February 17, 2025 • 27 mins
In this powerful episode of the Visual Eyes Podcast, we sit down with Justin Nepola, an influential nonprofit leader, philanthropist, and community advocate. From a simple New Year’s resolution to becoming Board Chair of HandsOn South Florida, Justin shares how volunteering changed his life and the impact he’s had on organizations like Military Recreational Divers (MRD) and No More Tears.
🔹 How volunteering led Justin to nonprofit leadership
🔹 The hidden challenges nonprofits face (and how to overcome them)
🔹 Why collaboration is key in the nonprofit sector
🔹 How ocean therapy is saving veterans with PTSD
🔹 A powerful story of helping a domestic violence survivor rebuild her life
🔹 Lessons from the pandemic: Why human connection matters more than ever
This episode is packed with inspiration, nonprofit insights, and leadership lessons that anyone passionate about social impact needs to hear.
📌 Learn More & Get Involved:
🌍 HandsOn South Florida: https://www.handsonsouthflorida.org
🌊 Military Recreational Divers: https://www.militarydivers.org
🛡️ No More Tears: https://www.nomoretearsusa.org
📢 Subscribe & Follow Visual Eyes Podcast for More Stories of Impact:
🌍 Website: https://www.VisualEyesPodcast.com
📷 Instagram: @VisualEyesPod
📘 LinkedIn: Visual Eyes Podcast
🎥 YouTube: Visual Eyes Podcast Channel @VisualEyesPodcast
#NonprofitLeadership #GivingBack #Philanthropy #CommunityImpact #SocialGood
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Chris Baker (00:03):
Welcome to Visual Eyes, the podcast where
collaboration fuels change.
I'm your host, chris Baker, andeach week we'll explore
incredible connections betweennonprofits, businesses and the
community.
This is a space where wehighlight inspiring partnerships
, uncover strategies forcreating meaningful impact and
share stories that show howworking together can make all
(00:24):
the difference.
Whether you're a nonprofitleader, a business owner or
someone just passionate aboutbuilding connections, this
podcast is for you.
Welcome back to Visual Eyes.
Today I have Justin Nepola.
Welcome to the show, justin.
Thank you so much, chris.
Justin Nepola (00:42):
It's great to be here.
Chris Baker (00:43):
I would love to hear a little bit about your
journey in the nonprofit sector.
I know you're on a coupledifferent boards and I don't
know all of them, so I wouldlove to hear all of them if you
have more.
But then also what inspired youto take on that leadership role
.
It's funny.
Justin Nepola (00:57):
I'm going to ruin the evergreen nature of this
podcast and tell people thatit's being recorded at the
beginning of the year.
Um, because my volunteerjourney and my board journey
kind of both revolved around Idon't want to say new year's
resolutions, but it kind of wasum.
It's I don't remember how longago, but it was a while ago that
(01:19):
I had made the resolution oneyear.
I was like all right, I'm goingto do more volunteering, I'm
going to get out involved in thecommunity.
Chris Baker (01:25):
And I just did it.
Justin Nepola (01:27):
I found Hands On Broward at the time.
I found their website and theyhave a great calendar with all
different events.
I found a food distributionevent that they were providing
Realtors.
They were providing volunteers.
You can tell where I spend allday.
They provide volunteers to dothe distribution for feeding.
(01:47):
South florida and I went outand had a great time.
We were filling people's carsup.
It was a drive-through fooddistribution.
Actually got my foot run over.
Fortunately it was a small carso my foot was fine, but the
woman actually stopped on myfoot.
I I was pounding on her rooftelling her to move.
(02:08):
So that was the highlight ofthat day.
And then, ever since then,despite getting run over, I was
hooked.
I had a great time, so Istarted volunteering regularly
at all different organizations.
Fast forward, a few years later, I was writing my goals for the
year.
One of the things I said is Iwant to be on a nonprofit board.
And in parentheses I wroteHands On Broward.
(02:29):
I said that would be my dreamboard to be on and, I guess, to
the power of visualization, thepower of writing your goals down
.
Within two months, the CEO andthe COO of Hands On Broward
pulled me aside and said, hey,we would love to invite you to
join the board.
(02:49):
And so I was like you're nevergetting rid of me, and so that's
where I've been for years onand I've been fortunate enough
to work my way up to board chairand I'm very honored by that.
Chris Baker (03:03):
How long have you been a part of hands on south
florida?
Justin Nepola (03:07):
you know, I honestly don't know.
It's probably been on the boardsix, seven years time is kind
of a blur.
Ever since the pandemic I Ilose track of time completely.
Uh, you know, if somebody toldme it was 10 years ago, okay, I
don't know.
Chris Baker (03:24):
I honestly it's probably been about four or five
, maybe six years so the firstthing that we filmed with hands
on south florida was theirparkland hearts project okay at
the beginning of 2023 and that,so that was two years ago.
We were working with christinaat the time.
We filmed all three of thedifferent projects that they
(03:44):
were they were doing at the time.
I remember that and from thatpoint it was later on there was
a conversation of having you onthe board.
Yeah, um, and that took severalmonths to like work into play.
Um, but that was by about themiddle of 2023 is when I joined
the board that we may have metat bowtick.
Justin Nepola (04:03):
Yes, because I feel like I've known you longer
than two years.
Chris Baker (04:06):
No it hasn't been Really.
Justin Nepola (04:08):
I know right.
Chris Baker (04:10):
Like you were saying, time flies, time is.
Justin Nepola (04:14):
For sure, but I definitely feel like you've been
entrenched in the community forso much longer.
Chris Baker (04:20):
It's actually kind of unique in that regard,
because me and Momo have noteven been here for three years.
Justin Nepola (04:28):
That is just such a testament to the two of you,
because you've done such a greatjob of just ingraining yourself
, ingratiating yourself in theSouth Florida, in the Fort
Lauderdale community, that Ifeel like you've been here so
much longer, because everybodyknows you, everybody loves you
guys, everybody appreciates allyou do for everybody, so that's
(04:49):
phenomenal Good for you.
Chris Baker (04:51):
That says a lot.
That means a lot to us too,because, honestly, you know it's
been a challenging you know,three years, it's not easy.
