November 12, 2025 • 28 mins
What happens when parents can't find safe, dignified housing for their adult child with autism? They build it themselves—and create a blueprint for communities nationwide.
Jim and Nancy Richardson are changing the future of neuro-inclusive housing in America. As parents of a 31-year-old son with autism, they faced a heartbreaking reality: no housing options existed that would keep Michael safe, independent, and connected after they're gone. Instead of accepting this gap, they founded Front Porch Cohousing, a nonprofit creating intentional communities where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live alongside neurotypical neighbors as homeowners. Their first 50-home development in Hilltown Township, Pennsylvania, features innovative front-porch-focused design that fosters genuine community connection and combats the loneliness many adults with disabilities face.
Key Takeaways:
- Ownership model breakthrough: Unlike other disability housing, Front Porch Co-housing enables residents to own their homes, building equity they can leverage throughout their lives
- 50/50 community design: Half the homes are deed-restricted for adults with autism or intellectual disabilities; the other half are market-rate units for neurotypical residents
- Reverse-engineered neighborhoods: Traffic flows around the perimeter while homes face inward with front porches, intentionally designed to bring neighbors together
- 258 families and counting: The need is massive, with hundreds of families across the region seeking dignified housing solutions
- Scalable vision: This isn't a one-time project—the Richardsons plan multiple communities to address a nationwide crisis
About Jim and Nancy Richardson:
Jim and Nancy Richardson, Co-Founders of Front Porch Cohousing — and parents of a 31-year-old son with developmental differences — know the struggles families face around lifelong housing. Their mission: build neuroinclusive communities where belonging, dignity, and independence are the standard.
Connect with Jim and Nancy:
Website frontporchcohousing.org
LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/frontporchcohousing/, linkedin.com/in/frontporchcohousing/
This episode is brought to you by Front Porch Cohousing; Building neuro-inclusive communities where belonging, dignity, and independence are the standard. Go to frontporchcohousing.org to learn more.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Announcer (00:00):
The following programming is sponsored by Marc
J.
Bernstein.
The views expressed do notnecessarily reflect the views of
this station, its management,or Beastly Media Group.
Entrepreneur, founder, author,and financial advisor Marc
Bernstein helps high-performingbusiness owners turn their
visions into reality.
Through his innovative work andthe forward-focused form, Marc
(00:21):
connects entrepreneurs toresources that fuel their
success.
Founders Forum is a radio showand podcast where entrepreneurs
share their journeys, revealingthe lessons they've learned and
the stories behind theirsuccess.
Join Marc and his guests for amix of inspiration, valuable
insights, and a little fun.
Now let's dive in.
Marc Bernstein (00:40):
Good morning, America.
How are you?
I say that pretty much everyshow, and I mean it.
I really mean how are you?
I don't know when you'll belistening to this, but we just
had a federal governmentshutdown go into effect at 12.01
this morning.
I think that's the time it wentinto effect.
And nobody knows how long thisis going to be and how many
(01:01):
firings there are going to beand how many jobs lost, etc.
Um, but we don't get politicalon this show.
I'm just sort of telling youthe environment we're coming
into today as we speak.
However, we're looking out thewindow of WWDBAM station in
Balakinwood, Pennsylvania, andit's a gorgeous day.
It's always sunny inPhiladelphia, sometimes.
(01:23):
And uh we're happy to be here,and I'm happy to be here with
our guests today, Jim and Nancy,who I'll introduce to you um in
a minute.
Uh we always have a topic ofthe day, and the topic of the
day that I wanted to talk aboutis commitment.
It happens to be uh one of thecore principles of our company
March Forward, a financialplanning company.
Don't talk a lot about that onthe radio.
Probably should more.
(01:44):
More of you should know what itis I do as a fiscal therapist,
financial planner.
But commitment is reallyimportant.
We only want to work withclients that are committed to
our process because we'recommitted to it.
And we want their commitment tomatch ours, and vice versa.
So it's very important in mylife, it's very important in my
personal life.
(02:05):
Um, but everybody has toquestion their commitment
sometimes and find and askthemselves, are you really
committed?
And in my case, I was in alittle group that I work with
from some personal development.
Somebody read this story thatI'm gonna give you the
highlights of.
Might even read it to youbecause it's pretty powerful.
And it exactly applied to me.
(02:27):
And I thought, hmm, something Ithought I was committed to.
Maybe I really wasn't, and Ihave to decide if I'm gonna be
committed or not.
So this is it.
This is from Denise Donahue,who, if you're in the mortgage
business, may know her.
She does podcasts and videosand things like that.
And she said, I was fed up.
So I called a fitness coach andsaid, I'm ready, I'm ready to
(02:48):
get in shape.
And the coach said, Yeah,great.
Uh, here's the plan.
And the plan was so simple, andyou know what I said?
I can do all that.
I can eat that, I can walk, Ican follow this plan.
But I said, I can't track myfood.
It's just not my thing.
I've done programs before, butnever been good at tracking.
And you know you have a goodcoach when her response was, no
(03:09):
problem, but then I am not thecoach for you.
And she said, Denise said, likewhat?
I'm trying to hire you.
And she said, Here's what ittaught me.
If you want something badenough, you'll do anything.
It's not, I'll go 95%.
No, you commit to it becauseit's that important.
You need people in your lifebold enough to tell you no and
(03:30):
slap that awareness back insight.
Do you really want it or onlywhen it's convenient?
So it goes on, but I'm gonnajust say it was funny because my
wife and I just hired anutrition coach because I've got
to lose lose the middle.
You know, I've been workingout, I'm strong, I've got a lot
of good things going, but if Idon't lose that middle, it's
(03:50):
gonna cause health issues downthe road.
So we hired a this coach, and Isaid to my wife, yeah, but I
don't know if I'm gonna trackthe food.
I've done that many times.
Of course it worked when I didit, but it's painful.
You don't you don't necessarilywant to do that.
But I realized even before Iread this, it was in my mind, I
think I'm going to have to dothat.
(04:11):
Now I say, I'm going to do it.
If I'm committed, I'm going todo it, even though I don't like
it.
I know you guys have had someexperience with uh commitment.
Um tell me what this all meansto you and how it applies in
your lives.
Jim Richardson (04:24):
First of all, Marc, thanks for having us.
We uh It's my pleasure.
We're it's a privilege to behere today and to be with you
and to have us tell our storyand to get our message out into
the world and out into thegreater Philadelphia area.
Uh commitment is hard.
Commitment is very hard.
(04:44):
To me personally, it meansdoing things that you may not
want to do uh because there areother things that are either
more fun or easier.
Um they're not as difficult.
But you can't do anything ifyou're not doing 100% and get it
done right.
And we've had that.
Marc Bernstein (05:00):
We're gonna I'm gonna introduce you formally in
a minute.
