In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the ChangeMakers Podcast, host Jeremy C. Park sits down with Taylor and Carter English, co-founders of The Rise School of San Antonio, to explore the transformative power of faith, family, and purpose-driven action. Their journey begins with personal challenges—the birth of their daughter Isabelle, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome—and evolves into a mission to redefine inclusion and early intervention for children with special needs.

Through their story, listeners witness the couple's unwavering commitment to turning challenges into blessings. From Carter's transition from coaching and sports to insurance and leadership at Higginbotham, to Taylor’s poignant reflections on motherhood and resilience, their narrative highlights how purpose and community can fuel extraordinary impact.

The couple's creation of The Rise School of San Antonio emerges as a testament to their vision of a better world—not just for Isabelle, but for all children who deserve tailored care and education. They share moving moments of personal growth, the generosity of others, and the collective effort required to build something greater than themselves.

Key themes in this episode include:
• The importance of embracing unexpected challenges with faith and determination.
• How small, consistent steps create ripple effects that inspire broader change.
• The power of community and leadership in making dreams a reality.
• Celebrating progress, big and small, as life’s most meaningful milestones.

Listeners will leave inspired to look inward, find their own unique ways to make a difference, and embrace life’s unexpected turns as opportunities for growth.

This episode is a powerful reminder that, when fueled by purpose and love, even the hardest challenges can lead to the most profound transformations.

To learn more or donate, please visit the Rise School of San Antonio website at riseschoolsa.org.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

Be inspired by more positive media by following cityCURRENT here: www.cityCURRENT.com

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with ChangeMaker, Gabrielle Thompson, President and CEO of IDEAS (International Development and Educational Associates), who shares her personal and professional journey, highlighting how stepping into hard moments and saying "yes" can transform the world.

During the interview, Gabrielle talks about growing up in a family of creatives and how lessons learned from her parents carry through today, noting that creating a new nonprofit program is like creating a piece of art. She talks about being born in Los Angeles, California and moving to Nashville, Tennessee, when she was six, and how around that same timeframe, she started to become interested in helping other girls her age around the world overcome social challenges and improve their lives after looking at pictures and asking her parents a lot of questions. She shares how that curiosity and passion led her to focus on making a difference globally throughout high school and college and led her to start traveling overseas to learn, serve, and volunteer at an early age, which paved the way for her to step into leadership roles and become the CEO of an international anti-human trafficking organization.

Gabrielle talks about her transition to become the President and CEO of IDEAS and discusses their asset-based approach to help communities and individuals flourish by helping to remove barriers to dignity. She shares some stories that have changed her life and perspective on leadership, talks about how working globally has impacted her perspective locally, and how individuals can turn anger into positive action to make a difference. This powerful episode will inspire you and enlighten you, and it will show you how stepping into hard moments and saying "yes" can transform the world.

Visit https://ideasworld.org to learn more about IDEAS and Gabrielle Thompson.

About Gabrielle Thompson:

Gabrielle Thompson has a heart for empowerment, justice and serving vulnerable populations around the globe. She has worked as a development practitioner in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America. Thompson is the current President and CEO, for IDEAS (International Development and Educational Associates), where they work help communities and individuals flourish by helping to remove barriers to dignity. Prior to leading IDEAS, Gabrielle was the CEO of an international anti-human trafficking organization for eight years, and an adjunct professor in the Masters of International Affairs program at Middle Tennessee State University. Thompson was awarded Nashville’s Top Professionals 30 under 30 in 2018 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Nashville Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 Professionals in 2020, and Middle Tennessee State Universities’ Alumni Achievement Award in 2021. Thompson previously worked in gender-based development initiatives in Costa Rica and Turkey and holds a Master of International Affairs from Middle Tennessee State University.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

Be inspired by more positive media by following cityCURRENT here: www.cityCURRENT.com