We do feel, we are starting tofeel the love and feeling the
connection to the community, andyou know, we've made amazing,
yeah, amazing, because it's noteasy.
It is not easy, no, it's not tocome, because you.
Justin Nepola (05:12):
Neither of you really knew anybody in south
florida when you got here weknew nobody damn.
So to go from nobody to beingwell recognized and established
in three years is phenomenal.
Good for you, thank you allright so let's get back to the
podcast.
Chris Baker (05:29):
Welcome back everybody.
It's gonna be an eight hourpodcast, a little time, um, okay
.
So what other non-profits areyou, you know, now associated
with, since you've been onhands-on broward for six, seven
years?
What other ones have you kindof?
Justin Nepola (05:45):
leaned on.
I have been involved with quitea few.
I've been pruning, partiallyintentionally, to focus more on
the for-profit side of my life,where I actually need to make a
living and take care of a wifeand children.
I've still got bills to pay.
They enjoy having a roof overtheir head and food, so I've
(06:08):
done a little bit less.
So right now, hands on SouthFlorida and Military
Recreational Divers, I believe,are the only nonprofit boards
that I'm still currently on.
I was on a few others.
I was on Neighbors forNeighbors for a long time.
I was the board chair of thatone.
On a few others I was onneighbors for neighbors for a
long time.
I was the board chair of thatone.
I was, uh, the president of thebrower realtors charitable
(06:28):
foundation for a number of years, so I've been on a bunch.
Chris Baker (06:33):
There's a couple that have a special place in my
heart that, if they asked me, Iwould serve, but I'm not
actively looking to do it, sookay yeah, that's why I'm like
all right, you know what, rightnow, two is plenty no, and
sometimes you know that's notenough, because I know that you
and jackie, your wife um, areconstantly out there
(06:56):
volunteering, and so, besidesjust even the board volunteerism
, you're already doing so muchelse in the community as well.
So thank you so much, sure.
Justin Nepola (07:05):
It's what we love to do and we enjoy it and
honestly, I really do enjoy thehands-on work more so than the
board work often.
So things like the hands-onBroward projects are more fun
than the board meetings Not thatthe board meetings are fine.
Chris Baker (07:24):
Dale, we love you, we love the meetings.
Justin Nepola (07:25):
They're wonderful meetings, not that the board
meetings are fine, dale, we loveyou, we love the meetings.
They're wonderful meetings.
The projects are more fun.
Yeah, the projects are amazing.
Chris Baker (07:31):
Putting it together very well.
You're really bringing thecommunity together, and that's
one of the things I really dowant to spotlight is the amazing
work that Hands on SouthFlorida does, because they are
the ones finding volunteers forall these other non-profits and
sometimes they don't get seen asa major non-profit in that
(07:52):
regard, but they're so amazingbecause they're pulling the
community together and thevolunteers together.
So much better correct you're100, right it.
Justin Nepola (08:02):
It's a weird situation where they are the
connector and people forgetabout them.
Yeah, because they don't have,you know, the kind of the sexy
appearance that the actualnonprofit that's doing the work
has.
They're the ones providing thepower to get it done, right.
Chris Baker (08:19):
And so one of the things that I noticed right away
, like as I was starting to beon the board and I was talking
about Hands On South Florida,people were like I don't know
what that is and I was like youneed to check out their website.
They can help you potentiallyfind volunteers if you start
looking at them as a resourceCorrect, and so that was just
kind of something that you knowwe need to help get them a
(08:41):
little bit more exposure so thatthey know that other nonprofits
can find them Correct, becausethat's really what they're there
for.
Justin Nepola (08:47):
Exactly To help the other projects.
Chris Baker (08:49):
Yeah, all right.
So collaborations andpartnerships, that's really what
the next piece that I want totalk about.
So can you talk about how bothof the nonprofits that you're on
tackle some of the communitychallenges that we're facing
right now?
Justin Nepola (09:06):
So many years ago and I do know this was
pre-pandemic and into thepandemic I had the crazy idea to
have my own podcast verysimilar to this one.
I wanted to highlightnonprofits.
I had the pleasure of havingsomebody from a nonprofit on
from the flight center and shesaid Broward County is
(09:26):
Collaboration County and I waslike you know what it really
really is.
It's one of the few placeswhere the nonprofit community
really does work together verywell.
They really do help each other.
If one can't get the job done,they are not afraid pull in
somebody else to help them.
And so it's been my pleasure tobe able to work with multiple
(09:56):
nonprofits and kind of help themcollaborate when they can Like.
When Hands on South Florida hasthe volunteers that can help a
project, showering Love wasbuilding a house for homeless
veterans and needed help withsome landscaping.
Well, hands on south floridawas, you know, offered to bring
in the volunteers, offered tohelp in any way they could.
So doesn't always work outbecause of coordination issues,
(10:16):
but a lot of times things likethat do work and it's a win-win
for everybody I'm happy to hearthat you're seeing a lot of the
collaboration.
Chris Baker (10:24):
Um, unfortunately, when I've talked to a lot of
other non-profits, they're notseeing it, so I want to make
sure that that's open toeverybody and that we can figure
out ways um that everybody cancollaborate more, um.
Justin Nepola (10:37):
So, yeah, that's that's very good that I'm
hearing that's yeah ones thatyou have gotten connected with.
Chris Baker (10:42):
they're already doing that and and that makes me
very happy I want to make surethat the people that are
watching this, they can look andlearn from that, those
collaborations, so that they cando it more too.
Justin Nepola (10:52):
I think, I know, I believe nonprofits all start
with the best of intentions.
They all want to help people.
That is their core.
They want to help their cause,whatever that may be, and when
it.
They all nonprofit people allwant to work together.
Unfortunately, funds arelimited, grants are limited,
(11:17):
finances are limited, so when itcomes to that level, it does
become more competitive.
Even exposure is more limited.
So if there's a grand opening,a ribbon cutting or something
where there's going to beexposure, they all want their
name and branding to be frontand center, and that can't
(11:37):
always be the case.
But when it's just coming tohelp the individuals, they all,
at the end of the day, will worktogether to help the
individuals to strengthen thecommunity, to help the community
.
Chris Baker (11:47):
I 100 agree with you.
