Siouxland Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 3

Volume 5, Issue 3 

Starting Conversations 

Diversity of Thought 

Do your friends think 

differently than you? 

Exposure to Art 

Are you having wildly 

different experiences?

Y O U R T E A M | O U R C O M M U N I T Y 

Keeping us on our feet 

and feeding the hungry. 

Dr. David Rettedal, Foot & Ankle Surgeon | Siouxland Soup Kitchen Board Member 

Being connected to our community is just one way we care. 

That’s why you’ll see us in the office and around town 

making a difference — in many different ways. 

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Podcast 

with Stacie & Tony 

Season 2, Episode 9, Jeff Carlson, 

Leaning All In with Optimism and Energy 

Season 2, Episode 12, Treyla Lee, 

Planning with Grace and 

Love Begins at 4 am 

Season 2, Episode 13, Heidi Reinking, 

An Open Road to Happiness 

New Episode Every Week 

Listen on your favorite platform 

or scan QR code 

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Interested in Sponsoring? 

visit siouxlandmagazine.com

Conversing 

Collaborating 

22-23 Nonprofit Spotlight – Hope Redemption Center 

24-25 Small Business Spotlight – Buscioni’s Bakes 

26-27 IWCI’s Business Feature – Carroll Street Treats 

28 SBDC – Minority-Owned Businesses 

29 Chamber – Sioux City Kicks Off 50th Ragbrai 

31 Experience Downtown 

32 Tony Michaels – Hot Air 

33 Council Connection 

34 Leading the Way – Leadership Siouxland 

35 Future Foundation – Siouxland GO 

37 Up From The Earth 

BeComing 

CONTENTS8-9 Diversity 

ON THE COVER 

Photo Credit Shane Monahan Photography 

Sioux City Art Center Fundraiser: Through the Looking Glass 

Bruce Miller, Marie Roeder, Greg Giles 

of Thought 

10 -11 Exposure to Art 

12-13 Inclusive Hiring Practices: How Small Businesses Can 

Expand Their Network and Deepen The Talent Pool 

14 A Celebration of Culture 

15 Juneteenth 

16 June is Pride Month 

17 What It Means To Be An Effective Ally & Why It Matters 

19 Inclusive Peek 

20-21 Starting Conversations Podcast wtih Stacie & Tony, 

Interview with Nicki Werner 

38-39 Ask the Therapist 

40-41 Ask the Doc 

42-43 Healing in Your Own Hands 

45 Dare 2B Great – Small Adjustments For Better Results 

46-47 Living Lumin – Getting Schooled: Cultivatin A Mindful Classroom

Welcome To siouxland magazine 

It’s in these pages we educate and inspire. Even more importantly, we 

create a community that thrives on connecting with one another. At our 

core, we all want to connect. When we seek to understand, by listening 

more intently, we find that our relationships deepen and our community 

strengthens as a result. With appreciation for the power of connection 

through meaningful conversations, it only made sense to name the 

business Empowering Conversations. 

Siouxland Magazine / 5 

Stacie Anderson, Owner 

It all starts with a conversation; with a desire to learn; 

to see things from another perspective; to seek 

truth. The truth is, we have more in common than we have 

differences. Well, maybe it would be more accurate to say, what 

brings us together is stronger than anything that divides us. 

We would never want to marginalize our differences. We love the words of Audre Lorde, “It is 

not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those 

differences.” We are unique in vast and complicated ways. It’s our hope that we can come 

together with our unique strengths, perspectives, and ideas to build a community with a 

powerful narrative of us. 

Through this humble publication, we will start having conversations. This is an ambitious and 

beautifully optimistic attempt to shine light on all the things that make our community strong, 

but also discuss, in a productive and compassionate manner, the challenges we face. 

We are doing our small part in building a cohesive community by creating conversations that 

refocus our attention on our similarities. We are bringing people together; replacing judgment 

with understanding. Perspective is powerful. 

We want to hear from you. At Siouxland Magazine, we feel it is imperative to understand what 

the community wants and needs. Share your vision and dreams for Siouxland. 

We want you to lean into the conversation and participate in the discussion. 

connect@empowering-conversations.com 

Facebook @siouxlandmag 

Want to be included in our July issue? Contact us soon! 

Deadline to reserve space is June 5th. Media Kit at siouxlandmagazine.com. 

E m p o w e r i n g 

Conversations, LLC 

siouxlandmagazine.com

Siouxland Magazine Writers 

Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata, 

Family Medicine 

Physician, Integrative 

Psychiatrist & Yoga 

Instructor 

Carly Howrey, 

Business 

Development 

Coordinator for 

Downtown Partners 

Emily Larson, 

Licensed Massage 

Therapist & Private 

Yoga Instructor 

Dr. Meghan Nelson & 

Dr. Ryan Allen, Co-owners 

of Lumin Therapy, LLC, 

integrative health and 

education provider 

Matthew O’Kane, 

Sioux City Council 

Jackie Paulson, 

Licensed Mental 

Health Counselor & 

Registered 500Hour 

Yoga Instructor 

Peggy Smith, 

Executive Director 

for Leadership 

Siouxland 

Up from the 

Earth Leadership 

Team 

Sydney 

McManamy, 

President of SGO 

Todd Rausch, 

SBDC Regional 

Director at 

WITCC 

Amy Buster, 

Writer & Editor 

Tony Michaels, 

KSUX Morning 

Show Host with 

Candice Nash 

Cody Rininger, 

Certified 

Professional 

Fitness 

Instructor 

Kari Nelson, 

Graphic Designer

Editors 

Note 

Siouxland Magazine / 7 

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Art Center’s fundraiser, Through the Looking-Glass. It was a 

wonderful event and an opportunity to step outside my everyday world. They created a magical space 

that night. What stood out to me was the significance of creativity and exploration. 

In the everyday mundane routine, we lose sight of the possibilities in life. We get stuck doing things the 

same way and often have the same conversations, but with different people. Imagine how our world 

could open up if only we’d allow diversity into it. Who could we become if we appreciated more? 

I have two guest writers, Dr. Julie Lohr and Todd Behrens, this month. They encourage us to think about 

the people we surround ourselves with and the experiences we expose ourselves to. Diversity comes in 

many forms. And it is diversity that expands who we are and how full our lives can be. I invite you to open 

yourself to the vastness. 

Stacie Anderson 

Owner of Empowering Conversations LLC & Siouxland Magazine 

Certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer & Coach 

Passionate about Leadership & Communication 

Siouxland Magazine is owned and published by Empowering Conversations, LLC. All materials contained in this magazine (including text, content, and 

photographs) are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, broadcast or 

modified in any way without the prior written consent of Empowering Conversations, LLC or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. 

You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of this content.

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 8 

Diversity of Thought 

By Dr. Julie Lohr 

What 

of 

thought? 

is 

diversity 

Our life experiences shape our ideas. Each 

individual gathers perceptions based upon their 

daily reality. Our culture, background, and unique 

personalities form how we think. How we think and 

interpret information influences our decisions in all 

aspects of life, affecting the trajectory of our choices 

in our education, religious and spiritual growth or 

lack thereof, marriage and family planning, and our 

careers. 

Diversity of thought refers to the range of mindsets, 

thought processes, and perspectives that can be found 

throughout an area, region, or organization. When 

researching diversity of thought, some opinions 

centered on how beneficial, even integral, the 

concept can be to maximize the potential and 

productivity of teams. Other opinions felt that the 

idea of the diversity of thought being promoted 

within an organization was risky or problematic. 

It was fascinating to read many different articles 

for business hiring, team building, and employee 

training that focused on all the positive attributes of 

a work culture that prioritized creating a workplace 

that valued diversity of thought. The companies that 

bring people together who think differently from 

one another can start difficult conversations and 

create dialogue that stimulates new ideas and drives 

efficiency. 

That’s just the workplace. What about diversity 

of thought in our community? In the media? In 

our places of worship? In our schools? Within our 

homes and families? Should diversity of thought 

be something we strive for on our city council and 

school board? 

Is diversity of thought valued in our country? In the 

last few years especially, conformity of thought was 

the expectation. Strong feelings emerged during the 

pandemic, with many Americans feeling polarized and 

alienated from their neighbors. Family estrangement 

became more commonplace due to opposing views 

regarding masking, vaccination status, quarantine 

rules, and social distancing. Why were these opposing 

views held in such contempt? 

Ideas that deviated from the commonly accepted 

train of thought were scorned, quickly dismissed, and 

even resulted in the societal character assassination 

of the source. 

Fear often prevents people from being open to 

different ideas or diversity of thought. 

“Diversity of thought is the idea 

that people in a group don’t need 

to look different or identify with 

an underrepresented group in 

order to bring varying, diverse 

viewpoints to the table. While 

this is technically true, it is a risky 

concept to find comfort in.” 

– Rebekah Bastian, Forbes, 2019

Do you shy away from communication that may bring up 

dissenting views? 

“The word ‘diversity’ often conjures images of a workplace 

consisting of people from different backgrounds, 

cultures, and genders. While those things certainly 

explain a component of diversity, it’s only part of what 

diversity includes. Realistically speaking, physical and 

social aspects only comprise about half of diversity, and 

the remainder lies in the diversity of thought,” stated 

Rick Bowers in Training Industry Magazine. 

In 2004, Anthony Lising Antonio, a Stanford Graduate 

School of Education professor, said,” When we hear 

dissent from someone who is different from us, it 

provokes more thought than when it comes from 

someone who looks like us.” 

Do you enjoy talking to people who disagree with you? 

Is a rousing debate something that invigorates you and 

challenges your thought processes? Or would you rather 

have the floor swallow you up and help you disappear 

when a difficult or sensitive topic is broached? 

Can you maintain a friendship with someone with 

different views regarding issues you feel are important? 

Do you end working relationships with colleagues based 

on a different perspective? 

There is (and has been for some time) a considerable 

emphasis in U.S. popular culture right now on the 

appreciation of diversity. We are often reminded of the 

DEI efforts of nearly every organization, business, and 

entity. Daily bombardment from the mainstream media 

on race relations and identity politics can exhaust the 

average person attempting to live a meaningful and 

authentic life. 

What does it say about us as a country or community if 

we do not respect the diversity of thought? What does it 

say about us individually if we do not value diversity of 

thought? 

Some people have different skin colors, and not everyone 

has the same ethnic or racial background. We celebrate 

these differences, and we are taught to appreciate the 

differences in human sexuality and gender identity. We 

hear praise for diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

“In the course of our 

work with clients, we often see 

diversity of thought 

presented as a counter argument by 

privileged identity groups 

against efforts to increase the 

representation of underrepresented 

employees across levels 

at an organization. 

This can show up as tension 

around efforts to increase 

representation in the C-Suite 

and the governing boards or 

prioritizing focus on 

socioeconomic status and political 

differences in diversity work. 

In this way, 

diversity of thought 

is often used to sidestep real action 

and avoid accountability around bias, 

unchecked privilege, and systemic 

discrimination that has been 

proven time and again to 

exist in organizations 

across all industries.” 

– Rahimeh Ramezany 


What about different thought processes? Are you able 

to see value in a perspective that is in stark contrast to 

your own? 

Resources: 

The Great Ideological Lie of Diversity by Jordan Peterson 

Are you able to respect people who have ideas that 

challenge your own beliefs and values? Are you able to 

be friends with people who think differently than you? 

Are you able to collaborate and problem-solve with a 

coworker who has a different vision? Or do you prefer to 

work with colleagues who think the same way you do? 

Dr. Julie Lohr, DDS is a happy wife to Chris and a 

proud mother to Jack, Savannah, Landon, Charlotte. 

