Community Difference Makers

Learn more about the work Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa is doing to support mentoring relationships that empower youth from CEO Bridget Cravens-Neely, board member D’Angelo Johnson, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the work Goodwill of Central Iowa is doing to help make purposeful employment possible for all from president and CEO, Mary Hunter; board member, Susan Rathjen; and host Emily Abbas.

Our latest episode of the Community Difference Makers podcast features @ChildServe! Listen to ChildServe CEO Dr. Teri Wahlig, board member and Bankers Trust Chief Human Resources Officer Amanda Young, and host Emily Abbas discuss the organization’s efforts to help children with special healthcare needs. 

In this episode, we learn more about Polk County Housing Trust Fund from executive director Eric Burmeister and board president Cole McClelland, who is a CRE relationship manager at Bankers Trust. Listen to learn about how the organization is strengthening the Central Iowa community through affordable housing.

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity CEO Lance Henning and Habitat board member and Bankers Trust COO Tina Fritz join the podcast to help us learn about the organization's long history of developing community and housing.

We close out Season 2 of the podcast with a Quick Community Insights episode featuring Ray Cole, award-winning broadcaster and author of the book, "Hangin' with Winners."

Michelle Book, President and CEO at the Food Bank of Iowa joins the podcast and shares more about the organization's 40 years helping reduce food insecurity for Iowans, with the help of 5,000 volunteers annually!

Joe Gonzalez, executive director at Latino Resources, Inc., joins us for this week's episode of the Community Difference Makers podcast to talk about the annual Latino Heritage Festival, which will celebrate its 20th year in Des Moines this fall.

In this Quick Community Insight episode of our Community Difference Makers podcast, we welcome Bankers Trust's own Christina Jarck, who oversees the bank's employee volunteer program, to share the many ways we encourage, support and recognize team members for their involvement within the community.

Peter Cownie, executive director of Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, joins us to talk about the foundation's mission to raise funds for fair improvements and make the Iowa State Fair the best it can be.