The Tiny Home Solution Helping People Escape Homelessness

[0:16]  Welcome back to another episode here on the Horn Hustle Podcast. Miss Kelly, how are you doing today?

[0:18]  I'm good, how are you?

[0:23]  I'm doing good, can't complain. It is currently Monday for now, as of now, for those that are listening or watching. And just getting over the weekend, you know, some it's always feel like the weekend goes by too quick. Do you feel the same, Kelly?

[0:35]  Occasionally, yes.

[0:36]  Yeah, it's like w we should definitely have a longer weekend. I I'll take a four day weekend if anybody's listening and cares to, you know, give us those days. But Kelly,

[0:45]  Absolutely. Yeah.

[0:46]  what's the organization you're representing today?

[0:49]  I work at a vivo.

[0:50]  A vivo and for those that may not know what a vivo is, just give us some more information of what you guys do for the UF community.

[0:57]  Yeah, absolutely. Avivo is based in Minnesota. we focus on enhancing well-being through recovery and career advancement while working to end homelessness. We serve about eleven thousand people each year. We are serving people who have multiple barriers to to you know to success.

[1:16]  Yeah. And what brings you to this passion purpose driven sector?

[1:20]  Hmm. You know, I've been doing it a very long time. I've been doing this work for about forty years. So it is my it is my why, it is my passion, it is my purpose.

[1:30]  and what is your role with them?

[1:33]  I my role as the president and CEO.

[1:36]  Loving. How long have you been doing that?

[1:39]  I've been at Aviva almost fourteen years doing you know, in this role.

[1:42]  what amazing and did you grow up in Minneapolis?

[1:45]  Y no, I moved here out of college. So I've lived here I grew up in Wisconsin, southwest Wisconsin in a tiny little r rural town and but have been in Minneapolis for a very long time now.

[2:00]  What's some time now, huh? I love it. A and when you think about being in Minneapolis, really kind of giving back to I guess those stomping grounds where it all started early in your career, was this

[2:09]  Mm-hmm.

[2:10]  always what you set out to do? Did you know you're going to be in this non profit space or did just kind of life lead you here?

[2:16]  You know, I I think I'm rare in that I did kind of what I s pursued when I went off to college and what I did when I graduated, really, you know, went together. so I started in this field, I've stayed in this field, I've done a variety of jobs, certainly in this space, but yeah, this is this is what I am meant to do.

[2:41]  Outside your CEO role, is there another role that you felt you really enjoyed?

[2:45]  You know, I think all the roles in you know, in this space, I mean I think I I guess what what got me to to bite was, you know, kind of write, kind of that first professional job. I was working for Goodwill Easter Sales, serving adults who had been pr in a sheltered workshop. and we were leaders at the time in moving people into community based employment. So my first job was working with adults with barriers and putting them in my car and introducing you know getting them introduced to the world of work outside of a a more sheltered environment and connecting people to employment.

[2:54]  Was that scary?

[3:27]  You know, I I don't know if scary's the right word. It was yeah, I mean it could be intimidating for sure. I mean I essentially was yeah, cold calling on employers and, you know, wanting to make good matches with people and helping them find their why as well, you know, in employment and something that they would enjoy and be successful in doing. So yeah, it was intimidating at times for sure.

[3:51]  Yeah. I mean, you know, all scary things or intimidating things, as you me as

[3:54]  Yeah.

[3:54]  you mentioned, are are sometimes very rewarding on the other side, you know, and and sometimes we get in our ways 'cause we're like, my God, it sounds so scary, but

[4:03]  Yeah.

[4:03]  it sounded like you were on the right side of things and you just had to kind of keep up with it. Look where you're at now, you're in a CEO seat.

[4:08]  Mm-hmm.

[4:09]  Who are some of those leaders that you can kinda go back to and kind of pinpoint and say, Man, they really poured into me? And what were they saying to you that allowed you to, you know feel heard and seen and all these good things that we sometimes need to keep moving forward.

