Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home

Episode 158 Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

It's always a treat to sit down with one of our great nonprofit leaders to talk about one of our great nonprofits. You can find my full discussion with Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden, Executive Director of the Renesting Project, Inc, here.   Here are the questions I asked:   0:45 1. You’re the Executive Director of one of our community’s great nonprofits – Renesting Project, Inc. Renesting Project is a community furniture bank doing really important work, providing basic furniture and household items free of charge to hundreds of men, women and children in need.   Let’s start here today. Talk to me about some of the different populations Renesting serves.   2:38 2. You were recently honored by NBC 6 as its Remarkable Woman of the Year, which from my perspective seems well deserved. I don’t have a question around that but I wanted to make sure I mentioned it as I think it’s a huge deal.   Renest Fest, your annual fundraiser is right around the corner, two days before we publish. Tell people about this great and important event.   6:27 3. I came across a quote of yours where you said, “I really believe in the dignity of the human spirit and the collective power of community”. Talk to me some about this.   11:52 4. You and I met because of the great work of Dr. Heather Carpenter who runs the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most know it) at LSUS. In 2023, you were one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected for the 2023 Nonprofit Capacity Building Cohort. You also earned your Masters in Nonprofit Administration through INAR’s program at LSUS.   Talk to me about INAR from your perspective. Why is the work they’re doing so important in our community and why has it been so important for you and your work?   19:19 5. For those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?

Episode 157 Pam Barker - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

All around our community, people are recognizing places where we have gaps and bringing new businesses, programs and services to meet those needs. A great example of this is Louisiana Key Academy in Shreveport. You can find my full discussion with Pam Barker, Principal of Louisiana Key Academy in Shreveport, here.   Here are the questions I asked:   0:34 1. Pam, you are the Principal of Louisiana Key Academy in Shreveport, a tuition free, charter school for dyslexia. In preparing for today’s discussion, I came across two incredible statistics – that 1 in 5 kids suffer from dyslexia but that only about 2% of kids with dyslexia are identified in Louisiana.   Let’s start here today just with some foundational information. What is dyslexia?   3:52 2. For parents listening today, what are some early indicators that a child may suffer from dyslexia?   6:45 3. Once a parent feels that one of their kids might be dyslexic, what are the next steps they should take to ensure THAT is a proper assessment and to consider entering their child into the Louisiana Key Academy?   17:55 4. It’s clear that we do not identify dyslexia enough in our kids and that if we do we often identify it far later than we should. What are some consequences of not identifying dyslexia early?   22:24 5. Talk to me about both some similarities and differences between Louisiana Key Academy and “regular” schools?

Episode 156 Kade McDonald - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

So many places we can focus as we work to grow our community for the next generation, a city our kids are proud to call home and want to return to after college. This week we get a key perspective from one of our young professionals. You can find my full discussion with Kade McDonald, Commercial Relationship Banker 1, VP at Origin Bank and Chairman of the Board at Sci-Port Discovery Center, here.   Here are the questions I asked:   1:05 1. You grew up in Ruston. You are a Commercial Relationship Banker 1, VP at Origin Bank.   Let’s start here today. Talk to me about how you ended up in Shreveport-Bossier.   8:05 2. Talk to me some about your role and responsibilities at Origin.   9:30 3. Talk to me about what it’s like being a young professional in Shreveport-Bossier.   13:10 4. You are currently the Chairman of the Board for Sci-Port Discovery Center. Share a few of the great things that are happening there right now.   17:58 5. As you look out at the Shreveport-Bossier community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?   31:12 6. Lastly, what gives you hope that our community is moving in the right direction?

Episode 155 Steven Grant - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Caddo Schools continues to evolve to meet the needs of our students. You can find my full discussion with Steven Grant, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance for Caddo Schools, here.   Here are the questions I asked:   0:34 1. You can make an amazing claim that very few others can make, that you played football for the great Football Coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling. Tell me 2-3 things you learned about leading people from Coach Robinson.   2:06 2. You have a passion for helping people. Where does that passion come from?   6:08 3. From 2017-2025, you served as the Principal of Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy. As you look back at that time, what do you count among your greatest accomplishments? What about a couple of your biggest regrets?   10:39 4. Fast forward and you are now working for Caddo Parish Schools as part of a newly formed team, entitled TAC. First off, what does TAC stand for? And why was this new team formed?   20:56 5. I know school is just getting started. But describe to me what you expect your work weeks at TAC to look like?   22:52 6. Why did COVID have such an impact on truancy?

Episode 154 Alan Clarke - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

This week we have the special opportunity to sit down with Alan Clarke, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission for the City of Shreveport, as he looks back on 46 years with the City.  You can find our full discussion here.   Here are the questions I asked:   0:28 1. Alan, you are the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission (or the MPC as many people know it). After 46 years with the City, you recently announced that you will retire at the end of this year. Tell me about some of the different roles and responsibilities of the MPC for the City.   3:51 2. You recently helped spearhead the $300,000 master plan update, the first since the $1.2 million “Great Expectations” Master Plan was delivered to Shreveport residents in 2014. Tell me about the master plan update and why this is so important.   7:30 3. We’ve heard a lot in the news recently about Shreveport’s new One Stop Shop. Tell me some about this and why this is an important development.   8:40 4. We often hear that it’s easier to do business in Bossier than in Shreveport. In your opinion, why do people think or say this?   10:28 5. Lastly, as you look back on your time with the City, talk to me a little about your legacy. What do you count among your greatest accomplishments? How about your biggest regrets?