Rachel Miller, founder of Film2Future, joins Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff to discuss how her nonprofit is revolutionizing access to the entertainment industry for underserved LA youth. Rachel shares her personal journey, from discovering filmmaking at 16, to creating a comprehensive, completely free program that removes barriers to entry for talented teenagers from low-income backgrounds. The episode explores Film2Future's innovative hybrid model, industry partnerships, and the transformative impact on students' careers and lives.

Rachel's Background & Inspiration

• Discovered filmmaking by chance at age 16 during a community service event
• Interned for legendary producer Deborah Hill
• Taught public school in Manhattan and witnessed firsthand the economic divide affecting students' opportunities
• Founded Film2Future in 2016 to address systemic barriers to entry in Hollywood

The Problem Film2Future Solves

• Film school costs $80,000+ annually, with additional expenses for equipment, portfolios, and tutoring
• Industry leaders struggle to find "qualified, diverse candidates" ready to work
• The real issue: lack of accessible pathways for underserved youth, not lack of talent
• Solution: Start in high school so students are career-ready by 18

The Film2Future Model

• Completely free program providing computers, Wi-Fi, headphones, backpacks, supplies, food, and transportation
• Hybrid approach: remote learning + in-person days at partner companies (Disney, Sony, etc.)
• 25-30 student cohorts recruited from across LA County's most underserved schools
• No portfolio required for application; focus on creativity and point of view

Four Core Programs

• Animation
• Live Action Filmmaking
• Emerging Technologies (VR, podcasting, gaming)
• Advertising

Life Skills Integration

• Financial literacy
• Resume writing and LinkedIn development
• Professional communication and email etiquette
• Networking and pitching skills
• Interview preparation

Success & Impact

• 140+ paid internships and production assistant roles
• 225+ students served since 2016
• $2+ million in college scholarships earned
• Alumni hiring other alumni, creating sustainable career pipeline
• Notable success: Student with physical disabilities received a full-ride to NYU Tisch after creating the award-winning short

COVID-19 Innovation

• First production up and running during the pandemic
• Created proprietary tech pods and safety protocols
• Shot five shorts with zero infections
• Demonstrated organizational resilience and adaptability

• Diversity in entertainment isn't just about goodness—it's better for business and creativity
• Removing barriers at the pipeline level (high school) is more effective than trying to hire diversity later
• Life skills training is as important as technical skills in the entertainment industry
• Building community among students creates sustainable mentorship networks
• Multiple ways to get involved with nonprofits beyond monetary donations

Website: Film2Future.org

YouTube: Film2Future Channel (to view student shorts)

Instagram: @Film2Future

Contact: Available through website

Rachel Miller is the founder of Film2Future and, founding partner of Haven Entertainment, a production and management company. She's also an executive producer on Netflix's "Devil in Ohio" and has sold 28+ manuscripts to publishers. She speaks regularly at UCLA, NYU, AFI, and international film festivals about diversity in entertainment.

For more great Small & Gutsy Episodes: www.smallandgutsy.org/episodes

Join host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff as she explores the vital role of arts education with Gavin Cho, discussing how the Burbank Arts & Education Foundation is working to ensure every student has access to quality education and enrichment programs.

Key Takeaways:

• The merger of two long-standing educational foundations in Burbank created a stronger, unified approach to supporting students
• Twice-yearly grant programs provide crucial funding for innovative educational projects
• Student advocacy plays a central role in the foundation's success
• The foundation is expanding to offer college essay workshops and summer enrichment programs
• Community partnerships, from major studios to local businesses, help sustain educational initiatives

Notable Quotes:
"Everything that we do as a foundation at the end of the day needs to answer the question, what does this do for students?" - Gavin Cho

Impact Highlights:

• Awarded over $1.4 million in grants
• Supporting arts integration across all grade levels
• Creating equitable access to educational enrichment
• Building community partnerships for sustainable support

Vision for the Future:
The foundation aims to make Burbank schools synonymous with educational excellence in California, focusing on accessibility, equity, and comprehensive student development.

Get Involved:
Visit the Burbank Arts and Education Foundation website (https://burbankartsanded.org/) to learn about volunteer opportunities, donation options, and ways to support their mission of enriching education in Burbank.

About the Guest:
Gavin Cho brings his experience in public policy, strategic planning, and development to his role as Director of Development, combining his passion for education with practical solutions for community engagement.

For more podcast episodes, please visit: www.smallandgutsy.org

What happens when you mix the love of Jiu-Jitsu and the love for community? Guardian happens! This podcast recording offers insight into how learning to manage our emotions through martial arts, and specifically through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has its own magical ingredients with real and lasting impact. Guardian was founded by Ben Kovacs and Joel Lunenfeld in 2015, initially starting as a single academy in Oakland, California. The original gym supported over 1,000 youth across the Bay Area by providing mentorship, free training, and a welcoming community. From the outset, they envisioned Guardian as more than just a physical space; they aimed for it to have a global impact. In 2020, they introduced the Guardian Scholarship. This initiative was designed to broaden their reach, offering support to children worldwide to engage in training. Leveraging their extensive network of friends and academy partners, they started integrating scholarships within their schools, ensuring that financial barriers would not prevent children from accessing their programs. Their goal is to enable more youth to experience the transformative benefits of Jiu-Jitsu.  Ben is one of the founders of Guardian, where he has played a strong role in shaping the organization's branding and long-term strategy. His involvement in Jiu-Jitsu began in 2006 at Yamasaki Academy, and he earned a black belt in 2019. This experience inspired him to create a non-profit focused on making Jiu-Jitsu training accessible to all. Ben has a background in tech, having worked at Twitter, where he met Joel Lunenfeld, his co-founder. Both have been deeply committed to the sustainability  & mission of Guardian.

For more information: www.guardiangym.org

For more Small & Gutsy episodes and information to refer an organization or to be on the podcast:

www.smallandgutsy.org

Rocket Rules, the adorable red Dalmatian, offers children the opportunity to learn about emergency preparedness along with other safety precautions to develop good instincts and build skills that ultimately can save their own and others' lives!

You can listen to the episode at the bottom of the page or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Adaptivities has created a new way to play by adapting some of the best classic games for those with special needs; Adaptivities is a platform of adaptive resources to stimulate dialogue and to increase opportunities for fun, engaging and reciprocal interaction for anyone with special needs. Adaptivities offers Game Day promoting hours of stress- free play and entertainment by doing all the planning. You just get to show up, have fun and engage with others!

Social workers are the best kept secret, because no one seems to know how valuable they are in every industry, not just as therapists. Although, they are certainly talented there. Learn about this amazing network that brings together social workers to engage in business discussions, share resources and advance their skill sets across various organizational sectors, all to benefit industry!

Girls Are Loud is a powerhouse of female musicians and producers ready to support any artist interested in recording; Girls Are Loud is changing the face of the music industry!

