In human services, trust isn’t optional—it’s everything.
In this solo episode of A Side of Hope, Melanie explores Stephen M.R. Covey’s The Speed of Trust through the lens of human service leadership. Drawing on real-world stories and years of experience, she unpacks why trust may be the most important factor in organizational success—more vital than funding, staffing, or even strategy.
From frontline staff to families to interdepartmental teams, trust shapes every outcome. This episode is a reminder that hope grows where trust is cultivated.

We’ve all heard the phrase person-centered thinking—maybe in trainings, maybe on forms, maybe in passing. But what if it’s more than a professional concept?
In this solo episode of A Side of Hope, Melanie reflects on her journey in human services and why person-centered thinking is about more than paperwork or compliance. It’s a mindset, a way of honoring people’s stories, and a practice that keeps dignity, choice, and humanity at the center of our work.
For human service professionals, social workers, or anyone entering the field, this episode is both a challenge and an invitation: to make person-centered thinking part of who you are, not just what you do.

Melanie sits down with Joe, co-founder of Choices, to talk about supported living, mentoring new agencies, and his journey from provider to parent. Together, they explore partnership with families, self-determination, and what it means to build a legacy of hope.