Today is the Day Changemakers

Welcome to season 2, episode 14. This week my special guest co-host is back! Scott Chesney is known as the 'Commander in Change', world-renowned motivational speaker and Coach. Visit www.scottchesney.com to learn more about Scott. Together, we interview, Laura Berman Fortgang, Career Reinvention Catalyst, Founder of Now What?® Coaching, best-selling author, TEDx speaker. Laura has 25+ years in the personal coaching field. She is a sought after speaker, tv personality. She has appeared on multiple morning shows, Oprah Winfrey Show, is a corporate spokesperson, Interfaith minister and performer. Her TEDx talk has over 1.6 million views. Her five books published in 13 languages. She has addressed public and corporate audiences in many parts of the world on topics such as Reinvention, Career Satisfaction, and Change. Clients range from homemakers to celebrities, Fortune 500 companies including NASA. She’s best known for her unique career transition “Now What?®” methodology and is currently launching her legacy project,  The A-List Coach Business Mentoring Program to train coaches to get extraordinary results for their clients and leveraging them to business success.At the age of 5 years old Laura moved from the U.S. to Venezuela where she lived until she was 12. She says although she is not Latina in her blood, she feels she is Latina in her heart and speaks fondly of her time in Venezuela.  When she came back from Venezuela, she found it a bit hard to get reacclimated in American culture. She says that she didn't even know who the Beatles were! In high school the stage became her home. She found a love for theater. Although, her parents were not all for it, she decided to try and make a go of acting. The life of an actor is not easy and after about 8 years of trying to get to where she wanted to be, depression had set in. During the interview Laura explains the path she needed to take in order to get to a better place. After speaking with a mentor and doing some inner work, Laura decided to transform what she would perform from the stage. From being an actor performing in a show, she instead decided to take the stage and help move people to transform. She was one of the first 16 students at Coach University and one of the first people to start the International Coaching Federation. We talk about how coaching is different than therapy, and how coaches are now being more sought after than ever. Listen in to hear Laura's answer to what is the footprint you are creating now that you would like to leave behind?  To learn more about Laura go to laurabermanfortgang.com. Next week, I welcome my guest Nancy France-Vaz, a modern renaissance artist that uses allegorical symbolism to create visual stories on canvas. We talk about the path she had to take in order to do more of what she loves.Join Today is the Day's International Changemakers Connective. To learn more, go to https://todayisthedayliveit.com.  Help us share this episode - Jodi Grinwald - Today is the Day Changemakers - YouTube or stream - https://todayisthedaychangemakers.buzzsprout.com/.Today is the Day creates customized solutions that help clients both professionally and personally.  Tell your story in a new way, disrupt what may not be working,  level up communication and connections so that your organization has a successful and financially sustainable tomorrow.  For more information visit https://todayisthedayliveit.com.Have a great week everyone!

Welcome to the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. I am so excited to welcome Patricia McLoughlin, general manager of the Anthem Awards, and overall wonderful, passionate human. Her personal goal has always been to find solutions for creating equitable spaces and within this position she is accomplishing just that. The Anthem Awards is a global mission which was created to uplift and celebrate innovative work happening in the social impact space. This includes for- profits, non-profits, agencies, individual efforts, efforts of students, etc. Cause areas range from diversity, equity, inclusion, education, arts, culture, health, human and civil rights, humanitarian action, responsible technology, sustainability, climate and the environment. Each year over 2000 entries are received from all over the world from amazing individuals. The Anthem Awards will be opening up for their fourth season this year, with submissions being accepted starting April 9. Anyone can enter through the website, submitting either a link, document, or report. If anyone is considering applying, it is strongly recommended to reach out to Patricia McLoughlin as her professional standpoint will help categorize the submission to fit the Anthem Awards process. To learn more about the Anthem Awards, visit anthemawards.com or search @anthemawards on social media.   Please take a moment and subscribe to the Today is the Day Changemakers YouTube Channel or stream on all streaming sites and if you can please leave a review. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Today is the Day Live It.Have a great week everyone!

