
Changemakers LA
LISC LA
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Top 10 Changemakers LA Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Changemakers LA episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Changemakers LA for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Changemakers LA episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Addressing the Equity Gap Through Public Policy
Changemakers LA
04/10/23 • 28 min
This episode of Changemakers LA is hosted by Alexandra Dawson, Director of Lending + Investments at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s Los Angeles office. Alexandra talks to our guests about how they are addressing the equity gap through public policy efforts. Our guests leverage public policy to address many regional issues, including affordable and fair housing, homelessness, and criminal justice.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation is:
- Konstantin Hatcher, Senior Director of Community Impact at California YIMBY
- Maria Casillas, Founder & Executive Leader of Pride In Truth
- Alan Greenlee, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH)
Maria Casillas begins this episode by addressing the power in her experience as a formerly incarcerated mother. The challenges Maria faced were a big inspiration driving her passion for helping others. She talks about some of the root causes of the criminal justice system and its disparate impact on some communities. Community leaders like Maria were instrumental in achieving the Measure J funding outcomes.
Alan Greenlee discusses the power of coalition building in achieving the Measure ULA funding. He discussed the five components of coalitions and described the importance of generating resources sufficient to produce significant amounts of affordable housing.
Konstantin Hatcher discusses why it's essential to get people housed and build an environment that creates financial opportunities for those on the front lines and the most affected by the housing crisis. Finally, Konstantin explains how AB 2873 starts providing incentives for affordable housing builders that can diversify the pipeline of the folks they contract with.
About our panel:
Konstantin Hatcher is the Senior Director of Community Impact at California YIMBY. California YIMBY’s mission is to make California an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. Their goal is to put California on a path of broad-based economic prosperity, creating vibrant, livable, and inclusive communities for everyone.
Maria Casillas is the Founder & Executive Leader of Pride In Truth, guiding the organization's strategy to center those most impacted by unjust systems. With a background as a formerly incarcerated, first-generation immigrant and single mother, Maria brings a unique perspective to the role. She serves on the Board of the Youth Justice Coalition and advocates for the rights of youth, incarcerated individuals, and undocumented people.
Alan Greenlee, is the Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH), where he has served since 2012. With 25 years of experience, he has a strong commitment to helping low-income families, and he has designed and managed programs nationwide, impacting hundreds of thousands of families. His extensive experience allows him to bring innovation to the fight against poverty.
If you would like to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing, economic development, and alternatives to incarceration at LISC LA, please visit us online at www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on twitter @LISC_LA.
You can find the rest of the series on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to hear more conversations about the people and places that shape Los Angeles.
This podcast was produced in collaboration with Ronnell Hampton, Founder of Growing Greatness Now. Growing Greatness Now is a consulting firm committed to social and environmental justice.

Changemakers LA Podcast: A Care First Justice System
Changemakers LA
02/27/23 • 37 min
This episode of Changemakers LA is hosted by Program Officer Wendy Gomez who oversees LISC LA’s Alternatives to Incarceration Incubation Academy. The Incubation Academy is a capacity building program for grassroots organizations serving the reentry population across LA County. Wendy talks to a graduate of the Incubation Academy about why community-based services are so critical in reentry and reimaging a justice system that is focused on care first.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation is:
- Danielle Lafayette, Executive Director of Unite a Nation, Alternatives to Incarceration Incubation Academy Graduate
If you're interested in the justice system and how it impacts individuals and communities, this episode of the Changemakers LA Podcast is a must-listen. Host Wendy Gomez speaks with Danielle Lafayette, the founder and Executive Director of Unite a Nation, a community-based organization providing housing, economic stability, and restorative justice services to formerly incarcerated individuals. The conversation explores why a care-first approach is crucial in the reimagination of the justice system, and how community-based services such as housing, economic stability, mental health, and peer support can facilitate healing and build stronger, safer communities. This episode offers insights and personal experiences that shed light on the complex challenges and opportunities facing the reentry population and the importance of community-centered solutions.
About our guest:
Danielle Lafayette is the founder and Executive Director of Unite a Nation, providing housing, economic stability, and wraparound services to formerly incarcerated individuals and youth development programs. She is justice-impacted and a strong advocate, having witnessed close family members impacted by the criminal injustice system.
If you would like to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing, economic development, and alternatives to incarceration at LISC LA, please visit us online at www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on twitter @LISC_LA.
You can find the rest of the series on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to hear more conversations about the people and places that shape Los Angeles.
This podcast was produced in collaboration with Ronnell Hampton, Founder of Growing Greatness Now. Growing Greatness Now is a consulting firm committed to social and environmental justice.

