This episode of Valley Views gives you a personal interview with Executive Director & Founder Rachel Rickman of 500 Projects of Love, a local 501C3 organization. She's gearing up on June 22, 2025, to celebrate 5 years of her non-profit and I'm so grateful to be able to share her story.

She is a champion of serving, stewarting, and inspiring the homeless community here in Southern Nevada. Her experience to help started in long before 5 years ago, when she was in college, she found herself working to provide relief to her own father during his challenges and to mother's and baby's without resources in the start of their lives.

She is a hero, a genuine human, and the PROJECT she runs is a lifeblood of TRUE hospitality and service. It's taking the TRUE needs of someone and putting them in your heart and giving them relief, a space, and validating it's only a season.

I wish more people knew Rachael Rickman, so now is your chance. Please follow here on ALL of her social media challenges and help volunteer with her.

https://www.facebook.com/500ProjectsofLove/

https://www.instagram.com/500projectsoflove/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RZi9-H7AGvjyglXBj1mbg

https://www.tiktok.com/@500projectsoflove/video/7475506103611165983

Interview Questions:

What is one thing you wish you could tell youryounger self now as an adult? Confidence looks good onyou. Don’t beat yourself up over things you can’t control. You will grow up to do great things that make a difference for others.

Ways to help volunteer, donate, investment or partnerships with business owners, sponsors and other non-profits.

Thank you again and please send an email to valleyviewsamandajoy@gmail.com to have your own "Valley View" episode as community, conversation, and hospitality of all worlds begin to collide!

"SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WOMAN WHO WOULD DROP YOUR NAME IN A ROOM FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES!" - Heels & Handshakes FOUNDER & CEO Shannen Stewart announced is the motto of the organization she founded in 2013, but truly took a ramp during 2020! Heels and Handshakes Las Vegas Chapter Launch was held in March 2025 at The Hive Event Studio.

This amazing group of HIGH ACHIEVING woman came out and showed up for a night of energy, passion, laughter, tears, and even some homemade TRUCKER HATS!

Chapter Founding Members are the dynamic and beautiful Donna Murry (President), Denise Collins (Director of Programs), Angela Williams (Director of Marketing), Alyson Lyden (Director of Sponsorship), Tina Adkins-Fisher (Director of Membership) & Erika Stonebarger (Director of New Members)

Each one of you added such a fun and inviting conversation to the evening. I truly valued your leadership, kindness, and fierce conversation to being true to oneself.

Donna Murry spearheaded a great panel with Britt Whalen (CEO & FOUNDER of LaCritiqueLV.com) & Dr. Truvella Reese ( CO-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer at Las Vegas Dental Management). Both women displayed such a variety of ideas on work life (integration NEVER BALANCE) and the idea of walking into any room with the same confidence as a man.

Shannen Stewart (FOUNDER of Heels and Handshakes) which is in Nashville & Chicago. She truly took a deep dive into her heart and shared her story of the journey in Nashville to now and the inspiring impacts here organization may have on economic growth of B2B business within our own backyard community.

Thank you again ladies if we discussed at this event a future podcast episode and you haven't heard back, send me an email at valleyviewsamandajoy@gmail.com.

This episode is going to take some time to reflect, recap, and revive conversations so far! The impact around homelessness and unemployment was huge from last episode. The conversations I'm having with each person is truly changing and making space for a beautiful community.

Whether you're in the Hospitality Industry or you're a LOCAL looking to connect this is your PODCAST! To celebrate my community is to take time to showcase, share, and save a person from making a decision they may regret.

The following conversations continue to grow around helping and creating community here in Southern Nevada.

I truly want to thank every single person who has been a piece or a Valley View on this podcast. The reach we have now may seem small, but the power of promoting community, family, and a future where small businesses thrive is the WHY!

Never forget if you're going through something that may seem insanely impossible, get in your car take a drive and find a NEW VALLEY VIEW.

Amanda Joy Christensen is taking emails at valleyviewsamandajoy@gmail.com for future episodes.