Community in Conversation

Neighborhood Place of Puna
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Non-Profit

Community in Conversation is where community, compassion, and conversation come together. Hosted by Neighborhood Place of Puna, this podcast brings together nonprofit leaders, county officials, community partners, frontline workers, local advocates, and local changemakers to talk story about the issues that impact families across East Hawaiʻi. From housing and homelessness to youth services, family strengthening, and systems change, we explore what it takes to build strong foundations for our Hawaiʻi Island community. Connect with us! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn / YouTube / TikTok

Episodes

  1. Sep 2

    Staff Hour: The Power of Showing Up

    What does it mean to show up for your community? In Episode 6 of Community in Conversation, Neighborhood Place of Puna Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with Justice Aoki, NPP’s Community Services Program Coordinator, for Staff Hour, a series highlighting the dedicated people behind Neighborhood Place of Puna’s work. Justice shares her journey at NPP, from connecting participants to resources on the phone lines to working in unsheltered case management and now leading NPP’s drop-in centers and street outreach team. She talks about what motivates her, the importance of building trust, and how strong community partnerships help NPP meet the needs of local families and youth. Hear about NPP’s partnerships with Hawaiʻi Diaper Bank, Project Vision Hawaiʻi, and Hoʻōla Nā Pua, and the ways organizations come together to support our community. At the heart of the conversation is the idea that showing up matters, because meaningful change begins with connection, trust, collaboration, and walking alongside people through their unique journeys. Tune in to get to know Justice, one of the many people helping make NPP’s mission possible every day.

    Staff Hour: The Power of Showing Up

  2. Jul 14

    It Takes a Neighborhood: Supporting Keiki in the First Five Years

    In this episode of Community in Conversation, Neighborhood Place of Puna Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with Allison Hanley, Program Specialist with the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL), to explore why the first five years of a child's life are so important, not only for healthy development, but for strengthening families and building resilient communities. They discuss how access to quality early childhood education creates stability for parents, supports children's brain development, connects families to vital resources, and helps prevent crises before they begin. Allison also shares the challenges many Hawaiʻi families face when accessing preschool, the work EOEL is doing to expand opportunities statewide, and how the new First5Hawaii.org platform makes it easier for families to find programs, benefits, and support. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or community partner, this conversation highlights the power of investing in young children and reminds us that when families have the support they need, entire communities thrive. This episode covers: Why the first five years are critical for lifelong developmentHow early childhood education strengthens family well-being and stabilityCommon barriers Hawaiʻi families face when accessing preschoolResources available through EOEL and the new First5Hawaii.org platformHow community partnerships help create brighter futures for Hawaiʻi's keiki

    It Takes a Neighborhood: Supporting Keiki in the First Five Years

  3. May 15

    Meeting People Where They’re At: Lessons in Leadership and Humanity

    Episode 4 of Community in Conversation features Neighborhood Place of Puna (NPP) Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike and former NPP Executive Director Paul Normann for a meaningful conversation about compassion, community, and the people behind the work. They reflect on the heart behind NPP’s work: showing up for people with compassion, dignity, and unconditional care. Paul shares how his personal values, faith, and the teachings of Dorothy Day shaped his approach to leadership and community service. The conversation explores what it truly means to “meet people where they’re at,” the importance of long-term support for families experiencing homelessness, and how NPP responded during some of Hawaiʻi Island’s most difficult moments — including Hurricane Iselle, the Kīlauea eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul and Billi-Jo also discuss: Why compassion must be paired with humilityThe challenges and realities families face while experiencing homelessnessHow stability can be fragile — and why consistent support mattersThe importance of collaboration and community partnershipsCreating a culture rooted in kindness, love, and human connectionThis episode is a heartfelt reflection on leadership, service, and the belief that lasting change begins when we show up for one another with compassion.

