Spotlight on the Community

Cloudcast Media, the national leader in local podcasting, proudly presents its flagship show, Drew Schlosberg’s Spotlight on the Community, now in its 20th season. For 20 years, we have been amplifying the voices of social impact organizations, social entrepreneurs, local non-profits, and other community champions who help shape the culture, creativity, and connectivity that drive the San Diego community to ever higher levels. These curated community conversations are brought to you by Mission Fed Credit Union, bringing good things to San Diego for over 60 years. LISTEN WHERE YOU LIVE™ "Spotlight On The Community" is one of 80+ shows from Cloudcast Media, the national leader in local podcasting. For more information on Cloudcast Media, please visit https://cloudcastmedia.us/

Episodes

Creating a World Where Families Do Not Have to Euthanize Their Pet Due to Financial Hardship

January 4, 2026 • 26 mins

The Face Foundation, a 501(c)(3) animal charity founded in 2006, provides financial grants for emergency and critical care to pet owners unable to afford veterinary costs. Led by Patricia Mendez-Damron, the foundation has assisted over 16,000 struggling pet owners, including Teresa Gelegonya, whose cat Max received $1,600 in emergency care and $8,500 in surgery costs that were covered by the foundation. The foundation's "Save a Lif...

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Dogs, Dogs, Dogs: Inside One of the Largest Animal Welfare Agencies and Its Community Veterinary Service

January 4, 2026 • 26 mins

Dr. Gary Weitzman, President and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS), discusses the organization's adoption trial program, which allows potential adopters to test-drive animals for up to two weeks. The society is currently operating at 135% capacity for dogs, with over 700 dogs in care. Weitzman talks about SDHS's wildlife care and education programs. He also emphasizes the need for spaying and neutering to control pet popul...

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The Primary Source of Local Business News: Shining a Light on Small Business Entrepreneurs and the Business of Nonprofits

January 4, 2026 • 21 mins

Kevin Leap, publisher of the San Diego Business Journal, talks about the Journal's mission to cover local business news and its focus on small businesses, which make up a huge percentage of the local economy. Leap highlights the importance of shining a light on entrepreneurs and the challenges they face, such as revenue generation and media communication. Leap also discusses the critical role of nonprofits in supporting the local e...

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Empowering Young People for Economic Success: Beyond Content to Competency-Based Education

January 4, 2026 • 27 mins

Sidd Vivek, President & CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) San Diego, discusses the organization's mission to empower young people for economic success. JA programs like BizTown and Mission Fed Finance Park provide experiential learning, teaching financial literacy and career skills. Vivek emphasizes the importance of competency-based education, focusing on critical thinking, communication, and cooperation. He highlights JA's partn...

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From “Tool Belt Generation” to Career‑Sustaining, Family‑Supporting Jobs

January 4, 2026 • 27 mins

Shandon Harbour, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of San Diego (ABC), and Earl Wederbrook, a board member of the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), chat about the interconnection between the construction industry and the military. Harbour discusses her 11-year tenure with ABC, emphasizing the organization's role in training and educating contractors through its apprenticeship program. Wederbro...

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Books Unbanned: Defending Freedom of Expression Against a Well‑Funded, Well‑Organized Minority

January 4, 2026 • 27 mins

Patrick Stewart, CEO of the Library Foundation San Diego, discusses the foundation's mission to support the San Diego Public Library through philanthropy, advocacy, and outreach. Stewart highlights the library's 37 branches and the challenges of underfunding and book bans. Stewart emphasizes the importance of literacy and the role of libraries in supporting diverse communities. He introduces the "Books Unbanned" initiative, a colla...

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Meeting People Where They Are: Comprehensive Services from Detox to Permanent Housing

December 26, 2025 • 30 mins

Deacon Jim Vargas, President and CEO of Father Joe's Villages, talks about the organization's mission to prevent or end homelessness in San Diego County. Father Joe's Villages provides comprehensive services, including a new 44-bed detox center, 248 recovery beds, and $90 million in funding for two new buildings, adding 287 units of affordable housing. Deacon Vargas highlighted the need for more behavioral health clinicians and the...