What makes camp wonderful and magical? Community, safety and fun! Learn why Harbor Camps is so incredibly special to so many youth who might not otherwise experience the pure joy of camp! Come to the sing-along with me!

Listen to Dr. Jennifer Kaplan's journey through her own loss to healing and guiding others to heal as well. A beautiful tribute to life through loss. www.jeffsplace.org

Learn about the amazing work of DCRC! DCRC works towards achieving a world where everyone's voice and value is recognized, and there are no barriers to living a full life. DCRC is dedicated to: connecting people with disabilities to resources, training and advocacy tools; promoting disability pride; and building self-determined lives.

Transforming Shame and stigma into hope and dignity is the mission and mantra of an incredible organization called POPS The Club. POPS the Club is based on the school club model and serves to support students whose parents or loved ones are in prison or jail. POPS The Club is designed to nourish and empower students through creative expression, emotional support, and the development of community. Tune in to learn about this amazing organization. https://popsclubs.org/

United Playaz is a San Francisco-based violence prevention and youth development organization providing a comprehensive range of services to prepare vulnerable youth for higher education, employment, and healthy living within a safe, nurturing, and collaborative environment. United Playaz transforms the lives of students and staff while serving the community; they employ 80% formerly incarcerated individuals. 

You can listen to this episode at the bottom of the page or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Natick Community Organic Farm is an essential part of the community by opening up space for everyone to learn about agriculture and the environment and for the next generation, stewardship, ecology, and personal responsibility. Their motto: "Open from sun-up to sundown every day of the year with no admission fee"  describes their dedication to the environment and the community!

You can listen to this podcast at the bottom of the page or wherever you listen to podcasts.

For more information, check out their website: www.helpingherdersrescue.org

Learn about how urban agriculture is changing Los Angeles for the better! CultivaLa is now a verb and you can CultivaLa too. Join this interview to learn how transforming food access through transforming urban agriculture is saving many and bringing back the legacy of farming as a sexy profession! www.cultivala.org

Learn about increasing equity by making research and information accessible! World Librarians is a socio-technical system that bridges the digital divide by providing open access information through a process called Commons-Based Peer Production. They provide educational content to schools in Malawi, Kenya, and Ghana. The organization is a collaboration between teachers in Malawi and students at UMass Amherst.

You can listen to the podcast at the bottom of this page, or you wherever you listen to podcasts

Do you have a fruit tree in your backyard or on your farm? What happens when the fruit grows and you've eaten or sold all you can? Do you let the rest drop to the ground? Many families in Southern California can benefit from the produce from these backyards and farms where their produce overage would otherwise be wasting away. ProduceGood is doing something about this. Learn about this amazing organization as well as gleaning, upcycling, food recovery and cosmetically challenged produce! 

TCRF is a bold organization taking on an audacious challenge by funding cutting edge cancer research, in-house programs and community partners. Listen and learn why this organization is one of the Gutsy ones! Learn more about them at www.towercancer.org.

And here's a little history of why I started Small & Gutsy as we get ready to launch and celebrate our first organization!

A little more information on the BIG little Social Impact Sector as we get ready to launch some amazing stories!

Small & Gutsy offers our listeners the opportunity to learn about the smaller, less known nonprofits and social impact organizations with revenues under $10 M. Our aim is to tell their story and further build their client, potential employee, volunteer and funding networks. Focusing on this BIG, LITTLE Sector is our way of giving back to communities by bringing their stories to life and celebrating them. Tune in every week as we interview a different organization so you can learn about them, maybe find a job, volunteer, or donate.

This podcasting story will resonate with anyone who is still living and wants to fully embrace life.

There are plenty of words in the English language that are disdainful, hurtful, nasty, & downright awful, but there are two words that are unavoidable and from which we often run: death & dying - no one enjoys grief, sadness, or loss - those words are so dam final! When I was in social work school, I read Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's book aptly titled On Death and Dying, seminal work at that time. Kubler-Ross introduced what is known as the 5 stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance; a 6th stage was more recently added by a colleague of Kubler-Ross', David Kessler, Finding Meaning. It turns out that this concept may have been in Kubler-Ross' initial model, but her editor told her to remove it, as 5 stages are better than 6, although, as anyone who has experienced grief knows, this is not a linear process.

One incredibly gifted creator, producer, and writer decided to take on this subject, but not as a passive project, but a fully engaging, head-on discussion to move us, make us think, and maybe make us less afraid of the inevitable. 

Grief Dialogues: The Experience brings timely conversations about death, dying, and grief to the stage in innovative, humorous, and touching ways. Part theatre, part therapy, this "edutainment" love that creative name, project began in 2016 with an open call for short plays and was developed from nearly 200 submissions. The original performance was composed of 6 short plays from playwrights across the country. It is a thought-provoking and honest look at the subject of death that invites audiences to reconsider some of the rhetoric and stigmas around the topic. As one of my guests shares: Theatre is the great empathy generator, and out of grief comes art. Grief Dialogues is also committed to offering accessible and affordable training in compassion for health care providers, counselors and therapists, end-of-life specialists, funeral homes, and at-home caregivers. 

Let's Write a Musical was born out of this concept of 'out of grief, comes art.'

A Musical About Love, Loss, and the Power of Storytelling. A joyous celebration of the power of love and an ode to classic musicals.

A heartfelt and inspiring journey that follows David Hamilton and his wife, Lucy (based on Ben and Lawrie), as they write a romantic comedy in the wake of David's cancer diagnosis. As their real-life challenges unfold, so does the story of Olive and Blake, a young couple in the 1950s navigating love, laughter, and misadventures.

For more information, check out their website: https://www.griefdialogues.com/

Tickets for Let's Write a Musical are on sale now:

https://www.griefdialogues.com/lets-write-a-musical/

It has been an honor and a privilege to host this nonprofit podcast to benefit nonprofits and social enterprises

Our 100th episode is a montage of what our interviewees shared with us about their experience on Small & Gutsy, as well as some advice for those yet to be interviewed. We are grateful for the opportunity to have interviewed the most amazing organizations over the past 4 1/2 years and look forward to many more interviews, celebrating the work of smaller nonprofits and social enterprises. From Small & Gutsy to Big with Impact!

www.smallandgutsy.org

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, second only to water. It comes in many varieties: black, green, white, oolong, and herbal. Tea is celebrated for its health benefits, from antioxidants to its calming effects, and it continues to play a major role in global culture and commerce.

