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

Episode 76 Martha Marak - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Martha Marak, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:32 1. Martha, you are the Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana.
 
In a little while, we will get more into the details and specifics of your work at the Food Bank. But before we do, let’s start here today. For the more fortunate and/or moneyed people in our community, paint a picture of what food insecurity looks and feels like for many of our residents in Northwest Louisiana.
 
3:23 2. The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana is the largest distributor of donated food for our 7 parish area and one of only five food banks in the state. You sort, warehouse and distribute food to over 150 non-profit organizations, shelters and churches in the seven-parish region of Caddo, Bossier, Bienville, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, and Webster.
 
Simply put, you oversee one of the most important nonprofit organizations in our community whose mission is to serve as the primary resource for fighting hunger in Northwest Louisiana.
 
What are the Food Bank’s greatest challenges today and for those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?
 
13:03 03. I know from preparing for today’s discussion and taking in all the different information on your website that the Food Bank offers a number of different programs. Talk to me about 2-3 of your key programs, whether it’s the Backpack Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Senior Program or other programs altogether.
 
26:33 4. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?
 
31:12 5. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction as a community?

Episode 75 K.C. Kilpatrick Baird - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

K.C. Kilpatrick Baird, Founder and Executive Director of Geaux 4 Kids and Project Geaux Bags, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:32 1. KC, you are a true hero in this community and I find your story so inspiring and so moving.
 
Your nonprofit, Geaux 4 Kids, Inc, the one that you started, recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Let’s explain the work that you do and the genesis of how it got started. You once said,
 
“The reality is I always wanted to be a mama…One of my greatest fears was I wasn’t going to be able to have my own biological children and that fear came true. With that said, the dream of having children then expanded. It expanded to foster care.”
 
Tell me about Hallie-Stella and Jayden and how you first conceived of Geaux 4 Kids and Project Geaux Bags.
 
11:17 2. In 2020, Geaux 4 Kids, Inc., headquartered in Caddo Parish, officially went statewide, distributing Geaux Bags to all 64 parishes.
 
You once said the following in describing the thought behind Geaux Bags, “They (the children) have already been through the worst that life has to offer, honestly. While adults try to figure it out, we can at least give them those items, that dignity, that hope.”
 
Tell me about some of the contents of the bags.
 
16:07 3. Where are the contents for your bags housed, how are the bags put together and how are they distributed?
 
19:11 4. I know a lot of people who have interest in starting a nonprofit. Talk a little about biggest challenges to starting a nonprofit and any other words of wisdom you would like to share for people who are thinking about embarking on that path.
 
34:02 5. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?
 
37:06 6. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction?

Episode 74 US Attorney Brandon Brown - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

US Attorney Brandon Brown sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:44 1. Let’s start today with a bit of a civics lesson.
 
On December 10, 2021, you were sworn in as the US Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. You are one of 94 US Attorneys who serve as the chief federal law enforcement official in each of the 94 US federal judicial districts. U.S. attorneys must be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, after which they serve four-year terms.
 
For us lay people, define the role of the US Attorney.
 
7:49 2. Gangs are one of the main contributors to our current crime issues. In July of this year, your office announced the indictment of 24 individuals associated with the Shreveport Street Gang, Step or Die or SOD. Talk to me about this indictment. Also, give me a little of the lay of the land of the current gang situation in our community - how many there are, how close are we to diffusing their impact, etc.
 
18:15 3. In August of this year, you announced the appointment of Jason Waltman to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Tell me why this appointment is important and how it will assist in our efforts to reduce crime in our community.
 
25:46 4. In addition to the things I’ve mentioned, can you talk about some of your current priorities and initiatives?
 
34:10 5. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction in terms of reducing drug trafficking, violent crimes and other issues plaguing our community?

Episode 73 Emerie Holtzclaw - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Emerie Holtzclaw, Owner of Lagniappe P.R.I.M.E., LLC, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:38 1. I don’t know how you do all that you do. You are and have been involved in so many aspects of our community that I can’t even begin to list everything. But let me at least hit a few of the high points.
 
You are the market manager at Shreveport Farmers Market, chairman of the marketing committee for the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival and vice president of membership for the Public Relations Association of Louisiana’s Northwest Chapter.
 
In short, as the owner/operator of Lagniappe P.R.I.M.E., LLC, you are a community crusader, epic event planner and business management, public relations and marketing professional.
 
