Trinity Donovan
Trinity Donovan has served as the CEO of AZCEND for the past 14 years. AZCEND is a nonprofit that provides help and hope, so people don’t have to face their crisis alone. Working in nonprofit leadership positions for over 20 years, her areas of focus have included hunger and homelessness, early childhood, senior programs, and youth development. Trinity also served two terms as a Council Member for the City of Chandler. While on Council, she represented the city on a regional and national level in areas of human services, transportation, water, and sustainability. Trinity holds a bachelor's degree in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, and a master's degree in Sociology – both from Stanford University.
Episode Transcription
Guiding Growth. Conversations with Community Leaders. In this podcast, we'll explore the human journey of leaders. There are stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks, and lessons learned, come join us as we journey together and uncover the questions you've always wanted to know. This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, providing resources, connections and belonging for business professionals and modern moments, an event and meeting venue in the heart of Gilbert. Some days you get a treat and today is that day for you, Sarah. It is, well, I really like I get a treat all the time just spending my time with you be no, it's about time you realize.
But today is a really special treat. This guest is equally known for her incredible leadership and her heart to serve others. She has been the CEO of A for the past 14 years and also served two terms as council member for the city of Chandler. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Studies in race and ethnicity and a master's degree in Sociology from Stanford University. She is a mom to two girls and appreciates having her parents and family nearby. She is Trinity. Donovan. Hello. Hello. Nice to see you and meet you.
Thank you. It's great to be here today. We're glad to have you. You know, this might sound weird but I'll say it anyway, Trinity. I don't know too many Trinities, but when I hear that name, I immediately think of the Matrix because that was such an awesome Trinity name. And here I finally meet a real Trinity. Well, I'm going to tell you when I think of, when I hear Trinity, I think of this Trinity because this Trinity, she's a different. Well, let's just go into what we call rapid fire and find out how crazy this Trinity is, right?
Would you rather sing in public or dance in public? Sing in public? Ok. Ok. We're going to hold you to that and we're going to ask you it, but we'll wait to that one right next question. What is one of your nicknames that you're willing to share? Yes, I had to think about a few of those nicknames. When I was younger. A lot of people called me. Trin. Would your 12 year old self think you are cool. I think so. You're confident in that one. Well, then this one is fun.
Have you ever, ever, ever won a contest? I have, what's your favorite movie of all time? It's too hard. I like all, I like a variety, I guess my favorite used to be Memento. Ok. How do you overcome failures? I mean, overcoming them is best when you learn and move, move forward, fill in the blank. Joy is spreading kindness. Are you more of an introvert or extrovert? Introvert? Do you have a favorite book? I like many books. Too. Avid reader. Not as much as I used to be.
No, same. Ok. Last question for you. What is one, only one thing you were grateful for my family? All right, this podcast is brought to you by Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. Recognized as one of the top 100 best hospitals by health grades. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is a full service acute care not for profit community hospital, providing exceptional health care to the East Valley with a staff of 217 employees and 211 volunteers. Patients can expect the expertise of more than 210 physicians representing all major specialties. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is proud to be part of the local community and an award winning employer.
Learn more at dignity health dot org forward slash Arizona. All right. So let's go back to the very beginning where it all began. Tell us about you and your childhood. Hm. Well, I was born in Oregon um and lived there till I was in the second grade and then second grade. I moved to Chandler and um have loved living in Arizona ever since. Although when I first moved, I was disappointed to leave my friends, of course, so very tough, very tough then. Um but loved growing up here and the friends I made and, um, my family and, and what we were able to do.
Ok. So you moved from Oregon to Chandler? And so you grew up in Chandler? Yeah. So there was probably 210,210 people in Chandler at the time. Did you go to? I did. Ok. I did not know this. So, we're both Chandler high grads. And at that, at that time, Chandler was the only public high school, um, around and Chandler at least. So interesting. So, all right. Talk about, tell me about your, your parents and like, what kind of things did they do? What were their careers? Because there was always a big influence on people, like what my parents did. Right. Yeah.
So in Oregon, my mom worked for Hewlett Packard. Um, and I don't know what she really did there. She just went to work and she came home, you know, that was my second grade. Of course, we went to picnics, family picnics, got a, she got color forms. If you remember those, that was a highlight from HP. Um And my dad worked in construction, um, and a lot of the work that he did in construction. And so we moved for his job to Arizona and they did a lot of work with kind of drilling one hole and then doing underground tunneling, drilling another.