In recent decades, tea has experienced a revival in interest, with a growing market for specialty teas, such as artisanal blends, organic teas, and matcha. The modern-day global tea market is vast, and tea continues to evolve as both a daily beverage and a symbol of tradition, health, and innovation. It can solve 3 key problems, particularly in the Himalayas:

• Urban migration - young folks are moving to megacities in search of work which fragments the family and drives unsustainable urban growth

• Land degradation - abandoned farmland due to the fragmented family deteriorates into unusable dirt

• Climate change - increased droughts and floods trigger catastrophic landslides

Tea is one clear solution:

• Tea creates rural jobs and reverses urban migration

• Tea revitalizes wasted farmland and is an anchor crop for biodiversity

• Tea leaves drink CO2 which gets stored in their roots and removed from the atmosphere

• Tea is a gender economic equalizer - 

• And the outcome of what my guest has started is aligned with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Young Mountain Tea partners with farmers in North India to get a new factory up and running. Tea farmers, 90% being women, will launch their region's first community-owned tea factory. This factory will be a blueprint for a model of sustainable change in the tea industry, eventually throughout the Himalayas and the world. 

 Building A Sustainable Future For Himalayan Farmers And Their Families is truly a social enterprise.

For more information, go to:

www.youngmountaintea.com

Finding inner peace is a process that leads to a practice; there are important rituals that guide us in self-discovery. Derived from the Sanskrit word for "circle", the Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. It is a sacred art form that connects us to our inner selves and the world around us. Their profound wisdom and tranquil messages, serve as a powerful medium to contemplate and find peace within.

Mandalas are typically circles with repeating symmetrical shapes, and are considered a sacred symbol. In Sanskrit, mandala translates to "sacred center" or "circle." Mandalas symbolize harmony and unity, and represent that everything is connected.

Pema Chodron, the incredible American-born Tibetan Buddist and ordained nun who is soulful and wise shared, "Each person's life is like a mandala – a vast, limitless circle. We stand in the center of our own circle, and everything we see, hear, and think forms the mandala of our life."

I love that imagery.

One organization has discovered that bringing in the concept of inner peace through an evidenced-based curriculum using the Mandala as a cornerstone enables youth to build and strengthen their capacity to manage stress and conflict in new ways, giving them lifelong skills that serve to build a more compassionate society. Building that society begins with our youth.

Tools for Peace is a mental wellness program for youth that provides curricula to grow compassionate minds.

   Their Mission is to inspire kindness and compassion in everyday life. Their mindfulness-based social-emotional learning programs support mental health, academic and professional success, and community health and wellbeing. Studies show that the Tools for Peace curriculum improves focus, conflict resolution skills, and confidence, and reduces stress in participants. 

For more information, please check their website for more information:

www.toolsforpeace.org

Investing in youth and education aligns directly with Sustainable Development Goal # 4 (Quality Education) and indirectly fuels several others like Decent Work and Economic Growth (goal # 8) and Reduced Inequalities (goal # 10). This perspective reinforces how crucial it is to view sustainability as not just environmental, but deeply tied to social and economic development.

It takes a village is a common expression, used by so many to essentially mean…we all need to lift one another up to attain the most robust society for long-term sustainability

Lifting up any society often begins with opportunities that offer economic sustainability - those opportunities can only be realized when individuals are schooled and trained. If we don't invest in our youth, we are essentially saying that the next generation isn't worth the investment…what does that say about sustainability? What does that say about building competition that creates a landscape of creativity and forward-thinking products and services?

Domestic violence and Early pregnancies among young girls are rampant in communities and are caused by poverty and unemployment forcing families to lack basic needs. 

Dependable Youth Initiative Uganda is a registered Community non-governmental organization committed to empowering youth and women through vocational skill building, agri-business, Gender rights and equality, environment conservation, and reproductive health education.

Please check out their website: https://dyinitiative.org/

Two very smart women saw a pattern developing in their midwestern city of St. Louis, my hometown actually, after one attended a meet-up group organized by  Susan Gobbo one of these smart women, who is Brazilian, and who experienced the loneliness of a trailing spouse, herself when she moved to St. Louis in 2008. Years later, she formed a meetup group for other foreign wives. Annie Schlafly, the other very smart woman, who is active in various community groups, heard about the meetup group through the St. Louis Mosaic Project, a regional initiative within the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and the World Trade Center St. Louis, formed to attract more immigrants to St. Louis, invigorating the region with rich culture and intellectual stimulus. Annie  convinced Susan that the international spouses would benefit from meeting more St. Louisans, and the two founded the International Mentoring Program also known as IMP in 2017.

Over the last seven years, the program has paired over 600 international newcomers with local mentors. They meet one-on-one, in small groups and for larger events such as sports games and other local fare.

Beyond fostering human connections, the program aims to solve a real business problem: According to a Harvard Business Review study, a large percentage of expatriate business postings fail. Many executives ask to return home earlier than planned; others underperform on the job or leave the company.

Mentors are a gift and they can be very rare; they're rare, because they're intentional - I use the word, intentional, because that is what it takes to be a great mentor and a great mentee - yes, it's a two-way street, a commitment that can take on a  journey of its  own - meaning there is a structure that has some flexibility and creativity that works for both parties. Mentors can be a surprise or can be set up through a network of connections - what makes it sometimes difficult is for a mentee to find or ask someone to serve as their mentor unless their is a designed program. Now, let's complicate the situation a tad bit, what if you were moving to a foreign country and knew no one, but your spouse or partner who just received an incredible opportunity to earn a living and contribute to the host's country's intellectual  community - so your partner automatically has a network - built-in through their new work life, but what about YOU. You might think…well, I will just support my partner, but what if a year's opportunity turns into much longer and you have remained an expatriot without a network of support… how might you feel and what is the risk to your marriage or partnership or even your family if there are children involved? Personal contentment can count for a great deal in determining longevity in a new environment.

Check out their website: www.imstl.org

Small & Gutsy was just named # 8 on Feedspot's top 30 podcasts for social impact! We are deeply honored!

What a beautiful and thoughtful reflection on places of connection and spiritual significance. It's fascinating how certain spaces, whether physical or emotional, provide that sense of peace, clarity, or even healing, just like the one I described as a child under the bush in your yard. Weaving the idea of being open to the present moment, and to the connections we share with others can be spiritual in the deepest sense. There's a profound connection between the self and nature, the present moment, and community, which can shape our personal growth.

The story of Leonard Knight and Salvation Mountain is such a powerful example of how dedication, belief, and passion can create something that transcends just a physical space. It's inspiring to think of how Leonard's life and work—something as personal as his devotion to his faith—turned into a public monument that has touched so many people across the world. The mountain isn't just a structure; it represents years of persistence, love, and a desire to spread a message of faith, connection, and hope.

I also think it's so moving that Bob Levesque is carrying forward Leonard's work, ensuring that his vision continues. It reminds us how important it is to protect and nurture the things that matter deeply to us, even after we're gone, and how communities can preserve these treasures for future generations. It's amazing how these places of connection, healing, and spirituality are passed down through the dedication of individuals and communities.

It seems like a beautiful, spiritual journey for Bob to be part of this legacy. His role in preserving Leonard's vision must be incredibly meaningful. Do you feel like there's a specific lesson or message you've taken from Leonard Knight's story and Salvation Mountain that resonates with your own journey or understanding of connection?

