Metro United Way CEO Adria Johnson's upbringing and adulthood hasn't been easy. But her faith has kept her standing stronger than ever.

In this episode, Adria opens up about her story. Though she experienced poverty and was a product of a divorced home, she believes God used her childhood to shape her life's purpose.

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Here's what we talked about in this episode:

• The road Adria traveled to get to where she is today.
• Metro United Way's mission and hope for the community.
• Adria's leadership style and how to lead on empty.
• Adria lost both her parents and son Kenneth Rhodes, II, within a year after becoming CEO at Metro United Way. Kenneth tragically passed away at 29-years-old. She shares about still working through grief and how she continues to honor her son’s legacy.
• Adria offers advice for women just starting out in their career.

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For many families, a fruit basket on the kitchen counter and a stocked refrigerator are the norm. We don’t even think twice about it. However, that’s not the case for everyone.

In this episode, we take a deeper dive into food insecurity. We invited onto the show Kroger Corporate Affairs Manager Jessica Sharp and longtime Food Pantry volunteers John and Betsy Bowling, who are Holy Trinity Catholic Church and St. Vincent de Paul Holy Trinity Conference members.

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Here are the topics we covered:

• The ripple effect of food insecurity in one's life.
• Kroger's response to rising grocery costs.
• The life-changing impact regular access to healthy food can have on a community.
• How the Bowling's love story began at the Food Pantry?
• The Food Pantry is serving 20 times more people than the initial estimate in 2014. As we celebrate its 10-year anniversary, we reflect on the unique comradery between volunteers and clients.

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JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio and Evolve502 CEO Marland Cole joined us as this month's podcast guests because our missions closely align. As our Family Success Center celebrates 10 years of providing year-round educational and social development opportunities to the next generation, we are grateful for our partnership with them.

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Here were some conversation topics...

• Marty talks about initially wanting to be a basketball coach and serving under Indiana Hoosiers legend Bob Knight
• Marty's journey in teaching, which started at JCPS in 1996
• Why public school and alternative JCPS options are still a strong and viable option for families
• Marland shares how Evolve502 is opening doors for JCPS students after high school
• Marty and Marland open up about how they handle the pressure and criticism of being a high-level leader
• What JCPS learned from last year's busing system issues. Marty shares how he and his team have made strides to improve school transportation

You can listen anywhere and anytime on Spotify Music, Apple Music, or YouTube Music. Please subscribe and share!

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Do you truly care about the homeless? CEO Jennifer Clark encourages us to build empathy for the unhoused population in this podcast episode.

If you haven’t heard the news, Jennifer was promoted to St. Vincent de Paul Louisville’s Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director upon Dave Calzi's retirement in late July, who will continue to support SVDP in a newly created advocacy role. Jennifer serves as the first female leader in the organization’s 170-year history!

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Jennifer talks about...

• How she ended up in the nonprofit world
• Leadership transitions and the future of SVDP
• If people choose to be homeless
• How her personal faith influences her work

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If you hope to learn more about the state of homelessness in the U.S. and what we can do about it, Kevin Adler's new book, “When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America,” is a must-read guide.

Watch: YouTube

Kevin’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, on a billboard in Times Square, and in his TED Talk.

As the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Miracle Messages in 2014, Kevin leads a global community of volunteers and referral partners, who have successfully reconnected more than 900 people experiencing homelessness with their loved ones, matched 350 unhoused individuals with volunteers for weekly calls and texts, and launched one of the first basic income pilots for the homeless in the U.S. This has resulted in more than two-thirds of people getting housed.

Our CEO Dave Calzi spoke virtually with Kevin about these topics:

• One out of every two Americans is one paycheck away from homelessness. If that’s true, then why aren't more people homeless?
• Miracle Messages is all about the term "relational poverty." Kevin shares how that's the basis of his organization's strategy.
• What is the overall message of “When We Walk By?"
• Is it fair or proper to label the homeless as "the homeless?" Or is their an alternative way we can talk about those in need?
• Kevin shares that homelessness may be the most intersectional issue in America because there are a lot of “systems” at work. What are the current systems and how have they been set up for those experiencing homelessness to fail?

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Have you ever had one of those days? Well, Whitney Austin had herself a day on Sept. 6, 2018. In our 26th podcast episode, she opens up about her survival story during the mass shooting in the lobby at Fifth Third Bank Headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio.

