Community Catalysts

Matt Lehrman

Community Catalysts is a weekly podcast from Social Prosperity Partners, hosted by Matt Lehrman, where leaders from local government and nonprofits reflect on what they've learned—often the hard way—and share practical wisdom for those working to strengthen their communities.

  1. 6D AGO

    "Don't Be Right. Be Understood." with Mayor Derrick Wood, Town of Dumfries, Virginia

    Derrick Wood didn't set out to become Mayor. He was selling barbecue in a parking lot when a cease-and-desist order pushed him into a council meeting he didn't even know existed. Years later, he was leading the town. What he discovered along the way is a lesson many leaders learn the hard way: being right isn't enough. If people don't see the impact on their lives, they won't support the outcome. In this candid conversation, Mayor Wood reflects on early missteps, hard-earned credibility, and the shift from pushing ideas to helping people see what he sees. That lesson came into sharp focus as he led one of the most controversial decisions his town had faced—transforming a long-troubled landfill into a destination that brought jobs, revenue, and a new identity to the community. The resistance was real. So was the risk. What made the difference was not proving he was right, but helping others understand how the decision affected them—and why it mattered. This episode is a reminder that leadership isn't about winning the argument. It's about doing the work to build understanding—so a community can move forward together. LINKS Mayor Derrick R. Wood: DerickRWood.com    Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  CatalystGuest.us    Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    38 min

  2. MAR 24

    "Social Media Playbook" with Sam Toles, CiviSocial

    Many local leaders have given up on the idea that meaningful civic dialogue can happen on social media, a space many experience as deeply toxic. Sam Toles says the problem isn't social media as a whole, but the ways local governments often choose to show up there—approaches that can unintentionally fuel outrage rather than connection. A former media executive, city council member, and founder of CiviSocial, Sam explains how the architecture of different platforms shapes online behavior—and what local leaders can do differently. Drawing on his work with local governments across the country, he outlines a practical playbook built on authenticity, human storytelling, and choosing the right platforms so communities can see government for what it truly is: neighbors serving neighbors. LINKS Sam Toles:  CiviSocial Sam's demographic slide   Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  CatalystGuest.us   Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    49 min

  3. MAR 17

    "Guarding the Process" with Recorder Dana Lewis, Pinal County, Arizona

    When elections work well, most people never think about them. When something goes wrong, the entire system is suddenly under a microscope. Dana Lewis, Recorder and Officer in Charge of Elections for Pinal County, speaks candidly about what it means to carry that responsibility. From chaotic election-day failures to rebuilding systems designed to prevent a single point of breakdown, Dana describes the pressure, precision, and teamwork required to run elections in today's climate.  Her story offers a vivid look inside the invisible infrastructure of public life—and the people whose steady work keeps it functioning when the stakes are highest.   LINKS Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  Click Here     Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    40 min

  4. MAR 10

    "Optimism on the Oath" with Trustee Maiaika Velazquez, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, CA

    Optimism is not the first quality many people associate with public office. It is, however, the quality that defines Trustee Maiaika Velazquez. Elected in lieu of opposition just minutes before the filing deadline, Maiaika stepped into school board service carrying lived experience shaped by poverty, special needs advocacy, and firsthand encounters with bureaucracy. She knows what it feels like to sit across the table and say, "We're not just a file." This conversation explores governance shaped by lived experience—the discipline of representing an entire district while remembering families who often feel unseen. Maiaika reflects on imposter syndrome, growing fluency in board leadership, and the responsibility of decisions that affect real lives. Her leadership is grounded, resilient, and forward moving. It is a reminder that public service can still be hopeful, even in complex times.   LINKS MPUSD Prom Drive   Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  Click Here     Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    36 min

  5. MAR 3

    "Creating a Little Utopia" with Clerk Trustee Tauna Rodarte, Fallbrook Union High School District, CA

    What does it look like to shift from hands-on service to public stewardship? In Fallbrook, California—a rural community shaped by agriculture, military families, and economic challenge—that question takes on real meaning. Tauna Rodarte reflects on moving from decades of volunteer nonprofit leadership into the disciplined role of school board governance, where impact is measured less by direct action and more by steady oversight and long-term direction. Our conversation explores the difference between service and governance, the importance of civility and consensus in public leadership, and the clarity that comes from understanding the proper role of an elected board. Along the way, Tauna shares hard-earned insights about building trust, exercising restraint, and strengthening the systems that allow students and communities to thrive. LINKS Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  Click Here     Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    37 min

  6. FEB 24

    "When Everyone Advances" with Chairman Jeffrey McKay, Fairfax County, Virginia

    Policy choices shape communities—but values shape policy. Chairman Jeffrey McKay reflects on leading Fairfax County through economic disruption while also advancing One Fairfax, a countywide framework that requires leaders to examine how decisions affect opportunity, access, and long-term outcomes across communities. He discusses what it takes to hold together short-term crisis response and long-term institutional change—and why leadership at the local level must operate at multiple altitudes at once. This episode is part of a monthly series sponsored by RELI – the Regional Elected Leaders Initiative at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government. LINKS One Fairfax:  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/topics/one-fairfax    Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  Click Here     Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    49 min

  7. FEB 17

    "Governing Across Difference" with Kristen Miles, Director of Board Development, Oregon School Boards Association

    Strong governance begins, not with agreement, but with shared purpose. When governing bodies struggle, it's rarely about policy alone. It's about how leaders manage disagreement, use their limited public time, and stay focused on what matters most. Drawing on her work with school boards across Oregon, Kristen Miles explains why those dynamics directly shape outcomes—and how boards can govern more effectively even when consensus is hard to reach. Kristen explores the difference between power over and power with, showing why legitimacy, judgment, and collaboration matter more than ideology. She offers practical insight into navigating conflict, grounding difficult conversations in student success, and leading in ways that earn credibility rather than erode it. LINKS OSBA Board Development Resources:  https://www.osba.org/board-development/    Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  Click Here     Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    34 min

  8. FEB 10

    "Positive Politics" with Neil Thanedar, Executive Director, Michigan Campaign Finance Network

    Democracy does not need to be reinvented. It needs to be cared for. In this conversation, Neil Thanedar reflects on how transparency strengthens public trust by helping communities better understand the systems that already serve them. Drawing on the investigative work of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, he explains how tracing the flow of money in politics brings clarity, accountability, and confidence to public decision-making. Rather than approaching campaign finance with cynicism, Neil advances a vision he calls positive politics—rooted in ambitious optimism, long-term thinking, and the belief that democratic institutions are fundamentally sound when they are visible, understandable, and responsibly stewarded. Transparency, he argues, reinforces the social contract and enables leaders to earn the trust required to do meaningful, constructive work. LINKS Neil Thanedar's book: www.PositivePoliticsBook.com  Michigan Campaign Finance Network: https://mcfn.org/    Ask a Question or Leave a Comment:  602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note:  Matt@SocialProsperity.us  Apply to Be a Podcast Guest:  Click Here     Connect on Substack and LinkedIn Produced by Social Prosperity Partners

    34 min
See All (94)

Trailer

About

Community Catalysts is a weekly podcast from Social Prosperity Partners, hosted by Matt Lehrman, where leaders from local government and nonprofits reflect on what they've learned—often the hard way—and share practical wisdom for those working to strengthen their communities.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Lehrman
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Community Catalysts

You Might Also Like