Matt: Thrilled to be here, Spiffy! Our organization is working to provide accessible spaces for adults of all backgrounds and abilities to engage in musical community. We put on a variety of events that are all donation based and open to anyone, including circle-singing jam sessions, open mic nights, one-night choir events, house shows, songwriting circles, and more. These events are facilitated with care and intention by facilitators who work to empower individuals to find their creative voice and bring that voice into conversation and collaboration with their community.
Candace: Glad to be with you, Spiffy! The ravages of drug and alcohol addiction impact not only the individual, but also her family and those she loves. Even worse is that studies have shown that the trauma suffered via addiction has genetic implications for generations to come. Because there are so few resources for families who endure the hardship of addiction, I joined LICADD as a volunteer nearly two decades ago and continued my work on the board of directors to fundraise and provide services for families. For the last 70 years, LICADD has provided free counseling and referral services to individuals, families, and children. LICADD's mission is that through intervention, education, and professional guidance, one can overcome the ravages of addiction.
Tracey: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! Did you know that founders from some of the largest and highest growth populations have historically been underfunded. As commonly cited, less than 2% of VC funding goes to minority and female founders. However, these communities are driving the US economy forward, and these founders are outperforming the average. As a result, many problems faced by underrepresented communities have gone unsolved, high-potential founders have been underfunded, and significant spending power has been untapped. SoGal Ventures, founded by Pocket Sun and Elizabeth Galbut, is doubling down on the thesis that underrepresented founders, underserved problems, and undercapitalized geographies are the biggest investment opportunity of our time.
