Kathy Izard is the author of ‘The Hundred Story Home, a memoir about finding faith in ourselves and something bigger.’ The memoir tells the story of how Kathy listened to a whisper urging her to house the homeless. She launched Homeless to Homes, a Housing First proof-of-concept program, and led a capital campaign to build Moore Place, the first permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless in Charlotte. She has worked on numerous civic projects, including leading fundraising efforts for HopeWay, the first nonprofit residential mental health treatment center in the Charlotte region. Before these efforts, Kathy was a graphic designer and soup kitchen volunteer. She is a member of the Women’s Impact Fund and serves on the board of directors of the Charlotte Urban Ministry Center, Moore Place, HopeWay, and the Crossnore School for foster children. Kathy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin.
This episode is perfect for anyone interested in building permanent housing for the homeless and a journey to find meaning and purpose in life.
IN THIS EPISODE
- Kathy talks about how she feels receiving recognition for her book.
- She summarizes the story that The Hundred Story Home tells.
- She shares the most meaningful story within The Hundred Story Home.
- She describes the household she grew up in West Texas.
- Kathy reflects on the importance of borders issues in her life.
- She explains what ‘Do Good Love Well’ means to her and answers which of the two is harder for her.
- She shares what she wished she had written that she did not in her book.
- She considers whether family and home are the same thing or something different.
- Kathy talks about how homeless people go about creating family.
- She answers what faith she is talking about when she talks about faith.
- She references the works of theology of Barbara Brown Taylor.
- She discusses how she sees faith in action and the God she believes in.
- Kathy explains what she means by ‘God-instance’ and addresses whether an agnostic or atheist could have accomplished the same work of funding Moore Place.
- She talks about her feelings of guilt and shame and gratitude about privilege.
- She reflects on what qualities account for her achievements.
- She reveals what she learned in therapy during the writing of the book.
- Kathy addresses projecting herself as a protagonist.
- She answers whether the search for meaning and purpose continues for her.
- She shares the message she wants to tell people and the whisper she is listening to now.