Shared Prosperity Podcast

Description and show notes

On this episode, we speak with Antonio Mitchell, Director of Community Planning and Economic Development for the City of Kalamazoo. He discusses how he came to be involved in this work, local business development, community development, and what cities & municipalities can do to advance family prosperity.

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon,

Guest: Antonio Mitchell

Show Notes:

Description and show notes

On this episode, we speak with Alyssa Stewart, Chief Impact Officer from the United Way of South Central Michigan. We discuss the UWSCMI involvement with business development and continuing the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) work to advance family prosperity.

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon,

Guest: Alyssa Stewart

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with Dr. Trina Shanks – Director, School of Social Work Community Engagement, Harold R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work and Faculty Associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research – at the University of Michigan. Dr. Shanks’ research interests include the impact of poverty and wealth on child well-being; asset-building policy and practice across the life cycle; and community and economic development. As Director of the Center for Equitable Family and Community Well-Being, she continues ongoing research and intentionally seeks and responds to new opportunities that will empower families and communities to thrive.

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon

Guest: Dr. Trina Shanks

Show Notes:

Description and show notes

On this episode, we speak with Ramon Huerta, realtor and owner of Hunt for Homes, LLC and Darnell Clay, owner of Valley Vision Construction and Development, LLC. Both identify as minority contractors here in Kalamazoo, Darnell and Ramon share about their experience in the construction field in Kalamazoo and the need for minorities to be at the table in the field of trades. Ramon and Darnell are just completing their first full home builds on 1010 and 1014 N Rose, a partnership with Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, LISC and City of Kalamazoo. They are both passionate about mentoring others wanting to get into the trades. Melody also shares about training programs for neighborhood contractors to take their contracting business to the next level available through City of Kalamazoo's Business Development Fund. 

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon

Guests: Ramon Huerta & Darnell Clay

Show Notes:

Description and show notes

On this episode, we speak with Kama Mitchell, Executive Director of Rootead Enrichment Center.

Rootead engages community by offering culturally relevant dance, healing arts, somatic awareness, and curating spaces that reduce stress and invite healing.

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon

Guest: Kama Mitchell

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with Joshua Gray & Donovan McVey from Room 35. Room 35 is a consulting firm for entrepreneurs specializing in business strategy, coaching and ecosystem development. Room 35 is also a recipient of the City of Kalamazoo’s Business Development Fund (BDF). The BDF offers funding to local entrepreneurs and neighborhood businesses with 10 or fewer employees. This empowers local entrepreneurs, builds wealth, and adds job opportunities to the community. It also helps to create more complete neighborhoods. Joshua and Donovan discuss their entrepreneur journey and the importance of a strong local entrepreneur ecosystem.

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon

Guest: Joshua Gray & Donovan McVey

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) representatives Sarah Mansberger, Director, Workforce and Community Initiatives; Isaac Carter, Principal of the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Career Center; and Eric Stewart, Assistant Superintendent of Career and Talent Development about workforce development, expanding opportunities for youth, and why community involvement is important to both. The KRESA Center will be a centralized facility that hosts the majority of the county’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Courses at the Career Center will offer specific skill training and certifications for high school students in high-demand areas based on state and local market analysis and input.

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon,

Guest: Sarah Mansberger, Isaac Carter, & Eric Stewart

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with Frances Vicioso, Co-Director – Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) & Jen Heymoss, Vice President of Initiatives & Public Policy at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. TRHT is a community-based movement to bring about transformational and sustainable change to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism. The framework is inspired by truth and reconciliation processes that have taken place around the world, and it addresses issues ranging from cultural to more tangible transformations in institutions and policies.

Hosts: Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon

Guest: Frances Vicioso, Jen Heymoss

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with Daniel May, Founder of Dabney & Co., a new urban entertainment lounge opening up in Downtown Kalamazoo. Daniel is an entrepreneur at his core and is working hard to break down barriers for others like him in the entrepreneurship ecosystem here in Kalamazoo and beyond. He discusses what prosperity means to him and how he has carved a path in entrepreneurship. 

Host: Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guest: Daniel May

For Black History Month, both episodes this month will focus on the importance of black-owned entertainment spaces in our city and the need for diverse representation in business ownership and entrepreneurship as a pathway to prosperity.

On this episode, we speak with Patrick Horace, co-owner of Delish Supper Club, a private supper club located in Kalamazoo, MI. Delish Supper Club aims to provide a comfortable setting for superior dining and social interaction amongst likeminded individuals who desire great food, friendly conversation, and unique adult events.

Host: Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guest: Patrick Horace (Chef P)

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with Derek Miller & Rumeal Washpun from the Fatherhood Network (FHN) of Kalamazoo. The Fatherhood Network is a support group that is aimed at strengthening family relationships before, during and after the child rearing process. Research is clear regarding the impact fathers can have on mitigating negative life outcomes for children in poverty. These strong relationships not only improve individual and families, but communities as well. Be sure to check out this incredible conversation and the excellent resources in the show notes. 