Welcome to season 4, episode 4 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. Please take a moment to write a review and share this podcast episode if it resonates with you.  This week's guests are Sylvia Allen, President, Allen Consulting and Founder of Sylvia's Children in Uganda, Africa. Joining us is Terese Rolke, Executive Director, Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce. Listen in to hear how Sylvia became the grandmother to many in this incredible school in Uganda.  Sylvia's Children is a non-profit founded to help the children at the Mbiriizi Advanced Primary and Day Care School in Mbiriizi, Uganda, Africa. The school is based on the British model and goes through Primary 7. After that the children go on to Secondary School (S-1 through S-6) and then can go to college and/or technical school.The original objective was to teach the school how to be entrepreneurs so they would not be dependent on the charity. With the increase in enrollment (439 to 1080), the building of a 6,000 sq. ft. medical clinic, having a farm with 8,000 chicken, 42 pigs and 7 acres planted in corn and beans plus 100,000 coffee tree seedlings the school is capable of supporting itself. Thus,the initial mission was accomplished.The mission of the organization has been expanded to include providing secondary school and advanced education to any orphan that wishes to go beyond P-7. As of January 1, 2023, they have 150 orphans in secondary school and 50 in college and/or technical school. They have already had 77 orphan graduates and another group will graduate summer 2023. These are the people that will change and improve the culture as they move into adulthood. Sylvia invited Terese and others to take a trip to visit the school in Uganda in November 2023. Sylvia lives in NJ. Terese shares what an incredible experience it was to meet the children and provide them with gifts and trinkets during their holiday season. Included in the group of volunteers that took time out of their own busy schedules to have this incredible experience was a healthcare professional.  She checked in on the children to make sure they were doing well.  Terese, started as a volunteer for the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce, became a board member and the moved to a paid role as the full time, Executive Director. It is through her work there that she met Sylvia. Sylvia is a member of MRCC and has been honored through the organization with an Athena Award. Terese described the experience of going to visit Sylvia's Children as “amazing”, saying the children “stole her heart” immediately. To contribute to this cause or to learn more, visit https://allenconsulting.com/sylvias-c.... To learn more about the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce go to https://www.monmouthregionalchamber.com/.

Welcome to the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast! I am thrilled to welcome Floyd Jones onto this week’s episode, an activist, grassroots organizer, business coach, and outstanding human being. Floyd is the director of community and partnerships at Givebutter, the world’s first completely free end to end fundraising platform powering over 700 million in donations per year. In this position, he works in sponsoring, campaigning, and events. He has raised over 20 million for grassroots organizations and spoken at conferences across the country. Givebutter has gotten a huge amount of support and attention, being featured by ESPN, Afrotech, Linkedin, Variety magazine, and sponsored by Nike, Whole Foods, Visa, NBA2K and more. Floyd also has founded BackBlack, a collaborative campaign which has raised over 1.3 million for 770 black-led profits. He also works as a business coach for nonprofits and purpose-driven companies. Floyd is an extraordinarily dynamic human with amazing energy and a unique outlook on the world. Floyd discusses his formative years, involving his relationship with the arts as well as first experiences with entrepreneurship, starting with his family’s work in Sierra Leone. He explains that this viewpoint taught him that “you can do well and do good”. His father’s work inspired Floyd’s current passions for social justice and business, showing him that you can prosper while simultaneously making a positive impact on your community. Especially while working in the business world, Floyd recommends finding an artistic outlet, his being music, that will “always welcome you”. Floyd achieves an impressive balance of providing for the community and maintaining successful organizations, a feat accomplished through his ability to skillfully merge the entrepreneurial and nonprofit worlds in a way that benefits all. You can support BackBlack at backblackmovement.org, and get involved with Givebutter at givebutter.com. Floyd is an upbeat, upstanding, spirit and serves as a model for us all with his character, skill, and tireless work ethic. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Today is the Day Live It.  Have a great week everyone!

I am so excited to once again welcome the wonderful John Belizaire onto this week's episode. John is the CEO of Soluna Computing, which involves crypto currency, AI, and machine learning powered by renewable energy. John has an impressive background as a successful CEO, architect, and author.John’s mission at Soluna is “to make renewable energy a primary source of energy in the world”. Soluna goes to great lengths to make sure renewable energy is used to its fullest capacity,  building specialized data centers to ensure all of the energy is put to use. In John’s first episode, he detailed his hopes for this process at Soluna and we are proud to join him in admiring how far he has come! John Belezaire is doing commendable work to ensure a brighter future for us all through use of renewable energy and embracing the versatility of technology. To purchase John's new book: Keep Pushin': CEO Insights to Guide Your Journey to Mastery Read John's CEO Playbook BlogVisit Soluna's website Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Today is the Day Live It. You can also stream this episode on all streaming sites. 

