Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home

Episode 96 Jamon Turner - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Chairman of Just Believe Training, Jamon Turner, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:33 1. I know you do a lot of different things. Let’s start here today. You once said the following:
 
“We’re a youth program. We host these really wild camps where kids get to kick loose, meet new friends. You know, city kids, country kids merging, learning about each other.
 
See, we’re kinda like the superhero of camps. We learn about agricultural trades, horses, cattle. All sorts of that fun stuff, you know. We don’t just do western stuff. We go hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking. Pretty much anything outdoors. See we’re the middle man for the kids who can’t. Who don’t have access to these opportunities. We find them, we plug ‘em in, we take ‘em.”
 
Tell me about the camp described above and then we’ll get into some of the other programs Just Believe offers.
 
2:30 2. Your nonprofit, Just Believe, provides hands-on equine and agricultural education programs along with trade introduction for youth. Tell me how it started.
 
6:25 3. You once said the following,
 
“It takes $49,000 to keep a kid incarcerated all year long. You can literally run 32 kids through my program at that for 10 weeks.”
 
Talk to me a little about the quote above and perhaps some of the rehabilitative aspects of your programs.
 
12:20 4. Tell me about some of the other programs offered by Just Believe.\
 
15:41 5. There are so many people you've impacted through the years. Give me a story of one kid who has gone through your program, who they were and who they became.
 
24:10 6. I asked my guests last week this and I wanted to ask you:
 
Will you share a story of a preconception you had or a gap in understanding or awareness that you had that has been changed because of all your time working with Just Believe?
 
28:02 7. How do you see an equine program being beneficial to the community?

Episode 95 Rolanda Hewitt - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

3rd Grade Math and Science Teacher, Rolanda Hewitt, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:35  1. You are a 3rd grade math and science teacher at University Elementary School. In your career, you have received numerous awards for your work, including Teacher of the Year twice and Teacher of the District in Caddo Parish.
 
I am so excited to have you, not only because of the wealth of experience you bring to today’s discussion but because you are our very first public elementary school educator in 90 plus episodes.
 
Let’s start here today.
 
Teaching school is one of the most important careers one can take on but also one of the more challenging. What are some of the things you personally do to stay resilient and keep from burning out?
 
5:50  2. What is it like working in a school post COVID?
 
14:48  3. I know that the environment created at a school makes a huge difference in teacher retention. Talk to me about this and some of the factors that determine whether teachers thrive and remain focused versus factors in the environment at a school that might lead to job dissatisfaction?
 
23:56  4. What is the biggest challenge as an educator today?
 
30:39  5. How can community members get more Involved in helping with the challenges our educators face? What opportunities exist to be mentors, tutors, etc?

Episode 94 Vicki and Matt Whitehead - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Common Ground Youth Program Directors Vicki and Matt Whitehead sit down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:36 1. You are the Youth Program Directors at Common Ground. How did you first get involved with this extraordinary nonprofit?
 
8:13 2. Common Ground is doing something this year that very few nonprofits have the opportunity to do – celebrating its 20th anniversary! Common Ground was founded as an outreach program of Grace United Methodist Church to Cedar Grove residents.
 
Tell me about Thursday nights at Common Ground.
 
14:21 3. Tell me about 2-3 of your other programs.
 
29:42 4. A couple of years ago I had Clay Walker on this podcast. At the time he was the Director of Juvenile Services for Caddo Parish. He explained that the number one factor for the 66 kids who were repeat offenders in detention was that they did not have a single pro-social adult in their life. Not a parent, not a grandparent, not an aunt, not an uncle, not a principal, not a teacher, not a coach, not a pastor, not a mentor.
 
I know that mentoring is such an important aspect for the kids you serve through Common Ground.
 
For those listening and thinking I really want to get more involved in strengthening my community, tell me about the type of mentoring activities you offer.
 
37:58 5. Volunteering is all about giving back. But often what happens during volunteering is we actually gain more educationally and/or emotionally than the people we are assisting.
 
Will each of you share a story of a preconception you had or a gap in understanding or awareness that you had that has been changed because of all your time working with Common Ground?

Episode 93 Glenn Kinsey - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Businessman and Community Philanthropist Glenn Kinsey sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:28 1. I could cover so much ground with you here as you and your family presently and historically are one of the most important families in the Shreveport-Bossier community.
 
Let’s start here today.
 
You have said that your dad, Norman’s, greatest business achievement was the founding of transcontinental gas pipeline. Tell me about this.
 
3:02 2. Your mom, Peggy, was a force for this community. She believed passionately in education and garnered numerous awards and recognitions in her lifetime for her extraordinary community involvement.
 
Tell me about Peggy and some of her incredible work to make our community better.
 
4:42 3. Together with your siblings, you own and manage Kinsey Interests, a family office active in oil and gas, real estate, timber, and public and private equity, based here.
 
Kinsey Interests employs almost 500 individuals in North Louisiana and over 5000 individuals across the globe through their direct investments in more than 35 companies.
 
