Friday, March 26, 2021

Learn How Lava MaeX CEO Doniece Sandoval Brought Dignity To Her Community: View My Ladies Who Lunch Conversations on Facebook Live Interview & Discover What Radical Hospitality Is

 

Forget the Ides of March; its spark of a civil  war. 

While the month of March is named after the Roman god of war, Mars, I find the month really one of the happiest months of the year. 

There’s an abundance of things to celebrate: It’s the start of spring, the traditional partying surrounding St. Patrick’s Day, and then there’s Pi Day -- and the premiere of the year’s celestial Supermoons. 

And of course, we salute Women’s History Month and International Women's Day.


But after some thoughtful introspection, I got to thinking… 

Then a wee bit more research to support a burgeoning theory. Ultimately, I came full circle to very much embrace the March moniker and its war myth as it related to this blog post. 


I found that not only was the Mars altar in Rome dedicated by Numa, the peace-loving semi-legendary second king of Rome; moreover, I read that there is a connection to “a kind of life force or virtue that is an essential characteristic of Mars.”

And then I saw this: “As an agricultural guardian, Mars directs his energies toward creating conditions that allow crops to grow, which may include warding off hostile forces of nature.” 

I added the italics to mark the correlation of where I’m going with this.


Clearly, I was feeling ~ and seeing ~ more of the connection and cosmic link to my March 10th, Ladies Who Lunch Conversations special guest.   

The incredibly inspiring, visionary community advocate who triumphs over such systemic adversity that would stymie, thwart, or even freeze lesser spirits is Doniece Sandoval, the Founder & Advisor, LavaMaeX 

I hope she will forgive me but I now see that Doniece was indeed at a kind of “war” with the lack of providence and care for those not living in a structured home. The “those” are the folks we most often refer to as “homeless.” I recoil from this label. There is so much more to their human condition than a lack of housing but that’s what these people are called so I’ll honor them and the reference in this way. 

The point is, Doniece is an acknowledged idealist and activist ~ a warrior ~ who has been consistently recognized for her work “restoring dignity to Californians experiencing homelessness.” Amen. 

She talks about when the idea was born and as noted on her James Irvine award, “When she encountered a woman on the street crying, “I will never be clean!” Learning that San Francisco has only 16 public showers for as many as 7,000 people living on the streets, she got to work.

She discovered that San Francisco planned to replace old public buses and promptly crowdfunded $75,000 to secure and retrofit the vehicles with showers and toilets. 

Together, we laughed about how when she first reached out for her Go-Fund me campaign, she asked for monies for a “little project” she was starting. I was all in. 

Little project? Now look where that little project is. 

So impressive. Networking and good karma matters… 

You can do it too.


City buses become showers for the homeless - CNN Photo, courtesy of CNN.com


Sanguine Solutions and Radical Hospitality

On my Ladies Who Lunch Conversations Facebook video interview you’ll hear and see how Doniece’s assiduous efforts to conceive, create, and construct a means to demonstrably change her community’s streets is no less that kind of life force and essential characteristic of the god, Mars. And that the god ~ or shall we say, Goddess, created conditions that may include warding off hostile forces of nature, well, that’s Doniece! (see how the connections really do resonate?)


Doniece single-handedly produced a concept that she’ll be the first to praise her team for, yet she, nevertheless, brokered the way for the community to become part of the solution.

You will hear and see her journey from idea to overcoming seemingly insurmountable hurdles to achieve success. Granted, it’s a success that needs to be achieved over and over, every day. But Doniece created the template from which her team at Lava MaeX ~ and other committed, socially responsible candidates can follow. 

 


Ladies Who Lunch Conversations on Facebook live event. 

I have been abundantly blessed to know Doniece for many years. Her elegance, strategic thinking, and ultimately, her compassion, are indeed heroic. 

Doniece is a true “She-Roe!” 

She always has been. It’s been a privilege to know her and work with her. 

I am so very proud that her story will ennoble and elevate your own perspective. To spur you to take action. To better your community. And in doing so: yourself and your family.  

