Voices from the Valley: A podcast of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region: Recent Episodes
communityfoundationforthefoxvalleyregion
We connect people and organizations in the Fox Valley, bringing them together to learn and about big issues, problem solve, and also celebrate things we care about that enrich our quality of life.
In this episode we are talking about hunger. Not in some far off place, but right here in our communities - especially the rural small towns here in the Valley. More than 427,000 Wisconsinites have a hard time getting enough food to meet their basic needs, a situation commonly known as food insecurity. That's nearly half a million Wisconsinites who face hunger, including 171,460 children.
Rural Wisconsin depends on local food banks to help cover food struggles, and sometimes those pantries need to get creative. Today we are taking you to one very unique food distribution program called Neighbor-to Neighbor. It was born out of desperate need in Manawa, a rural town of roughly 1,500, in Waupaca County.
Show notes here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/neighbor-to-neighbor/
Many young people lack basic financial literacy skills, such as budgeting, saving, investing, and the importance of making informed financial decisions. Junior Achievement of Wisconsin teaches these life skills and so much more: The 100-year-old organization prepares students for the workforce by teaching them essential employability skills, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking, along with entrepreneurship to help address the challenge of economic stagnation in our Fox Valley communities and beyond.
Today we visit "JA BizTown," a town square model with storefronts and well-known businesses in our community. Many volunteers and supporters built the Community First Career Exploration and Financial Literacy Center on the Fox Valley Tech campus in Appleton, and it's a magical place where young people can imagine themselves in a career that they not only love, but can be equipped with the skills they need to flourish!
Resources and links at:
https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/building-tomorrows-leaders/
Did you know that drug and alcohol-related deaths in Wisconsin have tripled over the last 15 years? In this episode, we are talking about addiction and recovery. How big of a problem is addiction in our area, what’s being done already, and what are some of the barriers to finding the help people need?
We are well familiar with Wisconsin’s reputation for being the drunkest state in the nation, where we have 1.3 times higher alcohol consumption rates than the national average. That’s according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Wisconsin ranks 24th in the number of drug deaths in the U.S. And just in Winnebago County alone, deaths from drug overdoses have more than doubled over the past two years, with many other Wisconsin counties reporting similar significant increases.
With this reality in mind, we want to share some hope and some resources in these show notes for anyone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, or anyone interested in supporting the nonprofits who are working hard to make recovery possible, many of which have received generous support from Community Foundation donors. Scroll down to explore the many nonprofit resources available to help.
Listen:bios
Resources:* Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) * SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357) * Waupaca Recovery Coalition * Apricity – Drug and alcohol treatment, sober living homes, and employment * Genesis Club – Drug and alcohol recovery meetings * Helios Heuristics - Wrap-around program at the intersection of child welfare and substance use disorder * Impact WI – Recovery coaching and sober living homes * Mission of Hope House – Peer supported treatment * Project Wishope Waupaca – Drop-in recovery community center * Shawano Menominee Resiliency Coalition – Recovery center and sober living homes * Unity Recovery Services – Peer support and resources * Treatment Atlas National Comprehensive treatment locator * Iris Place Peer Run Respite * FindTReatment.Gov * 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health * Dose of Reality: Wisconsin Opioid Data * Eliminating Stigma: Understanding Empathy
More at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/hope-for-addiction-recovery/
How does one preserve the stories and history of a rural town like Chilton? Today we're visiting the Chilton Public Library, where staff members are unveiling the untold tales that shape the community's identity, through modern technology. A $4,947 grant from the Chilton Area Community Foundation, our regional affiliate partner, allowed the library to purchase podcasting equipment to record and produce the oral stories of local residents, artists, historians, business owners and more. The fledgeling podcast is called Sharing Our Stories,
"Each episode of Sharing Our Stories is a journey into the personal, heartfelt, and extraordinary stories that define our town. From cherished memories to pivotal moments, we explore the threads that bind us and make our community a home," says Rebbecca Barry, the library's assistant director.
In this episode, we visit the Franzen Family Farm, and we hear about The Lasting Impact of Boy Scouts.
What happens when we uncover lost stories and tell them in new ways? And how might shared experiences, between people who are different from one another, bring us closer together? In February 2023 during Black History Month, over 1,000 people in the Fox Valley area had the chance to view the film and participate in conversations with the filmmaker Joanne as part a Northeast WI premiere tour. In this very special episode we’re going to take you back to a story that happened over 50 years ago. It's the story of an exchange of Black and White high school students in Wisconsin in 1966, right in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement.
Black students from Rufus King High School in Milwaukee switched places with White students from Kaukauna High School during a time of heightened racial tensions in our country, and on the wave of big changes. The young people lived in each others' homes, attended classes in each others' schools and took what they learned to the stage, performing Martin Duberman’s groundbreaking play called “In White America” in both cities.
Today a new generation of high school students are re-living that era in a project called, “The Exchange In White America: Kaukauna & King 50 Years Later.” It's all thanks to journalist and filmmaker Joanne Williams, who had been a student at Rufus King when the exchange took place. She wondered about what happened to the students in the exchange and what their lives were like now and was inspired to embark on a 6-year journey to create a documentary film, which involved a revival of the play 50 years later by high school students in Milwaukee and Kaukauna.
Here is the link to watch it anywhere there is a PBS station. In Milwaukee, it will premier at 10 p.m. on Feb. 14 on Channel 10 WMVT. It will also be shown on the WORLD Channel on PBS at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Feb. 7. It will be shown on PBS Wisconsin on Feb. 19.
Visit https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/reflecting-on-kaukauna-and-king/ for links and videos.
Who doesn't need help funding their dreams? For students pursuing post-high school education, the Community Foundation will award more than $1.7 million in scholarships in 2024 to students from more than 70 high schools. We offer scholarships to high school seniors, college and nontraditional students, and K-12 art and music camps and lessons.
It's all possible through the generosity of our donors, who set up scholarships for many different reasons, like remembering a loved one or paying tribute to their alma mater. We have more than 200 of these funds, making us one of the largest scholarship providers in our region. In this episode, we explore how students can get started making their dreams come true!