So, um worked for a variety of companies. Um, my mom then when we moved here. I'm the oldest. So they, um, my sister is about, about six years younger. My brother is about three years younger than her and she then stayed home, um, for a time and then went to work for like a machine, airplane making company. Um, after, after that, that's awesome. Ok. And so as you think about what your parents did, do you see any influences on what they brought to you and like what you're doing now?
Um So they were always encouraging me of, you know, how do I pursue what I'm interested in? So I really have appreciated that um from volunteer and service projects to having me be involved in a wide variety of activities. So parks and rec activities during the summer, um helping me with one of my, my first businesses was we had a reverse osmosis in our, our um home. So I would fill neighbors jugs with water and, and charge them. So using my parents' water and I would make the money with our wagon would deliver it to everyone.
Got it. Yes. So, um just, you know, enabled me to pursue my passions. My dad was really into um computers in the beginning of, of many of the computer things. Um So we had a lot of technology around and um got to, got to work with, with computers and a little bit of programming. And did your mom continue to work with HP when she moved here? She didn't because obviously that would have been a huge influence right there. Alright. So let's talk about Chandler growing up. What did it look like for you?
What was, what were those, you know, high school years like for you? I had so many great memories or I still have so many great memories of Chandler and Chandler High and a couple of things I appreciated. So because Chandler High was the only high school, public high school in Chandler, it needed to accommodate all types of people. So I really loved how there were opportunities. Um There were only two schools in the, in the Maricopa County, perhaps that had the International Baccalaureate degree. So there was a focus on advanced placement classes and and honors and then they had programs, there was a program called Stars I believe, which was for people who were the first to graduate high school um in their family.
Um Some people were part of both and um and then the sports were fun and um and special education, there was just really that how do we have the mix for all people to be able to, to thrive here at the school? And um you know, when I would watch movies about high school or even hear about some of my friends from other areas, their high school experiences, perhaps I was just oblivious, but I really didn't feel like we had the stereotypical clicks that people in honors could do well in sports.
And um there were just people who blurred the lines on what might be categories of people in school. I actually would say the same thing. I felt the same way. And so I loved that just being able to grow up with, with that encouragement and not being put in a box, but being able to be part of many boxes. Any teachers come to mind in that period of your life that you stand out as like a, I mean, as you say that I like a variety of. Yes.
And then I um I mean, I think of Mr Engleman who was, I literally was going to say Mr Engleman, the English teacher, this is the best. Let's go down Chandler memories. Um And um yeah, he was, he was great and then later after I graduated, um he had my brother in like audio visual stuff as well. So he did a lot of, and I can remember some really good projects in that class. Um I took French and so Mr Scalia was um my French teacher. Um I swam, so Mr Johnson um was my coach and there's so many more that I'm missing right now.
Um But absolutely, ok, great. Alright, so then fast forward next high school is done. What happens after that? Um So I applied to a variety of different schools and waited till the very last minute to decide where I would go. Um Looked at from um Duke to Michigan. I was from Oregon. So the University of Oregon, the Ducks. Um my dad and grandpa went there. My grandpa played football for them when they were not in helmets, but in those leather caps, which has been really nice when the Ducks would go to a bowl game, he would get kind of first stab at some tickets.
So that's been fun. Um And so wondering where I would go and actually Stanford gave me one of the best financial aid packages. Um So from the loans and the scholarships to also the work study that was in the package. So it was frankly less expensive to go to Stanford than to go to the University of Michigan. Um and closer too. So I really appreciated being able to be um far enough away from home um to be able to appreciate it. And I think that was one reason that helps me come back here after I graduated.
Um and then it was close enough where I could come home for Thanksgiving and other other things like that. Yeah, that was going to be my question. It's, well, first, what did Stanford that experience look like for you? But also then what brings you back home? Well, and I'm someone who loves to make the most out of my time. So at Stanford, uh so back then there was a show called In Living Color and um for those who are familiar with it, there was a Jamaican family and it was, uh, and they would talk about the, they had, um, multiple jobs and so many people would compare me to that, that family.
Um, there because I was, um, I was a driver for keeping campus safe, um, at night. So I drive golf carts for people to come, um, from one place to another, go to one place to another to putting up flyers on, on dorms to residential assistant, so many different jobs throughout that time, um, did some research assistant work as well. And um, and so I loved that I played rugby there and was involved in different clubs and would often take a very full schedule so much so that I was able to cram my masters into, into those four years.