There is much diversity of thought in her household.


Exposure to Art 

By Todd Behrens 

Sioux City Art Center’s fundraiser, Through the Looking-Glass, with Bruce Miller as the Mad Hatter, Marie Roeder as the 

Queen of Hearts, and Greg Giles as the White Rabbit. 

What do you think? What do you believe? When were 

those thoughts and beliefs determined? And how were 

they determined? 

For most of us adults, we reach a point at which we feel 

confident in our knowledge of how things work and in 

our beliefs about what is right and wrong or good and 

bad. And once that happens, we seek settings, friends, 

and activities that align with our thoughts and beliefs. It’s 

the safest method for living a relatively calm, stable life in 

our increasingly tense, divisive society. 

Challenging our thoughts and beliefs is often seen as 

one of the most uncomfortable and unnecessary things 

an adult can do. But participation in and exposure to 

new experiences can have beneficial effects. Engaging in 

art, music, writing, or performing is one of the easiest 

ways to reap benefits. While children’s brains benefit 

most from these activities, adults who play music can 

experience brain improvement too. 

But I’m not a scientist. I’m an art museum director. I have 

not conducted studies on the physical development of 

the human brain, but I have seen what time with art can 

do. When you pick up a book you’ve never read, listen 

to music you’ve never heard before, or enter a gallery 

filled with art that is new to you, you have a risk-free 

opportunity to step into a new way of thinking. Too often, 

readers, listeners, and viewers keep their attention on 

the surfaces of what they experience. It’s hard to give 

yourself the time required for a deep exploration of art, 

but it’s incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s characters

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing /11 

Todd Behrens, Executive Director for the Sioux City Art Center, addresses the fundraiser attendees. 

that come alive in your imagination, music that fills your 

body and gets stuck in your head, or art that brings to you 

entirely new visions of the world, the gentle, quiet, internal 

feeling of excitement that comes from having your brain 

take a new journey is unlike anything else. 

What does art have to do with diversity? Two important 

things. First, art can provide a more direct and 

emotional connection to lived experiences than 

simply reading historical or biographical information. 

While our embracing of diversity has also brought 

with it an awareness of how many different categories 

of identity can exist within a single person, humans 

cannot be understood as data points or boxes to 

check. Literature, music, and art connect us not just to 

a thing or idea but to the inspiration behind that thing 

or idea. And second, art represents the best of us. 

The writer, poet, composer, singer, painter, sculptor, 

etc., responsible for the artworks you are experiencing, 

have given everything they have to share their thoughts 

and beliefs in a way that is most potent for them. 

Whether the creator of the work checks some of the 

same demographic boxes that you would or matches 

none of them, set aside your preconceptions—I know 

it’s incredibly hard for me to do, so it’s probably at least 

a little difficult for you—and open yourself to whatever 

ideas and emotions underlie their work. 

Might it change how you think or believe? There’s no 

way to know unless you try. But, in this increasingly 

loud, often obnoxious world, I believe nothing is more 

valuable than time spent with the arts. 

Todd Behrens, Executive Director for Sioux City Art Center.


Small businesses are the backbone of our 

communities, and hiring diverse talent is 

crucial to their success. Hiring employees 

from different backgrounds can bring new ideas, 

experiences, and perspectives to a company, 

leading to increased innovation and improved 

business outcomes. However, finding and hiring 

qualified, diverse candidates can be a challenge 

for small business owners. This article will discuss 

some strategies that small business owners can 

use to find and hire diverse talent from their local 

Siouxland community. 

Inclusive Hiring Practices: 

How Small Businesses Can Expand 

Their Network and Deepen The Talent Pool 

By Bryan Shusterman 

Develop relationships with local colleges 

and universities: 

Developing relationships with local colleges and 

universities can be an effective way to identify and 

attract diverse talent. Reach out to the career services 

department and offer to participate in career fairs 

or speak to students about job opportunities. 

Consider offering internships or co-op programs 

to provide students with valuable work experience 

and identify potential full-time hires. 

Partner with local community organizations: 

Partnering with local community organizations can 

be an effective way to find diverse candidates. 

Consider reaching out to organizations that serve 

underrepresented groups, such as immigrant 

advocacy groups, minority business associations, or 

disability rights organizations. These organizations 

often have connections to a pool of qualified 

candidates and can help spread the word about job 

openings. 

Attend local job fairs: 

Attending local job fairs is another way to connect 

with diverse candidates in the community. Job fairs 

provide a platform for small businesses to showcase 

their brand, connect with potential candidates, and 

learn about the local talent pool. Be sure to attend 

job fairs catering to diverse candidates, such as 

those hosted by minority-focused organizations or 

targeting individuals with disabilities. 

Use local job boards: 

Posting job openings on local job boards is an 

effective way to reach out to candidates in the 

community. These job boards are often free or lowcost 

and can provide small businesses access to 

diverse candidates. Consider posting job openings 

on job boards that cater to specific groups, such as 

women or veterans. 

Leverage social media: 

Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, 

and Twitter are powerful tools for small businesses 

to connect with diverse candidates. Consider 

creating a company page on social media platforms 

and using it to share job openings, company news, 

and updates. Additionally, consider joining local 

business groups on social media and participating 

in discussions to build relationships with potential 

candidates. 

Use employee referrals: 

Employee referrals can be an effective way to find 

diverse candidates. Encourage current employees 

to refer qualified candidates from their personal 

and professional networks. Consider offering 

incentives such as bonuses or extra vacation days 

for successful referrals. 

Train your hiring team: 

Training your hiring team on unconscious bias and 

inclusive hiring practices is crucial. This training 

can help them identify their own biases and 

make more objective hiring decisions. Encourage 

your team to ask open-ended questions and 

avoid making assumptions about a candidate’s 

background. Additionally, consider implementing 

blind screening processes that remove personal 

information such as name, age, and gender from 

resumes.

Revise your job descriptions: 

Often, job descriptions may include language that 

unintentionally discourages diverse applicants 

from applying. This can be corrected by revising 

job descriptions to use inclusive language that 

highlights the company’s commitment to diversity 

and inclusion. Avoid using gender-specific 

pronouns or words that imply a certain race or 

ethnicity. For example, use “strong communication 

skills” instead of “excellent English skills.” 


Consider blind hiring: 

Blind hiring is a process in which personal 

information such as name, age, and gender is 

removed from resumes to reduce unconscious 

bias in the hiring process. Consider implementing 

blind hiring practices to ensure that candidates 

are evaluated based on their qualifications and 

not their personal characteristics. 

Create an inclusive workplace culture: 

Creating an inclusive workplace culture is crucial 

to attracting and retaining diverse talent. Small 

business owners should focus on creating a 

workplace that is welcoming, inclusive, and 

respectful of all employees, regardless of their 

background. Implement policies and practices 

that promote diversity, such as providing training 

on unconscious bias, offering flexible work 

arrangements, and implementing a zero-tolerance 

policy for discrimination. 

In conclusion, attracting and hiring qualified, 

diverse applicants requires a deliberate effort 

and commitment to inclusive hiring practices. 

By reaching out and getting involved with the 

community, small businesses can build a diverse 

and talented workforce that can help them thrive 

in a rapidly changing marketplace. 

Bryan Shusterman, an attorney at the Heidman 

Law Firm. He graduated from the University of 

Iowa Law School in 2019 and practices in IA, NE, 

and SD. Bryan specializes in advising business 

owners on formation, growth, and expansion, 

and has worked with companies of all sizes and 

industries. Throughout his career, Bryan has been 

passionate about helping entrepreneurs turn their 

dreams into successful businesses by providing 

them with the legal guidance necessary to achieve 

their goals. Whether it’s forming a new business 

entity, negotiating contracts, creating a business 

succession plan or navigating a sale or acquisition, 

Bryan has the expertise and knowledge to work 

together with his clients at any stage of their 

business’s life cycle. 

2022 Winners 

We’re accepting nominations for 10 Under 40. 

The highly anticipated September issue features young 

professionals in Siouxland who are making a real difference 

in our community. Nominate someone today! Visit 

siouxlandmagazine.com to access nomination form. 

Here is what we look for in 

Siouxland’s 10 Under 40 

Look around work, the places you volunteer, your friend 

circles, or anywhere there are outstanding individuals, and 

consider who meets the following criteria: 

• Under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2023 

(Yes, you may have to ask, but he/she will be honored 

that you are thinking of them for an award!) 

• Is a business owner or high executive/manager/ 

director (or has experience in this area) within their 

organization. This can be a large corporation, small 

business, or non-profit organization. 

• Must be in their current position or have had 

experience in a managerial role for at least one year. 

• Lives and works in the Siouxland area (approximately 

a 60-mile radius around Sioux City.) 

Has a history of displaying: 

• Vision and Leadership 

• Innovation and Achievement 

• Growth/Development Strategy 

• Community Involvement/Contribution 

• Consistent display of excellent character and ethics 

Details on how to be a 

Ten Under 40 Sponsor 

visit siouxlandmagazine.com.


A Celebration of Culture 

By Peggy La 

Group photo of Asian Fest’s amazing attendees and volunteers. 

A celebration of culture, life, and community is 

something that is both appreciated and necessary 

in the eyes of those who aren’t always able to 

showcase what defines them. In the warmth of 

the June sun and under the always caring eyes of 

George Sayavong watching from above, the annual 

Asian Fest blooms and breathes along with the 

culture celebrated there. 

George Sayavong, one of the co-founders of Asian Fest, is 

affectionately referenced as the balance and mediation with 

the group. Without him, my fellow co-founder, I would’ve 

given up multiple times due to the difficulty they faced 

organizing the event. Many people they contacted were 

hesitant to volunteer for the event, and finding people to 

perform, cook, and attend became even more daunting. 

However, George didn’t give up. George had a butterfly 

effect. Everything he touched, blossomed. With his kind 

touch, the festival became something to be proud of. 

The Fest began as an idea that stemmed from my college 

life in Des Moines, where I volunteered at CelebrAsian. After 

returning to Siouxland and realizing that the community 

didn’t have the same type of gathering, I brought the idea 

up to George. With a broad smile and endless positivity, he 

said, “Let’s do it!” and the planning began. 

One of the challenges that presented itself was the 

layout. How would they find a place where both food and 

entertainment could be offered at once? Where would the 

community be able to join together and feel connected? 

I admit it took some time to figure out exactly how to lay 

out the festival. It started with separate shelters that offered 

different aspects of the festival. Still, it was difficult for guests 

to grasp the entirety of the celebration when they had to 

travel between two different shelters. The committee and I 

realized that we bring the festival closer by creating a circle 

with a single shelter so everyone could enjoy the festivities. 

While Asian Fest is a day of fun, food, and performance, 

the ultimate goal is to create an understanding and unity 

between the Asian and non-Asian communities. As our 

younger generation becomes Americanized, we typically 

lose our culture. With the loss of culture and the gap between 

nationality and traditions, Asian Fest aims to bridge the gap 

and continue the traditions passed down from generation 

to generation in various Asian cultures. Siouxland is home 

to multitudes of Asian ethnicities: Chinese, Vietnamese, 

Laotian, Indian, and others call Siouxland their home. With 

the festival, we hope to connect them in a community they 

can be proud of. 

The Fest will also reach those who don’t have ties to the 

Asian community. Pulling them into the festival creates an 

understanding they might not have seen before and, with 

the many opportunities to experience the culture, brings 

them closer to a community they may not know. 

FREE TO ATTEND 

Saturday, May 27 | 12 pm to 4 pm 

Yummi Blox Food Truck Lot 

700 West 7th Street 

Food available for purchase 

Kids activities 

Caricatures 

Family fun event 

Peggy La, owner of Yummi Blox and Hong Kong Supermarket. 