All our notes and links are here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/scholarships-making-futures-bright/
Today we’re tackling the big topic of transportation in the Valley. The needs, the gaps and the dreams we have for improving public transit, roads, and our vast network of trails.
What do we mean when we say "Transportation," and which entities are paving the way for our future
Resources and links in our show notes at: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/pathways-of-progress-fox-valleys-transportation-terrain/
Your host:
Amy Spreeman
What podcasts do you like to listen to? You have so many choices these days, and we are grateful that you've chosen to add Voices from the Valley to your playlist! We’ve had a lot of fun and we’ve learned so much from the people in our community who’ve helped us create more than 50 episodes.
When it comes to our podcast, which has only been around since fall of 2021, some favorites are emerging. We looked at our listenership analytics to see what you are downloading. As a special treat today, we thought we’d share just a little appetizer from our top 8 episodes so far.
Listen to the full episodes at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/big-voices-your-favorite-episodes/
In an age of rapid technological advancement and ever-changing demographics, libraries are evolving to become more than just repositories of books – and audio – and video. These days libraries offer a treasure trove of cool things that and vibrant spaces where you can explore, learn, and DO so many interesting things.
Imagine having access to cutting-edge technology for everyone. Right now in the Fox Valley you can find libraries with everything from 3D printers to virtual reality equipment, from flight simulators to video recording studios. In this episode, we visit several libraries in the Fox Valley to find things that might surprise you. And then later, plans are in the works for new library spaces and expansions that will offer even more interesting things for you to try!
Show links here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/loop/2023/12/14/beyond-books-exploring-the-hidden-treasures-of-your-local-library/
Today we're excited to highlight an episode from Appleton Engaged, a compelling podcast from the City of Appleton. Much like Voices from the Valley, which is dedicated to amplifying diverse voices within our communities, the Appleton Engaged podcast lifts up the individuals, organizations, and resources that contribute to making our community an extraordinary place to reside, work, and play. And this month, hosts Andy Anaam and Timber Smith get the lowdown on everything about us, from our own Tammy Geenen, Vice President of Community Engagement. Enjoy!
Show notes here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/engaging-perspectives-helping-the-fox-valley-flourish/
Sharing stories in the news and lifting up the voices of people in our community really lends itself to making the Fox Valley feel like home. The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation have been engaged in a major effort to support the work of local newsrooms to bring issues of importance in our region to the forefront through storytelling, and it’s called the NEW News Lab.
The News Lab was launched two years ago as a pilot program and local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations: the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton Post-Crescent, FoxValley365, The Press Times, Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch. We teamed up with those organizations as well as The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Journalism Department as an educational partner. Microsoft provided the initial support to launch the project, and since then many other supporters have stepped up to fund this important initiative. Recently, that investment and commitment to preserving local journalism was renewed, thanks to collaborative support from the community foundations, and Microsoft's partnership with the Green Bay Packers and Titletown Tech.
Content produced by the NEW News Lab is shared at no cost for the purpose of increasing access and broadening awareness of community needs. These stories have been picked up by more than 125 news outlets nationwide, and have reached an estimated audience of more than 23 million people.
In this episode, we feature one of our news partners, Wisconsin Public Radio, and it's Home is Here series.
Do you know how our youth are doing, as far as mental health and wellness? How can we in the Fox Valley help our teens, and prevent the things that can lead to anxiety or even a crisis? The answers are complex, and challenging.
There is no doubt our teens are in crisis – with pressures our older generations can’t even imagine, because it really is a new world – and Covid made it worse. According to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, we're seeing the continuation of a decade-long trend: The number of students reporting they feel “sad and hopeless” was up again, now at 34 percent statewide. Students reporting significant anxiety has increased to 52 percent. Meanwhile, 18 percent of all students surveyed seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months, the highest rate since 2003.
But there is some good news: Local efforts to strengthen the mental wellness of our students are beginning to have a positive impact – and that’s where our Voices from the Valley podcast episode will focus. We sat down with Wendy Harris, who coordinates a program called Healthy Teen Minds, an initiative of The N.E.W. Mental Health Connection, now called The Connection. And we visited Appleton North High School, to see how its "Sources of Strength" model, implemented at schools in several Fox Valley districts, is helping teens feel included and less isolated.
More links at: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/healthy-teen-minds/
Did you know that from 2010-2018, the suicide rate in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties increased by 66 percent? And among those at greatest risk are middle-aged men, individuals in certain professions (like farming, construction and law enforcement, for example), veterans, members of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color), and LGBTQ+ community members. In response to this alarming community crisis, Northeast Wisconsin Mental Health Connection launched Project Zero, a suicide prevention initiative supported by the Community Foundation, and conducted a local 2021 Mind Your Wellness Survey, that was designed to collect population-level data on several mental health and suicide-related indicators. A total of 1,259 adults from Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties took the survey during the pandemic. The Connection has just released a new report on recommendations aimed at improving adult mental health of adults in the Fox Valley. Outlined in the report, titled Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Recommendations, are more than 40 recommendations that can serve as a road map for many nonprofits, businesses and individuals to support and and advocate for new projects, strategic plans, and priorities. Go here to learn how you can impact the community. The survey results identified many risk factors that contribute to poor mental health in adults, including having an annual household income of less than $50,000, feeling isolated, spending several hours of non-work time per day on screens, and inadequate sleep. The resulting recommendations are organized into three themes: basic needs, access to care, and social connection.
Show notes at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/mental-health-a-path-forward/
In an age of rapid technological advancement and ever-changing demographics, libraries are evolving to become more than just repositories of books. They have transformed into vibrant community hubs, catering to the diverse needs and interests of all residents in the Fox Valley region. Today, we’ll explore the remarkable role that libraries play in shaping our communities, fostering inclusion, and adapting to the changing times.
Learning for All
One of the fundamental principles driving these changes is the commitment to inclusivity. Libraries in the Fox Valley are striving to ensure that every member of the community can access their services, programs, and materials. Regardless of age, background, or interests, libraries are embracing the mission of serving all residents equally.
In this episode, we visit several libraries in the Fox Valley to find out how our libraries are curating collections that represent a wide array of voices and experiences.
Articles:* Loop: Brillion Public Library expands its Spanish collection of books, resources * Loop: Agency Funds Build Lasting Support for Friends of Appleton Public Library * Loop: So many reasons to love our libraries * Loop: Kimberly Public Library’s Storybook Garden: A Community Vision * Loop: Legacy to help build New London’s new public library/STEM education center * Appleton Ready to Read: Outreach program brings early literacy to Hmong and Hispanic families * Libraries in Bloom: Appleton Ready to Read
Learn More* Appleton Public Library * Neenah Public Library * Menasha Public Library * Brillion Public Library * Valley VNA Senior Care
Featuring Colleen Rortvedt, Director, Appleton Public Library
Your hosts:
Amy Spreeman
Kyle Armstrong
In this episode, we’re talking about including and empowering our neighbors and family members with differing abilities and exploring the power of inclusion in our communities through Special Olympics. Our guests today include parents, coaches, volunteers, and of course the incredible athletes who inspire us all with their determination, courage, and sportsmanship. These game-changers are flourishing through organizations like Special Olympics and SOAR Fox Cities.
Special Olympics is a worldwide movement of more than 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries, where one can participate locally, but make a global impact. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics, organized the first International Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago, in the belief that the lessons these athletes learned through sports would translate into new competence and success in school, in the workplace, and in the community.
Today, Special Olympics Inc. is the world’s largest provider of fitness training, education and athletic competition — coupled with social, life, and leadership skill development opportunities — for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Wisconsin, an accredited program of Special Olympics Inc., was founded in 1972 and is the largest sports program in Wisconsin for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Today we’re doing an entire podcast episode about podcasts! Why do people like them so much, and how are organizations using this audio platform to tell their stories in a whole new way? And what do you need to do to start your own podcast? It’s easier than you might think!
What is a podcast? It is simply an audio tool that people and organizations can use to tell their stories and inspire people to think, dream, engage and act.
Unlike radio, podcasts are not live. Recorded episodes can be downloaded from a streaming service.
Here are some interesting facts about podcasts:
- The average person spends seven+ hours per week listening to podcasts.
- Podcast listeners will account for 20.% of all internet users, which translates into 424.2 million listeners across the world.
- Did you know that men tend to listen to podcasts more than women do.
And - At least 33% of people who don’t listen to podcasts aren’t sure how to get started. Source: https://earthweb.com/podcast-statistics/
Learn more at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/Local Podcasters Lifting Our Community Community
Art truly does help shape a community in so many different ways. Performing arts in particular can provide a platform to celebrate traditions, customs, and stories, fostering a sense of identity and pride among community members. A community rich in arts can foster economic development too, and give tourists a reason to visit a venue and boost the vitality of the region. Today's episode is a second part of a 2-part series on arts making an impact in the Fox Valley. If you missed it, listen to Art Making an Impact: Part 1.
We are incredibly thankful for the vibrant and diverse art programs that make our communities flourish. We hope you enjoy learning more about how art in the Fox Valley is breaking down barriers and making a difference for all!
Links to Featured Art Performance Organizations
Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association Summit Players Theatre Kids from Wisconsin Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra
More links:
- Brats, Beer & Beethoven
- N.E.W. Dragon Boat Festival
- Creating And Sharing Joy Through Art
- Waupaca Arts Hub
- Weaving The Community Together Through Art
- Local Art Showcase
- Local Art Woven Into The Fabric Of Community Foundation
- Art Making An Impact On At-Risk Youth Thanks To Generous Donors
- Summer Of Service Teaches Skills Through Art
Did you know that engaging children in arts activities can teach team-building skills and provide a positive and constructive outlet and build their self-confidence? Here at the Community Foundation, we are dedicated to supporting art activities that bring our communities together and provide creative opportunities for people of all ages.
Research shows arts-rich communities stimulate innovative thinking, recruit and retain residents, drive tourism and create an economic engine. But more than that, art has the ability to not only add beauty to our world, but to educate or spark new ideas we wouldn’t have had otherwise. It can inspire us to engage with people we don’t know. It even has the power to bridge the gaps between people from different cultures and languages. It truly helps us understand each other and opens doors for us to experience our common humanity in new ways.
Links to our Artists
- Irineo Medina
- Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass
- Stacy Parish - Full Spirals Podcast
More links:
- Creating And Sharing Joy Through Art
- Waupaca Arts Hub
- Weaving The Community Together Through Art
- Local Art Showcase
- Local Art Woven Into The Fabric Of Community Foundation
- Art Making An Impact On At-Risk Youth Thanks To Generous Donors
- Summer Of Service Teaches Skills Through Art
Finding quality childcare in Wisconsin is a challenge, with long waitlists. It's also expensive. Many parents say they are paying more than their monthly mortgage or rent to have their children cared for while they work. And for single parents, it's a difficult road to navigate.
If you don’t have young children in your life, you may be thinking this topic doesn’t apply to you – but it does! Nearly nine in 10 working parents say childcare costs them time and productivity at work, which may mean more work for others or jobs that don’t get done. At the national level, according to a study from ReadyNation, the childcare crisis is costing our country $122 Billion dollars a year, because of lost earnings, productivity and taxes. For our state, in 2018, 50% of Wisconsinites, and 70% of Wisconsinites in rural areas, lived in a childcare desert, which is an area where childcare is not available, or the number of children exceeds the number of slots.
Childcare providers are not babysitters. They are trained professionals. But their poverty-level wages and minimal benefits contribute to high staff turnover in many centers, which affects availability and quality of care, and is the reason why many centers unfortunately are closing their doors.
Industry experts and childcare providers say finding a solution to all of this will require the efforts of government, employers and families working together. Like most complex issues facing us, there is no single solution that will address the shortage of care, centers’ high operating costs, workers’ very low wages and the exorbitant prices families pay for care.
So how do we as a community invest in solutions? We’re excited to tell you that a local task force, the Greater Fox Cities Childcare Alliance, is in talks right now specifically working on the provider compensation piece of the puzzle. In this episode we hear from the Alliance's Suzanne Brault. And we'll visit Joyful Beginnings Academy in Dale, just west of Appleton, where two moms have found a childcare solution that is attracting national news attention.
