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:
- Facebook: Columbus, Indiana
- Instagram: Columbus, Indiana
- Linkedin
- YouTube