Digital Literacy is A Just Recovery
Changemakers LA
11/21/22 • 33 min
Senior Program Officer Shona Sen hosts this Changemakers LA podcast episode, covering the support Angelenos need in accessing digital literacy and upskilling opportunities through LISC's Financial Opportunity Centers® (FOCs). LISC's FOCs are community partners that provide employment and career counseling, one-on-one financial coaching, low-cost financial products, and income support counseling free of cost to their neighborhoods and communities.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:
● Susy Contreras, Community Development Program Director of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF)
● Dawn Comer, Director of Technology Inclusion for the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Budget and Innovation
● Sandra Bonneville, Financial Empowerment Program Manager for Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP)
See full show notes for this episode at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/regional-stories/changemakers-la-podcast-financial-literacy-just-recovery/
This episode of Changemakers LA was made possible by Mastercard Impact Fund, with support from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.
If you want to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing and economic development at LISC LA, please visit us online at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on Facebook @LISCLosAngeles.

Upward Mobility for the Reentry Population
Changemakers LA
10/20/22 • 52 min
Senior Program Officers Shona Sen and Stephen Salazar Ceasar host this Changemakers LA podcast episode covering organizations helping formerly incarcerated Angelenos navigate life after incarceration with support to find public services and pathways to highroad careers. Our guests represent the leaders of organizations implementing innovative approaches to helping the formerly incarcerated reconnect to the world that has changed so much during their incarceration.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:
● Roberto Luca, Director of Mass Liberation
● Semaje Stinson, Vocational Counselor with Asian Pacific Islander Drug Abuse Program
● Adewale Ogunbadejo, Vice President of Workforce Development at GRID Alternatives
Read the full show notes on our website at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/regional-stories/changemakers-la-podcast-upward-mobility-reentry-population
This episode of Changemakers LA was made possible by our partner, Ralph M Parsons Foundation.
If you want to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing and economic development at LISC LA, please visit us online at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on Twitter @LISC_LA.
You can find the rest of the series on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to hear more conversations about the people and places that shape Los Angeles. This podcast was produced in collaboration with Ronnell Hampton, founder of Growing Greatness Now. Growing Greatness Now is a consulting firm committed to social and environmental justice.

08/09/22 • 30 min
Senior Program Officer Alexandra Dawson hosts this Changemakers LA podcast episode covering how organizations are helping address housing scarcity and homelessness through urban development, social programs, and advocacy. Our guests represent the leaders of organizations implementing innovative approaches to account for the most marginalized communities impacted by homelessness, like Angelenos who are transitional age youth, LGBTQ, and formerly incarcerated.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:
● Erika Hartman, Executive Director, Safe Place for Youth
● Becky Dennison, Venice Community Housing
● Veronica Lewis, Executive Director, HOPICS
Learn more about our speakers at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/regional-stories/addressing-affordable-housing-and-homeless-crisis-los-angeles
If you want to learn more about how we support place-based initiatives for housing and economic development at LISC LA, please visit us online at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles and follow us on Twitter @LISC_LA.

04/28/21 • 29 min
In 2020, LISC-LA created the South LA Economic Inclusion Implementation Plan, a 3-year implementation plan that supports an integrated, place-based approach to advancing economic mobility for communities in South LA.
The plan recommendations seek to connect South LA residents and businesses across three distinct districts in South LA: the Crenshaw Corridor, Exposition Park, and the Goodyear Tract to the regional economy and foster connection across local organizations to create ladders of economic opportunity for South LA residents.
The recommendations outlined in the South LA Economic Inclusion Implementation Plan seek to grow South LA’s strengths, combat the root of institutional oppression, and connect local organizations to bring more accessible economic opportunity for all South LA residents.
In this episode, Tunua sits down with three of our South LA Implementation partners and HUD S4 grantees to discuss what can be done for advancing economic mobility for communities in South LA.
View the full shownotes here: https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/regional-stories/advancing-economic-mobility-communities-south-la/