All the links in our Show Notes here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/childcare-crisis/
Do you know how our youth are doing, as far as mental health and wellness? How can we in the Fox Valley help our teens, and prevent the things that can lead to anxiety or even a crisis? The answers are complex, and challenging.
There is no doubt our teens are in crisis – with pressures our older generations can’t even imagine, because it really is a new world – and Covid made it worse. According to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, we're seeing the continuation of a decade-long trend: The number of students reporting they feel “sad and hopeless” was up again, now at 34 percent statewide. Students reporting significant anxiety has increased to 52 percent. Meanwhile, 18 percent of all students surveyed seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months, the highest rate since 2003.
But there is some good news: Local efforts to strengthen the mental wellness of our students are beginning to have a positive impact – and that’s where our Voices from the Valley podcast episode will focus. We sat down with Wendy Harris, who coordinates a program called Healthy Teen Minds, an initiative of The N.E.W. Mental Health Connection, now called The Connection. And we visited Appleton North High School, to see how its "Sources of Strength" model, implemented at schools in several Fox Valley districts, is helping teens feel included and less isolated.
More links at: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/healthy-teen-minds/
Did you know that from 2010-2018, the suicide rate in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties increased by 66 percent? And among those at greatest risk are middle-aged men, individuals in certain professions (like farming, construction and law enforcement, for example), veterans, members of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color), and LGBTQ+ community members. In response to this alarming community crisis, Northeast Wisconsin Mental Health Connection launched Project Zero, a suicide prevention initiative supported by the Community Foundation, and conducted a local 2021 Mind Your Wellness Survey, that was designed to collect population-level data on several mental health and suicide-related indicators. A total of 1,259 adults from Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties took the survey during the pandemic. The Connection has just released a new report on recommendations aimed at improving adult mental health of adults in the Fox Valley. Outlined in the report, titled Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Recommendations, are more than 40 recommendations that can serve as a road map for many nonprofits, businesses and individuals to support and and advocate for new projects, strategic plans, and priorities. Go here to learn how you can impact the community. The survey results identified many risk factors that contribute to poor mental health in adults, including having an annual household income of less than $50,000, feeling isolated, spending several hours of non-work time per day on screens, and inadequate sleep. The resulting recommendations are organized into three themes: basic needs, access to care, and social connection.
Show notes at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/mental-health-a-path-forward/
Dental care is critical to a person's overall health, especially in children. But the pandemic and financial constraints have been barriers to families trying to access proper care, causing decreases in visits. Organizations like volunteer-driven Tri-County Dental help fill the gaps and meet thousands of students where they’re at, offering preventive care to avoid emergencies and keep students healthy and able to focus in school.
It’s estimated that there are over 85,000 people in the tri-county area of Northeast Wisconsin who cannot afford even limited oral health care. And according to the Dental Association, about a third of all children in the state of Wisconsin have untreated tooth decay. The dental community wanted to do something about that. For the past two decades, volunteer dentists and dental hygienists have been offering their services free of charge through the Tri-County Community Dental Clinic.
Roughly 90 dentists from throughout the area volunteer to work at Tri-County. There are paid fellowships for new dentists who recently graduated to get experience for a one-year term. There are income and insurance requirements to be eligible to go to the clinic. Co-pays for regular visits never cost more than $35. But for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, care is completely free.
Show Notes at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/healthy-smiles-for-all-23/
What is it like to learn your child has autism? And how do you find resources to give your child the best opportunities for learning and for experiencing all the joys and challenges life has in store?
In this episode we take some time to consider how we think about Autism, a developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates, thinks, and interacts with others and the world around them. People with autism experience the world differently. You may have heard the term, “Autism Spectrum,” to describe the diverse range of symptoms and abilities that are unique to everyone.
We visit Shawano, Wisconsin, where a non-profit called Bridge the Gap for Autism is making a huge impact. It is a nationally recognized organization that has helped hundreds of children and adults with autism through a unique approach.
And we go to Black Creek Elementary in the Seymour School district, where students with Autism are using technology that is a real game-changer.
More at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/understanding-autism/
In this episode we're discussing the number of refugees from other countries who have recently resettled here in the Fox Valley. What is life like for them, and how can our communities be welcoming to our new neighbors? Most of them come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. Two years ago, we began to see many come through the Afghanistan evacuation program. About 300 more refugees will resettle here by the end of 2023.
We hear from Tami McLaughlin, executive director of World Relief Fox Valley about the resettlement of people from Afghanistan seeking refuge and starting a new life in our communities, and the challenges they face as they make the Fox Valley their new home.
Episode notes and links: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/welcoming-refugees/
Imagine if all residents can live in a good home they can afford. Our region is composed of households across the income spectrum, and it's getting harder to find these homes.
High-quality, stable housing is central to the health and wellbeing of all families in our communities. A new Fox Cities and Greater Outagamie County Regional Housing Strategy was developed in 2022 as the result of a study done in our communities. Over the next decade, our region needs roughly 11-thousand to nearly 18 thousand new dwelling units just to keep up with the estimated population growth. In this episode, we'll discuss the plan forward, thanks to the many who are coming together to take on the challenge. Do you have a role to play in this path forward?
Visit https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/housing-a-plan-forward/ for the episode show notes.
What happens when we uncover lost stories and tell them in new ways? And how might shared experiences, between people who are different from one another, bring us closer together? In today’s very special episode we’re going to take you back to a story that happened over 50 years ago. It's the story of an exchange of Black and White high school students in Wisconsin in 1966, right in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement.
Black students from Rufus King High School in Milwaukee switched places with White students from Kaukauna High School during a time of heightened racial tensions in our country, and on the wave of big changes. The young people lived in each others' homes, attended classes in each others' schools and took what they learned to the stage, performing Martin Duberman’s groundbreaking play called “In White America” in both cities.
Today a new generation of high school students are re-living that era in a project called, “The Exchange In White America: Kaukauna & King 50 Years Later.” It's all thanks to journalist and filmmaker Joanne Williams, who had been a student at Rufus King when the exchange took place. She wondered about what happened to the students in the exchange and what their lives were like now and was inspired to embark on a 6-year journey to create a documentary film, which involved a revival of the play 50 years later by high school students in Milwaukee and Kaukauna.