Check out their website: www.salvationmountain.org

Loss is something we all experience and I think if you ask the average person about loss, you may get an answer about missing someone who was very special to them, and is no longer here, but loss can take on so much more meaning; it can be loss of an opportunity, loss of an existing relationship, because that relationship has shifted or no longer exists in its original construct; it can be loss of abilities or faculties, Loss simply means no longer having something or having less of it than before; Oftentimes, we need to process that loss and hopefully with time, the pain or the sadness lessens and sometimes, the process of a loss turns into action to prevent further losses. When you meet my guest today, loss took on an incredible meaning in his life; potential and actual loss of nature and natural habitats that forced indigenous people and animals to find other ways to survive, loss of preserving indigenous peoples' villages, loss of clean water for some, loss of environments that had been functioning well for generations, but due to deforestation and frankly greed or ignorance, those places are no longer what they once had been.

Imagine being a little boy where your playground is the curiosity of cultures and environments and where your day's goal is to explore every indigenous reptile, spider, and furry animal that comes across your path. My guest today was fortunate enough to have a mother as a travel agent planning exotic vacations, and a father who had a huge number of airline miles, giving my guest and his sister the opportunity to travel to less known places that set the stage for his future professional and, I think, personal journey.

Some people are driven by threats - my guest is driven by the threat of loss of the most amazing ecosystems in our global environment; initially wishing to raise awareness about tropical rainforests by publishing his book on line, he established Mongabay in 1999 - the name is also an iteration of a place he loves in Madagascar which he can share with you in a moment. Mongabay has been going strong since its inception in 1999 as a vehicle to raise awareness of and interest in wildlife and wild lands; 25 years later, it has continued to gather momentum and has evolved from a website hosting his book, specific to rainforests with the aim of raising awareness to spark action in preserving these amazing ecosystems, to a comprehensive platform covering a wide range of environmental topics far beyond tropical forests. Mongabay is a nonprofit media platform with more than 90 staff across five bureaus and a network of approximately 1,000 correspondents in 80 countries, producing original reporting in five languages, and is read by millions of people a month. Mongabay pursues stories ranging from conventional news articles to deeply-reported investigative projects. One key goal of Mongabay is to increase transparency through targeted journalism which then influences change by driving greater accountability and supporting an enabling environment for a wide range of actors, from nongovernmental organizations to local communities to green entrepreneurs to take action. 

I'd call this driven, initially driven by loss and now driven by the impact Mongabay has surely had. Mongabay draws its inspiration from a global moral code and truly honors nature. Words cannot express my personal awe for Rhett Butler, founder of Mongabay - 

Rhett and his global team have forced the revision of laws to protect these environments and manage the global greed for resources that frankly belong to the indigenous people who could then have a sustainable existence by benefitting from these resources.

For more information, please check out their website: www.mongabay.org

Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff hosts a compelling discussion on the importance of intuition and personal safety with Barb Jordan, a safety expert and advocate. The episode explores Barb's personal journey, driven by family tragedy, to educate and empower individuals to recognize and prevent predatory behavior.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Barb's Background and Motivation:
   1. Barb's journey from being an elite athlete to a dedicated safety advocate.
   2. The murder of Barb's sister, Beverly, as the pivotal event that inspired the founding of Always Bev.
2. Recognizing Manipulation and Predatory Behavior:
   • Real-life examples of manipulation and the subtle red flags that often precede violent behavior.
   • Importance of trusting one's gut feelings and setting boundaries.
3. The Mission of Always Bev:
   • The organization's mission is to provide life-changing safety skills and awareness to prevent violence.
   • Description of the workshops and the groups they target, including universities and corporations.
4. Safety Skills and Awareness:
   • Techniques for situational awareness and personal safety.
   • Practical tips for recognizing manipulation tactics.
5. Community and Outreach:
   • How Always Bev uses word of mouth and community connections to spread its message.
   • The impact of social media in creating awareness for personal safety education.
6. Educational Programs and Workshops:
   • Description of the kinds of workshops offered, catering to different demographics.
   • The role of storytelling and real-life scenarios in educating participants.
7. Future Aspirations:
   • Barb's goals for expanding the reach of Always Bev.
   • Desire to collaborate with influencers and celebrities to amplify the organization's voice.

Call to Action:
Listeners are encouraged to trust their intuition, remain vigilant, and consider participating in or supporting Always Bev's programs. They can reach out via Always Bev's website for more information about workshops and to help spread the word about the importance of personal safety.

Conclusion:
The episode concludes with a heartfelt message on the power of resilience, leaning on one's intuition, and the transformative journey of turning personal tragedy into a purpose-driven mission. Barb Jordan stands as a beacon of hope and strength, encouraging everyone to take their personal safety seriously.

Listeners are invited to subscribe to the podcast for more inspiring stories and insights on nonprofits and social enterprises.

For more information about Small & Gutsy, check out the website: www.smallandgutsy.org

Mosaics are defined as a picture or pattern produced by arranging together small colored pieces of hard material, such as stone, tile, or glass, resulting in the creation of something often ornate and beautiful. Sometimes, mosaics tell the story of what was, what is, or what can be…. Each mosaic is uniquely different and yet shares a common history - simply created from something else. As I was putting together this podcast episode,  I couldn't help but think about our lives that resemble mosaics in that we set out to create a plan or pattern that is predictable, or so we'd like to think, like a ceramic, glass or stone object, when in actuality, it can often be quite different. Sometimes our life plan is shattered, and it takes strength, energy, and determination to keep moving forward to put the pieces back together to form a new life plan; each time we experience this manifesting into a new life plan, we build our resilience and become perhaps more strategic or smarter in putting pieces together, and sometimes, the circumstances make it harder than we could ever have anticipated… such circumstances are poverty and homelessness. 

Piece by Piece is an employment-related social enterprise designed to support individuals who have experienced homelessness or economic insecurity. Participants create mosaic art, as well as small-scale housewares and large commissioned pieces,  and by doing that, earn income and master soft skills while beautifying Los Angeles; one of their mantras is: Recycled Art for a New Cycle of Life.

Please check out their website: www.piecebypiece.org

Their new address is: 

6417 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA.  90003

Su Casa in Spanish simply means your home - which if I take a little poetic license, could mean this space is your home or the contraction you're, you are home - let's go with you are home… The concept of home is something many of us often take for granted! Home can mean we can breathe, let down our hair, and be ourselves, and in general, we are in charge of our own lives, decisions we make, etc..for many, though this doesn't exist or feels completely unattainable, not because it isn't, but because there are life-threatening circumstances that create an almost insurmountable barrier. I recently did a podcast for another organization that focuses on global preservation by sharing information about what is happening to our global ecosystems and the individuals and animals who are being negatively impacted by being displaced or for some, the threat of extinction. We as a society are experiencing a wake-up call; a wake-up call to pay attention to preserving and rebuilding our ecosystems and a wake-up call to the realization that our domestic environments can also be threatening and threaten, most often women and children. 