For Whitney to survive after being shot 12 times is a miracle in and of itself, but even more incredible is how she started the nonprofit Whitney/Strong less than a month later to find common ground to end gun violence. You can download to listen, or watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/kX_LSr_M1yY

Our CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Whitney to talk about these topics:

• What kept her fighting on that fateful day in 2018, and how the trajectory of her life changed from that moment on?
• Whitney cofounded the nonprofit Whitney/Strong, whose mission is to find common ground to end gun violence through data-driven, responsible gun ownership solutions. She shares the initiatives her organization has spearheaded to create a safer community. This includes advice for parents on how to talk to their children about this tough topic.
• Gun rights are a divisive topic across America. Sometimes we can feel like we must choose a side—to have a gun or not to have a gun. Whitney shares the stance she believes people should take in terms of gun rights.
• Mass shootings can be a loaded term that we may not fully or accurately understand. Whitney reveals what she's learned about mass shootings in our country and encourages our audience to read "The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic."
• Whitney opens up about the aftermath and how she found healing from trauma, grew in her mental health, and leaned into close relationships during that season of her life.

To learn more, visit www.whitneystrong.org/.

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If you want to grow as a leader, then listen to Churchill Downs Incorporated President & COO Bill Mudd and Vice President of Corporate Communications Tonya Abeln open up about what they've learned as high-level leaders over the years.

In our 25th podcast episode and ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby, we hear from Bill and Tonya as they talk about what's new at Churchill Downs and give leadership advice. You can download to listen, or watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/dGr5INxvp4o

Bill has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI since 2015. He joined CDI in 2007 as the Executive Vice President and CFO after working for several years at General Electric and was promoted to the role of President and CFO in 2014. Under Bill’s leadership CDI’s business has expanded through the development of live and historical racing entertainment venues, the growth of TwinSpires horse racing online wagering business and the operation and development of regional casino gaming properties. CDI follows a long tradition of corporate social responsibility and has been a committed charitable partner for decades.

In her role as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Churchill Downs, Tonya is responsible for the strategy, implementation and oversight of internal and external communications and revels in the opportunity to share the thrilling and inspiring stories behind one of America’s most iconic brand—the Kentucky Derby. Additionally, as President of Churchill Downs Foundation, she drives strategic charitable initiatives and manages community partnerships across the company’s entire portfolio of racetrack and gaming properties.

Our CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Bill and Tonya to hear about the rich history of the Kentucky Derby and CDI:

• Bill and Tonya reminisce on their favorite Derby Day memories.
• The major changes and cultural shifts at CDI over the last couple of decades, including what's new ahead of this year's race.
• The first Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks were held in 1875. St. Vincent de Paul Louisville started in 1853. Each organization has a rich history that has impacted the community in different ways. Through corporate giving, the Churchill Downs Foundation contributes over $5 million annually in charitable grants and in-kind donations to more than 800 organizations nationwide. Tonya talks about the importance of the Foundation's corporate charitable giving.
• They share some of the ways CDI serves the community and seeks to engage horseracing fans year-round, including the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy.
• The definition and growing pains of leadership, especially in the early years.
• Advice for young leaders who don't just want to climb the ladder, but hope to make a difference in the workplace for the benefit of the community.
• How you can balance a demanding job with everything else in your life.

To learn more, visit https://www.churchilldownsincorporated.com/.

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Scarlet Hope founder Rachelle Starr used to drive past "Theatre X" everyday on her way to work without thinking twice about the sex entertainment industry. Today, she goes into strip clubs with home-cooked meals and brings hope to the women inside.

In 2007, Rachelle founded Scarlet Hope, a nonprofit that shares the hope and love of Jesus with women in the adult entertainment industry. Scarlet Hope has since expanded across 10 cities in the United States from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to Atlanta and Orlando. Rachelle is a national speaker who has trained thousands of people to launch similar nonprofits worldwide. She is also the author of “Outrageous Obedience.” You can download to listen, or watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/WnzD9wFdLpw

Our CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Rachelle to talk about the local and global sex entertainment industry:

• Rachelle shares her story and how Scarlet Hope launched.
• In the early years of Scarlet Hope, Rachelle talks about her many personal doubts and others calling her "crazy." She shares about overcoming her initial fears and her organization's frontline work to combat sex trafficking.
• How Hollywood films like "Taken" or "Sound of Freedom" may not give us an accurate picture of the adult entertainment industry.
• Louisville is the 13th largest sex industry per capita in America. Rachelle says sex trafficking is happening "right next door" and gives us a look behind the curtain into the adult entertainment industry—whether in strip clubs, online, or on the streets.
• Rachelle and her team went to this year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas. She shares about sex trafficking at the Super Bowl and their organization's outreach experience.
  
  To learn more, visit https://scarlethope.org/.

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