Coronavirus Resiliency and Racial Inequity
Changemakers LA
02/10/21 • 31 min
The average net worth of a White family in America is 10x greater than the average net worth of a Black family. Let that sink in. In this episode, Tunua sits down with two experts to explore the topic of Coronavirus resiliency and racial inequity, especially during this unprecedented time.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:
- Maurice Jones, the CEO and president of LISC National.
- Andre Perry, a fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, a columnist for the Hechinger Report, and a scholar-in-residence at American University.
In this episode we explore:
- {2:34} What Project 10x is and why it is so critical in this very moment
- {7:20} How leaders can shape public health and economic policy in a way that addresses the past and present impacts of systematic racism
- {13:43} How LISC has been and will continue to be a driving force for helping close the wealth gap between Black and White families
- {18:33} How the pandemic has impacted Black businesses and entrepreneurs
- {23:24} How Project 10x will impact the intersection of racial inequality and public health
- And so much more

10/26/20 • 36 min
This pandemic has been with us for over half a year. And though the mask wearing and social distancing have become a part of everyday life, small businesses – especially those in historically marginalized communities – are still feeling the impact of COVID-19 just as intensely as when it first began. Business owners may be settling into this new normal, but it begs the question: what is the best way to promote resilience in our communities right now, in a way that is sustainable and provides for people struggling in the current moment? Today, we’re hoping to answer some of those questions through the frame of economic development and community investment.
In this episode of the Changemakers LA podcast, we meet with leaders with firsthand experience in the community development field during COVID-19 and beyond.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:
Mikaela Randolph, the board president of SoLA Food Co-op, a community owned grocery business
Mary Lee, the former Deputy Director of PolicyLink
Robert Lewis, the President of the Black Cooperative Investment Fund
In this episode we explore:
How small minority-owned businesses can promote thriving local economies
How and why gentrification impact small businesses, especially in LA and especially during COVID-19
How the pandemic will impact business and community development in the years to come, specifically in LA
This episode of the Changemakers LA Podcast was made possible by our partner, JP Morgan Chase. To learn more about our community investment and small business investment programs, visit our website at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles

06/24/20 • 34 min
In recent months of pandemic response, the ‘Safer at Home’ order has reminded us of the importance and necessity of housing for a safe and healthy Los Angeles. However, for Angelenos at risk of losing housing or without a home, it has brought about an intensified need for supportive, affordable housing. As our city is coming to an acute awareness of the importance of housing for all, we must reform and expedite our approaches to working towards a housed and healthy Los Angeles.
On this Changemakers LA episode, we discuss the future of housing in this unprecedented time. We are proud to have Paul Beesemyer, Bill Huang, Rebecca Louie, and Audrey Peterson join us to discuss the effects of the current pandemic on affordable housing.
Our guests joining us for this episode are:
● Paul Beesemyer, Director of Southern California for the California Housing Partnership
● Bill Huang, Director of the Housing and Career Services Department for the City of Pasadena
● Rebecca Louie, Vice President/COO of Wakeland HDC
● Audrey Peterson, Senior Projects Manager at Clifford Beers Housing
In this episode, you will learn:
● What the coronavirus has taught the field about the relationship between housing, health and safety
● How coronavirus and the resulting lockdown is affecting the already rising demand for affordable housing
● How developers can adapt the services they provide to better serve residents who are sheltering in place
This episode of Changemakers LA was made possible by our partner, MUFG Union Bank.
If you would like to learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/regional-stories/changemakers-la-future-housing-unprecedented-time

School to Career Pipeline: Managing Equity Outcomes Through Industry and Academic Coordination During & After COVID-19
Changemakers LA
02/18/22 • 33 min
Today's episode will cover the importance of the school-to-career pipeline and managing equity outcomes through industry, governmental, and academic institution/organization coordination during & after COVID-19. This episode is filled with jewels and highlights two Changemakers navigating the culture shift towards equity in the outcomes of the school-to-career pipeline during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joining LISC LA for this conversation are:
- Joy Masha, Regional Director with CDF Freedom Schools
- Benny Torres, CEO at CDTech
Learn more on our site at https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/regional-stories/school-career-pipeline-managing-equity-outcomes-through-industry-and-academic-coordination-during-after-covid-19/
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FAQ
How many episodes does Changemakers LA have?
Changemakers LA currently has 33 episodes available.
What topics does Changemakers LA cover?
The podcast is about Non-Profit, Podcasts and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Changemakers LA?
The episode title 'Addressing the Equity Gap Through Public Policy' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Changemakers LA?
The average episode length on Changemakers LA is 29 minutes.
How often are episodes of Changemakers LA released?
Episodes of Changemakers LA are typically released every 41 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Changemakers LA?
The first episode of Changemakers LA was released on Apr 19, 2017.
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