The Lift Effect

What does real community advocacy look like when no one is watching?In this episode of The Lift Effect Podcast, host Keyania Johnson sits down with Tangia Smikle, a longtime resident and community advocate in Orlando’s West Lakes neighborhoods, for an honest conversation about community development, resident engagement, disability advocacy, accessible public spaces, neighborhood revitalization, and the power of consistently showing up.A second-generation resident of the Lake Lorna Doone community, Tangia has spent years advocating for the neighborhood her family has called home since the 1960s. Her involvement with Lift Orlando began during the organization’s earliest community meetings, where residents were invited to imagine what their neighborhood could become.For Tangia, that vision became deeply personal.  Her daughter Mimi, born prematurely and facing significant medical and developmental challenges, needed safe and accessible places to play and exercise. Yet the neighborhood park Tangia had loved as a child no longer provided what families like hers needed. That experience helped fuel Tangia’s advocacy for the transformation of Lake Lorna Doone Park into an inclusive community space where children with different abilities and needs could play safely.Tangia also speaks candidly about the complexities of neighborhood revitalization and nonprofit community development. She and Keyania discuss why resident voices must remain central to community transformation, the importance of recognizing the people whose unpaid advocacy helped create change, concerns about displacement and development, and why meaningful partnerships require honesty and accountability alongside investment.This conversation is a powerful look at grassroots leadership and the often-unseen people behind community transformation in Orlando.In this episode:• Tangia’s history in Orlando’s West Lakes community• The transformation of Lake Lorna Doone Park• Advocacy for children with disabilities and accessible recreation• How Mimi inspired Tangia’s community involvement• The unseen sacrifices behind grassroots advocacy• Resident voices in neighborhood revitalization• The relationship between residents, nonprofits, businesses, and community partners• Why acknowledgment and accountability matter in community development• Concerns about development, land, and preserving neighborhood legacy• How one resident’s advocacy can impact generations of familiesThe Lift Effect, powered by Lift Orlando, shares the real people, real stories, and real impact behind the work of strengthening the historic neighborhoods surrounding Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.When we lift one, we lift all.If this episode inspired you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us spread stories of hope, leadership, and community transformation.Learn more about Lift and the work being done at: liftorlando.org----------------------------------Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/The Lift Effect is powered by Lift Orlando, where residents, businesses, and community leaders come together to strengthen Orlando's historic neighborhoods.Because every thriving community is built by people who choose to invest in one another.If today's conversation inspired you, we'd love to invite you to be part of the story. Visit www.liftorlando.org to learn more about the mission, explore ways to get involved, and discover how you can help create lasting change.

What does generational legacy look like when it becomes community action?In this episode of The Lift Effect Podcast, host Keyania Johnson sits down with Imani Brooks, Event Facilities Manager at Lift Orlando and a third-generation resident of Orlando’s historic 32805 community, for a powerful conversation about community development, generational legacy, nonprofit leadership, motherhood, disability advocacy, access to resources, education, and creating opportunities for the next generation.Imani grew up surrounded by community leadership. Her grandfather, Rufus C. Brooks, was an educator, civil rights advocate, NAACP leader, and respected figure in Orlando whose commitment to service left a lasting impact on the community. Today, Imani is continuing that legacy while discovering what it means to build one of her own.But her understanding of access and opportunity became deeply personal after the birth of her son, Xavier.After experiencing serious complications shortly after birth, spending weeks in the NICU, and later receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis, Xavier’s journey sent Imani into a world of specialists, therapies, education, early childhood resources, and advocacy. Through that experience, she saw firsthand how dramatically a child’s future can be shaped by access to the right resources, support systems, and people.That experience now informs how she approaches her work with Lift Orlando and families throughout the community.In this episode, Keyania and Imani discuss:• Growing up as a third-generation resident of Orlando’s 32805 community• The legacy of educator and civil rights advocate Rufus C. Brooks• Growing up inside a family known for leadership and community service• Finding your own identity while carrying a powerful family legacy• Imani’s experience attending Jones High School• How exposure and access can change a young person’s trajectory• Xavier’s NICU journey and cerebral palsy diagnosis• Navigating healthcare, therapy, education, and disability resources• Why access to resources matters for children with disabilities• The value of mixed-ability classrooms and inclusive education• How community organizations can meet families where they are• Careers in nonprofit and community development work• Burnout, purpose, and wearing multiple hats in nonprofit leadership• Why sustainable community development must impact future generations• What it means to create a legacy that can outlive youImani’s story is a reminder that meaningful community transformation is not simply about programs or buildings. It is about people, access, exposure, relationships, and creating systems that give every family the opportunity to thrive.And sometimes, living in the light of giants means realizing that you are becoming one for the generation behind you.If this episode inspired you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us spread stories of hope, leadership, and community transformation.Learn more about Lift and the work being done at: liftorlando.org----------------------------------Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/The Lift Effect is powered by Lift Orlando, where residents, businesses, and community leaders come together to strengthen Orlando's historic neighborhoods.Because every thriving community is built by people who choose to invest in one another.If today's conversation inspired you, we'd love to invite you to be part of the story. Visit www.liftorlando.org to learn more about the mission, explore ways to get involved, and discover how you can help create lasting change.