That is why the non-profits arehere.
That's why we're here.
Um, we need to put bring thistogether like there is a gap in
government, there is a gap inresources.
That that's the where they comefrom.
Yes, the non-profits bring itto us, so I think that's
fantastic.
Um, what are some of thechallenges?
(12:09):
So that the during the pandemicwe're going to go back a little
bit.
Okay, going to pandemicpresented a lot of challenges,
specifically to a lot ofnon-profits even.
Um, so what were some of thekey lessons that you kind of
thought and took away from that?
Maybe some of the our listenerscan actually like use for the
(12:31):
future to make sure that youknow they're covered that's a
good question.
Justin Nepola (12:36):
um, I feel like a lot of the you know, lessons we
learned weren't necessarilynon-profit, profit, specific and
honestly, I think, if anything,we're far enough from it that
what we've been through we allwant to just get away from.
There was a lot of the virtualevents, a lot of the virtual
(12:59):
meetings and things like that,and I think people really do
crave in-person connection again.
Oh yeah, very much.
So that's one thing that Iguess maybe that is a lesson we
learned is that, at the end ofthe day, people do want to see
other people and be in contactwith other human beings.
Some of the events you have,the drive-through distributions
(13:22):
and things like that, you knowit was fine, it it served its
purpose, do I think it it was?
Uh, you know, could you stilldo it today, probably, and I.
Chris Baker (13:34):
I would agree with you in a lot of those pieces,
because as human beings, we needconnection, we need one-on-one
conversations and only everhaving conversations.
Through zoom you don't get thebody language, you don't get the
energy from the other person tofeel connected, yeah and so.
So that's a huge gap that wasmissing and I think that's
(13:58):
probably a really good keylesson from what I'm hearing.
If you're a nonprofit, makesure that you're out there in
the community and that you canbe seen.
And so they can feel what you'rebringing to them.
So I think that's probablywhere you're going with that.
Justin Nepola (14:13):
Yeah, I think that sums up my thoughts
probably better than I did.
Chris Baker (14:17):
So thank you, you're welcome, but I mean,
we've known each other for awhile now, so I can kind of like
work with you.
Justin Nepola (14:22):
Yeah, you knew where I was going, I did know
where you were going.
Chris Baker (14:24):
I was like all right, I think this is where
we're at.
So we're a lot about Hands onSouth Florida.
Talk a little bit more aboutMRD.
Justin Nepola (14:32):
Military.
Chris Baker (14:33):
Recreational Divers .
Justin Nepola (14:34):
I am not a veteran, I have not dove in
decades.
I love both helping thatcommunity and I do love the
ocean and diving.
I just haven't done it in along time.
The truth is, I just love thepeople who started it.
They're wonderful, wonderfulpeople.
I've known them for a long timeand as soon as they said we're
(14:57):
starting a nonprofit, I saidwhatever you need, I'll help you
.
And that's really a lot oftimes how I make my decisions.
I live my life is I want tosupport the individual and their
cause, individual and theircause.
And you know, if I started anonprofit personally, would it
(15:19):
be to help divers or to helpveterans with PTSD through dive
therapy?
Probably not, because that'snot my wheelhouse, right.
But when friends who are greatpeople say, hey, this is what
we're going to do, you know whatI'm all in.
So that's kind of how I gotinvolved in that organization.
Chris Baker (15:35):
It's very interesting to me because I
remember last year youintroduced me it was the
beginning of last year, if I'mnot mistaken you introduced me
to monica.
Yeah, from mrd yep uh, at thesocial breakfast at the that's
right.
Four lateral chamber you'relike, hold on, you gotta meet
this person.
We, uh, we got to meet monicaand we had a great conversation
(15:55):
about the non-profit.
Like we were intrigued becausemomo loves to dive so just kind
of this, like whole, like, oh,this is a very interesting new,
you know, way of having oceantherapy exactly, um, and giving.
What is really hard to talkabout is veterans take their
lives a lot more.
(16:15):
Oh, like, there's a highpercentage, correct, and so
having something like the oceantherapy through MRD is so
powerful, absolutely Because Iknow that it saved Monica's
husband's life.
Absolutely did, and I knowshe'll talk about that and
she'll be fine you know, and tome that was such an
(16:36):
inspirational story for megetting to know monica that it
really kind of just like joltedme and like you know, there's a
lot of different ways thatthings.
Justin Nepola (16:47):
People you know, nonprofits can help in different
ways and ocean therapy is justone of them, absolutely yeah
yeah, and you know, if it helpsone person you know to not hurt
themselves, it's, it's a jobabsolutely it's a win because
you just help the communitybecome a better and safer place.
Chris Baker (17:02):
Absolutely, yeah.
Tell me a little bit about oneof the success stories from that
you can kind of see on your end, from being a board member for
one of the nonprofits that youworked at.
It doesn't have to be MRD orHands on South Florida, but any
of them.
Justin Nepola (17:18):
There's been a number of outstanding
opportunities.
Probably one that brought inmultiple nonprofits was I do a
lot of legal pro bono work foran organization called no More
Tears, which rescues humantrafficking and domestic
violence victims.
They had a um woman who theywere able to rescue from her
(17:43):
abuser.
She had two children.
They found her a place to liveand she was walking the kids to
school and then taking a bus forhours and hours and hours to go
to work.
It was a huge project for her,wow.
So somebody was kind enough toactually donate her a car.
(18:04):
She'd just gotten her driver'slicense.
She got the car.
She didn't have insurance.
She didn't have money for gasor anything.
Have insurance, she didn't havemoney for gas or anything.
The broward realtors charitablefoundation was able to pay for a
year of insurance for her, soit was able to come in kind of
supplement that work that neededto be done and help her get the
(18:25):
insurance and then she couldactually drive and take the
drive the kids to school everyday, drive to work, not have to
have, you know, walk and takethe bus.
Yeah, I want to say it wassomething crazy.
She had to walk a mile and ahalf to get the kids to the bus.
It was a pretty unbelievablething.
It's funny.
Every year I get MerryChristmas and Happy New Year
(18:45):
texts from Estelle.
It's very nice.
I'm very happy that theorganizations both were able to
help her because she was in abad situation.