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 1 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. I am so excited to be back interviewing the changemakers, inspirers, and those disrupting the status quo. This week I am excited to introduce the fantastic fab five food bank CEO's of New Jersey. These individuals, Fred Wasiak, Elizabeth McCarthy, Bernie Flynn, Triada Stampas, and Mark Valli are working together to feed New Jersey through each of their amazing organizations. Each of these incredible changemakers have found themselves working in public service, whether they knew from the start that they wished to pursue the nonprofit path or found it along the way, they have all come together with a common goal: to help the people of New Jersey. Fred Wasiak is the CEO and president of the Food Bank of South Jersey, serving 4 counties from urban, to suburban, to rural. Founded in 1985, the Food Bank of South Jersey focuses on health, nutrition, education, and awareness. Fred emphasizes that “the root cause is not hunger, it is poverty” when discussing ways to address the problem of food insecurity at its source. Elizabeth McCarthy, president and CEO of Community Food Bank of New Jersey shares a common goal as her recent focus has been job training programs to help people get on their feet. CFBNJ started with a woman named Kathleen DiChiara handing out meals out of her station wagon and now 49 years later they provide 90 million meals annually. Elizabeth describes her perspective as “food is medicine”, aiming to get heart healthy meals to those in need. Bernie Flynn is the full-time volunteer CEO of Mercer Street Friends, providing food bank services since 1958, focusing on family and education in Mercer County. He highlights the food banks’ partnership with the state as “providing tremendous support” throughout their public service endeavors. Triada Stampas is the CEO and president of Fulfill, a food bank serving Monmouth and Ocean Counties which sends 14 million meals to a network of 300 people. Fulfill began as a food bank 40 years ago and has now included toy and clothing drives as well to address larger issues within the population. Triada firmly believes, “it is a blessing to get help when you need it and it is a blessing to give help when others need it, that’s something that binds us as humans”. Mark Valli is the CEO of Norwescap, serving over 30,000 low-income families in the northwest corner of New Jersey. Founded in 1965, Norwescap started as a community action organization and has grown its role to include a food bank. He describes his work as, “a system to help government and private resources get channeled to people who need them”.  By forming a coalition and meeting regularly to collaborate, these five food bankers of New Jersey have formed a strong group within the state to ensure impactful, judgment free, lasting aid to those in need. It is as Fred says, “when five food bankers of New Jersey get together, good things happen”.  If you would like to help this cause, we encourage you to take advantage of the abundant volunteer opportunities provided by their organizations or make a monetary donation to help them to continue to serve nutritious food. You can also visit their websites, foodbanksj.org, cfbnj.org, mercerstreetfriends.org, fulfillnj.org, and norwescap.org to learn more about their work. Please follow Today is the Day on Facebook - Today is the Day Live It and Instagram @todayisthedayliveit.Have a great week everyone!

Hello everyone! Welcome to our last episode of 2023. This week I am introducing the outstanding Orville Morales onto the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. Orville has had 20 years experience working in activism and education, serving as campaign manager for the public goods project as well as working at Montclair State University as an adjunct professor. These experiences led him to open Morales and Associates, an organization meant to drive people-focused decision making in different organizations, with its slogan being “power to people”. Orville Morales’s life began in a state of dual immigration, as he spent some of his childhood in New Jersey and some in the Dominican Republic. During this time, he struggled with identity, he felt stuck in between two worlds and eventually he came out creating his own definition of his identity rather than simply accepting what others told him he was. His mission over the last 20 years has been to inspire people to realize that they matter. Morales “decided to become an educator to moderate discussions of others and create a runway for people to prepare themselves to get involved” with impacting government, becoming activists, advocating for change. This includes people who align with any and all backgrounds, political statuses, and beliefs. Within his experience, he has come across those who refuse to accept certain ways of being or ideas. On addressing those who are deemed closed minded, Orville states, “we have to be willing to accept human paradox”. He recommends giving those who disagree with you “grace” when entering a difficult conversation. Through his work at Morales and Associates, Orville aims to “help people get involved in the decision making, not just the reactions to the decisions” Morales references the heated political climate during covid as an example of what he works to prevent, seeking to direct individuals away from heated debates amongst each other and towards organizing in an attempt to enact lasting change. He lives by the idea, “voices should be felt rather than just heard”. However, Orville admits to the fact that his line of work can easily lead to burnout, and explains how he avoids this by training nonprofit leaders. By pouring his wisdom into others, he avoids burnout and creates a collaborative mission to “work with institutions to change them, not necessarily wait for the institutions to change”. Morales has seen hope more than anything throughout his years working in his practice. He has witnessed people of all ages be able to “envision a brighter future” through collaborating with organizations addressing health, housing, and food insecurity. Orville Morales can be found and contacted through his website, moralesandassociates.com, or on linkedin under his name. He recommends people to definitely get involved and engaged in the work of being a changemaker and he has proven through his excellent achievements that it is in fact a fulfilling and necessary position. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram @todayisthedayliveit. Have a great week everyone!JodiNote: Views expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast.

