Raising Kellan

In today’s episode, I chat with Kirsten DesMarias and Molly Hilgenberg, co-hosts of the podcast” Mama You Belong.” Kirsten and Molly live in Minnesota and are here to create an awareness of what is happening with regard to Operation Metro Surge. This episode was recorded Feb 9, 2026 and on Feb 12, 2026, Tom Homan who is leading Operation Metro Surge after Greg Bivino’s removal, reported that “immigration enforcement operation was winding down”, there however remains scepticism that this is happening (1)

In the meantime, ICE detention facilities are growing at an alarming rate and as off mid January are reported  73 000 individuals in detention (2). There are emerging allegations of human rights violations, including children in Dilley, TX (3), and 32 reported deaths in detention in 2025 (4)

Timeline of the Conversation:

1:41 Mama You Belong origin story

4:02 What  is happening in MN in the Winter 2026?

5:12 Primary Source 1: Mom of Two

10:32 Men in Masks

18:37 Primary Source 2: Mom from Minnesota

21:00 Language matters: Protestors are not Domestic Terrorists

21:37 The Constitution and the First Amendment

22:00 What is happening in ICE detention centers?

25:35 When parents become politicised.

30:00 Children growing up in this time.

32: 00 Living in the Lie vs the Reality - Vaclav Havel essay on the “Power of the Powerless”

34:00 Regulating your nervous system during “Flooding the Zone”

38:00 Preparing for mutual aid in your community

40: 00 Conclusion with information resources and call to action.

@onsitepublicmedia@toussaintmorrison@minneapolisward2@sahanjournal@bygeorgiafort@nekimal@minnesota50501@[email protected]@minnesota_neighbors@standwithminnesota@immigrantlawcentermn@immigrantdefensenetwork

• Stand with Minnesota - Website that consolidates testimonies, resources, and mutual aid opportunities.

• Resistance Guide - Free web app that helps match you to relief efforts based on your location, time commitment, and level of risk. 

• 5 Calls App - Free app that identifies your elected officials, provides contact information, and scripts. 

References:

1)https://www.startribune.com/alex-pretti-memorial-rally-and-march-will-begin-at-south-minneapolis-park/601585225

2)https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/ice-expanding-detention-system/

3)https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-dilley-children-letters

4) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/04/ice-2025-deaths-timeline

Check out Mama You Belong Podcast

In today's episode, I chat with Mandy Hinson from St John's Community Services about the services provided by the organization, as well as the as a budding new project called " The Pantry."

Timeline:

1:00 Mandy Hinson introduction

1:49 What is St John's Community Services?

3:00 Oasis Program for unhoused youth and victims of domestic abuse.

4:00 The Pantry

5:42 The beginning of The Pantry

9:00 Collaborating with Second Harvest

9:30 Partnering with Discovery Park of America

11:00 Volunteers

12:30 Donations

13:50 Other opportunities to volunteer.

14:00 FUMC: Rhea House Food Pantry

To get started with our IDD services: https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/long-term-services-supports/employment-and-community-first-choices.html

To get started for help with homelessness and fleeing Domestic Violence, go to westtncoc.org

In this epsiode I chat with Heather Henderson, a disability advocate from Columbia, TN

Timeline:

1:00 Introduction

2:30 Information and Misinformation

4:30 Learning the Systems that support the Disability Community.

9:00 Advocacy: Proactive (planning) vs Reactive?

12:00 Unapologetic Advocacy

14:00 Accountability from Systems that serve the Disability Community

14:30 : What is on the Horizon for Heather in 2026

16:30 Heather, beginning in Architecture and Design - Her mentor, Steve Jacobs.

18:00 Resources that ACTUALLY serve the Disability Community.

21:51 Rural vs Urban Needs

23:00 Listening to families - Stakeholder vs End User.

27:00 Thinking about UNIVERSAL design before houses are built

30:30 Resurfacing of Derogatory Terms aimed at the Disability community.

31:00 Words of Encouragement and Conclusion.

Overflow Church in McKenzie, TN, will be hosting Night to Shine on February 13 from 6 - 9 PM. To be sure to listen as Sydney Inman OTR talks about her journey as an occupational therapist, as well as her serving as part of her church team to host their first-ever prom for individuals with IDD here in Northwest TN.

