North Hills Community Outreach has launched a monthly podcast titled Get to Know NHCO. Hosted by Executive Director Tom Baker and Director of Development and Communications Erica Cochran, the show highlights opportunities available to residents of northern Allegheny County to receive a helping hand. In addition, the show educates listeners on volunteer opportunities available throughout the 40-zip code region the organization reaches.
“The podcast was a way to pull back the curtain on who we are and how all this works,” said Dan Wonders, NHCO’s transportation resource coordinator and founder of the podcast. “Once Tom came on board and learned about the project, he and Erica suggested a bigger focus for the podcast that would draw in community partners and other organizations that comprise our nonprofit universe. Their chemistry was immediate, and we realized Tom and Erica made the perfect hosts.”
To date, Tom and Erica have interviewed community leaders such as Greater Pittsburgh Community Foodbank President and 2020 Pittsburgher of the Year, Lisa Scales; CCAC President Dr. Quintin Bullock; and Allegheny County Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman. Combining these marquee guests with appearances from other NHCO staff, the show ties the work of these community leaders to the assistance available through the organization.
“The podcast has strengthened our relationships with our partners and provided them with an important platform to share about their incredible efforts,” said Baker. “The fact that we hosted the reigning Pittsburgher of the Year started a trajectory of having some amazing Allegheny County leaders featured through the show. It also enables us to showcase our incredible colleagues here at NHCO and the way they achieve our focus of helping others every single day through our 20 programs and services.”
In addition to educating the community on the programs and services NHCO offers, the podcast also gives listeners a sense of the loving care for the community surrounding all the organization’s efforts.
“Working on Get To Know NHCO has really opened my eyes to how hard our staff works every day to ensure the needs of those in the community are met,” said Cochran. “If I am learning through simply recording this podcast with my colleagues, I can only hope that our listeners are really getting to know NHCO as well!”
Episodes are released on the second Wednesday of each month. September will feature career coach and president of the St. Margaret Foundation, Mary Lee Gannon. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and at www.nhco.org/podcast.