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In this episode, I sit down with Elena DeLacey, Executive Director and Marshall Gorham, Land Protection Specialist, of the American River Conservancy to explore what it truly means to protect land—for today and for generations to come. What starts as a conversation about land conservation quickly becomes something much bigger: a look at the interconnected systems that sustain our communities, from forests and wildlife to water, infrastructure, and public access.

We talk about the scale of their work—over 31,000 acres protected—and the responsibility that comes with it. Conservation isn’t just about acquiring land; it’s about stewardship in perpetuity. That means maintaining ecosystems, preventing catastrophic wildfire damage, restoring forests, and ensuring that the land continues to serve both people and nature.

One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is understanding the ripple effect of environmental impact. A single wildfire doesn’t just burn trees—it affects watersheds, power systems, wildlife habitats, and entire communities downstream. The work American River Conservancy is doing is about getting ahead of those problems before they happen.

We also dive into the complexity of collaboration—working with landowners, government agencies, and community partners to bring multi-million dollar projects to life—and the long-term vision required to protect land at scale. From preserving the Cosumnes River corridor to building public access trails that future generations will enjoy, this is legacy work in its truest form.

This episode is a reminder that the natural spaces we enjoy don’t stay protected by accident—they stay protected because of organizations like this, doing the hard work of forever.

Why It Matters

Land conservation isn’t just about preserving open space—it’s about protecting the systems that sustain life and community. The work being done by American River Conservancy impacts water quality, wildfire prevention, biodiversity, recreation, and long-term regional resilience.

If we don’t invest in this kind of stewardship now, the cost—environmentally, economically, and socially—will be far greater down the line. This episode highlights why proactive conservation is one of the most important investments a community can make.

To learn more, visit their website: https://arconservancy.org/

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to American River Conservancy and what a land conservancy does
03:00 – Conservation vs. stewardship: the responsibility of “forever”
05:30 – Forest management, wildfire prevention, and ecosystem resilience
09:00 – The cascading impact of wildfire on water, infrastructure, and communities
11:00 – Education, community connection, and building environmental stewardship
14:00 – Where time and resources go: the realities of managing 31,000 acres
17:00 – Collaboration across landowners, agencies, and nonprofits
24:00 – The El Dorado Ranch project: a 7,000-acre

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

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In this NewsPod, I sit down with Colby Bell of New York Life to talk about something Sacramento’s nonprofit community has long deserved—its own moment of recognition.

What started as a simple gathering of nonprofit leaders has grown into the first annual Greater Sacramento Impact & Philanthropy (GSIP) Awards—an event designed to celebrate the organizations doing the real, boots-on-the-ground work across our region.

Colby shares how this idea evolved from casual mixers into a fully realized awards program, backed by partners like New York Life and Sacramento Venture Philanthropy. Together, they’ve created an opportunity to not only recognize impact—but to invest in it.

With 10 award categories, 30 finalists, and an incredible 7,000 community votes, this first-year event is already proving something powerful: Sacramento shows up for its nonprofits.

Each category winner will receive $2,500 in unrestricted funding, supporting the critical work happening every day across areas like housing, education, food security, and community building.

This isn’t just an event—it’s the beginning of something much bigger.

📍 Event Details

• Event: Greater Sacramento Impact & Philanthropy (GSIP) Awards
• Date: April 9
• Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
• Location: Arcade Underground, Old Sacramento
• Admission: Free (Registration Required)

🔗 Registration link: GSIP Registration link

🎯 Why It Matters

For years, nonprofits have done extraordinary work—often without the spotlight. This event flips that.

It recognizes impact in real time.
It brings the community into the process.
And it creates momentum for deeper investment in the sector.

Most importantly, it sends a message:
The work matters—and the people doing it deserve to be seen.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to the GSIP Awards
01:00 – How a simple mixer became something bigger
02:00 – Building support and securing funding
03:00 – Award categories and community impact areas
04:00 – Partner involvement and SVP’s role
05:00 – Selecting the 30 finalists
06:00 – 7,000 votes and community engagement
07:00 – Funding breakdown and award structure
08:00 – Event details and how to attend
09:00 – Closing thoughts and community invitation

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

This is one of the more powerful conversations I’ve had on the podcast.

I sit down with Malcolm Johnson and Colleen McCusker from Good Cause Sacramento—an organization built not from theory, but from lived experience. Malcolm’s journey from addiction and incarceration to building a process that helps others successfully reenter society is nothing short of remarkable.