Peggy is also the co-founder of the Siouxland Asian Festival, 

serves on the Commission of Asian and Pacific Islanders for the 

State of Iowa, is a member of the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory 

Committee, and board member of Siouxland Public Radio. 

Photo provided by Peggy La.

Juneteenth 

What is Juneteenth? 

By Malia Swaggerty-Morgan 


Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrating 

the commemoration of the end of slavery in 

the United States. It lasts one day, and that special 

day is June 19th. You may keep reading if your 

interest has peaked about this amazing day; if not, 

this is your warning. Now, back to our main topic, 

back on June 19th, 1865, all slaves in the United 

States were free. Two and a half years prior to that, 

Lincoln decided that the emancipation was much 

needed due to their battlefield loss. You may wonder, 

“how does the military’s loss affect slaves?” I’d be 

glad to tell you. Lincoln knew it was time for slaves to 

fight for their Union. This was because it would push 

over border states, such as Missouri, right over to the 

Confederacy. And in case you didn’t get an 8th grade 

education in American history, a border state or 

a “slave state” were US states that did not secede 

from the Union during the Civil War. One hundred 

and fifty-six years later, President Biden signed into 

law the Senate Bill making Juneteenth a federal 

holiday. Which I do think deserves a whoop whoop! 

The name Juneteenth comes from the two words 

June and nineteenth. 

However, Juneteenth has 

many other names such 

as Emancipation Day, 

Second Independence 

Day, Jubilee Day, and 

more. Juneteenth is such 

an important holiday, not 

only for African Americans, 

but for the entirety of the 

United States. After the 

abolishment of slavery, 

there was an increase in 

America’s economy and 

the labor stock grew. Don’t 

believe me? Look at Brazil. 

Brazil hadn’t gotten rid of 

slavery until the 1880’s and it was worse than America. 

Overall, Juneteenth is a meaningful holiday with a 

wonderful background. 

Malia Swaggerty-Morgan, Freshman at West High School 

Why Celebrate Juneteenth? 

By Flora Lee 

Juneteenth is as much of United States History as George Washington 

being the first President of the U.S., yet the story of Juneteenth has only 

recently been a holiday in America. The importance of Juneteenth is not only to 

celebrate the freedom of enslaved people, but to celebrate the many contributions 

enslaved, free Black/African Americans have contributed to this country and the 

world. The invention of the cotton gin, the stop light, ironing boards, food and spices 

(tasty southern cooking), and the list continues. Black/African American people have 

been the backbone of this country as well, and due to our ability to march, fight, 

go to court for civil rights, human rights, education, women rights and the war on 

poverty, so others are able to benefit from laws and policies supporting equitable 

rights for all American Citizens. 

Flora Lee, Community Advocate


June is Pride Month when the LGBTQ+ community 

is celebrated worldwide. 

June is Pride Month 

By Karen (Chanté Wambdi Win) Mackey 

Historically LGBTQ+ people were criminalized, lost 

custody of their children, and could be fired or denied 

housing simply for who they were. Because there were 

so few safe public places, gay bars were (and still are) a 

mainstay in the queer community. Police raids on gay bars 

were commonplace. On June 28, 1969, the New York City 

Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar 

popular with a diverse clientele, including drag queens 

and gay youth. The patrons fought back, touching off six 

days of riots. In 1970 the first pride parade was held on 

the anniversary of the Stonewall Riot. 

Locally, Pride is celebrated during the first week in 

June, and various businesses and organizations will be 

hosting Pride events. I will focus here on two non-profits; 

Siouxland Pride Alliance will host a teen Pride Prom on 

May 26, a Pride Parade on June 1, and the Sioux City 

Pride Festival on June 3, and Winnebago Two-Spirit will 

hold their Pride Carnival on June 2. 

LGBTQIA2S+ Why the alphabet salad? 

Our community encompasses a variety of sexual 

orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. 

LGBTQ+ is shorthand for LGBTQIA2S+ and recognizes 

that, as queer people, we are finding new ways to define 

ourselves. 

Sexual orientation refers to your primary emotional, 

romantic, and sexual attraction. Lesbian is the term for 

same-sex attracted women, and gay is the term for samesex 

attracted men. Bisexual people are attracted to both 

sexes. (Pansexual is sometimes used to avoid viewing 

gender as a binary.) 

Transgender—someone whose gender identity does not 

correspond with their sex assigned at birth. 

Free Mom Hugs Iowa and Free Mom Hugs Nebraska at 

Winnebago Pride. 

Queer—traditionally a derogatory term, it has been reclaimed 

by some in the LGBTQ+ community as a term of pride and 

positivity; it is an umbrella term to describe the LGBTQ+ 

community. Sometimes the “Q” stands for questioning—people 

who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or 

gender identity. 

Intersex—a person’s sex traits and reproductive anatomy 

combine in ways that fall outside the medical classifications 

of male or female. This can include differences in genitalia, 

chromosomes, gonads, internal sex organs, hormone 

production, hormone response, and secondary sex traits. 

Asexual—someone who has little or no sexual attraction or 

interest in sexual activity. 

Two-Spirit—an LGBTQ+ Indigenous person. (While each 

Indigenous Nation is unique, some traditionally believed there 

are more than two genders.) 

More Important Definitions 

Gender identity—your innermost concept of yourself as male, 

female, a blend of both, or neither. Your gender identity can be 

the same or different from your sex. 

Gender expression—your external appearance may or may 

not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics 

associated with being masculine or feminine. 

Sioux City’s first Pride Parade hosted by Siouxland 

Pride Alliance. 

Non-binary—someone whose gender identity is not exclusively 

male or female. They may identify with elements of both, with 

another gender or no gender at all.

What It Means To Be An Effective Ally 

& Why It Matters 

By Sherry Martin 

Merriam-Webster defines effective as “producing 

a decided, decisive, or desired effect.” Merriam- 

Webster defines an ally as “one that is associated with 

another as a helper: a person or group that provides 

assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or 

struggle—often now used specifically of a person who 

is not a member of a marginalized or mistreated group 

but who expresses or gives support to that group.” 

But what does it mean to be an 

effective ally? It means: 

• Advocacy and allyship must be intentional, yearround! 

(Not just during Pride month.) 

• Acknowledging your own implicit bias and then 

taking action to resolve your implicit bias. Visit 

Implicit Project online to test privately. Attend a Safe 

Zone training or similar training, where you are free to 

ask questions in a nonjudgmental space. 

• To educate yourself about the LGBTQIA2S+ 

community. Learn about sexual identity, gender 

identity, and pronouns. The Trevor Project, Free Mom 

Hugs, Iowa Safe Schools, and One Iowa all have 

incredible resources and educational options. 

• To be willing to have difficult conversations. Will every 

conversation change hearts and minds? It’s unlikely. 

Will you stay calm during every conversation? 

Probably not. If necessary, step away and regroup. If 

you didn’t handle the conversation as calmly as you 

had intended, take an honest look at why you reacted 

the way you did and address it. 

According to the Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey 

on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, “45% of LGBTQ youth 

seriously considered attempting suicide.” The survey 

also showed that “LGBTQ youth who felt high social 

support from their family reported attempting suicide at 

less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate 

social support.” In their 2019 National Survey, the 

Trevor Project reported that “LGBTQ youth who report 

having at least one accepting adult were 40% less likely 

to report a suicide attempt in the past year.” 

Being an effective ally can save lives. But doing it solo 

can be intimidating. Joining a group of supporters can 

be incredibly empowering, especially if you are new 

to advocacy. Free Mom Hugs is a non-profit group of 

parents and supporters with chapters in all 50 states. 

The Free Mom Hugs Mission: Empowering the world to 

celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community through visibility, 

education, and conversation. But giving hugs is the 

best part! You do not have to be a mom to be a Hugger; 

all are welcome! 

Sherry Martin is serving as a State Chapter Leader 

for Free Mom Hugs Iowa, as a member of the 

Educational Equity Committee and the School 

Improvement Advisory Committee, as the Chair of 

the Sioux City Human Rights Commission, and as 

a board member of the League of Women Voters 

and Community Action Agency. Sherry formerly 

served on the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory 

Committee. 


For more definitions, go to: 

Glossary of Terms - Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org) 

Karen (Chanté Wambdi Win) Mackey is the Executive Director of the Sioux City Human Rights Commission. She is an enrolled 

member of the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska and received her J.D. from the University of Nebraska, College of Law. 

Karen was named a Woman of Excellence by Women Aware in 2008. In 2019, she was named a LGBTQ Legacy Leader by DSM 

Magazine and One Iowa. 

Karen is a co-founder of Siouxland Pride Alliance, a local grassroots LGBTQ+ organization. She is chair of the Community Initiative 

for Native Children and Families, Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, Great Plains Action Society, Urban Native Center in 

Sioux City and Siouxland Human Investment Partnership. 

Photos Contributed by Karen Mackey.

Lets work better, together. 

WE’RE HERE TO HELP VISITORS FIND YOU 

Visitors know that Explore Sioux City is the off icial source for all things Siouxland, from 

chic accommodations and dining to events and attractions. Want your business to be 

part of their plans? Simply submit your information to ExploreSiouxCity.org and you can 

be featured on our website. It’s time to see what Explore Sioux can do for you! 

ExploreSiouxCity.org/submit 

ExploreSiouxCity.org | 712-224-1000

Inclusive Peek – Interview with Miranda Valdovinos 

What challenges have you experienced in 

Siouxland? 

Earlier in my life, I struggled with being a first-generation 

American. Having immigrant parents who did not speak 

English and were still adapting to their new home, 

is where my struggles came from. At the same time, 

Siouxland was adapting to the growing cultural diversity. 

Growing up, this created a lot of confusion as I did not 

know how to approach life and what came next—also, 

trying to find a balance between Mexican culture and the 

American way of living. 

Today I am proud to say both the Siouxland area and I 

have embraced our diversity and grown immensely. 

Thankfully, I had the support of my two older sisters, who 

paved the way for me. My parents also sacrificed so much 

for my sisters and I, and for that I will be eternally grateful. 

How has Siouxland been welcoming? 

Siouxland is an incredibly diverse area, it inhabits so many 

cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Siouxland will always be 

my home, it is such a warm, 

inviting, and inclusive region. 

From cultural parades to 

fairs there has been such 

a prevalent embrace of 

difference. Local businesses 

have also increasingly 

become more aware of 

language barriers and offer 

multilingual services. For 

people like me who are first 

generation, schools offer 

support services like TRIO 

that helped me pursue my 

professional dreams. 

Miranda Valdovinos 

What do you want the people of Siouxland to know? 

I would like the people of Siouxland to know that if there is 

anyone who feels as if their dreams are unreachable because of 

where you live, I assure you they are not. I believe in you and the 

people of Siouxland believe in you! 

“Don’t be afraid to share your struggles because you don’t know who you may inspire.” 

– Dr. Kamshia Childs 


Inclusive Peek – In Spanish 

¿Qué desafíos ha experimentado en Siouxland? 

Al principio de mi vida, luche por ser estadounidense de 

primera generación. Tener padres inmigrantes que no 

hablaban ingles y aun se estaban adaptando a su nuevo 

hogar, esto es de donde vienen mis luchas. Al mismo 

tiempo, Siouxland se estaba adaptando a la creciente 

diversidad cultural. Esto creo mucha confusión mientras 

crecía, ya que no sabia como abordar la vida y lo que vino 

después. También tratando de encontrar un equilibrio 

entre la cultura mexicana y el estilo de vida americano. 