From what, what I understand,she would not have survived had
she stayed there so where is sheat now today?
as far as I know, she's still inin it's in an apartment
somewhere in south florida um,but she's but she's doing great.
(19:07):
She's doing great noweverything.
Okay.
Chris Baker (19:09):
Good, that's yeah so that's the part of the
success story.
Justin Nepola (19:12):
You wanted to make sure.
Yeah, yes, no, she's happyending.
I, I did.
I got a happy new year textfrom her last week, so I I
believe she's doing still doingvery well.
Chris Baker (19:21):
That's fantastic.
Bringing, bringing in differentorganizations that can really
make a difference and like, likeyou even said, even if only in
one person's, it affected theentire community around her.
So now it affected the kids itaffected.
You know she was probably ableto work without having to that,
so that business became a littlebit more better.
Justin Nepola (19:43):
So it trickles it trickles out everywhere
absolutely 100, yeah.
Chris Baker (19:47):
So, uh, that's fantastic looking forward.
What are your strategicpriorities with MRD and Hands on
South Florida to furtherempower the communities they
serve?
Justin Nepola (20:00):
With Hands on South Florida.
They've been around for 50years.
They are in great hands.
I don't worry too much aboutthem.
They know what they're doing.
They've got it down to aformula.
Could they use more recognitionin the community?
Chris Baker (20:19):
Absolutely.
Justin Nepola (20:20):
Do?
I think it would make a hugedifference to them.
Honestly, probably not.
The organizations that needvolunteers often know who they
are.
The big funders know who theyare.
They do a great job.
I'm not too concerned aboutthat, Like I'm there for them
whatever they need, a hundredpercent, but they've got great
(20:42):
leadership and great team.
So MRD military recreationaldivers much smaller.
They're a startup.
They're still within theirfirst year, two years.
This is a make or break timefor them.
Now, To their leadership'scredit, they have done an
amazing job of going fromnothing to a fully recognized,
(21:05):
respectable organization.
And that is 1,000% theirfounders' strength of will, and
Monica gets all the credit forthat.
That's a case where they needpeople to know who they are and
to recognize the great workthey're doing and to really to
bring in the funds so they cando more work, because their work
(21:28):
is not cheap.
To take a vet and train them todive, to take them out on the
boat that all takes money, andlook for their first gala, their
, their big fundraiser.
They did a phenomenal job.
It was not easy but again, bysheer strength of will, they did
(21:49):
it and I think it's phenomenaland I don't see any reason why
that won't continue and won'tcontinue to grow so I know of at
least two other collaborationsthat I know monica has made,
like she's done an event withglobal dreams, usa last year.
Chris Baker (22:08):
I know they're doing another one, correct in
2025.
And then we, as visuals by momo, even collaborated with her for
headshots for a cause correctand that was like our pilot.
We wanted to see how it wasgoing to roll and, honestly, now
it's become its own littleprogram, that's going to be
(22:29):
continuing yeah, moving on, solearn, wait to hear more about
headshots for absolutely like,going back to what you were
saying, monica has really made astrong impact and the
connections that she's forming Isee, yeah, the non-profit
growing it's.
Justin Nepola (22:47):
It's gonna take time, it's you know it's not
fast, but yeah, I do see somefuture amazing things gonna
happen I think you know we alllive in south florida for the
ocean and sunshine, so we allget the value of that and
everybody wants to help veterans, especially those most in need.
So it's a cause that kind oflends itself to this community
(23:10):
very much and again doing agreat job of building that.
It's very exciting.
Chris Baker (23:16):
She really is.
Yeah, she really is.
Justin Nepola (23:18):
I mean kudos to you, absolutely Kudos to you as
well, kudos to you, as well askudos to Dale.
Yes, and what you're doing atHands On South.
Chris Baker (23:25):
Florida.
So thank you so much, all rightas we wrap up today's episode.
Okay, all right, so this is thequestion.
Justin Nepola (23:31):
This is the big question.
All right, this is it.
Chris Baker (23:43):
This is the legacy that you hope to leave behind
through your work and how it'llhelp future generations.
Justin Nepola (23:46):
Oh, geez, yep, you know I don't think about
that enough, I suppose.
But one, if I'm gone, do Ireally care?
Um, there's people that willcare.
There's people that will carefor sure.
Uh, look, I've already left mylegacy because I know my
children give back.
They've been volunteering sincethey were little.
(24:06):
It's in their blood, it's intheir dna, dna at this point.
So my job is done.
You know, I could build athousand houses with habitat for
humanity.
I could give out a millionmeals with Feeding South Florida
.
That's all well and good.
My real legacy is my kids andthank you, thank you.
(24:29):
And I've already.
They're still not even out ofhigh school yet, and I already
know this will be part of theirlife forever and their
children's lives so it'sactually that.
Chris Baker (24:43):
I love that answer because it's not how I grew up.
Justin Nepola (24:48):
Nor did I, nor did I.
Chris Baker (24:50):
I did not have like , oh, we're going to go
volunteer here, we're going todo this, and it was something
that I started in college, on myown.
I had nowhere to be on aThanksgiving.
And so I served food at ashelter, yeah, and it turned
into something.
I was like, wow, that was veryrewarding the smiles on their
faces when they actually got awarm meal into their you know
(25:13):
belly.
I was just like why haven't Iknown about this sooner?
Why?
haven't I done something aboutthis sooner.
So hearing that you'veinstalled this into your family
structure and into their lives,that is a beautiful legacy, so I
agree with you Good job.
Justin Nepola (25:30):
Yeah, I didn't have that either as a child.
Now kids have to do communityservice hours for school, which
that didn't exist when I wasgrowing up.
I didn't.
But I see so many kids wherethe parents drive to the project
, drop the kids off, come backin a few hours and pick them up,
(25:50):
make sure they got their hourssigned.
That's never how we did it.
It was always as a family.
We would all go and this isjust.
It wasn't for community hours,it wasn't for rewards or
accolades and yeah they'll get aChick-fil-A after or something.
but that was that was about it.
(26:10):
It was just that's what we weregoing to do.
We're going to go, you know, doa hands on South Florida
project today and even as theygot older they still were happy
to do it.