[4:23]  Yeah. You know, I think it probably goes back to, you know, growing up and kind of being told you can do you can do anything, you know, just kinda having that belief that you can you can do anything and that you can make a difference. I think also early in my career also i it was getting that you know, that that feedback on what you were doing, how you were doing, encouragement to to keep going, recognition when you were getting outcomes. And I think more importantly, I think at least in this field is, you know, feeling like you're making a difference and getting that feedback on that you know, from from people you're you're walking along beside and people that you are serving.

[5:05]  Yeah, it's definitely it's always cool to be able to learn from others, right? and I I can imagine that you don't get to where you're at without others really pouring in what they learned. And I think you're now probably in the space, Kelly, where people are looking at you for leadership advice and they're asking, Kelly, what do I do in this situation? What are some some good leadership advice that I can take? w what are your go to advice? Someone like myself that's in the space of nonprofits, probably early years, I would say. What is that board of advice you give, Kelly?

[5:36]  You know, I one thing that has worked for me and I encourage everyone is to kind of have your own advisors, you know, kind of your safe space, advisors, people you can kind of, you know, drop let your hair down, be yourself

[5:51]  Yeah, yeah.

[5:52]  and and have those safe conversations. kind of problem solve with, ideate with, and have you know, just and have real conversations. Kind of get your own

[6:01]  So

[6:01]  board of directors.

[6:04]  a community of like minded people. Right? I love

[6:07]  Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Yeah.

[6:08]  it. You can't cause you know, I have board of directors and I would say sometimes there's certain board of directors you probably don't want at the table, right? So you gotta be real strategic

[6:15]  Yes, yes.

[6:15]  as well. And any, I would say, nonprofit, strategic on who takes those seats, cause those seats really are valuable. when did

[6:22]  Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.

[6:24]  you realize that when running an organization that those seats were valuable? Was it early on in your career that someone teach you that?

[6:31]  I think it was early on in my career in watching others. You know, I think you know, kind of watching others, learning from others, understanding that importance. Mm-hmm.

[6:40]  I love that. So cool. And you mentioned all these people you serve. What are some of those programs that the community is providing or provided that you guys are actually behind that sometimes maybe people don't even know?

[6:54]  Yeah, I mean I think some of the camp some of our key programming starts with our with Aviva Village, which is the first of its kind in the country, indoor tiny home village. We are we are intent on, you know, helping our state in homelessness.

[7:09]  Mm-hmm.

[7:09]  And our niche, our what we're most effective at is serving people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness and helping

[7:17]  Yeah.

[7:17]  them move inside and then keep taking those next steps towards success. However they define that, but it certainly includes helping people move to permanent housing. I think, you know, if we don't have permanent housing as a foundation, it's gonna be you know, it's gonna be a difficult, and sometimes impossible to keep taking those next best steps towards recovery, to improve mental health, towards employment, towards education. so really we really focus on meeting people where they're at, providing people with respect no matter you know, no matter where we are meeting them along their journey and just that continuous process of help helping people keep are keep taking those next best steps, whatever that looks like.

[8:01]  Yeah, yeah. No, this is this is good stuff. I I always say that sometimes we don't even know what's in normal backyards, but it seems like you guys are really truly doing good and and work that is so much needed, right? Changing people's lives, pouring into others. How how what is the how do you stay engaged with so many people for so long? Like what is that communication look like? Is you mentioned meeting people where they're at, you know, and times have totally I would say shifted in the way that People receive communications from the emails to the social medias to SMS. Like what does that actually look like nowadays as you continue to pivot and to just stay a different time in our in our generation?

[8:41]  Yeah, I mean it's it's all of those things that you said and it is it's it's communicating with people the way that they want to be communicated with, the way that works for them. So I mean we have street outreach teams that are engaging with people on the street, people who are sleeping outside and other places not meant for ha human habitation. you know, seeing people, developing a relationship, providing resources that people need. and then from there, I mean, it is. It's it's meeting face to face, it is text. messaging, you know, to stay in touch with people. you know, I think we work hard to always have something of value, resource, you know, compassion, care, in every way that we interact with people. But it is it is all of the ways that that that people communicate. and when it doesn't work one way, we try another way.

