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In this NewsPod, I sit down with Anh Phoong—yes, that Anh Phoong—but this time, it’s not about the courtroom or billboards. It’s about something far more personal and urgent.

Anh joins me as a Woman of Impact for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign, a nationwide effort focused on raising awareness and funds to fight the number one killer of women: heart disease.

What makes this conversation powerful is the why behind her involvement. After her mother suffered a sudden heart attack in 2022, Anh saw firsthand how quickly life can change—and how critical awareness, prevention, and action really are.

We talk about:

• Why heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women
• The reality that 80% of cases are preventable
• The importance of advocating for your own health
• And how a little friendly competition is helping raise serious dollars for lifesaving research

Anh shares how her team is getting creative—from community events to partnerships and grassroots fundraising—to make an impact during this nine-week campaign.

But more than anything, this episode is a reminder:

👉 Take your health seriously
👉 Don’t ignore the signs
👉 And don’t wait to act

If something feels wrong—say something, do something, and follow through.

You can support Anh’s campaign and the American Heart Association by visiting her fundraising page in the link below.

Go Red For Women Link: HERE

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Heidt, President and CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, to explore the role the Chamber plays in shaping the economic future of the Capital Region. Serving six counties and 22 cities, the Chamber works to convene business leaders, advocate for regional priorities, and create programs that help businesses and communities grow together.

Robert shares how chambers have evolved from simple networking organizations into catalysts for economic development, regional collaboration, and leadership development. We talk about signature programs like Cap-to-Cap and Study Mission, the Chamber’s collaboration with organizations like Valley Vision and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, and why storytelling and relationships remain at the core of building a strong regional economy.

We also discuss the importance of supporting small businesses, engaging nonprofit organizations as economic partners, and why Sacramento’s ability to work together across jurisdictions is one of its greatest strengths.

To learn more about the chamber visit: https://www.metrochamber.org/

To give Robert a call: 916-552-6800

1. What the Sacramento Metro Chamber Really Does
An overview of the Chamber’s role in fostering a strong regional economy and advocating for businesses across six counties and 22 cities.

2. Why Chambers of Commerce Still Matter
How chambers have evolved from traditional networking groups into strategic conveners of economic leadership.

3. The Power of Cap-to-Cap
Why Sacramento sends the largest chamber delegation in the country to Washington, D.C., and how advocacy helps shape federal policy.

4. Study Missions and Learning from Other Cities
How exploring cities like Detroit helps Sacramento identify new opportunities for growth and revitalization.

5. Collaboration Across the Region
The Chamber’s partnerships with organizations like the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and Valley Vision to drive regional strategy.

6. Supporting Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Why the Chamber’s work ultimately supports the thousands of small and mid-size businesses that power the regional economy.

7. The Speaker Series and Bringing Big Ideas to Sacramento
How the Chamber is expanding the Sacramento Speaker Series to bring national thought leaders into the community.

8. Leadership Development and the Next Generation
Programs designed to nurture young professionals and develop the region’s future business and civic leaders.

9. Running a Modern Chamber
How the Chamber operates as a member-driven organization serving nearly 2,000 businesses across the region.

10. Why Sacramento’s Collaborative Spirit Matters
Robert shares why Sacramento’s willingness to work together may be its greatest competitive advantage.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Homelessness is often misunderstood. For many women and families, it begins with a single crisis—domestic violence, a medical emergency, or simply the inability to afford housing while raising children.

In this episode, I speak with Lisa Culp, founder of Women’s Empowerment, and Robin Kelly-Dunton, a graduate of the program who now serves as chair of its board. Together they share the story of an organization that has spent the last 25 years helping women and children build a pathway out of poverty and homelessness.

Robin’s story sits at the heart of our conversation. She arrived at Women’s Empowerment after losing everything—caring for an incapacitated husband, raising a newborn, and struggling with homelessness. What she found when she walked through the doors was something she hadn’t felt in months: hope.

Through the organization’s nine-week program, Robin gained job training, mentorship, and the confidence to rebuild her life. That opportunity eventually led to a full-time role in public service, and today she serves as chair of the board for the very organization that helped change her future.

Lisa and Robin also talk about the realities facing women experiencing homelessness—especially single mothers—and how Women’s Empowerment combines employment training, childcare, housing support, and mentorship to help families stabilize and move forward.

It’s a powerful reminder that when people are given the tools, support, and belief that change is possible, transformation can happen.

To learn more about Women's Empowerment, visit https://womens-empowerment.org/

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to Women’s Empowerment
01:10 — How the Organization Began
04:20 — Understanding the Real Causes of Homelessness
10:50 — Robin’s Journey to Women’s Empowerment
17:00 — Inside the Nine-Week Program
24:00 — Employment Partnerships and Career Pathways
31:40 — Robin’s Internship and Career Breakthrough
37:30 — Community Partnerships That Support the Mission
43:30 — Graduates Supporting the Next Generation
49:40 — Funding the Work and Sustaining Impact
56:10 — The Vision for the Future
01:00:30 — How to Support Women’s Empowerment
01:02:30 — Closing Reflections

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.