Tag

community

Apr 09
Love24

Timothy Glover aka Dash Gordon

By Community, Podcast No Comments

Some superheroes wear capes… but this one delivers hope, joy, and community impact.

This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for an extraordinary episode where we dive into the inspiring journey of Timothy Glover, aka Dash Gordon—a man who turned life’s challenges into something truly incredible—a mission of making a real difference. This conversation will inspire you to make a difference—big or small—in your own community. Tune in now!

This episode is sponsored by:

 (Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

In this episode:

  • Meet Dash Gordon: How Tim transformed his life and found purpose in unexpected ways.
  • The Birth of the Dash Gordon Foundation: What started as a simple DoorDash gig evolved into something much greater.
  • From Personal Struggles to Community Hero: From foster care to becoming a local superhero.
  • Impactful Initiatives: The Winter Formal & A Night to Remember Pageant—bringing joy to special needs individuals.
  • Unwavering Faith & Purpose: How faith and resilience shaped his journey.

Quotations:

“People would smile and they’d laugh and they’d wave, and I would play loud music and I would just have a good time. And I’d pop into restaurants, and the crowd would go crazy, and they’d want to take pictures with their kids and with themselves and with their families. So I just kept doing it.” ~ Tim Glover aka Dash Gordon

“We just kind of want to do everything at a level that the kids and the young adults and the parents will never forget.”  ~ Tim Glover aka Dash Gordon

“We’re making sure that all of these individuals get an equal opportunity and maybe sometimes even better than young adults and people without disabilities. mean, where our motto is we’ve made actually having a disability and a special need like really cool.“  ~ Tim Glover aka Dash Gordon

“It’s a person first, then the disability. But if you have a good memory, if you just remember their name, you never have to worry about the person first and their disability; just call them by their name.”  ~ Tim Glover aka Dash Gordon

“I make myself available for everything.”  ~ Dash Gordon

“If I help fundraise or anything, I expect nothing in return. I don’t ask for anything. I don’t ask for donations. I don’t ask for anything. I’ll do it.”  ~ Tim Glover aka Dash Gordon

“We’re just going to continue to let the world know this. Every single individual with a disability or special need or whatever else that’s been put on this earth was put here to be seen. That’s it. They’re not to be pushed aside. They’re not to be a second thought. They are they are pushed to be they’re here to be seen and so we’re gonna make sure that their voices are like a Bose stereo you are going to encounter an Individual with a disability or a special need and you are not going to have a choice because we are going to put it in your face.”  ~ Tim Glover aka Dash Gordon

“The moms and the dads will tell you there’s something about this Dash Gordon guy that can make these kids do things that we’ve never seen before. We can’t; he just does. He just gets them; they’re in such a comfort zone with me. They just do things they normally don’t do, and they do it at a different level. And the parents are seeing a lot of this stuff for the first time.”  ~ Tim Glover aka Dash Gordon

Bio:

​Timothy Glover, affectionately known as “Dash Gordon,” is a community advocate and founder of the Dash Gordon Foundation, dedicated to uplifting special needs, disabled, and at-risk individuals. In March 2022, Tim began delivering food for DoorDash to fund a vacation for his wife, Natalie, who was battling stage five kidney failure. Seeking to bring joy to his deliveries, he donned a superhero costume and adopted the moniker “Dash Gordon,” transforming routine deliveries into moments of delight for his community. 

This initiative quickly evolved into the Dash Gordon Foundation, which creates inclusive events and provides resources for individuals with disabilities and their families. Tim’s efforts have garnered widespread recognition, establishing him as a local hero in League City, Texas. Through his foundation, Tim continues to spread joy and foster a sense of belonging, demonstrating the profound impact of compassion and community engagement.​

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.thedashgordonfoundation.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealDashGordon/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dash_gordon2022/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dashgordon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedashgordonfoundation

Mar 12
Love22

Arukah Project

By Community, Podcast, True Crime No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, Gary sits down with Loreal and Natasha from Arukah Project—an organization dedicated to combating sex trafficking across California—to have a crucial conversation about the realities of this crisis. They uncover the hidden truths of sex trafficking, share real-life stories, and discuss how their organization is working to bring restoration and hope to survivors.

Loreal and Natasha break down common misconceptions, reveal how traffickers exploit vulnerabilities, and emphasize the importance of education and awareness. This episode will not only open your eyes but also inspire you to be part of the solution.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to use code “Gary20” to get 20% off your order!)