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Mobilizing a Community to Accelerate Cures for Cancer

December 26, 2025 • 24 mins

Anne Marbarger, CEO of Curebound, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating cancer research in San Diego County, discusses Curebound's recent investment of $8.5 million to 23 innovative cancer research teams, including a $1 million award for pancreatic cancer research. The organization has funded over 140 collaborative research teams studying 25 different types of cancers. Marbarger emphasizes the importance of funding and collaboratio...

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The TERI Equine Experience: A 1,200‑Pound Teammate for Leadership, Team Building, and Nervous System Reset

December 26, 2025 • 27 mins

Natalie Hill, Director of Equestrian for TERI Campus of Life, shares her 16-year involvement with the nationally recognized organization that provides life-changing services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Hill talks about her role in therapeutic riding. Kathy Sebuck, Founder and CEO of Marchitecture, joins the conversation and explains her transition from corporate tech to strategic marketing and leadership coac...

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From Accomplished Attorney to Burgeoning Novelist

December 26, 2025 • 29 mins

Tim Reuben, an author, lawyer, and mediator, talks about his debut novel, Tequila: A Story of Success, Love and Violence, a legal thriller set in the tequila industry. Reuben, who has practiced law since 1980, discusses the challenges of writing his first novel, inspired by his legal experiences. The book follows the Ramirez family's multi-billion-dollar tequila empire, intertwining success, love, and violence.

About Spotlight and...

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Retiring United Way CEO Reflects on Her 7-year Tenure

December 26, 2025 • 24 mins

Nancy Sasaki, President and CEO of United Way of San Diego County, reflects on her seven-year tenure at the iconic organization that includes United Way's response to the debilitating pandemic. Sasaki, who will retire at the end of 2025, emphasized the importance of listening and adapting to ever-changing community needs to meet the challenges of fundraising and diversifying revenue sources.

About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media

"S...

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From Senior Isolation to Affordable, Accessible, High Quality Childcare: Collaborating with Community Partners on Emerging Needs

December 26, 2025 • 28 mins

Rosette Garcia, President of the San Diego Women's Foundation, and Deborah Martin, CEO of Elder Help of San Diego, talk about the Foundation's mission to foster collective philanthropy for a more equitable San Diego, and Elder Help's services to help seniors remain independent, with a focus on addressing isolation. Garcia and Martin shout out Elder Help's reception of a $60,000 grant from the Foundation.

About Spotlight and Cloudcas...

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Binational Education for Employability and Lifelong Learning

December 26, 2025 • 31 mins

Dr. Fernando Leon Garcia, President of CETYS University in Baja California, chats about the university's mission to develop well-rounded citizens and professionals. The university, which has 8,300 students from 35 countries, emphasizes a liberal arts education with a focus on community and economic development. Dr. Leon Garcia discusses the university's collaboration with U.S. universities, such as SDSU, USD and UCSD, along with it...

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Connect Builds the ‘Epicenter of AI and Healthcare’ in a Super Region While Layering Tech Within Entrepreneurship and Innovation

December 14, 2025 • 30 mins

James Zanewicz, CEO of Connect, discusses his journey from Tulane University to Connect, a nonprofit supporting San Diego County entrepreneurs. Connect focuses on mentorship, access to capital, and programs like Springboard and Cool Companies. Zanewicz talks about the need for more investment in our region, while shouting out the importance of university partnerships, military innovation support, and the potential for AI and health...

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Diversification Leads to the Prebys Foundation's Scalable Success

December 14, 2025 • 27 mins

Gil Alvarado, Chief Financial and Investment Officer of the Prebys Foundation, is joined by Mike Krenn, Managing Director of Prebys Ventures, to chat about medical research, healthcare and the arts, along with its investment of $50 million in early-stage tech and life sciences companies. Alvarado and Krenn discuss the importance of diversification within San Diego's defense, tech, and tourism sectors. The foundation also supports s...

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Skills Over Degrees: Navigating AI Disruption and Essential Skills with UCSD’s Center for Research and Evaluation

December 14, 2025 • 27 mins

Hugo Villar, Dean of UCSD's Division of Extended Studies, and Josh Shapiro, the division's Chief Impact and Strategy Officer, highlight the division's role in providing lifelong learning opportunities, including pre-college programs, workforce upskilling, and post-retirement courses. They emphasize the importance of skills over degrees, citing a report showing 60% of jobs don't require a formal degree. The conversation touched on t...

