This week on VISTA Voices we interview Sam Mellema, serving with the Wyoming Children's Law Center.  Sam talks about his work at the law center handling digital outreach and fundraising efforts as well as improving data collection for juvenile justice across the state.  He also tells us about his Nebraska roots, the perks of VISTA service and the best parts of living in Wyoming.

Visit the Wyoming Children's Law Center's website to learn more: https://www.wyoclc.org/

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wyoming-Childrens-Law-Center-Inc-880828261965312/

Check out the AmeriCorps VISTA Program at Equal Justice Wyoming: https://equaljustice.wy.gov/index.php/about-us/americorps-vista-program

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

For the second installment of VISTA Voices, we talk with Breana Griffin and Marilena Soberal, who are serving with the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Laramie and Fort Washakie.  Brea and Mari tell us about the work they have been doing to support and advocate for survivors and to promote inclusivity within the Coalition.  They also talk about the success of the #WyomingWearsTeal awareness campaign in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Visit WCADVSA's website to learn more: https://www.wyomingdvsa.org/

And follow the WCADVSA on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCADVSA/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCADVSA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcadvsa/

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

Over the month of May, we will be dedicating our episodes to interviewing our fellow AmeriCorps VISTAs serving with the Equal Justice Wyoming cohort as part of series we are calling "VISTA Voices."  We kick things off talking to Daniel Barbakoff, who is serving with the Wyoming Department of Health's Aging Division.  Daniel tells us about his background, his favorite things about Wyoming and the projects he has worked on throughout his service.

Check out the AmeriCorps VISTA Program at Equal Justice Wyoming: https://equaljustice.wy.gov/index.php/about-us/americorps-vista-program

Learn more about the Wyoming Department of Health's Aging Division: https://health.wyo.gov/aging/

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

This week, we chat with Jon and Renee Jelinek, owners of the Paramount Café and the Lincoln Theater in downtown Cheyenne.  Jon and Renee discuss their commitment to serving the community as well as their promotion of local art scene through their nonprofit, the Alternative Arts Project.

Come see some great performances during the Artist Discovery Series at the Lincoln this spring and summer!

Lincoln Theater: https://www.thelincolncheyenne.com/

Paramount Café: https://www.paramountcafecheyenne.com/

Follow the Lincoln and the Paramount on social media!

Lincoln Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelincolncheyenne

Paramount Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paramountcafecheyenne

Lincoln Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelincolncheyenne/

Paramount Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paramountcafe/

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

CW: Suicide

On this episode, we're joined by two of Cheyenne's funniest folks: Dominic Syracuse, comic and emcee extraordinaire at Dillinger's Bar and CEO of Cognitive Behavior Theatre, and Rhianna Brand, Director of Partner Services at the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, mental health advocate and standup comedian.  They share their experiences with mental health, their work in the field, and words of inspiration during the pandemic.

Find them at:

Rhianna

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhianna-brand/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shhhmile?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanashine11/

Dominic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXdiAxhZ-qIjBTUKD3t9K1g

& at Dillinger's on Tuesday nights at 7:30pm (https://dillingerswyo.com/)

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

Hugh, Ken and Dan talk with Rachel Martinez, Executive Director of Family Promise, an organization dedicated to transitioning families out of homelessness.  We discuss the impact of the pandemic on shelter operations and the homeless population as well as Family Promise's homelessness diversion programs and the impact of homelessness on children's development.  (Recorded 3/19/2021)

Follow Family Promise on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familypromiseofcheyenne

And visit their website: https://familypromiseofcheyenne.org

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

Our Building a Better Cheyenne co-host, Ken Wallace, sits down with three of the founding board members of his AmeriCorps VISTA site -- Equal Justice Wyoming (EJW) -- for a bonus edition of the podcast.

- EJWF Facebook: [ https://www.facebook.com/EqualJusticeWyomingFoundation/ ] 

- EJW Twitter: [ https://twitter.com/equaljusticewyo?lang=en ] 

- Patrick Day [ https://www.hollandhart.com/showbio.aspx?Show=15689 ]

- Stuart Day [ https://www.wpdn.net/professionals/stuart-day/ ]

- Walter Eggers [ https://www.hollandhart.com/weggers ]

For the tenth anniversary of the establishment of Equal Justice Wyoming, we interview Angie Dorsch, Executive Director of EJW and spouse of our cohost Dan.  Angie tells us about the impressive work EJW does in securing funding and coordinating civil legal services in across Wyoming.

Visit EJW's website: https://equaljustice.wy.gov

Equal Justice Wyoming Foundation: https://www.equaljusticewyomingfoundation.org

And follow EJW on social media

EJW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EqualJusticeWyoming/

EJWF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EqualJusticeWyomingFoundation/

EJW Twitter: https://twitter.com/equaljusticewyo?lang=en

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

This week we sit down with Nick Dodgson, owner of Cheyenne Motorsports.  In 2020, Nick started Cheyenne Cruise Nights to support local restaurants and nonprofits during the pandemic.  We talk to Nick about his generosity as a business owner, the preposterous story of how he arrived in Cheyenne, and what the Cheyenne community means to him.

Be sure to check out this year's Cruise Nights each Saturday from April 17th through October 30th!

See the full schedule on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cheyenne-Cruise-Nights-109867957372573/

And tune in to Nick's radio show KAR-GAB on KGAB AM 650 Saturdays from 8am to 10am MST.

Follow KAR-GAB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kargabonkgab/

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod

On this episode, we speak with Tamara Moore and Michelle Coronado of the Unaccompanied Students Initiative, an organization dedicated to sheltering unaccompanied high school students in Cheyenne and Casper, Wyoming.

USI Website: https://usinitiative.org

Follow USI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unaccompaniedstudents

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Theme Music: "Dirt Rhodes" by Kevin MacLeod