[9:33]  Yeah. Gotcha. Do you y you guys find yourselves, you know, people are in the space of utilizing AI to really do that repetitive work, not to take away the human work, but really to just kind of help with those frequently asked questions, maybe being that open door. Do you find yourself getting into more of those spaces so that you guys could be more on the boots on the ground and maybe fill in those gaps that have been kind of fall th falling through the cracks?

[9:57]  Yeah, we are right now doing an AI assessment for the organization to see where you know, kind of how we're using it, because I think it's being used a lot of ways and we and we, you know, we probably don't even have any idea. And then you know, kind of doing identifying what some low hanging fruit might be for the organization, you know, recognizing the not for profits, you know, resources are you know, not unlimited to say the very least. It's it's always a barrier.

[10:22]  Strapped on res yeah, strapped on funds.

[10:25]  but But with the emphasis on making sure that we can do more the the face to face work, the boots on the ground, the you know, the care for people. you know, that's what we excel at and that's, you know, we want to free up time to have that that to have that human connection with people. There's a lot of con sorry.

[10:46]  I have you No, no, go ahead, go ahead.

[10:49]  Yeah, I was just say that, you know, there's concerns about AI in in the in this not for profit space as well, just from a from a climate, from you know, how it impacts in you know, BIPOC and other communities that that we serve, you know, who is

[11:05]  Yeah.

[11:05]  who's getting ahead with this and who's not. And, you know, we just need to be we are focused on being very intentional.

[11:12]  Yeah. And y yourself, do you use AI yourself or love it? What do you love about it?

[11:14]  I do use AI myself. I do. I do. You know, I I can't so I'll just share one scenario kind of as fundraising is a big part of of my role and we're, you know, we're in the midst of a a capital campaign and I was able to kind of create some some materials in a short period of time with an AI bot that it would have taken me

[11:39]  Yeah, yeah.

[11:40]  a very, very, very long time. And I don't know if it would have been as good. Yeah.

[11:44]  Are you talking to it or are you typing in it?

[11:48]  I did a little bit of both, kind of practicing. I was practic you know.

[17:40]  Isn't that cool that you can actually I love it. I love that I can talk to it and really like almost like it it's a person and say, Hey, this is what I'm working on, and I'm thinking a little bit about this, and I really want to talk about this. And you know, it it it really always surprises me how good it is. And then you tweak it, right? It's not always, and I think that's the cool part and really the educational part of it that is while it helps us do things faster, it's just not the end all be all. You still have to add the organization to it. You still have to add Kelly to it. You

[18:17]  Yeah. Yep.

[18:18]  know, so I love that you're definitely in the exploring spaces. And I think a lot of organizations are finding themselves in that exploring phase, but also seeing what are those boundaries that we need to put in place? What does

[20:04]  Yeah.

[20:06]  security look like? And are we utilizing it effectively? You know, 'cause I think there's so many different platforms out there. I love it. I love it. And and if you could sit here and say there's a magic wand that you have and you could really change anything within the organization today, what is that, Kelly? What what is that thing that you're you're changing?

[22:57]  You know, I think we a couple things. So we are working really hard to bring our depth and breadth of services together on behalf of people. You know, we want to make outcomes for individuals we serve achievable in and and we and in easy for people to navigate. You know, I think there's so many systems in place, you know, that make it hard for people to get what they need and you know, I mean almost beats them up. I mean we are trying to eliminate barriers, you know, and not create systems within our own organization, but create ease of access, you know, living our values of radical welcome, dignity and leaning into curiosity so that people engage, get their needs met, keep taking those next best steps, and just I mean, create a better future for themselves and their families. So it is the the integration, the the you know, dropping of you know, dropping of barriers to access

[23:29]  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[24:43]  and getting good services and good outcomes. That's what we we're working hard to change. I mean, and if I could wave a magic wand, I mean I think, you know, there's a lack of resources to do the

[24:43]  Yeah, yeah.

[24:43]  the great to the great work that we do.

