About Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home
Where are we as a community? Who do we want to become in the future?
Join Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, as each week he interviews a resident of Shreveport-Bossier about the community from that particular person’s lens and perspective.
Episode 158 Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"
It's always a treat to sit down with one of our great nonprofit leaders to talk about one of our great nonprofits. You can find my full discussion with Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden, Executive Director of the Renesting Project, Inc, here.
Here are the questions I asked:
0:45 1. You’re the Executive Director of one of our community’s great nonprofits – Renesting Project, Inc. Renesting Project is a community furniture bank doing really important work, providing basic furniture and household items free of charge to hundreds of men, women and children in need.
Let’s start here today. Talk to me about some of the different populations Renesting serves.
2:38 2. You were recently honored by NBC 6 as its Remarkable Woman of the Year, which from my perspective seems well deserved. I don’t have a question around that but I wanted to make sure I mentioned it as I think it’s a huge deal.
Renest Fest, your annual fundraiser is right around the corner, two days before we publish. Tell people about this great and important event.
6:27 3. I came across a quote of yours where you said, “I really believe in the dignity of the human spirit and the collective power of community”. Talk to me some about this.
11:52 4. You and I met because of the great work of Dr. Heather Carpenter who runs the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most know it) at LSUS. In 2023, you were one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected for the 2023 Nonprofit Capacity Building Cohort. You also earned your Masters in Nonprofit Administration through INAR’s program at LSUS.
Talk to me about INAR from your perspective. Why is the work they’re doing so important in our community and why has it been so important for you and your work?
19:19 5. For those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?
18 Sept 2025
Episode 157 Pam Barker - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"
All around our community, people are recognizing places where we have gaps and bringing new businesses, programs and services to meet those needs. A great example of this is Louisiana Key Academy in Shreveport. You can find my full discussion with Pam Barker, Principal of Louisiana Key Academy in Shreveport, here.
Here are the questions I asked:
0:34 1. Pam, you are the Principal of Louisiana Key Academy in Shreveport, a tuition free, charter school for dyslexia. In preparing for today’s discussion, I came across two incredible statistics – that 1 in 5 kids suffer from dyslexia but that only about 2% of kids with dyslexia are identified in Louisiana.
Let’s start here today just with some foundational information. What is dyslexia?
3:52 2. For parents listening today, what are some early indicators that a child may suffer from dyslexia?
6:45 3. Once a parent feels that one of their kids might be dyslexic, what are the next steps they should take to ensure THAT is a proper assessment and to consider entering their child into the Louisiana Key Academy?
17:55 4. It’s clear that we do not identify dyslexia enough in our kids and that if we do we often identify it far later than we should. What are some consequences of not identifying dyslexia early?
22:24 5. Talk to me about both some similarities and differences between Louisiana Key Academy and “regular” schools?
11 Sept 2025
Episode 156 Kade McDonald - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"
So many places we can focus as we work to grow our community for the next generation, a city our kids are proud to call home and want to return to after college. This week we get a key perspective from one of our young professionals. You can find my full discussion with Kade McDonald, Commercial Relationship Banker 1, VP at Origin Bank and Chairman of the Board at Sci-Port Discovery Center, here.
Here are the questions I asked:
1:05 1. You grew up in Ruston. You are a Commercial Relationship Banker 1, VP at Origin Bank.
Let’s start here today. Talk to me about how you ended up in Shreveport-Bossier.
8:05 2. Talk to me some about your role and responsibilities at Origin.
9:30 3. Talk to me about what it’s like being a young professional in Shreveport-Bossier.
13:10 4. You are currently the Chairman of the Board for Sci-Port Discovery Center. Share a few of the great things that are happening there right now.
17:58 5. As you look out at the Shreveport-Bossier community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?
31:12 6. Lastly, what gives you hope that our community is moving in the right direction?
Who has been a guest on Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Vernae Thompson
Lance Thompson
Tamara Crane
Danielle Richard
Bob Thames
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
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Quality
72
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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