Paws and Reflect: Iri’s Journey from Volunteer to Advocate in Animal Welfare

09/07/23 • 34 min

In this episode of The Conscious Cup podcast, Simone Ispahani welcomes Iri Divincenzo, the Adoption Manager at Pasadena Humane. Simone and Iri discuss Iri's journey from a career in fashion to her passionate work in animal welfare. They delve into various aspects of animal rescue and the programs offered by Pasadena Humane. Iri shares insights on misconceptions about animal rights and offers advice for those interested in getting involved in animal welfare. Iri also emphasizes the importance of educating the public about ethical animal practices and supporting rescue organizations.

Story Notes:

☕ Meet Iri and Her Foster Kitten, Mel

☕ Iri's Role at Pasadena Humane

☕ Iri's Transition to Animal Welfare

☕ Memorable Animal Rescues

☕ Balancing Self-Care in Animal Welfare

☕ Pasadena Humane's Community Cat Program

To learn more about Pasadena Humane, visit:

https://pasadenahumane.org/

To learn more about the Social Brew, visit:

https://socialbrew.us/

Story Notes:

☕ Meet Iri and Her Foster Kitten, Mel

☕ Iri's Role at Pasadena Humane

☕ Iri's Transition to Animal Welfare

☕ Memorable Animal Rescues

☕ Balancing Self-Care in Animal Welfare

☕ Pasadena Humane's Community Cat Program

To learn more about Pasadena Humane, visit:

https://pasadenahumane.org/

To learn more about the Social Brew, visit:

https://socialbrew.us/

Previous Episode

Empowering Communities: The Ripple Effect of Girls Health Ed

In this episode of The Conscious Cup, host Simone Ispahani engages in a heartfelt conversation with Pavita Singh, the Executive Director of Girls Health Ed. They discuss the organization's mission, Pavita's personal journey, the impact of their work, and the importance of comprehensive health and sexuality education for adolescent girls and young women. Pavita shares her own experiences with mental health challenges and how they led her to dedicate her career to empowering others and breaking down stigma.

Pavita explains that Girls Health Ed is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering healthy, informed, and empowered decision-making among adolescent girls and young women, particularly in underserved communities. They provide comprehensive health and sexuality education through trained teaching fellows, focusing on topics such as nutrition, body image, violence prevention, and more.

Simone and Pavita acknowledge the strength and power that comes from turning struggles into strengths. They emphasize the importance of breaking down stigma, providing support, and empowering individuals, especially young women, to lead healthy and empowered lives.

Story Notes:

☕ Girls Health Ed's Mission

☕ Program Delivery Model

☕ Gender Confidence Gap

☕ Theory of Change and Impact

☕ Personal Journey and Connection to the Cause

☕ Intersection of Trauma and Mental Health

☕ Becoming Involved with Girls Health Ed

☕ Art as Healing

☕ Navigating Healthcare System

To learn more about Pavita, visit:

Instagram - @magicwithpavita

Instagram - @girlshealthed

Website - magicwithpavita.com

Website - https://publishyourgift.lpages.co/pavita-psyche/

To learn more about the Social Brew, visit:

https://socialbrew.us/

Next Episode

Finding Purpose: Tammy Bitanga on Sparking Change

On this episode of "The Conscious Cup" podcast, Simone Ispahani welcomes Tammy Bitanga, the Interim Director of Community Programs at Hoʻōla Nā Pua and a survivor of childhood sexual exploitation. Tammy's journey into advocacy began when she attended a women's conference in 2010 and learned about human trafficking. Over the years, she became deeply involved with Hoʻōla Nā Pua, focusing on raising awareness about this critical issue.Tammy's personal history involves early childhood abuse, foster care, victimization, and a period of chronic runaway experiences. Her commitment to advocacy and mentoring for trafficking victims stems from her own healing journey.

Hoʻōla Nā Pua, where Tammy works, is dedicated to awareness, education, and prevention of sex trafficking. They prioritize educating children about healthy relationships and risk factors to prevent victimization. Pearl Haven, part of their efforts, provides a safe place for children aged 11 to 17 who have been exploited, integrating cultural activities into the healing process.

Additionally, Tammy emphasizes the significance of the Starfish Mentoring Program, which supports survivors aged 11 to 24, both within and outside of Pearl Haven. Her dedication to this cause is rooted in her own transformation and the hope of creating a world free from human trafficking.Tammy's story serves as an inspirational beacon in the fight against trafficking, highlighting the importance of understanding, empathy, and respecting survivors' boundaries in their healing journey.

Story Notes: