What Living Means

In this episode, we’re going all in on the art of grilling.  Maybe this year you want to branch out beyond hamburgers and hotdogs.  Or maybe you hope to make it through the holiday with your eyebrows intact.   

Our special guest, Clayton Cook of LeRoy and Lewis BBQ and Mama Fried in Austin, Texas, shares how you can elevate your grill game and keep your guests clamoring for more.   And later, you’ll hear from YES’ Head of Risk Title Brian Von Helmolt on some grill safety tips to pull off your cookout without incident.

Links:

Mama Fried

LeRoy & Lewis BBQ

Chuds BBQ Tutorials

Produced by Yes Communities

Scholarships are more than just financial assistance. They're the bridge that connects ambitious students to their wildest aspirations, regardless of their background or financial situation. In this episode we’re exploring YES Communities’ Building Futures program, which is designed to uplift those who dare to dream and strive for greatness.

Links:

Mark Adams

Building Futures

Produced by Yes Communities

In recent years, the cost of housing has increased sharply across our country. The average home sale price in the US  increased 30% since 2020. At the most basic level, these higher prices are caused by a shortage of available housing units. Zoning, public policy, and a “Not In My Backyard” resistance to new construction are all contributing factors to the housing supply shortfall.

Author & journalist Erika Bolstad joins us to discuss the affordable housing shortage and potential solutions to making housing more affordable for all.  

Links:

Erica Bolstad

Yes Communities

Produced by Yes Communities

Families with children make up 30% of the homeless population in our country. Clayton and Family Promise have teamed up to provide transitional housing and create long term solutions to help end this national crisis.

Clayton’s Ted Rutland and Sandy Minuitti of Family Promise tell us what it means for families and children experiencing homelessness to secure safe housing. 

Links:

Family Promise

Clayton

Clayton / FP Partnership

Yes Communities

Produced by Yes Communities

In this episode, we are going to help you absolutely nail your next holiday meal. Executive Chef Joe Goetze of Founding Farmers restaurant group walks us through some simple ways to create memorable, winning meals.

We'll also check in to see how YES team members are sharing their holidays with residents in their communities.

Guests:

Joe Goetze - Executive Chef of Founding Farmers

Melinda Graulau - YES Communities Regional Manager MIW

Tara Blakita - YES Communities Field Manager MISW

Links: 

Founding Farmers

Produced by Yes Communities

The past two years have presented unprecedented challenges for education in our country. Parents, teachers, and students are finally seeing the light at the end of a very long tunnel, but studies show that a massive effort is required to catch up from the time spent away from in person learning. 

In this episode, we talk to Richard Tagle, President and CEO of the Denver Public School Foundation on how we can help students catch up in math and reading.

Links:

Denver Public School Foundation

Richard Tagle

Produced by Yes Communities

For a long time, workplace wellness meant a break room stocked with free bananas and granola. But as the conversation around work life balance becomes more wholistic, the concept of wellness has expanded to include mental health, paid leave, and even personal finance. Yes Communities' Leanna Cline and Cigna's Kylee Geffre discuss how the approach to wellness has changed, and what goes into  creating a wellness culture that attracts and retains talent.

Links:

Cigna

Yes Communities

Produced by Yes Communities

Across virtually every industry, there is a massive effort underway to use fewer natural resources and more renewables. From reusable drinking straws to the insulation in our walls, we are striving for a more sustainable pathway into the future. Manufactured housing presents a unique solution that virtually eliminates waste during the building process, while also requiring less water and electricity each month.  

William Jenkins is Director of Environment and Sustainability at Clayton Homes.  We sat down to discuss how Clayton is diverting thousands of tons of unnecessary construction waste from landfills, smart features that help residents save on utilities, and a sustainability pledge to plant millions of trees in 2022.

Links:

Clayton Homes

Arbor Day Pledge

Produced by Yes Communities

In this episode, we chat with restauranteur extraordinaire Mark Bucher.  Mark's Medium Rare steakhouses were sidelined during the 2020 pandemic shutdown. Instead of waiting it out, Mark utilized his kitchens to feed hundreds of thousands of hungry families and keep the greater restaurant community alive. His giving spirit helped him discover a viable solution to solving the hunger problem in America. The shutdown eventually ended, but Mark continues to give back through his Feed the Fridge initiative. 

We also catch up with YES Communities Jean Gonzales about the YES We Care program, and how to foster a giving culture within your organization. 

If you’re looking to have a more fulfilling holiday season, this episode is for you!

Links:

Mark Bucher - Feed the Fridge

Medium Rare

Produced by Yes Communities

After an  exceptionally challenging year, our kids are finally going back to school for in-person learning.  The road ahead may get bumpy!  Our special guest, Ann Dolin founder of Educational Connections Tutoring and Test Prep,  shares with us some strategies for both parents and students to take worry out of the equation.  

We'll also catch up with YES team members to celebrate their hustle in sending the kids in our communities back to school on the right foot. 

Links:

School Supplies Giveaway
Ann Dolin
Educational Connections Tutoring

Produced by Yes Communities