On today's episode I speak with Ayan Hersi and Amy Do, Board President and Vice President of All Girls Everything Ultimate, also known as AGE UP.AGE UP is a nonprofit organization South Seattle that uses Ultimate Frisbee as a catalyst for ch

Parent Allies for Reunification – Parents for Parents

Jun 29th, 2020 57m 7s

Navigating the child welfare system can be a daunting task, even for seasoned professionals. There are layers of regulations, policies, state laws, and industry jargon. It's enough to make your head spin. The power dynamics in a courtroom ar

Parenting towards equity, inclusion & antiracism – Families of Color Seattle

Jun 15th, 2020 1h 4m

Every parent hopes to have the support of their friends and family as they grow in their parenting. Parenting advice, resources knowledge and a helping hand are key to "parenting success". For families of color however, the support and resour

Preserving our past, present & future through performing arts – Red Eagle Soaring

May 25th, 2020 51m 12s

On Today's Episode, I'm joined by Russell Brooks, Executive Director at Red Eagle Soaring. We talk about the work of Read Eagle Soaring, its impact on Native Youth and what inspired him to pursue filmmaking.

A Nurse’s vision of family-centered palliative care for children.

May 12th, 2020 28m 9s

My guest for this episode is Suzanne Gwynn, Executive Director at Ladybug House.Suzanne shares her vision for family centered palliative care for children and how Ladybug house is supporting families dealing with end-of-life care.Suzanne ha

Community support in the midst of crisis

Apr 27th, 2020 39m 4s

I'm back after a long break adjusting to the "normal" this pandemic has thrust on us.My guests this week are Alice Casson and Amber Lindamood of Hand in Hand. Alice Casson serves as the Executive Director of Hand in Hand, after 9 years of volun

Giving Youth Voice through Photography

Mar 16th, 2020 46m 51s

Today's guest is Samantha Kelly Executive Director of Youth in Focus. Youth in Focus provides a supportive and inclusive community with a sense of belonging and safety for youth from a variety of backgrounds. Their programs help youth find th

Breaking the Cycle – Ending Domestic Abuse

Mar 2nd, 2020 49m 35s

Domestic violence impacts a wide range of people in the community. Survivor's lives can be impacted for years, but so can the lives of their children, friends, family and even their pets.For many survivors, the emotional and psychological abu

It Takes A Village – Healing through Multi-Generational Communities

Feb 17th, 2020 49m 30s

On today’s episode I sit down with Helen Lakeru, President of Many Lights Foundation and talked with her about their mission to heal the pain of abuse and neglect in children by providing children in kinship and foster care with permanent hom

Disrupting the Nonprofit Sector

Feb 3rd, 2020 52m 33s

Welcome to Nonprofit Luminaries, I'm you're host, Anibal Ruiz, today I get the privilege of sharing my conversation with Vu Le, author of Nonprofit AF and former executive director or Rainier Valley Corp. Vu has a passion for making the world

Mobilizing Youth Toward Advocacy

Jan 20th, 2020 46m

I'm back with a new episode after a short holiday break. Here's hoping for a great 2020 for you, your friends and loved ones.Think back to your high school days. What took up most of your time and energy. If you were like me it was sports

Using Education to build Vibrant & Equitable Communities

Dec 16th, 2019 42m 23s

The future belongs to you. That's the refrain we usually give to young people as a way to encourage them to engage in complex societal conversations or to push them forward to take their studies and other responsibilities more seriously. But

Improving Foster Care Through Community Support

Dec 2nd, 2019 48m 53s

Foster care is a complex subject and an even more complex system that has a goal of keeping children in safe and stable homes. Most people don't understand what foster care is and for a lot of people, their understanding is shaped by misinform

A Refuge of Healing and Transformation

Nov 15th, 2019 45m 18s

All of us want to belong, to be a part of something or some place where we are valued, where our contributions make a difference and where we are appreciated. We all want a place where we can nurture and grow our relationships and where we are

A Little Bit of Magic: Horses, Healing and Happiness

Nov 1st, 2019 36m 7s

Since their domestication approximately 5000 years ago, horses have played an important role for humanity. They have carried soldiers into battle, pulled wagons and tilled fields, Herded cattle, and provided a mode of transportation. In other c

Community Building through leadership development

Oct 18th, 2019 55m 23s

Communities of color have a unique set of difficulties due to systemic injustices. racism, red lining, gentrification and other societal issues that contribute to those communities being at a disadvantage. How do you combat that? You get t

Grief, Loss, and Photography

Oct 4th, 2019 55m 56s

All of us experience grief. None can escape the fact of death or suffering that exists all around us. Often our grief is aided by a cherished memory, a photo or a gift from a loved one that has passed. However, for some families, the cause fo

Using Music to Champion for Equity

Sep 20th, 2019 1h 8m

Music has been a tool for expression for a long time, a way to communicate opinions, emotions and express identity. In some cases, music has helped us rally against oppression, uniting us under and anthem of advocacy and empowerment. Music ca

What if we understood each other’s differences?

Sep 6th, 2019 53m 45s

Imagine a school where children with disabilities are understood by their peers. A school where incidences of bullying decrease because children empathize with one another. What if children weren't left out of activities because they don't loo

The origins of Nonprofit Luminaries

Aug 23rd, 2019 13m 52s

Today's episode is a brief overview of the origins of Nonprofit Luminaries, how it got started, what I hope to accomplish and how you can help support the podcast and the organizations that are featured.I'd love your feedback, message me on a

Out of the Shadows: Confronting Human Trafficking in our communities.

Aug 9th, 2019 58m 30s

According to the Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 11,000 cases of human trafficking reported last year.11,000 cases of forced labor, sex trafficking, forced marriages, domestic worker abuse. All cases of people, often minors, being explo

THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF REFUGEES – Beth Farmer – Refugees Northwest

Jul 26th, 2019 32m 53s

On Today's Episode, Beth Farmer, Program Director at Refugees Northwest shares how Refugees Northwest supports asylum seekers and refugees.Refugees Northwest believes that every person forced to flee war, persecution and terror can heal, thr

Creating welcoming communities for Immigrants and Refugees – Debbie Lacy – Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition

Jul 12th, 2019 47m 29s

On Today's Episode, I talk with Debbie Lacy, Executive Director of the Eastside Refugee and immigrant Coalition (ERIC). She shares what ERIC does and how her mother's experience inspired her to pursue her masters in social work and become an ad

A place for those found in the space in between – Jake Prendez – Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery

Jun 28th, 2019 39m 38s

For Episode 6, my friend, Jake Prendez, joins me to share his story as an artist, activist, and community art gallery owner where he hopes to support marginalized communities through artistic expression.Jake is a renowned Chicano artist, cura

Mikaela Chandler – Skookum Kids

Jun 14th, 2019 50m 56s

My Guest for episode 5 is Mikaela Chandler of Skookum Kids.Mikaela Chandler is the Advocacy and Policy Coordinator at Skookum Kids, a foster care focused non-profit in Bellingham. She moved into her role last August after previously working ful