Su Casa is a healing sanctuary where victims - I prefer the term, survivors, can find their voice, develop inner strength, and become self-directed agents of change in their own lives. Su Casa has been around for over 40 years and was founded in 1979 by Petra Medelez, a survivor, who out of her own home took crisis calls and housed individuals being threatened and their children. Petra's vision was to fill her community with peaceful homes. In order to truly realize her vision, Su Casa expanded its services to include not only immediate shelter from danger but also case management and counseling for residents and for survivors still living with their abuser or batterer, shelter-based certified childhood education, community awareness training, and transitional housing. 

Su Casa continually strives to be present and relevant to the folks who are in need and therefore has enhanced their programs to include the growing number of Asian and Pacific Islanders. The value placed on empowerment and cultural competence drives the agency's ever-expanding range of services that are survivor-centered. These services are practical, therapeutic, and educational.

Su Casa is also forward-thinking: they realized that 30 days may not be enough for women to be empowered enough to put their lives back together so more than 25 years ago, in 1996, transitional shelter was developed and is still being offered. The extended time enables families to bridge the gap between crisis and independent living. What I particularly like is Su Casa's commitment to offering support wherever a woman is along her journey to safety; if she is not ready to leave, Su Casa is there to provide counseling and support and is available whenever she might be.

Su Casa's  Mission is to empower individuals and families to live free from domestic abuse and build partnerships with communities to end domestic violence.

Our wake-up call is to pay attention to those who may be asking for help and to connect them to resources like Su Casa

Website: www.sucasadv.org

What does the phrase, "education should be a right, not a privilege" mean to you? If you believe that access to education is not a privilege, but a right as is the human rights law guarantees, then, why are  61 million children not in school, and most of them girls? Educating children no matter where they are is one of the biggest factors toward ending extreme poverty.

Education is not a privilege. It is, in fact, a human right. Education as a human right means: the right to education is legally guaranteed for all, without any discrimination; simply, there is an obligation to protect, respect, and fulfill the right to education. 

Just to share some background: International human rights law guarantees this right. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted in 1948, in Article 26: 'everyone has the right to education'.

Since then, the right to education has been widely recognized and developed by a number of international normative instruments elaborated by the United Nations, including the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960, CADE), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966, CESCR), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989, CRC). The right to education has also been reaffirmed in other treaties covering specific groups (women and girls, persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees, Indigenous Peoples, etc.) and contexts (education during armed conflicts). It has also been incorporated into various regional treaties and enshrined as a right in the vast majority of national constitutions.

What I find so interesting is that, there are laws to protect the right to education although, we are often globally failing to fulfill this right, but there are no laws to protect the kind of education offered. In some cases, as in the U.S. there was an attempt in 2001 with the No Child Left Behind Act, signed into federal law in 2002, aimed at improving primary and secondary education which in many cases reduced rich curricula into rote standards where schools were evaluated. This changed slightly in 2015 where states had more leeway in determining their evaluative criteria, but it certainly didn't address the issue of quality. There still remains a huge divide in the US with the quality of education.

We know girls suffer more statistically in terms of their access to learning that aids in their potential to both better themselves and their communities. I have always believed that it is far better to have an educated society as it creates good competition and offers the likelihood that individuals will be self-sustaining and will then improve the larger collective.

Girls DO MATTER and that became the charge of an incredible organization, Girls Matter as well as a friendship between the three Founders Melissa Deally, Malcolm Trevena and Megin Alverez that brought that dream to reality in 2017.

Girls Matter, celebrates girls by increasing their access which includes financial support to high school and post secondary education in developing countries; their vision is to support the education of girls in these countries which will in turn, increase the respect, visibility, and equality for girls in their communities.

Their 3 key program areas:

• Educate girls to complete high school. In select cases, consider educating girls to complete University.

• Support girls to attend classes all year long, by providing menstrual pads (currently they regularly miss 1 week of classes per month without this support).

• Through education, reduce the number of teenage marriages & teenage Moms

A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.

Educated mothers are more than twice as likely to send their children to school, ensuring that her own girls are educated, creating a positive ripple effect for generations to come

A girl with an extra year of education can earn 20% more as an adult.

Educating Girls Will Break the Poverty Cycle!

As a recipient,  Evelyn Kawola who graduated from fashion & design school shared:

"Your support has pushed me to another level, I can see my future is going to be good. Girls Matter has really changed my life, taking me from being illiterate to literate."

Their holistic approach supports the girls and their communities in both Uganda and Kenya:

 Their motto is: Breaking the Poverty Cycle
1 Girl, 1 Family, 1 Village at a time!

In developing countries, education comes at a cost. Families are caught in a quandary, torn between investing in schooling and affording essential needs. When affording necessities becomes a challenge, daughters are often married off, passing the responsibility of feeding them to a man they don't know or love.

In a single year, an estimated 150 million girls are victims of sexual violence.

14 million girls under 18 will be married this year, 38 thousand today; 13 girls in the last 30 secondThe #1 cause of death for girls 15-19 is childbirth.

For more information, check out their website: https://girlsmatter.ca/

Let's take a moment and define community, particularly in today's very divided and extraordinary divisive environment where community and, in many cases, democracy is misunderstood and missused. Community in its simplest form is often defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals; upon further elaboration, it can include a joint ownership or liability - not sure I like liability part, but I get the nuance behind it, which I think is best articulated by Maya Angelou who beautifully wrote: "If it is true that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, isn't it also true that a society is as healthy as its sickest citizen and only as wealthy as its most deprived?" Taking this a bit further…

Democracy is defined as a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives including the practice or principles of social equality.

This podcast is not a civics lesson although I think many of us could benefit from understanding the benefits and shared responsibilities of living in an equitable, not equal, but equitable society where we are actively participating in maintaining the health of our society as a whole, meaning all of its people…

One individual saw the need to build this in Los Angeles and my hope is that it spreads everywhere if it hasn't already.

A former litigator, with a PhD in Policy from USC, my Alma Mater, with a long history in philanthropic efforts and leadership, Dr. Denise McCain responded to a 2012 request from the Los Angeles City Library for a homeless youth resource guide, Dr. McCain developed and published a comprehensive, citywide Directory of Services for Homeless Youth, known at that time as: Our Children LA.

This effort was SO successful that expansion was both sought after and necessary, evolving into the nonprofit, Our Community LA, Or OCLA, with the tagline: Technology, Empowerment, Connections, Hope and their mission is to leverage technology that connects youth, families, and adults experiencing homeless or in need to easily connect to essential resources that can help them make positive changes in their lives; They are doing just that with the WIN APP - WHAT I NEED - easy to remember and easy to use; OCLA's  long-term commitment is to social justice by envisioning a world in which no one will be hungry, unhoused or in need of important supportive service, enabling individuals to build a life out of poverty, abuse or neglect. 