 (Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The meaning of ‘Arukah’—a Hebrew word for restoration to wholeness—and its significance in shaping their mission
  • The shocking reality of how sex trafficking occurs in plain sight.
  • How traffickers manipulate personal and economic vulnerabilities to entrap victims
  • The critical role of education in prevention and how communities can take action
  • Specialized training programs that teach individuals how to identify trafficking signs both online and offline
  • Why parental involvement is essential in protecting children and fostering safety conversations

Quotations:

“Arukah is a Hebrew word meaning restoring to wholeness in spirit, soul, and body. So what Arukah does is we serve survivors of sex trafficking.” ~ Loreal Weitzel

“We basically have a training for any type of organization, business or demographic out there because sexual trafficking does not discriminate.” ~ Natasha

“Due to sex is a taboo topic in general and people don’t want to talk about prostitution, escort. stripping in the club, pornography, the adult industry. People don’t want to talk about that because as a society, they are disregarded, right?” ~ Natasha

“Here’s all these different ways that people don’t recognize what sex trafficking can be and how it’s so close to home.” ~ Natasha

“Whatever that vulnerability is, that trafficker identifies that and then provides that vulnerability and then exploits that vulnerability. Once they’ve exploited that vulnerability, like, so you want to go back home and starve because now that that child has realized what they’re what they’ve gotten into and they don’t like it anymore. And now there’s no way out for them through their thought process. And now that trafficker is exploiting that.” ~ Natasha

“Trafficking is not just what I think the movies and the TV shows want to make it out to be, right? That does happen and I am not minimizing that, but we are talking about sex trafficking in our country and in our area in the state of California right now and specifically in this area that we’re discussing. And that’s what we’re seeing and we’re also seeing, unfortunately, this is not a political statement, but when the economy is doing well, you see fluctuations in any criminal activity, right?” ~ Natasha

“We don’t really use the word like prostitute or prostitution. It’s called survival sex work. And the reason is it doesn’t matter whether trafficked or not, you’re out there trying to survive, whether it’s feeding your addiction, whether it’s feeding your family, whether you’re being trafficked, it is survival sex work.” ~ Natasha

“We know with a healthy state of mind, we might make different choices.” ~ Natasha

“The fact that your children think they know everything is one of the most dangerous mindsets that they can have.” ~ Natasha

“Every single person has a vulnerability.” ~ Natasha

“I absolutely fell in love with psychology and the idea of being able to create a safe space for somebody to walk through and process something difficult or traumatic in their life and being that safe space for somebody. ~ Loreal Weitzel

“Our job as guardians, as parents is to empower our children to be able to empower themselves. To be able to protect themselves when they become adults. That is our job. ~ Natasha

Bio:

Loreal Weitzel graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Santa Cruz, is a Certified Human Trafficking Case Manager in California, and has an MA in Intercultural Studies with a focus on Children at Risk from Fuller Seminary. She founded Arukah Project in 2019 with a passion to restore the lives of sex trafficking survivors from all over California.

Natasha (last name withheld for privacy) is the Deputy Executive Director of the Arukah Project with over 20 years of experience in the field. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is deeply committed to making a difference.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.arukahproject.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arukah.project/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArukahProject

Jan 15
Love15

Craig Allen Cooper

By Author, Community, Faith, Podcast No Comments

This episode of Here’s What We Know is an emotional rollercoaster you won’t want to miss. Our host Gary Scott Thomas welcomes back return guest Craig Allen Cooper for an inspiring conversation that spans life’s joys, struggles, and unexpected surprises! Tune in now, and let this episode remind you of the beauty in life’s twists and turns, the power of faith, perseverance, and community.

Yep, he’s that guy Walker Hayes wrote about. You can listen to our first conversation with Craig here: https://garyscottthomas.com/craig-allen-cooper/

This episode is sponsored by:

(Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

In this Episode:

  • Craig Cooper’s son’s incredible journey to NYU’s Clive Davis Institute
  • A raw and honest discussion about navigating a faith crisis
  • The inspiring story behind Walker Hayes’ song “Craig”
  • Insights into the art of preaching
  • Life lessons and reflections on God’s mysterious plan
  • An unforgettable mission trip to Rwanda with Hope International

Quotations:

“Scriptures are just filled with so much wisdom. That’s why I make it practice to try to just continually read through the scriptures. And because I need it, it’s like daily bread man; man doesn’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ~ Craig Allen Cooper

“Walker shares his story, shares his testimony before he sings the song, Craig, in every concert. And I mean, he’s done that. It’s packed stadium like the Houston rodeo had 70,000 people and they packed that out and he’s sharing with all these people about Jesus through the story of our friendship.” ~ Craig Allen Cooper

“It’s not an easy thing to do it, but I believe in the power of preaching. I really do believe, I believe God speaks through what he’s spoken. I believe there’s a lot of grace that’s given in that moment and a lot of pasturing takes place through the pulpit.” ~ Craig Allen Cooper

“It’s a privilege for us to have the word of God and then to be able to read it in the morning and meditate on it throughout the day and listen to it preached.” ~ Craig Allen Cooper

Bio:

Craig Allen Cooper is a USA Today bestselling author and keynote speaker. He co-wrote the book “Glad You’re Here” with Grammy-nominated country singer and songwriter Walker Hayes. “Glad You’re Here” instantly became a Publisher’s Weekly, ECPA, and USA Today national bestseller and has been featured on The Today Show, People Magazine, The 700 Club, Jesus Calling, and Family Life Radio, as well as various other news sources, radio and television programs, and podcasts, including That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs and Dream Big with Bob Goff.

Craig served as one of the founding pastors of Redeeming Grace Church in Franklin, Tennessee, and is the founder of Glad You’re Here Ministries. He is the subject of the song “Craig” by Walker Hayes, and he resides in the greater Nashville area with his lovely wife, Laura, and their four kids.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.craigallencooper.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigallencooper/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/craigallencooper/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigallencooper/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@craigallencooper