Doniece offers practical advice, networking options and hope…  Enjoy her perspective and style. 

And her concept of Radical Hospitality!


As in every genuine Ladies Who Lunch experience ~ just like we all did meeting up at our homes, gardens, local restaurants, or museums, Doniece and I share some laughs, near-tears about some of her experiences with her “clients” and the unfairness of so much… And a Lightning Round of favorite things. Plus our champagne toasts. I’m still smiling. 




To augment and give you more context to our lovely conversation - and do note Doniece’s charming hat and sublime tablescape!  Doniece Sandoval inspired Lava MaeX’s work to transform the way communities see and serve people moving through homelessness. 


She founded the organization in 2013 as a solution to the lack of showers and toilets available to her unhoused neighbors in San Francisco. 

According to her incredible bio (trust me, I can’t write this story any better than this! So here is her bio as provided by Lava MaeX: “The nonprofit, then called Lava Mae, started out with two retrofitted city buses and has grown from a three-person team to a staff of 24, with operations in San Francisco, the East Bay, and Los Angeles. In early 2020, Doniece restructured it as LavaMaeX, a nonprofit accelerator that trains communities around the world to deliver street-based services. 

Early in LavaMaeX’s development, Doniece conceived the philosophy of Radical Hospitality—delivering an unexpected level of care—based on her belief that opportunity unfolds when people are treated with dignity and that people everywhere will rise to the level of respect they receive. The concept continues to guide LavaMaeX’s work.

Today Doniece is focused on giving communities around the world the tools and knowledge they need to serve their unhoused neighbors. The LavaMaeX DIY tool kit, which launched in 2017, has been downloaded more than 3,000 times from the nonprofit’s buildIt platform, and LavaMaeX has trained, advised, and inspired more than 170 communities to build their own mobile hygiene programs. 

A former marketing executive with a long history of community involvement, Doniece moved to San Francisco following two years of volunteering with the Red Cross, helping the survivors of 9/11. 

Prior to starting LavaMaeX, Doniece was chief external relations officer for ZERO1, an organization dedicated to showcasing the work of some of the most fertile minds in art, science, design, architecture, and technology. Before that she was head of marketing at the San Jose Museum of Art, where she grew a young adult audience and raised the museum’s brand profile regionally. 

Doniece also led communications for the Family Violence Prevention Fund (now Futures Without Violence), worked with corporate brands such as Coca-Cola and ToysRUs.com, and helped brand a host of small San Francisco–based design companies. 


She has earned numerous awards and honors for her work with LavaMaeX, including Nonprofit HR’s Women to Watch (2019), a 2017 CNN Hero award, a 2017 James Irvine Foundation Leadership award, and the KIND Foundation’s KIND People Award (2016). In March 2019 she was a Social Entrepreneur in Residence at Stanford University’s Haas Center.


In 2020, Doniece stepped away as LavaMaeX’s CEO into an advisor role. As an expert source, Doniece brings street-seasoned insights to topics such as scaling and replicating a social enterprise or nonprofit; solutions for ending the cycle of homelessness; and how communities can harness the power of collaboration and partnerships to address pressing challenges.”


Pick me up. I’m fainting with pride and bristling with respect for this extraordinary Lady. Cheers to you, Doniece. I humbly thank you for being such an exceptional guest at my Ladies Who Lunch Conversations. 


If you are as inspired as I am, and perhaps want to reach out to Doniece, you can find her here on LinkedIn and her Instagram or Lava Mae’s Facebook 


Next up: Wednesday, March 31st, I will host the artist and humanitarian, Jordan Robinson. 


Cheers to Ladies Who Lunch and our incredible networking and support of our glamorous gal squads.

Cheers to Ladies Who Lunch ~ that's me taking a photo of a Madison Avenue store window on my way to a ladies lunch! Talk about Karma! 



Some of The lyrics to Ladies Who Lunch: 

Here's to the ladies who lunch

Everybody laugh

… Choosing a hat

Does anyone still wear a hat?

I'll drink to that

Here's to the girls who stay smart

Aren't they a gas?