Okay.
And let's talk about let'scomplete that thought once
people know what it is you'redoing.
So it'll make more sense.
Nancy, you have anything to addto that?
Nancy Richardson (05:12):
No, commitment to me, again, is um as Jim
said, uh you know, followingthrough, honoring your word, and
being true to yourself and tothe people that uh you surround
yourself with.
Marc Bernstein (05:22):
That's great.
And by the way, I'm gonna takea quick break while you guys are
talking because we forgot toturn on the camera.
I do this all the time withvideo.
So so we're we're gonna comeright back in a second after I
introduce you guys.
So this is Jim and NancyRichardson.
They're co-founders of FrontPorch Co-housing and MP Equity
Holdings.
They are as parents of a31-year-old son with
(05:46):
developmental differences, theyknow the struggles families face
around lifelong housing.
Their mission is to buildneuroinclusive communities where
belonging, dignity, andindependence are the standard.
Right.
So they are business peopletheir whole lives, and we'll
talk a little bit about that,who started a nonprofit with a
very powerful vision.
(06:06):
And I know there's a greatneed.
In fact, I know personallypeople that are interested in
their project because um theyhave the great need in their
families.
So officially welcome to youguys.
Thanks again.
Nancy Richardson (06:18):
Thank you.
Marc Bernstein (06:19):
I'm gonna ask you, Jim, to start out a little
bit with your background becausewe share something background
in terms of our educationalbackground, and give us the kind
of long enough story for me toturn on the camera to to about
you know your education, what itled into your career, and
ultimately what you're doingtoday.
(06:39):
And Nancy is going to chime inas well, tell us a little bit
about your background and youryou're you were the original
impetus for this, um, your son.
So I I it's important that weget that in too.
So we'll we'll start going.
I'll come back in a second onceI get the camera on.
Jim Richardson (06:55):
Go ahead, Jim.
Sure.
So long, long time ago, um, Iwould have thought that my
career would have been um as amusic teacher.
I was always um good at musicand played in the school band
and the high school band, andthen ultimately um was going to
Temple School of Music to majorin music education as a keyboard
(07:17):
major.
And I remember my entranceexam, um, I played in a very,
very large church in CenterCity, uh church organ that took
Cotton Fugue and D minor, betterknown as theme from Phantom of
the Opera.
And I did go to temple andquickly realized that um my my
business goals, my desire to dogood in the world would be
(07:40):
better served if I wasn't inmusic.
So I left the music curriculumand then turned to business.
Very long story short, I'vebeen in the tech space my entire
career.
Um most recently uh was at IBMfor 15 years.
Um met my lovely wife Nancy ata company before that where we
were both in tech together.
Um and um I I think that mybackground in business has
(08:07):
really served me well umbecoming an entrepreneur and
trying to tackle this monstrousproject to the ground.
Marc Bernstein (08:16):
I I'm um I have no doubt about that, knowing
your story.
And I know that you're I knowthat your business experience is
relative, and we'll we'll getto talk about that.
Nancy, tell us a little bitabout you and and how how you
came up with this idea.
Nancy Richardson (08:28):
Aaron Ross Powell Sure.
I grew up in Philadelphia, justlike Jim.
Um I have a close set of familyaround me who's uh uh we've
they've been very supportive ofeverything that we've done so
far, um, and friends as well,um, and all kinds of
acquaintances through um uhthrough our professional life
have been just so overwhelminglysupportive.
(08:50):
There isn't a person that Ihaven't met that isn't touched
by um autism or intellectualdisabilities in some way, shape,
or form.
They either know somebody orhas a family member.
Um I too went to businessschool, uh Florida
International.
Um I had my own uh cateringbusiness down there.
Uh started it by myself andgrew it, um, graduated college
(09:14):
with no debt.
Marc Bernstein (09:15):
So I was very proud of that.
Nancy Richardson (09:19):
And um as uh you know as life unfolds, I I
married, had a son.
Um he was born in 1994, and forthose of you who uh could uh uh
you know um attest to this, youknow, the internet wasn't as
pervasive as it is.
Marc Bernstein (09:36):
By the way, I have two kids, 93 and 95.
So your son was right in themiddle.
Yeah.
Yep.
So I know exactly where we wereat that time.
Nancy Richardson (09:43):
So when my son was diagnosed, um the doctor
just basically said, you'regonna have a very long road to
hoe.
And I did not understand whathe meant.
And there wasn't any, you know,computers you could like
sources you could look it up.
You had to just start talkingand reaching out to other
families.
Marc Bernstein (10:03):
Did he call it anything at the time, or he just
said you have a long road tohoe?
Um just knew he haddevelopmental issues.
Nancy Richardson (10:08):
He used the word autistic.
Marc Bernstein (10:10):
Okay.
Nancy Richardson (10:11):
But he also used the word, you know, um uh
retarded.
Marc Bernstein (10:15):
Really?
And um amazing that they wereusing that word still then.
Nancy Richardson (10:19):
True.
But you know, again, you getthat diagnosis and you're you're
struggling to figure out whatdoes that mean?
And they walk out the door andand you're just left there
dumbfounded.
So what I have always done inmy life is I face adversity head
on and figure it out.
And that's what I did.
Um, you know, Jim came into mylife when Michael was around
(10:41):
three and four years old, and heaccepted you know my world
because we fell in love and andwe've been true partners ever
since.
And as Michael was gettingolder, we started talking about
where will he live.
And when we're no longer ableto care for him, we're no longer
here.
It's not just a matter ofmoney, it's a matter of keeping
(11:05):
him safe, protected, happy, andnot lonely.
So over the you know, the lastcouple of years, we've figured
it out.
We've actually figured it out,and now we're on a path to make
that a reality.
Marc Bernstein (11:18):
That's so great.
I'm glad I had you tell thatpart of the story because I
missed the love story part of itwhen Jim tells it.
You know, that's just a I thinka male-female thing, maybe,
without uh stereotyping.
But um it is uh it is a greatstory in terms of how you came
together and the acceptance ofyour son.
What's your son's name, by theway?
Nancy Richardson (11:35):
Michael.
Marc Bernstein (11:36):
Michael.
So um yeah, I actually I havethat in my notes and I had
forgotten.
Um so you and then you workedtogether um at IBM, if I
understand correctly, right?
Nancy Richardson (11:47):
No, actually we worked together at SAP.
Marc Bernstein (11:50):
Oh, I misunderstood that.
Okay.
That's that.
You worked there previously.
Yeah.
Um and Jim, you're still butyou're still with IBM or you've
retired?
Jim Richardson (11:58):
I am not with IBM.
I am with an IBM partnercompany um that uh has given me
great flexibility and supportswhat we're doing here.
Because it's really hard to umwe've bootstrapped for the early
years of our uh existence.
