How a Small-Town Girl Led National Service for Obama | Wendy Spencer

In this inspiring episode of Every Soul Has a Story, host Dara Levan sits down with Wendy Spencer—a Renaissance woman who has dedicated her life to service. Currently President and CEO of Leadership Florida, Wendy previously served as the Chief Service Officer for the nation, leading AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and VISTA under President Obama. Despite being a Republican, she received unanimous Senate confirmation and worked closely with the Obama administration, including Vice President Joe Biden.

Wendy shares her remarkable journey from small-town Georgia to the highest role in national service, the rigorous White House vetting process, and her experiences working with multiple presidents. She also offers powerful insights on COVID-19 disaster response, the importance of mental health, and how volunteerism and connection are more vital than ever.

This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, bipartisanship, and the transformative power of service.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro with Dara Levan
1:47 - Working under Republican governors in Florida
4:00 - Chair of America's State Service Commissions
5:27 - The White House phone call
8:35 - Rigorous vetting and Senate confirmation
11:37 - Working with President Obama and Joe Biden
13:31 - Service events with the First Family
16:05 - Growing up in small-town Thomasville, Georgia
18:33 - The importance of connection and listening
20:40 - COVID-19 disaster response planning
24:01 - Mental health during quarantine
27:01 - Family connections during COVID
30:47 - Volunteering online during the pandemic
35:16 - Humor and connection in leadership
36:03 - Inducting AmeriCorps from space story
41:15 - Closing gratitude and wrap-up32:24 - Outro

RESOURCES:

Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story:
• https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
• Website: daralevan.com
• https://www.leadershipflorida.org/

QUOTES:

I think when you approach someone, you show an interest in them and you start asking questions about them. And people really like that. And they, then they start getting interested in you as well.
– Wendy Spencer

I always think about legacy, and what am I doing? How can I impact my world, my zip code, my community, my county, my country? You never know if what you're doing is really going to change the life of someone else.
– Dara Levan