In this inspiring episode of "K Elizabeth Toasts," host K Elizabeth sits down with Christine, a former corporate professional turned volunteer mountain bike cycling coach and mentor. With a passion for enriching the lives of girls and young women, Christine shares her transition from corporate life to the exhilarating world of mountain biking. The podcast delves into the significance of learning essential skills for safe mountain biking, emphasizing three essentials. Christine also introduces Team 612, a youth composite team that offers an inclusive, no-cut policy, ensuring every child has the opportunity to ride, practice, and race. This episode not only highlights the positive impact of mountain biking on the social and community context of the Social Determinants of Health but also encourages listeners to seek out activities that foster both personal growth and community involvement.

One of the five SDoH is social and community context. Having strong relationships and connections with relatives, acquaintances, colleagues, and neighbors can have a positive impact on people's physical and mental health. These relationships can also help reduce the negative effects of challenges and dangers that are beyond people's control, such as living in unsafe neighborhoods or experiencing discrimination. However, some people, such as children whose parents are incarcerated or who are bullied, may not have access to the support they need to thrive. By promoting positive relationships at home, school, work, and in the community, interventions can help improve health and overall quality of life.

Links:

K. Elizabeth Toasts

https://www.ketoasts.com/

612 MTB

https://www.612mtb.com/

Little Bellas

https://littlebellas.com/

Sanneh Foundation

https://thesannehfoundation.org/

Minnesota Cycling Association

https://minnesotacycling.org/

Minnesota Cycling Association – Grrls

https://minnesotacycling.org/mca-grrls/

Loppet Mountain Biking Programs

https://www.loppet.org/programs/tk/bike/

Hi, I’m K. Elizabeth, a licensed counselor, coach, PhD, and host of K. Elizabeth Toasts, a podcast celebrating people who increase our quality of life. Each episode is a heartfelt interview of a remarkable person who improves others’ lives through 1 of the 5 social determinants of health. The World Health Organization says these social determinants can impact up to 55% of our health outcomes – that’s more than our lifestyle choices and medical care combined.

This season starts on October 7th and I get to introduce you to another 10 amazing humans who are changing lives for the better through things like training service dogs for people with disabilities, organizing fly fishing retreats for women with breast cancer, serving kids with autism, and supporting school employees through benefits – I can’t wait for you to meet them!

Search your favorite podcast platform for K. dot Elizabeth Toasts, and tap the follow button to be inspired by these amazing people.

Then give a listen if you are in need of a dopamine hit, or if you like toast. Because this toast’s for you.

www.KEtoasts.com

This toast is for Susie, the owner and curator of an Art Gallery. This episode explores the significant role of social determinants such as neighborhood and built environment. Marty shares her personal journey of battling cancer, which led her to seek a career that brought joy not only to herself but also to others. Marty’s vision is to reflect the grand salons of 1800s Paris where artists and intellectuals gathered. Her heartfelt venture not only created a neighborhood gathering place, a platform for artists to sell their work, but also honored her grandsons, Everett and Charlie. The community toast honors Peter.

• Everett and Charlie Art Gallery https://www.everettandcharlie.com/

• Tilia https://www.tiliampls.com/

• Harriet Brasserie https://www.lakeharrietbrasserie.com/

• Grand Hand Art Gallery https://thegrandhandgallery.com/

• Gallery 360 https://www.gallery360mpls.com/

• • Arts District or Northeast Minneapolis https://www.minneapolis.org/neighborhoods/northeast/arts-district

This toast is for Josh, the executive director of EdAllies, an education advocacy group whose goal is to make sure that kids of color, kids with disabilities, Native American learners, and kids from historically underserved communities are served well in school. Josh shares the herculean efforts that his mother made to provide him with quality education and how he is using that education to serve students. The community toast honors Sofia Karlsson. Give a listen!

