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Good2Give Podcast

Nesha Mason, The Drake House

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Nesha Mason, The Drake House (Good2Give Podcast, Episode 9)

Nesha Mason, President of The Drake House, joined this episode of the Good2Give Podcast. The Drake House is a nonprofit operating in North Fulton, focusing on assisting single mothers and their families who face homelessness. Hosts Maria Walden and DePriest Waddy interviewed Nesha on the history of the Drake House, its programs, and the impact it has had on the community. Founded following a realization of the homelessness crisis affecting single mothers in North Fulton, the Drake House provides emergency and transitional housing, financial literacy, and community support to empower single mothers towards independence. The organization has evolved to offer comprehensive support, including a fresh market and a professional women’s career network. The conversation covered volunteer opportunities, fundraising events, and how the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia supports the Drake House through partnerships, funding, and resources, emphasizing the importance of community support in addressing homelessness and financial vulnerability among single mothers and their children.

The Good2Give Podcast is presented by the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.

Nesha Mason, President, The Drake House

Nesha Mason is a dedicated leader with a rich and diverse background in education, operations management, and community engagement. With experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors, Nesha has consistently demonstrated her commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Her passion for community service and helping others has led her to roles in public service, education and nonprofit leadership. Mason served as the first female African American Mayor of Abilene, Kansas. In this role, she focused her efforts on planned growth and government transparency for residents. Mason chose not to seek reelection, opting to pursue alternative certification to be a K–12 educator. After serving as a teacher at Haynes Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, Mason served as Executive Director of a state-wide educational foundation connecting high school students to the hospitality industry.

In her current role as President of The Drake House, Nesha Mason combines her leadership skills, educational expertise, and commitment to community welfare to lead and support initiatives that empower families and create lasting positive change.

Under Nesha’s direction, The Drake House has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its programming. Her strategic insight and commitment to holistic support have propelled the organization from providing shelter to a two-generational approach to overcoming homelessness and financial vulnerability. This shift has been pivotal in ensuring that families not only find housing but also receive comprehensive resources to transition towards independence and stability.

In her personal life, Nesha has been married for 23 years and is the proud parent of five adult sons. Nesha and her husband currently reside in Roswell, Georgia, where they continue to be actively involved in their community.

The Drake House

The Drake House is a 501(c)3 organization that works to respond to the growing number of women and children experiencing homelessness in North Fulton. They involve members of our community in the effort to keep single mothers and their children united under one roof as they work toward self-sufficiency.

The Drake House helps women with children overcome the circumstances of homelessness with dignity while keeping their families intact. In response to the changes in our post-COVID world, The Drake House has adapted its programming to help the families we serve acquire housing and achieve financial self-sufficiency.

Graduates of their program work, pay taxes, rent apartments, purchase groceries, attend faith-based organizations, and hopefully, one day, become homeowners. They are equipped to be good employees, tenants, and neighbors. When given the opportunity, some even use their story to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and take advantage of all the services The Drake House has to offer them. As they continue their work to improve their program and campus, The Drake House does so with the expectation that the results will lead to more graduates, more resilient children and teens, and ultimately, a stronger community.

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Topics Discussed in This Interview

00:00 Welcome to the Good2Give Podcast
00:36 Introducing Nisha Mason from The Drake House
01:57 The Drake House: A Beacon of Hope for Single Mothers
03:21 Expanding Support: From Emergency Housing to Financial Literacy
10:39 The Importance of Community and Sponsorship
22:12 Volunteering, Funding, and How to Get Involved
30:08 Upcoming Events and How to Support The Drake House
33:23 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

The Good2Give Podcast celebrates the work of donors, nonprofits, and the causes they care about. DePriest Waddy and Maria Walden-Sullivan are the show’s hosts, and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is the presenting sponsor.

The Good2Give Podcast is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. You can also find the show on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many others.

At the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, everything they do centers around one purpose: improving the world through the power of philanthropy.

On a fundamental level, they do that through managing funds held in trust, donated by individuals, organizations, and businesses. Most funds are donor-advised funds, similar to savings accounts. These funds are pooled for investment purposes, and their income is used to make grants for a wide variety of charitable purposes.

But the Foundation’s goals extend far beyond managing funds. They desire to strengthen the communities they serve in Gwinnett, Northeast Georgia, and beyond by providing leadership, addressing community needs, and assisting individuals and organizations with their charitable giving.

Connect with CFNEG:
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Phoenix Business Radio

LADIES LEADERSHIP CIRCLE Arizona YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix

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LADIES LEADERSHIP CIRCLE Arizona YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix

In 1858, YWCA formed in the United States with women’s residences opening in New York and Boston. A long history providing social services and creating a platform of equality led the YWCA to Arizona in 1912. YWCA Maricopa County’s (YWCA) mission is dedicated to eliminating discrimination, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Since 1912, YWCA programs have educated, advocated for, fed, and provided vital support to vulnerable members of our community. Our clients are low-income women and their families, seniors, and disabled adults in Maricopa County. The specific community issues YWCA programs address are elderly hunger in Glendale, financial instability, and empowering women.