Two weeks ago during Black History Month, over 1,000 people in the Fox Valley area had the chance to view the film and participate in conversations with the filmmaker Joanne as part a Northeast WI premiere tour.More episode notes at: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/kaukauna-and-king-50-years-later/
In many rural areas of the Fox Valley region, there are often serious gaps in services such as transportation, healthcare, and other services meant to help individuals and families that might be struggling economically. Clintonville's Compassionate Connection Center, a nonprofit we partner with here at the Community Foundation, is working to bridge those gaps. In this episode we learn how an entire community is coming together under the guiding principle that everyone deserves the same opportunities and to be treated with personal dignity and respect.
The Compassionate Connections Center provides access to basic necessities like clothing, food, diapers, formula, emergency relief, home repairs, and automobile repairs, and provides children with enough food and resources to help support them at home.
Articles* Compassionate Connections receives funds from Clintonville Community Heroes Award winner * Clintonville nonprofit hosts trivia night to help provide free back-to-school clothes - WFRV TV
We’ve probably all faced an emotional crisis. Something that rocks our world and sends us into a feeling of despair. Just in the last two years alone, people have experienced increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and uncertainty. It's that collective trauma of living in a world that is no longer predictable.
The growing need for emotional support is urgent. In this episode we’re going to talk about a program in the Fox Valley called e-CPR, and, like CPR, it can be a lifesaver. E-CPR is a community education workshop that teaches people how to support another person experiencing an emotional crisis.
Program resources, links, and more at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/e-cpr-help-for-emotional-crisis/
The Fox Valley is renowned for our outdoor activities, from lakes and parks to more than 340 miles of trails for use year round. But many people might be surprised to learn that not every member of our community feels safe or welcomed in our outdoor spaces, especially people who are considered historically marginalized, such as people of color, people who speak different languages, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Why doesn't everyone has the same access to positive outdoor experiences, and what’s being done about it?
More at: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/inclusion-in-the-outdoors/
People of all walks of life have been impacted by the Community Foundation since its founding in 1986. We hear their stories, and we want you to hear them too!
Our Voices from the Valley: A Podcast of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region podcast launched in September, 2021, and we've come a long way in telling the eye-opening, heartstring-pulling stories people and nonprofits in our community have shared with us. 30 episodes later and more than 3,000 downloads from around the world, we are celebrating and sharing the unique facets and challenges of living in our area!
Our Story
Our fledgeling episode was titled Our Story, and we took that opportunity to share how the Community Foundation came to be, what we do, and how we've grown to touch lives throughout the Fox Valley region. Back when we aired this episode, we were still recording our interviews on Zoom, and not able to record in person. In spite of those audio experiments, our mission remains the same: We strengthen our community for current and future generations by helping people make a difference in the lives of all.
More show notes here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/our-story/
The Building for Kids Children's Museum opened in downtown Appleton in 1992 at the site of the former Prange's building. Thirty years later, the Community Foundation is honored to celebrate being a part of "BFK's" history! Generous gifts from donors with funds within the Community Foundation have supported the museum over the years.
The museum receives around 120,000 visitors annually from all over the world, and is a cultural gem in the Fox Valley communities. Amy and Carolyn visit the museum to talk about what's happening now, and how the museum is embracing the future for generations to come.
Program notes and links at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/building-for-kids-three-decades-of-empowered-learning/
"Period Poverty" is a startling reality in the Fox Valley. Did you know that a lack of access to menstrual health products can cause students with periods to miss or be late to class, or feel anxious about period care? Menstrual products are expensive in the U.S., which makes it difficult for people, especially teens, to afford period products. Instead, they may rely on what is supplied by school districts and stored within a school clinic or school nurse’s office.
The Monthlies Project is a new initiative in the Fox Valley aimed at providing menstrual health products to school-aged students and bringing awareness to the issue of period poverty and the educational inequity it creates.
Visit our website for all the resources and links mentioned in this program:
https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/ending-period-poverty/
Today we discuss the Fox Valley’s changing workforce and some new initiatives in the works to make sure we’re building and retaining a thriving and diverse workforce. There are lots of job openings, but we're learning that not everyone who wants to work is able to access the jobs we know are open right now.
Covid has impacted some things, like hybrid office schedules. How do we navigate those, while attracting new talent to our area and enticing young people to stick around and not be in a hurry to look outside our communities?
Check out all the links we talked about today here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/our-diverse-workforce/
Did you know that black women in our area are five times as likely to die in childbirth? That's according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services.
Factors that lead to these life-threatening disparities include the quality of health care, chronic conditions and structural racism and bias, according to the CDC. In Brown County, Black women receive the lowest rates of first-trimester health care and are most likely to have premature births. For women of color like Outagamie County resident Amy Woods, having her four babies was definitely not the storybook birthing experience we often see romantically portrayed in movies and television.
In this episode we'll hear Amy's story and how these shocking statistics were recently reported by an award-winning journalist who helped bring this issue to light for Northeast Wisconsin, and hope for a healthier future for moms and their babies.
Learn more * New News Lab - Supporting Local Journalism * Black women are five times as likely to die in childbirth. Here’s what that looks like in Green Bay * Maternal Disparity Reports: + Center for Disease Control and Prevention + Department of Health Services + Aurora BayCare's 2018 Community Needs Assessment + Black Maternal Health legislative package
Community Links * Birth Queen * Madison365 Earns Six Milwaukee Press Club Awards, Including 2 Gold And 4 Silver
More here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/northeast-wisconsins-maternal-health-disparity/
What makes Waupaca a special place to live, work and play? The answer can be found in its people, working together to bring this already thriving community to a whole new level of cultural attractiveness. In this episode, we hear from people making a big impact thanks to generous donors.
The Waupaca Area Community Foundation recently awarded grants totaling a record $170,822 to 18 area nonprofit organizations from the Waupaca Area Community Foundation Fund to help enhance the quality of life in the greater Waupaca area. The grants included two significant grants from its Community Enhancement Grant category:
The Waupaca Area Chamber Foundation received $25,000 to develop a marketing campaign highlighting Waupaca’s economic, cultural, and recreational assets with the goal of attracting newcomers to the greater Waupaca area.