Amplified: https://www.amplifiedpodcast.com/

Ed Allies: https://edalliesmn.org/

Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition: https://www.solutionsnotsuspensions.org/

Bridge Makers for Youth https://bridgemakersmn.org/

Good Trouble: https://www.goodtroublemn.org/

National Parents Union: https://nationalparentsunion.org/

Voices for Racial Justice: https://voicesforracialjustice.org/

Great Minnesota Schools: https://greatmnschools.org/

The Smartest Kids in the World by Amanda Ripley: https://www.amandaripley.com/the-smartest-kid

This toast is for Kim, an advanced practice nurse. Kim's passion for nursing and specifically oncology was ignited by a personal tragedy, when she lost her brother after a severe motorcycle accident, praising the compassion and care of the ICU and emergency department nurses who treated him. This pivotal moment led Kim to pursue a career where she could offer the compassion and care that she received from nurses who treated her brother and cared for her family. Kim emphasizes the importance of building relationships with patients and their families, offering not just medical care but also a comforting presence during tough times. It concludes with a Community Toast to Heather.

Cancer Survivorship Program: https://survivorship.umn.edu/

This toast is for Cat, a plus-sized resale store owner dedicated to balancing prices that reflect the value and affordability of clothing and the operational challenges small businesses face. Cat also developed a workbook aimed at supporting resale business owners for their own financial freedom. This episode focuses on the Social Determinant of Health of Economic Stability and concludes with a toast to the Cake team and Saraya as well as a Community Toast to Catherine.

• Cake Plus Size Resale: https://www.cakeplussize.com/

• Reuse Minnesota: https://www.reusemn.org/

• Launching and Growing Your Resale Business workbook: https://www.reusemn.org/Reuse-Minnesota-resources

This toast is for Jenessa, who is creating inclusive outdoor experiences and making the great outdoors accessible so that individuals from black and brown communities can fully embrace nature without fear of judgment or microaggressions. Jenessa, a self-described Black fat mermaid has created her own representation in outdoor spaces - by accepting a position as a musher, working at camps, and co-leading a group of 60 Black and Brown people to experience camp. This embodies the essence of the Social Determinant of Health: Social and Community Context. The episode concludes with a toast to Hannah, acknowledging the transformative power of friendships and a community toast to Gord for bringing out the best in his employees.

BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities: https://www.ashamarie.com/bipocoutdoorstwincities

Hannah: https://www.ketoasts.com/episode-notes/ketoastshannah

Emily Ford’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyontrail/?hl=en

This toast is for Marc, who fostered a vibrant bocce league in the heart of the neighborhood - a tale of camaraderie, community, and unexpected mid-week heroes. There's magic in witnessing a casual game among friends, watching strangers becoming friends, and seeing the park come alive with laughter and friendly competition. This isn't just about bocce; it's a testament to the importance of a neighborhood and built community’s impact on people. This episode concludes with Marc sharing his cherished memory of his beloved wife Carol and a Community Toast to Salimah, a pillar of support and friendship. Cheers to bocce, to the importance of the social determinant of the health of neighborhood and built community, and to those special people who make life infinitely better, one bocce roll at a time!

• Bocce: https://bocce.org/

• Linden Hills Bocce courts: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks-destinations/parks-l

• Record a Toast: https://www.ketoasts.com/

In this episode, talk to and toast Kelsey, who is increasing access to access to quality education through coordinating volunteers to clean, decorate, and open a locked library in a public school, volunteering to get beds to kids in need so they can sleep well, and orchestrating drives for bedding while getting her own cancer treatments.

Record a Toast to honor someone who has increased your quality of life: https://www.ketoasts.com/

My Very Own Bed: https://www.myveryownbed.org/

In this episode, talk to and toast Maura, who is increasing access to health care through advocating for kids with special needs and creating the Minnesota Vaccine Hunters group that helped thousands of people get connected with vaccines.

One of the five SDoH is access to quality healthcare; many Americans do not have access to health care services. 1 in 10 people in the United States don’t have health insurance, and without health insurance, people are less likely to be able to afford necessary healthcare services and medications for treatment for chronic illnesses and preventative care such as cancer screenings and immunizations. Many people do not have a primary care provider to manage their health throughout their life, including continuity of care, early detection of serious health issues, disease prevention, health maintenance, and even time and cost savings.