Spiritual Justice with Eric S. Lee

Today’s episode features someone whose work reminds us that love, when lived out in action, can transform entire communities. I’m honored to welcome LaKeshia Hodge, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Struggle of Love Foundation here in Colorado. I’ve had the privilege of interacting with LaKeshia  on several occasions, and what stands out immediately is her combination of intelligence, heart, and relentless persistence in creating positive change. She is someone who does not simply talk about community — she shows up for it, again and again. The Struggle of Love Foundation, often called S.O.L., was created from lived experience.  LaKeshia and her co-founder understand firsthand the challenges of housing instability and hardship, and they have turned that experience into a mission of service and empowerment. Their work focuses on building awareness, connection, and opportunity for youth, families, and communities through mentorship, violence prevention, mental health support, and access to healthy food. From providing hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies each year, to hosting Thanksgiving dinners for homeless families, to opening a community food pantry in Montbello, the Struggle of Love Foundation has served thousands of families across the Denver metro area. What makes this work so powerful is that it is deeply relational. It is about dignity. It is about meeting people where they are and creating pathways toward healthier and more hopeful lives. And that commitment has not gone unnoticed. The Struggle of Love Foundation has received recognition locally and nationally for its community impact, including awards from the federal government, the Colorado Fatherhood Council, and the City of Denver. But beyond the recognition, what matters most is the spirit behind the work — a belief that when communities come together with compassion and purpose, real transformation becomes possible.

"Unleashing Youth Potential: A Deep Dive with Sheila Van de Graaph, the Visionary Executive Director of YouthRoots"

This is what Spiritual Justice looks like in action!  When we invest in people, when we believe in their potential, and when we create spaces for growth and belonging, we don’t just change outcomes—we change futures.

Shant'a Johnson is the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Community Action Agency-the locally legislated anti-poverty agency for the county. Holding an MA in Education Administration and Policy, Shant'a has over 20 years of experience in anti-poverty work in the housing and education sectors, and has worked with communities domestically as well as internationally.  As a trained poverty-informed coach to organizations, Shant'a also prides herself in doing this work while overcoming the deep impact of poverty and homelessness as a former Head Start parent. She is also passionate about community organizing, dance, her daughter and her fur baby Nala!   Today’s conversation reminds us that justice is not only about systems — it is also about access, empowerment, and the tools people need to build stable and thriving lives. What makes Shant’a’s work especially aligned with the spirit of this show is her heart. She brings not only expertise, but deep care for her community. Whether she is teaching financial principles or facilitating a healing circle with youth, she shows up with presence, passion, and a belief in people’s potential. Her work bridges practical empowerment and emotional restoration — helping individuals strengthen both their economic footing and their inner resilience. Today, we explore how financial literacy can be an act of justice, how healing spaces create possibility, and how one person’s commitment to community can ripple outward in lasting ways

Shant'a Johnson is the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Community Action Agency-the locally legislated anti-poverty agency for the county. Holding an MA in Education Administration and Policy, Shant'a has over 20 years of experience in anti-poverty work in the housing and education sectors, and has worked with communities domestically as well as internationally.  As a trained poverty-informed coach to organizations, Shant'a also prides herself in doing this work while overcoming the deep impact of poverty and homelessness as a former Head Start parent. She is also passionate about community organizing, dance, her daughter and her fur baby Nala!   Today’s conversation reminds us that justice is not only about systems — it is also about access, empowerment, and the tools people need to build stable and thriving lives. What makes Shant’a’s work especially aligned with the spirit of this show is her heart. She brings not only expertise, but deep care for her community. Whether she is teaching financial principles or facilitating a healing circle with youth, she shows up with presence, passion, and a belief in people’s potential. Her work bridges practical empowerment and emotional restoration — helping individuals strengthen both their economic footing and their inner resilience. Today, we explore how financial literacy can be an act of justice, how healing spaces create possibility, and how one person’s commitment to community can ripple outward in lasting ways

In this episode of The Spiritual Justice Show — Where inner peace meets collective purpose, we welcome two leaders who embody what it means to invest in the next generation with consistency, humility, and heart: Kenny Wilcox and Clark Quattrocchi of FYI in Chaffee County, Colorado. Kenny, coordinator of FYI’s adult-to-youth mentoring program, has been championing young people for what he jokingly calls his “entire alleged adult life.” Once told in high school that he would someday be a coach, he has grown into exactly that—someone who sees potential, calls it forward, and walks alongside youth with steadiness and belief. His deep love for family and community shines through in the way he approaches mentorship—not as a program, but as a relationship. Clark, Coordinator for the Youth in Action Program, carries that same spirit of connection into his work with middle schoolers and pre-kinders, creating spaces where mentorship flows both ways and leadership is cultivated early. Whether he’s on the river, the trails, or the slopes, Clark brings an energy of movement and engagement into his work—reminding us that growth happens through shared experience. For the past 18 years, FYI has been strengthening Chaffee County through prevention, connection, and community collaboration. Serving families, youth, and the broader community, FYI’s personalized approach blends evidence-based programs with something equally powerful: human connection. Their youth programs provide safe, nurturing environments where young people develop life skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging. 

In this episode of The Spiritual Justice Show, we are honored to welcome Deauntra Smith, CEO of When The Leaves: Restorative Consulting—a visionary leader in restorative justice whose work centers healing, accountability, and liberation as pathways to lasting community transformation. Grounded in the truth that “hurt people hurt people, but healed people heal people,”