Stories of Hope, Innovation and Impact Zack Giffin and John Weisbarth

Dr. Ron Dipillo, Executive Director of Suncoast Technical College (STC), joins Zack and John to share an exciting new tiny home building and skilled trade education program. This program gives students hands-on experience in several fields, including plumbing, construction, drafting, and electrical, while also featuring an eco-friendly curriculum that includes solar and composting toilets.

STC started the Tiny House Program in partnership with CareerEdge, the Eppard Family Foundation, and Walt Eppard, who offered financial support for the program.

To learn more about Suncoast Technical College, visit https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/suncoasttechnicalcollege

Visit Operation Tiny Home at https://www.operationtinyhome.org/

A special thank you to Rodello's Machine for our theme song "The World Inside." Visit them at https://rodellosmachine.com/.

Alexis Stephens and Christian Parsons started their "Journey with a Purpose" after building their own tiny home in 2015, after a year of dating. The 130 square-foot home is the most traveled
tiny house in the world, having been to 37 states, 16 national parks, and 30 Tiny Home Communities along the way. Together, Alexis and Christian both serve on the Board of Advisors for the American Tiny House Association and the Board of Directors for the Tiny
Home Industry Association.

The Co-Founders of Tiny House Expedition are looking to impact the tiny home world by informing and inspiring others who are on a "tiny" journey themselves. The couple shares many great tips and ideas on
their youtube channel, blog, website, and social media platforms. They offer two E-Courses for people to use as a resource; one is Tiny House, Rich Lifestyle: A Life Planning Workshop and the other is How-To Travel with a Tiny House on Wheels. You can also
watch their docuseries, Living Tiny Legally, which highlights the benefits that may come with tiny living as well as the legal obstacles.

Not only is Alexis and Christian Co-Founders, but they are also now Co-Authors. Their book, "The Beginner's Guide to Tiny Houses: What You Need to Know About 400-Square-Foot Living," was released in 2021
to help people learn about all things tiny.

To learn more about Tiny House Expedition, visit: https://tinyhouseexpedition.com

John and Zack speak with Bryan Meyer, the CEO and Co-Founder of Veteran Community
Project (VCP). This 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in Kansas City, Missouri, is dedicated to supporting every man and woman who took the oath for our country and not letting any veteran fall through the cracks. Bryan,
along with a few other combat veterans, created this organization back in 2016 as a way to stand in the gaps of a broken system that left too many of their brothers and sisters behind.

Bryan is a former U.S. Marine corporal who deployed twice to Iraq. Following
the Marine Corps, Bryan returned home to Kansas City, attended the University of Missouri Kansas City, earning a Master's in Public Administration and a Law Degree.

The villages built by VCP utilize tiny homes to provide veterans
with privacy, a sense of security, and the ability to reintegrate at a comfortable pace. VCP has Veteran services facilitated through an on-site community center that provides the Veterans with mentoring, case management, counseling, and linkage to other programs
and services. There is also a Veteran Outreach Center on-site, where walk-ins are welcome and all services are free.

To learn more about Veterans Community Project, visit: https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org

Visit Operation Tiny Home at https://www.operationtinyhome.org/

A special thank you to Rodello's Machine for our theme, song "The World Inside." Visit them at https://rodellosmachine.com/.

Robyn Donaldson, Founder and President of STEM Xposure, specializes in architectural design and building. STEM Xposure is a nonprofit with a mission to give back and mentor others interested in careers in the construction industry as engineers, architects, mathematicians, professional tradespeople, and general contractors. Targeting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, this method of education focuses on learning in coherence instead of in isolation. STEM Xposure, located in Gibsonton, Florida, introduces young minority students to careers in these fields through their virtual architectural design and construction camps. The camps teach the basics of architectural design, including mapping, site investigation, sketching, scaled
drawings, and presentation skills. The 2021 Camp was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, which was the first time it has been hosted outside of the United States. One hundred twenty students registered/participated in this event, and ten schools from different parts
of Kenya were represented.

To learn more about STEM Xposure, visit: https://www.stemxposure.com

Visit Operation Tiny Home at: https://www.operationtinyhome.org

A special thank you to Rodello's Machine for our theme, song "The World Inside." Visit them at https://rodellosmachine.com/.

Bernard Troyer ("Berns") is the BLOCK project manager for Facing Homelessness, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization from Seattle, Washington, that aims to contribute unique passions and skills toward the effort of ending homelessness. The BLOCK project, which started in 2017 as one of Facing Homelessness's programs, acknowledges that relationships are the building blocks for healing our communities. Through the BLOCK Project, members of the community are able to share their backyard with people who genuinely need it by hosting someone experiencing homelessness.

Berns has built every home used in the BLOCK project, with each house designed to achieve the highest standard for sustainability in the built environment. He approached the project with his skills in construction, but his passion for ending homelessness, his heart, and his desire led the project to be successful. Recently, the Block Project has significantly reduced the construction time by prefabricating panels for the homes in the Block Shop and then assembling the house in the chosen backyard. What used to take 3-6 months now only takes six weeks or less, which is a big difference for people living outside in harsh conditions.

For those that do not have the opportunity to host a BLOCK home in their backyard, don't worry! There is also the option to volunteer to build a BLOCK home, volunteer to landscape a backyard, fundraise for the project, procure essential home items, and donate directly.

To learn more about Facing Homelessness, visit: https://facinghomelessness.org
To learn more about the BLOCK Project, visit: https://www.the-block-project.org
Visit Operation Tiny Home at https://www.operationtinyhome.org/

A special thank you to Rodello's Machine for our theme, song "The World Inside." Visit them at https://rodellosmachine.com/

Todd McKellips is a social entrepreneur, philanthropist, chaplain, family man and native of Washington State. "What do you NOT do?" Is something he hears quite often! He is a compassionate advocate for people living in poverty, as he has seen homelessness firsthand after a traumatic back injury suffered while working with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department in 2005. Todd is the state chapter leader for the American Tiny House Association, a national effort with affordable housing as its core mission. He is passionate about bringing homeownership to those who can only dream of it. Todd is the director for the Washington Tiny House Association and is currently working with multiple elected officials and advising government entities such as HUD and the Department of Veteran Affairs. He is working closely with multiple non-profits and investors creating truly affordable tiny home spaces for homeless Washingtonians.

Visit Operation Tiny Home at https://www.operationtinyhome.org/

A special thank you to Rodello's Machine for our theme, song "The World Inside." Visit them at https://rodellosmachine.com/.