Good Things from Lemonada

After wildfires razed Los Angeles neighborhoods at the start of this year, the city was reeling. Repair the World, a Jewish service organization, mobilized hundreds of people to support wildfire relief efforts. They also launched a service corps specifically focused on assisting wildfire victims. In this episode, we’ll hear from Cindy Greenberg, CEO of Repair the World, and Michael Auerbach, who oversees their Los Angeles programs. You’ll also hear stories from volunteers on the ground, who show us that the power of service is in all of us.  This episode is created in partnership with Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Special thank you to Repair the World. Learn more about their work by visiting https://werepair.org/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're sharing an episode of Giving Done Right, a podcast from the Center for Effective Philanthropy about how to make an impact with your charitable giving. Shifts in federal policy and funding have profoundly impacted the nonprofit sector, and it has never been more urgent that donors act decisively and wisely. You’ll hear from experts across the social sector who shed light on the rapidly shifting landscape of need and the crucial, but complex, role of charitable giving in filling critical gaps. In this episode, Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation discusses why the dismantling of USAID has created the most profound crisis in international development in decades, threatening to reverse years of progress in public health globally. And he offers advice to donors on making a difference in large-scale, global efforts. You can listen to more Giving Done Right at https://link.mgln.ai/goodthingsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, the story of religion in America has been the story of decline. A steadily growing share of Americans have been identifying as “nones” – people with no religious affiliation. But a new report from the Pew Research Center shows something surprising. That number of “nones” has plateaued. What could be behind it – and is it a sign of bigger things to come? We’re joined by Greg Smith, senior researcher at Pew Research Center, and Ed Stetzer, theology dean at Biola University, to explore this trend.  Thank you to Pew Research Center for making today’s conversation possible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Bright Spots - a new series from Lemonada that offers bite-sized stories of community impact that will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful about what is possible. Today, we’re turning our attention to the foster care system. In Oklahoma, the Office of Family Representation ensures every parent dealing with a child welfare case has access to a strong legal defense. We talk to executive director Gwendolyn Clegg about how OFR got started and how their work supports families in Oklahoma.  This episode is created in partnership with Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Special thank you to Gwendolyn Clegg and the Oklahoma Office of Family Representation. Learn more at https://www.oklahomafamilyrepresentation.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Carolina has one of the biggest rural populations in the country, but for a long time, the needs of rural North Carolinians were largely ignored – until Down Home North Carolina came along in 2017. Since then, the grassroots nonprofit has changed the conversation to center the needs of rural people. Host Maya Rupert talks to Down Home Co-Directors Dreama Caldwell and Todd Zimmer about what it takes to build multiracial political power among the working class, and why it’s the only way to get their needs met and bring about lasting change. This episode is presented by the Marguerite Casey Foundation. MCF supports leaders who work to shift the balance of power in their communities toward working people and families, and who have the vision and capacity for building a truly representative economy. Learn more at caseygrants.org or visit on social media @caseygrants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the federal government has been making unprecedented funding cuts, many communities are facing more uncertainty and less support. In response, the Marguerite Casey Foundation is making a bold move: they’re distributing $130 million this year to organizations working for racial and economic justice. In this episode, Carmen Rojas, the foundation’s president and CEO, gets into the reasons behind the move, which organizations will benefit and how this funding aims to fill critical gaps. This episode is presented by the Marguerite Casey Foundation. MCF supports leaders who work to shift the balance of power in their communities toward working people and families, and who have the vision and capacity for building a truly representative economy. Learn more at caseygrants.org or visit on social media @caseygrants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gun violence in America is at a crisis point. It’s now the number one killer of kids and teens – a stat that should make us all pause. But instead of throwing up their hands, healthcare leaders, gun violence survivors, physicians, community members and faith leaders are doing something about it. In this episode, we’re diving into Northwell Health’s groundbreaking Gun Violence Prevention Forum, where they’re treating it as the true public health emergency that it is and elevating the conversation around safe firearm storage and gun violence prevention.  This episode is presented by Northwell Health. To learn more, visit preventgunviolence.com/resources. You can also check out agreetoagree.org.  If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, use a safe computer and contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-7233. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rent is too damn high, housing quality standards are far too low, and Tara Raghuveer is doing something about it. Tara is director of Kansas City Tenants, a tenant union which organizes to ensure that everyone in KC has a safe, accessible, and truly affordable home. In this powerful conversation with host Gloria Riviera, Tara explains how the union of more than 10,000 members is fighting against our country’s dysfunctional housing market and standing up for what they truly deserve. This episode is presented by the Marguerite Casey Foundation. MCF supports leaders who work to shift the balance of power in their communities toward working people and families, and who have the vision and capacity for building a truly representative economy. Learn more at caseygrants.org or visit on social media @caseygrants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it time to rethink how we do school? In 2022, over 2 million students between the ages of 16 and 24 left school without earning a high school diploma or GED. But what if we could change that by taking an innovative approach to education? In part three of our three-part series about helping young people thrive economically within safe communities, Allison Gerber (The Annie E. Casey Foundation) and Betsy Delgado (Goodwill Excel Center) join us for a conversation about how education doesn't have to be one-size-fits-all. Together, they’ll provide a look at the unique journeys of many students today and the tools they need to continue their education and thrive. Driving home the point that investing in student success matters for all of us, they show us the importance of alternative learning models. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the key to preventing gun violence lie within our own communities? In this episode, guests DeVone Boggan (Executive Director, Advance Peace) and Timmeka Perkins (Senior Associate, The Annie E. Casey Foundation) share the data about the power of credible messengers to transform neighborhood safety. In part two of our three-part series about helping young people thrive economically within safe communities, we are diving into data-driven strategies that effectively reduce violence and help entire neighborhoods flourish. This episode was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that develops solutions to build a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities. Learn more at aecf.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.