What does community banking look like when a financial institution sees a neighborhood as more than a market?In this episode of The Lift Effect Podcast, host Keyania Johnson sits down with Shakira Thompson and Dontrell Stills of Axiom Bank to discuss financial literacy, small business funding, access to capital, entrepreneurship, community investment, financial trauma, and the historic legacy of banking in Orlando’s 32805 community.The conversation takes place against an important piece of Central Florida history. Axiom Bank’s Goldwyn Avenue location occupies the same building once home to Washington Shores Savings and Loan, Florida’s first Black-owned financial institution, founded in 1963. The bank was created in response to Black residents and entrepreneurs being denied access to capital, small business financing, and homeownership opportunities.More than 60 years later, access to financial education and capital remains an important part of creating economic opportunity.Shakira and Dontrell explain what it means for a small business to become bankable, why talented entrepreneurs sometimes struggle to secure business funding, and how understanding financial statements, forecasting, banking relationships, and business finances can help entrepreneurs build sustainable companies.Dontrell breaks small business banking down into three simple goals: helping entrepreneurs save money, make money, and gain access to capital.The conversation also gets personal as the group explores generational financial trauma, why conversations about money can feel uncomfortable, and how childhood experiences with finances can continue shaping our behavior as adults until we intentionally begin changing those patterns.You’ll also hear how partnerships between Lift Orlando, Axiom Bank, local organizations, schools, businesses, churches, and community leaders can multiply resources and create opportunities that no organization could create alone.Because community investment isn’t only about dollars. It’s about access. Relationships. Trust. Partnership. Legacy.  And when those resources work together, the entire community becomes stronger.In this episode:• The history of Washington Shores Savings and Loan• The legacy of Florida’s first Black-owned financial institution• Why access to capital still matters in underserved communities• What makes a small business “bankable”• Financial literacy for entrepreneurs• Small business funding and access to capital• The importance of community banking• Breaking generational money trauma• Building trust between banks and residents• Faith, finances, and community relationships• Why partnerships multiply community impact• How organizations can invest beyond financial contributionsIf this episode inspired you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us spread stories of hope, leadership, and community transformation.Learn more about Lift and the work being done at: liftorlando.org----------------------------------Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/The Lift Effect is powered by Lift Orlando, where residents, businesses, and community leaders come together to strengthen Orlando's historic neighborhoods.Because every thriving community is built by people who choose to invest in one another.If today's conversation inspired you, we'd love to invite you to be part of the story. Visit www.liftorlando.org to learn more about the mission, explore ways to get involved, and discover how you can help create lasting change.