Rushing to their classes in optical art

Wishing it would pass

Another long exhausting day

Another thousand dollars

A matinee, a Pinter play

Perhaps a piece of Mahler's

I'll drink to that

And one for Mahler

… Just to keep in touch

I'll drink to them

Let's all drink to them


Let's hear it for the ladies who lunch

Everybody rise

Rise

Rise, rise

Rise, rise

Rise, rise

Rise


Thank you. Cheers, my dears.


Monday, March 8, 2021

View Inspiring, Intimate Career Journeys & Celebrate the Promise of International Women's Day & Women's History Month with Ladies Who Lunch Conversations & Pretty Tablescape!

 


At last… A true reason to celebrate. In fact, we are marking two joyful observances that have Women and Girls as the featured, honorable celebrants as the object of our collective solemnization. 

That makes sense, doesn’t it? Women are doubly talented. We manage to juggle ~ another word for doubling or more ~ managing work, home, and community. 


Therefore, let’s raise our glass to celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) today, March 8th.  According to IWD it is one of the most important days of the year to:


  • celebrate women's achievements

  • raise awareness about women's equality

  • lobby for accelerated gender parity

  • fundraise for female-focused charities


March not only celebrates International Women's Day to mark the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women but it also hosts Women’s History Month here in the U.S. 


Since its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed the resolution which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week” commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.


I think it also makes so much sense that March should be the month to celebrate women. 

After all, it is the season of change - spring is thrumming, it’s the time of rebirth. 

And who better than our uber-mother, Mother Nature, to serve as a kind of backdrop to honor women and girls.


Where to Celebrate with Me and My Guests

This celebration of women is really the foundation and backbone of my initiative to produce my  Ladies Who Lunch, Facebook Live monthly Conversations. 


My goal is to offer a learning platform for all of us. These artisans and entrepreneurs are masters of their craft. 


I am so excited that I get to talk to my artful guests to explore the captivating & inspiring stories about their extraordinary art & learning journeys~that make our lives better, richer. 

They share their challenges & tips on how to turn a talent, hobby, or dream into a well-lived life. 

Once a month, I interview a remarkable person ~ mainly, or primarily, a woman (wink. Because… Well, women are so inspiring and supportive) to talk about their journey.  


My first guest describes these pillars of accomplishments as the “gentle people.” 

I couldn't agree more; my guests are “regular” people who were determined to better their lives and their families and communities. They took a leap of confidence and used their brains, hustle, strength, talent and girlfriends :) to achieve success. 

At Ladies Who Lunch, these life legends and pioneers share their story: their tips and advice on how they made it, (it’s not all rainbows!); how we connect with others to elevate the communication and collaboration. 

We aim to lift women up ~ to empower ladies to greater success.


Our networking ~ especially with great dames ~ changes our lives. 

Our conversations can spark a new idea, a business, a love, a travel adventure, and more.  Of course this was much easier pre-pandemic.  But we can do it together at Ladies Who Lunch.  


The first interview was February 10th with the award-winning interior designer and networker extraordinaire, Toni Sabatino. Thank you, Toni. You and your style ~ and your fascinator ~ are too fabulous!   

For those of you who haven’t yet seen this popular post on Facebook (or YouTube or LinkIn), here is the link, below. 

Please enjoy the pretty-in-pink tablescape, the bubbly conversation ~ and the champagne toasts!  

And I humbly ask that you Follow and “Like” the fledgling Ladies Who Lunch platform.

Ladies Who Lunch Premiere: Conversation with Interior Design Toni Sabatino


Next Up

My next guest is the astonishing Doniece Sandoval, Lava Mae founder and community activist and entrepreneur. Lava Maia is a free global online community of homeless service providers bringing mobile showers and other care services to the street.

Doniece has changed lives in a profound way.  She’ll change yours too…


Please look for the link, Wednesday, March 10th. This will be a fascinating, remarkable, conversation.  

And my tablescape is springtime green, brimming with happy hope. Green is rejuvenation… (Do you want to see a sneak preview?)


Cheers to Women and Girls. We are changing the world.