Engaging Young Readers: From Summer Slide to Summer Success with Ben Tollefson

Engaging Young Readers: From Summer Slide to Summer Success with Ben Tollefson

On this episode of Connecting Communities, host Leah Verier-Dunn sat with Ben Tollefson, consultant with The Patterson Foundation, to discuss the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading’s THIS BOOK IS COOL! [https://www.gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net/project/this-book-is-cool/] program.  The summer slide is a real concern, particularly for our asset-limited families. Research spanning more than a century has shown that students can experience academic learning loss over the summer when they are not engaged in educational activities. These losses can widen existing achievement gaps, making it even more difficult for students to stay on track academically. Without intervention, students may fall further behind year after year. SCGLR creates opportunities to prevent the “summer slide” and help close the achievement gap. Timestamps  00:30 – Meet THIS BOOK IS COOL! 01:28 – How a Simple Idea Became THIS BOOK IS COOL! 04:09 – Combating the Summer Slide Through Reading 06:59 – Who the Program Serves and Why It Matters 09:36 – What’s Inside a THIS BOOK IS COOL! Backpack 16:48 – Getting Started: Ben’s Tips for Families Links to Learn More  Season of Sharing (Community Foundation of Sarasota) [https://www.cfsarasota.org/knowledge-impact/community-care/season-of-sharing] THIS BOOK IS COOL! Webisode Library [https://www.gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net/project/this-book-is-cool/] Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading (SCGLR) [https://www.gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net/] Want to hear more? Follow us on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tVpVxg0SlkdAYDLPUDRwf], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-blog/id1837266791], iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-beyond-the-blog-123868571/], or visit us Beyond The Blog! [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/beyond-the-blog.html] Join The Journey

Voter Education and Civic Responsibility: Why The Patterson Foundation Cares

In this episode of Civic Sparks, host Leah Verier-Dunn talks with Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, about why TPF cares about investing in civic responsibility. Together, they discuss the history of The Patterson Foundation and its continued commitment to knowledge sharing and widespread participation.  Identifying that voting is perhaps the most important place to encourage widespread participation.  Listeners will hear about: * TPF’s voter education efforts * Voting resources * Why TPF cares This conversation addresses the need to remove barriers, make resources accessible, and demystify the voting process to encourage more turnout at the polls.  Timestamps  * 00:00 Introduction to Civic Sparks and voter education * 00:43 The Patterson family history and connection to civic responsibility * 04:46 How census work led to the voter education initiative * 08:42 How civic responsibility strengthens people and communities * 11:37 Encouraging widespread participation in voting * 13:54 Why every vote matters * 15:13 Voting resources and making election information easier to understand * 17:19 Removing the chaos from election season * 18:43 You do not have to vote on every item to participate meaningfully * 20:16 Sharing voter education resources through community partners * 22:20 Voting as a way to build the society we want * 23:52 Multilingual voter education resources and county-specific information * 24:20 Voting matters at every age * 25:36 Closing thoughts and call to learn more Links to Learn More  The Patterson Foundation’s Voter Education Initiative [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/voter-education.html] The League of Women Voters [https://www.lwv.org/] Vote411.org [http://vote411.org] Flyer in English [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ti862MqAOgUSpzhsjmCXrtiz3y3QvY_m/view?usp=drive_link] Flyer in Spanish [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Evny2DJBgYe7dWXBo243ORFqr1m2FTkI/view?usp=drive_link] Blog: Engaging Voters: Why The Patterson Foundation Promotes Civic Responsibility [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/blog/engaging-voters-why-the-patterson-foundation-promotes-civic-responsibility.html] Want to hear more? Follow us on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tVpVxg0SlkdAYDLPUDRwf], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-blog/id1837266791], iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-beyond-the-blog-123868571/], or visit us Beyond The Blog! [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/beyond-the-blog.html] Join The Journey

Nonprofit Is a Tax Status, Not a Business Plan: Rick Yocum on Margin & Mission Ignition

In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Series of Beyond The Blog, a Podcast by The Patterson Foundation, host Read Corley talks with Rick Yocum, executive director of the Humane Society of Manatee County, about his experience with Margin & Mission Ignition. Rick shares how the program helped his team focus its veterinary clinic around community needs, build a stronger business plan, and keep every decision tied to the organization’s mission. He also discusses the role of board and staff buy-in, listening to the public, expanding dermatology services, and using clinic revenue to support the shelter and keep more pets with the families who love them. Timestamps  * 00:00 Introduction to Rick Yocum and Margin & Mission Ignition * 01:29 The first Margin & Mission Ignition venture * 03:14 Listening to staff, board members, volunteers, and the public * 06:02 Investing in staff and capacity to grow clinic revenue * 08:38 Tracking impact beyond dollars * 10:02 Expanding into dermatology services * 11:40 Nonprofit is a tax status, not a business plan * 14:56 Why board involvement mattered from the beginning * 18:20 The waves created by Margin & Mission Ignition * 23:23 Rick’s advice: be open and transparent with stakeholders Links to Learn More  * Margin & Mission Ignition [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/margin-mission-ignition.html] * Humane Society of Manatee County [https://humanemanatee.org/] * Blog: How Margin & Mission Ignition Helped the Humane Society of Manatee County Grow With Purpose [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/blog/margin-mission-ignition/how-margin-and-mission-ignition-helped-the-humane-society-of-manatee-county-grow-with-purpose.html] Want to hear more? Follow us on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tVpVxg0SlkdAYDLPUDRwf], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-blog/id1837266791], iHeartRadio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-beyond-the-blog-123868571/], or visit us Beyond The Blog! [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/beyond-the-blog.html] Join The Journey

