Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Waverly Ann Harris, President and CEO of Friends Life Community, who highlights the Nashville, Tennessee-based nonprofit organization and their efforts and mission "to provide adults with developmental disabilities the opportunities to grow personally, develop socially, and enjoy community as they experience life together." Waverly Ann explains that Friends Life Community was founded in 2008 by four families and a community advocate who were concerned about what would happen to their loved ones with disabilities after high school graduation. She discusses how the organization has evolved and grown to now have its own headquarters located at 4414 Granny White Pike where it serves over 100 individuals annually through programs that help adults with disabilities grow personally and socially while building community connections.

Waverly Ann describes Friends Life Community's Weekday Program, which runs Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, with 70% of activities occurring out in the community. The program involves splitting participants into different classes and includes volunteering at over 12 different nonprofits in Nashville, partnerships with YMCA locations, and work experience at Edley's Barbecue, which has become one of their biggest employers and community supporters. She discusses how Friends Life Community's participants, whom they call "friends," actively engage in their community including at Radnor Lake, helping to break down stigmas and barriers. Waverly Ann explains that Edley's has been a good example of inclusive employment, having trained their management team on inclusive employment practices and hiring individuals with disabilities, which creates a positive impact on both employees and customers. The discussion highlights how the dedication and energy of individuals with disabilities inspire and motivate others in the workplace.

Their visual and performing arts program, led by registered drama therapist Sarah Edwards, allows participants to discover their voice and tell their own stories through original works that are performed for the community. Waverly Ann discusses how Friends Life Community uses their arts programs as a key vehicle for building confidence and self-advocacy in the community. She explains that staff facilitate original creative work including poetry, songwriting, painting, and performing arts, allowing individuals to tell their own stories and express how they want to be seen. Waverly Ann notes that touring performances at nonprofits and businesses have been particularly successful in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be leaders and storytellers in emotional, shared experiences.

Waverly Ann explains that the Friends Treat Truck was launched after the pandemic to maintain community engagement when partnerships were lost during shutdowns. The ice cream truck, now in its sixth season, operates Thursday through Sunday and is hired by companies and nonprofits for events. The Friends staff greet customers with joy, making it a morale-boosting community activity that has become a highlight for regular customers.

Waverly Ann discusses how Friends Life Community relies on community support for their programs, emphasizing that supporting adults with disabilities is a lifelong commitment. She highlights various ways companies can support the organization, including monetary sponsorships, donations, hiring the Friends Treat Truck, creating employment opportunities, and conducting facility tours.

Waverly Ann discusses her experience with Friends Life Community and how it brings hope by creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and belongs. She highlights the community's ability to break down stereotypes and build connections, emphasizing the collective strength in addressing challenges. Waverly Ann encourages others to learn more about Friends Life Community by visiting their website at friendslife.org or contacting them directly for a tour.

Visit https://friendslife.org to learn more and connect with Friends Life Community.

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4Souls, who discusses the organization's 20-year history, transformation, and global impact. Buddy shares how Soles4Souls began in 2006 responding to disasters like the tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina, but faced significant challenges from 2011-2012 including leadership issues and financial problems that led to his appointment as CEO. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to serve over 130 countries, distribute 116 million pairs of shoes and clothing, keep 112 million pounds out of landfills, and is on track to create a billion dollars in economic impact by 2030.

Jeremy and Buddy discuss leadership lessons from tough times and how organizations can build trust through transparency and clear values. Buddy explains how Soles4Souls, which has grown to about 100 employees after recently acquiring a European company, uses transparency to make difficult decisions and maintain trust among team members.

Buddy explains the three main programs of Soles4Souls: 4Relief, 4Opportunity, and 4EveryKid. He describes how the organization responds to disasters and provides assistance to people in need globally under 4Relief, resells used items to create economic opportunities for entrepreneurs in under-resourced areas with 4Opportunity, and has distributed shoes to 550,000 homeless children across all 50 US states since launching the 4EveryKid program. Buddy shares that while he initially questioned the long-term impact of giving shoes to homeless children, the program has proven to be transformative for both the children and their communities.

