ChangeMakers

By: cityCURRENT Jeremy C. Park Andrew Bartolotta
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  • Summary

  • The ChangeMakers Podcast presented by cityCURRENT shares personal stories and insights from those who are giving back and making a difference so we can learn and do the same. We cover life lessons, business advice, passion, and purpose. Share the ways you're making a difference using #changemakers.
    e.g. Copyright 2018-2024: cityCURRENT
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Episodes
  • Dr. Kenneth Robinson - How Intertwining Medicine and Ministry Led to Driving The Dream

    Dr. Kenneth Robinson - How Intertwining Medicine and Ministry Led to Driving The Dream
    Oct 29 2024
    This 100th ChangeMakers Podcast episode honors the legacy, career, and calling of Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, who has been intertwining medicine and ministry for decades to transform lives and communities. Join host Jeremy C. Park as he talks with Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D., who announced his retirement in June 2024, after serving as President and CEO of United Way of the Mid-South for more than nine years. Dr. Robinson became President and CEO in February 2015 after nearly 25 years as a volunteer and Board member of United Way of the Mid-South, the region's largest public, exclusively charitable foundation.During the interview, Dr. Robinson shares how being born premature and facing illnesses paved the way for his calling to pursue medicine, how his parents fostered a focus on education and faith, and how they instilled the confidence for him to succeed. He discusses how his paths for medicine and ministry started to become intertwined while at Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, and how those callings came with personal sacrifices and hard decisions. Dr. Robinson reflects on meeting his wife and how they've built their family, how and why he balanced working at Vanderbilt while pursing a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and then the transition to serving in the Governor's Cabinet as Tennessee's Commissioner of Health from 2003-2007.Dr. Robinson talks about serving as Pastor and CEO of St. Andrew AME Church in Memphis and how they worked to transform South Memphis, and then what led him to United Way of the Mid-South, where his legacy will be the social entrepreneurial approach that he brought to human services through Driving The Dream™ Identifying poverty as the critical, underlying issue impacting every facet of our community, Driving The Dream™, established in 2016, currently connects over 170 independent agencies and organizations in a system of care for people living in, or at risk, of poverty. The network of support allows individuals in need to connect to available resources with a single phone call or visit to a participating agency. Through a shared database and communication system, multiple agencies are able to offer services to families. Driving The Dream™ Care Coordinators, or case managers, assist families in building their own roadmap to self-sufficiency. To date, Driving The Dream™ has helped over 15,000 individuals advance toward financial stability.Dr. Robinson wraps up with some of the lessons learned, his advice and encouragement for those who want to make a difference, and a fun, lightning round of short questions and answers where he shares what he likes to do to relax, his love of the Memphis Grizzlies, favorite Bible verses, and his plans for the future. About Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson:Dr. Robinson’s bi-professional synthesis of medicine and ministry has made him a strong leader in the areas of public policy, health and healthcare, and community development at the highest levels of local, state and national impact. He served in the Governor’s Cabinet as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Health (2003-2007), guiding significant contracting and grant-making authority within his Department’s $548 million budget. Prior to joining United Way, he was the consultant and public health policy advisor to the Mayor of Shelby County (2008-2015) and Chair of “Healthy Shelby,” which was highlighted by United Way Worldwide as a replicable model of public/private collective impact.For 25 years (1991-2016), Dr. Robinson also served as Pastor and CEO of St. Andrew AME Church in Memphis; developing health and human services, high-quality childcare, Pre-K and K-5 education, and economic development initiatives. He founded an associated CDC, The Works, Inc., a very effective nonprofit that partners with United Way to impact lives locally. The entire St. Andrew Enterprise has become a major stakeholder in creating a healthy, sustainable community; responsible for over $22 million of new investment in South Memphis.In 2000, United Way of America (now United Way Worldwide) awarded him its Community Builder of the Year award; recognizing both his local volunteer work with United Way and his formative community work through St. Andrew. Dr. Robinson has held board and leadership positions with numerous nonprofits, foundations, colleges, civic organizations, health-related entities and “think-tank” groups across the Mid-South and Tennessee. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Harvard College; the Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School; and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School.He and his wife, Marilynn, have twin daughters – both accomplished physicians. The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services. Be inspired by more positive media by following cityCURRENT here: www.cityCURRENT.com
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Gabrielle Thompson, President and CEO of IDEAS - Stepping Into Hard Moments: How Saying Yes Can Transform the World

    Gabrielle Thompson, President and CEO of IDEAS - Stepping Into Hard Moments: How Saying Yes Can Transform the World
    Sep 25 2024

    Host Jeremy C. Park talks with ChangeMaker, Gabrielle Thompson, President and CEO of IDEAS (International Development and Educational Associates), who shares her personal and professional journey, highlighting how stepping into hard moments and saying "yes" can transform the world.

