Episode 7 - Laura Martin (StepUp Ministries)

In this week’s episode Laura Martin, Chief Outreach Officer at Step Up Ministries joins Matt Elliott on Running with the Bulls. A seasoned professional in the Nonprofit sector here in the Triangle, Laura brings 20 years of service to the Raleigh community. Laura proudly serves on the board of directors for The Encouraging Place, Cary Community Foundation, as well as past experience as an Executive Director and Volunteer Coordinator at Dress for Success Triangle and Oak City Cares. During this conversation, Laura and Matt dive into the impact and community betterment focus that embodies Step Up Ministries mission, and what initially drew Laura to the nonprofit space. Step Up Ministries is a community focused nonprofit that gives individuals the tools to gain independence through job security and life skills training, with nearly 10,000 participants across all programs and 307 volunteers. The discussion also centers around the importance of collaboration, the misconceptions around poverty and homelessness in society, and the steps that need to be taken to address it. In addition, common myths about nonprofit business processes are refuted by the vast majority of leaders and community representatives who prioritize a focus on partnerships and impact strengthening.Tune in to this episode for some wonderful stories of hope and life changing opportunities, as well as thought provoking commentary on what makes a successful nonprofit thrive in an industry where the stakes are so high. Laura’s own experiences that led her to being in such an impactful position at Step Up Ministries are great anecdotes for anyone looking to improve their focus on community and civic enhancement!