Buddy explains how the 4EveryKid program works through school liaisons under the federal McKinney-Vento program, which provides various services to homeless students, including shoes. He emphasizes that branded shoes are important for identity and confidence, noting that even though these children face stress and trauma, they still recognize the significance of popular brands like Nike and Adidas. Buddy highlights that while generic shoes could serve more children for the same budget, the program's focus on branded shoes helps maintain the dignity and confidence of the recipients.

Buddy discusses Soles4Souls' approach to partnerships, emphasizing the importance of working with trusted local community partners rather than directly providing their shoes and clothing items. He explains how corporate partnerships benefit both companies and the organization, noting that Soles4Souls collected over 5.5 million pairs of shoes and 4.5 million pieces of apparel last year, with many items coming from companies seeking ethical solutions for excess inventory. Buddy highlights Bombas Socks as an example of a successful corporate partnership, providing 600,000 pairs of specialized socks annually, and mentions an upcoming Kids Dental Day event in July with Delta Dental of Tennessee and other partners.

Buddy explains how the community can support Soles4Souls through donations of gently used shoes, clothes, and other items, as well as financial contributions to their 4EveryKid program which provides branded sneakers to children for $20 per pair. He emphasizes the high leverage of donations, noting that $100 could serve five children. When asked about one more thing people should know about Soles4Souls, Buddy highlights the importance of not throwing away usable items, as they represent opportunity for others in need.

Buddy discusses the impact of Soles4Souls, highlighting how the organization enables people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in making a difference, including transforming lives through initiatives like shoe collection and distribution. He shares stories of generational transformation, such as entrepreneurs, mostly women, improving their lives and sending children to college. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on individual impacts to bring about global change and encouraged listeners to learn more about Soles4Souls through their website and social media platforms.

Visit https://soles4souls.org to learn more and get involved with Soles4Souls.
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Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Coach Juan Adams, Program Director of Nashville Youth Basketball Association (NYBA) and president of Forever Don Foundation, who highlights Middle Tennessee’s largest year-round basketball program designed to build a better foundation for life and enhance the future for area youth. Coach Juan shares how he got involved with NYBA 15 years ago after bringing his son to a basketball drill, and how the organization has grown to now serve 1,500-2,000 kids annually through various programs including summer camps, clinics, an academy, tournaments, travel teams, and skills development, along with mentoring, educational support, leadership development, and community engagement initiatives.

Coach Juan discusses the tragic loss of his son to gun violence in 2018, which led him to establish the Forever Don Foundation to focus on life skills and education beyond basketball. The foundation focuses on providing programming for at-risk youth and those with behavioral or home issues, but also emphasizes education for kids without such problems to help them interact with those from challenging environments. The foundation was created in response to learning that former basketball program participants had set up his son for the robbery, highlighting the need for continued support beyond basketball programming. Coach Juan discusses how his faith and a promise serve as the motivation to continue pouring into young people despite experiencing the loss of his son and personal challenges, including being a victim of gun violence himself. He explains that his commitment to supporting young people stems from a promise he made to God and his son after recovering from a shooting in 2003, and he continues this mission by uplifting and empowering young men to believe in their potential.

Coach Juan defines success beyond basketball as seeing former players achieving life milestones like college acceptance and marriages when encountering them in public. He explains that their NYBA program focuses on developing character and skills that extend beyond sports, including teaching former players to referee games and manage tournament operations as part of their "give-back program." The coach emphasizes keeping former players engaged with the NYBA even after they stop playing basketball, offering them opportunities to work at the Academy and earn community service hours.

The organization currently operates out of McGavock High School and their own NYBA Academy facility in North Nashville, with recent success including their 7th and 8th grade teams qualifying for the prestigious Peach Jam tournament on the Nike circuit. Coach Juan explains that their biggest need is staffing and compensation for volunteers, as they have maxed out their current volunteer network and want to transition to paid staff positions to sustain the programming long-term. The organization has been operating as a 501c3 for 15 years without receiving any government grants and currently relies on a volunteer model where parents with participating children provide services in exchange for their children's program access. Coach explains that this volunteer approach creates a challenge as children age out of the program, leading to a need for paid staffing to sustain operations.

To learn more and get involved with Nashville Youth Basketball Association visit https://nashvilleyouthbasketball.org.