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

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?

Episode 66 Dr. David Guzick - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Dr. David Guzick, Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:35 1. On January 9th of this year you became the new chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport. You are a renowned clinician, medical scientist and health economist and this community is very fortunate to have you.
 
Even though I grew up here, it has only recently become clear to me how lucky Shreveport-Bossier is to have a health science center like LSU Health Shreveport. I believe it is only one of 155 medical schools in the nation accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
 
I read that, “Two out of every three physicians in Louisiana are LSU alumni. For every new doctor who joins the workforce in Louisiana, there is an additional $2 million in economic impact on the state.”
 
My first question is can you talk to me about the “virtuous circle”?
 
6:05 2. Clarify a little bit, if you could, your position in the entire system and how you work with the Ochsner piece and how it is configured and set up?
 
8:03 3. What are some of the current research strengths at LSU Health Shreveport?
 
10:15 4. Can you talk about some of your current priorities and initiatives?
 
16:49 5. Can you talk about some of the things that will take place in the new Center for Medical Education and Emerging Viral Threats due to open later this year?
 
19:35 6. You were born in New York City and grew up in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.
 
New people moving to a community are invaluable for so many reasons. Chief among those, in my opinion, is the fresh set of eyes they bring. It is hard to define oneself or even one’s community, you are too close to the subject. But the newly arrived, because they are viewing things from the outside, can often see more clearly.
 
So with all of that, what do you see when you look at Shreveport-Bossier? Or in other words, how do you describe this community to your friends and family who have never been here before?

Episode 65 Mike Nolan - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Mike Nolan, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport's Pediatric Trauma Coordinator, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:25 1. In May of 2022, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport started a new program for teens and families affected by gun violence. The program is called PROTECT, which stands for Providing Resources and Outreach Tools for Every Child and Teen.
 
Mike, you serve as Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Pediatric Trauma Coordinator and once said,
 
“If you look at all of our patients who are pediatric patients who come in with traumatic injuries, 26% of them are due to firearm injuries. The national average is 8%. So, we are more than 3x the national trauma center’s average in terms of the proportion of our pediatric patients to come in with gun-related injuries.”
 
Let’s start here today. We will get to the details of how the PROTECT program works but first tell me about the genesis of PROTECT. How did the idea first come about to start the program?
 
2:17 2. I read that you had assistance from a mentoring facility in St. Louis. And that they’ve reduced their-re-injury rate from 40% down to almost 4% with their program and helped untold numbers of families.
 
How did you work with this facility in St. Louis and how did you first become aware of their program and work in this area?
 
3:38 3. For the lay person out there who perhaps has never met a young person impacted by gun violence, paint a picture for me of what life looks like for some of these patients you come into contact with through PROTECT.
 
4:51 4. I’ve read where you have said that gun violence should be treated as a public health issue and that PROTECT is taking a public health approach.
 
The program’s goal is to heal youth impacted by gun violence by providing resources like mental health services, shelter assistance and mentoring.
 
Walk me through some of the services provided by PROTECT and take me through what a potential case may look like and how you would work with a patient.
 
12:02 5. I came across another quote from you where you said:
 
“We don’t have housing for them, but if the child or teenager decides, ‘When I get out of school every day, I don’t want to go hang out in these same places,’ where’s a safe place for them to go? So now we’re partnering with SPAR to get a route in the community to do things like that.”
 
I know we are in need of more mentors and more after-school programs for our community. Do you see signs that we’re making progress in these areas?
 
13:17 6. I know you are providing wraparound services for these gunshot victims through PROTECT. Can you talk about some of your community partners as well as the areas where you could still use partners and support?

Episode 64 Clint Davis - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Clint Davis, Clinical Supervisor/Clinician at Clint Davis Counseling & Integrative Wellness, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:28 1. You are such an important mental health professional in this community, involved in so many aspects of helping our residents. Today I want to cover some of the different services you provide at Clint Davis Counseling. But before we jump too far in, I want to quickly share something with you and get your thoughts or reaction.
 
I have had a good bit of counseling throughout my life and believe that one of the key steps in therapy is just the process of sharing thoughts and feelings and getting them out on the table to be discussed. I feel like we’re hopefully doing some of that for our community with this podcast.
 
Do you believe that providing a space to air out thoughts and feelings is an important part of the counseling process?
 
3:37 2. One of our previous guests and friends of yours, Cassie Hammett, once said this in speaking about you,
 
“Clint helps people truly become who they were created to be, coaching people to have a sound mind and process through things from the past that may be affecting them now.”
 
Talk to me about the quote above and some of your particular approach and process.
 
8:46 3. I was at dinner with my parents and I told them I was having you on as a guest today. My dad said can you ask him a question for me. \
 
For someone who doesn't have a network of psychologists or counselors and feels like they need some help, what sort of recommendation do you have for the general public in terms of taking the first step in receiving some assistance?
 
15:54 4. On the Clint Davis Counseling & Integrative Wellness website, there is a list of the different services you provide. They are:
 
• Trauma Therapy/EMDR
• Marriages And Families
• Drug, Alcohol, And Sex Addiction
• Play Therapy
• Eating Disorders
• Creation Therapy
• Business Coaching And Counseling
• Groups And Educational Seminars
• Adoption And Foster Care Support
• Massage Therapy
• Anxiety and Depression
• Grief Counseling
• Temperament Analysis
• Nutritional Counseling
• Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
 
Would you mind maybe choosing three of the abovementioned services and providing a little more information about the work you do in those areas?
 
25:35 5. Maybe three or four weeks ago, we had Carolyn Hammond in here who is the new CEO of VOA. She said something that stuck with me.
 
We're now trying in schools with ACEs to teach teachers instead of asking a kid, "Why are you doing that?" to "What happened to you?"
 
