Love in Action: Transforming Struggle Into Community Strength A Conversation with LaKeshia Hodge

Today’s episode features someone whose work reminds us that love, when lived out in action, can transform entire communities. I’m honored to welcome LaKeshia Hodge, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Struggle of Love Foundation here in Colorado. I’ve had the privilege of interacting with LaKeshia  on several occasions, and what stands out immediately is her combination of intelligence, heart, and relentless persistence in creating positive change. She is someone who does not simply talk about community — she shows up for it, again and again. The Struggle of Love Foundation, often called S.O.L., was created from lived experience.  LaKeshia and her co-founder understand firsthand the challenges of housing instability and hardship, and they have turned that experience into a mission of service and empowerment. Their work focuses on building awareness, connection, and opportunity for youth, families, and communities through mentorship, violence prevention, mental health support, and access to healthy food. From providing hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies each year, to hosting Thanksgiving dinners for homeless families, to opening a community food pantry in Montbello, the Struggle of Love Foundation has served thousands of families across the Denver metro area. What makes this work so powerful is that it is deeply relational. It is about dignity. It is about meeting people where they are and creating pathways toward healthier and more hopeful lives. And that commitment has not gone unnoticed. The Struggle of Love Foundation has received recognition locally and nationally for its community impact, including awards from the federal government, the Colorado Fatherhood Council, and the City of Denver. But beyond the recognition, what matters most is the spirit behind the work — a belief that when communities come together with compassion and purpose, real transformation becomes possible.