Maria Cristina Fuentes was already used to changing the world after six years in Washington, D.C. where she served President George W. Bush in the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Justice. She also served in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, working to help states across the country develop and establish their own faith-based initiatives. Following that, she worked at Casey Family Programs to provide and improve -- and ultimately prevent the need for...
Nov 20, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Robert DeVries served over 25 years with the Holland Michigan Police Department and in 2003 traveled westward when he took over as the Chief of Police for the Kingman Police Department in 2003. During his tenure he was very active with the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police and the Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). He has been very active in drug prevention and awareness throughout Mohave County. Kingman PD was the first agency in Arizona to train and equip their officer...
Nov 12, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Steve Yamamori has seen it happen too many times. People come out of years in the service. People come off a prison term. And suddenly, they’re thrust into a world where their days aren’t as structured, they have to adjust to looking for a job and – in the case of someone from the service – they aren’t “wearing their resume on their chest.” That’s why he started The Reveille Foundation, to create better, faster pathways to success for all under-served populations, no matter where they began thei...
Nov 06, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Steve Fedyski has always had a mission to impact lives. Now, as the CEO/Managing Partner of Cloudburst Entertainment, he's bringing that vision "as big as the Sonoran sky" to reality. The company will celebrate just its first anniversary in December, but is already well on the way to being a world leader in distributing transformational media. They are committed to bringing films to market that are not only entertaining, but also infuse hope into the lives of audiences who experience them. Their...
Oct 30, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Betsy King made history on the golf course. She played collegiately at Furman University in Pennsylvania, where she was on the 1976 national championship team. Betsy joined the LPGA Tour in 1977, and won six major championships and claimed 34 LPGA Tour victories in her career. She is a three-time LPGA Tour Player of the Year (1984, 1989, 1993). In 1995, Betsy was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. She made history on the golf course; but she made a difference when, following a 2006 trip ...
Oct 23, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Nikki Kontz is the Clinical Director for Teen Lifeline where she oversees all programs as well as volunteer management, and conducts the training of the volunteer Peer Counselors. She manages the daily operations of the hotline including direct supervision on the peer counselors. Nikki is a product of the Teen Lifeline volunteer program, starting as a teen peer counselor 26 years ago after losing a close friend to suicide. There she found her passion and has been working in the field for the pas...
Oct 16, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Lee Pioske understands the struggle of addiction that the people attending Crossroads deal with. He himself has been clean and sober for 26 years after battling cocaine and serving a 5 ½-year stint in federal and state prison. Today, he has a master’s degree in Addiction Psychology and he has been appointed by Governor Ducey as a commissioner on the Arizona Substance Abuse Panel. Lee has been the Executive Director of Crossroads for 15 years, and has seen the organization thrive during that peri...
Oct 09, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 23
The men and women of law enforcement are dedicated to protecting and serving the community, and despite the actions of a few, work hard to meet those high standards. Today’s Rescuers show is a precursor to an online panel discussion open to the public Saturday, Oct. 3 to discuss police-community relations. Guests are Dr. William Crawford III and Dr. Cindy Scott-Janicik, both on the faculty of the NAU Justice Studies program. Dr. Crawford served for 23 years on the Phoenix Police Department as a ...
Oct 02, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 22
It began with a tragedy, when 17-year-old Joni Eareckson Tada broke her neck in a diving accident, leaving her a quadriplegic. After struggling through depression and two years of rehabilitation, she emerged with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations. Through the grace of God –she continues to change the world, authoring nearly 50 books and impacting hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities and their families. Original air date: September 24, 2020 To...
Sep 25, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Pastor Julius Keller knew early on that he was called to make a difference in people’s lives. For 25 years he worked as an attorney to help people through investigating fair housing complaints in six states. Then he received a call to the ministry, where he helped save people’s souls for nearly 20 years. Original air date: September 17, 2020 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 18, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 20
When Scott Fischer earned a degree in nursing from ASU, he knew he dedicated to helping others. He worked for years in nursing administration, nursing education, mental health and home health nursing. But he saw a need that would become his legacy. Since 2000, his sole focus has been on the care and service of seniors, particularly in the area of senior mental health with an emphasis on seniors suffering from dementia. Original air date: September 10, 2020 To learn more about Options for Senior ...
Sep 11, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Jeff Armor has more than 30 years of leadership experience, which he has used to create successful businesses, nonprofits and collaborations. He was the creative developer of HERO Life Network – HERO stands for Helping Everyone Reach Opportunity. The organization is committed to inspiring all people – especially the under-served – to reach their real potential by helping remove obstacles that get in the way of success. Original air date: September 3, 2020 To learn more about Hero Life Network, v...
Sep 04, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Kevin McNichols has had an illustrious career in law enforcement, and when he retired in 2018, he wanted to make a difference by coaching football, serving as a substitute teacher and planning short-term mission trips. His passion right now is partnering with Impact Teen Drivers, working with youth, encouraging them to choose the best practices and make wise decisions all while sharing the Impact Teen Drivers programs. To learn more about the program, go to https://aztroopers.org/impact-teen-dri...