Chris Baker (26:27):
Well, Justin, thank you so much for being on Visual
Eyes.
I'm hoping that the communitygets to learn something from our
conversation about the amazingnonprofits that are out there,
the collaborations that they canhave.
So again, thank you so much forbeing on our show today.
Justin Nepola (26:35):
Thank you for having me Appreciate it.
Chris Baker (26:39):
Thank you for joining me on this episode of
Visual Eyes.
We hope that the inspirationand practical insights can help
you foster stronger connectionsand meaningful change.
Don't forget to subscribe,share the episode and leave us a
review.
To learn more about Visuals byMomo and how we support
collaboration and storytelling,visit visualsbymomo.
com.
(26:59):
A huge thank you to everyoneout there listening.
Until next time, remember,collaboration fuels change and
your connections can inspire theworld.
Welcome to Visual Eyes, the podcast where
collaboration fuels change.
I'm your host, chris Baker, andeach week we'll explore
incredible connections betweennonprofits, businesses and the
community.
This is a space where wehighlight inspiring partnerships
, uncover strategies forcreating meaningful impact and
share stories that show howworking together can make all
(00:24):
the difference.
Whether you're a nonprofitleader, a business owner or
someone just passionate aboutbuilding connections, this
podcast is for you.
Welcome back to Visual Eyes.
Today I have Justin Nepola.
Welcome to the show, justin.
Thank you so much, chris.
Justin Nepola (00:42):
It's great to be here.
Chris Baker (00:43):
I would love to hear a little bit about your
journey in the nonprofit sector.
I know you're on a coupledifferent boards and I don't
know all of them, so I wouldlove to hear all of them if you
have more.
But then also what inspired youto take on that leadership role
.
It's funny.
Justin Nepola (00:57):
I'm going to ruin the evergreen nature of this
podcast and tell people thatit's being recorded at the
beginning of the year.
Um, because my volunteerjourney and my board journey
kind of both revolved around Idon't want to say new year's
resolutions, but it kind of wasum.
It's I don't remember how longago, but it was a while ago that
(01:19):
I had made the resolution oneyear.
I was like all right, I'm goingto do more volunteering, I'm
going to get out involved in thecommunity.
Chris Baker (01:25):
And I just did it.
Justin Nepola (01:27):
I found Hands On Broward at the time.
I found their website and theyhave a great calendar with all
different events.
I found a food distributionevent that they were providing
Realtors.
They were providing volunteers.
You can tell where I spend allday.
They provide volunteers to dothe distribution for feeding.
(01:47):
South florida and I went outand had a great time.
We were filling people's carsup.
It was a drive-through fooddistribution.
Actually got my foot run over.
Fortunately it was a small carso my foot was fine, but the
woman actually stopped on myfoot.
I I was pounding on her rooftelling her to move.
(02:08):
So that was the highlight ofthat day.
And then, ever since then,despite getting run over, I was
hooked.
I had a great time, so Istarted volunteering regularly
at all different organizations.
Fast forward, a few years later, I was writing my goals for the
year.
One of the things I said is Iwant to be on a nonprofit board.
And in parentheses I wroteHands On Broward.
(02:29):
I said that would be my dreamboard to be on and, I guess, to
the power of visualization, thepower of writing your goals down
.
Within two months, the CEO andthe COO of Hands On Broward
pulled me aside and said, hey,we would love to invite you to
join the board.
(02:49):
And so I was like you're nevergetting rid of me, and so that's
where I've been for years onand I've been fortunate enough
to work my way up to board chairand I'm very honored by that.
Chris Baker (03:03):
How long have you been a part of hands on south
florida?
Justin Nepola (03:07):
you know, I honestly don't know.
It's probably been on the boardsix, seven years time is kind
of a blur.
Ever since the pandemic I Ilose track of time completely.
Uh, you know, if somebody toldme it was 10 years ago, okay, I
don't know.
Chris Baker (03:24):
I honestly it's probably been about four or five
, maybe six years so the firstthing that we filmed with hands
on south florida was theirparkland hearts project okay at
the beginning of 2023 and that,so that was two years ago.
We were working with christinaat the time.
We filmed all three of thedifferent projects that they
(03:44):
were they were doing at the time.
I remember that and from thatpoint it was later on there was
a conversation of having you onthe board.
Yeah, um, and that took severalmonths to like work into play.
Um, but that was by about themiddle of 2023 is when I joined
the board that we may have metat bowtick.
Justin Nepola (04:03):
Yes, because I feel like I've known you longer
than two years.
Chris Baker (04:06):
No it hasn't been Really.
Justin Nepola (04:08):
I know right.
Chris Baker (04:10):
Like you were saying, time flies, time is.
Justin Nepola (04:14):
For sure, but I definitely feel like you've been
entrenched in the community forso much longer.
Chris Baker (04:20):
It's actually kind of unique in that regard,
because me and Momo have noteven been here for three years.
Justin Nepola (04:28):
That is just such a testament to the two of you,
because you've done such a greatjob of just ingraining yourself
, ingratiating yourself in theSouth Florida, in the Fort
Lauderdale community, that Ifeel like you've been here so
much longer, because everybodyknows you, everybody loves you
guys, everybody appreciates allyou do for everybody, so that's
(04:49):
phenomenal Good for you.
Chris Baker (04:51):
That says a lot.
That means a lot to us too,because, honestly, you know it's
been a challenging you know,three years, it's not easy.
We do feel, we are starting tofeel the love and feeling the
connection to the community, andyou know, we've made amazing,
yeah, amazing, because it's noteasy.
It is not easy, no, it's not tocome, because you.
Justin Nepola (05:12):
Neither of you really knew anybody in south
florida when you got here weknew nobody damn.
So to go from nobody to beingwell recognized and established
in three years is phenomenal.
Good for you, thank you allright so let's get back to the
podcast.
Chris Baker (05:29):
Welcome back everybody.
It's gonna be an eight hourpodcast, a little time, um, okay
.
So what other non-profits areyou, you know, now associated
with, since you've been onhands-on broward for six, seven
years?
What other ones have you kindof?
Justin Nepola (05:45):
leaned on.
I have been involved with quitea few.
