Carla Cox

Guest

Carla Cox, Christian Service Center for Central Florida (CSC), 808 W. Central Blvd, downtown Orlando. S4E10, recording 2026-10-23 (schedule).

JUSTIN'S TIE (his words): Carla is the CEO of CSC; they met through the HPM partnership helping those who need healthcare most through quality insurance and government programs.

TITLE CONFLICT (to confirm with Carla): Justin says CEO. Public sources say Director of Programs and Mission (CSC blog, 4/1/2021), then Director of Operations (Spectrum News 13 6/5/2024; News 6 7/14/2025; Spectrum News 13 11/27/2025). Eric Gray is named Executive Director/CEO (Orlando Weekly 8/2025; Orlando Sentinel 9/25/2026). The pack states no title on camera.

DATED TIMELINE (one source per fact)

1971: CSC founded as a 501(c)(3) (CSC listings via web search, Benevity/Idealist).

1975: Daily Bread free hot-meals program begins (rightservicefl.org listing).

4/1/2021: CSC blog "Get to Know Carla Cox at Downtown Orlando" (christianservicecenter.org/blogs/get-to-know-carla-cox-at-downtown-orlando): Director of Programs and Mission; plans and implements strategies to reduce homelessness; Master's in Sociology, UCF; Martin Bell Scholar pursuing an MBA at Rollins Crummer, completing Spring 2021 (completion unconfirmed); serves on the Homeless Services Network board; quote: "Offering the clients consistency is really critical in a life that has no consistency, and we do this particularly with our Daily Bread program." Hopes CSC ends chronic homelessness in downtown Orlando over the next 50 years by focusing on outcome measurement. The post says she wishes everyone could see clients as neighbors down on their luck who need warmth and compassion. (Personal details in the post are not used.)

Jan 2024: Director of Operations since this date, per a search-engine summary of her profile (low confidence; LinkedIn not readable this session).

6/5/2024: Spectrum News 13, heat: Director of Operations; up to 500 people visit daily; showers, laundry, clothing; quotes: "Our goal is to open as many spaces as we can indoors..." and "I don't have enough indoor space to accommodate everyone all day, every day." (mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2024/06/06/christian-service-center-aims-to-help-homeless-population-during-extreme-heat)

3/2/2025: Spectrum News 13: city and CSC plan two Greyhound buses ("407 Connect"); Eric Gray quoted; Carla not mentioned.

7/14/2025: News 6 (clickorlando.com, "Room for one more"): Carla named Director of Operations, part of the 407 CONNECT team; no quotes.

8/18-20/2025: 407 Connect launches: two buses, 21 sleeping pods each, up to 42 people a night; about $3 million over three years via the downtown CRA (WFTV 8/19/2025; Spectrum News 13 8/20/2025; Orlando Weekly).

11/27/2025: Spectrum News 13 (mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2025/11/27/407-connect-bus-homeless-orlando): a couple homeless for eight years moved into an apartment in early November 2025 after 40 nights on the bus and work with their case manager at CSC; Carla, Director of Operations, quoted: "You never usually see success this early..." Program then: 30-35 unique people, 6-7 housed. The couple is named in the article; the pack keeps them unnamed.

4/5/2026: News 6: "As homelessness rises, Orlando leaders weigh progress" (no CSC mention).

9/25/2026: Orlando Sentinel (via Yahoo): 260 people have spent a night on the buses since 8/2025; 169 found permanent housing; average stay about 30 days; Eric Gray: "We're able to get people stabilized very quickly just by getting them a couple of consecutive good nights' sleep." Carla not mentioned. Not used on camera unless Carla confirms.

EMOTIONAL MOMENTS TO HUNT FOR: her hardest day (her pre-show answer); heat days with more people than indoor room; the moment someone decided to trust her team; the couple's forty nights.

CONTRADICTION: warmth-first work, plus business school and a focus on measuring outcomes.

HISTORY CHECK: no earlier Closed episode with Carla or CSC. Brenda Powell (S4E2) worked four and a half years as a caseworker at a DeLand homeless shelter: used as the callback.

COULDN'T REACH: LinkedIn (the Closed Chrome helper is not signed in, so no profile, experience, education, activity or company pages were read). The Authority Magazine piece on a Carla Cox at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida returned 403 and was not matched to this guest; not used. No podcasts or long interviews found.

TO CONFIRM WITH CARLA: current title; start year at CSC; whether she finished the Rollins MBA; her current role with 407 Connect; whether she's still on the HSN board; comfort talking about the couple without names.