GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

Elizabeth Cox, Executive Director of the San Diego Chamber of Connection, joins host Jose Cruz to explore how a new “chamber of connection” model is tackling rising loneliness and social disconnection across San Diego County. Drawing on national data and the Chamber’s “six points of connection” framework, she explains why only a small share of Americans are socially thriving and how neighborhood contact, third places, communities of play, and communities of service can rebuild the social fabric. Cox details initiatives like the Welcome Committee, Welcome Week, and the emerging Community Builders Network, as well as the upcoming Together SD Day that unites Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and other partners around service and human connection. She also discusses strategies to better welcome the 100,000 newcomers arriving in San Diego each year, the health and economic impacts of isolation, and the importance of everyday invitations, from potlucks to block parties, in creating a more connected, resilient region.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

Dr. James Dunford, Medical Director at the McAllister Institute, discussed his career and the institute's work on addiction care. He highlighted his transition from emergency medicine to addressing chronic illnesses, particularly addiction, and the importance of humanism in medicine. Dr. Dunford emphasized the need for better integration of mental health and substance use services, noting the rise of fentanyl and methamphetamine use. He also mentioned the institute's Walk for Sobriety event on September 5 at Liberty Station. Dr. Dunford advocated for increased community engagement and education in behavioral health, urging young people to explore career opportunities in the field.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

Tony Teravainen, President and CEO of STEP: Support the Enlisted Pro., discusses his journey from a military family background to leading an organization that helps military families with financial stability. Tony shares his personal struggles with education and his eventual success in obtaining a PhD. STEP's program, which has assisted 11,000 families, achieves a 90% success rate in helping families achieve financial goals and sustain stability. Tony emphasizes the importance of addressing financial behaviors as chronic issues and collaborating with mental health agencies. STEP's expansion includes serving families nationwide and plans to enter Texas, supported by new funding and partnerships.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

"The Gap Minders" podcast, hosted by Jose Cruz, discusses various educational, racial, and literacy gaps in America, particularly in San Diego. The episode is recorded live at the San Diego County Fair, with guests sharing their love for books and fables. Christy McKee and Gina Hankey enjoy the fair and discuss their favorite fables. Stella Dylan, visiting from New York, talks about her love for books and her grandfather's involvement in education. Pippi Longstocking, a popular children's character, discusses the importance of books and literacy. The fair's theme exhibit hall highlights the importance of reading and literacy, with various activities and book displays.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

On this July 4th special, "The Gap Minders" podcast, hosted by Jose Cruz, discusses the various gaps in American society, including educational, racial, and economic disparities. In this episode, Richard Lederer, a word enthusiast and columnist, delves into the history of the United States, particularly the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He recounts the formation of the committee to draft the Declaration, the selection of Thomas Jefferson to write it, and the challenges faced by the Founding Fathers, including the omission of a passage on slavery. Lederer also highlights the importance of literacy and the free press in maintaining democracy.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

Jose Cruz hosts "The Gap Minders" podcast, focusing on addressing various societal gaps, including education, racial, wealth, health, and literacy. In this episode, he interviews Tre Braquet, the Chief Brand and Engagement Officer for Connect, a nonprofit innovation company in San Diego. Tre discusses his journey from Santa Cruz to San Diego State University, his transition from a pre-med student to a nonprofit professional, and his role at Connect, which includes event planning and community engagement. Connect, established in 1987, helps local companies grow through programs like Springboard and Cool Companies, and aims to be a connector for the San Diego innovation ecosystem.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

Jose Cruz hosts Kwofi Reed, CEO of San Diego Habitat for Humanity, on "The Gap Minders" podcast. Reed shares his journey from southeastern San Diego to Fisk University and Georgetown Law School, highlighting his passion for affordable housing. He discusses Habitat's mission to help low-income families achieve homeownership, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and corporate partnerships. Reed notes that Habitat's homeowners have a 99.8% success rate in mortgage payments. The organization, with a team of 15, also provides home repairs for veterans and seniors. Reed encourages young people to engage in social justice and housing initiatives.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

Jose Cruz hosts "The Gap Minders" podcast, focusing on addressing various societal gaps. Guest Jim Callaghan, CEO of Turn Behavioral Health Systems, discusses his journey from Orange County to Pennsylvania, his education at Cal State Long Beach, and his career in civil engineering and construction management. Callaghan transitioned to healthcare, leading Turn Behavioral Health Systems, which expanded from $60 million to $120 million in revenue and now employs 700 people across seven counties. He emphasizes the importance of mental health services, particularly for veterans and underserved communities, and the need for philanthropy and advocacy to sustain programs amid budget cuts.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

"The Gap Minders" podcast, hosted by Jose Cruz, features Richard Lederer, a linguist and author. Richard discusses his passion for language, his column in the Union-Tribune, and his 14-year tenure on "Away with Words". He highlights his unique approach to language, including etymology, word games, and humor. Richard shares his journey from Haverford College to Harvard Law School, his teaching career, and his current projects, such as emceeing the Healthy Aging event and his upcoming "A Feast of Words" show. He emphasizes the importance of showing up and seizing opportunities, as exemplified by his meeting with Jeff Light, which led to his current role at the Union-Tribune.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE

Jose Cruz hosts "The Gap Minders" podcast, focusing on addressing various gaps in San Diego, including education, racial, and economic disparities. Guest Rafael Parra, executive director of RafaBids, discusses the lack of African American and Latino participation in city contracts, often due to the large scale of projects. RafaBids aims to bridge this gap by promoting smaller projects and leveraging AI to simplify the bidding process. Rafael emphasizes the importance of economic opportunities for minority communities and encourages young people to persist and utilize available tools like AI to succeed in government contracting.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.

About The San Diego Council On Literacy

Since 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.

To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.org

About LIFE: San Diego

Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  

About Cloudcast Media  

"The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  

For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  

This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mukund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.