So completed my bachelor's and my master's during that time. Um So just really loved being able to be exposed to so many new experiences and speakers who had come to, to the school and um, and enjoyed my four years. And then during that time, Stanford had a program where if you were interested in working for a nonprofit, uh they would pay 211% of your salary, they would give you a California wage, which was almost double minimum wage at the time. And, um, and then so the nonprofit only had to pay 303%.
And so with that, each summer, I was able to, to explore, um, the, the nation went to Pittsburgh to teach um 230th and 214th graders. So there, that first year I taught Swahili anatomy and nature crafts. I learned Swahili. I used to know Swahili. Um And uh and interesting. And then the second year I went to Long Island and was on the administrative committee for English and then did English and art um and loved to be in a new place in the country. Have kind of room and board paid for.
And Stanford paid my wage, which is a win, win win because I was able to work for a nonprofit and get a good wage. And then I was able to use the nonprofit, then got a great deal and having a full time employee and then I was able to give that money back to Stanford. Um And then the last year I really wanted to come back home for the summer. So I was looking for a place to be able to utilize Stanford's work study program, um and landed on icann, which is in Chandler and at the time they had one full time employee.
So for me to be able to come in 2000 hours a week really helped. There were some part time employees too, but to be able to help both on the program side and the administration side. So got to do that, um and loved being away and appreciate home. Um So when I or as I was going to graduate, my senior year, had a few different opportunities but have the opportunity to um apply. The CEO was leaving at icann and had the opportunity to apply for that as I was graduating.
Um and upon graduation or shortly after the summer became the CEO of icann right out of school. Yeah. Talk about school, hard knocks right there. Well, let's say this because I, that type of ambition that you uh demonstrated to get through college in that way and to make the most of your experiences is not a normal uh ambition level for somebody of that age. Where does that come from? Where does that drive come from? I guess there's so much that life has to offer if we're willing to be open to it.
And so just seeing, you know, being able to maybe take a little risk um and go to something new, learn something new and then be able to think about how does that connect to the other things? I know. How does that challenge? What I know, um I guess has always been interesting to me. So the more experiences I'm able to have, the more I'm able to, to learn and question and challenge and grow and then you lock yourself into a CEO position. Well, and at 22 we served people up to 19 years old.
And so knowing that I was so close in age, I would not tell them how old I was. I can remember there was a kindergartner. So he just came in, he had some, he had a brother and a sister who were in the program. And so they'd always push him to ask and he'd always ask how everyone would ask, how old are you all the kids? And, um, and so then I put it back on Jesus. I said, well, how old do you think I am? And he said, I think you're 100 and six.
So that was my, and I was probably about 22 or 23 at the time. Um So I was old to the five year old. And so then whenever any of the kids would ask me, I would always say, well, Jesus thinks I'm 100 and six, that would be my new answer. So those early days then as ceo what, what do you recall being some of the challenges that you didn't foresee and then who are the people that really helped you through that time? Yeah. Um I think, let's see. So when I was at icann, um and you know, for many nonprofits, but at that time, uh funding was a struggle and, and I remember, and I love numbers so I could get into them and be like we have some work to do here to be, to be stable, to ensure that we can pay all of our employees and not have a race to the bank to deposit checks.
Um which by the way is a lot of responsibility to put in the hands of a 143 year old. I mean, basically you're operating a business at 22. Um Yeah, and I cared about the people who were helping us, our employees, I cared about the kids we were serving. So, really looking at how do we look at our expenses? How do we cut out those unnecessary ones? What were we really focusing on and how do we grow the funding? And I can remember, um, I think one of my perhaps mistakes was being too blunt with the board right in the beginning.
And I came to a board meeting and I was like, look, here's where we are, we need all of our circles of influence to help raise this money. And some of them were like, well, we hired you to raise the money and when the previous person was here, things sounded a lot better. So maybe we should bring her back. And I'm like, oh, no, this is, this is not what I wanted to light a fire, not, not be like, oh, this is too much for us. So that balance between, for motivation was something I really learned in the beginning that yes, we need to all get around this, but we need to understand the numbers so that we can move forward with the numbers and not, not um be outside of reality.
How long did you do that? I can um, I was at I can about five years and then you moved to the Valley, sunny night away. How did that come about? Um, so I had an opportunity to be in the East Valley office. Um, so I joked when I moved from icann to United Way that my commute doubled from 2.5 miles each way to five miles each way. Um And, you know, I think once you live and work close together, it's really hard to take a position where you have to spend a lot of time in the car.
