We are incredibly grateful to the team at Doing Good for inviting Persist to join their podcast.
Doing Good is a Tennessee based 501(c)(3) that equips nonprofits with video storytelling, marketing support, and PR opportunities. Their mission is simple and powerful: the more visibility and tools they can provide to other agencies, the more time and resources those organizations can invest directly into their mission. They shine a light on the stories of organizations, volunteers, and community leaders who are creating real impact.
We were honored to have two incredible voices represent Persist:
- Laurie Brown — CEO of Intrepid College Prep and Board Chair of Persist Nashville
- Dakota — Student Ambassador and current Persist student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville
Laurie shared the big picture behind why college persistence matters, especially for first-generation students navigating their first two years. Dakota shared the lived experience of what coaching support looks like in real time.
We are thankful for partners like Doing Good who understand that when stories are told well, impact grows.
Bridging the Gap Between Access and Completion
Featuring Laurie Brown, CEO & Board Chair
Laurie explains how our data-driven approach tracks outcomes and partners with MNPS high schools to ensure seamless support from senior year through sophomore year of college. The goal is not just enrollment. It is graduation.
This episode also reframes volunteerism.
Laurie challenges busy professionals to see volunteering not as an obligation, but as a two-way investment. Serving students can reduce stress, increase happiness, and reconnect you to work that feels meaningful. When professionals share their expertise, students gain guidance. When students succeed, the entire community benefits.
From Overwhelmed to Empowered
Featuring Dakota, Student Ambassador & Persist Student
Dakota a Persist student attending the University of Tennessee Knoxville, shares what many first-generation students quietly carry. Financial aid deadlines. FAFSA confusion. Scholarship requirements. Mental health stress. The pressure of figuring it out alone.
When she first arrived on campus, Dakota went to class and back to her dorm. No involvement. No clear roadmap. Through one-on-one coaching with Persist, everything shifted. In this episode, she explains how personalized coaching helped her manage financial aid without panic, find meaningful campus involvement, build confidence, and grow into a Student Ambassador representing her peers.
With scholarship support from the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and consistent coaching along the way, Dakota stayed on track. Her story is simple and powerful: students do not just need information. They need relationships.
Why These Conversations Matter
Behind every statistic is a student navigating real life challenges. Behind every successful graduate is a network of support.
In the 2024 to 2025 academic year, the Persist team supported more than 1,200 students with professional coaching, campus connection, and emergency financial assistance. The results speak for themselves, but the stories are what make the impact personal.
If you are a student feeling overwhelmed, a parent searching for guidance, or a professional looking for purpose, these episodes are for you.
Watch both conversations now on Doing Good TV:
www.youtube.com/@doinggoodtv
Because college success is not just about getting in. It is about finishing strong.
Have a student who needs Persist: SIGN-UP TODAY