I am excited to introduce the incredible Ryan Charterina onto the Today is the Day Changemakers podcast for this week's episode. Ryan is the owner of the EOS- entrepreneurial operating system franchise here in New Jersey. Coming from a blue- collar family, Ryan Charterina is no stranger to the work ethic needed to make it in the rigorous working world. Having this mentality instilled in him from a young age, he was able to pursue mechanical engineering at Stevens University. While getting his degree, he participated in a work-study program, an opportunity which he highly recommends as it was a great way to get real experience while still in school. Out of school he was able to acquire a technical sales role, combining his passion for conversing with people and engineering, which exposed him to the realm of business. Ryan Charterina attributes his success to his team’s amazing startup mentality. They were very hard working, honest with themselves, and adopted a collaborative mindset, working only within the interest of the company as a whole. EOS works with leadership teams of businesses to instill discipline and accountability as well as organization. As someone in a leadership role himself, Ryan stresses the importance of transparency, in life and in business, as he strives to destigmatize the idea that saying “I don’t know” is a sign of weakness. He lives by the idea that open mindedness and being growth-oriented is the most important aspect of a business. Ryan stresses the importance of finding your passion. Towards this goal, he recommends spending time each day reflecting on what makes you happy, putting away a sum of money each month to allow yourself to take the risk to pursue it, and stresses the importance of working in your passion to maintain a work/life balance. He says, “You deserve the best life you can live.” You can find Ryan on EOSWorldWide.com as well as LinkedIn and Instagram!Find out more about Today is the Day by going to https://todayisthedayliveit.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram Today is the Day Live It. 

It is with great pleasure that I introduce the wonderful Veronica Maoli to end the brief hiatus within the Changemakers Podcast. Veronica is an Entrepreneur - Real Estate and Automotive Industry and Dealer Principal for Celebrity Ford of Toms River.Growing up in Morris County, NJ, Veronica at a young age struggled with being bullied and had to deal with high school cliques. She always found herself wanting to surround herself with new people to learn from them. She began ballroom dancing at age 12 which helped her grow her confidence and focus on herself and her own personal growth. Her advice to those who similarly suffered from bullying in or out of school is, “you have to be okay with someone disliking you, the best thing that you can do is become comfortable and confident in who you are”. Veronica Maoli began her girlboss journey majoring in entrepreneurship at High Point University. It was there that she created a philosophy that would later become the backbone of Celebrity Ford, “every single employee is in it as a team”. She watched her dad grow his businesses, at first shying away from getting involved in the family business because she felt it confined her to one path. Veronica wanted to find her own way, and as a result she entered the realm of real estate, founding the Maoli Group. Eventually after exposure to the car business from her father, she was inspired by his work and took part in the family business. Veronica is an outstanding human who is unapologetically herself and a model of leadership within the business world and beyond. She exudes confidence and grace and her work ethic is beyond inspirational. As a woman entrepreneur and owner of multiple successful businesses within New Jersey, Veronica Maoli is a guiding light to all. Please take a moment to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Jodi Grinwald - Today is the Day Changemakers - YouTube.  Follow us on social media:Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: @todayisthedayliveitHave a great week everyone!

Welcome to season 3, episode 15 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. I am delighted to welcome Sylvia Morrison once more on the podcast as our first repeated guest! Sylvia Morrison is a superhuman woman, her life and work embody the term humanitarian. She is the founder of Links Across Borders, a wonderful organization targeted towards providing for children in Ghana, West Africa. Her main focus is to expand their access to books and other school essentials that will further their education. Links Across Borders is a project that has been in gestation since 2003, when Morrison got the idea from a conversation with a friend at Christmastime. After being inspired by sending a few dollars to Ghana to host a Christmas party for children and hearing that many of them were not in school, she decided to begin fundraising herself. Three years later, Morrison began visiting “her children” and noticed they did not have books. She lives by the quote, “If you think someone should do something about that, remember that you are someone”, and as a result, she decided she would build the first library in the small village. Sylvia Morrison grew up in a village in Jamaica similar to that of the children in Ghana and she began to see her younger self in them. She cites the reason she noticed they were missing books as being because she was reminded of her own childhood, but was missing the image of a little girl sitting under a tree reading. As shown in her passion for Links Across Borders, Sylvia has a deep connection with reading and literature. When she was a girl, she was known to become so absorbed in her reading that she would interpret fictional vacations as her own, her deep appreciation for stories blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Sylvia Morrison expands on her admirable composure throughout her life's work by delving into her gratitude-centric mindset. She firmly believes that, “gratitude is the vibration on which all of the desires in our heart that we are looking to manifest are attracted into our lives”. She explains that if you are focused on problems, the universe will give you more but if you put your focus on what you want, you will attract what you want. Sylvia strongly encourages others to adopt a gratitude mindset because it reminds her that “challenges are there to help you grow” and when practicing gratitude “they don't feel as enormous”. Sylvia is a marvelous human and her unwavering altruism and everlasting gratitude are beyond compare. Please take a moment to follow and like us on social media. If you are interested in becoming a guest on the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, please email jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com. Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: @todayisthedayliveitHave a great week everyone!