What stood out to me most is this: the system often gives people tools—but not a place to use them. And without that foundation, the cycle continues.

Good Cause Sacramento is changing that. Through structure, accountability, and community, they’re helping men and women not just avoid going back—but actually build lives worth staying for.

This is a conversation about second chances—but more importantly, what it actually takes to make them work and reduce recidivism to virtually nil.

• Real change starts with environment, not intention. Without stability, even the best tools don’t work.
• Lived experience builds better solutions. Malcolm didn’t study the problem—he lived it.
• Accountability creates dignity. This model expects participation, not dependence.
• Second chances need structure. Hope alone isn’t enough—process is what makes it stick.
• Community plays a role. Jobs, transportation, and opportunity are just as critical as funding.

To learn more about Good Cause Sacramento please visit: https://goodcausesac.org

Chapter Outline:

0:00 — Cold Open: $200, a Bus Stop, and No Way Forward
2:05 — Introduction: Why This Story Matters
3:50 — Malcolm’s Backstory and Breaking Point
6:30 — Prison Realization: Why the Cycle Repeats
9:00 — Release Day Reality: No Support, No Direction
12:00 — The Turning Point: Faith, Story, and Momentum
16:10 — Building Good Cause: From Notes to a Process
20:00 — Why Housing and Structure Come First
25:30 — What Drives an 80% Success Rate
37:30 — Expanding the Model: Women’s House and Growth
43:00 — Success, Vision, and How to Help

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

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In this NewsPod, I sit down with Anh Phoong—yes, that Anh Phoong—but this time, it’s not about the courtroom or billboards. It’s about something far more personal and urgent.

Anh joins me as a Woman of Impact for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign, a nationwide effort focused on raising awareness and funds to fight the number one killer of women: heart disease.

What makes this conversation powerful is the why behind her involvement. After her mother suffered a sudden heart attack in 2022, Anh saw firsthand how quickly life can change—and how critical awareness, prevention, and action really are.

We talk about:

• Why heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women
• The reality that 80% of cases are preventable
• The importance of advocating for your own health
• And how a little friendly competition is helping raise serious dollars for lifesaving research

Anh shares how her team is getting creative—from community events to partnerships and grassroots fundraising—to make an impact during this nine-week campaign.

But more than anything, this episode is a reminder:

👉 Take your health seriously
👉 Don’t ignore the signs
👉 And don’t wait to act

If something feels wrong—say something, do something, and follow through.

You can support Anh’s campaign and the American Heart Association by visiting her fundraising page in the link below.

Go Red For Women Link: HERE

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

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In this episode, I sit down with Robert Heidt, President and CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, to explore the role the Chamber plays in shaping the economic future of the Capital Region. Serving six counties and 22 cities, the Chamber works to convene business leaders, advocate for regional priorities, and create programs that help businesses and communities grow together.

Robert shares how chambers have evolved from simple networking organizations into catalysts for economic development, regional collaboration, and leadership development. We talk about signature programs like Cap-to-Cap and Study Mission, the Chamber’s collaboration with organizations like Valley Vision and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, and why storytelling and relationships remain at the core of building a strong regional economy.

We also discuss the importance of supporting small businesses, engaging nonprofit organizations as economic partners, and why Sacramento’s ability to work together across jurisdictions is one of its greatest strengths.

To learn more about the chamber visit: https://www.metrochamber.org/

To give Robert a call: 916-552-6800

1. What the Sacramento Metro Chamber Really Does
An overview of the Chamber’s role in fostering a strong regional economy and advocating for businesses across six counties and 22 cities.

2. Why Chambers of Commerce Still Matter
How chambers have evolved from traditional networking groups into strategic conveners of economic leadership.

3. The Power of Cap-to-Cap
Why Sacramento sends the largest chamber delegation in the country to Washington, D.C., and how advocacy helps shape federal policy.

4. Study Missions and Learning from Other Cities
How exploring cities like Detroit helps Sacramento identify new opportunities for growth and revitalization.

5. Collaboration Across the Region
The Chamber’s partnerships with organizations like the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and Valley Vision to drive regional strategy.

6. Supporting Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Why the Chamber’s work ultimately supports the thousands of small and mid-size businesses that power the regional economy.

7. The Speaker Series and Bringing Big Ideas to Sacramento
How the Chamber is expanding the Sacramento Speaker Series to bring national thought leaders into the community.