    Meeting People Where They’re At: Lessons in Leadership and Humanity

  4. Apr 23

    Shared Kuleana: Keeping Hawaiʻi’s Keiki Safe

    In Episode 3 of Community in Conversation, Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with Kukunaokalā Yoshimoto, Executive Director of Blueprint for Change, in recognition of Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness Month. This conversation explores the critical shift from intervention to prevention and what it truly takes to keep Hawaiʻi’s keiki safe. Kukuna shares the history behind Hawaiʻi’s child welfare reform and the creation of the Neighborhood Place model, a community-driven, culturally grounded approach designed to support families before crisis occurs. Rooted in aloha and shaped by the unique needs of each community, this model has helped transform how support is delivered across the state. Drawing from his personal journey into social work, Kukuna reflects on the power of early intervention, the importance of meeting families where they are, and why prevention, though often less visible, is one of the most impactful investments we can make. Together, they also unpack common misconceptions about child welfare, including the belief that it’s only about removing children from homes, and emphasize a deeper truth: child abuse and neglect is a societal issue that requires collective responsibility. This episode highlights: How early intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s lifeThe impact of community-based, culturally responsive careBarriers families face in accessing support and how innovation like mobile resource centers is helping bridge the gapThe ongoing need for equity, especially for Native Hawaiian familiesWhy sustainable investment in prevention is essential for long-term changeMost importantly, this conversation is a call to action. Each of us has a role to play, whether it’s learning the signs, reaching out to support a family, or advocating for stronger prevention systems. Because when we show up for one another, we create safer, stronger communities for all.

    Shared Kuleana: Keeping Hawaiʻi’s Keiki Safe

  5. Mar 28

    Partnerships that Honor Place & People: How Faith Groups & Nonprofits Can Co-Create Change

    In this episode of Community in Conversation, Neighborhood Place of Puna Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with ordained minister and community partner Jenica Lawrence for a thoughtful and honest dialogue about the power of collaboration between nonprofits and communities of faith. Together, they explore what’s possible when organizations move beyond working in parallel and instead align around a shared vision for community well-being. Jenica shares insights from her journey in ministry, foster care, and family life, offering a deeply relational perspective on service, empathy, and generational impact. This conversation dives into: What true alignment between nonprofits and faith communities could look like in PunaThe shared values that already connect this work—dignity, relationships, justice, and hopeThe importance of trust, humility, and learning from what already exists in the communityWhy honest conversations about power, history, and harm are essential for meaningful partnershipHow to stay accountable to the community—not just institutions or outcomesA central theme of this episode is the importance of cultural grounding. In Puna, accountability goes beyond metrics. It means aligning with the values, history, and lived experiences of this place and its people. Jenica speaks to the responsibility of both nonprofits and faith communities to move away from importing outside models that may not fit, and instead co-create solutions that are rooted in Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural context. This includes trusting community members not just to participate, but to lead, to help shape programs, guide decisions, and define what success truly looks like. It requires humility, a willingness to share power, and a commitment to honoring values like mālama ʻāina and kuleana. Because lasting impact doesn’t come from imposing systems—it comes from relationships, trust, and allowing the community’s culture to shape the work, not just decorate it. The episode also offers encouragement for the next generation to take action, start small, and lead with love. “Go where trust already lives—and be willing to follow it.”

    Partnerships that Honor Place & People: How Faith Groups & Nonprofits Can Co-Create Change

  6. Feb 20

    A Place to Land: The Story of Anchor Point Youth Center

    In this first episode of Community in Conversation, Neighborhood Place of Puna Executive Director Billi-Jo Pike sits down with Anchor Point Youth Center Program Coordinator Minnie Cain to reflect on the powerful first year of Anchor Point Youth Center — Hawaiʻi County’s first drop-in center specifically designed for homeless and at-risk youth. Together, they share the story behind why Anchor Point was created, what they expected when the doors opened, and what surprised them most. From youth coming in for their “firsts” — first emergencies, first job interviews, first leases — to the quiet, everyday moments of trust and laughter, this conversation explores what it really means to create a space rooted in safety, consistency, and radical acceptance.

    A Place to Land: The Story of Anchor Point Youth Center
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Community in Conversation is where community, compassion, and conversation come together. Hosted by Neighborhood Place of Puna, this podcast brings together nonprofit leaders, county officials, community partners, frontline workers, local advocates, and local changemakers to talk story about the issues that impact families across East Hawaiʻi. From housing and homelessness to youth services, family strengthening, and systems change, we explore what it takes to build strong foundations for our Hawaiʻi Island community. Connect with us! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn / YouTube / TikTok

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