For more information, check out their website:

https://oclawin.org/

When the typical person thinks of Hollywood, they think of fame & fortune, the whirlwind of celebrities, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the celebrity hand and foot cement impressions, Groman's Chinese theatre, The Hollywood sign, and many more iconic symbols of glamor, representing the rich and famous…there is another part of Hollywood though, the real people who live there, and some of those real people are disadvantaged and marginalized, and don't often have the opportunity to reach their potential. If they are given that opportunity to fulfill their goals by living up to their potential, they will become contributing members of their community; this community that cares about sustaining their people's future. One of the ways to do that is to focus on youth, ages 6-17, and to instill the belief that they can do anything. Whatever it takes to build great futures is the mantra of one very special organization that is also quite iconic.

Since 1937, the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood has provided a safe haven for children to discover, learn, lead, and succeed. It was known then as the Boys Club of America, designed to give boys and young men a 'fighting chance' to be successful. There is a tremendous amount of history that leads up to 1987, at which point the name was changed to include girls as it was recognized that girls needed that same fighting chance as their male counterparts.

The Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood's mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring adults.

The Boys & Girls Club fills the gap between school and home. With so many distractions that can have negative impacts on our youth, this is one organization that gets it right; they inspire their young participants through education and empowerment. 

Contributing to quality education allows for learning and leadership opportunities; there are numerous programs that enhance the lives of the many young members: Girls empowerment, coding, the READS program which stands for  Reading Excellence Always Delivers Success, anti-bullying program,  the UCLA music program, the Tietjen scholarship program, Great Futures, and I am sure our guest today will fill us in on all of the activities that take place at the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood.

https://www.bgchollywood.com

Being the mother of 5 children, my 5th one, adopted later in his life and mine, the thought of losing any one of them, is unimaginable. This episode is about the unimaginable - a mother, a family, who lost a beautiful, funny, feisty, smart, caring, courageous 7-year-old to cancer. As many of you know, I have had my personal battle with cancer and currently, my younger brother is facing his - unless you have been through your own, it is hard to imagine the havoc that chemotherapy, radiation, and medications wreak on your body, not to mention your spirit when you are feeling sick and definitely not looking like anything familiar to your pre-cancer self - As a grown-up, there are certain expectations of how I should be weathering my cancer journey - after all, I have lived a life, even if I am not ready to say good-bye, but a child - that is an entirely different story; one in which they are just beginning their life's journey, only to be shortchanged or at best, sidetracked for a period-of-time where we bear witness to their suffering through various cancer treatments - it doesn't get much worse…

Isabella Joanne Santos had a rare form of cancer, neuroblastoma, at age 2. She endured chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, antibodies, numerous ups & downs, meaning multiple relapses for 5 years until she passed away at age 7; while many of us were reading our children bedtime stories…Isabella and her family were waging a war. What was so spectacular about Isabella was that she was truly a rare gift to her family and to those who were lucky enough to meet her; the word rare in this context means an unusual, talented, gifted, special little girl, and yet, in the cancer world, rare means 700 children are affected each year. It means children, usually under the age of 5, are diagnosed with a form of cancer.  It means scary statistics about survival rates and relapses. In the case of the latter instance, rare is not one of the words you ever want to hear.

Established in 2007, The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is dedicated to eradicating pediatric cancer's devastating impact while honoring the legacy of Isabella Santos, her courageous fight against neuroblastoma. Collaborating with medical institutions, ISF drives innovative research to pioneer new treatments and enhance young cancer patients' lives. Over-the-course of seventeen years, ISF has provided over $7 million in funding toward expanding the scope of research and treatment and supporting families dealing with cancer in a variety of ways.

It was Isabella's dream to Beat Cancer, Grow Hair, and Live Her Dreams. Although research and advanced treatments didn't come in time for her dreams to come true, Isabella's legacy will give other kids a fighting chance against rare childhood cancers.

Like so many smaller, gutsy organizations, they iterated in a positive direction to meet the unmet needs of their constituencies - in this case, all childhood cancers

Check out their website: www.isabellasantosfoundation.org

Armed with a 225,000 lb WWII- era wooden sailing craft, Greg Nichols, his wife, Nina and two kids, who actually live on this very unique and special vessel, serve as the catalyst in creating a  learning environment that alters individuals' mindsets forever by exposing them to the beauty and magic of learning through nature & community. This creates a lasting impression that being part of something bigger than oneself only aids in contributing to our shared legacy of caring for our world and our community. I cannot think of a more important lesson and one where our future, literally, resides. We need to celebrate and honor these creatives who are giving their expertise in ways that inspire each of us to consider new ways of doing things, problem-solving, decision-making, repairing the world through the lens of learning and appreciation. The world feels fractured.

Onward Industries is AN OUTDOORS COLLECTIVE OF THE CREATIVE & ADVENTURE-CURIOUS FOCUSED ON CONNECTION, INSPIRATION & CARING TOGETHER

I'm going to let you digest what Onward says about itself:

When you do inspiring things in beautiful places with people that light you up, a palpable sense of possibility sneaks in. It's like a crack in the walls of the maze we navigate in daily life. When you're in a beautiful place, when the walls vanish, priorities rearrange themselves, reality seems clearer. On a mountain top or at sea under a quilt of stars, buzzing with connection and giddy from a day of play or purpose, you're pretty tuned in. You get to talking with a new friend. Ideas pour out. Enthusiasm bubbles up. A new reality takes shape. That's a powerful state.

What this translates to is:

Onward Industires is about setting the table for those experiences, and also about enabling the next step. they take creative and curious individauls outside by land and sea for objectively awesome breaks from the daily hustle–retreats, performances, immersive education, expeditions. Martin Buber would definitely be on board with this and might literally  jump on Onward's vessel to be part of this experience.

Onward Industries are  big believers in storytelling and immersion as the foundation of powerful educational experiences. They use professional storytellers, inspirational scientists, and all the resources at their disposal to offer hands-on, immersive experiences for children utlizing ocean-based educational programming with top scientists, pirate experts, - yes, I did say pirate - we'll learn about that in a moment, storytellers, and adventurers. 

For more information: 

www.onwardindustries.org

If you've ever been pregnant or been in the process of adopting or engaging in a surrogacy, you know the milestones set for each month of that journey and the belief of trusting the process, medical and emotional, that everything will work out as it should, meaning you will have a beautiful little life to whom you will love, cherish, and tend forever; that amazing feeling of anticipation just before the arrival, making sure the nursery is set, all the loose ends are tied up…and that moment comes, and then, there is silence..utter silence. That is the experience of so many who have lost a child along that path, and so much harder and lonelier the closer you are to what should be the end of one journey and the beginning of your parental journey…this is just unnatural and unfair, and so, so very heartbreaking. Anderson Cooper does an episode on his podcast, Is This All There Is featuring a mother who experienced the Greatest Loss…beautifully shared and deeply painful to hear…

Check out their website: www.bornintosilence.org

Did you know that Black Youth are Almost Five Times As Likely To Be Incarcerated As their White Peers?

