Wavers & Beggars

Working as volunteers with Dreamweaver International, two dynamic mother-daughter teams speak with Dr. Bruhl about their experience working in Kenya.  Karen Fusco and her daughter, Nicole along with Kylee McDonald and her daughter, Haylee provided education, healthcare, and empowerment to thousands of people while visiting.  They speak about their experiences working in the slum of Mathare, the bush of Kenya, and in the schools.  They encourage anyone who is thinking about visiting to come and serve and help create a change in this part of the world.  

Christine Naserian Njeri is a Maasai woman with a passion to end the brutal and senseless ritual of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) in Africa.  Christine is a graduate of St. Paul University in Nairobi, Kenya and serves as a volunteer leader with the Teule Orphanage in Latoikitok, Kenya.  Christine travels extensively throughout Kenya, speaking to male and female leaders of tribal communities to educate them about the need to end the dangerous practice of FGM.  Through common sense educational programming and tireless passion to make a change, Christine hopes to one day see this out-dated practice end.  

Joseph Nkaapa - Raising the Standards, Finding Excellence in Children in Kenya Joseph Nkaapa is the director for the Kimana School of Leadership and Professional Studies in Kenya, East Africa. Joseph began working with the Kimana School after the co-founder of the school, Mrs. Sandy Taylor (1944-2016), urged him to come and take a class at the school and use his life for God's glory and to make a difference. As Nkaapa discusses with Dr. Bruhl, he was standing under a tree and Mrs. Taylor challenged him, encouraging him that though his present circumstances where humble, God had a much bigger plan for his life. Now Joseph Nkaapa operates the fastest growing primary school in Kenya on the Kimana Campus. Opening in January 2016, Nkaapa leads a team of educators, campus staff, and other community personnel, making a dramatic difference in social challenges that exist in his community. Poverty, drought, corruption, income inequality, gender bias, poor sanitation, starvation, and many issues are requiring significan leadership and action in East Africa. Nkaapa believes the Kimana School of Leadership and the Kimana Christian Academy (Primary School) are already having a significant impact on changing behavior and opportunity in East Africa. Nkaapa sees his role as a leader to serve, raise standards, and strive for excellence as he learned from his mentor, Mrs. Sandy Taylor. Though Mrs. Taylor departed in 2016 to go home with the Lord, her work and love continues one through Nkaapa and others who work at the Kimana Campus. NOTE FROM DR. BRUHL: I am very proud of Joseph and all he has accomplished and continues to in his community. Though I am frequent visitor to Kimana and serve as a leader, I can only accept a small portion of the true credit that is deserved for the success of this institution and the role it has on changing lives in East Africa. It is my hope one day thousands of visitors will come and see all that has been accomplished and will marvel and come to support and make a difference as Ken and Sandy Taylor, Joseph Nkaapa, and others realized could be accompished. This interview was an honor to conduct with my brother Joseph Nkaapa. I am humbled by him and all he does for others.  

Gerry Kennan - Helping Haitian Children to Thrive, Grow, & Suceed in Life Gerry wa appointed to the Illinois Pollution Control Board by Governor Bruce Rauner in 2015 and served as chairman for two years. He has many years of experience as a regulator, entrepreneur, consultant, and financier in the electric, natural gas, and telecommunications industries. Mr. Keenan is a prior partner in Price WaterHouseCoopers Consulting LLP and now devotes the majority of his time to serving under served populations, mostly in Haiti.  Working in Sasye, Haiti since 2002, he has seen tremendous progress and challenging disappointments befall the people of the region he serves in. Still, he is encouraged and offers sound advice to anyone interested in helping improve the economy and lives of people in Haiti. Dr. Bruhl's notes - I have followed and worked with Gerry for several years and he to put it simply, "He gets it! He understands how this thing called charity works and what you have to do to create sustainable change in places where people struggle with so little resources. I consider him one of the most admirable men in charity work I know and was honored to do this interview."  

Pete Caliendo - Baseball is Life (A Journey to Spread Hope with Sport) Peter Caliendo’s baseball experience covers a wide range of geography and responsibilities. Newly appointed Technical Commissioner for the 2009 World Baseball Cub to be held in Europe September of 09. 2008 was on the jury of appeal for baseball in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. He’s been a head coach and assistant coach, instructor and clinician, scout and evaluator, author and lecturer, President and General Manager. President of Caliendo Sports International and Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago. On the Board of the International Sports group a non for profit promoting coaches education worldwide. Technical Commissioner for the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), governing baseball worldwide. Serves on the IBAF Steering Committee. Pete has served twice in Taiwan for the World Games, in Holland for the World Games, in Rio DeJaneiro Brazil for the Pan Am games and just recently in Beijing, China for the Pre Test Olympic games. He is also the President of the Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago, a professional baseball club which honors individuals in professional baseball and raises money to promote our national pastime. 2011 was given the American Baseball Coaches Association Meritorius Award, the Illinois High School Man of the Year and the Pitch and Hit Club Paul “Dizzy” Trout Ambassador Award. Appointed to the Greater Woodfield Sports Council. Former President of the Calgary professional baseball franchise in the Northern League. He’s been in charge of Belgium’s National Team and responsible for the selection, training and development of U.S. entries in the Pan American Youth Championships, guiding those teams to gold medals in 1992, 1993 and 1996. In 1999, Pete was an assistant coach on the USA team in the International Cup in Australia. Pete Caliendo has lead clinics for Major League Baseball International, USA Baseball and many other baseball organizations in various Latin American and European countries, and throughout the United States. Pete has organized and coached a team from Japan to compete against the White Sox minor league teams at the Chicago White Sox spring training program. He has also done some private coaching for Japanese players. He has been an associate professional scout for the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays, responsible for identification and evaluation of potential Major League prospects. Pete has lectured on baseball all over the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America, has written articles for various publications and an international coaches book. Has a set of 5 baseball instructional DVD’s developed specifically for the voluteer coach to help them organize, teach and have fun throught thier practice and games. Pete was formerly (1999-2001) the Director of Baseball Operations and first base coach for the Schaumburg Flyers, a very successful independent league team in the popular Northern League.   Dr. Bruhl's thoughts... Loved interviewing Pete and following his passion to serve and spread hope with baseball, a sport I too love dearly. 

Kenton Lee - Shoes That Grow Founder Giving Every Child Hope by Protecting Their Feet THE PROBLEM Over 2 billion people suffer from soil-transmitted diseases and parasites. They live in areas that do not have adequate sanitation.  They struggle with proper hygiene.  They do not have the right clothing, resources, or healthcare.  And being sick = struggling.  Kids miss school, can’t help their families, suffer with pain. Many of these diseases and parasites get into the body because people don’t have shoes. There are over 300 million children who do not have shoes.  And countless more with shoes that do not fit. Sometimes they receive donations of shoes, but these are kids.  Their feet grow.  And they outgrow donated shoes within a year.  Right back where they started.  Kenton first came up with the idea for a shoe that grew while working at an orphanage in Kenya in 2007.  He noticed a girl in a little white dress who had holes cut into her shoes so her growing feet could push through the toe box of the shoes, giving her feet room and helping her to avoid painful feet. But Kenton thought something had to be done.  Why couldn't we come up with a shoe that would grow with a child? However, rejection from shoe manufacturers and others discouraged him initially. But his belief that children living without shoes was unacceptable and his perseverence eventually led to the development of the The Shoe That Grows (theshoethatgrows.org).  I truly enjoyed this interview with Kenton and was inspired by his drive and passion for helping children around the world. This is a significant health problem and Kenton is on to something powerful here that could change health outcomes for millions of children.  As well, his organization is now manufacturing shoes in partner countries where the shoes are most needed, creating jobs, and opportunity for people to work their way out of poverty. 

Dr. Jean Claude Doornick - ChiroMission Co-Founder Serving the World & Attacking the Obesity Crisis  Dr. JC Doornick is a personal development coach, speaker and congruency coach that serves three areas of personal growth, physical Health, mental health and financial health. His journey began in 1999 when he became a Doctor of Chiropractic with a primary interest in helping people maximize their chances at expressing health and handling adversity by removing stress and restoring tone to the body. This inherent passion and ability led him to many physical transformations including losing 70 lbs in 2007 followed by a transformation to optimal health to this day. As a health professional, and certified health coach, Dr. JC discovered a unique ability to identify with the intrinsic motivations (wants, desires) of his clients followed by an autonomy supportive role in guiding people to achieve new realities in health and financial freedom. His system “The Great Potential” and supportive tools for weight loss and personal growth are time tested now and have been responsible for thousands of breakthroughs on many levels.   Education:Dr. JC received his Doctorate from Life Chiropractic University in Marietta, GA. With the strong urge to take his healing ability back to Westchester, he first worked in a large practice in Manhattan where he fine-tuned his adjusting skills. In this high volume practice Dr. JC delivered care to many professional athletes and local celebrities. Dr. JC now practices at the new, state of the art, Westchester Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Harrison, NY. He specializes sports injury care for athletes along with the gentle care of children of all ages and expecting mothers. Dr. JC was the President/CEO and Co-Founder of Chiromission, which is the “Doctors without Borders” of the chiropractic profession. Chiromission, is responsible for bringing drug free health care to third world countries where people are not fortunate to have access to such a luxury. Dr. JC holds a New York State chiropractic license, is a past District President of the New York Chiropractic Council (Westchester/Rockland/Bronx) and is certified with the (ICPA) International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. In 2007, he was honored with CLA Chiropractor of the Month, CLA Humanitarian of the Year and received the 40 under 40 “Rising Stars” of Westchester award. Dr. JC is proud to be appointed one of the team chiropractors for the New York Rangers for the 2005-2006 professional hockey season. Over the years his mission has been to educate people of all ages on the incredible benefits of a healthy spine and nervous system. Now practicing part time Dr. JC Doornick has shifted his time, energy and focus to the field of obesity and weight loss. As a certified health coach and Presidential Director of Take Shape For Life, Dr. JC has helped over 100,000 Americans lose weight and create health in their life. He is the PROUD FATHER of two young boys, Jaxson and Jeremy and they are the reason he does what he does.      

Jorge Flores - Broke College Student Helping the Homeless  Jorge Flores is a recent graduate of Stetson University in Deland, Florida and a former Division 1 baseball player at Stetson. Origianlly from Puerto Rico, Jorge came to the U.S. to pursue a dream to become a professional baseball player, but a career ending injury dashed his dreams and forced him to reevaluate his life and purpose. Though down, depressed, and contemplating if his life still had meaning, Jorge discovered his true calling is service and specifically acting to help those who are less fortunate. Jorge recently set out and created a video where he sets out to find a homeless man/woman and then offers to give them a helping hand. Jorge is the founder of three small businesses and though he is just starting out in his professional life and still BROKE, he doesn't let that stand in the way of his desire or action to help others. This interview was a pleasure to conduct and I am honored to have gotten to know Jorge last year in Deland at Stetson when my son, Sage, had him as one of his roomates. Jorge gets it about life and what the real important elements of life are about, service and love for mankind. 

Rabbi Evan Moffic - Teaching the Jewishness of Jesus & Bridging Faith Rabbi Evan Moffic is the lead rabbi for Temple Solel in Highland Park, IL. He is the author of three books, The Jewishness of Jesus, What Every Christian Needs to Know About Jesus, and The Happiness Prayer. Rabbi Moffic originally wanted to pursue a career in law but found he was attracted to Hebrew scripture and Jewish texts after he took a religious studies class during his undergraduate studies. His pathway in teaching eventually led him to discover there is a real hunger for Christians to understand more about the Jewish roots of Christianity and the Jewishness of Jesus. He is a frequent speaker around the world, offering hope and working to bridge faith, helping people to understand the ways we are connected and called to serve God. Rabbi Moffic is a sensitive, bright, and powerful teacher who recognizes mankind is designed to love and God's desire is for our peaceful love and care for one another and not hatred and violence. His reverence for Torah, Jewish tradition, and message is shared with eloquence in this interview. 

Coach Owino Chapman - Inspiring Kenyan Youth with Baseball There are people in Kimana, Kenya, where Owino coaches youth baseball that believe he is a "one of a kind" man. Though Owino came to work in Kenya after an invitation to participate in the Gear 4 Goals sports baseball project, and was new to the area, he integrated himself into the community and has had huge impact on the youth. Local children, never hearing about baseball before 2012, Owino immediately began organizing them into teams, teaching the rules and nuances of baseball.  At first it was difficult helping children understand the game. But little-by-little he began to gain hope they would learn how to play and eventually even become champions. Spurred by a dream Dr. Warren Bruhl had to elevate youth in this area through baseball and other sports, Owino has come to believe baseball is doing more for the children than many people realize when observing the program at first glance. As he points out, many of the athletes he coaches don't have fathers and or mothers due in part to circumstances of death. His influence as a coach often transcends to surrogate dad and loving father. His care and desire to see his players succeed and become powerful leaders of community fuel his mission. Many have gone back to school after dropping out. Some have improved their grades dramatically. Players clean up garbage and want to be more active in the community to make their town a better place to live.  Owino works for Dreamweaver through the Gear 4 Goals project and is the director for Mt. Kilimanjaro Little League in Kenya. 

John Hegenbarth - Winning Souls to Christ in the Philippines John has always had a heart to serve the Lord from a young age when he gave his life to Christ, discovering his real gift is evangelism. He remembers fondly walking door-to-door in his community and knocking on doors, wanting to share the good news of Jesus with his neighbors. Though this would scare some people, opening up conversations with strangers and going door-to-door to talk about God, John has always been energized to speak openly about his faith. Moreover, he is profoundly dedicated to winning souls to Christ, seeing them transform and often heal from broken pasts.  John desired a passion to build a church in the Philippines after he married his wife, Pelita, who grew up in a poor community called Polompon Leyte. Though people there are rich in love and desire to grow in faith, they lack many of the needed resources which provide essential survival. John and his wife Pelita began construction of March of Faith Church in 2015 and have recently completed the project. They have now moved to the Phiippines permanently and intend to build a school, develop feeding programs, and other community empowerment projects.  The March of Faith Church is a compassion project of Dreamweaver and provides hope and opportunity to thousands in the Philippines. It is located in Polompon Leyte. 

Jeff Cobelli - Good 4 You Productions & ChiroMission  Jeff Cobelli has traveled extensively to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Kenya to capture the stories of hope and suffering people experience around the world. His company, Good 4 You Productions, believes every man/woman/child has a compelling story and telling it through film is one of the most powerful ways to bring lasting change in the world. Often as Jeff films, he sees and hears details many don't recognzie that could be powerfully motivating to bring voice to people who often have little or no voice.  Jeff has worked with the non-profit ChiroMission to bring change in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and currently serves on their board. He believes lasting change begins with an emphasis on helping people work toward their own solutions to problems. He uses film production, editting, and sometimes interview work to reach inside the heart of people's lives and give them a face and name.  Jeff has worked with our charity, Dreamweaver, for three years producing impact films we use to educate and inspire people who work and benefit from our charity. He is also a personal friend of Dr. Warren Bruhl and huge baseball fan! ---He and Dr. Bruhl share that passion!!     You will enjoy Jeff's story and his insight on charity work. 

Dr. John Theeck - Dr. Christopher Kessler - Chiropractors Who Care About the World   Drs. Theeck and Kessler are a special breed of chiropractor who truly get what it means to be an "Agent of Social Change." Traveling abroad to serve, raising money for local and international causes, and donating their time and energy is what they live for. Recognizing they have been uniquely qualified and blessed to serve with their healing work and also extend their care beyond the walls of their practice, they share insights in this podcasts about why they "do what they do!"  This interview was conducted outside at an event they hosted to bring together a large collection of sports equipment provided to local missionariy travelers to Kenya working with Coffee Growers Alliance. Some of the audio has wind noise but the content and the message is powerful and must hear segment. 

Lenkai Ole Kiturai - Revealing Maasai Wisdom  Lenkai is a Maasai warrior and was raised in rural Kenya in the shadows of Mt. Kilimanjaro. As a Maasai, Lenkai is aware there is a delicate balance in nature and safety from dangerous animals in Africa requires wisdom and bravery. Lenkai is a night guard for the Kimana School of Leadership and Professional Studies and Kimana Christian Academy in Kenya. Lenkai is charged with the nightly duty of determining if any wild animals are attempting to enter the campus and protect young children who board at the school. Lenkai is a thoughtful and caring man who loves his family and in this podcast shares audio and story about Maasai wisdom shared by elders of his community. Rarely do people get to hear the wisdom messages Lenkai shares with our audience in this interview I conducted in the evening as he was beginning his night shift. The end of the interview is ended abruptly by our Kenyan director, Mr. Taylor, because the gate has been left open and it needs to be closed immediately as night fall is coming. An open gate at nightfall can be a danger and Ken wants to make sure Lenkai closes the gate, so I was unable to complete the interview in it's entirety. Though the interview is insigtful and informative and I am sure you will enjoy it. 

Montana Bruhl - Heart for Children in Need Montana is a recent graduate of the University of Texas School of Social Work and now pursuing her Masters in Social Work. One of the conditions of society Montana has observed requires more care is the immediate emotional well-being of children during their formative early years. Montana recently traveled to Kenya for the second time and worked with children who are among the most challenged and near the edges of survival. Montana has observed children in Kenya and the United States exhibit similar emotional requirments, however, the constant scarcity has made immediacy, patience, and "social crisis like behavior" stronger for children in poverty. In this interview, Montana shares some of her insights from her recent trip to Kenya. 

Settiel Mlingi - Kilimanjaro Mountain Guide Giving Hope Settiel Mlingi has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro over 400 times and helped thousands of tourist climbers summit the majestic and challenging Mountain. Beginning as a young climber, Seittiel has operated and led teams of guides and porters and provided help to them through education. Many guides and porters are abused and not cared for well by climbing companies, often not payed, not provided proper clothing, or working in challenging life threatening situations. Settiel is an advocate for change, educating guides and porters, helping to improve work conditions, and increase wages.  Further, the challenges Settiel discusses in this podcast interview are also issues that may exist around the world in this industry. I was unaware and I am sure many of our listeners will be surprised to learn about this industry and some of the horrors in it. This interview was conducted while I was completing my recent climb of the Mountain on the way down on the 6th day in a warming hut at a base camp. Settiel had helped me summit so I could spread the ashes of my mother who had passed in 2016. 

Susan Wambai - Gave a Poor Boy Hope with Shoes Susan lives in Kimana, Kenya in the foothills of majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro.  A single mom struggly to raise two children on her own and pay for school fees, Susan works in a small shop she operates in Kimana. She has a heart for the poor despite her limited resources and as a result she is giving from her small amount to encourage and give hope. Recently, I was touched by what she did for a small boy named John. John is among the most affected poor of the community and was walking to school daily wearing shoes that wear tattered, torn at the toes, with no insoles, dirty, and worn. Other children were making fun of his shoes, so Susan gave John a new pair of shoes, buying the shoes in the market and giving them to him as a love gift.  This touched me so much, I asked her if I could fish the shoes out of the garbage in the gutter and I retrieved them. Then, I took them back to the United States and have used them to help educate others on the difficulties people live under in poverty. In this interview, I visit Susan and bring the shoes back so she can see them again and remember the love she gave John, helping him to keep hope alive. 

Beth Okech - Kenya Relief Medical Center & Orphanage Beth knew when she was (13) and heard the stories of how missionaries served the poor in far away countries, she wanted to be one. In 2007, she graduated from a surgical tech program and traveled to Kenya two years later for the first time. When she arrived her heart was broken by the almost unbearable poverty and the crushing lack of hope so many people endured. No access to medical care, orphaned children, and devastaing social challenges were everywhere. As Beth contemplated her next steps to take and become an Agent of Social Change, she found an opportunity to work with Kenya Relief and operate a small clinic in rural Kenya. Taking the position as director in 2011, Beth leads 16 medical teams annually who come to serve the poor, providing medical care and assistance. In addition to the medical center Beth leads, Kenya Relief also provides help to people with disabilities, water projects, and houses 98 orphaned children.  Dr. Warren Bruhl's comments  I have followed Beth's remarkable work and been awed by all she does in Kenya to help the poor, providing medical care and other programs. Working in Kenya for five years, I watch how she is able to mobilize so many people and bring a large quantity of resources to her community and shake my head, thinking, "HOW DID SHE DO THAT? BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY!" But, Beth takes it all so casually and humbly and knows her calling. This was a great honor to interview her when she was back in the United States visiting family before she returned to her work in Kenya. Enjoy the interview with this remarkable leader from Kenya who is saving lives and truly changing the world.   

Ron Bernardi - The Godly Grocer Ron Bernardi is an institution in Northbrook, Illinois and around the greater Chicagoland area. Ron is the Community Service Representative for Sunset Foods in Northbrook, Illinois and has been in the grocery business for 50 years. Getting his start right out of high school and working his way from a clerk in the meat department, onto management for 40 years, and now community liason, Ron knows people. The key to Ron's success in business and life has been his consistent love of service. Whether Ron is talking to a customer in the produce department, leading a Bible study, or doing a volunteer auction, he loves to share his testimony and witness how God has been the secret ingredient to his success. When Ron was a young man, he felt insecure and anxious about his life, not knowing what his purpose or calling really was. But that all changed the day he gave his life to the Lord and took Jesus Christ into his heart. As Ron describes in this interview, it was moment in the toilet paper aisle and a customer who asked him the most important question of his life, THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE. You will love hearing Ron's story of how he uses books along with public speaking to reach thousands of people and provide hope through encouragement and witness. Ron describes himself as a SERVANT LEADER and THE GODLY GROCER. COMMENTS FROM DR. WARREN BRUHL about this interview On a personal note, I have known Ron for over 20 years and he is one of the most ethical, caring, and generous men I know. He was a very dear friend of my mother, Sandy Taylor, and has supported ministries and charities around the world, including Dreamweaver. At Ron's 70th birthday celebration, thousands of people came to Sunset Foods to wish Ron a joyful and healthy birthday. Ron is a special Agent of Social Change. 

Chis Brown - Deland Aviation (Aviation Teaches Life Lessons) Deland, Florida Chris Brown is the Director of Operations at Deland Aviation in Deland, Florida. Deland Aviation is the primary Fixed Based Operation (FBO) for Deland Airport. Prior to joining the team at Deland Aviation, Chris was a collegiate and profssional baseball player and always had a passion for aviation. After his baseball career ended, Chris decided to join his family business at Deland Aviation and also pursue becoming a pilot. Deland Aviation provides instruction, maintenance, and general aviation services. In 2016, Dr. Warren Bruhl studied and was instructed by Deland Aviation, becoming a student pilot in June of that same year. Dr.Bruhl interviewed Chris to encourage people to take up aviation as a vehicle to learn life lessons.   

Mehdi Mamouri - Helping to Bridge Culture in Morocco Mehdi is a passionate caring young businessman, who wants to help people in Morocco understand the culture in the United States and vice versa. Studying in the United States at Nova Southeastern in Southern Florida, Mehdi graduated with a business degree. While living in the United States, Mehdi experienced obstacles and difficulties many immigrants feel when they first come to the United States. Mehdi has some wonderful stories to share about life in Morocco, his time in the United States, and what his dreams are to help bridge cultural understanding in his country.

Teng Deng & Todd Love Ball, Jr. - Giving Hope to Africa Teng Deng Teng is a professional soccer player in Europe and has played professional soccer since 2008. He is the founder of Football for Change, a charity committed to helping youth in Sudan, where he immigrated from as a child. Teng has a passion for service and wants to help youth in Africa understand they have value and also to know that African people who left do come back to make a difference.  Todd Love Ball, Jr. Todd is the co-author of Wavers & Beggars, New Insight and Hope to End Poverty and Global Challenges. He is the founder of KT Fit Love, a fitnees company designed to help families spend time together and be fit simultaneously. He is also the author of two fictional books, Love Against Society and Members Only Northshore Confessions, Todd Love Ball, Jr. works professionally as a fitness educator and philanthropist. Involved in international relationship building with African-American communities and Polish communities, Todd is a bilingual speaker of English and Polish, and has traveled to Africa and Poland in efforts of community building. Todd lives with his wife and two children in the city of Palatine, IL. (www.waverandbeggars.com)  

Purity Gikunju - Coffee Growers Alliance From Coffee Growers Alliance website (www.growersalliance.com) "I grew up very poor on a coffee farm in Kenya. I feel a great desire in my heart to speak out not just for the poor coffee growers back home in my own village of Mwea in Kenya but for coffee growers from all over the world who are still very poor even today despite the fact that they do the most work. The reason that they are still poor is because they have been taken advantage of for way far too long by the several unnecessary middle men who take the biggest cut. My biggest dream is to connect coffee growers directly to the market." Miss Purity Gikunju – President and CEO, Growers Alliance Coffee Company, Jacksonville, Florida   NOTE:  This recording was conducted in an outdoor venue with high force winds so some of the audio is poor quality.  Please listen through the small areas of poor quality.  This is an awesome interview and Purity is a "big time" Agent of Social Change making a difference in the world.  

Mr. Ariel De La Cruz - Antero Mota Baseball Coach, Mentor Ariel serves as a local coach and leader in Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. Growing up in the D.R., Ariel experienced the hardships of poverty many Dominican youth must overcome. Yet, he didn't allow his circumstances to stand in his way. Blessed with an opportunity to study and play baseball in the United States, Ariel played two years of college baseball before his college discontinued their program. Without any options, Ariel returned to the D.R. with a desire to help the local youth as a coach, mentor, and therapist. Ariel has worked with U.S. based organizations Dreamweaver (Gear for Goals) and ChiroMission to help thousands of youth receive baseball equipment. Working with local youth, Ariel believes one way we can end poverty and inspire youth is through strong sports mentoring programs. Contact: arielise28@hotmail.com

Mr. Ken Taylor - Founder Kimana School of Leadership & Professional Studies and Dreamweaver International Mr. Ken Taylor has resided in Kenya for twenty years and has a degree in theology through the Shiloh Institute in Hamilton, Montana. Prior to moving to Kenya, Mr. Taylor successfully ran a large cement contract company in Carson City, Nevada. Mr. Taylor's company was responsible for the planning and development of road systems, curb, gutter, and housing foundations. Mr. Taylor has gained extensive experience in the country of Kenya while building small community churches, schools, and the construction of a ten-acre campus devoted to advanced education and medical care. Mr. Taylor was married to Sandra Taylor for 31 years prior to her passing in 2016. He has a deep passion to serve and bring hope to people in Africa. He believes God has a plan for every person and lives his life to serve Jesus first above all else in his life. He has five children and seven grandchildren. To learn more www.dreamweaver911.org

ANDREA ALEXANDER, FOUNDER As a life-long resident of Loudoun County, Andrea has been involved in youth sports as a player, coach and mom of two boys. During this time, she personally experienced the rising costs of youth sports and witnessed numerous kids being left out due to lack of financial support or equipment. Glory Days Live was created to provide an opportunity for every child in Loudoun to be able to participate in athletic activities. Andrea oversees the various programs and initiatives of Glory Days Live to ensure those in need are getting the support necessary to fully participate in youth sports. Contact Andrea at andrea@glorydayslive.org.