You and I know each other but I didn’t know your story, how you got to where you are today, before preparing for today’s discussion.
 
So let’s start here. Take me back and tell me about your journey that led you to become the owner of Lagniappe P.R.I.M.E.
 
7:55 2. Imposter syndrome, how do you prove that you really know what you're telling people they should pay you to do or to know for them?
 
9:40 3. Talk to me about some of the things that for you make a great event?
 
11:55 4. Walk me through some of your process and approach to putting on a successful event?
 
13:01 5. Where does one find a community calendar?
 
15:38 6. As you look around our community, what concerns you the most?
 
19:10 7. Do you feel like we have too many events, not enough events, or a good number of events for a community of this size?
 
22:28 8. What makes you optimistic that we are headed in the right direction as a community?
 
39:12 9. Talk about your role as Director of Marketing for Red River Revel?

Episode 72 Ben Whalen -”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Ben Whalen, Owner of Clean Slate Botanicals, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:32 1. Like many of our local entrepreneurs, you first made a name for yourself at the Shreveport Farmer’s Market.
 
You have intentionally and patiently grown a community around your brand and your products. Talk to me about how you view building community and some words of wisdom you would give other entrepreneurs about creating a demand around your product.
 
10:28 2. You once said, “A lot of people are struggling with skin care issues - eczema, psoriasis, rosacea. So our natural skin care products, like our body butter and our face care products are really popular.”
 
Tell me about the different products you offer.
 
13:54 3. Clean Slate Botanicals opened in the Andress Artist & Entrepreneur Center in September 2022. It’s an incredible space you have and I encourage everyone listening to go visit you there. You are open at 717 Crockett Street Mondays through Saturdays from 10AM to 6PM.
 
You also manage a great website and sell at other venues around the community. Where else in town can people find your products? Can they order online? What else should I tell people who are wanting to know more about your products and services?
 
22:04 4. Talk to me about interactive retail, as well as the candle pouring experience.
 
27:32 5. As someone who has been in the trenches, what can this community do better to support entrepreneurs?
 
31:26 6. Lastly, as you look around the community, what makes you optimistic that we are headed in a positive direction?

Episode 71 Erica Bryant - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Caddo Parish Administrator and CEO, Erica Bryant, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Nortwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:37 1. On April 20, 2023, you were appointed Caddo Parish Administrator and CEO, after working with the Parish since 1997.
 
Let’s start today, just explaining some structural things. There are 12 Caddo Parish Commissioners who serve four-year terms and represent constituency that encompasses approximately 900 square miles.
 
Talk about the role of the Caddo Parish Administrator and some of how you work with the commissioners and provide management oversight of all Caddo Parish functions.
 
3:20 2. Can you talk about some of your current priorities and initiatives?
 
7:21 3. You have served in different roles with the Parish. You began as the Assistant Director of Finance, then worked as the Director of Finance and Human Resources for 16 years and spent the last four years as the Assistant Parish Administrator. You are the first African-American woman to be appointed Caddo Parish Administrator and CEO.
 
You once said, “I appreciate the role women leaders have played in my career development and I want to encourage and inspire future women leaders.”
 
Can you talk about some of the female leaders who have mentored or inspired you?
 
11:26 4. What are some ways the Commission has changed in the 26 years since you first began working with the Parish?
 
15:34 5. Lastly, as you look around at our community, what gives you hope that we are making progress and headed in the right direction?

Episode 70 Dr. Toya Graham - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Dr. Toya Graham, Executive Director of the Carolyn W and Charles T Beaird Family Foundation, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:41 1. Toya, since 2014 you have served as the Executive Director of the Carolyn W and Charles T Beaird Family Foundation, one of the largest and most impactful family foundations that our community has. Just in 2022 alone, the foundation awarded over $1.5M to nonprofit organizations.
 
The foundation has two grant cycles, a Fall Cycle and a Spring Cycle. Let’s start here today. Talk to me about some of the kinds of projects the foundation is looking to fund.
 
5:24 2. One of the reasons we started this podcast is to help our community cultivate a healthier self-image by highlighting the important work taking place amongst us that people may not know about, like the work you are doing at the Carolyn W and Charles T Beaird Family Foundation.
 
On this podcast we have also spoken a lot about how to become a stronger community. In your opinion, how do we do a better job of moving from a “me” to a “we” community?
 