Hoy me enorgullece decir que tanto el área de Siouxland 

como yo han abrazado nuestra diversidad y han crecido 

inmensamente. Afortunadamente, tuve el apoyo de mis 

dos hermanas mayores que me allanaron el camino. Mis 

padres también se sacrificaron mucho por mis hermanas 

y por mí, por eso les estaré eternamente agradecida. 

¿Cómo ha sido la recibida de Siouxland? 

Siouxland es un área increíblemente diversa, habitan tantas 

culturas, etnias y religiones. Siouxland siempre será mi hogar, 

es un lugar cálido, acogedor y región inclusivo. Desde desfiles 

culturales hasta ferias, ha habido una adopción tan frecuente de 

diferencia. Los negocios locales también se han vuelto cada vez 

más conscientes de las barreras del lenguaje y ofrecen servicios 

multilingües. Las escuelas ofrecen servicios de apoyo como 

TRIO para personas como yo que son de primera generación. 

Esto me ayudo a seguir mis sueños profesionales. 

¿Qué quiere que sepa la gente de Siouxland? 

Me gustaría que la gente de Siouxland supiera que si hay alguien 

que siente como que sus sueños son inalcanzables por el lugar 

donde viven te aseguro que no lo son. ¡Yo creo en ti y la gente 

de Siouxland cree en ti! 

“No tengas miedo de compartir tus luchas porque no sabes a quien puedes inspirar.” 

– Dr. Niños Kamshia

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 20 


Podcast 

Interview with Nicki Werner 

Jefferson Beer Supply - A Unique Blend of Talent, Ingenuity, and Integrity 

with Stacie & Tony 

When you think of the blending ingredients 

for craft beers, barley, wheat, and hops might 

be the first ingredients that come to mind. 

However, when you’re speaking of Jefferson Beer 

Supply in Jefferson, South Dakota, agency, ethos, 

equality, prosperity, pineapple upside down cake, 

Gryffindor, and a Challenger are more what owner 

Nicki Werner thinks are the recipe for success. 

“One of the most important things we wanted to 

do with this company was bring prosperity to 

our town. We wanted to have the company be 

employee owned including with stock ownership. 

To have each employee be involved with trust in 

the voting rights, future of the business, how the 

business grows, the financial goals. Employee 

stock ownership in ethos,” stated Nicki. 

One of the ways that is accomplished is through 

the employee beer director program. 

“Each employee has total ownership and control 

over a specific brew each year. It’s a multifaceted 

approach. It helps them learn about the brewing 

process and gives them agency and ownership in 

the business itself,” said Nicki. 

As an example, Nicki shared that one of the 

bartenders, Trevor, really wants to develop a 

pineapple upside down cake brew. 

“That’s a fun flavor, and then he wants to use the 

proceeds the beer makes to donate to the Boys 

and Girls Club. Different employees go different 

ways with it. Especially in beer, there are so many 

different ideas. No one master genius holds all the 

power. We really try to make this an equal playing 

field for everyone involved,” remarked Nicki. 

She went on to say that her intention with the 

beer has always been to drink beer and to build a 

community around it and with it. 

Stacie & Tony interviewing Nicki Werner. 

“We make the culture that we want to be a part of 

and involved in. What do we want the business to 

do for our employees, town, community, and in a 

broader perspective for Siouxland?” 

It is an interesting perspective from a business 

owner with mostly an arts background; however, 

she had worked at craft breweries in both 

Wisconsin and Colorado. The breweries were 

closely entwined with the arts scene in both 

locations, and in time, Nicki had more than 10 

years of experience working in the breweries and 

being involved in the arts community. She and 

her partner wanted to be living closer to family, 

so they moved back to the Siouxland area. 

“I was always interested in equity and issues of 

justice. We started planning this business in 2020. 

If that wasn’t the year to live according to your 

values, I don’t know what was. I’d been involved

in start-ups before, and I knew how much you 

have to totally give your life over to it at least 

for a time. I was like if we’re going to do that, 

then I really want to do it in a way that matters 

to me.” 

The business was started by Nicki, who has a 

master’s degree in sculpture; her partner, who 

has a graphic design degree; her motherin-law, 

who is an accountant for the city of 

Jefferson; and their good buddy, Andy. 

“We all have a lot of great skills that we 

bring into the business with the brewing 

experience,” commented Nicki. 

Have you figured out where Gryffindor and 

a Challenger fit into the mix yet? Tune in 

and listen to the entire inspiring podcast 

of Starting Conversations with Stacie and 

Tony, Season 2, Episode 10, on your favorite 

platform. While you are there, don’t forget to 

subscribe to catch future episodes. 

The Jefferson Brewing Company is located at 

202 Main Street, in Jefferson, South Dakota. 

Written by Amy Buster based on the 

podcast interview with Nicki Werner. 

Amy Buster has been working as a writer/editor for 

the past 25 years. The majority of her work has been 

writing and editing for small-town newspapers in 

Kansas City and Siouxland. 

This article is just a preview of Season 2, Episode 

6 of Starting Conversations with Stacie and Tony 

podcast. Listen to the entire inspiring podcast on 

your favorite platform, and while you are there, 

don’t forget to subscribe to catch future episodes. 

Listen on your 

favorite platform or 

scan QR code. 

New Episode 

Every Week 

Don’t forget to Subscribe 

to our podcast and leave 

a Rating & Review. 

See you on our next episode! 


Sesaon 3 Coming Soon! 

Interested in Sponsoring? 

visit siouxlandmagazine.com


Want to join 

Stacie on a 

Facebook 

Spotlight? 

Nonprofit Spotlight 

Hope Redemption Center 

By ???????????????????????????????????????????? 

Redeeming cans, 

RedeemingHOPE 

Tell me a bit about Hope Redemption Center. 

Hope Redemption Center provides hope for all people through meaningful work, unique volunteer opportunities, 

authentic relationships, and faith-based personal growth so that everyone can fulfill God’s calling in their life. 

Hope Redemption Center, an independent 501 c(3), allows you to feel good about recycling your cans, glass, and 

plastic and not just throwing them away. We redeem approximately 5,000,000 cans per year! Seventy-one percent 

of redeemable containers are recycled annually in Iowa through redemption centers, keeping all this material out 

of landfills. Approximately 400,000 cans were donated to Hope Redemption Center, providing financial assistance 

that allows our mission to go beyond recycling. Proceeds from donated cans have been donated to Sunnybrook 

Hope Center and local sober living houses to support the under-resourced in Siouxland. 

Your commitment to redeeming your cans provides hope to individuals struggling with homelessness and 

addiction. Hope Redemption Center, a local non-profit, encourages and mentors individuals active in recovery by 

providing meaningful, faith-based employment opportunities. 

We desire to build relationships and see transformation in their lives; meaningful work is just an avenue to begin. 

We aim to provide a positive, uplifting environment for our staff, volunteers, and guests. We are known for our 

unshakeable commitment to the dignity of people. 

Hope Redemption Center also provides volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. In 2022, over 2,234 

hours were spent volunteering, mentoring, and walking alongside our employees. We welcome volunteers looking 

for a service project or even completing a community service project. Our commitment is to help our volunteers 

grow spiritually, build a community, and serve others with the gifts God has given each of us.

How may the community support 

this endeavor? 

There are several ways the community can 

support Sunnybrook Redemption Center. 

Donate Cans: Individuals are encouraged to 

drop off their cans at Hope Redemption Center, 

located at 2801 Correctionville Road in Sioux 

City, or one of our trailers located at Sunnybrook 

Community Church, Whispering Creek Golf 

Course, and Morningside Lutheran Church. 

Serve: This ministry is only possible because 

of the time and talents of volunteers. Our 

employees serve alongside volunteers who 

graciously give 230 hours every month. We are 

always welcoming individuals and groups who 

may be interested in serving for a few hours. 

Sponsor a Trailer: If your church or business 

wants to sponsor or host a can redemption 

trailer, please contact us on the next steps. 

Days/Hours of operation? 

If someone would like to help, what is the best way to 

contact Hope Redemption Center? 

Please call us at 712-560-4113 or visit us online at Hope 

Redemption Center | Sunnybrook Community Church 

(sunnybrookchurch.org). 

Siouxland Magazine is Committed to 

Supporting Siouxland’s Local 

Small Businesses and Nonprofits. 

We have a platform, 

and we want to share it with you. 

Get in front of the community by joining 

Stacie on a Facebook Spotlight. 

Get the details by scanning 

the QR code or visit 

siouxlandmagazine.com. 


Hope Redemption Center is open Monday, 

Tuesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Then 

on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.


Want to join 

Stacie on a 

Facebook 

Spotlight? 

Small Business Spotlight 

Buscioni’s Bakes 

By Amy Buster 

Henry Chrestensen is the owner and baker of 

Buscioni’s Bakes in Lawton, Iowa. However, this 

is not your typical small-town bakery. Buscioni’s also 

caters to diet restrictions, with their specialty being 

gluten free baked goods. 

“We make New York Style cheesecakes from scratch, 

and that also includes gluten-free. We have lots 

of flavors: old school traditional, chocolate, and 

pumpkin. You can’t really tell the difference from the 

gluten-free when you taste it, other than it is slightly 

denser,” explained Henry. 

For all of you pumpkin fans out there, that isn’t 

a flavor he carries only in the fall. Due to the high 

demand, it is a flavor he carries year-round now. 

“I’ve always had a passion for cooking and baking, I 

like making people happy,” said Henry. 

His biggest seller at the moment at the bakery is 

cannoli. 

“As far as I know, I’m the only baker in the Siouxland 

area that makes fresh cannoli. We have a wide variety 

of flavors. Of course the traditional vanilla-base with 

chocolate chips, pistachio, amaretto for the adults, 

pumpkin, and then seasonal flavors like peppermint,” 

explained Henry. 

Leave the donuts, pick up or order the cannoli. 

Buscioni’s also can custom-make birthday cakes; not 

only customize the design, but also the flavors. 

“We did a Pokémon cake for a five-year old’s birthday. 

It was chocolate obsession for the cake, that had 

seven different types of chocolate in it, chocolate 

cream cheese frosting, and then I made blue and 

purple decorations, and we designed the Pokémon 

character for decoration,” said Henry. 

The cake itself took two days to completely construct 

and bake. 

“I used Nutella, chocolate syrup, hot fudge, three 

different kinds of chocolate chips, and different 

flavors of cocoa. Basically, some dentist is going to 

be very upset with me about this cake,” said Henry.

However, if chocolate isn’t your flavor of choice, he also 

does something similar with a strawberry obsession 

cake. 

“That has strawberry cake, strawberry filling, strawberry 

buttercream frosting, fresh strawberries, and a 

strawberry drizzle. It’s three layers high, 10 inches round, 

and weighs between 5 to 10 pounds,” stated Henry. 

Although their cakes, cannoli, and New York Style 

cheese cakes are decedent, they are not the only bake 

goods offered here. 


“We bake tea bread, garlic bread, French bread, wheat 

bread, and rye bread. It’s all made fresh from scratch, 

with no preservatives. The only thing that is storebought 

here are the ingredients,” stated Henry. 

For more information about all of Buscioni’s baked 

goods, please visit their Facebook page at www. 

facebook.com/Chef Buscioni1, or www.shop.castiron. 

me/buscionibakes. To place an order, please call (712) 

454-8308. 

Henry delivers to the tristate area, and ships to states 

across the country. 

“I have customers I ship to in Vegas, Georgia, Colorado, 

New Jersey, and New York. It’s affordable and delicious 

baked goods. I can create whatever your heart desires.” 