I have heard people describe our community and the process of trying to address some of its challenges as eating an elephant, one bite at a time.
 
As a family who is extraordinarily philanthropic and always giving, talk to me some about your process. How do you determine where to focus your efforts and contributions in a community that could use so much investment, attention, and support?
 
19:48 4. You know, from previous conversations that we’ve had that I’m a huge fan of the documentary you helped put together several years back.
 
Tell me about the Soundbreaking project. How it came about and your involvement with it.
 
25:56 5. In 2011, your father Norman received the very prestigious honor of Louisiana Legend. During his acceptance speech he ended with the following,
 
“Although I have had the means and the freedom to locate practically anywhere on the planet, Shreveport and LA is my choice.”
 
What keeps you and your family here and so committed to this community?

Episode 92 Dr. Gary Joiner - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Historian Gary Joiner sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:26 1. Gary, you are one of our community’s foremost historians. Among numerous other things, you are the chair of the department of history and social sciences at Louisiana State University in Shreveport and the author or editor of 38 books.
 
I’m just going to jump right in today as I want to pick your brain on several different questions.
 
First off, one of the recurring themes of this podcast has been trying to understand why so many in this community have a negative self-image about Shreveport-Bossier as their city and home. I was at a meeting last week and someone even characterized this pervasive sentiment as a disease.
 
As someone who knows where we’ve been about as well as anyone, when did this “disease” start? Have we always had it? And what do you attribute it to?
 
16:38 2. Maybe not a super deep question. But as I delve more and more into the work on this podcast, I can’t help but think in your words that “history matters” and that one reason we may lack self-respect is because we’re not being taught who and where we’ve been locally.
 
I know when I was growing up that I took Louisiana History as an eighth grader. But are we being taught local history, Shreveport-Bossier history, in our schools and if not, why not?
 
22:40 3. Give me one of your favorite stories about our community’s past that many people locally are probably not aware of.
 
31:43 4. It was recently announced that LSU Shreveport and KTAL/KMSS have partnered to create the Caddo Parish Civil Rights Heritage Trail project. The series will identify the people, places, and events that significantly impacted the Civil Rights Movement in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
 
In describing the project, I read a description on KTAL’s site of historic trauma. It says the following:
 
“Historic trauma has the power to destroy people, families, communities, and cultures. And though these subjects are difficult to discuss, historical literacy (digging into history from multiple perspectives) is crucial to understanding the lives, joys, hopes, dreams, misfortunes, and fears of those who came before us. And understanding those who came before us can help us do something significant: understand ourselves.”
 
Tell me about the origin of this project.
 
55:04 5. Tell me about the Clio App and what’s the best way to follow this project as it unfolds.

Episode 91 Dr. Betsy Boze - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Academic and Higher Education Administrator Dr. Betsy Boze sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:25 1. Betsy, you are one of our great local success stories. Graduating from Byrd High School, you went on to become (to name but a couple of the prestigious positions you’ve held), the president of the College of the Bahamas and CEO and Dean of Kent State University at Stark. 
 
Through our discussion today, I want to learn about you but I also want to lean on you to get your perspective on a number of things Shreveport-Bossier related.
 
Let’s start today with a fun fact that most people probably don’t know. In 1970, you were responsible for the first recorded flying of the Earth Day flag. Tell me about this.
 
2:49 2. As I said I want to lean on you for your perspective, as someone who has lived in eight countries what do you think is holding us back from becoming one of the next, great medium-sized cities in America?
 
4:54 3. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction as a community?
 
6:45 4. Not too different from my second question. But if someone came to you and said, you can have any three new additions to the Shreveport-Bossier community if your children and any children they may have will commit to stay and live in Shreveport-Bossier, what would those three additions or changes be?
 
9:26 5. Two major themes of this podcast are who are we as a community and why do so many people in this community struggle with Shreveport-Bossier as their city and home. I’d love to hear your perspective on both of these questions.
 
What is our identity in Shreveport-Bossier, in your opinion?
 
11:56 6. To what do you attribute the prevailing negative self-image we often find among the people who live here?
 
15:07 7. Is there anything else you would like to share or talk about?

Episode 90 Chancellor Robert Smith - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Chancellor of LSUS, Dr. Robert Smith, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:36 1. You came to Shreveport after serving six years as Provost of Valdosta State University in Georgia.
 
You once said, “LSUS is one of the few institutions, regional universities, that you can find in this country that is not struggling.”
 
Let’s start here today. Talk to me about what is meant by the “Enrollment Cliff”.
 
2:15 2. I read where LSUS has the most graduate students of any university in Louisiana. Talk to me about how LSUS has been successful in avoiding the enrollment cliff.
 
3:37 3. For people who are not technology savvy at all and hear the word "online" class, what does that mean exactly? How does that work?
 
7:56 4. I believe one of the goals of the administration is to attract more face-to-face students. Talk to me about some of the challenges the university faces in achieving that goal.
 
12:14 5. Talk a little bit about the relationship between LSUS and LSU Health.
 
