Ep. 46 Entrepreneurship with Purpose: Dr. Kit Evans-Ford’s Mission to Serve
3/11/25
On this episode of the DO GOOD X podcast, host Stephen Lewis speaks with Dr. Argrow “Kit” Evans-Ford, a visionary leader, spiritual director, and social entrepreneur dedicated to healing and empowerment. As the founder of Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope, Dr. Kit provides a safe space and sustainable employment for women healing from violence in the Quad Cities. She is also the force behind Autistic & Loved, a social enterprise that creates sensory-friendly products and resources for children with autism and sensory processing disorders—including the innovative chewery pendants. With an unwavering commitment to community-driven impact, she shares her journey of growing two mission-driven businesses, leadership challenges, and partnerships' power in scaling social enterprises. Tune in as Dr. Kit offers wisdom on listening to your heart and community to create meaningful, lasting change.
In This Episode
IN THIS EPISODE:
- (00:00) Dr. Kit reflects on the growth of the organization
- (05:20) The challenges in growing a mission-driven businesses
- (08:51) The value of partnerships and the creation of the foundation
- (15:31) Securing resources for a mission-driven business and the benefits of working with DO GOOD X
- (21:06) Head to DO GOOD X to explore resources
- (28:55) Stephen’s takeaways
Key Takeaways
- The success of Argrow’s House and Autistic & Loved is to listen to the community's needs. By understanding and responding to what women healing from violence and autistic children require, they have been able to shape programs and products that have a meaningful impact.
- A significant challenge in scaling mission-driven businesses is trusting others to share the vision. You must build strong, trustworthy teams and form partnerships with like-minded organizations, allowing both businesses to expand and better serve their communities.
- Aligning funding sources with mission and values is essential for maintaining an organization’s core purpose. Securing resources that genuinely support the vision without compromise ensures long-term impact. Trust-based philanthropy, strong networks, and community support are crucial in sustaining meaningful social ventures.
About The Hosts
Kimberly R. Daniel
Kimberly R. Daniel catalyzes entrepreneurs and organizations to do good. She is co-founder and project director of DO GOOD X, a community that provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive change.
Kimberly also helps purpose-driven organizations clarify and design compelling brand and communication strategies. With over 15 years of experience developing and leading communications efforts, she is committed to producing effective processes and creating authentic, “sticky” brands that are community-centered.
In addition, Kimberly has nearly ten years of experience as a certified life coach. She has facilitated workshops, spoken to communities, and written about innovation and entrepreneurship centered on social impact. She co-authored A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
She is deeply passionate about purpose, meaning, and the common good in any aspect of her work.
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Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis is the president of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) and the creator and co-founder of DO GOOD X. This community provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive change.
He is an organizational change strategies and leadership development specialist focused on inspiring the next generation of faith-inspired leaders and entrepreneurs to live and work purposefully. Stephen co-authored Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose (2020) and A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
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