All Things Local

On this episode, number 16 of the All Things Local podcast, I speak with Courtney Strohacher, Executive Director of the DeKalb county convention and visitor bureau. She has been in this role about a year and she shares with us her path, her engagement with all sectors in DeKalb County, and her work with DeKalb County Unites. She shares with us how the CVB markets DeKalb County to local residents but also across the state and across the country. While we might not be able to travel very far right now, Courtney is working hard to focus on what we can do to still enjoy our local attractions and sites. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

On this episode I speak with Tia Anderson of Heartland Bank and Debra Boughton of NIU, who are leaders in Gather, a program of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. Now in its third year, Gather is a women’s leadership organization that helps strengthen the overall business and non-profit community in the DeKalb area. We talk about why the program was founded and how they are working to support all women. We discuss how women can get involved even during this pandemic. I am a proud member of Gather, along with nearly 100 other women, and I encourage everyone to think about how you can get involved. Go to DeKalb.org for more information. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

On this episode I speak with Fiona Cummings, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois. We chat about how Girl Scouts started, how it has evolved over time. We discuss their decision to be much more flexible so they can best serve their members, such as now only leasing space and putting those spaces in high traffic areas like shopping centers. They are also using technology in some very creative ways to keep the staff virtually connected to each and to continue to provide programs but virtually.  She talks about the loss of revenue in many different areas and the impact on their programs and mission because of it. But without a doubt, she, her staff and her board know they can get through these challenges and continue to build strong and confident girls. Fiona taught me about the FAILURE, and fail just means first attempt in learning. And we can all learn a lot from her when it comes to lifelong learning. I hope you enjoy this episode.

Welcome to episode number 13 of the All Things Local Podcast. On this episode, I speak with Lynette Spencer, Founder and Executive Director of Adventure Works. We are four months into the pandemic now and Lynette and I chat about how her organization quickly adjusted and how they are continuing their mission of bringing mental health services to our community in some very unique ways. We discuss her collaboration with government agencies and other nonprofits, particularly in the University Village neighborhood in DeKalb. She shares how she found her passion of social work, and why she decided to take the leap and start a new nonprofit so that anyone who would benefit from adventure therapy would not be hindered by their ability to pay. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Welcome to episode number 12 of the All Things Local Podcast. On this episode, I speak with Keri Asevedo, Executive Director of the Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity. She shares how Habitat had to quickly adapt to COVID 19 when all building stopped and their Restore Closed to the public. She shares her career path from working in the criminal justice system to running a $3 million nonprofit with 22 employees and 1,400 volunteers.  She admits she is not afraid to ask anyone for anything if its for a cause she believes in, like Habitat.  Housing is one of those basic human rights, Keri argues, that is often tied up with politics of who gets to live where. Somehow we ended up discussing Kim Kardashian and Kanye West but also more timely topics like racism and classism and how all of that is related to housing. You’ll have to listen to hear the full story. I hope you enjoy our lively and informative conversation.

Welcome to episode number 11 of the All Things Local Podcast. On this episode, I speak with Michelle Donahoe, Executive Director of the DeKalb County History Center. She shares her journey as a public history student, as a volunteer, and now leading an organization that reaches across the county, preserving and sharing our county’s history. During this pandemic, the History Center reminds us all that history happens every day and encourages residents to share their stories, to document what’s going on in the world around them for future generations. I want to remind everyone that Give DeKalb County is May 7 and encourage you to make any size donation to any of the over 100 participating nonprofits. This is a critical time for nonprofits as programs and fundraising events have been cancelled, while many of them are seeing increased demand for their services. Share what you can and support Give DeKalb County on May 7. On behalf of these organizations and the people they serve, thank you. Enjoy this podcast episode and stay well.

Jo-Anne Stately is the Director of Impact Strategy for the Minneapolis Foundation in Minnesota.  She kicked off the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies' 2020 Research Colloquium series on February 12 speaking about Native American philanthropy.  This recording was made with a live audience so I apologize in advance for the audio quality.

I hope you enjoy this second part of my interview with the police chiefs of DeKalb and NIU.  In this part of our interview, both chiefs talk about their department’s collaboration with nonprofits, about very specific events that turned them towards making a career in law enforcement, and then we get into a discussion of mental health issues facing first responders. I am editing this episode as we are all dealing with the disruption to our daily lives and the serious health consequences of the coronavirus. This episode is dedicated to all of those public servants, health care workers, and business employees that are risking their own lives and their family’s lives in order to help the rest of us stay healthy and safe. Take care everyone and enjoy the episode!

On this episode, I speak with Chief Tom Phillips of the NIU Police Department and Interim Chief of Police for the City of DeKalb, John Petragallo. We discuss their relationship with each other, to their communities, how they arrived at their positions and why did they go into police work in the first place. We are reminded how the city and the university are intricately linked, tied together, interdependent.  Because of our lengthy and candid conversation, this podcast will actually be split up in two parts. Enjoy this first part.

Welcome to episode number 7 of the All Things Local Podcast. On this episode, I speak with Lynnea Erickson-Laskowski from Safe Passage, DeKalb County’s domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center.  Lynnea shares her journey from student to advocate. She reminds us that sexual assault and domestic violence does not discriminate by income, ethnicity, race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Safe Passage works with so many entities to support their clients and could use our community’s help so think about volunteering, donating funds or items they are in need of, like gas gift cards especially as we come into the holiday season. Enjoy the episode!