The Dane County Podcast: Recent Episodes
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi
The Dane County Podcast is a monthly program hosted by County Executive Joe Parisi that takes listeners on a tour of everything Dane County government has to offer. Dane County provides services from A to Z, whether it be the Dane County Regional Airport or the Henry Vilas Zoo. And, Joe wants to give everyone the opportunity to hear firsthand how the people of Dane County government work to preserve beloved natural resources, keep roads clear of ice and snow, cast a strong social safety net, combat climate change, and much more. Throughout the series, County Executive Parisi will talk to department directors and local leaders about ongoing initiatives and partnerships that allow Dane County government to improve the community and address residents’ needs. So — sit back, relax, and pop in those headphones as Joe guides you through the many ongoing efforts that collectively make the “Dane County Way” possible.
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Joining Forces for Families (JFF) Supervisor Mike Bruce to discuss the program—now celebrating its 30th year of operation. The two cover what JFF is, how it came to be, and the critical work teams are carrying out in neighborhoods across Dane County to help address residents’ needs and make our community a better place to call home. Mike also shares how he first got involved with JFF and the impact it has had on his life.
Learn more about JFF:
https://danecountyhumanservices.org/Children-Youth-and-Family/Community-Programs/Joining-Forces-for-Families
Check Out JFF's Contact Information Card:
https://danecountyhumanservices.org/documents/pdf/Family/JFF-Dane-County-Information-Card-2023.pdf
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Dane County Public Safety Communications Director Luis Bixler to discuss 911 operations. The two cover multiple 2024 budget investments:
- expanding Madison's CARES (Community Alternative Response Emergency Services) program to more Dane County communities
- adding crisis counselors to the 911 center that will work with people who call 911 while experiencing a behavioral health emergency
- what the new Dane County Public Safety Communications (PSC) building will have in store
Luis also shares his most memorable call when he served as a 911 call taker and his ongoing partnerships to have more bilingual 911 operators.
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Dane County Regional Airport Director Kim Jones to discuss the airport's new terminal expansion, direct flights, & much more.
Learn More:
Dane County Regional Airport
https://www.msnairport.com/
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Trish Grant and Nura Capriglione to discuss Building Bridges—Dane County's school based mental health teams.
The Building Bridges program provides short-term wraparound style case management and service coordination for 4K-9 students who are experiencing mental health challenges within their school setting and require additional supports. Services are voluntary and involve both the student and their parents/guardians.
Learn More:
The Dane County Podcast | https://thedanecountypodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Youth Mental Health Services | https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/Behavioral-Health/Child-and-Youth-Treatment
Building Bridges Yearly Measures | https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/documents/pdf/Reports/RPT2022---Building-Bridges-FINAL.pdf
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Kathy Kuntz, Director of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change, and Heather Allen, Policy Advisor at RENEW Wisconsin, to celebrate Earth Month. Together, the three discuss Dane County government achieving 100% renewable energy status at county facilities—the first county in Wisconsin and only the fourth county in the nation to do so. They also share how everyone can go green and save money under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Learn More:
How You Can Take Advantage of the IRA --
https://daneclimateaction.org/what-you-can-do/federal-funding
https://www.renewwisconsin.org/inflation-reduction-act-breakdown/
Rewiring America’s website to help identify tax credits and up-front discounts --
https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator
For Dane County residents interested in going solar --
http://madisunsolar.com/
RENEW Wisconsin’s programs to help non-profits go solar and purchase electric vehicles --
https://www.renewwisconsin.org/solar-energy/
https://www.renewwisconsin.org/electric-vehicles/
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, County Executive Parisi sits down with Dr. Ruben Anthony, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison. Together, they discuss the Black Business Hub and Dane County's ongoing partnerships with the Urban League.
Learn more about the Urban League of Greater Madison below:
https://ulgm.org/
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Casey Becker, Division Administrator of Dane County Housing Access & Affordability. The two discuss efforts to address homelessness, the Affordable Housing Development Fund, community partnerships, and much more.
Learn More:
The Division of Housing Access and Affordability administers federal and county-funded partnerships with community agencies to prevent and end homelessness, increase access to and development of affordable housing, and support economic and workforce development efforts.
Division of Housing Access & Affordability Website:
https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/Economic-Aid-Healthcare-Housing-and-Jobs/Housing-Access-and-Affordability
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Charles Tubbs, Department Director of Dane County Emergency Management, and Cheryl Wittke, Executive Director of Safe Communities Madison-Dane County. Together, the three discuss the ongoing opiate and fentanyl epidemics, as well as the ways Dane County is working to address the crisis and support those beginning the path of addiction treatment/recovery.
The Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC) is a voluntary person and family centered service designed to help all Dane County residents access behavioral health services in Dane County, regardless of insurance status, financial status, age, identity, ability or legal status. The BHRC assists Dane County residents from all ages, backgrounds and walks of life. BHRC services are consumer led and consumer driven, meaning that the individual and family is the expert regarding their needs.
