From Surviving Katrina to Leading Change: Ruben's Journey of Resilience and Community Impact

What if surviving disaster gave you the blueprint to rebuild not just your life — but your community?

Richard Gammage — founder of Team24 and passionate youth mentor — joins Spirit of Gratitude for a powerful conversation rooted in resilience, self-awareness, and the healing power of purpose. From surviving Hurricane Katrina to mentoring underserved youth in Phoenix, Richard shares a journey that’s as harrowing as it is hope-filled.

He reflects on the trauma of the storm, the long-term effects on his mental health and family, and how those experiences fueled his mission to create Team24 — a nonprofit that uses football, life skills, and financial literacy to help kids rise above adversity. With a message grounded in gratitude, love, and leadership, Richard offers a model for how one person’s pain can become a powerful force for change.

✅ You'll learn:

• What it was like to survive Hurricane Katrina firsthand
• How trauma shaped Richard’s path to mentorship
• The importance of self-awareness in youth development
• How Team24 teaches life skills through sports and community
• Why gratitude and love are the foundations of lasting impact
  
  
  

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Resilience grows stronger when it’s shared.
• Mentorship is one of the highest forms of leadership.
• Your past can be your power — if you let it fuel your purpose.
  
  
  

🎧 Tap play to hear how one man turned survival into service — and how you can do the same in your community.