Southern Arizona Nonprofits - IMPACT – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome Back to this popular Podcast Hosted by Barbara McClure. Her guests are Carolyn Gorst Director of Community Engagement for Compass and Emilia Honkasaari, Vice President of Communications and Development at The Haven. These two ladies are responsible for doing wonderful jobs for the Tucson and beyond community. Barbara goes in depth of how these two non profits do incredible work in affordable housing and for helping women heal from substance use disorders and breaks the cycle of intergenerational trauma. You'll learn a lot more. Have a listen!

Barbara has two nonprofit leaders for this episode. Logan Greene the Director of Groundworks in Tucson where he heads a team of artists, musicians and educators with the shared goal of developing creativity and talent in Tucson's youth arts scene and Dena DiGiacinto, Managing Director/Director of Education, a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, has  everywhere from Europe to Asia to Broadway. Two superheroes unleashing creativity in our community, providing performance and art opportunities to youth through music and other expressive mediums. Showcasing Tucson Talent.

What would the Audubon Society have to do with the Non Profit "Reach for the Stars?" This is a fascinating look into what is really going on with our grasses, animals and the effect wildfires have on them plus a couple of years on how is this fabulous new Non Profit going and how do the kids and families benefit from it?

Barbara hosts two wonderful people who do incredible work with Teen Challenge women and men in these challenging times. Hear from Patti Connor and John Awada about Adults and Teens Life Trauma recovery including families. You're invited to the great events they have coming up this year.

Barbara hosts two well known hard working Tucson personalities for this episode. Two women working to solve local important causes. Linda Laird for the marvellous 'Books for Classrooms' and Ashlie Counts-Jenkins from the Assistance League Tucson Chapter. There are 126 chapters across America. Both organizations do an amazing job for school children albeit books, clothing or a million other things.

Barbara has two gentlemen from one organization that provides economic access and opportunity for people in Southern Arizona. This includes Micro Loans for BIPOC Entrepreneurs and more!

Barbara interviews Program Coordinator of the Tucson Community Tennis Project as well as the Executive Director of Ben's Bells about their experience with 100+ Women Who Care and the impact that their organizations have had in the community.

With Barbara in this episode are two ladies from two different non profits doing different things. One recently participated in a competition called "Fast Pitch" which we will hear all about, the other provides a wonderful service to children in need that helps them feel secure!

About ~ Patti Lopez
Dr. Patti Lopez, Director
Hi my name is Patti Lopez and I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve the children and community of Tucson as an educator for many years.
I have transitioned into a new role of serving children as I currently work as the Executive Director for Angel Heart Pajama Project.

Angel Heart is a nonprofit organization with a Mission of providing new pajamas, books, and cuddle pillows to children in need. The children we serve are living in distressed situations. They are in shelters, foster care or adoption processes, abused, neglected, possibly abandoned or seriously ill. Many children arrive at a new facility with only the clothing that they are wearing.
The new pajamas give them a sense of being gifted something special, warm, and cozy. In a time of distress they can get lost in a story or book and escape, if only temporarily from a difficult situation. The cuddle pillow provides them with something small and soft to hold tight and give them a sense of security when no one else may be holding or cuddling them.
My passion and hope is that all children who receive the Angel Heart gift will feel, loved and cared for. Please join me on this journey of supporting children in need.

About ~ Caroline Isaacs
Executive Director/ Just Communities Arizona

Caroline has two decades of experience advocating for just and effective criminal justice policy in Arizona and is a
leading voice in the movement to end mass incarceration.

Originally from Northeast Pennsylvania, she holds a
Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the College of Wooster and a Masters in Social Work from Arizona State
University.

These days, since COVID, there has been a lot of new found awareness and discussion about the importance of finding our life balance. Our health and wellbeing depend upon mindful self-care and intentional time spent on things that bring us joy and inner peace. People seem to be focused more on their health; seeing doctors more often and discovering myriad alternative methods to keep us happy, healthy, poised, and calm. Today we bring two people to the table who help individuals manage their physical and mental health, and also give employers a way to support their employees with a variety of programs to teach people how to be healthier, and not let work and stress dominate our days.