You can't do that if you're nothaving a good income and a good
(12:19):
employment structure.
Right.
So I I'm staring down the uheyes of retirement, but it is my
plan, Marc, that when we getour first project up off the
ground and it's being built,that you'll be full of time for
me to move to that full time.
And and you're in full full onnow?
Nancy Richardson (12:36):
Yes, I I I work for IBM.
Uh have for the last 15 years.
Marc Bernstein (12:40):
Okay, that's that's that's where I got the
IBM part.
Got it.
So tell us about the beginning.
So you are entrepreneurs,you're uh nonprof not
non-for-profit entrepreneurs,and and by the way, we only have
about a minute.
Time flies, I should have toldyou that up front.
We only have a minute before acommercial break.
But tell us about the founding.
Uh Jim, I think you want to ttell that part.
(13:02):
Um, the founding of Front PorchCo-housing and um and the
challenges that you had upfront, and then we'll take a
commercial break and we'll comeback and talk about how you met
those challenges.
Jim Richardson (13:14):
Sure.
And I think it's what um Nancyhad said that we uh at one
point, probably when Michael'sgetting out of high school,
decided to start looking forfuture uh housing options for
him and found none.
So we did what uh we've alwaysdone is we've decided to tackle
it head on and do it ourselves.
So um back in 2019, we um gotinvolved with some folks that
(13:40):
were helping guide us.
We formed our nonprofit.
We also at the same time formeda sister for-profit um that um
is going to help us raise thethe capital we need.
So we we know that this is noteasy because if it was, it would
have been done.
Uh this would not be apervasive problem that we're
trying to tackle, but we arecommitted to it, and we have
(14:05):
over 258 families in the areawho have said yes.
Uh we love what you're doing,and we have a need for housing
like you have for your son.
You know what?
Marc Bernstein (14:15):
We didn't we didn't really formally talk
about what that is.
It was just before the break.
Let's talk about so it's acommunity you're building.
Let's talk about what thatlooks like, and then I have uh
some questions to ask you aboutthe challenges after the break.
Jim Richardson (14:28):
Well, uh I'll describe it this way, Marc.
Um you drive through any areaof the city and any county here,
and you see subdivisions allover the place.
You see special needs, you seeum uh 55 plus communities, you
see communities where they'rebuilding uh townhomes, single
family homes, but you never seea community that is
(14:51):
neuroinclusive, meaning that theintent for that community has
been intentional from day one,where half of the citizens, half
the residents have uhdisability, and the other half
are neurotypical.
And that's what we're doing.
Nobody has that anywhere.
No.
Marc Bernstein (15:07):
Amazing.
No.
Nancy Richardson (15:09):
Well, I I'll chime in here, Marc.
Um Jim and I have spent time uhtouring the country, visiting
where other families are doingwhat we're doing.
Um we're taking a unique twistto this where this will be
ownership.
So um, like our son Michaelwill own his uh home and he'll
be able to leverage that assetinto his elder years.
Marc Bernstein (15:32):
Wow.
Nancy Richardson (15:33):
And that's the missing component to uh what
we've been seeing going aroundthe country.
But what's happening is otherfamilies are seeing the problem
um that we're seeing, andthey're taking the the bold
steps, grassroots steps tocreate communities for their
families.
Marc Bernstein (15:49):
So I just got a vision, because we do some
special needs planning in our inour practice.
So in theory, you could havethis house owned by a special
needs trust and can convert theequity into whatever needs the
person has down the road.
That's pretty amazing.
Uh with that, we're gonna takea quick break and we'll be right
back.
Thanks.
Too many adults with autism and intellectual disabilities face life alone… without safe housing, without independence, without belonging. And the chance to own a home? For most, it doesn’t exist. Parents lie awake at night asking, “Where will my son or daughter live when I’m gone?” Front Porch Cohousing is changing that. We’re a nonprofit building neuro-inclusive communities — neighborhoods where adults of all abilities live side by side. Homes with smart-home technology. Shared spaces like gardens, kitchens, and, of course, front porches that bring people together. Here, neighbors look out for each other. Families can finally breathe easier, knowing their loved ones are safe, independent, and included. But we can’t do it alone. And inclusion can’t wait. Join us in building the next community. Visit FrontPorchCohousing.org. That’s FrontPorchCohousing.org.
(17:09):
We're back on Founders Forum with Jim and
Nancy Richardson.
And we're just commenting inthe break that there's their
commercial was on for um frontporch uh co housing, and um
there's piano music in thebackground.
And I said, Jim, we could havehad you play your own piano.
I should I didn't mentionearlier, you might know this
because if you've listened toour show before, that I was also
(17:31):
a music major in college, andum I became piano was my major
instrument, but I didn't learnto play piano until I was a
senior in high school.
I was a trombone major and ortrombone player, and I didn't
want to go in as a tromboneplayer, and I wanted my my my
focus was theory andcomposition.
So I really needed to have thepiano, so I worked, talk about
(17:54):
committed.
I must have practiced fourhours a day for the year before,
so I could get in as a pianomajor in my sophomore year of
college at Delaware, and I didit.
I but was never really aperformance person, but enough
to be able to compose and towork the piano that way, you
know, anyway.
But Marc, I was a trumpetsecondary.
(18:14):
Oh, how about that?
Yeah.
So were you in the marchingband?
I sure was.
So at Delaware they told me,first of all, I got I was gonna
be a trumpet player, but I hadbraces.
And the and the high schoolband director said, Oh, you
can't play trumpet with braces.
I found out later they needed,they were short trombone
players.
So that's how I got into that.
And then they told me atDelaware I had to be in the
(18:37):
marching band, so I complied,and I really, no offense to the
University of Delaware marchingband, but it was so much
different than themilitary-style band that I was
in in high school that wascompetitive, and this was kind
of rinky dink, and you know, wehad to learn dance steps too.
Neil Diamond songs for thefirst show, and I'm like, I
can't do this for four years,three years, there's no way I'm
(18:58):
doing this.
So I got I found out a loopholeand I was able to get out
because I was a piano major, Ididn't really need to be in the
marching bands.
Good for you.
So I got it, and I could getback to focusing on playing
bass, which is what I reallylike to do, uh, you know, in
bands and things like that.
Anyway, that aside.
So challenges, I'm gonna I'mgonna mention them because we
had talked about them earlier.
(19:18):
I'll just introduce them.
But your challenges in doingthis is you of course you had
zoning issues, you had uhfunding issues, you had deed
restrictions.
And I want to add one morebecause you've got to convince
people that are that are not umthat are fully able that they
want to be in this community,um, I would think.
I don't know if you have toconvince them, but I'm curious
(19:39):
as to how you overcome whateverresistance people could possibly
have to that.
Jim Richardson (19:44):
There's a term for that.