The following are some data points from the Sentencing Project, captured by Josh Rovner and Ashley Nellis

For a decade, incarceration disparities between Black and white youth have remained stubbornly high. As of 2021, Black youth were 4.7 times as likely to be placed, meaning detained or committed to juvenile facilities as their white peers. Forty-two percent of youths in placement are Black, even though Black Americans comprise only 15% of all youth across the United States. Since, Black and brown youth are more likely to be in custody than white youth, going to prison is a major life-altering event that creates obstacles to rebuilding lives in the community, such as gaining employment and finding stable and safe housing after release. Imprisonment also reduces lifetime earnings and negatively affects life outcomes among children of incarcerated parents. These are individual-level consequences of imprisonment but there are societal-level consequences as well: high levels of imprisonment in communities cause high crime rates and neighborhood deterioration, thus fueling greater disparities. This cycle both individually and societally is felt disproportionately by people who are Black and Brown.

So what do these statistics and social work brokering have to do with one another? You will soon find out by listening to this episode.

For more information, please visit their website: www.legendlegacies.org

In this enlightening episode, host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff talks with Christine Buckley, the Executive Director and Board President of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. The episode delves into the complexities and risks associated with brain aneurysms, highlighting the critical nature of early diagnosis and proper treatment.

**Key Discussion Points:**

1. **Understanding Brain Aneurysms:**
- The brain's intricate role as an organ and the devastating impacts when an aneurysm occurs.
- Statistical insights into the prevalence and rupture rates of brain aneurysms.

2. **Personal Stories and Advocacy:**
- Christine shares touching personal stories of individuals affected by brain aneurysms, emphasizing the unpredictability and severity of the condition.
- The importance of self-advocacy in healthcare.

3. **Advancements in Treatment:**
- How modern advancements have made treatments less invasive and more efficient.
- The ongoing challenge of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

4. **Foundation Initiatives:**
- The Brain Aneurysm Foundation's role in research, advocacy, and education.
- The "Scan to Save" initiative is designed to improve early detection and healthcare provider education.

5. **Impact of Education and Awareness:**
- Strategies to increase awareness and understanding of brain aneurysms among the public and healthcare professionals.
- The importance of sharing information through social media and community outreach.

6. **Challenges and Future Goals:**
- The need for more widespread awareness and support to prevent rupture-related fatalities and disabilities.
- Christine's vision for a world free from the dangers of brain aneurysms and the continuous effort to secure research funding.

**Call to Action:**
Listeners are encouraged to share the podcast episode, follow the Brain Aneurysm Foundation on social media, and help spread awareness about the signs, symptoms, and importance of early detection of brain aneurysms.

**Links and Resources:**
- [Brain Aneurysm Foundation Website](www.bafound.org)
- Social Media:
[Facebook](www.facebook.com/bafound),
[X](x.com/BAFOUND),
[Instagram](www.instagram.com/bafound),
[LinkedIn] (www.linkedin.com/company/the-brain-aneurysm-foundation)
[YouTube](www.youtube.com/user/brainaneurysmfound

For more Small & Gutsy episodes: https://smallandgutsy.org/episodes/

About a year ago, we had a fabulous Small & Gutsy episode that featured Jazz Hands For Autism, a nonprofit organization that provides wrap-around artist education, development, promotion, and placement for learners and aspiring artists on the autism spectrum enabling them to explore and express their talent. Services offered include The Jazz Hands Concert Series: a semi-annual concert series and performance platform for neurodivergent artists, The Jazz Hands Musicians Academy: an individualized post-secondary music education and vocational program that prepares aspiring musicians on the autism spectrum for careers in music and The Jazz Hands Junior Academy: in-home and virtual music lessons taught by RBT  (Registered Behavior Technician), meaning trained musicians and graduates of the Jazz Hands Musicians Academy. Check out their Triumphant Celebration and get your tickets here: JHConcert21.eventbrite.com

Website: www.jazzhandsforautism.org

Reading skills unlock the world for us and unleash not just our curiosity, but grant us and gift us the power to often choose our paths.

My two guests today know this all too well as their passion for helping kids learn to read began as a young married couple when they joined a USC alumni program reading with students every week at the USC "School of Five" inner-city elementary schools. They quickly became aware of the alarming number of students who were reading below grade level. It was then that the seeds of the positive impact on literacy were planted. Initially focusing on child development, J3 Foundation was born, eventually after the birth of their daughter, Jess, and iterated into a robust reading program in 2018 called J3s Cozy Reading Club, which focuses on the most vulnerable 4th graders in Los Angeles. This program has been so successful that it has expanded from a single pilot program to 16 schools and serves students during the school day and as part of their after-school reading program.

J3 Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to give kids the foundation they need for a lifetime of reading success. 

They strive to equip 4th graders in communities with fewer resources with the tools they need to help them reach grade level literacy and foster a multitude of things: positive self-image, self confidence, a supportive community, a new love of reading, and so importantly acquiring an identity of a reader.

For children in communities that lack resources, their free reading programs build good study habits, reading skills, and self-confidence, and I'd like to personally add opening up whole new worlds for each child.

Their free reading program brings together individualized evidence-based lessons with measurable outcomes, a low staff-to-student ratio, culturally relevant books, and community involvement to support reading progress in school and beyond. And it sounds FUN!

For more information, please visit their website: www.j3foundation.org

Journalists and those who represent news platforms are generally trained to report on factual information; in a recent visit to the Shorenstein Institute, I was exposed to the incredible work they do to ensure that journalists have tools to accurately interpret the information that is coming at them so quickly - most journalists, I believe, care deeply about interpreting the facts correctly, however, some platforms purposely misconstrue or actually reconfigure facts to support their financial backer's agenda - thus, creating a conflict of personal and professsional values. There is hope, however, in that some organizations will not settle for this and fight to recalibrate information and resources;  one such organization does this and much more - MLK50 was created for the benefit of those who have historically had less access, in essence, to revitalize Dr. Martin Luther King's dream.

MLK50 has since its inception, created an award-winning nonprofit digital news site - BRAVO!

Having launched in 2017 as a 1-year project to reconcile the lack of commitment to Dr. Martin Luther King's sacrifice and legacy by reporting on the intersection of poverty, power and policy, and to bear witness to movement-making and lived experiences. Their vision echoes Dr. King's dream of having a nation where all residents have the resources to thrive and where public and private policy supports their success. Memphis is one lucky city, and I hope MLK50 becomes a model for other cities and their local news - MLK50 doesn't just represent acknowledgment, but truth; Justice through Journalism gives residents the information by examining the systems that make it hard for workers to make ends meet and by interrogating those who profit from the status quo.

