The NonProfit Podcast Network

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Having a story to tell is one thing. Having the skills, equipment, and support to share it is another. I’m joined by Joe Barr, Executive Director of Access Sacramento, to explore how this nonprofit helps people turn their ideas into community programming, films, podcasts, and new possibilities.

Many people know Access Sacramento through public access television. What they may not know is how much happens behind the scenes: affordable classes, hands-on production experience, support for emerging filmmakers, and opportunities for voices that might otherwise go unheard.

Joe shares an example involving an Afghan journalist developing an information platform for Sacramento’s Afghan community. We also discuss the "A Place Called Sacramento" Film Festival and how helping nonprofits produce content can give aspiring media professionals valuable experience.

But this organization is facing a significant transition. As cable subscriptions decline, so does a funding source that historically supplied approximately 80% of its revenue. Joe explains the direction he’s pursuing through nonprofit services, education, grants, and stronger community relationships.

As two people with broadcast backgrounds, we also get into something that means a great deal to me: the opportunities that emerge when collaboration becomes central to how we work.

Learn about classes, membership, and ways to support Access Sacramento:
https://www.accesssacramento.org/

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Joe Barr & the Origins of Access Sacramento
03:00 Helping Local Creators Produce Their Own Shows
05:00 Serving Sacramento’s Afghan Community
08:00 Building Nonprofit & Community Partnerships
13:00 A New Funding Strategy for Community Media
17:00 A Place Called Sacramento Film Festival
22:00 Replacing Cable Funding & Building the Future
24:00 Why Collaboration Matters in Local Media
29:00 Beyond the Mission: Getting to Know Joe Barr
35:00 Classes, Membership & How to Get Involved

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Five nonprofits. Five $100,000 grants. One remarkable demonstration of what women can accomplish through collective giving.

In this NewsPod, I reconnect with Impact100 Greater Sacramento President Sarina Paulson to celebrate the organization’s biggest grant awards year yet. In just four years, Impact100 has awarded nearly $1.5 million to local nonprofits, reaching its $500,000 annual giving goal a full year ahead of schedule.

Sarina shares how members reviewed 187 applications, selected 10 finalists, and ultimately awarded grants to Cache Creek Conservancy, 3Strands Global Foundation, Sacramento Literacy Foundation, B Street Theatre, and CASA Sacramento. We also recognize the member-driven fundraising and support from U.S. Bank and New York Life Foundation that helped reach that milestone.

Beyond the grants, we discuss how this process introduces women to community needs and organizations they might otherwise never discover. That visibility creates opportunities well beyond awards night.

Membership for 2027 is now open. Learn more or join:
https://www.impact100greatersacramento.org/

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

What would you do if tonight you had nowhere to sleep, no idea where your next meal would come from, and no way to charge your phone? That’s where my conversation with Joe Pacheco of First Step Communities begins, and it puts the realities of homelessness into immediate perspective.

I was surprised by the depth of this Sacramento nonprofit’s work. With four shelters and 415 beds, First Step Communities provides a safe place to stay alongside the support people need to reconnect with the world. That includes dedicated case managers, healthcare, mental health counseling, employment assistance, and help navigating the path to permanent housing.

Joe shares why “radical hospitality” matters, why welcoming someone’s pet can make the difference between accepting shelter and staying outside, and how partnerships bring essential services directly to shelter residents. We also discuss The Grove, which serves young adults ages 18–24, many of whom have aged out of foster care.

One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation is Samantha’s story. After 25 years in and out of homelessness, she found the support she needed to move into her own apartment. Two years later, she remains housed.

And getting someone housed is only part of the work. Joe reports that 95% of clients receiving the organization’s yearlong aftercare support remain housed after that year. We explore why donations are so important to sustaining that support, expanding access to therapy, and removing financial barriers to housing.

This conversation gave me a deeper understanding of what becomes possible when safety, trust, healthcare, and consistent support come together.

Learn more or donate: firststepcommunities.org

Need help in Sacramento County? As Joe explains in this episode, call 211 and select option 8 to connect with homelessness services. He also encourages people facing eviction or other threats to housing stability to call 211 for prevention resources.

Chapters:

00:00 First Step Communities: More Than a Place to Sleep
05:45 How the Organization Began
11:45 Connecting People to Shelter and Services
17:00 Building Trust and a Personalized Path Forward
21:00 Partnerships, Healthcare, and Housing Outcomes
27:00 Financial Transparency and Funding the Work
32:00 Supporting Young Adults and Seniors
36:00 A Vision for Shelter and Healthcare Together
42:00 Greatest Needs and Samantha’s Success Story
55:00 Meet Joe Pacheco and Learn How to Get Involved

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

For many of us, Sacramento Ballet means The Nutcracker and a treasured holiday tradition. After visiting the organization’s home at The Clara, I realized how much more there is to discover.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kiera Anderson to explore an organization that has been part of Sacramento’s cultural life since 1954 and continues to create new opportunities for people to experience dance.

We talk about a school serving approximately 400 students during the school year, a second company helping young dancers prepare for professional careers, and community programs that bring movement into people’s lives at every age. That includes falls prevention classes for older adults and sensory-friendly performances designed to make the theater more welcoming.