Sydney also describes her church's commitment to an inclusive environment, as well as supporting their families experiencing disabilities.

Timeline:

01:00 Who is Sydney Inman? Her journey to becoming an occupational therapist.

04:00 What is Night to Shine (affiliated with the Tim Tebow Foundation)? Overflow Church and its Disability Ministry.

6:00 What does "Night to Shine" look like?

8:55 How to sign up?

10:00 Conclusion and encouragement to parents!

Today I got to chat with Keona Gwinn who I met at Tennessee Day on the Hill about a year ago. Keona is a MPH candidate at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee and recently delivered a TEDx talked based on the medical home model.

Timeline:

1:00 Who is Keona Gwinn?

1:49 Tennessee Disability Day on the Hill 2026

3: 38 Keona's early years: spina bifida, CHOA, Camp krazy legs

4.30 Keona's TEDx talk on the medical home accessibility model

5:30 Adaptability Beyond Limits

6:30 Keona's Purpose and Calling - Maternal Child Health

7:33 Emergency Preparedness

8:20 Graduation and Career Plans

9: 00 Conclusion

Katie Moore is a dynamic self advocate from East Tennessee who will be holding a virtual conference in collaboration with community partners on January 22-23, 2026 from 5-7:30 PM.

This promises to be an exciting opportunity to learn about resources and network with partners.

Here is your link to register - LINK

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SobJ2FNKTUjIgFGtg_WANm_qcv85xtqfCGSuR9qpTHc/edit?usp=drivesdk

We hope you will join us!

Jerri Green is a mom, a lawyer as well as a public servant raised right here in Tennessee. She will be running for the next Governor of Tennessee in 2026.

Timeline

1:25 Who is Jerri Green?

3:39 What are the role and responsibilities of Governor?

7:04 How does your current work position you for Governor

of TN?

9:51 Jerri Green's position on school vouchers?

11: 47 Jerri Green's position on Special Education?

12:42 Public Education and the Department of Education

21:51 Jerri Green's position on Healthcare?

25:21 How do we rise up to meet this moment?

26:26: Solutions

30:52 Jerri Green's position the cost of groceries.

35:05 Women in Leadership

39:29 Why vote for Jerri Green?

42:47 Conclusion

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the participants on this podcast are their own and do not reflect any organization they may work for or represent.

In today's podcast I chat with Zack Wilson, and his parents Anne Marie and Tom Wilson. Zack is an individual with Down syndrome, a recent graduate of Eagle Access here in Dyersburg TN, an avid CrossFit competitor and an artist. He will he hosting his first art exhibition at McIvers Grant Public Library in Dyersburg TN on November 6, 2025 from 4 - 6 PM.

Please come see us if you can!

Today's episode is a great conservation with Maleia Evans from the Authentically You Network Podcast.I chat with Maleia about how her concept for 31 in 31: Conversations with Proverbs 31 women - a series she launched on her podcast.

I often get asked about the origin story of Raising Kellan. I am super grateful to Maleia for telling our story on Episode 8 of the 31 in 31 series centered on faith and family.

Here are your links to listen.

 Watch on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/31in31Ep8MarshNaidoo
 Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/31in31Ep8MarshNaidooSpotify
*** Please note that an event discussed in this episode that was scheduled for Oct 11th has been postponed***

Steve Chatman is Vice President of Rising Above Ministries and host of the Rising Above Dads Podcast. Steve and his wife Lori have five children and four grandchildren. Steve is a special-needs dad as two of his children are living with Down Syndrome. Steve spent 30 years in church ministry before joining Rising Above Ministries in 2022. He loves encouraging and equipping families and churches. In this episode we chat about:

Timeline:

00:46 Introduction and Steve's Bio.

02:46 Rising Above Ministries

04:00 Weekend Respite Program By the Brook & Base Camp.

06:00 How do wives give permission for husbands to rest. "What special needs dads want you to know but don't

tell you about"

11:26 Communication between partners. How do you ask for a break or respite?

15:15 Find 30 minutes a week (suggestive but by no means minimum) to connect regard scheduling and updating partners

17: 00 Rising Above Dads Podcast

22:00 Conclusion

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