This week, we welcome Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken, George Mitchell, and Hans Peter Schmitz to talk about their book, Between Power and Irrelevance: The Future of Transnational NGOs. We talk about how the “architecture” of the sector - or how nonprofits are set up and function - may in fact get in the way of bringing about the change nonprofits seek. We also discuss inherent challenges in the sector including the tension between advocacy and direct services as well as themes across the sector related to leadership and organizational culture. The episode closes with a conversation on the cars of the 80s, with the Volvo station wagon getting a lot of love!

Atenas Burrola joins the CGH to talk about her work at the Immigrant Justice Campaign working for and with immigrants and offering legal representation to ensure they receive fair and just treatment under the law. We also talk about nonprofits can think about their connection to the community they serve and how nonprofits can navigate advocacy work as a registered 501(c)3. We begin the episode discussing the importance of representation among five areas of your nonprofit: board of directors, staff leadership, front line staff, donors, and volunteers. Roger’s trivia question asks you to dig into the history of the iconic 80s band The Clash.

What’s a “recipe” for success in housing and homelessness in Atlanta? This week, we invite Marc Pollack, developer, investor, community activist, and home chef to discuss his work in affordable housing and his recent new project, the Quarantine Cookbook. In addition to having a fun conversation on cooking, the slow-food movement, and farm-to-table practices, we talk with Marc about his work with Partners for Home Atlanta, the Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund, and The Gateway Center, three organizations working to address affordable housing and homelessness in Atlanta, GA. We begin the episode discussing the role of staff and leaders taking time to know their community - drawing inspiration from the phrase, “good shepherds smell like their sheep.” Roger also shares this week’s trivia question that will test your knowledge of 90s baseball trivia.

How do the best nonprofits define, know, and serve their community? This week, we invite you to reflect on how you define community in your nonprofit, and how you navigate knowing, serving, and working through issues of insider-ship and outsider-ship as a professional nonprofit leader. For our guest interview, we welcome Whitney Jackson and Monica Akerele this week to talk about the work of Warrick Dunn Charities in providing access to affordable housing for single mothers and low-income families. Whitney shares the importance of following up with families, supporting them through difficulties, and providing financial literacy and affordable financing as critical pieces to solving the affordable housing crisis. Roger also shares this week’s trivia question that will test your knowledge of 90s basketball movies.

How do we overcome indifference? This week we invite Sam Stanton and Cecilia Espinoza, two former Maryknoll Lay Missioners as they describe their work providing social and family services in the community of Nirivilo, near Linares, Chile, during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. They share their experiences of cross-cultural encounter through international exchange programs and mission trips and share what they have learned when working across cultural difference. Sam and Cecilia also share their love for Chilean folk and protest musicians and the role of music in inspiring social change. Drew and Roger share a new 80s/90s trivia questions and Roger shares an inspiring story of kindness from a former Common Good Hour guest.