Meeting People Where They’re At: Lessons in Leadership and Humanity

Meeting People Where They’re At: Lessons in Leadership and Humanity

Episode 4 of Community in Conversation features Neighborhood Place of Puna (NPP) Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike and former NPP Executive Director Paul Normann for a meaningful conversation about compassion, community, and the people behind the work. They reflect on the heart behind NPP’s work: showing up for people with compassion, dignity, and unconditional care. Paul shares how his personal values, faith, and the teachings of Dorothy Day shaped his approach to leadership and community service. The conversation explores what it truly means to “meet people where they’re at,” the importance of long-term support for families experiencing homelessness, and how NPP responded during some of Hawaiʻi Island’s most difficult moments — including Hurricane Iselle, the Kīlauea eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul and Billi-Jo also discuss: * Why compassion must be paired with humility * The challenges and realities families face while experiencing homelessness * How stability can be fragile — and why consistent support matters * The importance of collaboration and community partnerships * Creating a culture rooted in kindness, love, and human connection This episode is a heartfelt reflection on leadership, service, and the belief that lasting change begins when we show up for one another with compassion.

Shared Kuleana: Keeping Hawaiʻi’s Keiki Safe

In Episode 3 of Community in Conversation, Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with Kukunaokalā Yoshimoto, Executive Director of Blueprint for Change, in recognition of Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness Month. This conversation explores the critical shift from intervention to prevention and what it truly takes to keep Hawaiʻi’s keiki safe. Kukuna shares the history behind Hawaiʻi’s child welfare reform and the creation of the Neighborhood Place model, a community-driven, culturally grounded approach designed to support families before crisis occurs. Rooted in aloha and shaped by the unique needs of each community, this model has helped transform how support is delivered across the state. Drawing from his personal journey into social work, Kukuna reflects on the power of early intervention, the importance of meeting families where they are, and why prevention, though often less visible, is one of the most impactful investments we can make. Together, they also unpack common misconceptions about child welfare, including the belief that it’s only about removing children from homes, and emphasize a deeper truth: child abuse and neglect is a societal issue that requires collective responsibility. This episode highlights: * How early intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life * The impact of community-based, culturally responsive care * Barriers families face in accessing support and how innovation like mobile resource centers is helping bridge the gap * The ongoing need for equity, especially for Native Hawaiian families * Why sustainable investment in prevention is essential for long-term change Most importantly, this conversation is a call to action. Each of us has a role to play, whether it’s learning the signs, reaching out to support a family, or advocating for stronger prevention systems. Because when we show up for one another, we create safer, stronger communities for all.

Partnerships that Honor Place & People: How Faith Groups & Nonprofits Can Co-Create Change

In this episode of Community in Conversation, Neighborhood Place of Puna Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with ordained minister and community partner Jenica Lawrence for a thoughtful and honest dialogue about the power of collaboration between nonprofits and communities of faith. Together, they explore what’s possible when organizations move beyond working in parallel and instead align around a shared vision for community well-being. Jenica shares insights from her journey in ministry, foster care, and family life, offering a deeply relational perspective on service, empathy, and generational impact. This conversation dives into: * What true alignment between nonprofits and faith communities could look like in Puna * The shared values that already connect this work—dignity, relationships, justice, and hope * The importance of trust, humility, and learning from what already exists in the community * Why honest conversations about power, history, and harm are essential for meaningful partnership * How to stay accountable to the community—not just institutions or outcomes A central theme of this episode is the importance of cultural grounding. In Puna, accountability goes beyond metrics. It means aligning with the values, history, and lived experiences of this place and its people. Jenica speaks to the responsibility of both nonprofits and faith communities to move away from importing outside models that may not fit, and instead co-create solutions that are rooted in Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural context. This includes trusting community members not just to participate, but to lead, to help shape programs, guide decisions, and define what success truly looks like. It requires humility, a willingness to share power, and a commitment to honoring values like mālama ʻāina and kuleana. Because lasting impact doesn’t come from imposing systems—it comes from relationships, trust, and allowing the community’s culture to shape the work, not just decorate it. The episode also offers encouragement for the next generation to take action, start small, and lead with love. “Go where trust already lives—and be willing to follow it.”

A Place to Land: The Story of Anchor Point Youth Center

In this first episode of Community in Conversation, Neighborhood Place of Puna Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with Anchor Point Youth Center Program Coordinator Minnie Cain to reflect on the powerful first year of Anchor Point Youth Center — Hawaiʻi County’s first drop-in center specifically designed for homeless and at-risk youth. Together, they share the story behind why Anchor Point was created, what they expected when the doors opened, and what surprised them most. From youth coming in for their “firsts” — first emergencies, first job interviews, first leases — to the quiet, everyday moments of trust and laughter, this conversation explores what it really means to create a space rooted in safety, consistency, and radical acceptance.