Amy Buster has been working as a writer/editor for the past 

25 years. The majority of her work has been writing and 

editing for small-town newspapers in both the Kansas City 

Metro area and the Siouxland Community. 

Photos Contributed by Buscioni Bakes. 

Siouxland Magazine is Committed to 

Supporting Siouxland’s Local Small 

Businesses and Nonprofits. 

We have a platform, 

and we want to share it with you. 

Get in front of the community by joining 

Stacie on a Facebook Spotlight. 

Get the details by scanning 

the QR code or visit 

siouxlandmagazine.com.

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating /26 

Carroll Street Treats 

Iowa’s West Coast Initiative Feature 

Business Owner: Reece, Liam, Ayda, Blake, 

Nora, and Evan Vander Zee 

Business Name: Carroll Street Treats 

Main Products/Services: Homemade Ice Cream 

Sandwiches 

Location: Rock Rapids, IA 

Connect: Find us on Facebook/Instagram 

Short description of your business: 

Carroll Street Treats is a 100% kid-owned business. 

We specialize in distributing the best homemade ice 

cream sandwiches in the tri-state area. We offer nine 

different flavor options, packing each homemade 

cookie combination with mounds of hand-scooped 

ice cream. 

What motivated you to start your business? What 

drives you each day? 

The vision of Carroll Street Treats started from a 

curbside ice cream sandwich stand in the summer of 

2013 when CEO, Reece Vander Zee, was eight years 

old. The initial motivation was to share our favorite 

family treat with our small-town community. What 

drives us daily is how God continues to use this 

“for-purpose” ministry to share love and connection 

through ice cream. 

What’s unique about your business? 

The unique thing about Carroll Street Treats is that it’s 

a sibling-owned business, and each sibling has a role 

in production, marketing, and finance. 

The Carroll Street Treats Crew: Joe, Meredith, Reece (17), 

Liam (15), Ayda (13), Blake (11), Nora (8) and Evan (4). 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to 

overcome as you’ve grown your business? 

The biggest challenge has been staying ahead of 

the growth. With each passing year, each employee 

(sibling) has also grown in maturity and capacity, so 

we’ve been lucky to grow with the business, literally. 

What has been your greatest reward? 

The greatest reward has been how our success 

has allowed us to pay it forward to our community. 

The value of stewardship is essential to our vision 

statement. We have gotten to do some really cool 

things for our community. 

A 100% kid-owned entity that operates on a large 

scale is something that makes us very proud. 

New playground near the baseball & softball complex in 

Rock Rapids. One of 12 pay-it-forward projects that Carroll 

Street Treats has helped fund to give back. 

Ice Cream Sandwiches 

How have you benefited from the startup 

community in Sioux City and the region? What 

resources did you use? 

We are grateful for the exposure and experience 

we gained participating in The Big Challenge. Our 

second-place earnings helped us reach another 

business goal of purchasing a traveling treat trailer to

take to local events. The 

experience of preparing 

a sales pitch and making 

a promotional video was 

great for our whole crew. 

Why is it important 

for the community to 

support startups and 

small businesses? What 

more can be done to 

help them? 

We are so thankful for the 

support from our local 

community and beyond. 

Best selling Snickerdoodle Salted 

Caramel goodness. 

The success of smaller-scale businesses is a direct result of 

people who are willing to trust and be intentional with their 

support of a unique product and organic mission. We try to 

make sure our customers know how much we value them too. 

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating BeComing / 27 / 27 

What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew 

when starting your business? 

The most efficient way to mass produce a product that we value 

is homemade and fresh. It’s been a learning curve, but we’ve 

got a great system now that is duplicatable and sustainable to 

match growth. 

What advice would you give to someone looking to start 

a business? 

Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Growing slowly 

is still growing. Serve others with their best interest in mind, 

and your bottom line reflects your service. Continue to show up 

with a grateful heart, keep your vision filled with faith, love, and 

trust that God is ahead. 

How can the community continue to help your business? 

We currently have 16 wholesale partners in the tri-state area 

and are always open to other opportunities. We also are 

excited about the edition of our mobile food unit this spring, so 

if you’re looking for a fun addition to your summer festivities, 

we’d love to serve you! 

What are some future goals for your company? 

Future goals are to establish a consistent events calendar with 

our mobile food unit, add additional employees, expand our 

wholesale partner reach, and continue to follow where the Lord 

leads. 

Iowa’s West Coast Initiative (IWCI) is a collaboration between the 

economic development organizations in Plymouth, Monona, and 

Woodbury counties, and includes the following organizations: 

City of Sioux City, Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning 

Council, Siouxland Economic Development Corporation, The 

Siouxland Initiative, Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation, 

Woodbury County, and Monona County. Learn more about IWCI 

at www.IAWestCoast.com. 

Photos Contributed by Carroll Street Treats.


Counseling and Training 

The U.S. Small Business Administration leverages 

its field offices, resource partners, and additional 

partnerships to help level the playing field for business 

owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who historically 

have lacked access to wealth or business opportunities. 

SBA Resource Partners 

SBA works with independent organizations to provide 

high-quality counseling and training to meet the 

specific needs of new and existing small businesses. 

This resource partner network includes SCORE 

business mentors, Small Business Development 

Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), 

and Veterans Business Opportunity Centers (VBOCs). 

Several resource partner service centers are located 

at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 

across America. SBA resource partners provide 

counseling and training to business owners at all 

stages. 

SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative 

The Emerging Leaders Initiative is an intensive 

executive-level series intended to accelerate the 

growth of high-potential small businesses in America’s 

underserved cities. The program provides customized 

training for C-level executives with demonstrated 

business sustainability. Participants create a threeyear 

strategic growth action plan with benchmarks 

and performance targets to help them emerge as 

self-sustaining businesses creating jobs and building 

communities. 

Federal Partners 

The U.S. Department of Commerce operates the 

Minority Business Development Agency, which is 

dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of 

business enterprises owned and operated by African 

Americans, Asian Americans, Hasidic Jews, Hispanic 

Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders. 

Funding Programs 

The federal government does not provide grants to 

start a business. However, there are several funding 

programs to help entrepreneurs start, expand, or 

recover from disasters. You can learn more about 

funding options for small businesses, including those 

targeted at minority and underserved communities, 

and connect with SBA-approved lenders. SBA also 

offers several special COVID-19 relief options. 

SBDC – Taking Care of Business 

By Todd Rausch 

Minority-Owned Businesses 

SBA is committed to supporting the development and growth of minority-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs from 

underserved communities. 

SBA Contracting Certifications & 

Business Development Programs 

8(a) Business Development Program 

The 8(a) Business Development program helps socially and 

economically disadvantaged small businesses grow by limiting 

competition for specific contracts to participating businesses, 

allowing them to become solid competitors in the federal 

marketplace. 

Disadvantaged businesses in the 8(a) program can: 

• Compete for set-aside and sole-source contracts in the program. 

• Get a Business Opportunity Specialist to navigate federal 

contracting. 

• Form joint ventures with established businesses through the 

SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program. 

• Receive management and technical assistance, including 

business training, counseling, marketing assistance, and highlevel 

executive development. 

• Compete for contract awards under multiple socio-economic 

programs as they apply. 

Before you can participate in the 8(a) Business Development 

program, you must meet certain criteria and be certified. 

HUBZone Program 

The government limits competition for certain contracts 

to businesses in historically underutilized business zones. 

The program aims to award at least three percent of federal 

contract dollars each year to HUBZone-certified companies. 

Mentor-Protégé Program 

The SBA Mentor-Protégé Program enables eligible small 

businesses (protégés) to get valuable business development 

help and win government contracts through partnerships with 

more experienced companies (mentors). 

Additional Government Contracting Program 

SBA offers several additional government contracting 

certifications and programs. 

Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights 

All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on 

a nondiscriminatory basis. For additional information, you may 

contact SBA’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights for 

additional information. 

America’s SBDC Iowa provides free, confidential, customized, 

professional business advice and consulting in all 99 Iowa counties 

to entrepreneurs. 

Todd Rausch, Regional Director for the Small Business Development 

Center at Western Iowa Tech Community College. 712-274-6454 | 

Todd.rausch@witcc.edu

Sioux City Kicks Off 50th Ragbrai 

Sioux City Chamber 

Get ready for the area’s biggest party when 

Sioux City celebrates the 50th anniversary of The 

Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, 

better known as RAGBRAI, on Saturday, July 22, 

with festivities that will attract a record number of 

registered riders. 

RAGBRAI cyclists will arrive in droves and stay the night, July 

22, before they dip their tires in the Missouri River and take 

off Sunday morning. 

It will be the eighth time RAGBRAI starts from Sioux City, 

including the first RAGBRAI, that launched in 1973 with more 

than 300 riders, 114 of whom made it to the end. This year 

cyclists will stop in Storm Lake and five other communities 

before ending in Davenport, Iowa, on, July 29. 

More than a dozen committees are addressing publicity, 

housing, signage, special events, public safety, medical, 

sponsorships, and more. 

Sioux City is seeking host homes, vendors, and volunteers. 

While thousands of registered riders will travel with charters 

and camp at Riverside Park and Chris Larsen Park on Sioux 

City’s riverfront, others will stay in area hotels, there is still a 

need for local homes, Salvatore said. “We need residents to 

open their yards and homes for smaller teams and individual 

riders. Most riders expect only a yard for camping, but they 

do appreciate access to a bathroom and shower along with 

a place to fill their water bottles. Some hosts enjoy cooking 

breakfast.” 

RAGBRAI insures registered participants. 


A focal point for the riders and local residents will be the 

entertainment and bike expo area in the Tyson Events 

Center and Long Lines Family Rec Center parking lot. 

“RAGBRAI can showcase Sioux City like no other event 

and create a powerful economic impact,” said Sioux City 

RAGBRAI Chair Matt Salvatore. “Cyclists and their supporters 

from across the United States and from other countries will 

eat in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, shop and spend 

time with our warm and friendly residents.” 

RAGBRAI began when Des Moines Register reporters, 

John Karras and Donald Kaul, decided to bike across Iowa 

and invited others to join them. The ride exploded over 

the years, making RAGBRAI a major summer event across 

the state of Iowa. 

Sign up to host riders, volunteer, or be a vendor at 

ragbraisiouxcity.com. News also appears on Facebook 

@siouxcityragbrai, Twitter @scragbrai, and Instagram @ 

siouxcityragbrai. 

JULY 

22 

RAGBRAISIOUXCITY.COM


Okoboji Writer’s Retreat – Sept. 17-20, 2023 

The Okoboji Writer’s Retreat, September 17-20, is an annual event for anyone who has a story to tell. 

The three-day experience is designed for all skill levels, whether participants have a manuscriptready to publish, need a nudge to 

start a family memoir, or simply become a better writer. 

Award-winning columnists, authors, poets, and publishers from around the country 

will be there holding small-group workshops, serving on panels, or be available for 

individual consultation. 

Meet a literary agent, find your voice, and get started. 

There are optional social activities in the evening, including a barge trip around the lake. 

The Okoboji Writer’s Retreat is an opportunity to get started on your projects, become 

empowered, and make new connections. 

Enrollment will close on June 1. Space is limited, and has sold out each prior year, 

so act now (the fee is refundable less service charge until September 1). 

Cost: $795 

Some partial scholarships are available for emerging writers, or working journalists. 

