Fresh Perspectives

From his first role as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer to serving as Vice President of Community at San Diego FC, Joel Katz has built his career around one guiding principle: leave the world better than you found it.

Joel joins the podcast to discuss how a career rooted in service prepared him to build San Diego FC's community impact strategy from the ground up. 

Joel shares why consistently showing up matters, how his team developed strategic priorities based on the needs of San Diego's diverse communities, and why community impact should be woven into every part of an organization's operating philosophy - not confined to a single department. From creating parks and pitches to empowering players to serve in ways that reflect their individual passions, every initiative is designed with long-term impact in mind.

The conversation explores the realities of building a department in a startup environment, balancing ambition with focus, and the responsibility that comes with shaping an organization's reputation from its very first season. This episode offers practical insights on leadership, intentionality, and building programs that last.

What is Fresh Perspectives?

Dive into Fresh Perspectives: Conversations with All-Star Innovators in Education, a podcast dedicated to connecting with the visionaries and organizations driving change in education through disruptive and innovative approaches. Join Learn Fresh’s Nick Monzi and Calvin Sibert as they explore a range of topics—from racial and gender equity to social-emotional learning and the evolving educational landscape. Discover more about our work at learnfresh.org.