On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Eric Smissen connects with Shukry (SHOE-CREE) Cattan, Director of Operations for the Tiyya (TEE-YA) Foundation. Tiyya is a nonprofit organization based in LA and OC that provides economic and educational opportunities for families of refugees, immigrants, and indigenous communities. Shukry and Eric chat about Tiyya’s social enterprise restaurant called Flavors from Afar and how the concept of rotating global cuisine has really taken off. Tiyya and Flavors from Afar are doing such great work for our communities, and we're excited to share their episode with you now.

Learn more about the Tiyya Foundation here: https://www.tiyya.org/.

Check out Flavors from Afar here: https://www.flavorsfromafar.co/.

On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Eric Smissen connects with Nithin Jilla, Founder and Executive Director of Dreams for Schools, a nonprofit created to inspire, create and educate students to be STEAM literate with hard and soft skills needed to become the critical thinkers, creative leaders, and technologists of tomorrow. I had a great time chatting with Nithin about his own journey finding a path in technologies and computer science, how Dreams for Schools came to life, and the access gap they are closing for young learners. Much is in the pipeline for Nithin and his organization, and you’ll leave this episode feeling inspired to get involved.

Learn more about Dreams for Schools here: https://www.dreamsforschools.org/.

On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Eric connects with Bryan Ware, Founder and President of the Crayon Initiative. Bryan asked a simple question about what happens to broken crayons when they are no longer usable at schools and restaurants, and turned that into an impactful nonprofit. Bryan and Eric chat about his love for the arts, and how he found a way to merge his manufacturing expertise with giving back to children in need. Please enjoy this episode of Sharing Goodwill!

Learn more about The Crayon Initiative at: https://thecrayoninitiative.org/,

In this episode of Sharing Goodwill, I chat with Rawan Ita-Diaz, co-founder of The Art Spread, a nonprofit dedicated to leading artists with adversity to success and spreading empathy through art. Rawan’s life changed dramatically after she was hit by a car on her way to work one morning, and she shares openly about the physical and emotional trauma she endured, and how that ultimately led her to find her purpose in art and helping others find healthy, creative outlets for their pain.

To learn more about The Art Spread, visit: TheArtSpread.org or on Instagram @the.art.spread

On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Eric Smissen sits down with John Vargas, Farms Director of Renewable Farms. Renewable Farms is a nonprofit with a mission to enhance communities through events, agriculture and education. John shares about the local Anaheim farm’s onsite programs for individuals with disabilities and veterans, and how the farm has become a safe and comfortable place for individuals to open up and embrace the beautiful journey that is life.

Learn more about Renewable Farms here: http://www.renewablefarms.com/.

On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, we hear from Janice Munemitsu about her first book “The Kindness of Color.” Janice is an Orange County native and a third-generation Japanese American Sansei. She brought her family’s moving story to life in her new book, detailing the discrimination and racism felt by immigrant families here in Southern California during World War II. She talks about her hope for the book and its readers, and encourages us all to cultivate more kindness in all our encounters and interactions. We hope you enjoy this episode of Sharing Goodwill.

Learn more about 'The Kindness of Color' here: https://www.thekindnessofcolor.com/.

On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Eric connects with Cassidy Feder, creator of The Giving Gifts. Cassidy describes The Giving Gifts as a very imperfect organization committed to learning, failing, connection, diversity, transformation, creating & sustaining honest change. The organization creates possibilities for a young person to identify their gift, discover possibilities to use their gift, and share their story.

Eric and Cassidy talk about the creation of The Giving Gifts, the vision to be an impact-focused social enterprise and much more.

Learn more about The Giving Gifts here: https://www.thegivinggifts.org/.

On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Goodwill of Orange County’s CEO Nicole Suydam connects over conversation with Antoinette Balta, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Veterans Legal Institute. Serving as an Officer with the California State Guard herself, Antoinette noticed that many of the issues that contributed to chronic homelessness for veterans were legal in nature and required the assistance of an attorney – and thus, Veterans Legal Institute came to life to help serve this need and change lives for our deserving service members. Nicole and Antoinette discuss the mission and impact of Veterans Legal Institute, the importance of collaboration and partnership among organizations, recent successes and challenges faced by the nonprofit law firm, and ways people can get involved. So take a listen, we hope you enjoy this episode of Sharing Goodwill!

Learn more about Veterans Legal Institute here: https://www.vetslegal.com/.

On this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Eric connects over conversation with Jeanette Knutti. Jeanette is the Founder & CEO of Moxie Marketing Agency, an Orange County-based company that prides itself on doing ‘marketing with heart.’ She is on a mission to ‘build an empire of love’ by providing marketing services to purpose-driven clients and creating digital & physical products that bring more love into the world. In 2019, she launched the Digital Marketing Academy for Nonprofits and most recently authored a social emotional learning children’s book titled ‘Be Kind to Yourself.' This conversation dives in to the inspiration for her new book, the need for more discussion about mental health, especially with our youth, and ways we can all be kinder to ourselves.

In the episode, Jeanette shares several important resources, and a link to the Kickstarter Campaign for her new book. You'll find all these links below:

US Surgeon General Youth Mental Health Advisory: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf

Mental Health Action Day: http://mentalhealthactionday.org/

Mental Health Is Health: https://www.mentalhealthishealth.us/

'Be Kind to Yourself' Kickstarter Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bekindtoyourself/be-kind-to-yourself-childrens-book

In this episode of Sharing Goodwill, Nicole Suydam, President and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County, connects over conversation with Claudia Keller, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. Nicole and Claudia discuss what food insecurity looks like today in Orange County and how the pandemic has elevated the need for access to quality foods. Claudia also dishes on Second Harvest’s big move to diversify and take more control of their supply chain with the opening of a 45 acre farm, and ways the community can come together to help end hunger in O.C. for good.