How does ACEs factor in to your work?
 
31:45 6. I knew you were involved in a number of different organizations in town, that you regularly give talks and seminars and of course, that you provide counseling services. What I didn’t know before I began my research to prepare for today is that you also oversee a podcast entitled “Asking Why”.
 
You have done an impressive 90+ episodes to date. The description about you and the podcast says,
 
“Asking Why is a podcast hosted by Clint Davis, an army veteran, ordained minister and licensed psychotherapist. Clint has a masters in marriage and family therapy and is trained in trauma, and sex addiction. He is also the Director of Recovery for The Hub: Urban Ministry which helps rescue men, women, and children out of human trafficking and poverty. Clint owns his own Counseling and Integrative Wellness Center, with 3 locations, with over 25 professionals from a wide range of modalities.”
 
Tell me about the podcast, how it started, how often you record it and anything else you would like to mention about this other important aspect of your work. 38:58 7. How does one know I've gotten enough therapy?
 
42:18 8. In general, should a male seek a male counselor and a female seek a female counselor?
 
50:05 9. As you look around, talk about some of the things you see that concern you the most about the state of our community?

Episode 63 Laura Gauthier - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Laura Gauthier, Program Director at The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:28 1. Laura, you are the Program Director at The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, a local non-profit organization helping families in Northwest Louisiana travel the bumpy road of Alzheimer’s and dementia. You are filling a critical need in our community.
 
Let’s start here today. For the lay people like me, can you explain the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?
 
1:16 2. At The Bridge, you provide resources, education and support services for our residents living with dementia. Can you talk about some of the different programs and services you provide at The Bridge?
 
3:07 3. At the Bridge, you prioritize and serve our caregivers. I read a statistic that about 40% to 50% of caregivers end up passing away before the person they’re caring for, due to not prioritizing their own health and wellbeing.
 
Can you talk about some of the different ways you support our caregivers?
 
5:55 4. Currently in Louisiana, there are 92,000 people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and that number will increase by 20% in the next two years.
 
Why are more and more people being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? What are some of the main contributors?
 
7:56 5. Are there things people can do potentially to help prevent getting dementia or Alzheimer’s?
 
9:08 6. As we get older, we naturally become more forgetful and have a more difficult time recalling information. As our loved ones watch our behavior or as we monitor ourselves, how are some ways to tell the difference between the natural course of aging and early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s?

Episode 62 Sister Sharon Rambin - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Sister Sharon Rambin sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:31 1. Sister Sharon, you have been a longtime advocate for accessible healthcare for children in Shreveport-Bossier. You once said, “A healthy community thrives.”
 
Today I want to talk about some of your impactful work and touch on the inspiring life of service you have led.
 
Let’s start here today. How did you first become aware that providing accessible healthcare to children in Shreveport-Bossier was such an important need in our community?
 
4:37 2. Your path to becoming a nun is not the most traditional I have ever come across. After graduating from LSUS, you worked in public relations before joining Channel 3 where you ultimately became a news producer.
 
You once said,
 
“I think all of us have a call to ministry. Growing up in Shreveport and Bossier, I’ve been given so much, and I’d like to return as much as possible.”
 
How did you come to make the decision that your life’s work would be giving back to our community?
 
7:37 3. In 1998, along with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, you founded the Renzi Education and Art Center. Talk to me about the beginning of Renzi, how you got involved in that project and how you knew it would serve such an important need in our community.
 
9:55 4. You have also spent your career advocating for the elderly and disabled in our community. Your mother was a nurse in Holy Angels’ baby nursery for several years and it was here that, as a child, you were introduced to the needs of disabled children and the life of religious Sisters.
 
Talk to me about your early memories of Holy Angels and, from your perspective, how we are doing as a community in taking care of our elderly and disabled?
 
13:10 5. This wasn’t one of my planned questions. But listening to you speak I have to ask you, and it’s a question I’ve asked some previous guests.
 
I feel like we’ve become, maybe here or a lot of places, we’ve become such a me community rather than a we community. As someone who is so community-minded, what kind of advice or what sort of recommendations would you potentially offer to help us maybe transition from a me community to a we community?
 
16:21 6. As you look around our community now, what concerns you the most? And what seems more challenging today than at other times in your more than thirty years of serving our community?
 
19:27 7. Lastly, on the other side of the last question, what seems better today and makes you optimistic about the future of our community?

Episode 61 Carolyn Hammond - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Carolyn Hammond, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volunteers of America North Louisiana, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:
 
0:29 1. In February of last year, after more than 12 years of service, you became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Volunteers of America North Louisiana, or VOA as many people know it.
 
VOA is one of the most important nonprofits in the Shreveport-Bossier community, offering more than 40 different programs for our residents.
 
At VOA, you serve four distinct populations – children and families, veterans, individuals with disabilities and seniors.
 
VOA has been described as a church without walls and I can’t imagine our community without the impactful work you do. We could talk for hours and just scratch the surface on all you do at VOA. But what I’d like to do today is at least create some more awareness of how you’re serving our children and families, our veterans, our individuals with disabilities and our seniors.
 
Let’s start with our veterans. Can you talk about some of the current programming VOA offers to provide better service to our veterans?
 
5:48 2. Similarly, can you provide some information about the programs VOA offers to serve those in our community with disabilities?
 
10:49 3. Our aging population, our seniors, also benefit greatly from programming overseen and provided by VOA. Can you talk about some of the ways VOA serves our seniors?
 
14:28 4. Then, of course, VOA does a tremendous amount of work for our children and families with programs like The Lighthouse and Communities in Schools. Can you speak about a few of these programs?
 
49:33 5. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?
 
52:08 6. On the flip side, on a more positive note, what are some of the things you see improving that make you optimistic about our community’s future?