It's uh a NIMBY.
Not in my backyard.
Uh, gotcha.
Uh everybody, everybody that wetalk to about this community
and what we're doing loves theidea.
Marc Bernstein (19:57):
Nice.
Jim Richardson (19:57):
Until they figure out it's going to be
adjacent to their community ortheir home.
Uh love the idea, but it's nothere.
So uh NIMBYism is a real thing.
Um and we've encountered andwe're still encountering it, but
we will prevail.
Because at the end of the day,people just need to voice their
opinion.
Because mostly, Marc, theydon't know.
(20:19):
They don't understand what itis that we're trying to do.
And it's not going to be adisruption to their life, or
it's not going to drag downtheir property values.
It will, in fact, increase theproperty values, but people
don't understand.
So that's always been a hurdle.
Building real estate istremendously expensive.
Um coming out of COVID with theshortages in supply chain,
(20:42):
lumber went up, you know, 200%.
And if you can get it.
So materials and funding.
And then, you know, you got theissues with the the public side
with the zoning.
There is no zoning for whatwe're trying to do.
None.
So we've created a brand newzoning petition, literally an
ordinance that will allow us toleverage existing zoning in our
(21:05):
township for a permitted use fornewer.
Which is Doylestown,Pennsylvania.
It's in Bucks County.
And our community will be inHilltown Township.
Hilltown.
Got it.
Yeah, and Percosy.
Got it.
Nancy Richardson (21:16):
And I'd like to also just thank um, you know,
our architect firm, our legal,our developer, I mean our
builders, everybody who hascontributed.
Um, I I'd love to give thenames, I don't know if we can,
but I I it just they've cometogether to really, really dig
in and and um or lean in, excuseme, and and just really help
(21:37):
us.
Marc Bernstein (21:38):
And bring this vision to life.
Well, I'd recommend people goto your website because I did,
and you can see your on there.
So listed on there, too.
And you have some powerful, youknow, powerful people that are
that are on your board andadvisors as well, which I which
is really, really great.
Um when you say 250 people havesigned up, does that have
people including people thatdon't have the neuroinclusive
(22:00):
issues, like in other words,people that want to live in the
development yet, or no?
Jim Richardson (22:04):
Aaron Powell No, our focus um since we started
in 2019, got on our um nonprofitdesignation in January of 2020,
our focus has been reaching outto parents like ourselves.
Marc Bernstein (22:16):
Right, gotcha.
Jim Richardson (22:16):
Right?
Because we know that um to bespecific, our community will
have 50 uh units, homes.
Half of those will be deedrestricted, uh designated for
adults with autism or an IDD.
The other half are going to bemarket rate neurotypical, and
then there's two units above ourcommunity center for community
(22:37):
managers, folks that will keepthe community running, being the
first point of contact.
So our focus has been on um theneurodivergent residents, and
today we have 11 families thathave signed up um with a
financial commitment to takeeleven of those 25 units.
We are working with a servicesorganization, they may want to
(22:58):
buy five to ten of the units.
So we know that when we put thesale sign in the ground, the
neurotypical units, if youwould, market units will just
fly off the shelf.
Because there's just not enoughhousing for everybody.
Marc Bernstein (23:11):
Right.
Right.
I was gonna say, and and I'msure you're making the houses
attractive, and theneighborhood's gonna be a very
attractive neighborhood.
Yep.
And by the way, I think peoplethat will end up there will find
out that their lives will beenriched by being around people
with with with theneuroinclusive issues because am
I saying that correctly?
Is that the right way to sayit?
Yeah.
That because I think thatthat's um because because I know
(23:34):
people like that, and it's youknow, it's their lives will be
enriched.
Jim Richardson (23:37):
And I just want to give you um a perspective.
Every subdivision that I'veseen, and I've seen a lot, um,
everyone lives in their back.
You park out front, your patiois out back.
Our community will be reverseengineered, traffic will be
around the perimeter with peoplecoming into the middle of the
community, right?
(23:58):
So we're going to live togetheron our front porch.
Very interesting.
Um yeah, so it's going to be anintentional community where
there'll be community activitiesand people care about and for
each other as neighbors.
Marc Bernstein (24:10):
So I assume you'll have an association and
and that will help drive a lotof that.
That's that's that's I lovethis.
The idea is amazing to me.
Nancy Richardson (24:17):
And it all starts with design, Marc.
So, you know, when you designan intentional community, you're
thinking about all of thesethings.
You know, what will bring umyou know these individuals
together?
Marc Bernstein (24:29):
Gotcha.
Nancy Richardson (24:30):
And creating that space so that can happen.
Marc Bernstein (24:32):
I just realized this.
We only have three minutesleft.
I was just giving the signal.
It's unbelievable.
Um what you guys are doing isamazing, and I believe that
you're changing the worldbecause as people find out about
this, they're gonna be copiedin many communities around the
country and around the world, Iwould imagine.
So um hats hats off to you.
Nancy Richardson (24:50):
Yeah.
Um Jim discovered a communitythat similar to what we're doing
in Switzerland, believe it ornot.
Marc Bernstein (24:56):
Sweden.
Nancy Richardson (24:56):
Uh Sweden, excuse me.
Marc Bernstein (24:57):
Really interesting.
Yeah.
Um real quick questions becausewe only have a couple of
minutes left, but I think thisdoes these questions that we've
picked allow, you know, allowfor a little more about what
you're doing.
So number one, Jim, you hadpicked thoughts about what are
your thought thoughts on yourlegacy?
And I this you could bothanswer this, but I'm sure it's
(25:18):
connected to what you're doing.
Jim Richardson (25:19):
Aaron Powell Well, I think we've all heard
that people want to leave theworld in a better place than
they found it.
And clearly that's somethingthat uh I want to do for my
family and for Michael and allthe other families we're working
with.
Um and to have this live beyondme, right?
So it's not just something wewill create and stand up, but
(25:39):
there will be uh asustainability plan behind it, a
succession plan.
And uh in ten years um we weexpect to have a second and then
a third.
So this is something that umhas longevity.
Uh I think we have just begunto scratch the surface of a need
that's absolutely pervasive andit will catch fire.
Marc Bernstein (26:01):
Ver it's it's amazing.
Nancy, you want to add anythingto that?
Nancy Richardson (26:04):
Sure.
As a mom, um you know, everevery parent wants their child
to be happy.
Uh when you have a child whohas autism or an intellectual
disability, it's not just abouthappiness.
It's making sure that they'resafe, making sure that they live
in that protected environmentof sorts, have the opportunity
to grow and develop and be partof something.
(26:26):
And um I just don't want him tobe lonely.
And that's the front porchconcept that we've come up with
is that when you invite peopleto come and talk with each
other, that loneliness goesaway.
And that actually has beenproven to help individuals with
intellectual disabilities growin a positive way.
