Carol Swartz: Jeannette Rankin Peace Center
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
Release Date: 08/03/2021
Erwin Rocha
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
This week’s episode comes from Anaheim, CA. We are sitting down with Erwin Rocha. In December of last year, Annette met Erwin’s mom, Nelly, in Homestead, FL. Annette kept her word that when she made it to the west coast, she would connect with Nelly’s son. Two months and 2800 miles later, it happened! “Erwin Rocha, husband, father, police officer, Mentor, music producer, and follower of Christ. I'm just an ordinary guy trying to make the world a better place by serving the community. As a seventeen-year veteran police officer, I have been inspired to mentor at-risk youth and their...
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Faithbound
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
Today’s episode comes from San Antonio, TX. Annette sat down with Desmond and Mary. Desmond’s late wife and Mary’s sister Debra, founded Faith Bound Street Ministry in 2015. Their Mission Statement starts with a quote from the Bible. It states in Deuteronomy 15:11 "For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you shall open wide your hands to your brother, to the needy, and to the poor." Faith Bound Street Ministry is committed to extending their hand and opening their hearts to every individual they serve. Their mission is to help restore the...
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Vincent Robinson
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
Today's episode is Vincent Robinson, in San Antonio Texas. Vincent was born in San Antonio Texas. He came from a broken home that dealt with a lot of mental health issues along with alcoholism in his family. At the age of 14 he joined a local gang and began to go down a troubled path. In 1991 Vincent was shot in the lower back (spinal cord) and it caused neuropathy in his lower body. As a result he couldn’t walk for almost a year. After recovering from the gunshot wound he continued down a spiraling path that led to him to seven years of his life incarcerated. Ten years ago he gave his life...
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Paula Gonzalez
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
This week's episode comes from Katy, TX. (Maria) Paula Gonzalez was born in Bogota Colombia and moved to the USA in 2001 when she was just 10 years old. Paula has always been a very positive person; very athletic and outgoing. Maria is also a boat propeller survivor due to an accident that occurred on July 28-2018 in lake Charles Louisiana. The boat propeller cut her leg into pieces. She was airlifted from Lake Charles to Shreveport, LA where she flatlined two times. Maria spent three long months in the hospital. She endured 23 surgeries, skin grafting, blood transfusions, dialysis, as well...
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Lita Edwards Benduhn
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
Lita Edwards Benduhn, owner of Metamorphosis Ink in Dunedin FL motto is “Transforming scars, transforming lives, one drop of ink at a time”. Lita has worked with cancer patients creating masterpiece mastectomy tattoos, cutting and scar coverups, burn victims, and a variety of skin scarring that most tattoo artists shy away from. Lita provides a safe space for her clients to share their stories and works with them to transform their scars into beautiful works of art.
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Ramiro Romires
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
In this episode we're sitting down with Ramiro Ramires. Ramiro came to the US in his early 20s and worked hard in the tomato fields as well as numerous other jobs. He later became a member of the maintenance team at the Everglades Alligator Park. Hard work, determination, and a mind set on succeeding, Ramiro saved until he was able to open his own business. His story is inspiring and a great example of all things Beautiful Strength!
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Nelly Martinez
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
In this episode, Annette sits down with Nelly Martinez. Annette met Nelly at Robert is Here Fruit Stand in Homestead, FL. After a few minutes of fruit education and a killer milkshake recommendation, Annette invited Nelly to see the bus and participate in the Beautiful Strength project. She landed her first job in the US because she spoke from her heart and rightfully won over the owner. She proved she was worthy, smart, and dedicated. Here is Nelly’s story which we were only able to scratch the surface.
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Heather Belle Tattoos
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
In this episode we sit down (ok technically Annette is getting a tattoo at the same time!) with Heather Belle, a tattoo artist from Columbia, SC. Belle has always been into art since she was a kid, but tattooing wasn’t legal in South Carolina when she was younger so she had no career path planned out. She was the outcast, artsy kid that everyone thought was weird. She kept at it and now Heather tattoos people’s lives, things they love, people they love, memories, hobbies, etc. It's definitely beautiful!
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Susan Naylor - SPCA Brevard
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
"We sit down in Titusville, FL with Susan Naylor who is the Associate Director at SPCA Brevard. SPCA’s mission is to protect and provide a voice for homeless animals. They believe “You won’t change the world by saving an animal, but you will change that animal’s world.”
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Carol Morris - Happy Place Market & Mercantile
Beautiful Strength: The Podcast
Carol Morris has always dreamed of opening her own store. She took that opportunity once Covid slowed down. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis a bit over six years ago and needed to switch her work environment to reduce her stress level and spend her days in a place that felt like home to her. That is why she calls this My Happy Place. She hopes you call it that too!!
info_outlineIn this episode Annette sits down with Carol Schwartz from the Jeanette Rankin Peace Center in Missoula, MT. JRPC’s mission is working together for nonviolence, social justice, and environmental sustainability. They believe Peace must include the way we each live our lives and the thoughts, actions and speech that supports peace (nonviolence), the way we treat others (social justice) and the way we treat the planet (environmental sustainability).
The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center is a resource to engage the community toward this goal. We focus our work on conversations that matter, connections with others and education. Together we are learning to BE the change!
Find out more about the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center at jrpc.org