Hosts: Kevin Ford & Melody Daacon

Guests: Derek Miller & Rumeal Washpun

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with Ebony White, Director of Racial Economic Justice for Prosperity Now about the racial wealth gap. As Lead Implementer of the Building High Impacts Nonprofits of Color Project, Ebony brings a unique perspective and lens drawn from her extensive experience in advancing race and culture through the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Project during her tenure at the Kellogg Foundation.

Host: Kevin Ford

Guest: Ebony White

Show Notes:

On this episode, Kevin and Melody discuss 14 habits of systems thinkers as put forth by the Waters Center for Systems Thinking. Systems encompass every facet of our lives, yet many do not understand the ways in which they are connected to produce impact. The Waters Center for Systems Thinking has produced 14 habits that people can develop to better understand and connect how to think about systems and leverage that thinking to change them. See show notes for more information. 

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Show Notes:

Sammi Graves is the founder and owner of BillPlay Apparel, LLC, a dynamic apparel brand specializing in urban street wear. On this episode, we hear Sammi's incredible story of entrepreneurship, how he built up BillPlay, taking it to the next level, and ways he is giving back to the community while running and growing his business. 

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guests: Sammi Graves

Show Notes:

What does addressing climate change, increasing graduation rates, and reducing poverty have in common? Collaboration and partnership. It takes both to accomplish and sustain long lasting community change as no single organization or effort can address the myriad challenges communities face. On this episode, Nicole Blum from the YWCA, Michael Evans from the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, and April Goodwin from Southwest Childcare Resources, discuss elements needed for effective, healthy collaboration and the Edison Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathway  project - a neighborhood based effort to expand child care availability and access through entrepreneurial support to community members who wish to obtain credentials in early childhood learning and development. 

Host : Kevin Ford

Guests: Nicole Blum, Michael Evans, April Goodwin

Show Notes:

The U.S. Collaborative of Poverty Centers (CPC) is a formal network of university-based poverty centers created because no single institution has the capacity to address the full range of issues related to U.S. poverty and inequality. On this episode, we speak with Kristin Seefeldt, Associate Faculty Director for Educational Programs at the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions Center about links between the policy and research communities and informing public policies that reduce poverty and inequality.

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guests: Kristin Seefeldt

Show Notes:

On this first bonus episode, we speak with Roosevelt Flemming, owner of The Drip. He provides powerful testimony about experiencing housing instability in two different states, system gaps, and his journey to entrepreneurship while raising a child. 

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guest: Roosevelt Fleming

Show Notes:

On this episode, we speak with the magnificent Melody Daacon, co-host of the SP Podcast, to discuss what drives her work and the importance of economic development in poverty reduction.

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Show Notes:

Accessing housing can be difficult for people experiencing financial insecurity. This is compounded when factoring in substance use disorder or having contact with the criminal justice system. On this episode, we speak to Gwendolyn Hooker, Executive Director of HOPE (Helping Other People Exceed) thru Navigation, a nonprofit helping populations with substance use disorder who've had contact with the criminal justice system. Gwendolyn shares her powerful story and experiences reintegrating into community and leveraging support systems to now impact lives via a tiny house project. A must listen!  

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guest: Gwendolyn Hooker

Show Notes:

Private sector businesses have a vested interest in being part of a thriving community. Aside from ethical concerns, businesses in thriving communities can improve their bottom line. Access to skilled workers who have a good quality of life (stable housing, opportunity access, good schools, quality childcare, etc.) helps businesses, families, and communities prosper. Communities with high poverty on the other hand, can curtail businesses prospects to be productive and competitive. Today we discuss 9 ways businesses can help reduce poverty.  

Host : Kevin Ford 

Show Notes:

Professor Bruce Western, Bryce Professor of Sociology and Social Justice and Co-Director of the Justice Lab at Columbia University, suggests that “neither the police, nor the courts, nor the threat of punishment create public safety. Instead, establishing and maintaining bonds of community produced by families, schools, employers, and churches and other community organizations reduces crime and creates public safety.” On this episode, we speak with community organizer against mass incarceration, Ed Genesis, to explore the ways the criminal justice system limits opportunities to prosper. 

Host : Kevin Ford

Guest: Ed Genesis

Show Notes: 

It is well documented that poverty decreases a child’s readiness for school through aspects of health, home life, schooling, and neighborhoods. Today we talk with Director of Community Collaboration for the Kalamazoo Promise, Cyekeia Lee, about working with community partners to align best practices, supports, and resources for Kalamazoo Promise students.

Hosts : Kevin Ford and Melody Daacon

Guest: Cyekeia Lee

Show Notes: