In this episode of Tell Me It Will Be Okay, I interview Brandy Jemczura of Columbus, Ohio, founder of Seeds of Caring, a nonprofit that connects children ages 2–12 (and some middle schoolers) with volunteer and activism opportunities to build empathy, kindness, and agency. We links service to anxiety support and resiliency, emphasizing four cornerstones: feeling lovable, capable, able to handle emotions, and developing a resilient self-concept. Brandy shares how Seeds of Caring grew from 285 child volunteer experiences in its first year to over 57,000 annually, now operating in Columbus and Indianapolis, and explains how programs use children’s literature, reflection, and hands-on projects to address tough topics without “othering,” using asset-framing language and reinforcing that everyone needs help sometimes. We discuss parent concerns, privilege, and how small actions can create hope and community impact.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:30 Action as Anxiety Relief

00:55 Resiliency Cornerstones

02:33 Volunteering Builds Regulation

04:38 Meet Brandy Gemchura

05:19 Seeds of Caring Origin Story

08:22 Scaling Up and Facing Fear

10:45 Why Ages Two to Twelve

14:00 What Two Year Olds Do

17:32 Culture of Caring Ripple Effects

19:37 Winning Over Nonprofit Partners

21:56 Talking Tough Topics With Kids

24:02 Hope for Overwhelmed Parents

25:22 Favorite Family Activities

25:44 Goldfish Fairness Lesson

27:43 From Empathy to Action

29:11 Avoiding Othering Language

32:07 Kids Growing With Service

35:09 Kindness Versus Nice

37:54 Privilege Into Next Steps

41:02 Helpers and Mental Health

43:56 Scaling to New Cities

45:17 Start Small Anywhere

46:58 Parents Modeling Kindness

49:24 Final Wrap and Resources

Want to know more about Seeds of Caring? Of course you do! Who wouldn't?!? Check out their website here: SeedsofCaring.org

You can find also find them on:

1. Facebook: Columbus, Indiana
2. Instagram: Columbus, Indiana
3. Linkedin
4. YouTube

Mentioned in this episode:

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