BHRC staff are available to help connect you to resources for your mental health and/or substance use needs:
Phone | (608) 267-2244
Email | BHRC@countyofdane.com
Website | https://danebhrc.org/
Other Links:
Safe Communities Madison-Dane County | https://safercommunity.net/
Dane County Emergency Management | https://em.countyofdane.com/
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Michelle Orge, President/CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, and Scott Williams, Owner of Garden To Be (a family farm in Mount Horeb) and coordinator of a coalition of more than two dozen Wisconsin farmers. Together, the three discuss Dane County and Second Harvest’s “Farm to Foodbank” program.
Initially created to help families meet basic needs during the pandemic, the “Farm to Foodbank” program has opened new doors to what is possible when local growers connect with agencies that keep people fed. Since its debut, the partnership has brought in and boxed over $20 million in food for families across the area. This provides economic security for local agricultural producers and healthy meals for those struggling to meet the cost of filling a grocery cart.
County Executive Parisi’s 2023 budget continues the Farm to Foodbank program through 2023 with $6 million.
2023 County Budget | https://exec.countyofdane.com/2023-Budget-Initiatives
Garden To Be | https://www.facebook.com/Garden.To.Be
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin | https://www.secondharvestmadison.org/
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Greg Markle, Executive Director of Operation Fresh Start (OFS), to highlight the organization's amazing work in the community and ongoing partnerships with Dane County. The two discuss everything from the Youth Conservation Corps and the driver's license program to plans for a Civilian Climate Corps. They also have OFS participant Eric Romero join the conversation to share his story and experience with OFS.
Learn more about Operation Fresh Start below:
https://www.operationfreshstart.org/
In this episode of The Dane County Podcast, County Executive Parisi sits down with Chris James, Senior Landscape Architect of Dane County Parks, to discuss Dane County's growing network of bike trails. Chris oversees planning and development at Dane County Parks and has been with the Parks Division for 20 years. The two discuss everything from the Lower Yahara River Trail and the North Mendota Trail to the PARC and Ride Grant Program and the steps it takes to make a bike trial become reality!
Learn more about Dane County Parks at www.danecountyparks.com
On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, County Executive Joe Parisi talks to Dane County Immigration Affairs Supervisor Fabiola Hamdan and Centro Hispano Executive Director Karen Menendez Coller. They discuss everything from immigration needs in our community, the benefits of collaboration, why investing in our youth is so important, and more.
More About Fabiola:
Fabiola Hamdan is a bilingual, bi-cultural senior social worker with Dane County Department of Human Services. She is the first Immigration Affairs Supervisor in Dane County. She has a M.S.S.W. from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. An immigrant from Bolivia, she is a strong advocate for the Immigrant community. Fabiola provides outreach and resources to immigrants and refugee communities in Dane County. She has focused her life’s work on being a leader and advocate for children and families in this community and beyond.
Dane County Immigration Affairs Website --
https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/Children-Youth-and-Family/Immigration-Affairs
More About Karen:
Karen Menéndez Coller has been the Executive Director of Centro Hispano since 2013. Originally an immigrant from El Salvador, she holds 20+ years of community-based experience working across multiple sectors in the field of public health. Centro is the leading organization in Dane County prioritizing a vibrant, thriving, resilient Latinx community, through holistic family-centered work that is grounded in community voice. Highlighted in 2016 by Madison 365 as one of Wisconsin's Most Powerful Latinos, she received the Inaugural Nan Cheney Award for Social Justice from Forward Community Investments and was also named the National Hispanic Heritage Foundation Leadership Award Recipient for the state of Wisconsin in 2017.
Centro Hispano Website --
https://www.micentro.org/
Laura Hicklin is the Director of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department. Laura’s first job with the department was an internship and she’s been hooked on county government ever since. Laura holds a degree in international agriculture and natural resources, is a certified public manager and a real estate broker. Her mission is to help staff and the public treat each other with civility and respect.
In this episode, Joe sits down with Laura to discuss Dane County's clean lakes efforts -- from aquatic plant harvesters and the popular "Suck the Muck" initiative to prairie restoration efforts and the Continuous Cover Program.
Learn more about the Dane County Department of Land & Water Resources at https://lwrd.countyofdane.com/
As the director of the Office of Energy and Climate Change, Kathy Kuntz aims to make it easy for everyone in Dane County (especially you) to make choices that help achieve our ambitious climate goals. She has almost 30 years of experience helping businesses and residents adopt sustainable practices.
In this inaugural episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe and Kathy sit down to discuss Dane County's clean, green energy efforts and "the art of the possible" -- from Dane County's Climate Action Plan and landfill biogas facility to the PACE Wisconsin financing program and local carbon sequestration projects.
Learn more about the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change at https://daneclimateaction.org/