BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill buzzes about the Athena Leadership Award, given by the Roanoke Regional Chamber that celebrates women who have achieved the highest levels of professional accomplishment while giving back to their communities and actively investing in the success of future leaders.

Today Michael chats with the three finalists – all exceptional women who helped build BUZZ – about leadership:

• Melissa Woodson, executive director of RAM House and the star of one of our first episodes we produced in 2020.
• Renee Brown, President and CEO of DePaul Community Resources, who has previously appeared on this show.
• Becky Freemal, who generously served as host of our pilot BUZZ in 2019 and this year helped launch BUZZ Live!

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The United States has more than 1.5 million nonprofits — from homeless shelters, food banks and rescue squads to children’s choirs, science museums and animal refuges — that employ one out of every 10 Americans. Like any company, nonprofits have salaries and bills to pay, a budget to balance. They require money. And if enough people don’t know about them, don’t believe in them, don’t support them — in short, if they lack BUZZ — they suffer and die.

On today's Buzz4Good creator Michael Hemphill buzzes about Melrose Plaza, Roanoke, Virginia’s new neighborhood center, which held its grand opening on July 31. The project, which began as a community conversation and research study, is now a transformative community initiative led by the nonprofit Goodwill Industries of the Valleys.

Hundreds of people from across the Commonwealth of Virginia helped cut the ribbon to the one-of-a-kind Melrose Plaza, which includes a wellness center, grocery store, cafe, adult high school, bank, public library and African-American history museum. Its mission is to revitalize a once-prosperous Black community decimated by urban renewal.

Listen to the inspiring leaders who have brought Melrose Plaza to life.

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Y O U T U B E ➜ http://youtube.com/c/buzz4good
W E B S I T E ➜ http://buzz4good.com​​
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The United States has more than 1.5 million nonprofits — from homeless shelters, food banks and rescue squads to children’s choirs, science museums and animal refuges — that employ one out of every 10 Americans. Like any company, nonprofits have salaries and bills to pay, a budget to balance. They require money. And if enough people don’t know about them, don’t believe in them, don’t support them — in short, if they lack BUZZ — they suffer and die.

This week BUZZ was privileged to shine a light on an aspiring nonprofit, Blacks In Technology of Southwest Virginia, as we broadcast live the art, history and promise of its Juneteenth Celebration.

On today's show, BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill buzzes about two inspirational nonprofits that help people live better and die better.

DePaul Community Resources works to improving the lives of children, families, and individuals with developmental disabilities. Meanwhile, Spirit’s Rest offers comfortable housing and around-the-clock compassionate care and support to hospice patients and their families during their end-of-life journey.

Here are Michael's conversations with Caroline Stanfill, founder and executive director of one of Spirit’s Rest, and Renee Brown, president and CEO of DePaul Community Resources.

BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill isn't buzzing today in his adopted state of Virginia or his homestate of Alabama, but way out in Montana and Washington to highlight a special nonprofit that is connecting prison inmates with the outside world … through art. How they got connected with Buzz4Good way across the country – and more importantly the heart-breaking, soul-healing work they do – is the subject of our conversation with Cyrus Lee.

Cyrus already had a heart for prison ministry when his son was convicted of second degree murder and began serving a 20-year sentence in Washington State Penitentiary. Cyrus founded the nonprofit Bears ‘n Stuff, based in his hometown of Libby, Montana.

We're buzzing about an incredible and inspiring arts project opening June 1 at a new nonprofit arts space in downtown Roanoke, Virginia. It features portraits of 10 of the city’s most iconic citizens, from Dick & Dave of the Q99 Mornin’ Show to Mayor Joe Cobb and former Carilion Clinic CEO Nancy Agee.

Today, BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill talks with the founders of the nonprofit arts space, Art on 1st, and shares the inspiration behind the exhibit from its creator, Whitney Brock.

We also share portions of our newest BUZZ that aired on public television this week starring the nonprofit Sav-A-Life, which helps women – and men – facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Reflecting on our newest shows highlighting nonprofits, BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill has to ask:

1. If the Trump administration insists DEI be eradicated, why must it come at the expense of Black history, which is far more accurate than the mythology we've always been taught?
2. If we claim to be pro-life, why are politicians providing fewer and fewer resources and help for that life once it is born?
3. Why is Trump eliminating funding for nonprofits that are working tirelessly to provide the services that government won't provide?

We discuss these thoughts and more in today's Buzz4Good as we share our recent work highlighting and helping such nonprofits as:

• Franklin County, Virginia chapter of the NAACP
• Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School
• Sav-A-Life, which works to help women facing unplanned pregnancies
• And Christian Service Mission, which serves thousands of low-income families with food, home repair, and other support

Today BUZZ creator Michael Hemphill buzzes about a Blacksburg, Virginia nonprofit that provides hope to walk for thousands of amputees around the world.

Appropriately named Hope to Walk, the nonprofit in May hopes to travel to Ukraine to provide prosthetic legs to some of the estimated 100,000 soldiers and civilians, women and children, who are now amputees because of the war. Listen to our recent BUZZ Live! that featured its cause and need for $15,000 to fund its trip.

We also share a clip from our newest BUZZ TV show that stars the nonprofit Masterpiece Alliance, which provides community and friendship for adults with intellectual disabilities.