12:35 3. A recurring theme on this podcast is also our identity as a community - who we have been, who we are are and what we are trying to become.
 
For friends of yours who maybe have never been to Shreveport-Bossier before, how do you describe this community, this place that we all call home.
 
16:18 4. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?
 
23:52 5. On the flip side, what makes you optimistic that we are making progress as a community?

Episode 69 Dr. Jayda Spillers - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Chancellor Dr. Jayda Spillers sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:43 1. In December of 2022, after being a high school principal and the parish Career Technical Education supervisor, you became the chancellor of Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (or NLTCC). NLTCC has three locations – one on North Market near 220 in Shreveport, and locations in Minden and Mansfield.
 
At NLTCC, you teach people how to make a living.
 
Let’s start here today. What are some of the “employable” skills a student can currently learn at NLTCC?
 
7:44 2. NLTCC is one of 12 community colleges in Louisiana’s community and technical college system.
 
Many people are more familiar with the term “Vo Tech” than they are “Technical Community College”. Talk to me about the shift away from the term Vocational-Technical or Vo-Tech.
 
10:26 3. You once said:
 
“There is no excuse to walk across our stage without receiving a diploma in one hand and have an employment in the other hand.”
 
I know you are working with local businesses to get your students placed. Can you speak some about that process?
 
15:15 4. Are most of the programs at NLTCC two-year programs? And are they online or in person?
 
22:35 5. NLTCC has students of all ages, including high school students who are participating in dual enrollment, as well as older adults who are interested in furthering their careers or exploring new career opportunities.
 
Talk to me about the age breakdown of your students. And for someone who is contemplating furthering their career or exploring a new career, what’s the best way to learn more about the numerous opportunities at NLTCC?

Episode 68 Nell Shehee - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Community activist Nell Shehee sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:33 1. In 2022, you partnered with KTAL NBC 6 to launch the “Operation Kindness” initiative. Tell me about the genesis of this initiative, its mission and some of how it works.
 
6:33 2. I’ve asked other guests a similar question. How do we move our community more from a “me” community to a “we” community?
 
9:00 3. As you know, like you I have a very strong and fearless mom. In fact, one of her heroes, biggest role models, and one of the few people she looked up to was your mom, Virginia Shehee.
 
You once said the following in speaking about your mom:
 
“Virginia Shehee was a phenomenon. She was a mother, she was a businessperson, she was a philanthropist, she was a politician. She was a do gooder. She was, to some people, an angel. She cared about people very much. And I am very proud to be one of her four children.”
 
I know your mom has had a major influence on you. Can you talk about some of the lessons she taught you and some of the ways her legacy drives and guides you today?
 
18:55 4. As you look around our community, what concerns you the most?
 
20:44 5. What are some of the things that give you hope that we are headed in the right direction as a community?

Episode 67 LeVette Fuller - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Community activist LeVette Fuller sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:31 1. LeVette, in my opinion, you are one of the top thinkers abut community that we have. You see our problems, you see our strengths, and I could talk to you for hours and just be scratching the surface.
 
I’m going to try today at least to hit some of the high points.
 
Let’s start here today. Talk to me about sprawl and land use and how the two pertain to our community.
 
4:54 2. With founding members Tim Wright, Luke Lee, and Chris Lyon, you created Re:Form Shreveport, whose mission is to build a stronger and more resilient Shreveport by growing a culture of engagement and trust between citizens, businesses, and government.
 
Re:Form Shreveport has achieved some great things. Talk to me about the genesis of Re:Form, how you all decided to start it and what the future holds for this important initiative.
 
16:50 3. One of the areas where you’ve been most passionate is trying to make our community a more welcoming environment for entrepreneurs.
 
What are of some of the areas where we are currently falling short in “being open for business”?
 
25:34 4. One of the things we’ve discussed on this podcast is our struggles as a community to define ourselves, to know who we are and to be proud of what we have and what we can be.
 
My question is, how do you see us? Or, in other words, what do you think our identity is as a community?
 
31:50 5. From 2018-2022, you were in the trenches, serving on City Council for District B. And last year you ran for mayor in the 2022 Shreveport Mayoral Race and one of your campaign sayings was, “We can believe in Shreveport”.
 
As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?
 
43:25 6. Lastly, what are some of the things that make you optimistic about our future?