[25:33]  I love it. Well, what is it important, would you say, to build trust and to build relationships? You know, I I see a lot of organizations and I'm currently running one that is 30 years old, but it feels like it's newborn, right? Because

[26:02]  Yeah.

[26:03]  I felt like the relationships, the you know, keeping the consistency of allowing these donors to know where the impact is is their dollars are really impacting all these other good stuff. Do you feel that's what's kind of kept this organization alive for as long as I have, Kelly? Because it is not easy to run what you guys are running with so many resources, so many, you know, open doors, I would say, that lead to so many different places. You don't get there if there is not a solid foundation with data, with the right, you know, just systems in place. Would you say that communication piece, that relationship piece and all that's a huge part of as well?

[26:03]  Absolutely essential. I mean, I do I think, you know, we were just talking about AI, but I think there's just nothing is going to replace the relationships that we build, us as an organization and and all of our employees doing what we say, you know, doing what we say we're going to do. Kind of that integrity of you know, walking our talk, you know, living our mission and and building relationships. I think absolutely essential. I mean, I think there's

[26:16]  Love it. And then

[26:17]  the sayings, you know, it's It's it's

[26:18]  go ahead, well.

[26:18]  it's you know, it takes a long time to build a trusting relationship, but it can be, you know, ruined in in an instance. So

[26:22]  Hundred percent, hundred percent. It and sometimes they wouldn't even tell you why. You just lost it, right?

[26:25]  Right.

[26:25]  And then you kind of like, my god, what happened? and

[27:08]  Mm-hmm.

[27:13]  you really have to figure it out and pivot. You know, something that someone told me, and you sh we we sh we as leaders have to always remember this, is that when life happens, don't panic, pivot. Right? And

[27:14]  Yeah. Yeah.

[27:14]  in those moments, as as leaders in an organization, especially I would say now with kind of government fundings, it's like Don't panic, pivot. You know, what does that look like? and

[27:15]  Yeah. Yeah.

[27:15]  it really always comes down to a really good leader to just think outside the box and to lead their teams to to, you know, where they need to be next. And it looks like Kelly, you've definitely done that time and time again because something like the pandemic. So are you there around the pandemic? I'm gonna right. You said you were there well

[27:16]  Yeah. It's interesting you say so pivot is kind of our word of twenty twenty six. I mean we you know we are we are finding ourselves pivoting, you know, and pivoting and pivoting and pivoting. But yeah, it's yes, I mean a vivo has been here for sixty-five years. and Minnesota's has been going through it. I mean, I think going back to the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd in our community, the opioid crisis that has impacted our communities. and then we had a you know an ice metro surge this past winter, which was really, really awful and very hard on the communities that we serve who are already struggling, you know. so I think what we've seen since the pandemic and all that has occurred kind of in our state, in our city in particular, just people are struggling, are are, you know, struggling even more and need organizations like Avivo to to be here. And so I'm grateful every day that we are

[27:20]  Mm.

[27:20]  still here, that we are fighting the good fight, if you will, that we're able to provide services and resources. but it hasn't been easy, you know, in the in the last five years.

[27:21]  It hasn't been easy. And I can imagine that when you hear some of these stories, they always continue to just spark that drive, continue to,

[27:22]  Mm.

[27:22]  you know, allow you to fight another day. What story comes to mind, Kelly? I I love these stories. Obviously, my own story is what got me here today. And I think a when we think about we always I always say this, but representation doesn't look like just the color of our skins, but the stories that we tell, right? And

[27:23]  Yeah.

[27:23]  there's so many stories to tell. And when we amplify those stories, people feel seen, they feel heard, they feel loved. And those two start to make a difference. I'm like I was looking at your website. You have plenty of stories someone can go back and look at that it sh you know, show the impact of the organization. But which one comes to mind for you, Kellyn?

[27:24]  You know, there's so so many stories and I you know, when you asked me the question I first started to talk up or started to think about, you know, mom the moms that were serving in our treatment program, moms and children. You know, we we have moms that come that we give priority to pregnant moms. so the babies are born chemically free, that mom many

[27:25]  Yeah.

