Rethinking Rural

Helping children maintain reading proficiency during the summer is essential to preparing them to start school on the right foot in the fall. In this episode, two local leaders talk about how organizations and parents can play a role in supporting summer literacy. We are joined by Cynthia Wehrenberg, youth impact coordinator at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, and Katie Peterson, youth program specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Every Child Reads
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Were are happy to be joined by Jolene Koopmann, coordinator of the new Caregiver Resource Center at Stonehill Communities. Jolene talks about how the vision and generosity of Jim Theisen is helping establish this center for anyone who cares for a loved one with a chronic illness — and just what resources will be available.

Resources mentioned in this episode

Give now to the Caregiver Resource Center: dbqfoundation.org/caregiver
Official page: Caregiver Resource Center at Stonehill Communities
News story: Caregiver Resource Center to open at Stonehill Communities
Video: Teri Zuccaro: My Family's Caregiver Center Story
Video: Rick and Pam Hillard's Caregiver Story

Less than a month before our Women's Giving Circle Gifts and Grants ceremony, we are joined by the group's president, Mimi Vaassen, and the Community Foundation's director of philanthropy, Emily Rollins. Mimi and Emily give listeners the full scoop on the Women's Giving Circle, from its impact on women and children in the community to how people can get involved.

Resources in this episode

Women's Giving Circle
June 8, 2022 Gifts and Grants Ceremony Registration
Women's Giving Circle Grant Information

Northeast Iowa's biggest day of giving is just around the corner. Great Give Day 2022 is Wednesday, May 18, and we spend this episode talking with two people close to this annual event: Peter Supple is the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque's director of nonprofits and the main point of contact for organizations participating in Great Give Day, and Ernest Jackson is a Dubuque community leader, volunteer and business owner who never misses a chance to give back on Great Give Day -- and every day!

Resources

Great Give Day.org -- Learn more and make your gift on May 18
First Citizen -- Read about Ernest Jackson's recent recognition from the Telegraph Herald

With summer break just around the corner, we take a look at the importance of learning and enrichment opportunities for children to engage in while school is out. We also discuss key indicators of children's academic achievement, particularly reading proficiency, and social-emotional wellness.

Our guests are Cynthia Wehrenberg, youth impact coordinator at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, and Kaitlin Schmidt, director of strategic resources at St. Mark Youth Enrichment.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Every Child Reads (Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque)
• St. Mark Youth Enrichment
• Dubuque Dream Center
• Dubuque Community School District
• Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
• Summer learning proposal (Telegraph Herald article)

Guests Clara Lopez Ortiz, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque's equity coordinator, and Oather Taylor, who facilitates the Foundation's Business Leader Equity Cohort, talk about ways that employers and community members are coming together to make the Dubuque region a place where all people feel welcome and included — and want to stay for the long term.

Resources discussed in this episode

Inclusive Dubuque
Inclusive Dubuque Facebook page
Business Leader Equity Cohort
Rural Equity Network
Dubuque Cultural Resource Guide
DEI Toolkit

If you are interested in the February 10, 2022 Rural Equity Network meeting discussed in this podcast, email Clara at [email protected]

In our first episode of 2022, we talk with Alex Baum, director of initiatives at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, and Caprice Jones, founder and executive director of the Fountain of Youth Program in Dubuque, about how organizations can use data to understand community needs and support their work. We talk about the Community Foundation's latest Data Walk, which focuses on employment and equity, and how Caprice sees the real-world implications of this data in his efforts to reverse cycles of generational poverty.

Resources

The Fountain of Youth Program
Dubuque Data Walk
The United Way ALICE Data
U.S. Census Bureau

In this episode, we are joined by Nicole Salazar, Dubuque police officer and Community Foundation board member, who shares the story of what brought her to Dubuque and what inspires her to serve and give back to the community. 

We also are joined by Faye Finnegan, the Foundation's director of development, who talks about how she and Nicole met during their time at Loras College and how the Foundation works with generous community members like Nicole to identify giving opportunities that meet their personal goals and make an impact.

Related Resources

• Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque — Give Now
• Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque — Ways to Give
• Women's Giving Circle

The confidence and comfort in knowing where your next meal is coming from is critical to everyone’s well-being.  We talk with Nikki Ketchum, meal coordinator at First Congregational Church UCC in Dubuque, and Jason Neises, community development coordinator at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, about how the food insecurity landscape in the Dubuque region and how the Community Foundation worked with providers during the pandemic to strengthen the food distribution system for the long term.

Additional resources:

First Congregational United Church of Christ
255 W. 10th St., Dubuque , IA
563-582-3648

211 Iowa app (Google Play or Apple Store) for instant connection with local resources. You can also text your zip code to 898211 to chat live with a 211 Operator 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
https://www.211iowa.org/

Dubuque Food Pantry
1598 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA
563-583-4440

Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa - Food Assistance hotline
833-587-8322

Little Free Food Pantries
Locations across Dubuque; search map

Resources Unite
1900 JFK Road, Dubuque, IA
563-231-6280

St. Vincent de Paul
1351 Iowa St., Dubuque, IA
563-584-2226

Salvation Army
1099 Iowa St., Dubuque
563-556-1573

SNAP Food Assistance application helpline (Iowa): 855-944-3663

Dubuque resident Debi Butler, founder of Brain Health Now, and Peter Supple, the Community Foundation's economic development coordinator, join us for this episode of Rethinking Rural to discuss how Dubuque is removing the stigma around brain health and increasing access to services.

Resources:
Learn more about brain health access work in the Dubuque region, get involved, or care for the well-being of yourself or someone else.

Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Brain Health Access Initiative Partners:

• Brain Health Now
• Crescent Community Health Center Brain Health Clinic
• East Central Region
• Hillcrest Family Services — Counseling
• Mental Health America of Dubuque County
• MercyOne
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Dubuque
• Unity Point Health

• CALL 211
  Connect to essential local health and human services, 24 hours a day, for free 
  
  
• Your Life Iowa
  Up-to-date COVID-19 information, mental health information and resources
  Call 855-581-8111 or text 855-895-8398
  
  
• Iowa Child Abuse Hotline
  1-800-362-2178
  
  
• Warm Line
  Nonjudgemental peer support by phone
  844-775-9276
  
  
• ISU Extension Iowa Concern
  Support regarding legal, financial, stress, and crisis related questions
  800-447-1985
  
  
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
  Here to answer questions, offer support and provide practical next steps
  Call 800-950-6264 or text NAMI to 741741
  
  
• Parent Helpline
  Emotional support from trained advocates to empower parents & caregivers
  855-427-2736
  
  
• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
  24-hour free and confidential information in English and Spanish
  800-662-4357
  
  
• Iowa Domestic Violence Hotline
  800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 800-787-3224
  
  
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  800-273-8255