Stories Connect People

Guest - Yvette Endom

PLEASE FOUNDATION - https://pleasefoundation.org/

Yvette says "education is the key to success"

Yvette Endom , a native from New Orleans founded an organization in 2007 focused on helping at risk, inner-city children receive a better education. After being displaced for many months after Hurricane Katrina she was looking for a way to make an impact on her community. She is the founder of The PLEASE Foundation. PLEASE provides mentoring, leadership training and scholarships to students who otherwise might not be able to get a strong education.

She is making an impact on the children as individuals, their families, the community and ultimately the future by the work she and PLEASE Foundation is doing.  Yvette says "education is the key to success".  You will hear all of things this organization is doing to help set the students up for success.  The ultimate goal is for each student to be accepted into college and achieve their greatest potential.

Band referenced - Saint Augustine Marching 100, St. Augustine Marching Band

Yvette is a member of Tri- Delta Sorority (Delta Delta Delta)

Yvette received the Distinguished Delta award

Joining Yvette is PLEASE parent, Tanisha Johnson White and PLEASE student, Kyron Summers. Kyron is attending Xavier University.

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Guest: Cortlandt Minnich

Show title:   Integrating two passions - Pizza and the Big Green Egg!

Cortlandt Minnich is the Inventor of the Pizza-Porta. He is a Businessman, Entrepreneur, Inventor and Product Marketer.  Cortlandt and his wife Nancy travel around cooking pizzas in a kamado grill like the Big Green Egg or the Kamado Joe using his patented invention The Pizza-Porta.  Pizza is like it's own food group. Pizza brings people together.  Cortlandt found a way to make pizza more interesting, tastier, and literally the center of the party. Cortlandt shares his story and how he integrated two passions –pizza and the big green egg. 

The Pizza-Porta -  www.pizza-porta.com

People are as passionate about pizza as they are about the Big Green Egg (fans are called Egg Heads).  Cortlandt travels around to Big Green Egg events cooking pizzas in his patented Pizza-Porta.  He states "the test of a passion product is - is there someone with a tattoos of the brand on their body. The Big Green Egg is the Harley Davidson of cooking."

Highlights and organizations & resources mentioned:

https://www.wassismeatmarket.com/big-green-egg

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Music Brings a Crowd to Life - Interview with David Huey, member of Black Sheep Ensemble Street Band

Guest: Dave Huey, Atlanta native and member of Black Sheep Ensemble (http://blacksheepensemble.com/)

 Introduction -

Stories Connect People but so does music.  Music is everywhere! Dave Huey is a talented musician.   He is a member of a street band, Black Sheep Ensemble.   They play for festivals, parades, charity events and even parties.  Imagine having a hobby that can bring a crowd to life.  Have you ever wondered what a street band is or how someone would even get started in a street band. We will hear Dave's story, how he got started and what it's all about. 

Black Sheep Ensemble is a modern brass and percussion band from Atlanta, GA

Their performances are rooted in Second Line traditions but with a repertoire that blends Prohibition-era Swing, Jazz, Balkan, Latin, Ska, Punk and more into one danceable sound.

Black Sheep Ensemble performs in parades, festivals, events and even can be hired for meetings, parties and funerals.

 Follow Black Sheep Ensemble on Facebook and Instagram

Black Sheep Ensemble music can be found on Apple, Spotify and Amazon music

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://blacksheepensemble.com/

 Chaos Agent, Black Sheep Ensemble album  - https://music.apple.com/us/album/chaos-agent/1473354383

https://music.amazon.com/albums/B07VGPMVVX?ref=dm_sh_wM7YhHmccHdzcHjgldCCVpPUZ

https://open.spotify.com/album/1pzN7zCAJ2RfgtI0WHe4HE?si=IY_F_MUKTIiMGGm2FGkGKg

 Other events referenced:

 Other music referenced:

Other groups mentioned:

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 Stories Connect People Podcast:

Hear Polly Van Duser's story about how London gave her hope!

Episode title: "Help not Judge"- Interview with Lori Vann 

Principal, Cherokee Ridge Elementary School Lori Vann is an exceptional leader, educator and administrator in Walker County.  She is also a huge champion for Helping Hands Ending Hunger www.helpinghandsendinghunger.org

Lori shares her journey as a principal and the importance of helping students lay a foundation for their life through learning, respect, generosity, and second chances.  She and her staff tell the students no matter what happened yesterday, you can start over today.

Her passion for supporting families, students and the community as an advocate for food insecurity is inspiring.  Lori discusses the role she, her school, the staff and the whole community plays in ensuring families have food, build life skills and develop the mindset of helping not judging.  You will be moved by the love Lori has for her students, the families and her teachers who she says really deserves all the credit.

 Quotes:

"It’s not just about today, it’s about your life and who you are going to become."  - Lori Vann

 Resources mentioned in this episode:

www.helpinghandsendinghunger.org - CEO, Carla Harward

Cherokee Ridge Elementary School in Walker County

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