You just get used to being able to be at home and, and not have so much car time or, and especially in traffic. Um, so I guess how did that come about? Um, they were looking for someone in the East Valley to be able to represent United Way in a variety of places and perhaps as a partner, I Ken was a partner of United Way. So they knew me and knew kind of what I was doing in the community. And so they stole you away in the blink of an eye.
Wow, that's kind of fun, isn't it? He's a little dramatic and, and I so appreciated my time at I can and after five years it was, it was, seemed like it was time to go do something new. Yeah. And that's always such a weighty and difficult decision because especially when you're working in a nonprofit where you connect with your client base and you feel like you're walking away from the people. It's a challenge. It was tough, but we had a great board who about the organization too.
And you know, from those beginning days of here's what the numbers look like and kind of a maybe we should bring the other person back on a consultant basis to tell us happy things to then this time where, where we were growing and becoming stabilizing really and becoming more stable. Um It was a hard decision but it was um it was, it was just felt like it was time to move on and, and one, you know, we had some great board members, I think of um one of our board members from Intel, her name is Christy Stockman.
Uh She was a great influence during that time um helping, helping us guide icann through. So, where does your uh run for public office fall into this equation? So I've had the opportunity to do a variety of international mission trips um Either or service trips, some with groups of people and nonprofits and others with my church. And um I, I'm United Methodist. And so, um through those service trips, I was asked to do a little sermonette one Sunday. And um and I was really wane, do I talk about how we have the opportunity to, to serve across the world?
Um or do I talk about how we have the opportunity to serve right here and I was at Unite away at the time and I decided to focus on here. And as an example, you know, Chandler has great statistics of high quality of life, Gilbert similar to this, you know, um high incomes and there are pockets in both communities that have, needs some go unnoticed by many who go in that, who live in those communities. And so I wanted to talk about there is need right in our backyards and how we have the opportunity to serve right where we are.
And as I was um doing that sermonette, um it was United Methodist Women, Sunday. So they had three women speak. Um There was a high school student in the choir loft and he was playing trumpet that day. So after um after the service, he gave his number to the usher who gave it to me and I called him and he said this may be weird. You don't know me, but I think you should run for something and I'd like to help and he went to um Corona and was, he was a senior in high school and was a Flynn scholar.
I don't know if we knew yet. He was going to be a Flynn scholar. So he was staying in State. It's an amazing scholarship um for select people in, in Arizona. And um so he was going to go to a su had some friends who were his year and also a couple of other years above who were at a su and so I knew the community, I had not taken any political science classes, but they, so they knew um the politics of it, I mean, there's politics in everything but the politics of running.
Um, so they assembled a team and um helped me with kind of how I campaign and what that looks like. I was, I think 27 when, when I announced I was running. And so as I would go door to door, people would say you look really young for running for council. And many times, I'd say you should see my campaign team. They're 17 years old. So, um it was great to utilize and trust their expertise and with my knowledge of the community and, and the care that I have for the community.
And I love that because it's an unlikely, unlikely source, right? You typically think when you do something big that you're going to an older generation that's done it before you really be cool to tap into you and lean on them. And really some of the knowledge I had from working in nonprofits when you work with volunteers, how do you tap into what they want to do because they're not getting paid. So, what's that, that motivation that they have? And I think 11 example for that, they would arrange, you know, literature drops in neighborhoods where they'd do an all nighter and they'd start at 10 o'clock at night and drop off literature at people's doors and then they'd, they'd spend like two hours and then they'd come back at midnight and they'd watch a movie and then they'd go back out and do let drops and then they'd come back and have pizza and, and, um, you know, if I were to ask certain volunteers, hey, you want to come at 10 p.m.
to do some lit drops, they'd be like no way. But those volunteers, I, you know, would get emails sometimes at three or four in the morning or maybe 10 or 11. I don't know if I ever got an email at like seven or 7 30 in the morning from, from our those volunteers. And you know, how do we tap into what people enjoy? Um And as we utilize all of that, we're able to, to be successful. So your, your degree in sociology, that's your master's in sociology, right? How much influence has that degree had on what you're doing now?
Because I see a lot of parallels, of course, but it seems like you've taken it to the next level. Thanks. So I focus on stratification and inequality through sociology. So really spent a long time looking at um how is society stratified? And then where is that inequality? And so that's something um that I think has been really tied to my work. Um As we look at where inequality exists to, to have knowledge of that. How do we help to, to bring equity um to our, our communities?