Welcome to season 3, episode 14 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. In sharing this episode, I am overcome with excitement as I have had the amazing opportunity to interview outstanding activist Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber. I hold this man in high regards not only because of his groundbreaking work but also because he is my third cousin! Robt has been at the forefront of the intersectional social justice movement in New Jersey for decades. He started as a middle school art teacher, working at the school he had previously attended for over 25 years and ended up forging the first gay-straight alliance in a New Jersey middle school. He is now the founder and chief activist of the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice in Princeton, New Jersey. Robt is a wonderfully passionate individual and I am thrilled to share our conversation with the audience. Robt was inspired by his family to pursue his journey, specifically his grandparents and his parents. Growing up being exposed to the love they shared for each other and the care they provided for others, he was born with an innate urge to promote love in all aspects of his life. He states that he was taught specifically to, “be careful not to speak for anyone, but with everyone”. He was brought up in a way that taught him to provide a safe space for everyone as his parents always had and eventually Robt ended up making this practice his career. As a young child he was graced with an artistic nature which led to his comic book fixation. This eventually manifested into a career as an art teacher, starting at UC Berkeley. After being given the opportunity to work at his old middle school back in New Jersey, he dropped his sunny California life to bring his own sunny disposition into the community which he felt he must give back to. He did indeed give back everything and more, by implementing the first gay-straight alliance club at a middle school in New Jersey after being moved by a student who felt unseen in school. The club met multiple times a week, obtaining 40-50 participants.  After hearing that a child from another school did not feel safe or seen and did not have access to an alliance club, he invited the student to the club dance to give them a space to be themselves. Eventually, Robt ended up having the school pay to send the child to his school in order to provide access to a more positive, safe environment which proved to give the student a place to grow and change as desired. It is evident the ideas instilled in him from birth have led him to his kind-hearted, activism-oriented path. Following his revolutionary work as a teacher, Robt now serves as founder and chief activist of the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice in Princeton, New Jersey. His motto in this position is to “always make things as meaningful and fabulous as possible”, which he certainly applied when organizing the first pride parade in Princeton 4 years ago. With only five weeks to prepare, they ended up drawing a crowd of 3,000 people in the streets and even had the governor show up! This year’s Princeton pride is June 17th and will feature a variety of community members and allies alike coming together to celebrate pride month. In describing the beauty of intersectional justice and the work he does at the center, he states, “We can’t walk on the same path as each other but we can hold hands across the divide and make our journeys that much easier”. Robt is a beacon of light for marginalized groups, who strongly believes in the power of passion and community. He is a testament to the power of those who chose love amidst it all. Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: @todayisthedayliveitHave a great week everyone!J

Welcome to season 3, episode 13 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast.This week my guest is Rebecaa Whitman. Rebecca is a beacon of light for women all over the world. Having graduated with honors from Princeton University, she is now an award-winning life coach, child acting recruiter, and certified empowered woman. Unfortunately, Rebecca thought she always felt like she had to perform for love and approval. She was playing national tennis at the age of 8 and ended up being recruited for Princeton’s team. After a tumultuous few years following her graduation from Princeton, she was able to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an actress in Los Angeles. As she became immersed in the industry, she found herself working in child acting enrollment, a job she has been involved in for the last twenty years. In this episode Rebecca shares a very personal story about domestic violence during this episode. It is important to note that many women live in an unsafe situation and there is help out there.  If needed, please click this link for support: Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org)Rebecca Whitman also has a podcast titled the “Balanced, Beautiful, and Abundant Show” which provides strategies for navigating life. She interviews inspirational individuals and shares advice to listeners through the stories shared. Rebecca calls herself the “magnetic abundance mentor” because she feels that women must remove themselves from environments which trigger their fight or flight mode and instead harness their “feminine energy” to attract abundance. Her “mission is to help overworked, overwhelmed women go from burnt out to balanced, beautiful and abundant.” She is a fountain of wisdom for those in need and women who are seeking advice are encouraged to follow her practice. She can be found on her website, instagram, twitter, and youtube under the name Rebecca Elizabeth Whitman. The fastest way to reach her is instagram and her DMs are always open. Next week my guest is Robt Martin Seba- Shreiber. Robt has been at the forefront of intersectional social justice for decades first as a schoolteacher for over 25 years during which he forged the first Gay Straight Alliance in an NJ middle school & now as founder & Chief Activist of the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice in Princeton wherein he has created innovative all-inclusive support programs & built a dedicated LGBTQIA safe-space for queer youth, families, & our elders that is open every day with trained volunteers to welcome all with the care & respect they need & deserve.Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!Jodi