Ericia Henry Reflects on Gaining Confidence, Courage, and Connections During Her TPF Fellowship

In a recent Beyond The Blog podcast, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, speaks with Ericia Henry, TPF Fellow 2024/26, [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/fellows-program.html]right before she launches to the Kiwanis International Headquarters [https://www.kiwanis.org/]. Both reflect on her TPF Fellowship experience and what happens when someone actually leans into possibility even when it’s uncomfortable. In this conversation, you'll…. * Hear what it really looks like to choose courage over comfort because Ericia doesn’t sugarcoat the unknowns, she walks through the fear, the decision-making, and what it takes to say yes anyway. * Get an inside look at the TPF Fellowship experience, not just the structure, but how it actually stretches you, builds new skills, and shapes who you become along the way. * Walk away with a clearer sense of what can happen when you explore possibilities for your own path.  Whether you’re considering the Fellowship or just navigating your next step, her journey sparks that “what if I did it too?” feeling.  Timestamps  * 1:18 - About Fellowship * 3:53 - About Ercia Henry  * 4:11 - Indiana University Southeast  * 5:40 - Learning About The Fellowship Through Avery Crews Prado de Lima * 6:15 - Getting to Know TPF Through the internship with Neurochallenge * 8:27 - TPF’s Immersive Impact: Through Engagement, Experience, and  Expertise (Aka Study Away) * 9:48 - The Flexibility & Opportunity of The Fellow Day-to-Day Experience  * 11:20 - Developing Intellectual Muscles & Connections While at TPF * 13:17: Learning To Work High Level with Intention, Strategy, and Organization  * 15:40 - Ericia’s Plans to Make the World a Better Place * 16:43 - Launching to Kiwanis International in Indianapolis, Indiana, as Steewardship and Engagement  Officer   * 17:45 - Reconnecting and Reconvening Fellows During TPF Beyond * 19:41 - Why Apply to be a Fellow? Links to Learn More  * About Ericia Henry [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/past-fellows/ericia-henry-2.html] * The Patterson Foundation Fellowship [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/fellowship.html] * Blog: Reflecting on Ericia Henry's Confidence and Courage Throughout Her TPF Fellowship [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/blog/advancing-philanthropic-leadership/reflecting-on-ericia-henrys-confidence-and-courage-throughout-her-tpf-fellowship.html] Join The Journey

The New Civic Path: Turning Hope Into Community Action

In this episode of Aspirations to Actions, a Beyond The Blog podcast, host Alicia Chalmers talks with Michael Prihoda, Director of Media and Creative Content, and Menal Khanna, National Campaign Manager at The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. Together, they explore The Harwood Institute’s powerful approach to community‑driven change and why you should join the upcoming National New Civic Path Virtual Book Circle on June 2. They discuss the practices that have shaped both The Harwood Institute and The Patterson Foundation — listening deeply, not arriving with the answers, turning outward, and meeting communities where they are. These principles are woven into TPF’s culture and continue to guide Aspirations to Actions efforts across people, organizations, and communities in our region. Listeners will hear about: * How communities across the country are rediscovering hope through small, intentional actions — and how those actions create ripple effects that strengthen trust, connection, and belief in one another. * Why shared aspirations can bridge our differences. The conversation explores how The New Civic Path offers a way forward in a time of division, inviting people to leave politics at the door, focus on what matters most locally, and take meaningful action together. This episode is an invitation to reflect, reconnect, and recommit to the work of building hope one conversation, one gathering, one action at a time. Timestamps  * 02:16 — How The Harwood Institute Shows Up in Community * 06:51 — The New Civic Path: What It Is and Why It Matters Right Now * 10:04 — Adapting the Work for Each Community While Centering Local Agency * 13:13 — Why and How The Patterson Foundation Launched The New Civic Path Book Circles * 17:55 — Creating Space for Wide Participation Across People, Organizations, & Communities  * 19:48 — Partnership Spotlight: William & Mary * 23:45 — Join the National New Civic Path Book Circle (June 2, 2025) * 26:23 — What’s In It for You?  * 33:14 — Real Examples: How Book Circles Sparked Ripples of Change Links to Learn More  * Register for The National Book Circle [https://bit.ly/nationalbookcircle] * Blog: Choosing Hope: Reflections From a Podcast Conversation on Civic Possibility [https://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/blog/a2a/choosing-hope-reflections-from-a-podcast-conversation-on-civic-possibility.html] Connect Beyond The Blog The Harwood Institute [https://theharwoodinstitute.org/] Facebook: Rich Harwood  [https://www.facebook.com/richharwood] Instagram: Rich Harwood [https://www.instagram.com/rich__harwood] LinkedIn: Rich Harwood [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcharwood/] Join The Journey