Shared Prosperity Podcast

For Black History Month, both episodes this month will focus on the importance of black-owned entertainment spaces in our city and the need for diverse representation in business ownership and entrepreneurship as a pathway to prosperity.

On this episode, we speak with Patrick Horace, co-owner of Delish Supper Club, a private supper club located in Kalamazoo, MI. Delish Supper Club aims to provide a comfortable setting for superior dining and social interaction amongst likeminded individuals who desire great food, friendly conversation, and unique adult events.

Host: Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guest: Patrick Horace (Chef P)

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

https://www.delishsupperclub.com/

Economic Development and Business Development Fund/Assistance:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/development

On this episode, we speak with Derek Miller & Rumeal Washpun from the Fatherhood Network (FHN) of Kalamazoo. The Fatherhood Network is a support group that is aimed at strengthening family relationships before, during and after the child rearing process. Research is clear regarding the impact fathers can have on mitigating negative life outcomes for children in poverty. These strong relationships not only improve individual and families, but communities as well. Be sure to check out this incredible conversation and the excellent resources in the show notes. 

Hosts: Kevin Ford & Melody Daacon

Guests: Derek Miller & Rumeal Washpun

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

thefatherhoodnetwork.org 

Contact #: 269-261-0814

Other Fatherhood Resources

Kalamazoo County Fatherhood Program

Ohio Commission on Fatherhood

National Fatherhood Initiative

National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse is an Office of Family Assistance (OFA) funded national resource for fathers, practitioners, programs/Federal grantees, states, and the public at-large who are serving or interested in supporting strong fathers and families.

On this episode, we speak with Ebony White, Director of Racial Economic Justice for Prosperity Now about the racial wealth gap. As Lead Implementer of the Building High Impacts Nonprofits of Color Project, Ebony brings a unique perspective and lens drawn from her extensive experience in advancing race and culture through the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Project during her tenure at the Kellogg Foundation.

Host: Kevin Ford

Guest: Ebony White

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

https://prosperitynow.org/

Building High Impact Nonprofits of Color

Making Statements to Create Impact: How to Operationalize Racial Economic and Wealth Equity

On this episode, Kevin and Melody discuss 14 habits of systems thinkers as put forth by the Waters Center for Systems Thinking. Systems encompass every facet of our lives, yet many do not understand the ways in which they are connected to produce impact. The Waters Center for Systems Thinking has produced 14 habits that people can develop to better understand and connect how to think about systems and leverage that thinking to change them. See show notes for more information. 

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

Waters Center for Systems Thinking 

Sammi Graves is the founder and owner of BillPlay Apparel, LLC, a dynamic apparel brand specializing in urban street wear. On this episode, we hear Sammi's incredible story of entrepreneurship, how he built up BillPlay, taking it to the next level, and ways he is giving back to the community while running and growing his business. 

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guests: Sammi Graves

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

What does addressing climate change, increasing graduation rates, and reducing poverty have in common? Collaboration and partnership. It takes both to accomplish and sustain long lasting community change as no single organization or effort can address the myriad challenges communities face. On this episode, Nicole Blum from the YWCA, Michael Evans from the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, and April Goodwin from Southwest Childcare Resources, discuss elements needed for effective, healthy collaboration and the Edison Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathway  project - a neighborhood based effort to expand child care availability and access through entrepreneurial support to community members who wish to obtain credentials in early childhood learning and development. 

Host : Kevin Ford

Guests: Nicole Blum, Michael Evans, April Goodwin

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

https://www.ywcakalamazoo.org/ 

https://www.kalamazooliteracy.org/

https://www.ccr4kids.org/

The U.S. Collaborative of Poverty Centers (CPC) is a formal network of university-based poverty centers created because no single institution has the capacity to address the full range of issues related to U.S. poverty and inequality. On this episode, we speak with Kristin Seefeldt, Associate Faculty Director for Educational Programs at the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions Center about links between the policy and research communities and informing public policies that reduce poverty and inequality.

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guests: Kristin Seefeldt

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

https://poverty.umich.edu/

http://sites.fordschool.umich.edu/poverty2021/files/2021/03/Investing-in-Us-resident-priorities-for-economic-mobility-in-Detroit-Sept2020.pdf

https://www.irp.wisc.edu/u-s-collaborative-of-poverty-centers-cpc/

Access to good jobs is a fundamental element to exiting poverty. Early childcare education supports families by helping parents work and getting children off to a good start. Greater availability of full-time childcare and preschool increases the labor force participation of mothers with young children by over 15 percent. High-quality preschool increases the likelihood that a child will enroll in college by over 8 percent. This addresses current and future accessibility to good jobs and keeping families out of poverty. On this episode, we speak with Upjohn Institute Senior Economist, Tim Bartik and Executive Director of Kalamazoo County Ready 4s, Kristyn Buhl-Lepisto on the importance of early childhood education and its impact on skills/workforce development.

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guests: Tim Bartik and Kristyn Buhl-Lepisto

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

Upjohn Institute

KC Ready 4s

Why childcare is so ridiculously expensive 

Childcare is a business issue

Economists and business leaders agree that stable, high-quality early care and education (ECE) will get Michigan parents back to work and help our children bounce back from the pandemic. 

On this first bonus episode, we speak with Roosevelt Flemming, owner of The Drip. He provides powerful testimony about experiencing housing instability in two different states, system gaps, and his journey to entrepreneurship while raising a child. 

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guest: Roosevelt Fleming

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk

On this episode, we speak with the magnificent Melody Daacon, co-host of the SP Podcast, to discuss what drives her work and the importance of economic development in poverty reduction.

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Show Notes:

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/spk