And the Waupaca Community Arts Board received $25,000 to expand the Waupaca Community Arts Hub by building staff capacity, increasing outreach programs, and adding equipment. Research shows arts-rich communities stimulate innovative thinking, recruit and retain residents, drive tourism and create an economic engine.
More links here at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/helping-waupaca-thrive/
This summer’s Fox Cities LIFE Study finds one of the largest shifts in the Census data is in our local Hispanic population. In fact Hispanics make up the largest minority group in northeast Wisconsin. Hispanic and Latino residents of communities along the Interstate 41 corridor between Oshkosh and Green Bay increased by 46% between 2010 and 2020.
The growing number of Hispanic and Latino people in northeast Wisconsin outpaced Hispanic growth nationwide in the last 10 years, but lags the multigenerational growth that has built large Hispanic communities in other parts of the country, we’re going to link up all the Census numbers in our program notes today which you can find on our website.
In this episode we revisit a conversation we had with Lissette Cruz-Jimenez, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinator for Latinx middle school students for the Appleton Area School District. Lissette’s is one of five DEI positions in the district, all working to help students feel a little more included in the fabric of the community. Links for this episode here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/how-the-growth-of-our-hispanic-population-impacts-the-fox-valley/
The most recent data from the new Fox Cities Leading Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) Study and the U.S. Census Bureau shows us what we all can see: Racial and ethnic diversity in northeast Wisconsin is increasing. The number of Black, Asian, Native American, multiracial and Hispanic people increased 57% over the past decade. And it is wonderful to see!
But much more important than the numbers are the people behind them and their stories. In this episode we revisit the voices of Timber Smith, the City of Appleton's diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator. We also sit down with Natalie Eilbert from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, and Duke Behnke from The Post-Crescent in Appleton about their series of reports, Home is Here: Stories Behind the Census. The series is part of a Journalism initiative called the New News Lab, a group of news organizations dedicated to preserving in-depth local reporting.
More resources and links can be found in our program notes here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/the-changing-face-of-the-fox-valley/
What should we be thinking about when it comes to making improvements so that more people can enjoy all that our communities have to offer? The Fox Valley region is full of walking and biking trails that connect our communities. But who uses them and are they accessible to all? How do we begin talking about terms like, "Environmental Justice," and "Transportation Equity?" In this Voices from the Valley episode, we update you on several projects in the Valley, including exciting news about the creation of a recreation pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting the Fox Valley to High Cliff State Park.
There are so many ways people are getting involved in these projects, from generous donors who are supporting these projects financially, to local leaders and environmental specialists who are rolling up their sleeves to talk about the best way to improve trails in the Fox Valley. Last year, a Fox Cities Trail Summit organized by the nonprofit Fox Cities Greenways and the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, was funded by a grant from the Bright Idea Fund within the Community Foundation.
Show notes for this episode: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/trail-update-connecting-communities/
In this episode we revisit the fascinating story of how one small town in our area, Gresham Wisconsin, is making dreams come true for its youth. In a town of fewer than 600 people, that means a lot. For the past 21 years, young people graduating from Gresham High School have been given an opportunity to pursue their dreams. And it’s all because people in Gresham and its surrounding neighbors have decided that its young people are worth investing in. Listen to how an incredible community initiative has come about, giving Gresham residents a chance to build a treasure for their next generations.
Check out the show links here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/greshams-hope/
We’ve probably all faced an emotional crisis. Something that rocks our world and sends us into a feeling of despair. Just in the last two years alone, people have experienced increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and uncertainty. It's that collective trauma of living in a world that is no longer predictable.
The growing need for emotional support is urgent. In this episode we’re going to talk about a program in the Fox Valley called e-CPR, and, like CPR, it can be a lifesaver. E-CPR is a community education workshop that teaches people how to support another person experiencing an emotional crisis.
Program resources, links, and more at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/e-cpr-help-for-emotional-crisis/
In 2015, it was estimated that 115,000 people in Wisconsin had dementia. By 2040, that number is expected to increase to 242,000 people with dementia, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Kaukauna native J.J. Smith met his wife Joyce in the Air Force nearly 60 years ago and were looking for resources to help with Joyce’s memory loss. “Sometimes it’s frustrating for me,” says J.J. The couple became involved with the Fox Valley Memory Project and are excited for its newest program, Memory Link, launched in April. .
Thanks to a federal grant of nearly $1 million and generous support from the Community Foundation and other donors, the Fox Valley Memory Project’s Memory Link program received the initial funding to begin providing free personal support and resources to people living at home with memory loss and their caregivers in Calumet, Outagamie, Winnebago and Waupaca Counties.
The organization hired two resource navigators to offer a compassionate ear for families to use as a sounding board and offers resources and easy solutions for them to try with their loved ones, so they don’t have to bear the weight of their dementia journey alone.
More here at: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/memory-link-navigating-memory-loss/
In this episode, we continue our conversation about how a new two-year pilot program is embedding an Outagamie County clinical therapist within the Appleton Police Department to improve the way first responders handle crisis situations involving mental health. The idea is to have the therapist immediately available as a co-first responder to mental health crisis when law enforcement are called. How has the program made an impact in Appleton? Is it safe for the therapist? What have we learned so far?
We'll hear from the therapist and two members of the Appleton Police Department, as well as the Director of the Division of Suicide Prevention at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, who is one of the many experts our Community Crisis Response Team heard from as we put this pilot program together.
This program has been two years in the making, and the planning took the expertise, collaboration, and support from a lot of people convened around the table, now the Community Crisis Response Team. Their goal is to help community members access the appropriate level of care by providing on-site clinical evaluations and risk assessments for those experiencing a mental health crisis. The Community Crisis Response Team's primary mission is to help community members access the appropriate level of care by providing on-site clinical evaluations and risk assessments for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
The pilot program received a $25,000 grant from the Bright Idea Fund within the Community Foundation. The clinical therapist is the first of its kind at the department and is improving the way responders can provide critical services to a person in crisis.
