Episode 63 | Michelle DeBock of Friends of City Dogs Cleveland

In this powerful episode of Mastering the Numbers , host Joe Mallo welcomes Michelle Ramos , founder of Don't Raise Statistics , a for-profit civic movement that is redefining how community impact is structured, funded, and scaled. Michelle shares her remarkable journey from surviving personal trauma to building a grassroots movement that empowers marginalized voices and directly challenges systemic barriers. Her model—built in the absence of help—uses for-profit strategies, transparency, and a pay-it-forward system to transform underserved communities in the U.S. while supporting third-world countries in need. In this episode, Michelle discusses why she chose to shift from a nonprofit vision to a for-profit civic model, and how a devastating fire became the turning point for her mission. She talks about how lived experience—not just formal education—shapes her leadership, and how her $2M crowdfunding campaign is designed to fund brick-and-mortar community centers across multiple cities. Michelle also explores the importance of acting quickly in times of crisis, avoiding red tape, and creating solutions rooted in the real needs of people—not assumptions. 📍 Learn more or get in touch: 🔗 LinkedIn: Michelle Ramos 📧 Email: catharticcatalyst@gmail.com Tune in now, and don’t forget to hit subscribe for more stories from inspiring entrepreneurs!