I've been pruning, partiallyintentionally, to focus more on
the for-profit side of my life,where I actually need to make a
living and take care of a wifeand children.
I've still got bills to pay.
They enjoy having a roof overtheir head and food, so I've
(06:08):
done a little bit less.
So right now, hands on SouthFlorida and Military
Recreational Divers, I believe,are the only nonprofit boards
that I'm still currently on.
I was on a few others.
I was on Neighbors forNeighbors for a long time.
I was the board chair of thatone.
On a few others I was onneighbors for neighbors for a
long time.
I was the board chair of thatone.
I was, uh, the president of thebrower realtors charitable
(06:28):
foundation for a number of years, so I've been on a bunch.
Chris Baker (06:33):
There's a couple that have a special place in my
heart that, if they asked me, Iwould serve, but I'm not
actively looking to do it, sookay yeah, that's why I'm like
all right, you know what, rightnow, two is plenty no, and
sometimes you know that's notenough, because I know that you
and jackie, your wife um, areconstantly out there
(06:56):
volunteering, and so, besidesjust even the board volunteerism
, you're already doing so muchelse in the community as well.
So thank you so much, sure.
Justin Nepola (07:05):
It's what we love to do and we enjoy it and
honestly, I really do enjoy thehands-on work more so than the
board work often.
So things like the hands-onBroward projects are more fun
than the board meetings Not thatthe board meetings are fine.
Chris Baker (07:24):
Dale, we love you, we love the meetings.
Justin Nepola (07:25):
They're wonderful meetings, not that the board
meetings are fine, dale, we loveyou, we love the meetings.
They're wonderful meetings.
The projects are more fun.
Yeah, the projects are amazing.
Chris Baker (07:31):
Putting it together very well.
You're really bringing thecommunity together, and that's
one of the things I really dowant to spotlight is the amazing
work that Hands on SouthFlorida does, because they are
the ones finding volunteers forall these other non-profits and
sometimes they don't get seen asa major non-profit in that
(07:52):
regard, but they're so amazingbecause they're pulling the
community together and thevolunteers together.
So much better correct you're100, right it.
Justin Nepola (08:02):
It's a weird situation where they are the
connector and people forgetabout them.
Yeah, because they don't have,you know, the kind of the sexy
appearance that the actualnonprofit that's doing the work
has.
They're the ones providing thepower to get it done, right.
Chris Baker (08:19):
And so one of the things that I noticed right away
, like as I was starting to beon the board and I was talking
about Hands On South Florida,people were like I don't know
what that is and I was like youneed to check out their website.
They can help you potentiallyfind volunteers if you start
looking at them as a resourceCorrect, and so that was just
kind of something that you knowwe need to help get them a
(08:41):
little bit more exposure so thatthey know that other nonprofits
can find them Correct, becausethat's really what they're there
for.
Justin Nepola (08:47):
Exactly To help the other projects.
Chris Baker (08:49):
Yeah, all right.
So collaborations andpartnerships, that's really what
the next piece that I want totalk about.
So can you talk about how bothof the nonprofits that you're on
tackle some of the communitychallenges that we're facing
right now?
Justin Nepola (09:06):
So many years ago and I do know this was
pre-pandemic and into thepandemic I had the crazy idea to
have my own podcast verysimilar to this one.
I wanted to highlightnonprofits.
I had the pleasure of havingsomebody from a nonprofit on
from the flight center and shesaid Broward County is
(09:26):
Collaboration County and I waslike you know what it really
really is.
It's one of the few placeswhere the nonprofit community
really does work together verywell.
They really do help each other.
If one can't get the job done,they are not afraid pull in
somebody else to help them.
And so it's been my pleasure tobe able to work with multiple
(09:56):
nonprofits and kind of help themcollaborate when they can Like.
When Hands on South Florida hasthe volunteers that can help a
project, showering Love wasbuilding a house for homeless
veterans and needed help withsome landscaping.
Well, hands on south floridawas, you know, offered to bring
in the volunteers, offered tohelp in any way they could.
So doesn't always work outbecause of coordination issues,
(10:16):
but a lot of times things likethat do work and it's a win-win
for everybody I'm happy to hearthat you're seeing a lot of the
collaboration.
Chris Baker (10:24):
Um, unfortunately, when I've talked to a lot of
other non-profits, they're notseeing it, so I want to make
sure that that's open toeverybody and that we can figure
out ways um that everybody cancollaborate more, um.
Justin Nepola (10:37):
So, yeah, that's that's very good that I'm
hearing that's yeah ones thatyou have gotten connected with.
Chris Baker (10:42):
they're already doing that and and that makes me
very happy I want to make surethat the people that are
watching this, they can look andlearn from that, those
collaborations, so that they cando it more too.
Justin Nepola (10:52):
I think, I know, I believe nonprofits all start
with the best of intentions.
They all want to help people.
That is their core.
They want to help their cause,whatever that may be, and when
it.
They all nonprofit people allwant to work together.
Unfortunately, funds arelimited, grants are limited,
(11:17):
finances are limited, so when itcomes to that level, it does
become more competitive.
Even exposure is more limited.
So if there's a grand opening,a ribbon cutting or something
where there's going to beexposure, they all want their
name and branding to be frontand center, and that can't
(11:37):
always be the case.
But when it's just coming tohelp the individuals, they all,
at the end of the day, will worktogether to help the
individuals to strengthen thecommunity, to help the community
.
Chris Baker (11:47):
I 100 agree with you.
That is why the non-profits arehere.
That's why we're here.
Um, we need to put bring thistogether like there is a gap in
government, there is a gap inresources.
That that's the where they comefrom.
Yes, the non-profits bring itto us, so I think that's
fantastic.
Um, what are some of thechallenges?
(12:09):
So that the during the pandemicwe're going to go back a little
bit.
Okay, going to pandemicpresented a lot of challenges,
specifically to a lot ofnon-profits even.
Um, so what were some of thekey lessons that you kind of
thought and took away from that?
Maybe some of the our listenerscan actually like use for the
(12:31):
future to make sure that youknow they're covered that's a
good question.
Justin Nepola (12:36):
um, I feel like a lot of the you know, lessons we
learned weren't necessarilynon-profit, profit, specific and
honestly, I think, if anything,we're far enough from it that
what we've been through we allwant to just get away from.