ABOUT ~ Daniel Johnson

I was raised in Tucson and began working at 10 years old as a shoeshine boy at Armando Sierra's barbershop on Broadway & Swan next to the Kon Tiki restaurant. By the time that I was done at the age of 12, I had assumed the title of Shoeshine Preservation Expert & Consultant. That was my first experience in free enterprise which I pursued until I was 40 years old.
I feel in love with human dynamics at the age of 20 & read everything that I could related to motivation and well-being.

In high school I began working at European Health Spas as a spa attendant, I became a personal fitness trainer then a manager. Over the next 2 decades I co-owned & operated over 20 fitness centers & athletic clubs.
For 8 years I was a sponsored professional club racquetball player having held contracts with Wilson Sporting Goods & Ektelon Racquet Sports.

I became the Executive Director of the Wellness Council in 1995, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. I published a book in Jan. 2022 titled Twelve Insights For Mindful Living- An Awareness Approach To Health and Happiness.

ABOUT ~ Kimberly Mayfield

Kimberly Mayfield | Marketing Director
Kimberly has over 20 years of experience in healthcare marketing, and public relations in internal and external communication, media relations, social media, content development, and brand management. She is successful at developing strategies to increase brand awareness and online reputation.  Kimberly enjoys the dynamics of communication and collaboration with teams. Before joining MHC Healthcare, she worked in the
beautiful White Mountains of Northern Arizona at Navapache Regional Medical Center, later known as Summit Healthcare. Kimberly is actively involved in the volunteer work, currently for PACC.

Acupuncture and Headache disorder are two major topics covered with Barbara for this episode. Tammy Rome and Danube Jacobs offer fabulous insight into their respective health studies and cures. Learn and be a good resource for your friends and family.

About ~ Tammy Rome
Executive Director, The Headache Warriors Network
After living with migraine and cluster headaches for decades, Tammy finally got serious in 2007 when she entered graduate school.
She knew that frequent attacks could derail her career plans.
Determined to finally get both migraine and cluster headache attacks under control, she went online in search of answers. That search changed her life. Connecting with other patients and advocates eventually led her to find a solution that put both migraine and cluster headache in remission.
Tammy is a telehealth therapist, specializing in trauma and headache disorders. This is the career that was nearly derailed by migraine and cluster headache many years ago. In addition to serving the mental health needs of the community, Tammy devotes countless volunteer hours to educate patients, caregivers, physicians, and the general public about the burden of headache disorders.

About - Danube Jacobs
Danube made her way to Tucson in 2013 seeking sun and the magic of the desert after several years in Portland, OR earning her masters degree in Chinese Medicine (BS in Journalism from CU Boulder). Originally from MA, she has also lived in SF, Maine and a couple of years working on a cruise ship which circumnavigated the globe. After past careers in copywriting and woodworking, she is so happy to have landed in the holistic medicine field. She loves yoga, cooking and hiking with her mutt, Cosmo.
I was fortunate enough to attend one of the most prestigious acupuncture schools in the States, OCOM, in Portland, OR 2017-2010. There, I treated patients in the school clinic under clinic supervision using acupuncture, herbs and manual therapies such as shiatsu and cupping. Immediately after school I went to Chapagaon, Nepal, where I worked in an acupuncture clinic in a rural farming community for 3 months, 15-20 patients a day in a low-cost clinic. Upon my return to Portland, I opened my own practice 2 days a week, while also working at a chiropractor's office, a community acupuncture clinic and volunteering at a homeless shelter one day a week.
One year later, I accepted an offer I couldn't refuse, leading the wellness programming for Holland America Cruise Lines as their "Lifestylist", teaching daily Qi Gong and exercise classes, guided meditation and giving wellness lectures, on their longer 3-4 month cruises, such as the World Cruise. Once the cruise life was over, and having gotten used to sunny weather, I chose Tucson as my permanent home. I initially started my own practice upon arriving and taught at one of the two acupuncture schools at the time. After about a year, I jumped at the opportunity to take an associate acupuncturist position at Jade Star Acupuncture. I've been here for over 8 years now.
In addition to offering acupuncture, I also provide cupping, herbal and flower essence consults and prescriptions, craniosacral therapy, cosmetic acupuncture and colorpuncture. The clinic also offers facial cupping and cosmetic acupuncture as well.