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American River Parkway Foundation – Protecting 23 Miles of Sacramento’s Backyard

I’m on the American River Parkway multiple times a week. Cycling. Running. Watching the fog rise off the river. And like many of you, I’ve probably taken it for granted.

But what if I told you only about 10% of Sacramento County residents recognize the Parkway as a connected 23-mile resource?

In this episode, I sit down with Diana Poggetto, Executive Director of the American River Parkway Foundation, to talk about what it really takes to protect 4,800 acres of open space that sit just minutes from our homes.

We cover:

• The 15,000+ volunteer hours that keep the Parkway clean and accessible
• What happens when 88,000 cubic feet per second of water roars through the river
• Why the Parkway is first and foremost a flood conveyance zone
• How Title I students are experiencing the river for the first time
• The Afghan families, cyclists, runners, artists, and seniors who all share this space
• Two major community events: Summer Solstice and the American River Burger Battle
• Why growing awareness beyond that 10% is critical for the Parkway’s future

What struck me most is Diana’s phrase:

It’s free.
It’s accessible.
And it unites Sacramento across cities, cultures, and generations.

If you care about open space, equity in access to nature, volunteerism, or simply protecting what makes Sacramento special — this conversation is for you.

🔗 Learn More & Get Involved

Visit: https://arpf.org

Chapter Time Stamps

00:00 – Why the Parkway matters personally
02:30 – 23 miles, 4,800 acres, and what most people don’t know
04:00 – Trash removal, invasive plants, and volunteer power
06:00 – Youth exposure & Title I students discovering nature
10:30 – Large-scale community cleanups (800–2,000 volunteers)
12:30 – How the organization is funded
14:00 – Summer Solstice & Burger Battle fundraisers
15:45 – The “blank check” vision for the Parkway
18:30 – The greatest need: community advocacy
22:00 – Flood seasons & 88,000 CFS
26:00 – Managing nature and finding balance
29:00 – Marketing the Parkway & video campaign
33:00 – Engaging the next generation

If you haven’t been out on the Parkway recently — go.
You can enter almost anywhere. And it belongs to all of us.

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...

Veterans Resource & Hiring Fair – March 13 | Elk Grove

In this NewsPod, I’m joined by Tim Swaney, President of the Veteran Entrepreneur Tribe of Sacramento — VETS — to talk about an important event happening March 13 at District 56 in Elk Grove.

VETS was created so no veteran has to figure out civilian life alone. Tim shares his own difficult transition out of the Navy and how that struggle led him to build a community where veterans can access mentorship, education, entrepreneurship support, and real opportunity.

On March 13, they’re bringing it all together in one place.

This Veterans Resource & Hiring Fair will feature:

• 50+ resource providers
• 40+ employers actively hiring veterans
• Support in employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare, housing, legal services, education, and benefits
• Free food and open networking
• Real conversations — not just pamphlets

This event is about closing the gap. It’s about making sure veterans don’t get lost in transition. And it’s about creating a space where employers can truly connect with veteran talent.

If you are a veteran, know a veteran, employ veterans, or support veteran families — this is for you.

Event Details

📍 District 56 – Elk Grove
📅 March 13
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🎟 Free to attend
🔗 veteranentrepreneurtribe.org

As always, thank you for listening, subscribing, and sharing these stories that matter.

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...

What happens once the flames are out?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Joe Pick, Executive Director of the Firefighters Burn Institute and a 30-year veteran of the fire service, to explore what recovery really looks like for burn survivors and their families.

Born from tragedy following a devastating 1972 plane crash in Sacramento, the Firefighters Burn Institute was created to ensure our region would never again be without specialized burn care . What began as an effort to establish a local burn unit has grown into a comprehensive, lifelong support system for burn survivors — from emergency response to emotional recovery.

Joe shares how the Institute now serves hundreds of individuals and families each year through:

• Little Firefighters Kids Camp (ages 6–17)
• Little Heroes Family Retreat (for children under six and their families)
• Mental health support and trauma-informed counseling
• Survivor peer groups and virtual BurnNet gatherings
• Community-building events that help reduce isolation
• Partnerships with burn centers and survivor organizations across the country

This conversation goes beyond the medical side of burn injuries. We talk about grief, guilt, psychological safety, and the importance of sacred spaces where families can process trauma together. Joe speaks candidly about what it means to move from the fireground — where firefighters often hand patients off at the hospital — to walking alongside survivors for years in their healing journey.

One of the most moving themes of this episode is simple but profound: no one heals alone. The Institute’s work ensures that survivors don’t just survive — they rebuild confidence, connection, and community.

We also discuss one of their greatest current needs: expanded access to trauma-informed mental health care for burn survivors and caregivers — a critical but often underfunded piece of long-term recovery.

If you’ve ever dropped a dollar in a firefighter’s boot during a Fill the Boot drive, this episode shows you exactly where that impact goes.

To learn more or get involved, visit: ffburn.org

🎙️ Episode Chapters

00:00 – The 1972 Tragedy That Sparked a Movement
03:00 – From Burn Unit to Lifelong Survivor Care
07:00 – Little Firefighters Kids Camp & Little Heroes Retreat
12:00 – National Partnerships & Survivor Support Networks
16:00 – Why Mental Health Access Is the Greatest Need
19:00 – Building Community Through Events & Outreach
23:00 – How Survivors Discover the Institute
27:00 – A Firefighter’s Perspective on Trauma & Healing
30:00 – “Bad Things Happen. Good Things Can Too.”
33:00 – How to Support the Firefighters Burn Institute

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.