There was a lot of the virtualevents, a lot of the virtual
(12:59):
meetings and things like that,and I think people really do
crave in-person connection again.
Oh yeah, very much.
So that's one thing that Iguess maybe that is a lesson we
learned is that, at the end ofthe day, people do want to see
other people and be in contactwith other human beings.
Some of the events you have,the drive-through distributions
(13:22):
and things like that, you knowit was fine, it it served its
purpose, do I think it it was?
Uh, you know, could you stilldo it today, probably, and I.
Chris Baker (13:34):
I would agree with you in a lot of those pieces,
because as human beings, we needconnection, we need one-on-one
conversations and only everhaving conversations.
Through zoom you don't get thebody language, you don't get the
energy from the other person tofeel connected, yeah and so.
So that's a huge gap that wasmissing and I think that's
(13:58):
probably a really good keylesson from what I'm hearing.
If you're a nonprofit, makesure that you're out there in
the community and that you canbe seen.
And so they can feel what you'rebringing to them.
So I think that's probablywhere you're going with that.
Justin Nepola (14:13):
Yeah, I think that sums up my thoughts
probably better than I did.
Chris Baker (14:17):
So thank you, you're welcome, but I mean,
we've known each other for awhile now, so I can kind of like
work with you.
Justin Nepola (14:22):
Yeah, you knew where I was going, I did know
where you were going.
Chris Baker (14:24):
I was like all right, I think this is where
we're at.
So we're a lot about Hands onSouth Florida.
Talk a little bit more aboutMRD.
Justin Nepola (14:32):
Military.
Chris Baker (14:33):
Recreational Divers .
Justin Nepola (14:34):
I am not a veteran, I have not dove in
decades.
I love both helping thatcommunity and I do love the
ocean and diving.
I just haven't done it in along time.
The truth is, I just love thepeople who started it.
They're wonderful, wonderfulpeople.
I've known them for a long timeand as soon as they said we're
(14:57):
starting a nonprofit, I saidwhatever you need, I'll help you
.
And that's really a lot oftimes how I make my decisions.
I live my life is I want tosupport the individual and their
cause, individual and theircause.
And you know, if I started anonprofit personally, would it
(15:19):
be to help divers or to helpveterans with PTSD through dive
therapy?
Probably not, because that'snot my wheelhouse, right.
But when friends who are greatpeople say, hey, this is what
we're going to do, you know whatI'm all in.
So that's kind of how I gotinvolved in that organization.
Chris Baker (15:35):
It's very interesting to me because I
remember last year youintroduced me it was the
beginning of last year, if I'mnot mistaken you introduced me
to monica.
Yeah, from mrd yep uh, at thesocial breakfast at the that's
right.
Four lateral chamber you'relike, hold on, you gotta meet
this person.
We, uh, we got to meet monicaand we had a great conversation
(15:55):
about the non-profit.
Like we were intrigued becausemomo loves to dive so just kind
of this, like whole, like, oh,this is a very interesting new,
you know, way of having oceantherapy exactly, um, and giving.
What is really hard to talkabout is veterans take their
lives a lot more.
(16:15):
Oh, like, there's a highpercentage, correct, and so
having something like the oceantherapy through MRD is so
powerful, absolutely Because Iknow that it saved Monica's
husband's life.
Absolutely did, and I knowshe'll talk about that and
she'll be fine you know, and tome that was such an
(16:36):
inspirational story for megetting to know monica that it
really kind of just like joltedme and like you know, there's a
lot of different ways thatthings.
Justin Nepola (16:47):
People you know, nonprofits can help in different
ways and ocean therapy is justone of them, absolutely yeah
yeah, and you know, if it helpsone person you know to not hurt
themselves, it's, it's a jobabsolutely it's a win because
you just help the communitybecome a better and safer place.
Chris Baker (17:02):
Absolutely, yeah.
Tell me a little bit about oneof the success stories from that
you can kind of see on your end, from being a board member for
one of the nonprofits that youworked at.
It doesn't have to be MRD orHands on South Florida, but any
of them.
Justin Nepola (17:18):
There's been a number of outstanding
opportunities.
Probably one that brought inmultiple nonprofits was I do a
lot of legal pro bono work foran organization called no More
Tears, which rescues humantrafficking and domestic
violence victims.
They had a um woman who theywere able to rescue from her
(17:43):
abuser.
She had two children.
They found her a place to liveand she was walking the kids to
school and then taking a bus forhours and hours and hours to go
to work.
It was a huge project for her,wow.
So somebody was kind enough toactually donate her a car.
(18:04):
She'd just gotten her driver'slicense.
She got the car.
She didn't have insurance.
She didn't have money for gasor anything.
Have insurance, she didn't havemoney for gas or anything.
The broward realtors charitablefoundation was able to pay for a
year of insurance for her, soit was able to come in kind of
supplement that work that neededto be done and help her get the
(18:25):
insurance and then she couldactually drive and take the
drive the kids to school everyday, drive to work, not have to
have, you know, walk and takethe bus.
Yeah, I want to say it wassomething crazy.
She had to walk a mile and ahalf to get the kids to the bus.
It was a pretty unbelievablething.
It's funny.
Every year I get MerryChristmas and Happy New Year
(18:45):
texts from Estelle.
It's very nice.
I'm very happy that theorganizations both were able to
help her because she was in abad situation.
From what, what I understand,she would not have survived had
she stayed there so where is sheat now today?
as far as I know, she's still inin it's in an apartment
somewhere in south florida um,but she's but she's doing great.
(19:07):
She's doing great noweverything.
Okay.
Chris Baker (19:09):
Good, that's yeah so that's the part of the
success story.
Justin Nepola (19:12):
You wanted to make sure.
Yeah, yes, no, she's happyending.
I, I did.
I got a happy new year textfrom her last week, so I I
believe she's doing still doingvery well.
Chris Baker (19:21):
That's fantastic.
Bringing, bringing in differentorganizations that can really
make a difference and like, likeyou even said, even if only in
one person's, it affected theentire community around her.
So now it affected the kids itaffected.
You know she was probably ableto work without having to that,
so that business became a littlebit more better.