(26:47):
That that that sense ofcommunity belonging and support
uh gives them the confidence toum you know do live their life
in a in a well in a good manner.
Marc Bernstein (26:59):
Real quick in a few seconds, because that's uh
literally all we have left, iswhat if you had if you either of
you were speaking to youryounger selves, what advice
would you give you in hindsight?
Nancy Richardson (27:10):
My younger self?
Um actually nothing.
I'm where I need to be.
Jim Richardson (27:15):
I love that.
Jim, anything to add for you?
No.
Um I just never saw this um tenyears ago.
I didn't see this in my future,but now I can't imagine it not
being here.
Marc Bernstein (27:25):
It's wonderful.
Thank you both for being here.
This has been a great, greatinterview, enlightening,
inspiring to me.
And thank you all forlistening.
And we look forward to speakingwith you again next week on
Founders Forum.
Announcer (27:45):
We hope you enjoyed your time with Founders Forum
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Join us again next week foranother episode of Founders
Forum on WXKB 1039 HD2.
The following programming is sponsored by Marc
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The views expressed do notnecessarily reflect the views of
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Entrepreneur, founder, author,and financial advisor Marc
Bernstein helps high-performingbusiness owners turn their
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Through his innovative work andthe forward-focused form, Marc
(00:21):
connects entrepreneurs toresources that fuel their
success.
Founders Forum is a radio showand podcast where entrepreneurs
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Join Marc and his guests for amix of inspiration, valuable
insights, and a little fun.
Now let's dive in.
Marc Bernstein (00:40):
Good morning, America.
How are you?
I say that pretty much everyshow, and I mean it.
I really mean how are you?
I don't know when you'll belistening to this, but we just
had a federal governmentshutdown go into effect at 12.01
this morning.
I think that's the time it wentinto effect.
And nobody knows how long thisis going to be and how many
(01:01):
firings there are going to beand how many jobs lost, etc.
Um, but we don't get politicalon this show.
I'm just sort of telling youthe environment we're coming
into today as we speak.
However, we're looking out thewindow of WWDBAM station in
Balakinwood, Pennsylvania, andit's a gorgeous day.
It's always sunny inPhiladelphia, sometimes.
(01:23):
And uh we're happy to be here,and I'm happy to be here with
our guests today, Jim and Nancy,who I'll introduce to you um in
a minute.
Uh we always have a topic ofthe day, and the topic of the
day that I wanted to talk aboutis commitment.
It happens to be uh one of thecore principles of our company
March Forward, a financialplanning company.
Don't talk a lot about that onthe radio.
Probably should more.
(01:44):
More of you should know what itis I do as a fiscal therapist,
financial planner.
But commitment is reallyimportant.
We only want to work withclients that are committed to
our process because we'recommitted to it.
And we want their commitment tomatch ours, and vice versa.
So it's very important in mylife, it's very important in my
personal life.
(02:05):
Um, but everybody has toquestion their commitment
sometimes and find and askthemselves, are you really
committed?
And in my case, I was in alittle group that I work with
from some personal development.
Somebody read this story thatI'm gonna give you the
highlights of.
Might even read it to youbecause it's pretty powerful.
And it exactly applied to me.
(02:27):
And I thought, hmm, something Ithought I was committed to.
Maybe I really wasn't, and Ihave to decide if I'm gonna be
committed or not.
So this is it.
This is from Denise Donahue,who, if you're in the mortgage
business, may know her.
She does podcasts and videosand things like that.
And she said, I was fed up.
So I called a fitness coach andsaid, I'm ready, I'm ready to
(02:48):
get in shape.
And the coach said, Yeah,great.
Uh, here's the plan.
And the plan was so simple, andyou know what I said?
I can do all that.
I can eat that, I can walk, Ican follow this plan.
But I said, I can't track myfood.
It's just not my thing.
I've done programs before, butnever been good at tracking.
And you know you have a goodcoach when her response was, no
(03:09):
problem, but then I am not thecoach for you.
And she said, Denise said, likewhat?
I'm trying to hire you.
And she said, Here's what ittaught me.
If you want something badenough, you'll do anything.
It's not, I'll go 95%.
No, you commit to it becauseit's that important.
You need people in your lifebold enough to tell you no and
(03:30):
slap that awareness back insight.
Do you really want it or onlywhen it's convenient?
So it goes on, but I'm gonnajust say it was funny because my
wife and I just hired anutrition coach because I've got
to lose lose the middle.
You know, I've been workingout, I'm strong, I've got a lot
of good things going, but if Idon't lose that middle, it's
(03:50):
gonna cause health issues downthe road.
So we hired a this coach, and Isaid to my wife, yeah, but I
don't know if I'm gonna trackthe food.
I've done that many times.
Of course it worked when I didit, but it's painful.
You don't you don't necessarilywant to do that.
But I realized even before Iread this, it was in my mind, I
think I'm going to have to dothat.
(04:11):
Now I say, I'm going to do it.
If I'm committed, I'm going todo it, even though I don't like
it.
I know you guys have had someexperience with uh commitment.
Um tell me what this all meansto you and how it applies in
your lives.
Jim Richardson (04:24):
First of all, Marc, thanks for having us.
We uh It's my pleasure.
We're it's a privilege to behere today and to be with you
and to have us tell our storyand to get our message out into
the world and out into thegreater Philadelphia area.
Uh commitment is hard.
Commitment is very hard.
(04:44):
To me personally, it meansdoing things that you may not
want to do uh because there areother things that are either
more fun or easier.
Um they're not as difficult.
But you can't do anything ifyou're not doing 100% and get it
done right.
And we've had that.
Marc Bernstein (05:00):
We're gonna I'm gonna introduce you formally in
a minute.
Okay.
And let's talk about let'scomplete that thought once
people know what it is you'redoing.
So it'll make more sense.
Nancy, you have anything to addto that?
Nancy Richardson (05:12):
No, commitment to me, again, is um as Jim
said, uh you know, followingthrough, honoring your word, and
being true to yourself and tothe people that uh you surround
yourself with.
Marc Bernstein (05:22):
That's great.
And by the way, I'm gonna takea quick break while you guys are
talking because we forgot toturn on the camera.
I do this all the time withvideo.
So so we're we're gonna comeright back in a second after I
introduce you guys.
So this is Jim and NancyRichardson.
They're co-founders of FrontPorch Co-housing and MP Equity
Holdings.
They are as parents of a31-year-old son with
(05:46):
developmental differences, theyknow the struggles families face
around lifelong housing.
Their mission is to buildneuroinclusive communities where
belonging, dignity, andindependence are the standard.
Right.
So they are business peopletheir whole lives, and we'll
talk a little bit about that,who started a nonprofit with a
very powerful vision.
(06:06):
And I know there's a greatneed.
