Serving Denton

The Serving Denton podcast features conversations with local leaders who are on the front lines of solving some of Denton County's most pressing issues. It's a produced by Serve Denton, a nonprofit center that partners with nonprofits and makes it easy for people to find help.

To learn more about Serve Denton, visit our website at http://www.servedenton.org.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/servedenton

Instagram: @servedenton

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Texas is one of the biggest hubs for human trafficking in the world. Serve Denton's partner, Refuge for Women, is on the front lines of rescuing and rehabilitating women who have been victims of human trafficking.

Homelessness is one of the most recognizable issues in our community. Listen to this week's episode of Serve Denton Weekly to learn how the HOT Team is helping.

Our parks are essential to making Denton a better place. But how? And how can we continue to make them better? Brooke Moore, Executive Director of the Denton Parks Foundation, discusses this with us on this week's episode.

When children are removed from their homes by CPS because of abuse, they often leave with nothing but the clothes on their back. How do they get the necessities that they need? That's where Rainbow Rooms come in. Operated by Community Partners of Denton County, they make sure children have all of the items they need for the traumatic and difficult transition they have to make.

It's been a difficult time for a lot of people. Following the winter storm, we received many calls for help. This episode with our Client Navigator Ana Rodriguez tells the stories of three people who recently needed help and called us to find it.

Many people don't believe they are creative, especially people who are at a disadvantage. But expressing your creativity can be therapeutic and even provide a way out of difficult circumstances. Grace Like Rain is launching a new program called ReFresh Designs to provide space for people to be creative and refreshed.

41% of veterans live with mental health challenges. Recovery Resource Council helps them and their families live a better quality of life.

There are over 1,000 children in Denton County's foster care system. Who advocates for these children to end up in the safest possible environment after they have been removed from their home and family? Court Appointed Special Advocates walk with children during a difficult and traumatizing experience to help provide the best outcome for their future.

It's Black History Month, and not many people are familiar with Denton's Black history. From the move of Quakertown to the exclusion of Black people from jobs and proper education, knowing Denton's Black history is crucial to helping form a more equitable and just community. This week, we talk with Linnie McAdams, Denton's First Black Woman City Council Member. She was on the front lines of helping integrate Denton's schools and push for a more equitable Denton. She talks about Denton's history with racial issues and how we can move forward together as a community.

As the pandemic rages on, so does the food crisis. Tom Newell and Denton Community Food Center have been on the front lines, feeding hungry people since the beginning. Learn how big the food crisis is in our community today, how food pantries have worked together to meet the needs, and how you can help.

There is a lot of new information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. New vaccines are being distributed. New variants are making their way through communities. What are we to make of all of it? Dr. Jason Siegel - MD of Health Services of North Texas joins us to help us understand what is happening and how we should respond.

During this pandemic, many students are having to choose between their healthcare, a job, and their education. North Central Texas College is trying to change that. They want their students to be able to receive an education without worrying about their healthcare. On today's episode, Tracey Fleniken is talking to us about how they are helping.

When we think about making a difference in our community, we don't often think about how our businesses can give back. But that's exactly what Huffines Subaru has done.

Human Trafficking is a complex issue and it's happening right here in Denton County. C7 Human Trafficking Coalition joins us to talk about what you need to know about it.

Last year created huge problems for individuals, the community, and nonprofits. This year, there will still be big problems. 

You don't need us to remind you that 2020 was an incredibly difficult year. In the last episode of 2020, we want to take some time to reflect on the year, the people in need, the nonprofits that helped them, and what to expect moving forward.

Shiloh Field is the largest community garden in America and it is right here in Denton, TX. Also, all of the fresh fruits and vegetables go to feeding the hungry in our community.

Some children struggle to develop the things that many of us take for granted: walking, talking, eating, and more. My Health My Resources (MHMR) helps children with developmental delays and their families.

There is tremendous need in Denton County. But what issues are people facing? In this episode, Serve Denton's Client Navigator Ana Rodriguez shares 3 stories of people who came to Serve Denton looking for help and were able to find it.

1 in 5 homeless people are veterans. 22 veterans commit suicide every day. Why is this? How do we help them? David Jordan understands because he's a veteran who used to be homeless. And now he helps homeless veterans get back on their feet and reintegrate into the community.

What if you could impact a child’s future? What if your presence in a child’s life could be the difference between dropping out and having a future full of opportunities? That’s what Communities in Schools specializes in. They pair mentors, coaches, and tutors with children in schools to help them stay in school and thrive.

How do you get out of poverty? That's what Community Services Inc. helps people do. They provide the resources and guidance needed to help lift people out of poverty. Listen to this great conversation with Regional Manager Rachel Adetokunbo about poverty, it's causes and it's solutions.