Kiera also explains the business behind the beauty. Ticket sales cover approximately 40% of the cost of a professional production, making donors, grants, corporate partners, and earned income essential to sustaining the work.

One of my favorite moments is her story about a woman in her eighties who had always wanted ballet lessons and finally found a place where she could feel like a dancer.

It’s a conversation about access, belonging, nonprofit sustainability, and the value of experiencing something together.

Learn about performances, classes, and ways to support Sacramento Ballet:
https://www.sacballet.org/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Dr. Kiera Anderson and Sacramento Ballet
02:00 Beyond The Nutcracker: The School and Second Company
05:00 Family Performances and Sensory-Friendly Experiences
10:00 Community Partnerships and Sacramento’s Arts Network
16:00 Funding Ballet and Supporting Professional Artists
25:00 The Vision: More Space, Access, and Outreach
35:00 Scholarships, Staffing, and Unrestricted Support
39:00 The Human Impact of Dance and Live Performance
44:00 Beyond the Mission: Getting to Know Kiera
49:00 Ballet Belongs to Everyone and How to Get Involved

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

What happens when an older adult outlives their savings or faces an unexpected medical expense? In this NewsPod, Nicole Zamora, Director of the Eskaton Foundation, talks about the support that helps older adults remain safely housed.

Nicole explains the difference between Eskaton’s residential and affordable housing communities and the foundation’s role in providing help when residents need it. We then highlight Eskaton’s inaugural Longevity Gala, where I’ll have the pleasure of serving as emcee! The October 1 event at the California Automobile Museum will feature resident stories, longevity awards, music, and a live auction and will raise funds for us to continue the work being done to keep our aging adults off the streets and housed in safe, secure and stable communities. 

Learn about tickets, tables, and sponsorships at https://eskaton.org/gala.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

What does it take to create lasting recovery?

In this episode, I'm speaking with Josh Levine, Executive Director of Powerhouse Ministries, to explore an organization that began nearly 35 years ago with his mother Nancy’s desire to help families visiting loved ones at Folsom Prison.

That initial act of compassion has grown into a comprehensive network of residential recovery programs, counseling services, crisis support and leadership development for young people. Powerhouse now operates 59 residential beds across four campuses and provides free, two-year programming designed to address addiction, trauma and the underlying circumstances that prevent people from moving forward.

Josh shares why Powerhouse takes a grace-based, relational approach to recovery and why meaningful change requires more than external rules. We also discuss the Leadership College for youth and young adults, the organization’s 91 percent success rate among graduates of its women’s program, and plans for a new recovery facility near Folsom Prison.

At the center of everything Powerhouse does is one important belief: the opposite of addiction is not simply sobriety. It is connection.

Learn more, volunteer or arrange a tour at https://phmfolsom.org.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The story behind Powerhouse Ministries
03:38 Residential recovery and wraparound services
06:15 The Help Center serving 3,200 people annually
07:35 Leadership College and preventing generational cycles
11:45 Growing demand for residential recovery
15:20 A proposed recovery facility near Folsom Prison
22:25 Building a centralized campus and capital campaign
25:00 Taking the Powerhouse recovery model beyond Folsom
28:35 Why the opposite of addiction is connection
31:05 Employment, second chances and changing policies
33:00 James’ recovery story and meeting Josh Levine
38:30 How to support Powerhouse Ministries

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

More than 600 nonprofit leaders, funders, business professionals and community members gathered for the third annual Philanthropy Summit presented by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.

In this NewsPod, I sit down with Kelly Siefkin, Chief Philanthropy Officer for the Foundation, to reflect on the day and the extraordinary amount of planning required to create such a valuable regional gathering.

Kelly shares what attendees appreciated most, from the educational sessions and extended networking opportunities to Cherian Koshy’s powerful keynote presentation about generosity, philanthropy and Sacramento’s history of overcoming challenges.

We also revisit the Association of Fundraising Professionals awards presentation, which recognized individuals and organizations making a meaningful difference throughout the region. Honorees included Gary Maisel, the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Sacramento program, Sacramento Venture Philanthropy, young philanthropists Nathan and Victoria Sweeten, and Kelly herself, who was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional.

We close with information about accessing presentation materials from the Summit, confirmation that the event will return next year and a look ahead to the next Big Day of Giving on May 6, 2027.

This episode is a celebration of connection, generosity and the people working every day to strengthen the Sacramento region.

If you want to see what you missed, here's a short recap: https://youtu.be/zo8gG6U3mJk

Find out more here: https://www.sacregcf.org/event/philanthropy-summit/

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

What happens when a young person has the potential, but hasn’t had access to the opportunities, relationships or professional networks that can help reveal it?

That’s at the heart of my conversation with FITRAH founder and CEO Nadia Buron and Stallion King, who first came to the organization looking for a paid opportunity and ultimately discovered something much bigger.

FITRAH primarily works with young people ages 16 to 24, many of whom have experienced foster care, homelessness, involvement with the juvenile justice system, disrupted education or other barriers as they transition into adulthood.