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Lines of Credit, Homeownership and ‘We Statements’: How the Patriot Group Builds Generational Change

December 14, 2025 • 29 mins

Jeff Forbes, Founder and CEO of The Patriot Group, discusses the organization's mission to support veterans and military families. Formed in 2016, the Patriot Group helps veterans buy homes and provides innovative logistics solutions. The Patriot Group have around 60-70 clients.. Jennifer Cortes, VP of Strategic Partnerships for the organization, highlighted the importance of workforce readiness and partnerships with organizations ...

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Seen, Heard, Felt: Building Critical Support Systems for Foster Children

December 14, 2025 • 29 mins

Stephanie Ortega, COO of Promises2Kids, and two Promises2Kids Guardian Scholars -- Monica Quintero and Laura Hernandez.-- chat about creating a brighter future for foster children in San Diego County through programs such as Guardian Scholars, Camp Connect, Foster Futures, and mentoring. Guardian Scholars provides advocacy and professional development for former foster youth. The organization's holiday gift drive seeks new gifts fo...

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Resilience Game Plan: Equipping Tomorrow’s Leaders with Tools for Lifelong Success

December 3, 2025 • 28 mins

Colleen Ster, CEO and founder of Reflections Publishing Company, talks about the company's mission to create global change makers through educational resources. Ster discusses the company's focus on equipping students with tools for mental health and resilience, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues such as self-harm and anxiety. She highlights the Resilience Game Plan, which includes versions for various age groups, and ...

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The Multiplication Effect: How Service and Leadership Shape a Culture of Belonging

December 3, 2025 • 24 mins

Majors Rob and Amy Reardon, both Divisional Secretaries of the Salvation Army San Diego, chat about the organization's 160th anniversary, whose mission is to serve communities without discrimination, providing essential services like food banks, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, and senior lunches. They emphasize the importance of belonging and community, with initiatives such as the Pathway of Hope program for families and...

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Spotlight on the Community

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Creating a World Where Families Do Not Have to Euthanize Their Pet Due to Financial Hardship

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Dogs, Dogs, Dogs: Inside One of the Largest Animal Welfare Agencies and Its Community Veterinary Service

The Primary Source of Local Business News: Shining a Light on Small Business Entrepreneurs and the Business of Nonprofits

Empowering Young People for Economic Success: Beyond Content to Competency-Based Education

From “Tool Belt Generation” to Career‑Sustaining, Family‑Supporting Jobs

Books Unbanned: Defending Freedom of Expression Against a Well‑Funded, Well‑Organized Minority

Meeting People Where They Are: Comprehensive Services from Detox to Permanent Housing

Mobilizing a Community to Accelerate Cures for Cancer

The TERI Equine Experience: A 1,200‑Pound Teammate for Leadership, Team Building, and Nervous System Reset

From Accomplished Attorney to Burgeoning Novelist

Retiring United Way CEO Reflects on Her 7-year Tenure

From Senior Isolation to Affordable, Accessible, High Quality Childcare: Collaborating with Community Partners on Emerging Needs

Binational Education for Employability and Lifelong Learning

Connect Builds the ‘Epicenter of AI and Healthcare’ in a Super Region While Layering Tech Within Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Diversification Leads to the Prebys Foundation's Scalable Success

Skills Over Degrees: Navigating AI Disruption and Essential Skills with UCSD’s Center for Research and Evaluation

Lines of Credit, Homeownership and ‘We Statements’: How the Patriot Group Builds Generational Change

Seen, Heard, Felt: Building Critical Support Systems for Foster Children

Resilience Game Plan: Equipping Tomorrow’s Leaders with Tools for Lifelong Success

The Multiplication Effect: How Service and Leadership Shape a Culture of Belonging

Popular Podcasts

Creating a World Where Families Do Not Have to Euthanize Their Pet Due to Financial Hardship

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs: Inside One of the Largest Animal Welfare Agencies and Its Community Veterinary Service