Welcome to season 3, episode 12 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. I am so excited to announce Tamara Sabatino, a successful leader and powerhouse healthcare provider. Having grown up in New Jersey, she always knew she wanted to be in the healthcare field, starting out at a local orthopedic practice. Tamara does it all, from operations business, patient care, to marketing, and dealing with the political aspects of advocating for insurance for patients. She is excellent at negotiating for her patients, specifically applying her skills to the mental health crisis. She credits herself as always having been a vocal person and continues to use her voice for others who need it the most. After being exposed to mental health struggles close to home, Tamara dedicated her practice to promoting the mental health of others. She explains that teachers and administration can only do so much, the system for monitoring children’s mental health is broken and by the time the problem is addressed it is almost always too late. Tamara shares her treacherous journey in getting her daughter the proper care she needed to remedy her situation. She found that insurance often got in the way of her child’s care, rather than helping it. She even emailed the CEO of United Health Care, who led her down another dead end. She explains that the school, therapist, insurance, and attorneys all proved unhelpful, citing this situation as the reason why children end up on bad paths. Tamara Sabatino is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and she believes her purpose is to live through this situation so she is able to talk about it. She advises parents to go to the parents of the child that is bullying them directly if they are put in the situation and cannot receive help from the school. She also recommends parental controls on children's cell phones, explaining that social media addictions are a real and serious concern. She specifically uses apps such as Bark, which flags potentially dangerous messages on your child’s phone, and Life 360, which allows parents to track their children's whereabouts. To reach out directly to Tamara link in with her via Facebook at Tamara Sabatino or via Instagram @tamarasabatinorealtor.Next week my guest is Rebecca Whitman. Rebecca is known as the Magnetic Abundance Mentor. She is an author of several books and hosts the top 5% globally ranked, "Balanced, Beautiful, and Abundant" podcast.  For more information go to https://linktr.ee/rebeccaewhitman. Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!Jodi

Welcome to season 3, episode 11 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. We will be ending our brief interview hiatus in the wake of the wonderful Today is the Day Changemakers International Forum with an excellent kickstart. I am pleased to welcome the amazing author, editor, and health guru extraordinaire, Jared Seide onto this week's episode.Jared Seide is the author of “Where Compassion Begins: Foundational Practices to Enhance Mindfulness, Attention and Listening from the Heart” and editor of "Leaving Prison Behind: A Council Before I Go.". He is also the founder of two highly successful health- focused organizations. Jared Seide does it all and we are tremendously excited to have him. Jared firmly believes in the power of council and rehabilitation. He is the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Council, which promotes social, emotional, and physical wellness through extensive training of those involved. Additionally, Jared has spearheaded specific training operations. One is geared towards promoting positive interactions regarding police officers titled POWER: Peace Officer Wellness, Empathy and Resiliency. Another is CARE: Compassion, Attunement, Resilience Education, which is aimed at those in the healthcare field. Jared has also worked with incarcerated individuals through the Council for Insight, Compassion, and Resilience as well as the Council Reentry Program. Within the highly impactful organizations Jared has created, there is a common theme of peace and love, which he exudes within his interview. Jared Seide truly wishes the best for all people on earth and it shows organically through his life’s work and his sunny disposition.Next week my guest is Tamara Sabatino. She shares her personal story about being the mom of a child who has been bullied and needed ongoing mental health support to overcome the trauma. Tamara is now helping other mothers navigate advocating for their child's mental health and well-being when school leaders and others fall short. Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!Jodi

Welcome to season 3, episode 10 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. This week’s changemaker is an outstanding individual whom I am delighted to announce. Benjamin (Jamie) Salka, co-founder and CEO of Story Pirates, a media company geared towards providing children with a voice and sparking their passions for writing. He also serves as the co-founder of Story Pirates Changemakers, the not-for-profit arm of the organization. Jamie dove head-first into the project, promising that as CEO he would either catapult Story Pirates into greatness or “die trying”. It is clear that he has kept his promise, as the company has seen substantial success. He describes Story Pirates as a “magic trick” in which kids’ perspectives on writing are shifted from that of a chore they are being made to do into an opportunity for creativity. Salka puts an emphasis on the realization of children that their writing can have an impact on their peers and motivate them to create entertaining, humorous material. His goal with Story Pirates is to help children understand the true purpose of writing rather than view it as an assignment for a grade. Jamie explains that he has “never felt so much conviction” towards anything as he had for Story Pirates. His relentless hard work and remarkable dedication are ever- inspiring to those of all ages. Listen in to hear how Lin Manuel Miranda and Jon Stewart helped to expand the reach of Story Pirates. In the next episode you will learn more about the upcoming International Changemakers Forum that will take place on Thursday, March 23, 2023. For information, speakers, and panel topics go to https://todayisthedayliveit.com. Prior attendees have shared that the experience has been life-changing. Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!