In fact, I know personallypeople that are interested in
their project because um theyhave the great need in their
families.
So officially welcome to youguys.
Thanks again.
Nancy Richardson (06:18):
Thank you.
Marc Bernstein (06:19):
I'm gonna ask you, Jim, to start out a little
bit with your background becausewe share something background
in terms of our educationalbackground, and give us the kind
of long enough story for me toturn on the camera to to about
you know your education, what itled into your career, and
ultimately what you're doingtoday.
(06:39):
And Nancy is going to chime inas well, tell us a little bit
about your background and youryou're you were the original
impetus for this, um, your son.
So I I it's important that weget that in too.
So we'll we'll start going.
I'll come back in a second onceI get the camera on.
Jim Richardson (06:55):
Go ahead, Jim.
Sure.
So long, long time ago, um, Iwould have thought that my
career would have been um as amusic teacher.
I was always um good at musicand played in the school band
and the high school band, andthen ultimately um was going to
Temple School of Music to majorin music education as a keyboard
(07:17):
major.
And I remember my entranceexam, um, I played in a very,
very large church in CenterCity, uh church organ that took
Cotton Fugue and D minor, betterknown as theme from Phantom of
the Opera.
And I did go to temple andquickly realized that um my my
business goals, my desire to dogood in the world would be
(07:40):
better served if I wasn't inmusic.
So I left the music curriculumand then turned to business.
Very long story short, I'vebeen in the tech space my entire
career.
Um most recently uh was at IBMfor 15 years.
Um met my lovely wife Nancy ata company before that where we
were both in tech together.
Um and um I I think that mybackground in business has
(08:07):
really served me well umbecoming an entrepreneur and
trying to tackle this monstrousproject to the ground.
Marc Bernstein (08:16):
I I'm um I have no doubt about that, knowing
your story.
And I know that you're I knowthat your business experience is
relative, and we'll we'll getto talk about that.
Nancy, tell us a little bitabout you and and how how you
came up with this idea.
Nancy Richardson (08:28):
Aaron Ross Powell Sure.
I grew up in Philadelphia, justlike Jim.
Um I have a close set of familyaround me who's uh uh we've
they've been very supportive ofeverything that we've done so
far, um, and friends as well,um, and all kinds of
acquaintances through um uhthrough our professional life
have been just so overwhelminglysupportive.
(08:50):
There isn't a person that Ihaven't met that isn't touched
by um autism or intellectualdisabilities in some way, shape,
or form.
They either know somebody orhas a family member.
Um I too went to businessschool, uh Florida
International.
Um I had my own uh cateringbusiness down there.
Uh started it by myself andgrew it, um, graduated college
(09:14):
with no debt.
Marc Bernstein (09:15):
So I was very proud of that.
Nancy Richardson (09:19):
And um as uh you know as life unfolds, I I
married, had a son.
Um he was born in 1994, and forthose of you who uh could uh uh
you know um attest to this, youknow, the internet wasn't as
pervasive as it is.
Marc Bernstein (09:36):
By the way, I have two kids, 93 and 95.
So your son was right in themiddle.
Yeah.
Yep.
So I know exactly where we wereat that time.
Nancy Richardson (09:43):
So when my son was diagnosed, um the doctor
just basically said, you'regonna have a very long road to
hoe.
And I did not understand whathe meant.
And there wasn't any, you know,computers you could like
sources you could look it up.
You had to just start talkingand reaching out to other
families.
Marc Bernstein (10:03):
Did he call it anything at the time, or he just
said you have a long road tohoe?
Um just knew he haddevelopmental issues.
Nancy Richardson (10:08):
He used the word autistic.
Marc Bernstein (10:10):
Okay.
Nancy Richardson (10:11):
But he also used the word, you know, um uh
retarded.
Marc Bernstein (10:15):
Really?
And um amazing that they wereusing that word still then.
Nancy Richardson (10:19):
True.
But you know, again, you getthat diagnosis and you're you're
struggling to figure out whatdoes that mean?
And they walk out the door andand you're just left there
dumbfounded.
So what I have always done inmy life is I face adversity head
on and figure it out.
And that's what I did.
Um, you know, Jim came into mylife when Michael was around
(10:41):
three and four years old, and heaccepted you know my world
because we fell in love and andwe've been true partners ever
since.
And as Michael was gettingolder, we started talking about
where will he live.
And when we're no longer ableto care for him, we're no longer
here.
It's not just a matter ofmoney, it's a matter of keeping
(11:05):
him safe, protected, happy, andnot lonely.
So over the you know, the lastcouple of years, we've figured
it out.
We've actually figured it out,and now we're on a path to make
that a reality.
Marc Bernstein (11:18):
That's so great.
I'm glad I had you tell thatpart of the story because I
missed the love story part of itwhen Jim tells it.
You know, that's just a I thinka male-female thing, maybe,
without uh stereotyping.
But um it is uh it is a greatstory in terms of how you came
together and the acceptance ofyour son.
What's your son's name, by theway?
Nancy Richardson (11:35):
Michael.
Marc Bernstein (11:36):
Michael.
So um yeah, I actually I havethat in my notes and I had
forgotten.
Um so you and then you workedtogether um at IBM, if I
understand correctly, right?
Nancy Richardson (11:47):
No, actually we worked together at SAP.
Marc Bernstein (11:50):
Oh, I misunderstood that.
Okay.
That's that.
You worked there previously.
Yeah.
Um and Jim, you're still butyou're still with IBM or you've
retired?
Jim Richardson (11:58):
I am not with IBM.
I am with an IBM partnercompany um that uh has given me
great flexibility and supportswhat we're doing here.
Because it's really hard to umwe've bootstrapped for the early
years of our uh existence.
You can't do that if you're nothaving a good income and a good
(12:19):
employment structure.
Right.
So I I'm staring down the uheyes of retirement, but it is my
plan, Marc, that when we getour first project up off the
ground and it's being built,that you'll be full of time for
me to move to that full time.
And and you're in full full onnow?
Nancy Richardson (12:36):
Yes, I I I work for IBM.
Uh have for the last 15 years.
Marc Bernstein (12:40):
Okay, that's that's that's where I got the
IBM part.
Got it.
So tell us about the beginning.
So you are entrepreneurs,you're uh nonprof not
non-for-profit entrepreneurs,and and by the way, we only have
about a minute.
Time flies, I should have toldyou that up front.
We only have a minute before acommercial break.
But tell us about the founding.
Uh Jim, I think you want to ttell that part.
(13:02):
Um, the founding of Front PorchCo-housing and um and the
challenges that you had upfront, and then we'll take a
commercial break and we'll comeback and talk about how you met
those challenges.
Jim Richardson (13:14):
Sure.
