Building A Stomping Ground

Nicia Fullwood and Shannon Riley, the founders of Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy (BELA) join me for a conversation about the potential of partnership and the power of sisterhood. BELA is an all-girls charter high school in Brooklyn NY.  At BELA, girls receive more than an education, they find a home. They are challenged by a rigorous curriculum while surrounded and supported by the attention of a community that cares deeply and is committed to both their academic and personal success. In this safe and nurturing space, they are empowered to be their authentic selves and to fulfill their individual promise. Nicia and Shannon are both deeply thoughtful and powerful leaders, they inspire me daily and create a deep sense of community everywhere they go.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region is a regionally-operated and locally-funded non-profit organization that serves New York's Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties. They create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Lisa O'Sullivan joins me on the podcast today to share the power of mentorship and how these relationships can help youth reach their full potential.

In this episode, I’m joined by Maggie Fronk, the executive director at Wellspring. Wellspring supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Saratoga County, offering a comprehensive range of services and support, Maggie has been working in social service organizations for a very long time, and with her extensive experience and profound insights, Maggie brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. One of my favorite parts of our conversation was how Maggie illuminates the connections between so many different organizations, she says "We're all working with people." Maggie Fronk is a deeply dedicated and fiercely wise leader who we all have so much to learn from.

After-school care, homelessness prevention and support, emergency assistance, free summer meals, and so much more! CAPTAIN is a beehive of activity with folks working endlessly to support the Capital Region. Fern Hurley is the Executive Director and an incredibly kind leader. She has tons of experience in non-profit work and is deeply passionate about supporting the community where she is from. As a volunteer-driven organization, CAPTAIN strives to be a recognized leader in finding effective solutions to social issues in the communities they serve. CAPTAIN Community Human Services supports and empowers people of all ages to reach their goals of personal growth and self-sufficiency. They strengthen communities.

The Franklin Community Center has been a steadfast support pillar for the Saratoga community providing a diverse range of services to assist those in need. I'm joined by Abbie Aldrich who shares about their food pantry, afterschool support (Project Lift), holiday assistance, housing support, and so many more ways Franklin Community Center is providing support. Abbie has such a vibrant way in which she cares for her community, she is from Saratoga and works tirelessly to create opportunities and access. We have been partnered with Franklin for the past couple of years and are so grateful to have an organization so close to camp that is deeply committed to our community.