[27:25]  times is able to retain, you know, children, and you know, move into family recovery with children. and I you know, I share this story all the time, but I think the first one of the first people who moved into Aviva Village, which we did open in the in the height of COVID. So part of it was a response to COVID, you know, individual tiny homes so that people weren't sleeping next to each other in a shelter. But one of our very first residents was a young young woman who was five months pregnant and was very, very n malnourished from morning sickness, had had no prenatal care, had been sleeping outside her entire pregnancy. And we were able she was able to move in, get a good night's sleep, you know, with a a new bed, new sheets, knew everything, was able to see a doctor who prescribed something to keep food down. So she moved in and within, you know, a few short hours, kept her first warm meal down in a very, very long time. was able to sleep to catch up on years of of not getting enough rest. And we were able to move her into permanent housing prior to her giving birth to a healthy baby boy. just a you know just a very big difference

[27:28]  Yeah.

[27:28]  in a short period of time. And then the trajectory for her her young son is very, very different.

[27:28]  You know, I it is always cool to hear those stories 'cause so many people don't know what's in their own backyards, right, Kelly? And these resources. I always remember this conversation I had with my mom that I had thirty years old, you know, you've heard it and people have heard it of the adoption, all that. But when I talked to her and I and the words that she said to me was, I'm sorry, I did the best I could with what knew. Like this mom now has the ability to say, We got here because of the resources that I knew. That showed up when I needed it most, right? And and those experiences we would never forget in our lives. And when we talk about just that cycle, you know, her, I could only imagine, probably still a part of the organization. But then being

[27:29]  Mm-hmm.

[27:29]  able to pour this back into her own child, right? Like that's what it looks like to show up when no one's watching. No one knew that story, right? It's what you guys were doing because ideally that's that's who you guys are as an organization. You're living your values, but To hear sometimes and and someone that's close as me that knows their mom is still out there, right? And I my biological mom and probably experienced those times where she felt alone and she felt that there was nobody there for her. So I mean, kudos to what you guys are doing as as an organization for sure, Kelly. every day is a different day and you just and you j we're just we're just blessed to be a part of it, you know, pouring it pouring into

[27:31]  Yeah. Yeah, I mean absolutely.

[27:31]  others.

[27:31]  Absolutely. And we have an amazing team. I mean an amazing team that are wired for this work.

[27:31]  How big is the organization? How many like how many people do you guys have?

[27:31]  We have about four hundred employees.

[27:31]  you guys are huge. The work you guys are doing that means you guys are doing a lot of work.

[27:31]  We're doing a lot of work. We serve about eleven thousand people a year. You know, we're we're helping about a thousand people move into housing, permanent housing. We we help about twenty five hundred people move into employment every year. We serve, you know, over a thousand people in our substance use treatment and and mental health. So yeah, we we are

[27:31]  feel like you're being a little bit what's the word? gosh, I can't remember. When someone doesn't like to share their their success, what is the the word? Humble. You're being too humble, Kelly. Like look at the work that you guys are doing out here.

[27:31]  think humility is underrated. And that's

[27:31]  Ha ha ha

[27:31]  maybe part of our fundraising issues. We have been humbly going about this work and serving our community. But

[27:32]  my God. No, that is so huge. And I I even think about when you mentioned those homes came out of the pandemic. That was truly a spot where it wasn't it was, it wasn't pan it don't panic, pivot. And you literally said, let's pivot. And now it becomes a success. That is truly one of those moments that where as a leader you had to make that decision. Like, was it an easy decision? Like what how we come down to that decision? Who came down to that decision?

[27:32]  Well, you know, honestly the the idea came out of people themselves, people who are experiencing homelessness. You know, I think there's there's misinformation that people want to be homeless, that people want to be sleeping outside, that you know, and that's not true. You know, I we've never met anyone that wants to live outside, but there are reasons for not coming inside. So the idea of it really came out of a group of of individuals that were sleeping outside and and advocates. And so w you know, it was working and listening, you know. with the with the voice of of

[27:32]  Yeah. You mentioned fundraising. You guys are working towards something, so I'm gonna bring it up. How do people get involved? What is the goal? And let us know how to get involved together.

