The Dane County Podcast

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Joining Forces for Families (JFF) Supervisor Mike Bruce to discuss the program—now celebrating its 30th year of operation. The two cover what JFF is, how it came to be, and the critical work teams are carrying out in neighborhoods across Dane County to help address residents’ needs and make our community a better place to call home. Mike also shares how he first got involved with JFF and the impact it has had on his life.Learn mor...

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Dane County Public Safety Communications Director Luis Bixler to discuss 911 operations. The two cover multiple 2024 budget investments: expanding Madison's CARES (Community Alternative Response Emergency Services) program to more Dane County communitiesadding crisis counselors to the 911 center that will work with people who call 911 while experiencing a behavioral health emergencywhat the new Dane County Public Safety Commu...

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Dane County Regional Airport Director Kim Jones to discuss the airport's new terminal expansion, direct flights, & much more.Learn More:Dane County Regional Airporthttps://www.msnairport.com/

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Trish Grant and Nura Capriglione to discuss Building Bridges—Dane County's school based mental health teams.The Building Bridges program provides short-term wraparound style case management and service coordination for 4K-9 students who are experiencing mental health challenges within their school setting and require additional supports. Services are voluntary and involve both the student and their parents/guardians.Learn More:The...

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Kathy Kuntz, Director of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change, and Heather Allen, Policy Advisor at RENEW Wisconsin, to celebrate Earth Month. Together, the three discuss Dane County government achieving 100% renewable energy status at county facilities—the first county in Wisconsin and only the fourth county in the nation to do so. They also share how everyone can go green and save money under the Inflation Reducti...

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, County Executive Parisi sits down with Dr. Ruben Anthony, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison. Together, they discuss the Black Business Hub and Dane County's ongoing partnerships with the Urban League.Learn more about the Urban League of Greater Madison below:https://ulgm.org/

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Casey Becker, Division Administrator of Dane County Housing Access & Affordability. The two discuss efforts to address homelessness, the Affordable Housing Development Fund, community partnerships, and much more.Learn More:The Division of Housing Access and Affordability administers federal and county-funded partnerships with community agencies to prevent and end homelessness, increase access to and development of affordable h...

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Charles Tubbs, Department Director of Dane County Emergency Management, and Cheryl Wittke, Executive Director of Safe Communities Madison-Dane County. Together, the three discuss the ongoing opiate and fentanyl epidemics, as well as the ways Dane County is working to address the crisis and support those beginning the path of addiction treatment/recovery.The Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC) is a voluntary person and family ...

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Michelle Orge, President/CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, and Scott Williams, Owner of Garden To Be (a family farm in Mount Horeb) and coordinator of a coalition of more than two dozen Wisconsin farmers. Together, the three discuss Dane County and Second Harvest’s “Farm to Foodbank” program.Initially created to help families meet basic needs during the pandemic, the “Farm to Foodbank” program has opened new do...

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Greg Markle, Executive Director of Operation Fresh Start (OFS), to highlight the organization's amazing work in the community and ongoing partnerships with Dane County. The two discuss everything from the Youth Conservation Corps and the driver's license program to plans for a Civilian Climate Corps. They also have OFS participant Eric Romero join the conversation to share his story and experience with OFS.Learn more about Operati...