Episode 12: Jake Goodman, Executive Director of The Opportunity Fund Part 2
Empower by Example
In our second episode with Jake Goodman from The Opportunity Fund, Jake and I talk openly about our personal struggle with imposter syndrome. As Jake states, in almost everything that we fund, people are going to do even if they don’t have access to the funds. We realize that the founders of these amazing programs and initiatives will run their programs without paying themselves. We become close with the people and programs we fund.
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Episode 11: Jake Goodman, Executive Director of The Opportunity Fund Part 1
Empower by Example
We have touched on the dark side of philanthropy on this podcast before, but Jake and I take a deep dive here. How did we get here and how do we do these jobs with the knowledge that our daily lives are surrounded by privilege? And what does it look like to work with us? Our organizations have many parallels, but we are at different phases in our process creation.
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Episode 10: Michael Yonas, Director of Research and Special Initiatives for The Pittsburgh Foundation
Empower by Example
In this episode, we discuss Michael’s role at the Pittsburgh Foundation. His grant making portfolio is broad and varied, and his interpersonal relationships with funders bring many engaged and creative outcome-driven solutions. His work with Michelle McMurray (https://pittsburghfoundation.org/michelle-mcmurray) has been instrumental to The Rock Family Foundation and how we partner with other organizations
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Episode 9: Tammy Thompson, Executive Director, Circles of Greater Pittsburgh
Empower by Example
Tammy is a Poverty Expert, Nationally Sought After Speaker, Executive Producer of We Wear The Mask, a documentary released in 2017 highlighting the stigma associated with women in poverty and The Owner of T3 Consulting and T3 Media.
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Episode 8: Michelle Walker, Walker Philanthropic Consulting Part 2
Empower by Example
We discuss what we can all be doing to support gender and racial equity in our day to day lives. Michelle speaks to what needs to change in the philanthropic communities in order to further racial and gender equity. We should consider who holds the power, what systems are we working in, and how can we highlight these inequities in the actual work.
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Episode 7: Heather Arnet, CEO Women and Girls Foundation of Southwestern PA
Empower by Example
Get to know Heather Arnet and her work at WGF!! From theater to branding to business development, Heather used her experience as a feminist/activist theater director to step into the role of CEO of a women’s fund that was founded in Pittsburgh in the late 1990’s. Arnet joined the organization in 2004 and she is a tireless advocate for women and girls rights locally, nationally, and internationally.
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Episode 6: Gisele Fetterman, For Good PGH
Empower by Example
Pennsylvania’s second lady, Gisele Fetterman, joins us to tell you all about her work in communities across the state. Fetterman is an empathetic, compassionate and courageous entrepreneur, as well as mother and wife to Lt. Governor John Fetterman. The Fettermans are a Pittsburgh power couple and they mix initiatives, relationship building, optimism and their incredible work ethics to make drastic positive changes in their hometown of Braddock, in the city of Pittsburgh, and throughout Pennsylvania.
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Episode 5: Michelle Walker, Walker Philanthropic Consulting
Empower by Example
Michelle spent 20 years working in the nonprofit sector before starting her own firm, Walker Philanthropic Consulting. She has been instrumental in the founding and operation of The Rock Family Foundation, and her expertise and insights help to shape and guide our strategies and initiatives. Michelle wants to help you fight the apathy that is rampant in our world. She specializes in helping individuals participate in philanthropy in the ways that work best for your life.
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Episode 4: Julius Boatwright, Steel Smiling
Empower by Example
Julius Boatwright is the CEO of Steel Smiling, an organization that bridges the gap between community members and mental health support through education, advocacy and awareness.
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Episode 3: Kathi Elliott, Gwen’s Girls
Empower by Example
In this episode we discuss the results of the Inequities Affecting Black Girls in Pittsburgh and how the Alliance works together to change longstanding policies in these systems. Kathi discusses examples of issues such as the school to prison pipeline, the adulteration of black gils and having honest conversations with high school students.
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Episode 4 - Julius Boatwright, Steel Smiling https://www.steelsmilingpgh.org
Show Notes
Get ready to go DEEP in this episode. Empaths, I am talking to you. Julius Boatwright is the CEO of Steel Smiling, an organization that bridges the gap between community members and mental health support through education, advocacy and awareness.
Beams to Bridges is Steel Smiling’s flagship program that launched in September 2019 that empowers black community members in the Hilltop neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, PA to become mental health champions. The demand that they had for the program far exceeded their expectations.
In this episode we discuss spirituality, relationships, the emotional state of mental health advocates and how Julius began doing this important work. He tells us about his challenges regarding separating the work from his mental and physical self. We speak about difficulties and gaps in non-profit programs from funding to capacity building to the lack of quality time to work with clients. He shares his own struggles with depression and anxiety and one very tragic reason that he was called to this mission. Julius shares his raw, authentic take on how he works to live outside of a victim mentality and what it means to be a “savior” and a “founder”. What does it look like to remove ego from your work, and what can we activate in others by letting go of total control and ownership?
We discuss how you can’t evaluate and measure all that a non-profit has to offer, and we lament the current systems Check out Julius’ advocacy for mental health in the black community here: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/07/08/Julius-Boatwright-The-traditional-mental-health-system-is-failing-the-black-community/stories/201907080004
You can also find him on
IG: https://www.instagram.com/julboatwright/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SteelSmilingPGH/
Personal FB: https://www.facebook.com/julius.a.boatwright
Twitter: https://twitter.com/julboatwright
Music by Buscrates (https://www.instagram.com/buscrates/?hl=de)