I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

When Salwa Kasabian transferred her children to a school many families were actively trying to avoid, she discovered something that would change the course of her life—and the lives of countless students across Folsom.

What started as volunteering in her children's classrooms revealed a hidden reality: many students lacked the support, structure, mentorship, and safe spaces they needed outside of school. Rather than turning away, Salwa stepped forward.

Eighteen years later, Folsom's Hope has grown from a simple Lunch Buddy mentoring program into a comprehensive nonprofit serving elementary, middle school, and high school students through after-school programs, academic support, mentorship, meals, social-emotional learning, and internships. Along the way, the organization has built powerful partnerships with schools, churches, local government, businesses, colleges, and community organizations—all focused on helping young people succeed.

In this episode, Salwa shares:

• How a denied school transfer changed her life
• The surprising needs hidden within an affluent community
• Why after-school hours are critical for student success
• The origins of the Lunch Buddy mentoring program
• How Folsom's Hope grew from a handful of students to a $700,000+ operation
• The importance of community partnerships and collaboration
• Challenges faced by schools that don't qualify for Title I funding
• Success stories of students who have returned to serve the organization
• New efforts to close academic gaps through summer intervention programs
• What the future holds for Folsom's Hope and the students it serves

This conversation is a powerful reminder that lasting change often begins when one person chooses to respond to a need they can no longer ignore.

Learn More About Folsom's Hope

🌐 Website: https://www.folsomshope.org/
📱 Follow Folsom's Hope on Facebook FolsomsHope and on Instagram @folsomshope

🤝 Volunteer, donate, or learn more through their website

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

For nearly 50 years, the Sacramento LGBT Community Center has been a place of support, advocacy, and belonging for LGBTQ people throughout our region.

In this episode, I'm talking with CEO David Heitstuman to discuss the remarkable transformation of the organization during his 15-year journey—from a nonprofit struggling to survive with one employee and just $6,000 in the bank to a multi-million-dollar organization serving thousands through health, wellness, housing, workforce development, advocacy, and community-building programs.

We talk about Sacramento Pride, youth homelessness, mental health services, the Center's ambitious capital campaign, and the challenges LGBTQ organizations face in today's funding environment.

Most importantly, David shares a powerful vision for creating a region where all LGBTQ people can thrive—not just survive.

Whether you're interested in nonprofit leadership, community advocacy, social impact, or simply learning more about one of Sacramento's most influential organizations, this conversation offers valuable insight into what it takes to build lasting change.

In This Episode:

• The evolution of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center
• Supporting LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness
• Mental health, health services, and workforce development
• Why Sacramento Pride is about more than celebration
• Building a permanent home in Lavender Heights
• Leadership lessons from a decade of growth
• Current funding challenges facing LGBTQ nonprofits
• How community members can support the mission

To learn more about the organization visit: LGBT Community Center

Chapters

00:00

Why Pride Matters More Than People Realize

02:00

Introducing the Sacramento LGBT Community Center

04:00

Programs That Support Health, Wellness, and Stability

08:00

The Growing Need for Youth Services

09:30

Collaboration Across the Community

11:00

From $6,000 in the Bank to a $7 Million Organization

15:30

The Impact of Sacramento Pride

19:00

Building a Permanent Home in Lavender Heights

23:00

What Unlimited Funding Could Make Possible

28:30

Navigating Today's Funding Challenges

32:00

The Center's Greatest Need Right Now

37:00

Getting to Know David Heitstuman

43:00

How You Can Support the Sacramento LGBT Community Center

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

The future of Sacramento's River District is taking shape, but an important challenge remains.

In this NewsPod update, I'm speaking with Sam Greenlee, CEO of Alchemist CDC, to discuss the latest developments surrounding the Alchemist Public Market project. After years of planning and more than $13 million secured in state and federal funding, construction is underway on what promises to be a transformative community asset for the region.

The project will bring together a grocery market that accepts WIC and CalFresh, a commissary kitchen for emerging food entrepreneurs, restaurant incubation space, community gathering areas, and a weekly farmers market—all in a neighborhood currently classified as a food desert.

While the project has secured its funding commitments, a reimbursement-based grant structure has created a short-term cash flow challenge. Sam shares how the community has already responded with more than $770,000 in loans and charitable support, allowing construction to continue while Alchemist works to secure approximately $1 million more in additional bridge funding.

We discuss:

• The vision behind the Alchemist Public Market
• Why the River District needs this project
• How reimbursement-based public grants create funding gaps
• Recent community support and progress
• Opportunities for donor-advised funds, foundations, and private lenders to help
• The economic and community impact this project will create for Sacramento

This conversation provides important context for anyone interested in community development, food access, small business incubation, and the future of Sacramento's River District.

Learn More:
For information about bridge funding opportunities or to support the project, contact:

• Sam Greenlee: sam@alchemistcdc.org
• Shannin Stein: shannin@alchemistcdc.org
• To hear the original podcast with Sam and Shannin, listen HERE.

The Alchemist Public Market is under construction today. With the right support, it will be serving Sacramento residents by early 2027. If you, or a collective group might be able to help, please reach out. Let's get this project completed.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.