The Hearth
The Hearth is for you if you're a business leader with a team. Here we have conversations about how to keep growing when you feel you've reached your capacity. When what you're doing is working, but you're starting to see the cracks. When there's a gap between where you're at now and where you want to be. Here we find ways to transition through struggle of survival toward creating a thriving business that supports you and your team as whole humans.Your host is me, Candice Elliott. I am a strategist & mentor who specializes in working with business owners who are going through periods of growth, especially when you add more people to your team. The practices and systems that worked when your team was smaller just don’t seem to fit anymore. When you’re caught in stress and reaction it's tough to reimagine the way that you created your world of work, both your own personal one, and the one you created for others. I help people align their values and business practices to build practical, sustainable, thriving work ecosystems. And no, this isn’t just some work utopia talk. To do this I bring forward my decade-long professional background in human resources and organizational development working with growing businesses across many sectors, and my decades-long search for meaning and wholeness which includes researching the history of work and how it came to be what it is today, practicing a trauma-informed approach to business, and integrating work, life and spirituality into a meaningful whole. Let's take this journey together.Learn more about Candice and her work here: www.fortressandflourish.com
The Hearth
MARIAH ROBERTS on The Power of Parks: How Community Efforts Shape Public Spaces
In this episode, Candice Elliott sits down with Mariah Roberts, the Executive Director of Santa Cruz County Park Friends, to explore the impactful work of this nonprofit organization. Mariah shares her journey from being a teacher and a mother to leading a community-driven initiative that enhances park accessibility and community engagement in Santa Cruz County.
Key Points Discussed:
- Mariah’s Role and Mission:
- Mariah explains her role as the Executive Director of Santa Cruz County Park Friends, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the County Park system and enhancing the quality of life for all Santa Cruz County residents.
- Path to Community Involvement:
- From her background in special education to becoming a Parks Commissioner, Mariah discusses the pivotal moments that led her to community activism, particularly the grassroots efforts to develop Chanticleer Park and Leo's Haven, the first universally accessible playground in Santa Cruz County.
- Vision and Decision-Making:
- How Mariah balances operational challenges with the overarching mission to ensure equity and access in parks, and how community input shapes the direction of their projects.
- Personal Motivation:
- Mariah reflects on her own experiences with parks growing up in Seattle and how these memories influence her passion for creating accessible community spaces.
- Challenges and Growth:
- The rapid growth of the organization, including the significant hiring wave of part-time staff, and how the team navigates operational hurdles to stay true to their mission.
- Leadership Insights:
- Mariah’s approach to leadership during challenging times, maintaining strong relationships with her team, and ensuring that each decision aligns with their core values and mission.
Contact Information:
- Website: countyparkfriends.org
- Social Media: Follow Santa Cruz County Park Friends on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Support and Donations:
- Learn more about how you can support the development of accessible playgrounds and other community-driven park initiatives by visiting the County Park Friends website.
If something you heard today brought a smile to your face or a spark to your heart, and you’d like to connect with me, here are a few ways you can do that.
One is my newsletter, it’s where I put most of my time and energy when I’m not working with clients or on this podcast. Sorry social media! It’s a mix of real life stories, tips and tricks and of course updates on what’s happening with the podcast. Whenever something is going on with me or in my business, it always comes out there first.
Another resource that I have for you is my Guide to Doing Work Differently. The guide takes you through four inquiries into how you can build a more sustainable and equitable work environment for yourself and your team. It's a great place to start.
Last, if you’ve got a burning question, a comment, or a situation you’d like my eyes on, you can email me at candice@fortressandflourish.com.
If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe to know when the next episodes come out, and if you’re feeling generous, leave a review. Reviews help other like-minded folks find their way to this resource.
Learn more about Candice and her work here.
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