A Gritty Journey of Tex-Mex Theology with Alan Graham, Founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes
The Power of Presence, with Ilene Green
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with a longtime friend of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Ilene Green!
Ilene’s journey to Community First! Village began long before she called Austin home. While living out of state, Ilene started volunteering with Mobile Loaves & Fishes when her son, Charles, began working at the organization. After retiring from a career as a teaching aid, where she spent years working alongside children and adults with disabilities, Ilene moved from Illinois to Austin and quickly found a new place to serve.
What started as simple volunteer work in our Genesis Gardens and Community Market has grown into a beautiful rhythm of showing up, listening and loving our neighbors well. Every Wednesday, Ilene spends the entire day at the Village; walking the neighborhood, sitting with neighbors, learning their stories and helping them access the support they need.
For Ilene, it’s never about the state of someone’s home—it’s about the person inside it. She celebrates neighbors’ growth, encourages them through challenges and cherishes the friendships she’s built along the way. She’s witnessed firsthand that the blessings flow both ways, as neighbors and volunteers continue to teach, encourage and love one another.
In this episode, Ilene reminds us that patience and grace can go a long way, and that sometimes the greatest gift we can offer someone is simply our presence.
Celebrating 10 Years at the Village, with my Neighbor Shorty Joe
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our longtime neighbor and friend, Shorty!
Born and raised in Houston, Texas and one of many siblings, Shorty’s life has been shaped by both hardship and resilience. After losing his mother at just nine years old, he eventually spent 31 years living on the streets, struggling with addiction and searching for stability and belonging along the way.
Everything began to change when Shorty moved into Community First! Village in November of 2016. Now approaching 10 years at the Village, Shorty reflects on what it means to finally have a place to call home after decades without one. After knowing Alan for more than two decades, he says the Village has become the family he never thought he would have—a place where he feels deeply loved, supported and known.
In this episode, Shorty reflects on the loss of some of the friends he made at the Village, the peace he finds living near the memorial garden and the moment he instinctively ran into a burning RV to save a fellow neighbor. Through every story, Shorty reminds us to look out for one another, love one another and never underestimate the pure goodness found in community.
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About the Podcast
Each of us has a story to tell about who we are and how we got to where we are in life, and the element of community, whether you realize it or not, has played a vital part.
You alone have not just pulled yourself up by your bootstraps. Your path in life—your story—has been molded by other individuals along the way.
Hosted by Alan Graham, founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the ‘Gospel Con Carne’ podcast explores the woundedness of society through the untold stories of individuals who have encountered homelessness. You’ll hear from men and women who lived on the streets for years or even decades, and other guests who, though never homeless, understand the profound impact of family and community on their lives.
Join Alan as he takes you on a gritty journey of Tex-Mex theology while unpacking poignant stories from the streets of life that will leave you with a new understanding of the significance of community and home.
Alan Graham is one of the country’s leading visionaries on issues involving homelessness. He’s also a pretty cool dude. Meet Your Host >