Um And just the learning that I was able to do through that and my, my Bachelor's degree. So how do you keep it together? I mean, you're involved with so many um I would, I would say tragic but also just difficult situations that you help people through, right? How does, how do you not? Yeah. At a um we know there are people in our community who are isolated, who are hungry, who are living on the streets. So we're providing help and hope so they can get back on their feet and they don't have to face their crisis alone.
And that can be hard, just like you're saying, to hear difficult stories, it can be really hard for people to walk through our doors to face that they may be evicted soon. They don't have enough food to feed their Children nutritiously. I mean, it can be hard if you're not in crisis, but you have a two year old and you're self conscious as they're screaming down our hallway and you're trying to get to our class. And I mean, it can be hard if you're a senior and you are, maybe you've lost your lifelong partner and you're coming to the Senior Center for the first time and don't know if you're going to fit in.
And so those burdens people are carrying, you know, we first recognize how hard it was for them to come in. And so how do we provide dignity and respect and not make it any harder? Um And, and then what really fuels me is as we see the generosity of the community. So we do see so much need and frankly the staff at ascend, see even more than me because as I'm working, you know, I, I get to know many of the clients but not as many as the staff that we have.
And so they're hearing the stories firsthand. Um, more than I am and that can be really draining and difficult. And then we get to see how we're able to match, um, someone's need with, with a service that we have, we're able to see growth and change and we're able to see the generosity of the community. So as we're able to see people bring in food for food drives or utilize talents that they have to help, support us, um bringing in funding, volunteering their time, um, all of that really comes together and, and so, um, sometimes it can feel like we're alone and that yet when we see the community come around, all of the work that really fuels that motivates you.
That's what I was going with, I guess is, do you see is equal, do you see enough ups as there are downs, you know, as far as the impact of the work and the things you're having to address and deal with. Right. And you know, and then I think of people who are in our program for people experiencing homelessness. So we do shelter with houses of worship. Um volunteers will bring meals and then we do case management to help people get out. And it's called I help interfaith homeless emergency lodging program.
It's not for every everyone, they need to be in a place where they're willing to move forward, willing to do the work to um to get out of experiencing homelessness. And so many times someone comes in and perhaps their struggle with addiction is too overpowering or they're, they're not ready. Um They need to defrag a little bit. Um And, and so there's, there's not just first chances, but second chances, third chances, et cetera and more so that can be difficult when we invest in someone. And we see that they're starting to, to move forward and then those setbacks happen.
Um And then we see so many people who, whose lives are made forward as whose lives are made better as they utilizing one of the services and then, um just moving up a little bit. And so that's really what fuels us. And then again, that, that community effort that it's not just one of us trying to tackle this alone, it's all of us coming together and then we're able to, to improve the lives of other people. What do you think um is, are some of the preconceived notions that you would hope the community would have a better understanding of when you think about your client base.
Well, so last year we served over 14,000 people. And I, so it's a bit difficult because each one of them has a different reason for coming and a different, different way to get out of their situation. Many are in crisis and some, some are not in crisis but just want to improve. Um So um a couple of maybe stereotypes that I think of that there are, I think many times the need is hidden and especially because of pride or yeah, and so there could be um people could be getting services at as send who are behind you in the grocery line, who may be your neighbors and it might not be a parent.
Um So many times we think of, oh this person is in need. They're different than me. They're the other yet many times. Um it can be people just like us who need the help and support from people who just whose life was going smoothly. And then there was a bump in the road that, that just knocked them out and that could happen to any of us at any time really. You know, so that's, that's a stereotype. And then I think for people experiencing homelessness, I think there's a lot of stereotypes um of do they want to be experiencing homelessness?
Um Why don't they just, you know, snap out of it or get out. They, they must want to be because they're not getting into, to homes. They're not, perhaps getting a job and, um, it's so complicated frankly, um, issues around homelessness and, and why someone got into homelessness and what it's going to take to get out. And many times, well, probably all the time it wasn't, it wasn't one thing that it wasn't one day that they, they got into homelessness. There were many factors previous to that.
And so it's not gonna be a quick fix to get out of experiencing homelessness. Um So that time that it takes for people to regain trust many times. Um to a lot of times there might have been a job loss, a death of a loved one, um struggles with, with mental health, um perhaps addiction, but yet, it's not one path to get into, to experiencing homelessness. And so it's not one path to get out. And I think those are some of the stereotypes we might have as you lead your team and lead this organization.
