Phoenix (STN) – A dinner invitation. A shared database. A video introduction to a longtime nonprofit. The October episode of ‘It Happens at STN‘ kept returning to one idea: In this ‘Season of Builders,’ no organization solves big community problems alone.
‘Leading in the Moment’ opened the show with Monique Lopez, CEO of UMOM New Day Centers, and Shelby Pedersen, CEO of ICAN, who talked about leadership and self-belief. “I don’t think confidence comes first,” Lopez said. Pedersen said relationships drive change. “It’s not a step in the plan. It is the work.”
Collaboration took center stage in a discussion highlighting a new coalition of credit unions spearheaded by Jason Paprocki, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer of Arizona Financial Credit Union. He invited competing credit union leaders to dinner, and Chris Kearney, CEO of True West Credit Union, was among those who joined. “Step one is just make the invitation,” Paprocki said. Kearney said pooling staff turns small programs into a “force multiplier.”
During the ‘McQuaid Mission’ panel, Amy Schwabenlender, CEO of Keys to Change, talked about why placing providers together on Key Campus was not enough. “Co-location does not mean collaboration,” she said. Jowan Thornton, director of partnerships and collaboration at Keys to Change, and Alex Demyan, VP Government Affairs at Contexture, described a shared data system that helps measure outcomes and shorten the wait for services.
Between panel discussions, the show took viewers inside two organizations changing lives in the Valley.
Nathan Smith, CEO of CASS, said adding case managers could increase the number of people finding permanent housing by hundreds. The Centers for Habilitation, a new STN partner, introduced its work with adults with disabilities.
The show closed with a panel on finding paths to prosperity, led by Mary Noor, Senior Vice President and Market Executive at Bank of America. She was joined by Tamala McBath, CEO of Dress for Success Arizona, and Mark Garcia, Vice President of Learning Systems at New Pathways for Youth. “People are waiting for us to get it right,” McBeth said.
The next show is Thursday, November 5th. Tickets are available here.