And I think it's what um Nancyhad said that we uh at one
point, probably when Michael'sgetting out of high school,
decided to start looking forfuture uh housing options for
him and found none.
So we did what uh we've alwaysdone is we've decided to tackle
it head on and do it ourselves.
So um back in 2019, we um gotinvolved with some folks that
(13:40):
were helping guide us.
We formed our nonprofit.
We also at the same time formeda sister for-profit um that um
is going to help us raise thethe capital we need.
So we we know that this is noteasy because if it was, it would
have been done.
Uh this would not be apervasive problem that we're
trying to tackle, but we arecommitted to it, and we have
(14:05):
over 258 families in the areawho have said yes.
Uh we love what you're doing,and we have a need for housing
like you have for your son.
You know what?
Marc Bernstein (14:15):
We didn't we didn't really formally talk
about what that is.
It was just before the break.
Let's talk about so it's acommunity you're building.
Let's talk about what thatlooks like, and then I have uh
some questions to ask you aboutthe challenges after the break.
Jim Richardson (14:28):
Well, uh I'll describe it this way, Marc.
Um you drive through any areaof the city and any county here,
and you see subdivisions allover the place.
You see special needs, you seeum uh 55 plus communities, you
see communities where they'rebuilding uh townhomes, single
family homes, but you never seea community that is
(14:51):
neuroinclusive, meaning that theintent for that community has
been intentional from day one,where half of the citizens, half
the residents have uhdisability, and the other half
are neurotypical.
And that's what we're doing.
Nobody has that anywhere.
No.
Marc Bernstein (15:07):
Amazing.
No.
Nancy Richardson (15:09):
Well, I I'll chime in here, Marc.
Um Jim and I have spent time uhtouring the country, visiting
where other families are doingwhat we're doing.
Um we're taking a unique twistto this where this will be
ownership.
So um, like our son Michaelwill own his uh home and he'll
be able to leverage that assetinto his elder years.
Marc Bernstein (15:32):
Wow.
Nancy Richardson (15:33):
And that's the missing component to uh what
we've been seeing going aroundthe country.
But what's happening is otherfamilies are seeing the problem
um that we're seeing, andthey're taking the the bold
steps, grassroots steps tocreate communities for their
families.
Marc Bernstein (15:49):
So I just got a vision, because we do some
special needs planning in our inour practice.
So in theory, you could havethis house owned by a special
needs trust and can convert theequity into whatever needs the
person has down the road.
That's pretty amazing.
Uh with that, we're gonna takea quick break and we'll be right
back.
Thanks.
Too many adults with autism and intellectual disabilities face life alone… without safe housing, without independence, without belonging. And the chance to own a home? For most, it doesn’t exist. Parents lie awake at night asking, “Where will my son or daughter live when I’m gone?” Front Porch Cohousing is changing that. We’re a nonprofit building neuro-inclusive communities — neighborhoods where adults of all abilities live side by side. Homes with smart-home technology. Shared spaces like gardens, kitchens, and, of course, front porches that bring people together. Here, neighbors look out for each other. Families can finally breathe easier, knowing their loved ones are safe, independent, and included. But we can’t do it alone. And inclusion can’t wait. Join us in building the next community. Visit FrontPorchCohousing.org. That’s FrontPorchCohousing.org.
(17:09):
We're back on Founders Forum with Jim and
Nancy Richardson.
And we're just commenting inthe break that there's their
commercial was on for um frontporch uh co housing, and um
there's piano music in thebackground.
And I said, Jim, we could havehad you play your own piano.
I should I didn't mentionearlier, you might know this
because if you've listened toour show before, that I was also
(17:31):
a music major in college, andum I became piano was my major
instrument, but I didn't learnto play piano until I was a
senior in high school.
I was a trombone major and ortrombone player, and I didn't
want to go in as a tromboneplayer, and I wanted my my my
focus was theory andcomposition.
So I really needed to have thepiano, so I worked, talk about
(17:54):
committed.
I must have practiced fourhours a day for the year before,
so I could get in as a pianomajor in my sophomore year of
college at Delaware, and I didit.
I but was never really aperformance person, but enough
to be able to compose and towork the piano that way, you
know, anyway.
But Marc, I was a trumpetsecondary.
(18:14):
Oh, how about that?
Yeah.
So were you in the marchingband?
I sure was.
So at Delaware they told me,first of all, I got I was gonna
be a trumpet player, but I hadbraces.
And the and the high schoolband director said, Oh, you
can't play trumpet with braces.
I found out later they needed,they were short trombone
players.
So that's how I got into that.
And then they told me atDelaware I had to be in the
(18:37):
marching band, so I complied,and I really, no offense to the
University of Delaware marchingband, but it was so much
different than themilitary-style band that I was
in in high school that wascompetitive, and this was kind
of rinky dink, and you know, wehad to learn dance steps too.
Neil Diamond songs for thefirst show, and I'm like, I
can't do this for four years,three years, there's no way I'm
(18:58):
doing this.
So I got I found out a loopholeand I was able to get out
because I was a piano major, Ididn't really need to be in the
marching bands.
Good for you.
So I got it, and I could getback to focusing on playing
bass, which is what I reallylike to do, uh, you know, in
bands and things like that.
Anyway, that aside.
So challenges, I'm gonna I'mgonna mention them because we
had talked about them earlier.
(19:18):
I'll just introduce them.
But your challenges in doingthis is you of course you had
zoning issues, you had uhfunding issues, you had deed
restrictions.
And I want to add one morebecause you've got to convince
people that are that are not umthat are fully able that they
want to be in this community,um, I would think.
I don't know if you have toconvince them, but I'm curious
(19:39):
as to how you overcome whateverresistance people could possibly
have to that.
Jim Richardson (19:44):
There's a term for that.
It's uh a NIMBY.
Not in my backyard.
Uh, gotcha.
Uh everybody, everybody that wetalk to about this community
and what we're doing loves theidea.
Marc Bernstein (19:57):
Nice.
Jim Richardson (19:57):
Until they figure out it's going to be
adjacent to their community ortheir home.
Uh love the idea, but it's nothere.
So uh NIMBYism is a real thing.
Um and we've encountered andwe're still encountering it, but
we will prevail.
Because at the end of the day,people just need to voice their
opinion.
Because mostly, Marc, theydon't know.
(20:19):
They don't understand what itis that we're trying to do.
And it's not going to be adisruption to their life, or
it's not going to drag downtheir property values.
It will, in fact, increase theproperty values, but people
don't understand.
So that's always been a hurdle.
Building real estate istremendously expensive.
Um coming out of COVID with theshortages in supply chain,
(20:42):
lumber went up, you know, 200%.
And if you can get it.
So materials and funding.
And then, you know, you got theissues with the the public side
with the zoning.
There is no zoning for whatwe're trying to do.
None.
