How do we practice encounter? What does it look like, and what specific practices help create it in our daily work in the nonprofit sector? We begin this episode talking about how to integrate courage, mercy, generosity, humility, and fidelity into our everyday nonprofit practices. We also invite Dr. Marcus Mescher, author of The Ethics of Encounter: Christian Neighbor Love as a Practice of Solidarity, to deepen our understanding of encounter and to share an ethical framework for advancing the Common Good through solidarity. Dr. Mescher shares how nonprofits play a critical role in bringing people together across sectors to solve challenging social problems. We conclude by taking a moment to remember the 539 thousand people who have passed away due to Covid-19 over the past year, especially Norma Suclupe, Roger’s mother, for whom this episode is dedicated.

This week, Drew and Roger share practice stories and highlight how moments of encounter often come through ordinary interactions. Anne Archer Dennington and Floyd Hall of Flux Projects discuss how artists serve as our community’s best storytellers and documenters of culture, as well as how public art creates spaces of encounter. Alexander “COSTxONE” Acosta of Soul Food Cypher describes how a cypher builds community with youth through celebrating identities and drawing upon the positive aspects of hip/hop and rap. Cost also talks about how cyphers, rap, and hip/hop serve as medicine and spiritual practices for the black diaspora communities. Don’t forget this week’s trivia question featuring an actor from John Singleton’s 1991 film Boyz n the Hood.

This week, we begin a new series focusing on the theme of encounter and the idea that all good social sector practice begins with and is rooted in relationship. We share three key aspects of encounter that every helping professional can integrate into their practice. In addition, we invite Karen Mariner, Jeff Lax, and Suzanne Boyd of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to share their work supporting individuals living with MS. They discuss the challenges faced by MS patients, highlight the work they are doing to build a national network of support services, to advocate for new legislation to support the MS community, and to support cutting-edge research that will lead to a cure. Be sure to participate in this week’s Betcha Don’t Remember to test your knowledge of the iconic 80/90s band, the Beastie Boys.

Over 5 billion people lack access to surgery worldwide, posing a massive global health challenge. This week, Drew shares about his work Childspring International, a global health nonprofit based in Atlanta which just completed its 5,000th pediatric surgery this month. Drew describes Childspring’s projects in pediatric orthopedics, cardiology, plastics, and general surgery and the organization’s growing focus on supporting medical capacity building. He also describes how he integrates a lens of accompaniment when working with children, families, and communities seeking access to surgical care. Be sure to participate in this week’s Betcha Don’t Remember to test your knowledge of the #1 billboard song of 1997.

We’re joined this week by Gerard Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Steve Smith Family Foundation and co-host of the podcast Cut to it with former NFL player Steve Smith Sr. We kick off the podcast talking about Gerard’s work in East Charlotte, where his organization supports housing challenged students connect to class during Covid-19 through the innovative Virtual Learning Center.

How are nonprofits and other community organizations accompanying adolescents and college students as they navigate their studies during a pandemic? We are so lucky to be joined this week by Elliot Karp, CEO of Hillels of Georgia, to talk about his work in supporting students on their journey through college.

This week, we invite Rusty Price to the podcast to discuss the work of Camino Community Center, a nonprofit that works in solidarity with the Latino and immigrant community in Charlotte, NC. Rusty describes how the spirit of “dale” - do it! - helps his staff stay mission-focused and open to opportunities of growth and newness.

This week, we explore how working families with young children are navigating the Covid-19 pandemic. To do this, we’ve invited social worker Jamie Lackey, CEO of Helping Mamas, to share about her work supporting families in Georgia and beyond. Helping Mamas is a nonprofit that aims to provide diapers and baby supplies to families on the brink.

This week, we explore the immigrant experience in the United States through the lens of film and storytelling with director, cinematographer, and interactive storyteller Theo Rigby. We begin with Rigby’s film Waking Dream, which follows 6 young undocumented people with DACA permits over two years and highlights how they navigate their documentation status in their day to day lives.

Policy is often discussed a national level. But most social policy that actually impacts the lives of those served by nonprofits and other social sector organizations happens at the state and local level. With the social transformations currently being brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and #BlackLivesMatter, we invited two professionals to discuss their policy and advocacy work in the areas of mental health, criminal justice, and more.

Many cost-burdened families were struggling with housing, childcare, and utilities payments before the pandemic. How is Covid-19 affecting the working poor, and what can we do to help? To answer these questions we invited Tchernavia Montgomery and Chuck Jones to share how working families are navigating this global health pandemic.

Fundraising is a challenge for many nonprofits, particularly during Covid-19. On this episode we invited Maria Azuri from Network for Good to share strategies for effective fundraising during the pandemic, and Greer Hannan from St. Vincent DePaul of Louisville, Kentucky, who discusses a new grant her organization has received to support individuals at the intersection of domestic violence and homelessness.

Mental health providers have moved online. But what's working, and what do we need to work on to improve telemental health practice? We invited Dr. Sonyia Richardson, Matthew Mills, and Erica Gregory, to share their practice experience about what’s working in telemedicine through a pandemic.

On this Memorial Day we invite veteran Army physician, pandemics expert, medical advisor, and consultant Dr. Michael Consuelos to the podcast to talk about the impact of Covid-19 on family and child mental health.

How are nonprofit and social sector organizations responding in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic? On our first episode, we interview Callan Brown who shares innovative ways nonprofits are navigating the pandemic. We also hear from Brad Firchow who provides a framework for how to communicate during as crisis - and answers question we're all having about how to create safe and healthy workplaces