Learn more and get the episode links here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/care-in-action-community-crisis-response-part-2/
The challenge and complexity of mental health issues in our community is growing and – since the onset of the COVID pandemic – has now reached a critical stage. How do we as a community respond to and provide help to people in the middle of a crisis?
The Appleton Police Department and Outagamie County Health and Human Services recently launched a new two-year pilot program that is taking a unique look at mental health situations and how to help respond when people are experiencing a mental health crisis. A few weeks ago the program embedded a clinical therapist into the police department to respond to calls.
This pilot program has been two years in the making, and the planning took the expertise, collaboration, and support from a lot of people convened around the table, now the Community Crisis Response Team. Their goal is to help community members access the appropriate level of care by providing on-site clinical evaluations and risk assessments for those experiencing a mental health crisis. We had a chance to gather some members of that team for a conversation about how this pilot came to be, what we’ve learned so far, and the difference it’s already making in just a few weeks.
Check out our resources at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/loop/2022/05/11/a-new-approach-community-crisis-response-to-mental-health/
How do we make our local nonprofit organizations in the Fox Valley strong and equip their leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to serve our community? We take our leaders to school! The idea is to build better leaders so that together we can build a better community.
Leadership Institute is an innovative programs offered through our Nonprofit Leadership Initiative, and last week 15 local leaders already working in their professional capacity at their nonprofit organizations graduated from the year-long program. We couldn't be more excited for them. Listen now to hear from the students, and the people who make the Leadership Institute run:
More show notes on our website at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/strengthening-our-nonprofits/
One of the oldest nonprofits in our area, Appleton's History Museum at the Castle, is turning 150 years old. Imagine what it was like living in the Fox Valley in 1872! This community gem has a unique way of bringing our history and its bygone eras back to life. We can learn about our rich past through the many opportunities we have at the Castle, from cemetery tours, to learning tricks from our famous Fox Cities resident and escape artist Harry Houdini, to programs for young people. Listen in as we look back, and forward.
Program links on our website: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/historical-gem/
When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, everything changed. Our communities were in a crisis. Many vital services which so many people rely upon were suspended. The Community Foundation and United Way Fox Cities immediately put together the Covid 19 Community Response Fund.
This fund has granted $1,776,497 to 118 local nonprofits, thanks to the enormously generous people, business and other organizations who gave to the fund to help our most vulnerable and underserved community members during this medical and economic crisis.
We invited Tammy Geenen, our Vice President of Community Engagement, and Tony Gonzalez, Vice President Community Development at United Way Fox Cities, refelct about the incredible impact this fund has had in the past two years, and what’s next.
Be sure and check out today's episode notes, at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/covid-19-reflection-and-response/
One of the largest shifts in the Census data is in the Hispanic population. In fact Hispanics make up the largest minority group in northeast Wisconsin. Hispanic and Latino residents of communities along the Interstate 41 corridor between Oshkosh and Green Bay increased by 46% between 2010 and 2020.
The growing number of Hispanic and Latino people in northeast Wisconsin outpaced Hispanic growth nationwide in the last 10 years, but lags the multigenerational growth that has built large Hispanic communities in other parts of the country, we’re going to link up all the Census numbers in our program notes today which you can find on our website.
We hear from Lissette Cruz-Jimenez, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinator for Latinx middle school students for the Appleton Area School district. Lissette’s is one of five DEI positions in the district, all working to help students feel a little more included in the fabric of the community.
More resources and links can be found in our program notes here:
https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/the-changing-face-of-the-fox-valley-part-2/
The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows us what we all can see: Racial and ethnic diversity in northeast Wisconsin is increasing. The number of Black, Asian, Native American, multiracial and Hispanic people increased 57% over the past decade. And it is wonderful to see!
But much more important than the numbers are the people behind them and their stories. We hear from Timber Smith, the City of Appleton's diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator. We also sit down with Natalie Eilbert from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, and Duke Behnke from The Post-Crescent in Appleton about their series of reports, Home is Here: Stories Behind the Census. The series is part of a Journalism initiative called the New News Lab, a group of news organizations dedicated to preserving in-depth local reporting.
More resources and links can be found in our program notes here: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/the-changing-face-of-the-fox-valley/
There's a shortage of more than 119,000 rental housing units in Wisconsin, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. It says that a typical Wisconsin household needs to make a combined annual income of almost $36 thousand dollars to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
The Appleton Housing Authority’s programs are making a positive impact in our communities, through its Section 8 voucher program as well as other programs assisting the elderly and veterans. We spoke with renters, landlords, and the Housing Authority to learn how these programs are inspiring and supporting participants to become financially independent.
Resources and links in our episode notes: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/rent-finding-home/
Domestic abuse and domestic violence cases have exploded in the Fox Valley. It's happening to people in all races, ages, religions, economic status, and it's happening to people you and I might know – to people in our neighborhoods, in our schools and churches, in our workplaces, perhaps even in your home.
This episode may be difficult to hear. Our hope is that we can have a conversation about domestic violence and abuse. Get the links and resources for this episode on our website: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/domestic-abuse-help-and-hope/
On any given day there are an average of 350 people who are struggling with homelessness in the Fox Cities. We at the Community Foundation have been working with numerous nonprofit organizations in communities throughout the Fox Valley who are “boots on the ground” to help people who are experiencing homelessness, and they do this with the power of many people who support them through volunteering or through generous donations. One of those nonprofits is Pillars, headquartered in Appleton. In this episode we hear from Joe Mauthe, executive director of Pillars, and we experience what homelessness feels like through the experience of one young mom who never expected to be without a home.
Get the notes for this episode on our website: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/rethinking-homelessness/
Imagine your family starting life over in a new country where everything from the education to the language to the food and the people are different. In this episode, we continue our conversation about the challenges of resettling here in the Fox Valley from other countries, and we’re referencing our newest neighbors coming here from Afghanistan and starting a new life. (Listen to Part I: Welcoming our Afghan Neighbors) What can we learn from past groups of refugees and immigrants who’ve settled here? To find out, we wanted to look back at the interesting parallels between this recent wave of Afghan newcomers and Hmong refugees coming to our community starting 40 years ago.
