Common Good for the Common Wealth

Horizon Community Foundation
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Non-Profit

Common Good for the Common Wealth is where community, leadership, and impact come together. Hosted by Nancy Grayson, this podcast highlights the uncommon advocates, bold thinkers, and everyday changemakers working to make Northern Kentucky, and the Commonwealth, stronger, more connected, and more vibrant. Through honest conversations with nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, philanthropists, and community builders, Nancy explores what it takes to create lasting change and why investing in people is always worth it. From grassroots efforts to regional transformation, each episode dives into the stories behind the work, celebrating collaboration, generosity, innovation, and the power of showing up for your community. Because the common good doesn’t happen by accident, it happens when people choose to build it, together. Welcome to Common Good for the Common Wealth.

  1. Oct 6

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: Putting the Region on the Map with Julie Kirkpatrick

    Tourism isn't just about getting people to come here. It's about giving them a reason to believe in here. Julie Kirkpatrick joins Common Good for the Common Wealth to talk about the business and bigger purpose behind building a destination. As President & CEO of meetNKY and Interim President & CEO of Visit Cincy, Julie has a unique view of a region connected by far more than a river. We talk tourism, economic development, regional collaboration, and why the story we tell about where we live matters. Because when we invest in making our communities great places to visit, we're also building better places to live, work, grow, and belong.

  2. Sep 22

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: The Doctor Is In: Dr. Doug Flora on Building a Healthier Commonwealth

    What does it take to build a healthier community? In this episode of Common Good for the Commonwealth, Dr. Doug Flora joins us for a conversation about medicine, leadership, innovation, and the responsibility we share to improve the health of the communities around us. Drawing from his career as a physician and healthcare leader, Dr. Flora explores what happens when we look beyond individual outcomes and consider the bigger picture, access, collaboration, prevention, and the systems that shape our health. It’s a conversation about caring for people, strengthening communities, and what it means to put your expertise to work for the common good.

  3. Sep 8

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: Rocking for a Reason: Kevin Canafax on Music, Leadership, and Community

    What happens when you take some of the region’s top business and community leaders out of the boardroom, put instruments in their hands, and give them a stage? You get Suits That Rock, and a powerful example of what can happen when people bring their talents, relationships, and a little bit of rock and roll together for the common good. In this episode of Common Good for the Common Wealth, Horizon CEO Nancy Grayson sits down with Kevin Canafax, one of the driving forces behind Suits That Rock, to talk about how an idea to bring business leaders together through music grew into one of the region’s signature philanthropic events. Kevin shares the story behind Suits That Rock, what happens when leaders step outside their usual roles, and why music has such a unique ability to build relationships across industries, communities, and backgrounds. Since its beginning, Suits That Rock has raised more than $2 million to support The Carnegie’s arts education programming, helping make arts experiences accessible to young people throughout the region. Join us for 2026's Suits That Rock on Saturday, September 19th. Get your tickets at https://thecarnegie.com/support/suits-that-rock/

  4. Aug 25

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: Where Creativity, Hospitality, and Community Meet

    What does it mean to build a business that becomes part of the fabric of a community? In this episode of Common Good for the Common Wealth, Horizon CEO Nancy Grayson sits down with Emily Wolff, a creative entrepreneur whose work has helped shape Covington’s MainStrasse Village through hospitality, design, and a deep appreciation for the history of the places we call home. Emily shares how her background in fine arts and restaurants has influenced her approach to entrepreneurship, why storytelling is at the heart of the spaces she creates, and what it looks like to invest in a neighborhood while honoring the people and history already there. It’s a conversation about creativity, preservation, entrepreneurship, and the power of creating places where people can come together.

  5. Aug 11

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: Igniting Possible: Building a Better Future for Northern Kentucky’s Kids

    What happens when improving education becomes the responsibility of an entire community, not just its schools?  From early learning and family engagement to school innovation, data, community partnerships, and career pathways, Cheye shares why the future of education requires all of us to lean in. He also discusses the opportunities emerging in Northern Kentucky’s River Cities and why strengthening outcomes for kids isn’t only an education issue; it’s essential to the long-term vibrancy of the entire region. At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: when children thrive, communities thrive. In this episode of Common Good for the Commonwealth, Nancy Grayson sits down with Cheye Calvo, President & CEO of EducateNKY, to explore what it takes to improve outcomes for children and families across Northern Kentucky.

  6. Jul 28

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: Opening Doors Through Mentorship

    Mentorship has the power to shape lives, strengthen communities, and inspire future leaders. In this episode of Common Good for the Commonwealth, Nancy Grayson welcomes Sonya Fultz of Adopt A Class for a conversation about creating opportunities for students through career exploration, building meaningful connections between classrooms and local businesses, and the ripple effects that occur when communities invest in young people. From workforce development to cultivating hope, this episode is a reminder that lasting change begins with showing up.

  7. Jul 14

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: Creating Culture, One Experience at a Time

    What transforms a space into a place people never forget? This week, Nancy Grayson sits down with Josh Heuser, founder of AGAR, to explore how thoughtful design, public art, and unforgettable experiences can strengthen communities. From the creation of Ghost Baby and Danger Wheel to helping shape BLINK, Josh shares why creating emotion, not just attracting attention, is at the heart of great branding. Together, they discuss Northern Kentucky's evolving identity, the importance of preserving culture as communities grow, and why authentic, human-centered experiences will matter more than ever in an increasingly digital world. It's a conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, placemaking, and imagining what's possible when we invest in people as much as places.

  8. Jun 30

    Common Good for the Common Wealth: Second Chances, Stronger Communities

    What if the most powerful investment we could make in our communities isn't a building, a business, or a program, but a person? On this episode of Common Good for the Commonwealth, Nancy Grayson sits down with Alecia Webb Edgington, Executive Director of Life Learning Center and the Covington Education Foundation 2025 Person of the Year, to explore what happens when we stop defining people by their worst day and start creating pathways toward lasting change. Drawing on a career that spans the Kentucky State Police, international narcotics work, public service, and nonprofit leadership, Alecia shares how those experiences shaped her mission to reduce recidivism, restore dignity through employment, and help individuals rebuild their lives. At the heart of the conversation is the work of the Life Learning Center, where holistic education, workforce development, and deep community partnerships are transforming outcomes for people overcoming incarceration, addiction, and other barriers. Nancy and Alecia discuss why collaboration is the key to solving our region's biggest challenges, how data is driving smarter philanthropy, and what Northern Kentucky can teach the rest of the country about working together for the common good. They also reflect on authentic leadership, mentoring the next generation, and why real impact starts by believing that every person deserves another chance. This episode is a powerful reminder that stronger communities are built one life, one opportunity, and one act of belief at a time.

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About

Common Good for the Common Wealth is where community, leadership, and impact come together. Hosted by Nancy Grayson, this podcast highlights the uncommon advocates, bold thinkers, and everyday changemakers working to make Northern Kentucky, and the Commonwealth, stronger, more connected, and more vibrant. Through honest conversations with nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, philanthropists, and community builders, Nancy explores what it takes to create lasting change and why investing in people is always worth it. From grassroots efforts to regional transformation, each episode dives into the stories behind the work, celebrating collaboration, generosity, innovation, and the power of showing up for your community. Because the common good doesn’t happen by accident, it happens when people choose to build it, together. Welcome to Common Good for the Common Wealth.

Information

  • Creator
    Horizon Community Foundation
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Common Good for the Common Wealth
  • Show Website
    Common Good for the Common Wealth

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