Learn more: www.okobojiwritersretreat.com

Experience Downtown 

By Carly Howrey 

Downtown Partners is dedicated to creating a 

vibrant, expanding, and busy Downtown Sioux 

City. In order to fill vacant spaces and enhance existing 

ones, we’ve focused our efforts on business recruitment 

and retention. With the help of our partners and passionate 

work group members, we have developed two grant 

opportunities for downtown properties and businesses— 

the Downtown Business Recruitment Rent Relief Program 

and the Storefront Grant. 


The Rent Relief Program is in full swing, awarding $10k in 

funds to new businesses within the first three months of its 

launch in July of 2022. The program allows a new business 

to receive 50% off rent for the first six months of operating 

in Downtown Sioux City. This is an agreement between the 

property owner and Downtown Partners to each cover 25% 

of the rent for up to half a year, capped at $3,600. The goal 

of this program is to attract new and exciting businesses. 

Whether it’s an ice cream parlor, a new pub, or a retail 

store—we want you downtown. 

To receive Rent Relief, a new business must have a 3-year 

lease agreement (minimum) and approval from the property 

owner. If you’re opening a business downtown and are 

unsure how to approach your property owner about this 

opportunity, please contact us at info@downtownsiouxcity. 

com. We would love to meet and explain the importance of 

this program to anyone interested. The annual Downtown 

Partners budget determines the total funding available; 

therefore the number of awarded applications depends 

on funding available, so apply today! Our dedication to 

help new businesses doesn’t stop there. After receiving 

Rent Relief funds, a business may also be eligible for the 

Storefront Grant. 

Rent relief 

Downtown Partners has awarded 22 businesses a total 

of $182,609.50 for façade improvements through 

the Storefront Grant. This program offers funds up to 

50% of owner or tenant investment, capped at $2,500 

per storefront. What exactly is a ‘storefront’ and what 

improvements qualify for the storefront grant? We define 

a storefront as: ‘the facade of a store; a room(s) of a 

commercial building, typically used as a store. Several 

storefronts could make up one building parcel.’ As for 

qualifying improvements, we have helped pay for signage, 

new front doors, murals, historic refurbishment, and more. 

If you have questions on your upcoming project, reach 

out to us. We’d be happy to answer any specific questions 

regarding your storefront. We want your business or 

property to leave the best first impression, apply for the 

Storefront grant today! 

Our grant funding is available for businesses and 

properties within the downtown district. We are 

excited to support projects directly making impacts 

on local businesses and hope to create more funding 

opportunities for downtown entities in the near future. All 

applications and further business assistance can be found 

on our website. To see the downtown district map, and for 

a more in-depth look at rules, benefits, and the selection 

process of each Downtown Partners grant opportunity, 

visit downtownsiouxcity.com. 

Maya Modification received the Storefront Grant in 2022. 

Contributed by Downtown Partners, a non-profit 

organization that works with downtown stakeholders to 

create a vibrant, expanding downtown. To learn more about 

Downtown Partners and stay up to date on downtown 

projects and events, visit downtownsiouxcity.com.


Buff by Labor Day 

Hot Air 

By Tony Michaels 

Here’s a news flash. I am not a finished product. If 

you listen to me on the radio daily, this will not come as 

a shock. I am more than open about my shortcomings 

and where I need to improve. I am also very fortunate 

to have so many guests on “Starting Conversations 

with Stacie and Tony” podcast who are absolutely 

crushing it and are inspirations. Rachelle Rawson, Jeff 

Carlson, and Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata are recent guests who 

would probably fill this space with insight galore. 

I use this space as a confessional. Thanks for bearing 

with me. I am working it all out one article at a time. 

I would like to have the physique of a buff dude like 

country music superstar and actor Tim McGraw. I have 

subscribed to Men’s Health Magazine for 20 years to 

accomplish this goal! I read every issue from start to 

finish while crushing a six-pack and a pound of potato 

oles from my favorite taco place. Actually, my lovely 

wife gifted me the Tim McGraw fitness book for my 

birthday. However, it did not come with a magic weight 

loss elixir or “something like that.” 

When I took a vacation to New York City, I noticed many 

of the locals were very fit. I assume because they are 

constantly walking ALL the time. I live a short 20-minute 

walk from the radio station. When the weather allows, 

I really should hike into work. However, the extra 18 

minutes of sleep would make me a more tolerable coworker. 

You would take a slightly chubby happy fellow 

over a ripped, grumpy guy by the water cooler at work, 

right? 

I read in Esquire Magazine the many benefits of a 

daily sauna. That’s an idea I can champion. Sitting 

and sweating off the Lbs.? I’m sold. The stories from 

the sauna are great with intelligent people who tout 

increased activity and smarter food decisions, like 

recipes featuring kale and cabbage. After one recent 

conversation, I ran to the store and bought ten bucks 

worth of it. That was two weeks ago. It’s still in my 

fridge. Untouched. Can I add kale to my tacos? Would 

that help? 

I can’t imagine sitting down to watch a big game and 

substituting chicken wings from a local eatery for 

carrots and hummus. Even Tim McGraw has cheat days 

where he probably eats toast and avocado. 

I’ve been told the key to a more active lifestyle is to 

“lean in” to an activity I enjoy and pretend it’s not 

exercise. You know, like pretending kale does taste like 

lettuce or a stuffed crust pizza. 

So, I am calling on all readers of this magazine who own a 

golf course. Please give me a free membership to the links, 

and I promise I will walk the course. No golf cart for this 

guy! In just one summer, I will look just like Tim McGraw. 

My wife will be thrilled! I prefer to stroll to my next shot 

because I can quietly utter profanities under my breath as 

I walk to my Taylor Made golf ball 75 yards down the way, 

out of bounds in the tall weeds of the golf course. 

Which, by the way, those tall weeds do resemble something. 

Kale. 

Tony Michaels, morning show co-host on KSUX 

105.7, co-host Starting Conversation with Stacie 

& Tony Podcast, Golf Handicap 20, Fitness 

handicap - tacos, wings, sitting, and beer. 

(Share your healthy taco recipes and country club memberships 

by texting or calling 712.274.1057) 

Paid advertisement.

Council Connection 

By Matthew O’Kane 

Springtime is fast approaching, but for many, it’s tough to get out of that winter mindset. We’re at that 

awkward part of the year where it can be freezing in the morning and bright and sunny in the afternoon. It’s a 

slow warm-up, but as the frost gives way to a sun-soaked city, it leaves you feeling that the frost was worth it just 

to see the contrast it helped to highlight. It takes something special to live in this climate, and you have to be 

able to adapt to those long nights and the cold weather. 


During this time of year, it’s not uncommon for people to feel isolated and discouraged. Daylight savings time 

and the cold lingering from the recent winter months can make you feel like winter is never going to end. But 

those afternoon hours that break through the crisp weather and make way for the sun’s warmth are just the 

medicine the doctor ordered. It reminds us to get outside and feel the sunshine on our face, even if it’s only for 

a brief moment before the rain starts. 

Green thumbs like me will have started planting in February. Stick to your planting schedule and make time for 

it. The nurturing and care you provide to these tiny seedlings will pay off when we’re in the heat of summer. If 

planting is not your thing, get outdoors and find some time for restful relaxation or some light exercise. Take the 

kids for a walk around the block, visit a park, or bike a trail. 

If you’re so inclined, bring along a sack for trash. As the snow melts away and the wind picks up, there’s never 

a shortage of trash to be collected. Living in a community takes an effort by everyone to keep our space green. 

If you’re not keen on handling trash, report some potholes to the city so we can get them patched. This time of 

year they tend to be plentiful! 

Don’t forget to visit neighbors, loved ones, and friends. This time of year can be hard for everyone, and we 

should all help each other shake off the cold of the winter and embrace the springtime whenever we’re able. 

Everyone needs help now and then but don’t forget to take time for yourself as well. You are a valuable member 

of our community, and you should prioritize yourself. 

Matthew O’Kane, a K-12 Art Teacher for the Sioux City Community School District and a Sioux City Council Person. He’s a life-long 

resident of Sioux City, and an avid gardener and artist. 

LIVE2LEAD 

A John Maxwell Experience 

returning to Siouxland 

FAll 2023 

Stay Tuned! 

SiouxlandMagazine.com 

@siouxlandmag


Leading the Way – Leadership Siouxland 

By Peggy Smith 

Celebrating the 2022-2023 Leadership Siouxland Class 

Almost 1200 young professionals have graduated from 

Leadership Siouxland since its inception in 1984. 39 years 

ago, a small group of progressive, forward-thinking individuals 

from Sioux City saw a need for an organized forum to develop 

leaders and help them get involved in the community. They 

offered a nine-month program to educate participants about 

the city, help them gain confidence and leadership skills, 

and invoke a passion for making a positive difference in their 

community. It is a tribute to those first visionaries that the 

program is still in existence and adding value today. 

Over the years, the program has expanded from Sioux Citycentric 

to tri-state-focused. The curriculum ncludes specific 

educational leadership skill components, such as Change 

Cycle Management, principles of positive leadership and 

emotional intelligence, and an emphasis on IDEA (Inclusion/ 

Diversity/Equity/Access and Accessibility). There are 

numerous dynamic opportunities for participants to network 

with entrepreneurs and people of influence they might never 

have the chance to meet and interact with socially. Each year, 

the program attracts a diverse group of participants from 

different industries/occupations, at various career levels, 

different ethnicity, gender, age, and socioeconomic levels. 

This diversity within the class results in an extremely interactive, 

inspiring, and exciting learning environment. 

This year’s class undertook projects in collaboration with 

mission-driven organizations including Siouxland Youth for 

Christ, Sleep In Heavenly Peace, Wet-Nose Rescue, Meet 

the Need Siouxland Inc., YANA (You Are Not Alone), SCAHT 

(Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking), and a newly 

formed Cancer SUX Tea Party. The graduates from the 

program enhanced their leadership skills and found their 

passion, and will go on to make positive differences in our 

community for years to come. 

Applications are now being taken for the 2023 – 2024 class. 

To learn more or apply, contact the Executive Director 

at exdir@leadershipsiouxland.org or call 712-898-8594. 

Congratulations to the graduates of the 2022 -2023 class 

and sincere thanks to the organizations that sponsored their 

participation: 

Stacie Anderson - Siouxland Magazine; Antonio Bass, Brian 

Ganger, and Anna Salas – Goodwill of the Great Plains; 

Janell Broekemier – Goosmann Law Firm; Greg Brummond 

- Chesterman Company ; Erin Cantrell – Seaboard Triumph 

Foods; Brooke Daane – Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Mary Davis, 

Katie Helgeland, Anna Howard, Bethany Jones, Lori Kasel, 

Valente Leon, Keith O’Dell, Dory Parkin, Rachel Ruiz, Rocky 

Schmitz – Wells Enterprises, Inc.; Janelle DeCora, Jaime 

Monroe, Darlyn St. Cyr – Ho Chunk Inc.; DJ Flores – Northwest 

Bank; Ashlee French – Barnhart Crane; Autumn Hernandez 

– Central Bank; Ben Hull – WA Klinger LLC; Erin McElroy – Briar 

Cliff University; LaShawna Moyle, Josh Van Zweden – WITCC; Neil 

Niehus – Schuster Inc.; Lt. Col. Will Poulson and SMSgt Luke Terry 

– SC ANG 185th; Jessica Ross – Security National Bank; Pat Schnell 

– FEH Design; Christy Schwaderer – Boy Scouts of America; Steve 

Steichen, Mike Yellot – Great West Casualty Company; Sarah 

Sturges – Floyd Valley HealthCare; Laura Tranmer – Siouxland 

Community Health Center; Tarn Vieira – Self-Employed; Jennifer 

Williams – Boys and Girls Club; Glen Winekauf – Horn Memorial 

Hospital 

Leadership Siouxland is able to cultivate community leaders 

because of our supporters. We’d like to thank Sioux City 

Museum, Orpheum Theater and Warrior Hotel, Seaboard 

Triumph Expo Center, WITCC Security Institute and 911 Center, 

Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, Siouxland Community 

Health Center, Boys and Girls Club of Siouxland, Girls Inc., SC 

ANG 185th, Salvation Army Camp. Kudos to our caterer, Susan 

Frahm. Special thanks as well to our presenters – Tom Munson 

(SC Museum); Rex Mueller, Ryan Bertrand (Sioux City Police) and 

Ryan Collins (Sioux City Fire); Julian Lee (Siouxland Community 

Health Center), Alex Watters (Morningside University and SC 

City Council); Heidi Kammer-Hodge (Consulting by Design LLC 

and Briar Cliff University); Zachary Nelson, (SC Juvenile Court 

Services), Tessa Dinsdale (First Interstate Bank), Barbara Sloniker 

(Sioux City Initiative and Sioux City Chamber), Chris Bogenrief 

(NAI United Business Brokerage), Chris Jacobs (ARNP 

Siouxland Community Health Center), Kevin Grieme (Siouxland 

District Health Department), Keith Vollstedt MD (UnityPoint 

Health); and representatives from the following organizations – 

Girls Inc, YANA, Siouxland Youth For Christ, Sleep In Heavenly 

Peach, Meet the Need Siouxland Inc., Youth Crisis Intervention 

Center, and Youth Shelter, Siouxland Coalition Against Human 

Trafficking. 

