Make a Difference (MAD) Podcast

Today's episode is certainly bittersweet as we bid farewell to Darius. 

We made it, friends! Episode 50 is here and we are so excited to share this milestone episode with you, and we thank you for your support of the Make a Difference Podcast.

In episode 50, we talk to Buck Adams, founder of Art for Redemption. Buck is a veteran, social entrepreneur, and a formally incarcerated individual. While incarcerated, Buck began working with Defy Colorado, an independent nonprofit organization that helps individuals with criminal histories create legal business ventures. This is how Art for Redemption came to life. 

Art for Redemption helps inmates become rehabilitated and contributing members of society through art made in prison. 

Reza is a husband, father, NFL Chaplain for the Denver Broncos, and a campus director for Athletes in Action. 

He is originally from Abadan, Iran, yet spent most of his life in Southern California. He attended Colorado State University and had the opportunity to play football for the Rams. His love of investing in others and athletics lead him to coach at the collegiate level for 2 years before he started pouring his life into others on and off the playing field. He currently coaches business men and women, helping organizations align vision and mentor athletes. 

It's another episode of feel good stories! Darius and Farra share some feel good stories from around the world this week.

Links to stories referenced:
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/afghan-all-girls-robotics-team-get-us-scholarships/
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/german-animal-shelter-posts-tinder-profiles-for-lonely-animals/
https://theweek.com/us/1003908/this-georgia-man-is-changing-his-neighbors-lives-1-at-a-timehttps://www.foxnews.com/us/california-police-officer-saves-choking-babyhttps://www.foxnews.com/world/us-air-force-pregnant-afghan-mother-deliver-baby-c-17-evacuation

Farra and Darius share feel good stores from the week. 

Joe Buckner is the Founder and Visionary of Fort Collins’ only boutique boxing studio, Beautifully Savage: The Art of Pugilism. Born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, Buckner has a passion for the community and helping others to reach their goals and dreams. 

Buckner spent his youth as a multi-sport athlete and later went on to play college football. After a series of unfortunate events though, life took an unexpected turn for Buckner and led to a season of homelessness. Determined to fight for a better life, he became more motivated than ever to salvage his dreams and overcome even when defeat seemed imminent. Over time and with a lot of hard work, he paved his way to becoming a successful businessman and now entrepreneur. 

Learn more about Beautifully Savage Boxing and Joe:
https://theartofpugilism.com/
http://www.facebook.com/theartofpugilism
https://www.instagram.com/beautifullysavageboxing/

Darius met Alicia by complete happenstance at a cemetery, of all places. They made a connection and now we get to share her story with all of you!

Alicia  has decades of high-level experience in the customer service, insurance and financial services industries. Because of this, she found her true passion and purpose in entrepreneurship and launched Alicia Squared, LLC in March of 2020 (yes, at the beginning of the pandemic).

She's developed multiple business models designed to educate other business owners and teams, help refine and organize the innermost details of their business while helping them grow. All without sacrificing quality. Her niche is business operations, people operations and human resources.

Learn more about Alicia and Alicia Squared at:
https://www.aliciasquaredllc.com/
https://www.instagram.com/alicia_squared_llc/
https://www.facebook.com/AliciaSquaredLLC/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/alicia-squared-llc/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-miller-b577a852/

Madisen “Mattie” Golden serves as the WomenGive Director at United Way of Larimer County and has been with UWLC since 2016. She received her Bachelor’s degrees in Business Marketing and Spanish from Colorado State University, and transitioned to a front line fundraiser after several years in international sales and customer service. Her dedication to serving the community and elevating opportunity for women and girls shines through in her role overseeing the entire WomenGive program including revenue generation, community partnerships, volunteer committees, scholarship awards and related staff and intern supervision.  Madisen is a 2019 40 Under Forty honoree, a Working in Northern Colorado Ambassador, and a member and volunteer of the Junior League of Fort Collins. If you don’t see her out and about at community events, you’ll find her in line for a croissant at Little Bird Bakeshop, listening to music in Old Town Square or enjoying the sunshine with friends on a patio. 

Madisen is not only making a huge difference in the lives of single moms in Larimer County, but she is also an active member of our community serving many other non profit organizations through volunteering. 

More about WomenGive:
https://uwaylc.org/WomenGive
https://www.instagram.com/womengiveuw/

Jen DeKorte grew up in a small town with a big family and quickly learned the value of serving and savoring time with people over home cooked meals and fresh baked pastries. It's no wonder that Jen now owns a very successful bakehouse, The Sweet Petite, and supplies 47 Whole Foods stores with delicious gluten free and vegan cakes and pies. 

Learn more about Jen and The Sweet Petite Bakehouse at:
http://www.thesweetpetiteco.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thesweetpetiteco/
https://www.instagram.com/thesweetpetiteco/

Happy Summer!

Darius and Farra here. Just checking in without a guest this week to say what's up!

We'll be back next week with a guest. Hope everyone is having a great summer!