Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 21 hours ago
Our co-hosts today:
• Rachel Lim, Marketing Communication Specialist, Maddie’s Fund
• Shafonda Allen, Founder & Principal Consultant, Back to Basics Animal Welfare Leadership Consulting
Our speaker today:
Jay Garza, Engagement Liaison, BIPOC in Animal Well-Being Collective
This conversation explores how a foundation in culinary service, centered on listening, responsiveness, and meaningful experiences, evolved into a broader commitment to community-centered work.
What began as a focus on serving individuals through food grew into a deeper understanding of service as a tool for impact.
That lens now informs my approach to animal welfare, where I work to bridge gaps between people, resources, and care.
By centering listening and intention, I aim to meet both human and animal needs in a way that is responsive and accessible.
Ultimately, this journey reflects a shift from serving meals to serving communities.
Key Takeaways:
• Service is a mindset, not a role—it can evolve and expand across different fields.
• Listening and responsiveness are critical to building trust and meeting real needs.
• Sustainable impact happens when we bridge gaps between people and the support they need.
To comment or ask more questions about this meeting, please visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations51826
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
00:00 Welcome
03:15 Presentation
Our co-hosts today:
• Rachel Lim, Marketing Communication Specialist, Maddie’s Fund
• Shafonda Allen, Founder & Principal Consultant, Back to Basics Animal Welfare Leadership Consulting
Our speaker today:
Jay Garza, Engagement Liaison, BIPOC in Animal Well-Being Collective
This conversation explores how a foundation in culinary service, centered on listening, responsiveness, and meaningful experiences, evolved into a broader commitment to community-centered work.
What began as a focus on serving individuals through food grew into a deeper understanding of service as a tool for impact.
That lens now informs my approach to animal welfare, where I work to bridge gaps between people, resources, and care.
By centering listening and intention, I aim to meet both human and animal needs in a way that is responsive and accessible.
Ultimately, this journey reflects a shift from serving meals to serving communities.
Key Takeaways:
• Service is a mindset, not a role—it can evolve and expand across different fields.
• Listening and responsiveness are critical to building trust and meeting real needs.
• Sustainable impact happens when we bridge gaps between people and the support they need.
To comment or ask more questions about this meeting, please visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations51826
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
00:00 Welcome
03:15 Presentation
