Beautiful Salt City: Recent Episodes
Jim Unruh
A future story tells us what we want (vision), why we want it (values), and how we will create it (resources). Jim Unruh talks with people in our community of Hutchinson--nicknamed "Salt City"--to learn their life stories and to dream together for our shared future. Join us! Contact Jim at jim@hutchfmc.org to share your story for our beautiful salt city.
Find all episodes at https://hutchfmc.org/beautiful-salt-city-podcast/
Donna shares her experience as an educator and director of Brighthouse. Donna and Jim have a conversation about building trust and how trustworthy relationships can transform individuals and communities.
Shawna works with the Salvation Army's Pathways to Hope program. Shawna and Jim talk about her work, barriers for folks in our community and the importance of building healthy connections for individual and community transformation.
Long time Hutchinson residents Gail and Richard Gray share some of their life experiences, their hopes for our community, and some barriers that prevent some folks from thriving and sharing their gifts.
Seth works with the Reno County Health Department, Oxford Houses, and other projects in Hutchinson. Seth and Jim talk about addiction issues in our community and a vision for a transformed Reno County.
How do we make progress with difficult issues and what are the skills needed to engage in hard conversations are two of the areas that are part of Pastor David and Jim's conversation.
Jeanne Koontz is part of the Good Neighbor Experiment with First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson. She shares about her story, her vision for Hutchinson and the importance of being connected with neighbors.
Sara is a long time resident of Reno County. After her children grew up, she became a pastor and has taken many mission and discovery trips.
Denise works with United Way of Reno County. She shares some of her life story, her work, the level of need for support in Reno County as she works for a healthy, connected and resilient community.
Ken Moore has had a diverse and interesting life. Listen as he shares his learnings about criminal justice, community corrections, and how to create communities that value folks on the margins.
Charles talks about his background, what he observes about our community, the importance of the arts, and a little about what the Music Man can teach us about ourselves today.
Jason and Jim talk about Jason's journey to becoming a state representative, the values that he tries to use to make decisions, and his hopes for Hutchinson and the state of Kansas. Since it is Super Bowl weekend, a clip of Patrick Mahomes appears in the monologue.
Jade shares about her childhood, her vision for our community, and her experiences on city council.
Tanya and Jim have a conversation about her work at Hutchinson High School, the effects of trauma on the brain, and their enjoyment of the Philly accent.
What has student life during a pandemic been like? Jim has a conversation with five students, Jeff Kauffman, Magdalena Wenger, Micah Wenger, Jacob Unruh, and Laura Miller.
Pastor Tonya and Jim discuss the Christmas story and First Mennonite's purpose statement and a community purpose statement.
Heidi and Jim Unruh have a conversation about Beautiful Salt City and what Jim is working towards and hoping for in this experiment.
Laurie and Jim have a conversation about the importance of social connections. Laurie has started a new experiment she is calling the Circle of 5, five friends that she can contact in case of an emergency. But this experiment has grown into something more.
Delon Martens is a long time educator and leader in Reno County. In this conversation, we discuss his role as Moderator-Elect of Western District Mennonite conference, what hopes he has for all those churches, and the lessons he has learned from having this role before. As you listen, consider what we can learn from his experiences to help create a Beautiful Salt City.
We'll Leave the Lights On is a seasonal community food drive, this year it is on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 but you can give to the Food Bank after that date. Nancy Bether and Beth Southern discuss the origins of the food drive. They also discuss how building relationships with one another increases the impact of community work.
You can find Elsie Wickliffe's picture on the Hutchinson High School Wall of Honor. After three decades at First National Bank, she worked at the high school as a para helping students develop life skills. Here she shares stories from her childhood and adult life in Hutchinson, including struggles and joys.
Rachel Pittman is an AmeriCorps VISTA with Resilience Reno County, affiliated with the United Way of Reno County. She shares about the trauma she has experienced and how she is being healed, and about her work of building positive connections and wellness throughout our community.
Pastor Tonya talks about her vision for our community which includes everyone having a sense of belonging, connected with one another, and valuing beauty and the arts.
Jim Unruh has been attending Wednesday evening services at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church for over a decade. He talks with Pastor Green about his life from the Deep South to Hutchinson, his pastoral calling, and his hopes for greater unity.