Justin Nepola (19:43):
So it trickles it trickles out everywhere
absolutely 100, yeah.
Chris Baker (19:47):
So, uh, that's fantastic looking forward.
What are your strategicpriorities with MRD and Hands on
South Florida to furtherempower the communities they
serve?
Justin Nepola (20:00):
With Hands on South Florida.
They've been around for 50years.
They are in great hands.
I don't worry too much aboutthem.
They know what they're doing.
They've got it down to aformula.
Could they use more recognitionin the community?
Chris Baker (20:19):
Absolutely.
Justin Nepola (20:20):
Do?
I think it would make a hugedifference to them.
Honestly, probably not.
The organizations that needvolunteers often know who they
are.
The big funders know who theyare.
They do a great job.
I'm not too concerned aboutthat, Like I'm there for them
whatever they need, a hundredpercent, but they've got great
(20:42):
leadership and great team.
So MRD military recreationaldivers much smaller.
They're a startup.
They're still within theirfirst year, two years.
This is a make or break timefor them.
Now, To their leadership'scredit, they have done an
amazing job of going fromnothing to a fully recognized,
(21:05):
respectable organization.
And that is 1,000% theirfounders' strength of will, and
Monica gets all the credit forthat.
That's a case where they needpeople to know who they are and
to recognize the great workthey're doing and to really to
bring in the funds so they cando more work, because their work
(21:28):
is not cheap.
To take a vet and train them todive, to take them out on the
boat that all takes money, andlook for their first gala, their
, their big fundraiser.
They did a phenomenal job.
It was not easy but again, bysheer strength of will, they did
(21:49):
it and I think it's phenomenaland I don't see any reason why
that won't continue and won'tcontinue to grow so I know of at
least two other collaborationsthat I know monica has made,
like she's done an event withglobal dreams, usa last year.
Chris Baker (22:08):
I know they're doing another one, correct in
2025.
And then we, as visuals by momo, even collaborated with her for
headshots for a cause correctand that was like our pilot.
We wanted to see how it wasgoing to roll and, honestly, now
it's become its own littleprogram, that's going to be
(22:29):
continuing yeah, moving on, solearn, wait to hear more about
headshots for absolutely like,going back to what you were
saying, monica has really made astrong impact and the
connections that she's forming Isee, yeah, the non-profit
growing it's.
Justin Nepola (22:47):
It's gonna take time, it's you know it's not
fast, but yeah, I do see somefuture amazing things gonna
happen I think you know we alllive in south florida for the
ocean and sunshine, so we allget the value of that and
everybody wants to help veterans, especially those most in need.
So it's a cause that kind oflends itself to this community
(23:10):
very much and again doing agreat job of building that.
It's very exciting.
Chris Baker (23:16):
She really is.
Yeah, she really is.
Justin Nepola (23:18):
I mean kudos to you, absolutely Kudos to you as
well, kudos to you, as well askudos to Dale.
Yes, and what you're doing atHands On South.
Chris Baker (23:25):
Florida.
So thank you so much, all rightas we wrap up today's episode.
Okay, all right, so this is thequestion.
Justin Nepola (23:31):
This is the big question.
All right, this is it.
Chris Baker (23:43):
This is the legacy that you hope to leave behind
through your work and how it'llhelp future generations.
Justin Nepola (23:46):
Oh, geez, yep, you know I don't think about
that enough, I suppose.
But one, if I'm gone, do Ireally care?
Um, there's people that willcare.
There's people that will carefor sure.
Uh, look, I've already left mylegacy because I know my
children give back.
They've been volunteering sincethey were little.
(24:06):
It's in their blood, it's intheir dna, dna at this point.
So my job is done.
You know, I could build athousand houses with habitat for
humanity.
I could give out a millionmeals with Feeding South Florida
.
That's all well and good.
My real legacy is my kids andthank you, thank you.
(24:29):
And I've already.
They're still not even out ofhigh school yet, and I already
know this will be part of theirlife forever and their
children's lives so it'sactually that.
Chris Baker (24:43):
I love that answer because it's not how I grew up.
Justin Nepola (24:48):
Nor did I, nor did I.
Chris Baker (24:50):
I did not have like , oh, we're going to go
volunteer here, we're going todo this, and it was something
that I started in college, on myown.
I had nowhere to be on aThanksgiving.
And so I served food at ashelter, yeah, and it turned
into something.
I was like, wow, that was veryrewarding the smiles on their
faces when they actually got awarm meal into their you know
(25:13):
belly.
I was just like why haven't Iknown about this sooner?
Why?
haven't I done something aboutthis sooner.
So hearing that you'veinstalled this into your family
structure and into their lives,that is a beautiful legacy, so I
agree with you Good job.
Justin Nepola (25:30):
Yeah, I didn't have that either as a child.
Now kids have to do communityservice hours for school, which
that didn't exist when I wasgrowing up.
I didn't.
But I see so many kids wherethe parents drive to the project
, drop the kids off, come backin a few hours and pick them up,
(25:50):
make sure they got their hourssigned.
That's never how we did it.
It was always as a family.
We would all go and this isjust.
It wasn't for community hours,it wasn't for rewards or
accolades and yeah they'll get aChick-fil-A after or something.
but that was that was about it.
(26:10):
It was just that's what we weregoing to do.
We're going to go, you know, doa hands on South Florida
project today and even as theygot older they still were happy
to do it.
Chris Baker (26:27):
Well, Justin, thank you so much for being on Visual
Eyes.
I'm hoping that the communitygets to learn something from our
conversation about the amazingnonprofits that are out there,
the collaborations that they canhave.
So again, thank you so much forbeing on our show today.
Justin Nepola (26:35):
Thank you for having me Appreciate it.
Chris Baker (26:39):
Thank you for joining me on this episode of
Visual Eyes.
We hope that the inspirationand practical insights can help
you foster stronger connectionsand meaningful change.
Don't forget to subscribe,share the episode and leave us a
review.
To learn more about Visuals byMomo and how we support
collaboration and storytelling,visit visualsbymomo.
com.
(26:59):
A huge thank you to everyoneout there listening.
Until next time, remember,collaboration fuels change and
your connections can inspire theworld.
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