Welcome to season 3, episode 9 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast.This week my guest is Katie Marra, a young changemaker, environmentalist, activist, and writer. Katie Marra is a member of several ocean-based environmental groups in New Jersey and additionally serves as editor in chief of The Captain’s Log. She is looking to pursue a career in environmental science conducting field research as well as environmental journalism. As her passion for the planet began at a young age throughout summertime family cross- country camping trips, Katie eventually gravitated towards environmental clubs and journalism classes in her school. As editor in chief of the school newspaper, she writes monthly articles on happenings pertaining to the environment in order to spread awareness among her peers. One of her most recent articles featured a project she has spearheaded with her school’s Green Team, in which she drew up a petition to remove plastic cutlery and trays in the cafeteria, gaining over 500 signatures from students and staff. Her efforts are proof that any student at any age can make a difference in their own communities. Katie has worked closely with environmental groups on and off campus, taking a position as a board member of Friends of Island Beach State Park in which she controls graphic design and social media. She also is a Clean Ocean Action Beach Captain, participating in the collection of pollutants along the New Jersey coastline and aiding in the crucial data analysis that follows the beach sweeps. In addition, she frequently attends climate protests in an attempt to spread awareness to the dire situation that climate change presents. She encourages all listeners (who are able) to attend the climate protest in New York City at 1pm this Friday, March 3 in addition to joining the cause of Fridays For Future, a student-led environmental organization which holds weekly peaceful protests as a reminder that the youth are aware of the climate crisis and will not tolerate a lack of action against it. Katie urges fellow young changemakers to explore environmental activism and volunteer opportunities within their own community as well as to keep in mind the power of the younger generations in fighting against environmental injustices and protecting our planet. Do you have your ticket to the Changemakers Forum? Interact with changemakers from around the globe on Thursday, March 23, 2023 as they share their expertise on (6) topics that matter and can help you significantly while you are on your personal and professional journey.Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!

Welcome to season 3, episode 8 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. This week my guest is the kindhearted, public- spirited, Meredith Lee. Meredith is the Program Director for the Russ Berrie Making a Difference award since 2017. The making a difference award is the signature program of the Russ Berrie Foundation and recognizes changemakers who are creating positive impact in New Jersey communities. The award is hosted by Ramapo College. Meredith has long since had a passion for philanthropic practices, as she had spent over 20 years working with social service and economic development organizations. Throughout her career, she has consistently asked herself the question “how can we be more welcoming?” and encourages others to do the same. She worked very closely with refugee resettlement, allowing her a unique perspective of economically and situationally disadvantaged individuals. Armed with this experience and a strong charitable drive, Meredith joined the Russ Berrie foundation feeling as if “a lot of things had come together”. With the power of the Russ Berrie foundation’s generous monetary awards, Meredith is able to give life to impactful projects, recognize great deeds, and change the course of people’s lives. The organization has given more than $3.9 million in cash awards to honorees, choosing 10-12 individuals yearly, with the top prize being $50,000. The requirements to be recognized include living in New Jersey and working to help people within New Jersey. There is no age cutoff, as she has distributed prizes from those of ages 9-90 years old. The accomplishments for which honorees are recognized varies. The core questions Meredith and her fellow board members ask when reviewing nominations are, how did the individual make a difference and how long have they been making a difference? For the lucky few who are chosen, there is an in- person ceremony at Ramapo College on May 5th. If you wish to send in a nomination next year, the window of opportunity opens on January first and ends February 15th.Listen in to hear Meredith's answer to what lesson did you learn along the way that you want to share with a young or seasoned Changemaker?Next week my guest is the incredible Young Changemaker Katie Marra. Katie is a high school senior on a mission to help increase awareness and actions to improve our environment. She is the Editor-in-Chief for her school newspaper, youngest to serve on a board of directors in the community, writes all the Today is the Day Changemakers verbiage to go with the podcast episodes, has been a star student athlete and so much more.Do you have your ticket to the Changemakers Forum? Interact with changemakers from around the globe on Thursday, March 23, 2023 as they share their expertise on (6) topics that matter and can help you significantly while you are on your personal and professional journey. Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!

Welcome to season 3, episode 7 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. This week I am joined by a special guest co-host, the incredible Fred Wasiak, founder and president of The Food Bank of South Jersey as well as Inspire Change Honoree for the 2023 International Changemakers Forum. Together, Fred and I interview Steven Cohen. Steven is the author of Leading FromWithin: A Guide to Maintaining Your Effectiveness Through Meditation as well as co-founder and chair of the board of Meditation4Leadership which brings the benefits of mindfulness and meditation practices to the workplace. Along with his zen practices, he has a very successful career as a lawyer, being Manager of the Global Emerging Business Technology Practice at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius, LLP.  Steven traces his first experience practicing concentration back to playing team sports in his early years, though he had not yet explored meditation. He was first exposed to yoga in response to debilitating back problems for which he sought a cure. Steven described the experience as “a life problem disguised as a back problem”. He explains that though yoga helped his back problems, once he paid more attention to the minute of meditation in the beginning of the session, he began a new journey to mindfulness. This increased focus on meditation helped him stay present, rather than focusing too much on the past or future.  He states, “coming back to the breath can be a metaphor for coming back to what is important”. Steven is a firm believer in letting go of judgment in order to reap the full benefits of meditation. Once he was able to release his self judgements and doubts through practicing meditation, his legal practice tripled and has maintained its level since. He emphasizes that this did not occur because of meditation, but because of the benefits which came from meditation. Steven cites the reasons why people don't meditate as lack of exposure, if exposed, not resonating with the language used, and a fundamental misunderstanding of what meditation really is. If you wish to open your mind to a practice such as meditation, he suggests meditating not to become a better meditator, but to become a better version of yourself.Learn more about how Meditation4Leadership is bringing the art of mindfulness and mediation to the workplace and helping staff teams at multiple large organizations. Take a listen to Steven's answer to the question, what is a lesson you learned that you can share with both a young and seasoned changemaker.Next week, I interview Meredith Lee, Program Director for the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award. Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!

