Forward 40 (4tea‪)‬ Coach Faith

Greetings everyone! It has been quite the journey. The journey cannot fully be captured in one episode. This is a whole book *wink wink*. I wanted to provide an opportunity for supporters to hear some tidbits of what has been at work behind the scenes and what is underway. Very much aligned with the charge to highlight the voices of 40 women, this episode is entitled "Tested, Tried & True". 
Some of the tests and trials I share include: starting, time, "culture" and purpose. I also speak to the wisdom I have gained in the face of those tests and trials; #Message. Tune in for the illustration of each.
Starting: Hebrews 11:1
Time: Ecclesiastes 3:1
Culture: Proverbs 14:12
Purpose: 1 Peter 4:10
What is true? What has remained true? The Big Homie, GOD. No surprises there! As a Madeline Holder, Vice President, Development at New York Women's Foundation shared with me recently, "God is FAITHFUL".
You’ve been blessed, inspired and changed through this platform and community. I truly thank you for journeying with us. Here's what you can expect next: 
Mark your calendars for:
April 27th 7pm EST for our 2-year anniversary event *subscribe to our email list and/or follow us on social media (Twitter & IG) for updates and details
May 14-May 22nd: Fruit of the Spirit + Faith Walk Challenge *follow me on IG and subscribe to The Forward Academy for more details
Lastly, 1. please leave us a review on whatever platform you tune in on and 2. share our collective with your network.
If you are a faith-increasing, altruistic professional and/or leader who is struggling to embrace their higher calling and seeking more accountability, I invite you to work with me directly on your respective personal and professional development journey. You can reach me directly here.
Sip Sis, Selah, Share & Continue to Serve. ☕️

Nicole Lynn Lewis is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Generation Hope, a nonprofit that provides direct service support to young parents earning their college degrees, advocates nationally for the unique needs of student parents and their families, and partners with colleges and universities to provide technical assistance in order to advance student parent success in higher ed. A former teen mother who put herself through William & Mary with her young daughter in tow, Nicole now works to change the statistic that fewer than 2 percent of teen mothers will earn their degrees before age 30. Her book, “Pregnant Girl,” will be released May 2021.
We have made it to our 40th guest☕️🔥🎉! Thank you all for journeying with us and bearing witness to the transformational power of faith in action. In this episode,  Nicole shares the moment she knew it was time to launch Generation Hope and what kept her focused and determined in the building process. We also learn what sacrifices she made in the building process and the lessons she has learned as Black female social entrepreneur and nonprofit executive. Reflecting on the stigma that comes along with teen pregnancy, especially the intersectional nuances at play for Black mothers and fathers, Nicole shares how she managed to create support and inspire champions of your work in light of an often shortsighted stigmatization. Additionally we learn the distinction between student parents and teen parents in Generation Hope’s programming and the evolution of the discourse about these two groups. It is no surprise to us that are close to the communities we serve and work on behalf that the pandemic exacerbated issues of race, racism, class and injustice. With her new book on the horizon, Nicole shares some of her biggest lessons learned in 2020, what charge she is issuing for policymakers and philanthropists alike and most importantly what keeps her hopeful.
We hold steadfast to the vision, press forward in faith and are reminded that we are exactly what the world needs as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.
Stay connected with Nicole on Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram.Follow the work of Generation Hope on Instagram and Twitter . 
 
Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.

Latanya Devaughn is a mother of 3 and the Founder of Bronx Bound Books - a bookstore on wheels & community hub that aims to leave no community behind as it travels throughout the borough--especially to neighborhoods where access and transportation pose barriers . A lifelong resident of the Bronx, Latanya is shunning the brick-and-mortar model and taking her bookstore to the people. Latanya has a background in human resources, business management and community arts and engagement. Combining her love for community, the Bronx, and her skills in management, Latanya is actualizing her dream. As she puts it, “Every neighborhood in The Bronx deserves a bookstore, even if it’s just for one day”.
This episode is such a gift. For one, it's Black History Month and me and this guest are #WellReadBlackGirls✊🏾. Latanya shares why her aunt refers to her as a "serial job hopper" and that treated jobs like Tinder. You will not swipe left for this one! I am so honored to round out our first 40 paying homage to the borough is dear to my heart. Sharing in that connection, Latanya speaks to the importance of community in actualizing her vision and furthering its implementation. We learn how she moved from a place of comfortability for change to occur in her pursuits. The pandemic, as challenging as it has been, provided an opportunity for her to grow into her purpose. We also hear how Latanya is connecting her work with those who have been formerly incarcerated; books serve as an anchor for greater community and relationship-building. For those at a crossroads with the "how" in their "why", Latanya shares wisdom that will aid in your journey. 
We turn the page in our book of dreams and make it come to fruition in community as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.
Stay connected with Latanya on Twitter & Instagram.Follow the work of Bronx Bound Books on Instagram and Twitter . 
Supper their GoFundMe "Bronx Bound Books a bookstore on wheels!" here.
 
Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.
 

Jessica Huang was trained as an environmental engineer, and then moved into environmental and health education, before finding her current path as a public health professional. While her journey wasn't the most straightforward, in hindsight, she's grateful for what she learned along the way because of the many interconnections between this work. Fun fact: In the field of public health, some of the earliest work in epidemiology (which is the study of distributions, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in populations) was done around cholera outbreaks from contaminated water supplies. In today's world, health information and health education are more important than ever so that we can take better care of ourselves and each other during this COVID-19 global pandemic. It's all connected!
Jessica received her doctorate in public health from Harvard University, and an M.A. in learning, design and technology from Stanford University. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley for a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering along with a second B.S. in business administration - the combination of which enabled her to co-found a social enterprise to provide disinfected drinking water in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
In this episode shares the role humanitarianism played in the evolution of her work in public health and why she loves the field. We also hear her "why" for looking at health equity more broadly and her views on the importance of centering community in changemaking. Reflecting on her work as a cofounder of a social enterprise, Jessica recalls a time when a shift in operations gifted the team and community with innovation. Currently working in COVID-19 recovery efforts, we hear about Jessica's growth in perspective as it relates to codesigning policy, capacity building, inclusion and ableism. Trust, time, empathy and relationship are key to recovery. Jessica challenges us to be more intentional about including diverse stakeholder voices in policy design and community well-being. 
We aim to codesign a better future with inclusion, empathy and equity as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.
Stay connected to Jessica on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn.

Links to projects mentioned in the podcast:
https://inventingheron.com/
http://zimbawater.com/
https://www.cityleadership.harvard.edu/

Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.
 

Janeen Brown is the Executive Director and Founder of EmpowHERto, a Toronto-based nonprofit dedicated to helping 14 to 21 year-old women and girls reach their fullest potential through three pillars: Independence, Leadership, and Confidence. Previously, Janeen spent time managing a team for an entertainment company, but felt she had a greater purpose to help improve the prospects for female leaders. She became an entrepreneur in 2018, and has started and scaled three other companies in the hospitality, events and professional services industries. Janeen is an advocate for the well-being of women, building self-confidence, and female entrepreneurship.
This episode is rightly positioned in recognition of National Mentoring Month. Janeen speaks about the role mentorship played in her entrepreneurial journey. Having experience with mostly male mentors, Janeen shares how that influenced the launch of EmpowHERto. Acknowledging generational trauma, Janeen also shares intentionality of EmpowHERto programming especially at a time where race and class disparities are impacting the self-esteem and confidence of young girls. We also hear what skills she leveraged from being an employee in the for profit sector to aid in her pivot to entrepreneurship. Similarly, Janeen speaks to what she thought she knew about nonprofit operations and what resources have been beneficial to growth as a leader in the space. Entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely journey. Janeen offers up advice on how one can persist and fail forward. 
We jumpstart the year in gratitude for those that have paved the way for us to grow better and do better as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.
Stay connected with Janeen on Instagram & LinkedIn.Follow the work of EmpowHERto on Instagram and Twitter . 
 
Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.
 

Sam Johnson was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington and spent her childhood exploring and kayaking along the Puget Sound. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry from the University of Portland where she fostered her love of all artisanal ice cream and baked goods Oregon had to offer. 
She then did a year of post-graduate service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps NQ/AmeriCorps where she was placed with the American Red Cross of Alaska and served as the Preparedness and Casework Specialist. This was her first introduction into disaster response and preparedness education, working with and supporting various local and Alaska Native communities across the state. 
After a year of convincing herself there was no way should could make a career out of educating people on how to stay safe during emergencies, she moved to New Orleans and received her Master of Science from Tulane University in Disaster Resilience Leadership. 
She then began working with the American Red Cross of the US Virgin Islands, supporting their preparedness education programs as part of their Long Term Recovery efforts from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. She is now the Program Lead for Youth Preparedness for National Headquarters, supporting regions across the country as they implement youth emergency preparedness programs across the country and abroad.
In this episode Sam gives us a much needed dose of joy and inspiration. We hear about her journey to service and more specifically her career soul-matching of sorts at the American Red Cross. Though a career in service was not what she planned, Sam shares the literal and metaphorical message behind "must be able to fly in small planes". If you have a fear of heights like me, you'll feel more at ease with Sam's insight. Sam also speaks to the ways she has been able to navigate racial ambiguity in building relationships with community members; ultimately leveraging preparedness education as a community engagement tool.  Additionally, we hear her perspective on the power of representation in the sector. Inspired by Gail McGovern's pillars of leadership, Sam reminds us that should prepare as best as we can and embrace change in our growth.
We close out the year embracing our respective and collective lessons learned and course correcting as necessary as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.
Stay connected with Sam on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter . 
 
Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.