Tune in to Bringing Down the HOUSE!
Ali, J’Kalein, and guests discuss all things housing, community, and Iowa Heartland every
other Tuesday in 30-45 minute podcast episodes!
Building Community: Aging at Home with Dignity with Greg Zars
Today, Ali and J’Kalein meet with the Deputy Director of the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A), Greg Zars, to discuss how NEI3A is empowering older individuals in our community to age with dignity and independence. We will also explore Iowa Heartland’s new partnership with NEI3A and the impact it is making in our community. Thanks for listening to episode seven of Season Two: Building Community!
Episode Links:
- Walnut Neighborhood
- LifeLong Links - Call 866-468-7887 to be connected with a social worker
- Meals on Wheels
- Grandpad
- The Northeast Iowa Foodbank - Check our our episode with Barb HERE
- Waterloo Housing Trust Fund
- CC Podcasts - Give them a listen!
Follow us!
- Website: WeBuildHabitat.org/podcast
- Instagram: BringingDownTheHousePod | IAHeartlandHFH
- Facebook: BringingDownTheHousePod | IowaHeartlandHabitat
- TikTok: IAHeartlandHabitat
- Twitter: BDTH_Pod
Hosts: Ali Parrish and J'Kalein Madison | Guest: Greg Zars| Producer & Editor: Norah Schlax | Music: bensound
October 26, 2021
Building Community: Green Living & Energy Diversity Inclusion with Ashley Craft
Have you ever considered how income may affect a person’s ability to purchase environmentally friendly and energy efficient solutions for their home? Today, Ali and J’Kalein visit with Ashley Craft, program director for University of Northern Iowa's Green Iowa AmeriCorps program. Tune in to learn about their important environmental work in our community and across the state. Thanks for listening to episode six of Season Two: Building Community!
Episode Links(in order of mention):
- Green Iowa AmeriCorps
- University of Norther Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education
- AmeriCorps
- Black Hawk County Solid Waste
- Cedar Falls Community School District
- Tallgrass Prairie Center
- Energy Audit by Green Iowa AmeriCorps
- UNI
- Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley
- Hearst Center for the Arts
- Cedar Valley Arboretum
- Black Hawk County YMCA
- YWCA of Black Hawk County
Follow us!
- Website: WeBuildHabitat.org/podcast
- Instagram: BringingDownTheHousePod | IAHeartlandHFH
- Facebook: BringingDownTheHousePod | IowaHeartlandHabitat
- TikTok: IAHeartlandHabitat
- Twitter: BDTH_Pod
Hosts: Ali Parrish and J'Kalein Madison | Guest: Ashley Craft| Producer & Editor: Norah Schlax | Music: bensound
October 12, 2021
Building Community: Food Insecurity in Northeast Iowa with Barb Prather
Today, Ali and J’Kalein welcome the Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Barb Prather to discuss closing the meal gap in our community, food insecurity, and how we partner. Thanks for tuning in to episode five of Season Two: Building Community!
Episode Links(in order of mention):
Follow us!
- Website: WeBuildHabitat.org/podcast
- Instagram: BringingDownTheHousePod | IAHeartlandHFH
- Facebook: BringingDownTheHousePod | IowaHeartlandHabitat
- TikTok: IAHeartlandHabitat
- Twitter: BDTH_Pod
Hosts: Ali Parrish and J'Kalein Madison | Guest: Mindy Schmidt | Producer & Editor: Norah Schlax | Music: bensound
September 28, 2021
Building Community: Corporate Partnerships with Mindy Schmidt
Today, Ali and J’Kalein welcome the Community Relations Manager of John Deere Waterloo, Mindy Schmidt, to discuss corporate social responsibility and our ever-growing partnership with John Deere. Thanks for tuning in to episode four of Season Two: Building Community!
Episode Links(in order of mention):
- John Deere
- John Deere's Higher Purpose
- Northeast Iowa Food Bank
- John Deere Grant to Iowa Heartland
- Church Row Neighborhood
- Walnut Neighborhood
Follow us!
- Website: WeBuildHabitat.org/podcast
- Instagram: BringingDownTheHousePod | IAHeartlandHFH
- Facebook: BringingDownTheHousePod | IowaHeartlandHabitat
- TikTok: IAHeartlandHabitat
- Twitter: BDTH_Pod
Hosts: Ali Parrish and J'Kalein Madison | Guest: Mindy Schmidt | Producer & Editor: Norah Schlax | Music: bensound
September 14, 2021
Building Community: Restoration to Revitalization with David Deeds
Today Ali and J'Kalein chat with longtime supporter and past Iowa Heartland Board President, David Deeds as he shares his passion for urban design, historic preservation, and how he builds community through various local partnerships and projects! Thanks for tuning in to episode three of Season Two: Building Community!
