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.

Did you know Nevada currently ranks the highest state in homelessness in unaccompanied minors?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/homelessness-remains-a-serious-problem-in-nevada-report-shows/ar-AA1wM4bG?ocid=BingNewsVerp

• The homeless rate in Nevada is 222 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average of 174.
• Reno has a homeless rate of 254, and Las Vegas has a rate of 228.
• In 2021, there were 306 people with children who were homeless in Southern Nevada.

With an increase year over year since 2020, the impact of homelessness has continued to be a topic of discussion among other topics, with little solutions.

Top 5 reasons for homelessness in Nevada and leading reasons:

• Unemployment/Loss of Job (57 %)
• Mental Health Issues ( 45%)
• Illness/Medical (41%)
• Alcohol/Drug Abuse (39%)
• Being kicked out or removed by family (Aging out of home)

These continue to be a huge contributing factor of the 7% unemployment ranks and continues to see roughly 7,900 people as of March 2025 homeless.

However, these are families, working middle class men and woman who are living in the car outside their job, to just be able to pay for a weekly to house their family?

How are corporations going to help improve circumstances?

How can you help encourage your neighbor and inspire them to find a start a small business or push themselves to create a new job for their work?

This episode is a ton of numbers, but also a ton of heart to help bring to light the question, CAN HOMELESSNESS IN NEVADA BE SOLVED?

Send me an email to be on an episode of Valley Views (ValleyViewsamandajoy@gmail.com).

This episode is a testimony account of mine and my husband's visit to the Nevada State Legislative Hearing Rooms discussing the Proposed A.B. 238 Nevada Studio Infrastructure Jobs and Workforce Training Act held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 4pm in Carson City, NV & Virtually in Las Vegas. Here is the LINK TO THE BILL!

https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Bills/AB/AB238.pdf

Over 100 locals turned out to majority vote in favor of the bill with minimal opposition.

This episode dives into the details of the hearing including the formal plans of actions and a reflection with Briana Kennedy, Community Liaison of Women In Film Nevada & NWFFest (Nevada Women's Film Festival), Actress, Productor, and Director.

Nevada Women's Film Festival is returning for its 11th year on June 19 - 22, 2025 and is still OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS at time of broadcast! Click the link above to learn more.

Briana Kennedy is working on some amazing projects and can be found on Instagram TheBrianaKennedy which you can learn about her upcoming project UndergroundOvertureFilm. I'm so grateful to share her input and highlight the impact of this bill on her behalf on this episode and I truly apricate everything you're doing to make this city even greater!

Other aspects of the episode highlight some notes on revenue and job projections as noted in the hearing. I'm grateful for a chance to be in the room where it happens yesterday as Hollywood 2.0 launches!

If you'd like to share your story or viewpoint on Valley Views, feel free to email me at valleyviewsamandajoy@gmail.com.

I recently WON a social media contest by Anthem Injury Lawyers to surprise my family with a SUITE KNIGHT out with the Vegas Golden Knights.

This episode talks about the experience going with a 3 and 1 year old. The overtop moments we had as a family along with the kindness and hospitality the Anthem Injury Lawyer box mates showed us!

Did you know I made a wish on the Chinese New Year game in 2020 to find my "golden knight"? Well, join me on this fun podcast, with my son Deryk saying hello ! This was a dream come true and totally a moment I'll forever be grateful for.

This episode goes into the details about my most recently family visit to the Home - The Lion Habitat Ranch in Henderson, NV.

It was an absolutely interesting experience seeing the giant majestic creatures of the past, now just being housed amongst the Raiders & Amazon towering buildings.

If you want to be on an episode of Valley Views, please email me at valleyviewsamandajoy@gmail.com.

I appreciate every single listener and friend that has been a part of my journey so far.