Aug 28, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Lisa Kingry has been an ICU nurse for 8 years, but since COVID-19 she’s been on the front lines in a way she could have never imagined. Come join her as she talks about what the days are like for her and her colleagues, and her assessment of the situation in Arizona. Original air date August 20, 2020. To get reminders on upcoming shows, please “like” our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/rescuersradioshow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 20, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Frank Milstead, former head of DPS, and Andy Hill, a 26-year law enforcement veteran and consultant, gather to talk about the challenges facing policing today. The two seasoned law enforcement professionals discuss issues of the day, including defunding, training and policing in the era of social media and cameras, and the evolution of policing and technology. Original air date: August 13, 2020 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 14, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Cindy Scott-Janicik is a researcher and professor of justice studies at Northern Arizona University; Commander Tina Gonzales has been with the Phoenix Police Department more than 28 years and currently heads the Community Engagement Bureau. The story of their two careers, how they have intertwined and how they now work together to help nurture a new cadre of Phoenix police officer weaves together components like community engagement, exception college students and continuous improvement. This is...
Aug 07, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Jacki Taylor has dedicated her career to helping the poor, the disenfranchised and the homeless. When the opportunity came to head Save the Family Foundation she jumped at the opportunity to provide services and housing to 700 families every year. They have a broad range of programs to support stable homes, safe children, and strong families. Original air date July 30, 2020. To learn more about Save the Family, go to https://savethefamily.org/ . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
Jul 31, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Vincent Piano served 32 years on the Phoenix Police Department, and retired to accept a primo position with the State Attorney General's office. But then he got a call to start a chaplain program for employees working in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office jails. And he said yes. Original air date July 23, 2020. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 24, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Kim and Michelle Humphrey worked hard to give their two boys a good life, but that life crumbled when both boys became addicted to heroin. The years that followed were full of heartache, fear and unbearable stress, and nearly cost the couple their marriage, their savings and their lives. In desperation, they attended a group called Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) and learned how to set loving boundaries and found support from other parents going through the same challenges. Not only did the...
Jul 17, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Tac Coluccio was adopted into a loving home as an infant, and today he has a real heart for kids who didn't have the good fortune he did -- kids in the foster system, and kids who need a family. As a filmmaker, he has been able to use his talents to help educate and inform people about the need that exists. He wants to make the world a better place for children in need. Original air date was July 9, 2020. To learn more about Tac's projects, go to https://dinosaurheart.org/ See omnystudio.com/lis...
Jul 10, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Kristen Merrifield, CEO of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, has led the organization through a challenge that none could have ever anticipated. The challenges of COVID-19 have hit the budgets and volunteer base of the thousands of nonprofits that serve the people of Arizona. Learn how the AAN has played a role in helping nonprofits survive, and because of that, touched the life of everyone in the state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 03, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Melissa Elliott, Vice President of Programs and Services for the Area Agency on Aging, has a passion for helping seniors, and she is on the front line of answering the needs of elders that have been heightened by the pandemic and anxiety about world situations. One of the AAA's most utilized services is the 24-hour Senior Help Line, a one-stop resource staffed with professionals offering everything from food boxes to counseling and resolving housing issues. During the pandemic, they have also in...
Jun 26, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Julie Supplee, CEO of the House of Refuge Sunnyslope, talk about how COVID-19 and the dropping economy has impacted their clients. Their goal is to catch people before they become homeless on the street, bringing them to their 11 properties in North Phoenix in programs for men, for women, and for single women with children. Julie shares how their program to love, house and equip has actually grown during COVID-19, rather than been forced to shut down like many organizations. Originally aired Jun...
Jun 19, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Join Art and guest Dr. Jeff McGee of Cross-Cultural Dynamics, as he seeks to narrow the gulf between disparate factions, building community and teaching people how to love one another. He challenges leaders to take an active role in changing culture to empower people of all races and backgrounds. Originally aired June 11, 2020. To learn more about Cross-Cultural Dynamics, go to https://ccdynamics.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 12, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 6
When Ken Brissa started his new position as CEO of the Phoenix Rescue Mission in February, he knew he would have his hands full balancing all the programs the organization offers to the hurting and homeless, including a men’s shelter and training, the women’s Changing Lives Center, the Hope Coach and the Hope for Hunger Food Bank. On top of that was one of the largest expansion projects in the rescue mission’s nearly 70-year history, a $21 million expansion project to build new facilities and ad...
Jun 05, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Jacqui MacConnell was an officer with the Phoenix Police Department in 2003, when she was called out to a horrific scene. Two 5 year-old twins had lived caged their entire lives and their 8-year-old brother shared their room. Her reaction was to get involved with the boys' lives, and she continued to stay in touch as they were placed with a loving foster family. From that, she founded Angels on Patrol, a nonprofit that provides police officer-initiated support to community members in times of cr...
May 29, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Ginger Sykes Torres gained early notoriety in her life as a champion hoop dancer, at a time when it was a man's event. But weeks ago when she heard that her homeland in the Navajo Nation was ranked the highest in the U.S. for COVID-19 cases in the country; and that healthcare professionals and first responders had no personal protective equipment to protect them, her family gathered to create homemade face masks. She is a woman who gets things done. That simple effort grew to gathering donations...
May 22, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Vince Ing is in sales by profession, but recently began creating items with his 3D printer as a hobby. At first it was just things for fun, like a collection of 3D Peanuts characters for his kids. But then came COVID-19, and Vince began hearing from his friends in the medical field about the horrible sores behind their ears they were getting from wearing face masks for 12 hours at a time, far long than was ever intended. Hobbyists into 3D printing across the country are a tight-knit group, and t...
May 15, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 2
The inaugural Rescuers radio show features guest Henry Rojas, who was first known as the innovative "father" of sports mascots, as the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, where he built relationships with fans as an entertainer, an extension of the fans, and a game changer. Since then, Henry has changed lives in a deeper way, most recently as the founder of Community of the Wild Goose, a quirky churchish gathering that leaves the door of spirituality cracked open so just about anybody feels welcome to enter. ...
May 14, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1