College scholarships can open doors, but helping students succeed in college takes more than financial aid.In this episode of The Lift Effect Podcast, host Keyania Johnson sits down with Lift Orlando College and Career Specialist Thomas Tyler and EmpowerED scholars Olivia Pinder and Jada Anthony to discuss college scholarships, college readiness, student mentorship, career pathways, financial aid, self-advocacy, and preparing students for life after high school.Olivia is entering her senior year at Wake Forest University, while Jada is preparing to begin her freshman year at Florida A&M University (FAMU). Both are graduates of Orlando’s historic Jones High School and recipients of Lift Orlando’s EmpowerED scholarship.Their experiences provide a powerful look at what students actually need before, during, and after the transition to college.Lift Orlando’s EmpowerED program goes beyond awarding scholarship dollars. Eligible scholars can receive up to $10,000 per year in last-dollar support while also gaining access to ongoing mentorship, academic guidance, advocacy, connections, and support navigating the unexpected challenges that can derail even high-achieving students.In this episode:How Lift Orlando’s EmpowerED scholarship worksCollege scholarships and financial aid opportunitiesPreparing high school students for collegeTransitioning from high school to collegeHow mentorship helps college students succeedThe importance of asking for helpLearning to advocate for yourself in collegeFinding community and allies on campusOlivia’s experience attending Wake Forest UniversityJada’s preparation for attending FAMUNavigating an HBCU versus a predominantly white institutionMental and emotional challenges during collegeCareer planning and professional connectionsScholarships for Orlando studentsCollege and career resources for 32805 familiesCareer certifications and alternatives to four-year degreesValencia College opportunities for Jones High School studentsWhy students should begin planning before senior yearTurning scholarship recipients into future mentors and leadersThomas also explains why preparing students for the future means helping them understand that college is not the only pathway to success. Certifications, technical education, workforce development, community college, and four-year universities can all lead to meaningful careers.Most importantly, students shouldn’t have to navigate those decisions alone.Whether it’s helping a scholar connect with an advisor, navigate a difficult semester, find resources on campus, prepare for a career, or simply reminding them that asking for help is a strength, EmpowerED is designed to create a support system that extends far beyond a scholarship check.As Jada shares in the episode: “Don’t always strive for perfection. Strive for progress.”  Because empowerment isn’t simply opening a door.It’s making sure the next generation has the confidence, resources, relationships, and tools to walk through it and eventually build doors for others.If this episode inspired you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us spread stories of hope, leadership, and community transformation.Learn more about Lift and the work being done at: liftorlando.org----------------------------------Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/The Lift Effect is powered by Lift Orlando, where residents, businesses, and community leaders come together to strengthen Orlando's historic neighborhoods.Because every thriving community is built by people who choose to invest in one another.If today's conversation inspired you, we'd love to invite you to be part of the story. Visit www.liftorlando.org to learn more about the mission, explore ways to get involved, and discover how you can help create lasting change.

Mental health, physical wellness, and community support are all connected.In this episode of The Lift Effect Podcast, host Keyania Johnson sits down with Demetri Jean-Pierre and Kieron Thompson of Keep Pedaling Foundation, an Orlando nonprofit using cycling and free therapy resources to help change the way communities think about mental health.Keep Pedaling Foundation was created after its founders realized that their weekly bike rides had become more than exercise. They became a space for honest conversations, connection, stress relief, and support.Today, the organization combines community cycling with mental health resources through its Cycle of Support program, which provides eligible participants with at least six weeks of free therapy.Demetri and Kieron discuss the stigma that can still surround therapy, especially in communities where seeking mental health support has historically been misunderstood. Their goal is to help normalize therapy as something proactive, not something reserved only for moments of crisis.In this episode:How cycling can support mental healthWhy therapy should be treated like routine maintenanceHow Keep Pedaling Foundation beganFree therapy through the Cycle of Support programBreaking the stigma around mental healthMental health among Black men and underserved communitiesThe connection between exercise and emotional wellnessBuilding healthier habits across generationsWhy community makes wellness more sustainableStarting a nonprofit without previous nonprofit experienceLearning from setbacks and public challengesThe importance of consistency and delayed gratificationFinding your purpose through community workWhy movement becomes even more important as we ageCreating accessible wellness programs in OrlandoThe conversation also explores what generational wellness really means.When adults learn healthier ways to care for their minds and bodies, those habits can begin to influence their children, families, and communities. Instead of only talking about generational trauma, Demetri, Kieron, and Keyania explore what it looks like to intentionally build a healthier cycle.Keep Pedaling Foundation is proof that wellness doesn’t have to look intimidating. Sometimes it starts with getting on a bike, joining a community, having a conversation, or simply becoming willing to try therapy for the first time.As Demetri and Kieron remind us: therapy works, movement matters, and you don’t have to do either one alone.If this episode inspired you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us spread stories of hope, leadership, and community transformation.Learn more about Lift and the work being done at: liftorlando.org----------------------------------Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/The Lift Effect is powered by Lift Orlando, where residents, businesses, and community leaders come together to strengthen Orlando's historic neighborhoods.Because every thriving community is built by people who choose to invest in one another.If today's conversation inspired you, we'd love to invite you to be part of the story. Visit www.liftorlando.org to learn more about the mission, explore ways to get involved, and discover how you can help create lasting change.