14:02 6. At the end of May 2023, you were named the new chancellor of LSU Shreveport. In addition to all that we’ve discussed, talk to me about some of your priorities and initiatives.
 
21:00 7. For someone listening to our conversation who says I have an idea of where I think LSUS should plug in or a gap they can fill, what's the best way to get into contact with the university?
 
23:03 8. In preparing for today’s discussion I learned something fascinating, that you are a first-generation college student.
 
With roughly half of LSUS's undergraduate students self-identifying first-generation, talk to me about how the University is taking a proactive role in addressing the needs and concerns of this student population.

Episode 89 Barbara Joseph - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Executive Director of the North Louisiana Jewish Federation, Barbara Joseph, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:28 1. Barbara, you’re the Executive Director of the North Louisiana Jewish Federation. I want to get into the Federation and all that they do locally. But before we do, I’d like to start here today.
 
We’ve talked quite a bit on this podcast about how to do better creating and accepting a multi-ethnic Shreveport.
 
Let’s talk about being Jewish in Shreveport-Bossier. Approximately, how many Jewish families do we have locally?
 
2:46 2. How many synagogues do we have, where are they located and when do they meet for services or religious school?
 
6:28 3. The North Louisiana Jewish Federation protects and enhances the well-being of Jews and Jewish communities in North Louisiana, the United States, Israel and around the world, striving to realize its core values of:
 
Ḥesed (caring and compassion),
Torah (Jewish learning),
Tikun Olam (repair of the world), and
Tz’dakah (social justice)
 
On October 7, 2023, Israel suffered the deadliest attack on its country since the country was established in 1948. Tell me about the current status of Israel and for people listening today, what should they understand and how can they help?
 
14:28 4. We’ve been hearing a lot in recent weeks/months about antisemitism on college campuses. Can you help us better understand what is happening across the country and why some universities are allowing this type of sentiment and these types of demonstrations?
 
23:50 5. Lastly, as you know I am on the Advisory Board for the LSUS Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as it is commonly known). You were recently one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected to participate in an important INAR initiative, its first capacity building cohort.
 
INAR strives to elevate the future of the nonprofit sector through transformative education, impactful research, and professional development.
 
Tell me about your experience in the cohort and why it was an important initiative for you to be a part of.

Episode 88 Donny Jackson and Tim FitzGerald - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Shreveport Youth Boxing Club's Coach Donny Jackson and Tim FitzGerald sit down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:38 1. Our community consist of too many families who suffer from generational poverty and too many young people who lack mentors and role models.
 
We will get into all the nuts and bolts later today of the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club. But let’s start here.
 
Coach Donny, you once said, “A lot of these kids…no one has taken the time.” It seems kind of obvious, but why does taking the time with these kids matter?
 
1:57 2. Coach Donny, why do you do it? What drives you to be a mentor and role model for these kids?
 
3:15 3. Tim, tell me about the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club, how and why Coach Donny and you started it?
 
6:52 4. Paint me a picture of what the experience will be like for someone walking into the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club for the first time.
 
8:38 5. Who is welcome to use the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club?
 
9:57 6. I would love to hear from each of you on this, what is the one thing so far that you have learned from your experience with the kids in the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club that has most surprised you?
 
14:38 7. The kids that come to you, what can they expect to learn?
 
18:54 8. Lastly, how do we create more mentors and role models in our community?

Episode 87 Jon Soul - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

Outdoor Educator Jon Soul sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:32 1. Jon, you’re involved in numerous aspects of our community, with a focus I would say on education, our environment and outdoors, and just an overall effort to strengthen Shreveport-Bossier by providing healing knowledge and activities for our residents.
 
Let’s start today with your interest in the Red River.
 
Like many of us, growing up you were told to stay out of the river because it’s dirty and dangerous. We are so fortunate to have a river that runs right through the middle of our city.
 
Why are we underutilizing and undervaluing our river while cities like St. Louis, Austin, Little Rock and Oklahoma City have embraced their rivers and used them to transform their downtown areas and city centers?
 
8:12 2. We hear a lot here about, how do we attract more people and companies to Shreveport-Bossier? Also, how do we get more residents to feel comfortable spending time downtown?
 
In that same vein, my question for you, and I really think it’s an important economic development subject is, how do we get more people on the Red River?
 
14:36 3. Since 2008 you have taught at the Montessori School of Shreveport and been deeply involved there, including starting the Coates Bluff Nature Trail.
 
How did you first become involved in this beautiful expanse of nature in the middle of our city?
 
37:01 4. Dionne Procell-Brown, a close friend and collaborator of yours once said, “If we want folks to love Shreveport, to care about this place, then why wouldn't we protect the area where the first settlement and trading post and post office was? Why wouldn't we take care of the oldest African-American cemetery that's right off the trail?”
 
Tell me about the Friends of the Coates Bluff Nature Trail and your current efforts.
 
45:13 5. In preparing for today’s discussion, I came across you describing some of your interest and work as place-based education. For the lay people out there, I put myself in that group, what is place-based education? And what value could more place-based education have for our community?