I mean, tremendous growth under your leadership for us. And as well, what is it that you do? What are some of the tips and tricks to, to keep your team motivated, to keep the community motivated and to move forward. So, the pandemic was really difficult. I have to say that we were um we couldn't deliver home delivered meals, meals on wheels from home. We couldn't provide food boxes from home. Um Our services needed to go on and we needed to be there for our community. And so it was difficult to, how do we make sure that, that we stay safe so that we don't want to have an outbreak of, of COVID, you know, during the pandemic and then we can't provide services.
So how do we keep safe and keep the people we're serving safe? How do we provide shelter and make sure there aren't any outbreaks? Um And so that was hard when, when many of our staff, you know, had various things, kids home from school, parents who passed away, you know, there was so much going on that all of us experienced and then to have to come into work every day and be client facing um can be really difficult. And so, um you know, there were, I think in many ways, um our team saw the value and the importance of us being there.
And so there was definitely that motivation of, of how essential, what we were doing was that kept them coming. And then there were little things like, you know, how do we still be together while we're apart? And that was definitely a challenge. But one thing we did um was we gave those who were interested, we gave them paint kits. Um And we all followed a painter online and we, we did our own paint project and then we came to get. So we did that independently during a certain time and then we came together by Zoom and we shared our paint projects in the process.
So it was, you know, again that together apart. And I mean, one thing I love about that is you can all hear the same person describing how to paint a project and you all come out with something different. Um And so to be able to, to share those differences that we had as well as kind of that unifying project. Um So I guess I went, went to a lot of what happened um in the pandemic and, you know, and many times, many times this year has been really hard as well because during the crisis, there were many people who are like, OK, I'm here for the crisis.
And um and we talked about how uh this wasn't a sprint, it was a marathon. And so when we're trying to sprint a marathon, we're going to get tired. Yes. And so so, but yet there were so many more services that were required of us and you know, how do we, how do we take care of ourselves while we're providing more services to people during a time? That's uncertain. Um We didn't do it all. Well, we had people burn out. Um And you know, so how do we heal after that too?
Has been an important piece. And so this year has been difficult because many people stayed for the crisis and then they're like, I've done too much. I've burned out. I need to go. Well, I almost see a shift in the burnout now being at the executive and leader level because the leaders of so many organizations for now three years really held it all together and now that it's almost like, you know, a terrible hangover, you're like, oh, that was really rough. She has a lot of those.
Hang on. Not true. Oh, he's so difficult. Sometimes the silences, those are great. Sometimes I have to say you guys have been amazing. But the way that you, it's just so natural how you, one person asks something and then it's like this person scaffolds on the other. Well, it's easy when we have someone like you who has a great story really. And so it makes it quite interesting. And this, this has definitely been a very interesting journey. I feel like we could talk to you for hours and hours about your journey because you have so much to share and I actually have a lot more questions, but I don't know.
I think we should probably, yeah, I mean, I'm just always grateful to learn from you. You're an exceptional leader in our community. You, you do so much and you serve with such authentic compassion and I have a lot to learn from you. Very grateful for having you around and being able to learn from you. Thank you. Yeah. Now I know a Trinity so I know who to call and we're going to hang out some more, which is great and really, I so appreciate those words and for me, it's really about and really what you talk about on this podcast who is around supporting everyone.
So it's not me alone who does that. There's an amazing team of staff and volunteers at a who, who really care about the community and the people we serve and so that fuels and motivates me and many others. Well, and I shouldn't have been surprised. You're Chandler high grad. So of course, you're amazing. We have one that's fine. Well, thank you for being on our show today. We appreciate you being here and sharing with us. Thank you. This has been a good one and I know you agree.
So if you want more of these in your inbox, subscribe and join our tribe. We'd love to have you on our list. Thanks for listening. We'll talk to you soon, guiding growth, conversations with community leaders. Ben, let me ask you a question. How do you see other community members being involved in this podcast? This is going to be a great opportunity for so many people in the community to have a chance to be heard if they want to tell their story or if they just want to be part of this journey with us and help sponsor it in a way that helps bring more people to the table with us.
So I think there's many opportunities at hand whether you want to again be on the show, reach out to us, let us know what your story is and how you think you could be part of it. We'd love to hear from you. Reach out, let us know and we'll see if we can make that connection.