Episode Links(in order of mention):
- University of Northern Iowa Accounting
- JSA Development
- The Life and Death of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
- The Great Chicago Fire
- Walnut Neighborhood
- Church Row Neighborhood
Follow us!
- Website: WeBuildHabitat.org/podcast
- Instagram: BringingDownTheHousePod | IAHeartlandHFH
- Facebook: BringingDownTheHousePod | IowaHeartlandHabitat
- TikTok: IAHeartlandHabitat
- Twitter: BDTH_Pod
Hosts: Ali Parrish and J'Kalein Madison | Guest: David Deeds | Producer & Editor: Norah Schlax | Music: bensound
August 31, 2021
Building Community: Volunteerism with Lauren Finke and Ron Jensen
Volunteerism not only allows Iowa Heartland to continue serving our mission, but it also uplifts the entire Cedar Valley! Ali and J’Kalein are excited to welcome Lauren Finke, executive director of the Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley & Ron Jensen, longterm Iowa Heartland supporter and regular volunteer. Lauren and Ron share their perspective on volunteerism and why they choose to partner with Iowa Heartland in our second episode of Season Two: Building Community!
Episode Links(in order of mention):
- Our Mission: Seeking to put God's love into action, Iowa Heartland Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
- Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley
- Volunteer with us!
- RAGBRAI: Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa
- UNI: University of Northern Iowa
- RSVP: Connecting volunteers, 55+, with skills-based volunteer opportunities that meet the needs of the community.
- Global Village Trips
- Podcast Episode with Wayne Green: International Building & Global Partnerships
Follow us!
- Website: WeBuildHabitat.org/podcast
- Instagram: BringingDownTheHousePod | IAHeartlandHFH
- Facebook: BringingDownTheHousePod | IowaHeartlandHabitat
- TikTok: IAHeartlandHabitat
- Twitter: BDTH_Pod
Hosts: Ali Parrish and J'Kalein Madison | Guests: Lauren Finke & Ron Jensen | Producer & Editor: Norah Schlax | Music: bensound
August 17, 2021
Building Community: Transitional Housing with Dusky Steele
Season 2 is here!! This season, entitled Building Community, is focused on highlighting our essential community partnerships that allow us to serve in a greater capacity. Ali and J'Kalein are kicking off the season with House of Hope Development Coordinator, Dusky Steele. Their discussion covers the incredible work House of Hope is doing to empower homeless women in our community as well as our duel-organization program, Framing Hope.
Episode Links(in order of mention):
- Our Mission: Seeking to put God's love into action, Iowa Heartland Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
- House of Hope
- House of Hope's Mission: House of Hope provides single-mother families and women who age out of foster care with individualized support and transitional housing to achieve secure families, independence and permanent homes.
- Framing Hope
- Verklempt: adj. overcome with emotion
- Paris' Home Dedication
Follow us!
- Website: WeBuildHabitat.org/podcast
- Instagram: BringingDownTheHousePod | IAHeartlandHFH
- Facebook: BringingDownTheHousePod | IowaHeartlandHabitat
- TikTok: IAHeartlandHabitat
- Twitter: BDTH_Pod
Hosts: Ali Parrish and J'Kalein Madison | Guest: Dusky Steele| Producer & Editor: Norah Schlax | Music: bensound
August 3, 2021
Episode 15: Construction with Heath Christensen and John Poon
SEASON ONE FINALE: On this season of Bringing Down the House, we’ve talked about how families qualify for our affordable homeownership program and the joys and growth our families have experienced.. but what goes on between being accepted into our program and receiving the keys to their home? Today, on the season one finale of Bringing Down the House, Ali chats with Iowa Heartland’s Construction Manager, Heath Christensen and Senior Site Supervisor, John Poon about all things construction!
Episode Links (in order of mention):
- Current Projects - April 2021
- Volunteer with us!
- Target Neighborhoods: Walnut and Church Row
May 4, 2021
Episode 14: How Homeownership Contributes to Wealth Building with LeKeisha Veasley
Ali and J'Kalein visit with Iowa Heartland Habitat Board Secretary and local housing expert, LeKeisha Veasley, to explore the ways homeownership contributes to a families ability to build wealth and the ways housing policies have contributed to wealth gaps in our community over the years.
Episode Links(in order of mention):
April 20, 2021