My guest this week is a very special human being, I called her an Earth Angel as that is exactly what Karen Olson is in the world. Through a small act of kindness in 1981 for an elderly homeless woman called Millie in New York City, it not only changed the trajectory of Karen’s life, but also the lives of thousands of people affected by homelessness in the US. Karen’s act of compassion came from a space of wanting to help others as She too had faced tragedy in her own childhood when her Mother took her own life when Karen was only 12. Always wanting to be a nurse, She was influenced otherwise until She found her purpose in helping others in a different way by setting up Family Promise in 1986 - a national non-profit organisation that helps homeless and low-income families. By 2016, Family Promise opened its doors in its 200th location. Through Karen’s leadership, awareness and compassion, those affected by homelessness were now being seen and heard, the support that Karen’s organisation offered helped them to find a home, offering safety and stability. This had a knock on effect in their education and careers. Only 6 years ago, Karen had a terrible accident, She is now walking with the aid of a special walker, and it hasn’t stopped her from feeling grateful and still wanting to raise awareness. Her book - Meant for More - following your heart and finding your purpose shares her life, work and contribution to humanity. I applaud her in every way. You can find Karen’s book on https://www.amazon.com/Meant-More-Following-Finding-Purpose/dp/B0DCHRTQ39 Connect with Karen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-olson-1a6257304/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen.olson.author/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.olson.author Find out more about Family Promise: https://familypromise.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sharonfitzmaurice.substack.com

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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