Get the notes for this episode on our website: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/starting-over-what-weve-learned/
In this episode we hear from Tami McLaughlin, executive director of World Relief Fox Valley about the resettlement of people from Afghanistan seeking refuge and starting a new life in our communities.
It’s difficult for us to imagine the trauma these newcomers had to experience in their country, and they didn’t plan on being uprooted and evacuated to the U.S. Now, the first of many have come here, and more are coming.
Tami shares what you need to know about our newest neighbors, what they’ve been through, and the challenges they face as they make the Fox Valley their new home.
Links to this episode at: https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/welcoming-afghani-families/
In this episode, and over the next several weeks, we’re going to explore a critical topic in our local communities: The affordable housing crisis. An increasing number of families are in a desperate search for an affordable, safe home to buy or rent, or to prevent eviction from their current home.
An estimated one of every three households in our region struggles to afford basic needs, like shelter, food, technology, transportation and health care. Even when residents have an income from their job, it’s just not enough to meet the rising costs of mortgages and rents, to help them stay in or find new housing.
Our housing crisis episodes will capture the work done in a series reports done by the New News Lab, a partnership of local and state newsrooms supported by strategic partners (including the Community Foundation), all working together to support local journalism and help us get a grasp of just how huge this issue is in our area.
Links for this episode at www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/affordable-housing-crisis/
The Fox Valley region is full of walking and biking trails that connect our communities. But who uses them and are they accessible to all? And what should we be thinking about when it comes to making improvements so that more people can enjoy all that our communities have to offer? How do we begin talking about terms like, "Environmental Justice," and "Transportation Equity?"
There are so many ways people are getting involved in these projects, from generous donors who are supporting these projects financially, to local leaders and environmental specialists who are rolling up their sleeves to talk about the best way to improve trails in the Fox Valley. Last year, a Fox Cities Trail Summit organized by the nonprofit Fox Cities Greenways and the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, was funded by a grant from the Bright Idea Fund within the Community Foundation. Here’s what he had to say:
One way to engage in this topic is TAKE THIS SURVEY about a new pedestrian/bicycle route along the northern edge of Lake Winnebago, linking communities to High Cliff State Park.
- at 1:26 Cheryl Zadrazil, Fox Cities Greenways, Inc
- at 2:40 Michelle Bachaus, Wisconsin BIke Federation
- at 7:45 Chris Langenfeld, Heckrodt Wetland Reserve
- at 8:00 Erin Schultz, SOAR Fox Cities
- at 9:00 Janelle Jung
- at 13:12 Jason Brozek, Lawrence University
More on our website, www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/trails-connecting-communities/
It’s estimated that there are over 85,000 people in the tri-county area of Northeast Wisconsin who cannot afford even limited oral health care. And according to the Dental Association, about a third of all children in the state of Wisconsin have untreated tooth decay. The dental community wanted to do something about that. For the past two decades, volunteer dentists and dental hygienists have been offering their services free of charge through the Tri-County Community Dental Clinic.
Several years ago, the clinic decided to hit the road, and bring dental care to children in our community who need it the most. and they’re doing it on a bus.
- at 1:56 Jeff Buchta, Executive Director of Tri-County Dental
- at 4:46 Kayla Poxleitner, Hygiene Volunteer Coordinator
- at 12:36 Erin Choudior, Former Program Manager
- At 14:35 Ann Engelhard, Vice President of Donor Services and Gift Planning, Community Foundation
More links and resources on our website at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/healthy-smiles-for-all/
With memory loss comes new challenges in caring for your loved one’s physical and emotional needs, and caring for your own. That’s often a missing piece in the caregiver’s journey. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 60% of these caregivers rank their emotional stress as high or very high and many are suffering from depression.
For Deb and George, the unexpected journey has often been one of helplessness, guilt, and anxiety, but also one full of love and tenderness. Thanks to programs like the Fox Valley Memory Project and REACH, caregivers are no longer alone.
- at 2:37 Deb Depies and George Butz, caregivers for their spouses with memory loss.
- at 9:19 Heather Flick and Susan Kazik, REACH Caregiver Coaches
- at 19:40 Jackie Gonzalez, Clinic/Care Coordinator, Mosaic Family Health
More links and resources on our website at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/caregivers-room-for-grace/
In this episode we take you to the small community of Gresham Wisconsin, a town of fewer than 600 people. For the past 20 years, young people graduating from Gresham High School have been given an opportunity to pursue their dreams. And it’s all because people in Gresham and its surrounding neighbors have decided that its young people are worth investing in. Listen to how an incredible community initiative has come about, giving Gresham residents a chance to build a treasure for their next generations.
- at 2:24 Meet Mindy Hoffman, Gresham grad and Physical Therapist.
- at 9:19 Alex Aschenbrener, Gresham Student.
- at 13:16 Debbie Schroeder Fisher comes full circle.
More links and resources on our website at https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/greshams-hope/
What does a Community Foundation do? In this first episode of Voices from the Valley, we share our story, and discuss:
- at 3:07 How the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region got its start in 1986
- at 19:23 Our Story Today: What Voices from the Valley is all about
Your hosts: Amy Spreeman, Marketing Technologist Carolyn Desrosiers, Community Engagement Manager
Featured Voices Curt Detjen, President and CEO
Char Sigman Char and her husband Bob started one of the first funds at the Community Foundation, and Char was one of the first board members back in 1986.
Walt Rugland, Jr. Walt's father, Walter Rugland, Senior, had a vision for a community foundation in the Fox Valley, and helped us launch this nonprofit organization.
Tammy Geenen, Vice President of Community Engagement
Learn more https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/our-story/
Have an idea for our next podcast? Email us your suggestion!
Welcome to Voices from the Valley, a podcast of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. What does a Community Foundation do? One of our roles in the Fox Valley Region is to connect people and organizations, bringing them together to learn and about big issues, problem solve, and also celebrate things we care about that enrich our quality of life.
This podcast gives us a unique opportunity to not only share them but to help our listeners hear directly from the people closest to these issues. In this debut episode of Voices from the Valley, we share Our Story, and discuss how the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region got its start in 1986.