Leadership Siouxland continues to develop diverse, passionate 

leaders who positively impact our community for today and 

tomorrow. Please join us; you will find your passion and help make 

our community even stronger and better! 

The mission of Leadership Siouxland is to develop diverse, 

passionate leaders who positively impact our community for 

today and tomorrow. Leadership Siouxland began in 1984 

and is proud of the over 1200 graduates who make positive 

differences each and every day. To learn more, contact Peggy 

Smith, Executive Director, at 712-898-8594 or email info@ 

leadershipsiouxland.org. 

Peggy Smith, Executive Director of Leadership Siouxland, is 

dedicated to inspiring others to follow their passion to positively 

impact the Siouxland Community.

Siouxland Growth Organization (SGO) is excited to 

announce that they will be hosting their 13th Annual 

Innovation Market! This year’s Market, Thursday, May 18, 

will host a Rush Hour Connect from 4-6:30 p.m., gathering 

the community around aspiring entrepreneurs. Innovation 

Market strives to grow our community through innovative 

ideas and supporting local businesses by bridging the 

gap between the inception of an entrepreneurial idea 

and making it a reality. SGO uses this event to create an 

environment where potential startups or businesses, less 

than a year old, test their ideas in a community setting. 

At our Innovation Market, you can expect a wall illuminated 

with business idea submissions, and attendees are 

encouraged to vote for their favorite business they would 

like to see in Siouxland. After votes are tallied, the top five 

finalists will be announced. The event winners will later 

attend a business pitch event where they can win up to 

$5,000 to help get their businesses started. We strongly 

believe this helps boost local economic growth and the 

overall well-being of our community. After you’ve had the 

opportunity to read all of the impressive idea submissions, 

you can network and sample from some of Siouxland’s 

favorite breweries, restaurants, and more! 

For the last 13 years, Siouxland Growth Organization has 

successfully hosted our Innovation Market, awarding more 

than $100,000 in grant money to help local entrepreneurs 

realize their vision. It is also one of the only opportunities 

locally for entrepreneurs to win grant money for their 

potential business ventures. 

If you or someone you know has a business idea you 

would like to submit for the Innovation Market, please have 

them submit their business idea to SiouxCityGO.com. The 

deadline to submit is Thursday, May 4. If you do not want to 

start a new business but you want to have a direct impact 

on the economic influence that entrepreneurs have in the 

Siouxland community, stop by our event Thursday, May 18, 

between 4:30 - 6 p.m. If you have any questions regarding 

the event, submissions, or how to get involved with the event 

in the future, please reach out to our Innovation Market 

Chair, Ashley, at SiouxlandGO@gmail.com. 

If you want to join the Siouxland Growth Organization, there 

are many exciting opportunities to get involved with and 

affect change in our community. One of the best ways to 

get involved is to join one of our committees. No matter 

your expertise or background, we welcome all members 

Future Foundation – Siouxland GO 

By Sydney McManamy 

Supporting Aspiring Entrepreneurs in Siouxland 

2022 Innovation Market Winner Furrow Flower. 

interested in helping improve the organization through their 

committee efforts. 

Our committees include Community Engagement, Connect, 

Marketing, Innovation Market, and Special Events. To learn 

more about the various committees that are available, you 

can visit our website, SiouxCityGO.com, and click on the 

committee titles to be redirected to their respective pages. If 

you are interested in joining a committee, you can contact the 

SGO Board Chair of that committee to get involved. 

Our monthly general meeting will be held Wednesday, 

May 10th from 12 to 1 p.m., at the Siouxland Chamber of 

Commerce, 101 Pierce Street. The June meeting will be 

Wednesday, June 14, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., at the South Sioux 

City College Center, 1001 College Way. These meetings are 

open to the public and we welcome anyone who is interested 

in learning more about our organization and how we support 

our Siouxland community. This is an excellent opportunity to 

meet our team, hear about our plans for the coming months, 

and get involved in the activities and events we have planned. 

If you would like more information about the events we have 

coming up in the future, please check us out on Facebook. 

We hope to see you soon at Innovation Market! 

Siouxland Growth Organization, was formed in 2002 to 

encourage young professionals to become active members 

of the Siouxland community. Our goal is to attract 

and retain young professionals in the area by providing 

insight into what Siouxland has to offer and how they can 

get involved in shaping its future. 

Sydney McManamy, President of SGO. 

Photo Contributed by Siouxland GO. 

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 35

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 36

Up From The Earth Is Beginning Its 10th Growing Season 

By Up From The Earth 

Up From the Earth is beginning its 10th growing 

season and is celebrating as gardeners and 

farmers grow extra garden produce to share 

through our collection sites and pantries! We 

made the connections, and this amazing community 

has stepped up to work together to meet the needs. 

Our program has evolved to meet the needs of the 

community through the years while consistently growing 

in pounds donated. 


We began in 2014 with a pilot program with a handful 

of churches and pantries. Going into 2023’s season, we 

have 40 local area collection sites and pantries. THANK 

YOU ALL for stepping up. 

In our early years, we received grants to help fund some 

gardening tools for donation gardens. Throughout the 

years, we have handed out seeds and seedlings often 

grown by master gardeners to donate to individuals 

and donation gardens. Our mission diversified to 

include educating the public regarding healthy eating 

of fresh vegetables and fruits, and how to grow some 

vegetables in containers to have some “at home.” We 

continue to educate the community on the needs in our 

neighborhood to increase food security and develop an 

awareness of what each of us can do to help. More and 

more individuals come forward to donate each year. 

We have partnered and collaborated with an array of 

organizations working together to increase food security 

in our community! This is a generous place to live! 

In 2018 we introduced our garden mascot Zucchini Guy 

to help us get our message out. In 2018, with the help 

of a marketing professor and students at Morningside 

University, our webpage was upgraded, and our logo 

was reinvented. Currently, in 2023, we have added a QR 

code on the website and posters around town. Take a 

picture of that QR code,, and you will be taken directly 

to our website, the list of collection sites and pantries, 

the days they are open, and how to contact them. You 

may contact us to donate or supplement what you need 

to feed your family. Our Facebook page has a lot of 

traffic thanks largely to the behind-the-scenes work of 

Zucchini Guy (aka Mark Raymond). Annual Certificates 

of Appreciation and frequent “Tip of the Trowel” on 

Facebook help us recognize the wonderful people 

sharing in our vision. 

Z Guy at the Sioux City Farmers Market with manager Becky. 

Randy Burnight, Mark Raymond, and Jenny Jorgensen, ISU 

Woodbury County Extension and Outreach Master Gardeners 

and Steering Team Committee members for Up From the Earth. 

At St. James Methodist Vacation Bible School learning 

about gardening from Jenny Jorgensen. 

Up from the Earth exists to connect extra produce from 

home gardens to people in need.

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 38 

Ask the Therapist 

By Jackie Paulson 

Send Your 

Questions 

to the 

Therapist. 

have heard of the importance of letting my feelings ‘be 

there’ but wonder at what point am I giving feelings such as 

depression and anxiety too much attention. I am afraid I will 

Q:“I 

get stuck in negativity.” 

Dear Reader, 

This is actually a common exploration that happens 

in therapy. The theories I work from as a therapist 

often promote a lot of emotional intimacy, which 

encourages learning to “be with” emotions rather 

than try to dissociate or distract from them. The 

idea is that emotions themselves are not actually 

a threat. Our belief about those emotions creates 

a story that emotions are unsafe and that we 

should fix them or get away from them as quickly 

as possible, which can become problematic. 

Emotions never really go away when we run from 

them. Often they just get tucked away. Repressed 

emotions can manifest in the body as physical 

symptoms if they go unaddressed for a long time. 

For this reason, I like to empower people to find the 

courage to address their feelings and challenge 

the belief that there is anything to fix. I want them to 

acknowledge the intelligence of their body-mind. 

Often the body knows exactly how to respond to 

help wake the individual up to an overall better 

well-being. And sometimes, the body does that 

through symptoms like depression, anxiety, anger, 

etc. Just as the body elicits pain when you put 

your hand on something too hot to motivate 

you to respond and move it away, the body also 

offers you feedback through the emotions and 

sensations in your body. I also appreciate that 

sometimes states of depression and anxiety can 

be patterns that need to be re-patterned, which 

requires intentional action in building an opposite 

state inside the body-mind. 

Ultimately, the answer to this question is highly 

individual. First, I encourage anyone who feels they 

can relate to access someone who can support them 

with reflections that will guide that person in the right 

direction for themselves. 

Next, learning to attune and track your body’s 

“signals” (often felt through sensations through the 

body) will be the most helpful skill in understanding 

what the best response is at any given time. Practices 

such as guided breathwork, yoga, mindfulness, etc., 

can all be helpful in learning the skill of interoception. 

Building on this skill does take practice and some 

training, but when one learns to do so - it can open 

up a vast array of possibilities and personal authority. 

In order to really understand when a feeling needs 

more space and time from you versus when you are 

hijacked by and getting stuck in an emotional state 

will often be felt quite subtly within the context of our 

body’s internal signals. Pendulation is a word that 

describes the practice of moving back and forth. A 

lot of emotional regulation and nervous system work 

is not about achieving a higher state and staying there 

but rather increasing one’s capacity to be flexible 

between states, including emotions. For example, 

if I have a conflict with my friend and become really 

angry, how available do I feel to soften the anger?

Which doesn’t mean not feeling it but allowing 

myself to be buoyant within the emotion. I am not 

necessarily being carried away by it, nor feeling as 

if I am not allowed to experience it at all. 

This is where curiosity comes in. Building a curious 

nature is extremely helpful in imbibing an answer 

to the question of “what do I need right now as 

it relates to this feeling - to be with it or to take 

action and move beyond it?”. As long as we are 

judging ourselves one way or another, we likely 

aren’t actually being intimate with any part of our 

experience. Shame and judgment are surefire ways 

of getting stuck in any situation. Curiosity and an 

attitude of playfulness with one’s experience are 

the anecdotes to shame. For example, suppose I 

am feeling overwhelmed and confused, instead of 

judging myself for that experience, I allow another 

curious and compassionate part of me to come 

“online.” It is not in place of the overwhelming 

feelings but with it. This has taken practice and 

time to develop this skill. And often, we cannot 

learn this until we have been shown it by another 

relationship - especially if we didn’t get this level of 

co-regulation from our parents growing up. When 

we are able to get curious, space opens up. And 

when space opens up, emotions and sensations 

have somewhere to flow. 

