Women In Leadership series with Maria O. Guzman. Maria stopped by the podcast to share her leadership story with us. I loved listening to her journey and how her business came to be. She was pregnant, laid of off work, and scared. She learned her photography business has great promise and potential for the future. Now she has moved into her second studio.

John Lively is running for re-election for District 7, State Representative. This position goes through a re-election process every 2 years. John as also served as a City Councilor and Mayor of Springfield.

Jacob stopped by the podcast today to the perspective of the coalition Healing not Handcuffs who are in opposition of the renewal of the Lane County Jail Levy, HB 20-340. Jacob Trewe serves as treasurer for the Healing not Handcuffs coalition in opposition to the Lane County Jail levy and as treasurer for the Eugene-Springfield Democratic Socialists of America. He has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Oregon and worked as an auditor for the Offices of Inspectors General of the U.S. Treasury Department and U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency in Washington DC. After he moved back to Eugene, he served as the treasurer for Hands and Voices of Oregon. He is active in local community and labor organizing.

Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold stopped by the podcast today to share the LCSO perspective on why the Bond Measure 20-340 Renewal of the Jail Levy is so critical to how the Lane County Sheriff's Office can adequately meet the their mission as an organization.

Carol Cox is the project manager at On The Inside, a non profit that serves incarcerated women currently in three different states in the US. She moved to Oregon when she was two years old and has lived in Lane County ever since. Carol started her life with a significant amount of trauma and at age 21 found herself like so many others addicted to opiates and in a spiral that would impact not just her family's life and hers but her communities.

After serving her time at Coffee Creek Correctional in Oregon she was released and began to rebuild her life as a felon and mother to a child that was in the foster care system. After earning back the privilege to be a mother and contributing community member, she found herself working with a former theater teacher at On The Inside. She facilitates classes using creative expression, writing, and embodiment practices. They offer a number of programs for women while they are incarcerated and offer programming virtually for women worldwide.

When she is not doing her life's work, she is a mother to three children, partner of 9 years and support network for anyone trying to better themselves. Carol also spends a number of hours being a dance mom and Volunteer at Identity Dance in Springfield, where she was able to rebuild her relationship with her seven year old daughter.

Julie stopped by the podcast today to share her leadership story on her work with the Sparrow Clubs. Sparrow Clubs changes lives by empowering kids to help kids in medical need through compassion, kindness, and sponsored community service. Julie joined Sparrow Clubs in 2022 as the Willamette Valley Director with the purpose of introducing Sparrow Clubs to this new region. After years of involvement with Sparrow Clubs through business and working with highschoolers directly Julie has a deep understanding of the impact Sparrow Clubs offers. She has always had a passion for connecting with the community, particularly supporting families, and kids. Jule is a wife, mother, sister, and friend. These are cherished rolls and have helped her gain a special perspective of the unique individual needs of her community. One of her greatest joys is seeing people realize their potential and then using their gifts to help someone else. In joining the Sparrow Club family Julie is living out her desire to influence kids by sharing the power of compassionate people.

This morning I wanted to share a few words of hope and encouragement as enter Thanksgiving. 

Julianna stopped by the podcast today to share her leadership journey with us. She is from New York, living in the both the city and country in Upstate New York. She attended the French Culinary Institute and received her Pastry Arts Degree. She opened her own gourmet food company at 21. After the housing market crash of 2008 she had to close the doors and begin again. She moved here to the Pacific Northwest. She is now involved The Juice Plus Company helping others find and resolve nutritional health issues. This is her story.

Chief Shearer stopped by the podcast yesterday to discuss Measure 20-327 renewal of the Public Safety Levy and other issues regarding policing here in Springfield. It was an insightful interview and update on our police force, municipal jail and justice center operations. 

Matt was raised 5 outside of Junction City on a Small Family Farm. He graduated from Junction City High School. He worked in the RV Industry for over 20 years. While in that profession he became a volunteer fireman and an intermediate EMT. In 2008 he was forced to make a career change when the housing market crashed. At that time he began working in the ER at RiverBend Hospital. While working there he learned about Hyperbarics from an outside source and new it needed to be brought to Eugene. He opened the clinic doors in 2015 and has treated hundreds of clients since then. This is his story.