Bridges We Build
Bridges We Build is a podcast from Catholic Charities of Northwest California, exploring how communities come together to care, create change, and lift one another up.Through honest conversations with clients, staff, nonprofit leaders, and public partners, we share stories that connect lived experience, data, and solutions.From housing and immigration to healthcare and food access, each episode reveals what it truly takes to build bridges—between people, services, and systems—and why it matters.Tune in to learn how neighbors are supporting neighbors, what’s working behind the scenes, and how we can all be part of the change.💜 Presented...
Bridges We Build: Building the Bridge — with Jennielynn Holmes
Every organization has a mission—but behind that mission is a deeper “why.” In this episode of Bridges We Build, we sit down with Jennielynn Holmes, CEO of Catholic Charities of Northwest California, to explore the values, experiences, and vision that drive her leadership.
Jennielynn shares her journey from growing up in a low-income family to becoming the first in her family to graduate college, and how that shaped her lifelong commitment to uplifting those pushed to the margins. We talk about what it means to lead with compassion, the importance of building bridges between nonprofits, government, and th...
Bridges We Build: Building From Experience - With Kurt Petersen
Content Advisory: This episode includes discussion of substance use, relapse, and suicidal thoughts. Please take care as you listen.
What does it take to turn a shelter into a true community hub—and a stepping stone to stability?
In this episode of Bridges We Build, we talk with Kurt Peterson, Director of Shelter Services at Catholic Charities of Northwest California. Kurt brings decades of experience to his role overseeing programs like Caritas Center and Sam Jones Hall, and in this conversation, he reflects on how deeply human this work really is.
We...
Bridges We Build: Building the Bridge — with Jennielynn Holmes
Every organization has a mission—but behind that mission is a deeper “why.” In this episode of Bridges We Build, we sit down with Jennielynn Holmes, CEO of Catholic Charities of Northwest California, to explore the values, experiences, and vision that drive her leadership.
Jennielynn shares her journey from growing up in a low-income family to becoming the first in her family to graduate college, and how that shaped her lifelong commitment to uplifting those pushed to the margins. We talk about what it means to lead with compassion, the importance of building bridges between nonprofits, government, and th...
Bridges We Build: Building Safety and Trust — with Kayla, Toni, & Jazmin
What does it really take for a family to rebuild their lives? For Kayla, it started with stability—and the support of a community that saw her potential.
In this episode of Bridges We Build, we hear from Kayla, a courageous mother who spent time at the Caritas Family Center with her children. She shares her journey through homelessness, the turning points that helped her move forward, and how wraparound services, from parenting support to academic help for her child with special needs, set her family up for long-term success.
Joining the conversation are Toni Ab...