To learn more, visit www.mlk50.com

Check out Part 1 of this amazing Social Enterprise and learn more about them at

www.mountainhazelnuts.com

Episode #80, Parts I & I

When you think of sustainability what comes to mind? Is it protecting the environment, proactively and effectively managing the climate for future generations to enjoy vs. using up what we have and finding other planets in which to inhabit? - The old throw away concept and let someone else deal with it - those someone elses are our children and grandchildren.  Maybe it's sustainability through community health efforts or education so we leave the world a better place as more people have greater needs.

Have you ever had the experience of seeing, observing something that doesn't seem to be going well, it seems too complex to solve, but that something just keeps gnawing at you - making you wonder if there were a way to address multiple issues at the same time;  It could be in the sciences, the arts, the environment, agriculture, healthcare, your community - those I interview for Small & Gutsy have made huge contributions to these areas and have in fact changed the world - maybe, in their part of the world, but they are making a difference. 

One couple, two of my 3 guests today, are folks who saw a global market need and a sustainability opportunity within an existing complex system, agriculture, that could address multiple issues with a single solution that would build community while yielding greater economic sustainability. In this case, we call that a social enterprise and I imagine that depth, breadth of research and community relationship building including trust was the foundation of Mountain Hazelnuts.

Check out their website: www.mountainhazelnuts.com

Getting the news I have breast cancer was one of the most devastating messages I have ever received, not only for me but for my family - we are all affected by this disease in ways that many people don't realize. I remember thinking, I am almost the same age as my grandmother when she died of breast cancer and I desperately wanted to have a different outcome - with all the progress made over the last 50 + years, will I have a different outcome? How long will I survive? What will my life be like forever after? Life will surely be different, a new normal. There certainly was also the overwhelming feeling of trying to navigate the best interventions that will yield the best outcomes, staying abreast, no pun intended, of new medical treatments, medications, and options that may just be becoming available; the choices within those areas, as each of us, even with the same diagnosis, can have entirely different treatment plans and outcomes - it is frankly incredibly scary and we don't want to second guess ourselves. 

How can a disease be both individualized and shared at the same time? Today's podcast features one woman, who took her mother's stoic approach to her own cancer and built a legacy that has been life-changing and life-saving for so many others. Olivia Achtmeyer Boger is to be commended for her bravery in honoring her mother, Cande's legacy, in being a support to others facing similar circumstances. Runway for Recovery has various events & programs to support their efforts. 

Runway for Recovery is a nonprofit organization aimed at redefining the breast cancer experience for families. They accomplish this through events and programs that strive to provide normalcy amidst the unimaginable. Their goal is to support those who survive and those who live on as legacies because they know that breast cancer never just impacts one.

For more information, check out their website www.runwayforrecovery.org

What if you could financially support a nonprofit organization, doing what you personally believe contributes to making the world a better place, without actually spending even a dime? Sounds too good to be true, but this time it's too good and very true! There is something in algorithmic data collection and internet savviness that makes even the most limited math student, me, understand the value of building a network of folks with shared values that frankly have the potential to become a movement.

Give Freely is that movement. Give Freely is a browser extension designed to connect consumers with sellers and that connection leads to a donation to a charity of the consumer's choice…pretty darn creative to say the least; Give Freely transforms online shopping into acts of kindness. They find coupons and redirect commissions from purchases directly to the user's chosen charity, turning everyday buys into charitable actions. Give Freely's mission is to generate as many donations to non-profit organizations as possible.  They do this by leveraging the commissions that online stores pay them when users buy something at a partner site, as well as occasionally placing advertisements on sites that users may visit. 

Give Freely is pioneering a movement for a more compassionate shopping future by blending shopping and giving (Frankly, two of my favorite activities, and for me, it makes shopping more enjoyable, knowing that it includes a charitable aspect) -They believe that everyday online errands can and should involve contributions to the communities the consumer cares about and this, of course, could lead to other everyday acts - they are just starting with shopping. Currently, they have over 10 thousand participating stores and a dozen or so influencers participating in and spreading Give Freely and, they have over a million nonprofits listed, Small & Gutsy is one of them. 

Think about the old Amazon Smile but with significant improvements!!

To sign up and learn more, check out www.givefreely.com

Leadership is a huge topic that is often so tough to define;  I have read articles that state that leadership can be taught; I have read articles that say leadership is something that is just inherent in you, either you have it or you don't; - that seems quite ominous  - almost like a weeding out process - like being chosen first or last for the basketball or volleyball team in gym class - why was that practice started anyway vs, just randomly assigning two groups of kids to just play? We all develop at different rates and why be penalized by perceived popularity or early athletic ability? 

This must be so challenging for those who see potential in everyone and want to foster leadership in their communities where leadership perhaps is viewed as a privilege and should actually be an equitable opportunity like education - So, when we say leadership, do we mean the admirable qualities of a good leader? To define leadership by identifying good leaders and then trying to change our habits to improve our ability to be like that good leader…Isn't that somewhat subjective? Do we mean the learning from leaders who have come before us and how they molded us and impressed upon us the value of being a good leader? Could those leaders be from our personal experience vs. those we may place on a public pedestal? Could it maybe foster a sense of community where leaders among us are recognized, encouraged, and often emerge as a surprise to them?

Founded in 2021, Born 2 Lead Foundation  is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing an ecosystem of support based on lifespan development. Their mission is to empower individuals at every life stage by providing comprehensive programs, resources, and services that foster personal growth, well-being, and success. By following individuals throughout their life journey, they aim to create a seamless and continuous support system that meets their evolving needs. They provide a wide range of services from Early Childhood Enrichment to Elderly Car, and have programs that focus on each stage of life. I think they have 7 programs to date, everything from financial literacy to mentorship, college readiness, parenting, mental health. I am not sure there is anything they don't offer. Their goal it to empower and mentor individuals so that they have the skills and resources they need to be successful and make a positive impact in their lives and communities.

Imagine you just heard the words, you have cancer or any other type of disease that needs treatment; I heard those words and my heart sank and my fear rose. However, I also knew that whatever medical care I needed would not be far away. I live in Los Angeles with some of the best medical care options; prior to that I lived in a suburb of Boston, also another amazing medical community. In fact, I often consult with an oncologist at The Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston while having my on the ground team, a combination from UCLA & Cedars here in LA- two teaching and phenomenal medical facilities treating my cancer with the most updated research and information. But, what if I weren't so lucky…what if I lived in a rural area where access was limited or just not available…what could I do?

We all need medical care and many of us live in areas that are outside of catchment areas of great medical care…what choices do we have then? And what options do we have if we don't have the financial means to take us to those far away medical facilities?

Transportation challenges create one of the most daunting barriers to healthcare—a barrier second only to the cost. Every day, Angel Flight West's volunteer pilots fly people to their medical appointments at no cost to the passenger.

On the ground, Earth Angels drive passengers from the airport to the medical facility, also free of cost.

To learn more about volunteering or donating, check out their website: www.angelflightwest.org