So we've created a brand newzoning petition, literally an
ordinance that will allow us toleverage existing zoning in our
(21:05):
township for a permitted use fornewer.
Which is Doylestown,Pennsylvania.
It's in Bucks County.
And our community will be inHilltown Township.
Hilltown.
Got it.
Yeah, and Percosy.
Got it.
Nancy Richardson (21:16):
And I'd like to also just thank um, you know,
our architect firm, our legal,our developer, I mean our
builders, everybody who hascontributed.
Um, I I'd love to give thenames, I don't know if we can,
but I I it just they've cometogether to really, really dig
in and and um or lean in, excuseme, and and just really help
(21:37):
us.
Marc Bernstein (21:38):
And bring this vision to life.
Well, I'd recommend people goto your website because I did,
and you can see your on there.
So listed on there, too.
And you have some powerful, youknow, powerful people that are
that are on your board andadvisors as well, which I which
is really, really great.
Um when you say 250 people havesigned up, does that have
people including people thatdon't have the neuroinclusive
(22:00):
issues, like in other words,people that want to live in the
development yet, or no?
Jim Richardson (22:04):
Aaron Powell No, our focus um since we started
in 2019, got on our um nonprofitdesignation in January of 2020,
our focus has been reaching outto parents like ourselves.
Marc Bernstein (22:16):
Right, gotcha.
Jim Richardson (22:16):
Right?
Because we know that um to bespecific, our community will
have 50 uh units, homes.
Half of those will be deedrestricted, uh designated for
adults with autism or an IDD.
The other half are going to bemarket rate neurotypical, and
then there's two units above ourcommunity center for community
(22:37):
managers, folks that will keepthe community running, being the
first point of contact.
So our focus has been on um theneurodivergent residents, and
today we have 11 families thathave signed up um with a
financial commitment to takeeleven of those 25 units.
We are working with a servicesorganization, they may want to
(22:58):
buy five to ten of the units.
So we know that when we put thesale sign in the ground, the
neurotypical units, if youwould, market units will just
fly off the shelf.
Because there's just not enoughhousing for everybody.
Marc Bernstein (23:11):
Right.
Right.
I was gonna say, and and I'msure you're making the houses
attractive, and theneighborhood's gonna be a very
attractive neighborhood.
Yep.
And by the way, I think peoplethat will end up there will find
out that their lives will beenriched by being around people
with with with theneuroinclusive issues because am
I saying that correctly?
Is that the right way to sayit?
Yeah.
That because I think thatthat's um because because I know
(23:34):
people like that, and it's youknow, it's their lives will be
enriched.
Jim Richardson (23:37):
And I just want to give you um a perspective.
Every subdivision that I'veseen, and I've seen a lot, um,
everyone lives in their back.
You park out front, your patiois out back.
Our community will be reverseengineered, traffic will be
around the perimeter with peoplecoming into the middle of the
community, right?
(23:58):
So we're going to live togetheron our front porch.
Very interesting.
Um yeah, so it's going to be anintentional community where
there'll be community activitiesand people care about and for
each other as neighbors.
Marc Bernstein (24:10):
So I assume you'll have an association and
and that will help drive a lotof that.
That's that's that's I lovethis.
The idea is amazing to me.
Nancy Richardson (24:17):
And it all starts with design, Marc.
So, you know, when you designan intentional community, you're
thinking about all of thesethings.
You know, what will bring umyou know these individuals
together?
Marc Bernstein (24:29):
Gotcha.
Nancy Richardson (24:30):
And creating that space so that can happen.
Marc Bernstein (24:32):
I just realized this.
We only have three minutesleft.
I was just giving the signal.
It's unbelievable.
Um what you guys are doing isamazing, and I believe that
you're changing the worldbecause as people find out about
this, they're gonna be copiedin many communities around the
country and around the world, Iwould imagine.
So um hats hats off to you.
Nancy Richardson (24:50):
Yeah.
Um Jim discovered a communitythat similar to what we're doing
in Switzerland, believe it ornot.
Marc Bernstein (24:56):
Sweden.
Nancy Richardson (24:56):
Uh Sweden, excuse me.
Marc Bernstein (24:57):
Really interesting.
Yeah.
Um real quick questions becausewe only have a couple of
minutes left, but I think thisdoes these questions that we've
picked allow, you know, allowfor a little more about what
you're doing.
So number one, Jim, you hadpicked thoughts about what are
your thought thoughts on yourlegacy?
And I this you could bothanswer this, but I'm sure it's
(25:18):
connected to what you're doing.
Jim Richardson (25:19):
Aaron Powell Well, I think we've all heard
that people want to leave theworld in a better place than
they found it.
And clearly that's somethingthat uh I want to do for my
family and for Michael and allthe other families we're working
with.
Um and to have this live beyondme, right?
So it's not just something wewill create and stand up, but
(25:39):
there will be uh asustainability plan behind it, a
succession plan.
And uh in ten years um we weexpect to have a second and then
a third.
So this is something that umhas longevity.
Uh I think we have just begunto scratch the surface of a need
that's absolutely pervasive andit will catch fire.
Marc Bernstein (26:01):
Ver it's it's amazing.
Nancy, you want to add anythingto that?
Nancy Richardson (26:04):
Sure.
As a mom, um you know, everevery parent wants their child
to be happy.
Uh when you have a child whohas autism or an intellectual
disability, it's not just abouthappiness.
It's making sure that they'resafe, making sure that they live
in that protected environmentof sorts, have the opportunity
to grow and develop and be partof something.
(26:26):
And um I just don't want him tobe lonely.
And that's the front porchconcept that we've come up with
is that when you invite peopleto come and talk with each
other, that loneliness goesaway.
And that actually has beenproven to help individuals with
intellectual disabilities growin a positive way.
(26:47):
That that that sense ofcommunity belonging and support
uh gives them the confidence toum you know do live their life
in a in a well in a good manner.
Marc Bernstein (26:59):
Real quick in a few seconds, because that's uh
literally all we have left, iswhat if you had if you either of
you were speaking to youryounger selves, what advice
would you give you in hindsight?
Nancy Richardson (27:10):
My younger self?
Um actually nothing.
I'm where I need to be.
Jim Richardson (27:15):
I love that.
Jim, anything to add for you?
No.
Um I just never saw this um tenyears ago.
I didn't see this in my future,but now I can't imagine it not
being here.
Marc Bernstein (27:25):
It's wonderful.
Thank you both for being here.
This has been a great, greatinterview, enlightening,
inspiring to me.
And thank you all forlistening.
And we look forward to speakingwith you again next week on
Founders Forum.
Announcer (27:45):
We hope you enjoyed your time with Founders Forum
and that you found value to takewith you throughout your day.
Join us again next week foranother episode of Founders
Forum on WXKB 1039 HD2.
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