What I found particularly interesting is how FITRAH uses social enterprise as a real-world classroom. Young people can earn money while developing skills in e-commerce, retail, customer service, online sales and entrepreneurship. The organization is also expanding hands-on career exploration through its Transportation Lab and vocational partnerships.

But this conversation goes well beyond employment.

Nadia talks about the importance of mentorship, confidence, collaboration and wraparound support. Sometimes the obstacle isn’t a lack of ability. It may be transportation, food insecurity, housing, workplace readiness or simply never having had someone say, “You can do this.”

Stallion gives us a firsthand look at what that belief can mean. They came to FITRAH for a job. They stayed because they found relationships, trust, responsibility and people who continued opening doors.

We also explore FITRAH’s social enterprise model, the growing importance of unrestricted funding, partnerships across the nonprofit community, and Nadia’s vision for a larger workforce and career discovery hub connecting young people with education, apprenticeships, skilled trades and meaningful employment.

It’s a conversation about workforce development, but ultimately it’s about something even more fundamental: recognizing the potential that was already there.

Learn more: Fitrah.org

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

00:00 – What Does FITRAH Mean?
02:35 – Who FITRAH Serves and Why Opportunity Matters
08:40 – Stallion’s Journey: Coming for a Job and Finding a Family
11:25 – How an Online Business Became a Social Enterprise
22:40 – Paid Workforce Development and Career Exploration
25:15 – Collaboration With Schools, Nonprofits and Community Partners
34:30 – How FITRAH Is Funded and Why Social Enterprise Matters
41:15 – Nadia’s Vision for a Workforce and Career Discovery Hub
47:55 – FITRAH’s Greatest Need: Flexible Funding and Capacity
54:25 – Getting to Know Nadia and How to Support FITRAH

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

In this NewsPod, I’m joined by Kat Maudru, Director of Public Relations at PRIDE Industries, to talk about the fourth annual I Am Able Disability Job Fair, happening Wednesday, October 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento.

What makes this job fair different is that it was created by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities. PRIDE Industries’ accessibility team has helped design an experience that includes ASL and Spanish interpreters, Braille materials, quiet spaces, wheelchair-accessible layouts, assistance for service animals, resume support, and volunteers available to help job seekers navigate the entire event.

Nearly 40 employers are expected, including state agencies, UC Davis Health, Bosch, SacRT, SMUD, the City of Roseville, Sacramento Food Co-op, Hyatt and others. Attendees will also have access to approximately 20 resource organizations supporting people of all abilities.

Kat and I also talk about why people with disabilities can bring extraordinary problem-solving skills, different perspectives and valuable talent to the workplace, and how PRIDE Industries is preparing employers to make this a meaningful experience for everyone involved.

The event is completely free, and while advance registration is encouraged, walk-ins are welcome.

I Am Able Disability Job Fair
Wednesday, October 14
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
Sacramento, California

Learn more and register at https://www.prideindustries.com/i-am-able-disability-job-fair

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

When most of us think about high school, we think about teenagers. Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools is challenging that assumption by providing public high school education to adults 22 and older who are ready for another opportunity.

My guest is Jonathan Raymond, CEO and Executive Director of Highlands Charter Schools and a familiar name in Sacramento education.

The average Highlands student is over 40. Seventy percent are parents, and about 88% speak a language other than English as their native language. Many are immigrants and refugees. Some are formerly incarcerated. Others simply reached adulthood without a high school diploma or discovered that education and professional credentials earned in another country didn't easily translate into opportunity here.

Highlands provides high school diploma pathways, English-language instruction, career and technical education, foundational learning, and wraparound services, all designed around the realities of adult students.

But this conversation is also about the rebuilding of Highlands itself.

Jonathan stepped into the organization following a highly critical state audit and a period of significant turmoil. We discuss the work required to restore trust, raise standards, improve accountability, and keep the focus on student outcomes. At the time of our conversation, Highlands had fully implemented all 18 recommendations from the state auditor and had grown from approximately 900 students at the beginning of the prior school year to nearly 2,200 students.

We also explore the enormous demand for adult English-language education, the importance of community partnerships, the limitations of applying traditional K through 12 rules to adult learners, and Jonathan's belief that success should ultimately be measured by outcomes: learning English, completing coursework, earning a diploma, entering higher education, getting a job, and becoming economically self-sufficient.

Some students take two years. Others take six. Some are returning to school in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and even 70s.

Highlands' motto captures the conversation perfectly:

“It’s Never Too Late.”

Learn more about Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools through their website: https://hccts.org/

Chapter timestamps

00:00 Meet Jonathan Raymond & Highlands Charter Schools
04:00 High School, Career Training & English Language Programs
08:00 The Huge Demand for Adult English Education
12:00 Wraparound Services & Community Partnerships
15:00 Funding, the State Audit & Rebuilding Highlands
20:00 Accountability, Accreditation & Enrollment Growth
23:00 Rethinking Education for Adult Learners
29:00 Student Stories & the Power of Persistence
32:00 From Compliance to Innovation
36:00 Getting to Know Jonathan & Closing Reflections

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.