    During the interview, Gabrielle talks about growing up in a family of creatives and how lessons learned from her parents carry through today, noting that creating a new nonprofit program is like creating a piece of art. She talks about being born in Los Angeles, California and moving to Nashville, Tennessee, when she was six, and how around that same timeframe, she started to become interested in helping other girls her age around the world overcome social challenges and improve their lives after looking at pictures and asking her parents a lot of questions. She shares how that curiosity and passion led her to focus on making a difference globally throughout high school and college and led her to start traveling overseas to learn, serve, and volunteer at an early age, which paved the way for her to step into leadership roles and become the CEO of an international anti-human trafficking organization.

    Gabrielle talks about her transition to become the President and CEO of IDEAS and discusses their asset-based approach to help communities and individuals flourish by helping to remove barriers to dignity. She shares some stories that have changed her life and perspective on leadership, talks about how working globally has impacted her perspective locally, and how individuals can turn anger into positive action to make a difference. This powerful episode will inspire you and enlighten you, and it will show you how stepping into hard moments and saying "yes" can transform the world.

    Visit https://ideasworld.org to learn more about IDEAS and Gabrielle Thompson.

    About Gabrielle Thompson:

    Gabrielle Thompson has a heart for empowerment, justice and serving vulnerable populations around the globe. She has worked as a development practitioner in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America. Thompson is the current President and CEO, for IDEAS (International Development and Educational Associates), where they work help communities and individuals flourish by helping to remove barriers to dignity. Prior to leading IDEAS, Gabrielle was the CEO of an international anti-human trafficking organization for eight years, and an adjunct professor in the Masters of International Affairs program at Middle Tennessee State University. Thompson was awarded Nashville’s Top Professionals 30 under 30 in 2018 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Nashville Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 Professionals in 2020, and Middle Tennessee State Universities’ Alumni Achievement Award in 2021. Thompson previously worked in gender-based development initiatives in Costa Rica and Turkey and holds a Master of International Affairs from Middle Tennessee State University.

    The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

    Be inspired by more positive media by following cityCURRENT here: www.cityCURRENT.com
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    52 mins
  • Chris Powers of Fort Capital and The Fort Podcast - The Intersection of Mentorship and Business Growth

    Chris Powers of Fort Capital and The Fort Podcast - The Intersection of Mentorship and Business Growth
    Aug 20 2024

    Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Chris Powers, Founder and Executive Chairman of Fort Capital and host of The Fort Podcast, who shares his personal and professional journey and highlights the intersection of mentorship and business growth.

    During the interview, Chris talks about growing up in El Paso and Lubbock, Texas, and how he started getting into real estate after seeking mentorship from another young entrepreneur who inspired him as a college student at Texas Christian University. He shares some fun stories and lessons learned during the early years of being an entrepreneur and talks about how those experiences have helped build and shape the company today. What started with residential real estate evolved into a focus on multi-family and now Class B industrial, after teaming with Jason Baxter, who is CEO and President, and building the business structure for scalability to become "the best real estate operator in the world."

    Fort Capital is a privately-owned real estate investment firm with a track record of transacting more than $2 billion in assets throughout Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. Fort's mission is to acquire prime real estate, operate with excellence, and deliver exceptional returns to all stakeholders.

    Chris discusses why Fort Capital narrowed its focus on Class B industrial after he and Jason read "Good to Great" by Jim Collins, and how they have built a culture based on the purpose of creating a place that attracts the most talented individuals and provides an environment that inspires them to be their absolute best. He talks about some of the industry trends, current challenges and opportunities, and then some of the lessons he has learned from guests on The Fort podcast. The Fort is an entrepreneurship podcast hosted by Chris Powers. Each episode’s mission is to help you to level up your entrepreneurial game by hearing directly from the men and women in the arena. Chris talks about how "Great takes time" and uses his recent podcast episode featuring Rusty Reid of Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services as an example.

    Throughout the interview, though, Chris talks about the importance of mentorship and how others have helped guide and shape his personal, professional and spiritual journey, and led to his own growth and development and that of his business. He shares valuable lessons and advice from his father and how his father continues to impact his life everyday, even after his loss; and how his mother, wife, and family inspire and guide him with his faith. He wraps up with a fun lighting round that touches on golf, travel, the power of anonymous giving to help others in need, and creating a legacy of giving more in the community.

    Visit www.fortcapitallp.com to learn more about Fort Capital. Visit www.thefortpod.com to learn more about The Fort Podcast hosted by Chris Powers and to watch and listen to past episodes.

    About Chris Powers:

    Chris is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of real estate development and investment experience. He founded Fort Capital and to date, the company has invested over $2B in Class B industrial, and land development projects throughout the state of Texas and the Sunbelt.

    Chris spends time focusing on Fort’s long-term strategy, fostering strategic relationships, and building capital relationships that will help complement the firm’s growth. He is also the host of The FORT Podcast, a Top 100 Business Podcast that has published 340+ episodes to date through a series of raw business conversations with business leaders and entrepreneurs.

    Chris graduated with a BBA in Finance & Marketing from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. Chris is a member of the Fort Worth YPO Chapter and attends Christ Chapel Bible Church. He lives in Fort Worth, TX with his family.

    The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

    Be inspired by more positive media by following cityCURRENT here: www.cityCURRENT.com
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    55 mins

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