[27:32]  Yeah, so we do have an audacious fundraising goal. You know, we the building that I'm in right now was built for us in nineteen sixty. So it's it is it's it's not working for us anymore. It is literally going to crumble down around us. And our c who we serve deserves better, our community deserves better, we need more space to accomplish the mission. So we are trying to raise seventy-five million to double the size of the space and completely rehab it to to meet the current needs of, you know, the services in the community. that we serve. So that is a big goal that we have.

[27:32]  Yeah. Where you guys at n today?

[27:32]  We're just getting started. I we've got about we've

[27:32]  Okay, okay.

[27:32]  got about six million dollar raise. We did get some money from the bonding bill last year and but we're but we're on our way. Just getting started.

[27:32]  That is so good. The compound effect. You know, I am lead I'm working on my own event here October 2nd. And sometimes it's so easy to just start like being hard on yourself, right? And and the thing that kept coming

[27:32]  Yeah.

[27:32]  to me is the compound effect, Kelly, because we continue to show up every day and do the unsexy work. Okay. It would happen. So look where you're at today. You said you just started. Just keep chipping away, Kelly. Just keep chipping away.

[27:32]  Yep. Yeah. We're just getting started. Thank you. Thank you. We are willing to keep showing up and keep doing the unsexy work. We really are. That's what we're good at. you know, the the raising our head and our Yeah.

[27:32]  Yeah, no, that is so good. I can't wait. Cause I know that the next time we'll talk, you would have told me that you guys have successfully reached that goal. And we're gonna just speak into existence, Kelly, because if we if if

[27:32]  Absolutely.

[27:32]  if we don't believe it, then who else? Right? We gotta believe this this will happen. And because it's not even about us, right? It's truly

[27:32]  Now.

[27:32]  about those people that deserve better, you know, and all they need is just that one person to to donate. you know, that one person to just show up and speak on their behalf, Kelly. And I think that you and your team, you talked about hundreds of people show up every single day to say, Hey, let's make a difference in the communities and in the same places that we wake up in and this you know, the same streets that we walk and you know, I I think it's it's so cool. And I am looking forward to it. Kelly, is there Eddie yeah, no problem.

[27:32]  Thank you. Thank you. Come for tour. When we open those doors, we'd love to have you.

[27:32]  Yeah, I gotta come. I gotta come. what do you lead what what do you leave leaders with? We're in a time right now where leaders are sometimes feeling discouraged because of what's happening with the fundings and all that. And I think this is definitely as we mentioned a little bit, it is don't panic, it is pivot, it is figuring out what's out there, what can you do differently, you know. what do you leave to your colleagues that are out doing the same work that you're doing today?

[27:32]  You know, I do think it is gratitude. you know, I we we try to lead I try to lead with gratitude. Gratitude that we are here doing this work, that we are able to pivot, that we are able to, you know, keep showing up and and meeting the needs of as many people as we possibly can. and then partnership as well. I mean, I think, you know, we're a s somewhat large organization. We don't do anything, not in partnership. with others and I do think for organizations that are small are getting started to reach out because there are organizations of all sizes that will that will partner. you know, and and that compound effect, you know, where one plus one equals three and and it and it keeps building from there.

[27:32]  Yes, ma'am. Well, I dopefully appreciate it. For those that are listening, if you're watching the website to go take a look at what some of the amazing things are doing is a vivo, A V I V O Maz and Mary, Nas and Nancy dot org. You can find out a lot of information that's happening. You can find out those resources that Kelly is talking about that's happening in your own cities. And if you're asking yourself how do if maybe I don't live there, but I want to be a part of it, still go to the website and figure out how you two can make a difference. Kelly has been totally prejudiced. Pleasure talking to you today and learn more about what you guys are doing in the Minneapolis area.

[27:32]  Thank you. I appreciate you so much. Thanks for finding a vivo and and lifting us up a bit. Very much appreciated.

[27:32]  Of course. I'm Ephraim. This is Kelly. We'll catch you on the next one. Laters.

[27:32]  Okay.