Go Inspire Go - an Interview with Toan Lam and Kala Shah
June 28, 2014
Hosted by Marianna Cacciatore
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Episode Description
Bread for the Journey of Marin County made a grant of $1,500 to Go Inspire Go. We funded a their Community Heroes program, which is a pilot project that works with young people, helping them to focus their inherent generosity by performing acts of kindness and community service. Kala Shah, the innovator of this program looked around and saw privileged kids living alongside people in need and yet the two were not in relationship with one another. She wanted to change that. Rolling up her sleeves, she started where she could—her own children’s elementary school. Today the program is spreading across the country. Toan Lam, the founder of Go Inspire Go, helped Kala make her dream a reality by listening to her deep need to make a change and encouraging her to create the Community Heroes project under the auspices of Go Inspire Go. Toan Lam—trained as a journalist and TV reporter—created Go Inspire Go as a way to transform media by telling inspiring stories of kindness and generosity on film, and working to leverage social media for social change. Today, Kala and Toan are the dynamic duo, working to grow Go Inspire Go and all of its projects. Join us this week for an inspiring conversation with Toan Lam and Kala Shah of Go Inspire Go.
Bread for the Journey Radio
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
Today’s news is filled with stories that break our hearts. On Bread for the Journey Radio, you’ll hear stories that help mend it back together. Join Marianna Cacciatore as she interviews ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things, often small and always meaningful, to make our world a better place. Some, like Marianna, have suffered a tragedy, and, as a result, have created something beautiful to bring others healing. Others are helping women in crisis, making life better for children living in poverty, greening their neighborhood, or any number of creative things that make their community more beautiful, healthy, and connected. These women, men and young people inspire us to think about our own lives, and what we can do to make a difference in the world. Their stories become Bread for our Journey, inspiration and nourishment for a life well lived.
Marianna Cacciatore
Most would agree Marianna Cacciatore’s life has been one well-lived. Through her work over 25 years with people who are working to bring about a better world, she has a unique vantage point from which to tell the stories we don’t generally hear in the media today. Marianna possesses the rare gift of presence, a deep listening which evokes in people the desire to tell their story.
Having suffered a childhood tragedy that spiraled downward into her teens and young adult years, she eventually turned things around and created a grief center that has brought healing to thousands of people. She recounts the full story in her book, Being There for Someone in Grief. Today, she serves as a Lifetime Emeritus Board Member of Tu Nidito in Tucson, Arizona, the parent agency for the organization she founded in 1988 called Children to Children, a Center for Children and Families in Grief.
Everyday Marianna meets ordinary people doing extraordinary things through her work as Executive Director of Bread for the Journey, a philanthropic organization with 20 locations nationally. Each volunteer-run chapter practices neighborhood philanthropy in their respective communities, helping everyday people bring their community-minded ideas to life. The Bread for the Journey vision is to nurture the seed of generosity in every human heart and Marianna’s life is a living expression of just that. Join her as she ignites the heart of generosity in you.
Episode Directory
July 2014
June 2014
- 6/28/2014: Go Inspire Go - an Interview with Toan Lam and Kala Shah Listen Now
- 6/21/2014: Writing Poetry with John Fox and Marianna Cacciatore Listen Now
- 6/14/2014: Poetry as Healer : An Interview with John Fox Listen Now
- 6/7/2014: The Inspired Heart ~ An Interview with Artist Jerry Wennstrom Listen Now