Welcome to season 3, episode 6 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. This week my guest is Abby Daly. Abby is the founder and executive director of the Bridge of Books Foundation, a nonprofit organization doing amazing work within New Jersey, enhancing access to literature among children in need. Abby was named a New Jersey Hero by the New Jersey Hero Initiative and has certainly lived up to the title. Throughout its 20 years in operation, Bridge of Books has distributed 1.3 million books to underprivileged children throughout New Jersey. Abby is a former attorney who, during her practice, pursued mental health and children’s rights cases. She represented individuals who were involuntarily admitted into psychiatric hospitals, protecting the rights of children and providing a voice for them during trying times. This profession introduced Abby to New Jersey’s population of disadvantaged youth and later allowed her to reach children in need through her nonprofit work with Bridge of Books.Abby is deeply dedicated to her craft as she hand picks books based on reading levels and interests of children. Her mission is to “bring the world to children through books”. She aims to encourage development of literacy skills and love for reading. She has worked with food pantries, schools, and state prisons to reach the largest number of children. Though Bridge of Books has touched a great deal of lives, they still have much to do. To support the underprivileged youth of New Jersey, consider getting involved or donating by visiting Bridgeofbooksfoundation.org. Investing in this cause is investing in the future of New Jersey, and collectively, the future of country. Listen in to hear a lesson learned that Abby wants to share with young and seasoned changemakers. Next week I am joined by one of my favorite co-hosts, Fred Wasiak. Fred is the President & CEO of the South Jersey Food Bank. Together we interview, Steven Cohen, Author, Leading from Within: A Guide To Maximizing Your Effectiveness Through Meditation, Co-founder and Chair of the Board, Meditation4Leadership, Manager, Morgan Lewis & Bockius.  Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone! 

Welcome to season 3, episode 5 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. I am thrilled to announce this week’s lively, Emmy Award- winning, changemaker Kimberly Kravitz. She is a skilled journalist and producer, an expert go-getter, as well as an inspiration to all in the field.Kimberly is deemed a local legend, representing both Brooklyn, NY and Freehold Township, NJ. Since childhood, she has  displayed the qualities of a true journalist, as she was always one to ask many questions. She capitalized on her natural talents by partaking in internships during her early days as a new journalist, which led her to become familiar with freelance work. She urges listeners to value the importance of making connections during your career path and taking as many internship opportunities as possible in order to learn what you have a passion for. Listen in to hear how Kimberly did not originally think of a profession in journalism and how someone in her life planted a seed that she nurtured to grow into what she is doing today. Also, listen in to hear how Kimberly listened to something her sister encouraged her to do that also helped her along her personal and professional path. As an award-winning producer, Kimberly is living proof of the idea that having experience in both producing and journalism go hand in hand and will give you the tools you need for success. Her dream of “being a journalist in every aspect” has come to life with her time in tv, print, radio, and producing. Having interviewed prominent figures such as Chris Christie and meeting several famous actors, she shares her experiences. Kimberly balances the thrilling aspects of these moments alongside the idea that famous people are human just like everyone else; she encourages aspiring journalists to keep this in mind as they go out into the world. Kimberly Kravitz’s awards and accolades are proof that she is a force to be reckoned with. Her New York Emmy Award was given as a result of her coverage on an eventful town hall meeting which discussed the topic of the heroin crisis. Along with this brilliant achievement, she is also an active volunteer with several organizations including the Empty Sky foundation to support those who have lost loved ones during 9/11, the ALS Awareness, and the Girl Scouts. Kravitz urges all those interested in the field of journalism to contact her via her website: www.kimberlyjkravitz.com or instagram: Kimberlykravitztv for mentorship and advice! Next week my special co-host is Fred Wasiak, President & CEO of South Jersey Food Bank. Together, we interview Steven Cohen author of  Leading from Within: A Guide To Maximizing Your Effectiveness Through Meditation, co-founder and Chair of the Board of Meditation4Leadership, and manager of the global emerging business and technology practice at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, an AmLaw 50 law firm. Do you have a story to share? If so, reach out to Jodi at jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com.Website: https://todayisthedayliveit.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/todayistheday/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todayisthedayJodi is also the CEO and co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. To learn more visit: www.applaudourkids.org, Facebook, InstagramSign-up for our mailing list, schedule a conversation with Jodi or ask a Changemaker a question: jodi@todayisthedayliveit.comHave a great week everyone!