Last year we served 612 unduplicated seniors through our congregate meals program, 588 unduplicated seniors through the YWCA Meals on Wheels program and 70 unduplicated seniors received rides through YWCA assistance to the Dial-A-Ride program. We provided over 10,870 rides to seniors and disabled. Each weekday, nearly 1,200 seniors receive a nutritious, hot meal through our services. Annually the YWCA serves over 100,000 meals to seniors and disabled. The YWCA also provides over 1,800 programs and activities to seniors and disabled.

In addition, more than 516 women and teens graduated from the YWCA financial education program, Own It. The graduates learned strategies and gained tools on how to increase their financial security and their family’s stability. We provided Own It free of charge to over 40 other non-profits and organizations. The YWCA works collaboratively with other non-profits and organizations to change the lives of financially disadvantaged women and the families in our community.

Each year the YWCA hosts the Tribute to Leadership. More than 350 guests attend annual the Tribute to Leadership Gala where 10 Community Leaders were honored. Last year, 550 people attended the YWCA Women’s Empowerment Series Luncheons, and 298 women attended the Young Women Forum events for emerging professionals. Total number of people touched through all YWCA programs for 2016-17 was 2,497. The YWCA is proud of our accomplishments and positive and lasting effect on the lives of so many in our community.

Dr. Regina Edwards has spent 25 years in higher education and non-profit service, including service at Arizona State University, University of Nebraska, Brown Mackie College, Paradise Valley Community College, Kapiolani Community College, and the University of Hawai`i. Her background includes research focused on middle managers, developing academic, professional and community programs, staffing, organizational structure, budgeting and program implementation. Her past experience includes work in the areas of institutional advancement, communications and grant writing.

A first generation college student, she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and her Doctoral degree from the University of Hawai`i, Manoa. Dr. Edwards spent several years working on the University of Nebraska’s Lincoln campus and in the NU system office focusing on outreach, external relations and strategic planning. She also served in the Nebraska Governor’s office evaluating legislation affecting higher education, revenue and gaming. She is a Founding Director and Board Member of Republic Bank of Arizona, Board Chair for the PV Emergency Food Bank and longtime community volunteer.

Dr. Janet G. Elsea is Founder and President of Communications Skills, formed in 1978. Consultant, public speaker and author, Janet Elsea is an international expert in communication, executive development and leadership skills. Recent clients include: Arizona Republic, BlueCross BlueShield of AZ., Copper Point Mutual Insurance, Cox Communications, Henkel, Honeywell, I/O Data and Qualcomm, as well as various government agencies and non-profit organizations. She also provides coaching in communication skills, leadership development, presentation and media skills to corporate executives and political leaders.

A renowned authority in the management of first impressions, Dr. Elsea is the author of First Impression, Best Impression (Simon & Schuster), translated into Dutch, French, Japanese and Spanish. Her work has been published in Personnel Journal, Chemical Laboratory Management Review, San Diego Business Journal, AZ Meetings and Events, Physician Assistant, Food Management Review, North Dakota Quarterly and the Washington Post.

Member of the American Society for Training and Development, she was named Professional of the Year and Consultant of the Year by the Phoenix Chapter. Dr. Elsea is past President of Charter 100 and served on the Governor’s Commission to Prevent Violence Against Women. She is a graduate of the FBI’s Citizens’ Academy. She was given a Spirit of Philanthropy award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals for her work with the AZ Animal Welfare League. Dr. Elsea received the YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix highest honor, the Dorothy Willey award. She chairs its Leadership Giving Council.

Janet Elsea received her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and her B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of California at Davis. She is a lifetime member of the National Communication Association.

ABOUT LADIES LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

Ladies Leadership Circle (LLC) is brought to you by the women who lived it, in partnership with Phoenix Business RadioX. LLC radio is an empowering program for any woman as any topic which affects women will be discussed and “brought to you by the women who lived it.” Since everything in today’s world affects women every topic is up for discussion such as health, family, faith, career, parenting, community, education, government, pets, cooking, shopping and the list goes on and on. The LLC mission is simple: we are women inspiring and thriving to celebrate and find a happy positive world while maneuvering and|or facing head on the challenges we face.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

JoAnn Holland‘s experience in different business environments over the past 33 years both for profit and non-profit, including internationally, and in small, medium and fortune 500 companies in addition to her community engagement has given her a unique perspective on leadership-one that contradicts much of what is out there already on the subject-and is reflective of the kind of female leader we need in today’s, at times, unstable and unpredictable business environment, family life, community outreach and political arena. JoAnn is the curent President and CEO for Central Phoenix Women, Scottsdale Women, East Valley Women and North Valley Women – organizations for women who have established themselves professionally and demonstrated their commitment to the community. Members are individuals who wish to enhance their leadership by connecting with like-minded women to share information, ideas, contacts and opportunities. Members value relationships that enhance their business, social and community endeavors.

jchollandco@gmail.com
Linkedin.com/in/JoAnn-Holland/

For more than 25 years, Karen Nowicki has been helping organizations and the people who lead them drive their business strategies more effectively and as a result her clients move from success to significance. In 2008, she was awarded the “Mompreneur of the Year Award” for the Southwest. Karen is a published author, accomplished speaker, and trusted adviser to business owners, senior executives and educational leaders. In 2016, Karen and her partners sold $99 Social to Wired Investors, affording her the opportunity and time to become a Studio Partner for Business RadioX – serving Arizona-based businesses by increasing their visibility and helping to accelerate the right relationships.