What if the problem isn't that there's nothing good happening in Shreveport-Bossier, but that we don't hear enough about it?

In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Felicia Sullivan, creator of On the Bright Side, a free weekly newsletter built around the positive things happening throughout the Shreveport-Bossier community.

Every Monday morning, Felicia highlights local events, nonprofits, small businesses, volunteer opportunities, live music, and stories about everyday people making a difference.

Jeremy and Felicia talk about:

• Why Felicia created On the Bright Side
• The problem with constantly consuming negative news
• Why Shreveport-Bossier has more happening than many people realize
• How to find local volunteer opportunities
• The incredible work being done by local nonprofits
• Why small acts of service can have a major impact
• Finding positive stories that would otherwise never be told
• How getting involved changed Felicia's own perception of Shreveport-Bossier
• Why positive storytelling matters for community pride
• Moving from complaining about your community to helping improve it
• Why you don't have to do something huge to make a difference
• Felicia's plans for Bright Side Impact, connecting small businesses and nonprofits through volunteer projects

One of Felicia's favorite stories isn't about a major organization or a huge donation. It's about a man she met through one of her physical therapy patients. After suffering a serious accident years earlier that left him paralyzed, he worked his way back to walking. Today, he uses that experience to help elderly people in his neighborhood. He simply goes to their homes, gets them outside, and walks with them. Nobody would know his name from the news.There probably won't be a big ceremony honoring him, but he's making his neighborhood better.

And that's exactly the kind of story On the Bright Side exists to tell.

One of the biggest themes of this conversation is that improving a community can't always be somebody else's responsibility. There are nonprofits that need volunteers.There are neighbors who need help.There are local businesses worth supporting.There are churches and community organizations looking for people willing to serve.

You don't have to fix everything.

Find one place where you can contribute and start there.

As Jeremy and Felicia put it near the end of the conversation:

Go walk your neighbor.

Sometimes making your community better really can be that simple.

On The Bright Side Newsletter

On the Bright Side is a free weekly newsletter focused on the positive people, organizations, events and opportunities throughout Shreveport-Bossier.

It arrives every Monday morning and helps locals discover what's happening, where they can volunteer, and who is doing good work throughout the community.

If you've ever said, "There's nothing to do here" or "I don't know how to get involved," On the Bright Side might change your mind.

Shreveport-Bossier Local Lens
Hosted by Jeremy Sutton

Conversations with the people who are building, serving and making a difference in Shreveport-Bossier.