8. Leadership Development and the Next Generation
Programs designed to nurture young professionals and develop the region’s future business and civic leaders.

9. Running a Modern Chamber
How the Chamber operates as a member-driven organization serving nearly 2,000 businesses across the region.

10. Why Sacramento’s Collaborative Spirit Matters
Robert shares why Sacramento’s willingness to work together may be its greatest competitive advantage.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Homelessness is often misunderstood. For many women and families, it begins with a single crisis—domestic violence, a medical emergency, or simply the inability to afford housing while raising children.

In this episode, I speak with Lisa Culp, founder of Women’s Empowerment, and Robin Kelly-Dunton, a graduate of the program who now serves as chair of its board. Together they share the story of an organization that has spent the last 25 years helping women and children build a pathway out of poverty and homelessness.

Robin’s story sits at the heart of our conversation. She arrived at Women’s Empowerment after losing everything—caring for an incapacitated husband, raising a newborn, and struggling with homelessness. What she found when she walked through the doors was something she hadn’t felt in months: hope.

Through the organization’s nine-week program, Robin gained job training, mentorship, and the confidence to rebuild her life. That opportunity eventually led to a full-time role in public service, and today she serves as chair of the board for the very organization that helped change her future.

Lisa and Robin also talk about the realities facing women experiencing homelessness—especially single mothers—and how Women’s Empowerment combines employment training, childcare, housing support, and mentorship to help families stabilize and move forward.

It’s a powerful reminder that when people are given the tools, support, and belief that change is possible, transformation can happen.

To learn more about Women's Empowerment, visit https://womens-empowerment.org/

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to Women’s Empowerment
01:10 — How the Organization Began
04:20 — Understanding the Real Causes of Homelessness
10:50 — Robin’s Journey to Women’s Empowerment
17:00 — Inside the Nine-Week Program
24:00 — Employment Partnerships and Career Pathways
31:40 — Robin’s Internship and Career Breakthrough
37:30 — Community Partnerships That Support the Mission
43:30 — Graduates Supporting the Next Generation
49:40 — Funding the Work and Sustaining Impact
56:10 — The Vision for the Future
01:00:30 — How to Support Women’s Empowerment
01:02:30 — Closing Reflections

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

What happens when a community decides the arts aren’t a luxury — they’re essential?

In this episode, I sit down with Allison Cagley, Executive Director and the driving force behind Friends of Sacramento Arts, an organization leading the charge to restore arts and music education in public schools across our region.

We talk about what was lost after Prop 13, what’s possible through Prop 28, and why this moment is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Sacramento’s students.

This conversation goes far beyond paintbrushes and pianos.

We explore:

• Why arts education impacts graduation rates, attendance, and student engagement
• How creativity fuels workforce readiness and economic development
• The long game of advocacy — and why patience and persistence matter
• The real challenges of implementing Prop 28 funding
• What it looks like when students finally have access to choir, band, theater, and visual arts

Allison shares how this small but mighty nonprofit has navigated pandemic pivots, state-level partnerships, and school district bureaucracy to keep one bold vision alive:

Arts every day. For Every child. In Every school.

We also talk about the deeper human impact — the moment when a child beams on stage, when parents from 15 different cultures gather in a school cafeteria to watch their kids shine, and when students say, “The only reason I come to school is my drama class.”

That’s not enrichment.
That’s belonging.

If you care about Sacramento’s future — its culture, workforce, and community vibrancy — this episode matters.

About Friends of Sacramento Arts

Friends of Sacramento Arts advocates for equitable, comprehensive arts and music education in public schools. Through policy engagement, statewide partnerships, and community leadership, they are working to ensure every student has access to meaningful arts learning opportunities.

🔗 Learn more: https://friendsofsacramentoarts.org
🎉 Arts Education Month Celebration: Every March

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Impact 100 Greater Sacramento is now accepting nonprofit grant applications —and this is not just another funding opportunity.

In this Newspod, I sit down with Sarina Paulsen, President of Impact 100 Greater Sacramento, to talk about how their collective giving model turns 100 women donating $1,000 into transformational $100,000 grants. Last year alone, more than $450,000 was awarded across Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, and El Dorado counties.

We break down eligibility, deadlines, categories, and why even applying brings visibility and connection beyond the grant itself.

Applications close March 21, 2026.

If your nonprofit has a bold, high-impact project ready to scale, this is your moment.

To learn more, visit https://impact100greatersacramento.org/

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.