Nonprofits are on the front lines of helping people in need, but often times they are limited in their resources. Not having what they need can make it difficult to serve the people who need them most. Kinsey Adamson works with Serve Denton's partners to help them do more of what they do best so they can serve more clients and fulfill their mission.

Having legal issues can be a huge barrier to getting back on your feet. But there are barriers to being able to get that legal help in the first place. That's why RISE: Reaching Individuals through Service and Education is a team of attorneys who is helping people remove their legal barriers and keep moving up in life.

An unplanned pregnancy can cause much fear and uncertainty in a woman's life. Woman 2 Woman is there to help women know their options, make informed decisions, and support them along the way.

When you age out of the foster care system, you are expected to become an adult with no family support. This leads to all sorts of problems down the road. Brandy Coty founded Zoie's Place to help women transition from foster care to adulthood.

While it's inevitable that people have immediate needs to be met, often needs are more chronic and need more attention than a one-time handout. Vision Ministries takes a long term approach to meeting people's needs. They walk with individuals, customizing care for them to help them get back on their feet.

The Rotary Club has been serving Denton for over 40 years. Through volunteer projects and fundraisers—like their famous flags—they have made Denton a better place for a long time. In this week's episode, I talk with the President of the Denton/Lake Cities Rotary Club, Brian Glenn.

The 2020 Census is still underway, but whether you have completed it or not, you may not understand how important the census really is. On this weeks episode, we talk with Dr. Rudy Rodriguez and Tyheshia Scott, C-Chairs of the 2020 Complete Count Committee, about how high the stakes are for the 2020 Census.

It's difficult to think about moms being homeless with their kids, but this is a reality even here in Denton County. Grace Like Rain works to help them get back on their feet. This week, I talk with Michelle Connor, Founder & CEO of Grace Like Rain, about how they do that and how you can get involved in helping them too.

One of the most difficult topics to talk about is child abuse. But Children's Advocacy Center for Denton County is working hard to bring light, hope, healing, and justice to children who have been victims. This week, I talk with Kristen Howell, CACDC's CEO, about how they are doing just that.

Mental health has become a topic that people have become increasingly aware of. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues have risen by staggering rates. It's important to take care of your mental health while staying home to take care of your physical health. This week, I talk with Kayla Whitworth, LCSW, Lead Behavioral Therapist at Health Services of North Texas about how to do just that.

Senior citizens are some of the most overlooked members of our community. Something like a normal house repair for us might mean life or death for them. Susan Frank founded Hearts for Homes to take care of them. In this episode, we discuss the needs of the elderly and how you can help.

When we think about human trafficking, it can seem like an issue that is out there. But human trafficking is happening in North Texas as a whole and even here in Denton. And it doesn't always look like what we think it does. Abby Germer, the City Director of Refuge for Women North Texas, talks with us about what human trafficking looks like in Denton County, what they are doing about it and how you can help.

One of the biggest conversations our nation is having right now is how to have school during a pandemic. While there are no easy answers, I talk with Julie Zwahr, Chief Communications Officer of Denton ISD, about our local district's current plan and how they are planning to help the students and families that are in need.

Education can be the door that unlocks an array of opportunities for someone. But often, that education simply isn't affordable or easily accessible. On this episode, I talk with Tracey Fleniken, Senior Director, NCTC Counseling and Advising Services, about how community college can provide that education in a way that anyone can do.

21% of Denton County is food insecure. And the needle is moving in the wrong direction. There is more that goes into feeding the hungry than you might think, but there is a part that we can all play. In this episode, we talk with the Board Chair of Denton Community Food Center, Tom Newell, about this issue and how you can get involved.

Homelessness is one of the most visible issues in Denton. It's also one of the most complex. Giving Hope Inc. works on the front lines of solving this issue. In this episode, Ian Harber interviews Tyheshia Scott, Executive Director of Giving Hope Inc. to learn more about homelessness in Denton, how they are being effected during the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can help.

Doreen Rue is the CEO of Health Services of North Texas. In this episode, we talk about where we are now in the coronavirus pandemic, what our new normal will look like and how we can all stay safe and protect others.

Pat Smith is the founder and CEO of Serve Denton. In this episode, we discuss how COVID-19 has affected our lives, how nonprofits have responded and how you can help during this time.

Serve Denton Weekly is a new podcast interviewing local leaders who are on the front lines of helping those in need in our community. It brings you insightful discussion, awareness of local issues and ways for you to help. Hosted by Ian Harber, we will release new episodes every Monday. You can  subscribe to automatically receive the newest episodes.

Here is a preview of the podcast and our first episode featuring Serve Denton CEO Pat Smith.