, 2022 ~ Book Marketing and Publicity Expert Scott Lorenz tells Vanessa about his business promoting books. Learn more about Dave at https://www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com.

May 22, 2022 ~ Vanessa interviewed Kristen Olmeda and Renee Yaldoo from the United Community Services Chaldean American Ladies of Charity about National Refugee Day. Each June 20, the globe comes together to honor World Refugee Day. The United Nations General Assembly launched the holiday in 2000, and since then, the worldwide community has spent the day focused on ways to improve the lives of refugees. UCFamily Services/CALC has been around for more than 60 years. They service new immigrant in the country and help them assimilate. United Community Family Services – Empowering People in Need (ucfamilyservices.org)