Episode 158 Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"
Thu Sep 25 2025
It's always a treat to sit down with one of our great nonprofit leaders to talk about one of our great nonprofits. You can find my full discussion with Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden, Executive Director of the Renesting Project, Inc, here.
Here are the questions I asked:
0:45 1. You’re the Executive Director of one of our community’s great nonprofits – Renesting Project, Inc. Renesting Project is a community furniture bank doing really important work, providing basic furniture and household items free of charge to hundreds of men, women and children in need.
Let’s start here today. Talk to me about some of the different populations Renesting serves.
2:38 2. You were recently honored by NBC 6 as its Remarkable Woman of the Year, which from my perspective seems well deserved. I don’t have a question around that but I wanted to make sure I mentioned it as I think it’s a huge deal.
Renest Fest, your annual fundraiser is right around the corner, two days before we publish. Tell people about this great and important event.
6:27 3. I came across a quote of yours where you said, “I really believe in the dignity of the human spirit and the collective power of community”. Talk to me some about this.
11:52 4. You and I met because of the great work of Dr. Heather Carpenter who runs the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most know it) at LSUS. In 2023, you were one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected for the 2023 Nonprofit Capacity Building Cohort. You also earned your Masters in Nonprofit Administration through INAR’s program at LSUS.
Talk to me about INAR from your perspective. Why is the work they’re doing so important in our community and why has it been so important for you and your work?
19:19 5. For those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?
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It's always a treat to sit down with one of our great nonprofit leaders to talk about one of our great nonprofits. You can find my full discussion with Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden, Executive Director of the Renesting Project, Inc, here. Here are the questions I asked: 0:45 1. You’re the Executive Director of one of our community’s great nonprofits – Renesting Project, Inc. Renesting Project is a community furniture bank doing really important work, providing basic furniture and household items free of charge to hundreds of men, women and children in need. Let’s start here today. Talk to me about some of the different populations Renesting serves. 2:38 2. You were recently honored by NBC 6 as its Remarkable Woman of the Year, which from my perspective seems well deserved. I don’t have a question around that but I wanted to make sure I mentioned it as I think it’s a huge deal. Renest Fest, your annual fundraiser is right around the corner, two days before we publish. Tell people about this great and important event. 6:27 3. I came across a quote of yours where you said, “I really believe in the dignity of the human spirit and the collective power of community”. Talk to me some about this. 11:52 4. You and I met because of the great work of Dr. Heather Carpenter who runs the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most know it) at LSUS. In 2023, you were one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected for the 2023 Nonprofit Capacity Building Cohort. You also earned your Masters in Nonprofit Administration through INAR’s program at LSUS. Talk to me about INAR from your perspective. Why is the work they’re doing so important in our community and why has it been so important for you and your work? 19:19 5. For those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?