If you ever find emotions or sensations becoming 

too overwhelming, you should not push or force 

yourself to stay with it longer than necessary. A big 

part of why our systems have developed a story 

that emotions are unsafe is that we have likely 

experienced some level of trauma or childhood 

conditioning that left us feeling powerless in the 

state of our own emotions. I like to help people 

feel they have a choice in their experience, and at 

any given time - you can choose to comfort yourself 

and choose something different - including 

reaching out for help. In the depth of this work, 

we can become too serious and get overly focused 

on the narrative of “healing.” I want to remind you 

that your purpose in life is not just to heal, but to 

enjoy this life with which we have been blessed. 

You can submit your question for “Ask the Therapist” 

by visiting jaclynpaulson@gmail.com and sending your 

question through the contact page. Please put “Ask the 

Therapist” in the subject line. 

Jackie Paulson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the 

state of Iowa. It is her belief that every person has an innate 

intelligence within them and can “whole” themselves with 

the right support. Jackie offers a holistic and somatic based 

therapy practice in Sioux City, IA. Ultimately, she humbly 

sits with others in hopes to empower them to seek and 

connect into their own deep and sacred wisdom that 

resides within. You already have the answers, it is with the 

right witnessing and curiosity that the truth is revealed. 

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing /39 

There is much more here regarding this topic, but 

I will leave it with these three invitations for now. 

• Get support. Someone who can clearly mirror for 

you your own inner body wisdom. 

• Develop the skill of interoception. 

• Get curious. 

• Don’t forget to play! 

With love, 

Jackie


Ask the Doc 

By Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata 

Send Your 

Questions 

to the 

Doctor. 

son is a teenager and has been moodier lately, skipping school, 

hanging with the wrong crowd, and smoking pot daily. He says it helps him 

calm down, cope with his anxiety, and concentrate. I did the same thing 

when I was his age, only I ended up in and out of juvenile detention and 

residential treatment facilities, which didn’t help me. I was also abused as 

a child, and my parents didn’t protect me the way I protect my son. I love 

Q:My 

my son; he is a great kid, and I have done my best to protect and provide 

for him. I just didn’t see ‘this’ coming. I thought by protecting him from 

any form of abuse, he would be safe and not travel down the same path I 

did. Thankfully, he is now in therapy and seeing a mental health provider. 

However, I struggle as a parent: Why did this happen to my son? Why 

couldn’t I protect him? 

Dear Reader, 

You are self-aware and intentional as a parent to be 

there for your son in ways that you needed when you 

were his age. Knowledge and self-awareness are the 

first steps towards healing and taking charge of your 

health journey, ultimately trickling down to your son and 

the next generation. While this article provides general 

information and is not medical advice, consult with a 

trained mental health professional for your and your son’s 

specific needs. 

Transgenerational Trauma 

We now know that newborns don’t come into the world 

with a “clean slate.” They not only inherit the genes 

from their parents, but they also inherit what we call 

epigenetics. Epigenetics refer to how genes may or not 

be expressed. 

A study done in mice that found a link between the 

intergenerational effects of trauma and scent. The 

researchers blew a chemical that is the cherry blossom 

scent into the cages of adult male mice while zapping 

their feet with an electric current at the same time. The 

mice then associate the smells of cherry blossom with 

pain. When the offspring of these male mice smelled the 

scent of cherry blossom, they became more nervous and 

jumpier compared to other pups whose fathers weren’t 

conditioned to fear it. The grand pups of the traumatized 

pups also showed heightened sensitivity to the cherry 

blossom scent only. 

The sensitivity to cherry blossom scent was connected 

to epigenetic changes in the fathers’ sperm DNA. The 

pups’ brains had a more significant number of neurons 

that detect the cherry blossom scent. A greater sensitivity 

to cherry blossom was passed down from parent mice to 

pups. 

Impact of Transgenerational Trauma 

What researchers learned from the Adverse Childhood 

Experiences (ACE) is that childhood trauma, chronic 

diseases, and emotional and social problems were 

linked. This means that children who experienced at least 

one event on the ACE questionnaire were more likely to 

struggle with chronic diseases as adults, such as diabetes, 

obesity, lung cancer, autoimmune disease, depression, 

and substance abuse.

Neuroplasticity and Resilience 

The brain cells can continue to grow and make a 

new connection (synapsis) when you challenge your 

brain to learn and cultivate new skills. We call that 

neuroplasticity, and that is where resiliency comes 

from. This is also known as “Post Traumatic Growth,” 

as the brain is still able to grow, and change provided 

the right conditions. Below are some tips you can do to 

help set your brain cells to recovery and growth: 

Positive Childhood Experiences 

Research found an association between positive 

childhood experiences and adult mental and 

relationship health, regardless of what the ACE score 

was. To create your positive childhood experiences 

inventory, ask yourself the following questions: how 

often during your childhood: 

• Did you feel able to talk to your family 

about your feelings? 

• Did you feel your family stood by you 

during difficult times? 

• Did you enjoy participation in community 

traditions? 

• Did you feel a sense of belonging in 

school or faith community? 

• Did you feel supported by friends? 

• Did you have at least two non-parent 

adults who took a genuine interest in you? 

• Did you feel safe and protected by an 

adult in your home? 

Engaging with Art 

Researchers have found that engaging with any form of art 

helps your being to access its creativity and inner wisdom to 

help you heal. You don’t have to be an artist to engage in art. 

The act of engaging with a creative process is what matters! 

Cultivating a Sense of Purpose and Meaning 

The trauma you, and your ancestors, have experienced is 

unfortunate. However, these experiences do not have to 

define you. With the help of journaling or a therapist, you 

can reflect on what lessons you have learned from it, what 

you want to do with your life, and how you want to live it. 

Social Support and Spiritual Community 

You may consider finding a support group, depending on 

what you are interested in and what your needs are. You may 

also consider exploring spiritual practices and community. 

For example, your source of support and community may be 

your child’s classmates’ parents or other people in recovery. 

You may consider finding a support group, depending on 

what you are interested in and what your needs are. You may 

also consider exploring spiritual practices and community. 

For example, your source of support and community may be 

your child’s classmates’ parents or other people in recovery. 

You can submit your questions for “Ask the Doctor” to 

drnesrinabuata@gmail.com. Please put “Ask the Doctor” 

in the subject line. 


Mindfulness Practices 

Studies have found that learning mindfulness practices 

help increase distress tolerance and resiliency, and 

low-stress hormones. You can work with a therapist to 

learn these skills and teach them to your son. There is 

also the Center for Mindfulness Self Compassion that 

has online resources. 

Dr. Abu Ata, a board-certified holistic trauma-informed psychiatrist 

and family medicine physician. She is in private practice and can 

be found at www.nesrinabuatamd.com or at drnesrinabuata@ 

gmail.com. Dr. Abu Ata believes in holistic care that integrates the 

mind, body, and spirit. In addition to offering lifestyle interventions, 

mindfulness-based psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology, she 

also offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. 

Exercise Regularly 

People with trauma tend to move their bodies less, 

which worsens their medical conditions and physical 

health. Researchers have found that exercise helps 

with depression, and anxiety and promotes better selfesteem. 

The endorphins your body releases help you 

feel better, and with feeling better, you are more likely 

to continue to engage in activities that bring you joy 

and a general sense of well-being.


Summer, the season of the heart, illuminates 

as the culmination of our Attunement with 

the Seasons series, which brings us to this 

element: fire. As always, ancient medicine provides 

sound guidance in embracing, understanding, and 

absorbing the medicine of the heart through its 

season. Kathy Jensen of Mind & Body Connection 

in Sioux City sheds a vast orb of light on the many 

unique herbal protocols associated with each season 

in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She explains 

that the blood is the mother of chi (or qi), that vital, 

life force energy carried, as a child, throughout the 

body by the bloodstream. This approach paints a 

unique picture of the cardiovascular system, aiding 

us in nourishing and healing the physical system and 

its emotions, neurology, and general energy. 

Healing in Your Own Hands 

By Emily Larson 

Attunement with the Seasons: Play the Music of the Heart in Summer 

deeper qualities of the summer season, associating 

it with fire and the color red and the South direction, 

from which warm winds come. This is a time of action, 

as represented by the winds of the South and the fire 

element. In acknowledging these deeper concepts of 

the seasons and how they align with the body and the 

Earth, we can find our own unique and personal ways 

of attuning to the season of Summer. 

One such example is music. Of course, a full seasonal 

cleanse, with its many protocols and disciplines, has 

deep healing qualities and provides a full hero version 

of alignment with the Earthly season. However, music 

provides a modern yet timeless alternative to the 

alternative medicine seasonal approach, specifically, 

playing musical instruments. 

As a clinical herbalist and longtime student and 

teacher of TCM, she stated that the season is not 

simply associated with certain herbs but that the 

Earthly season supports and has an affinity for certain 

medicine, movement, emotions, and energy. For 

example, hawthorn berries are a staple in TCM as a 

heart protector. Western medicine aligns with this 

finding by observing the polyphenols in hawthorn 

berries, which act as antioxidants, cleansing the 

blood of toxic free radicals. However, in following 

ancient medicine to its great depths, we find much 

more than this physiological benefit. 

Sometimes, understanding and communicating the 

heart can prove to be a prickly challenge laced with 

miscommunication and confusion. Words like happy, 

sad, or excited can name an emotion but may not do 

justice to the raw expression of that emotion. 

However, as Zach Pickens, lead guitarist of the Sioux 

City band Port Nocturnal, states, “Everyone has a song 

that makes them cry” and explains that music provides 

a resource for tapping into emotions and inner human 

experiences that beg for more than words as their 

deliverance. 

In TCM, Kathy explains 

that summer is a time 

to listen to the heart’s 

deepest desires, connect 

with what we love, and 

heal with love. The heart 

and the element of fire 

are associated with the 

emotion of purified joy 

and creation, so the 

summer season also 

supports working with 

family and intimate 

relationships. 

Kathy states that Native 

American medicine also 

acknowledges these 

Whole dried hawthorne 

berries can be a heart 

tonic in many forms. 

Pickens also provides an intuitive connection between 

his musical creative process and the true expression of 

the heart. “When I’m feeling something big, complex, 

or difficult and can describe that sonically, it allows 

me to fully feel, explore, and communicate it without 

confusing words to get it out there. Talking about my 

feelings doesn’t have the same effect.” 

According to Pickens, this ability to manifest genuine 

expression of his emotional life is further validated 

when he and his bandmates, Layne Medema (bass 

wizard/riff dealer) and Alex Rhymer, find themselves 

in their dark basement studio. “When we jam, each of 

us is allowed to play what we feel in real-time. One of 

us leads while the other two paint the canvas that’s 

been provided, playing to that feel, that vibe. It gives 

us a chance to understand each other without having 

to explain it.”

TCM teaches us many ways to take heart medicine, 

especially in its deeper themes that guide us in 

connecting with oneself and each other. By playing the 

music of the heart, we can find an adapted yet authentic 

version of music as medicine. 

For local sources of musical learning: 

Ray’s Midbell Music 

4230 S Lancelot Ln 

Sioux City, IA 51106 


Together in the basement as Port Nocturnal each 

counterpart contributes his own inner experience. 

Pickens’ observations support the microcosmic storm 

of electrical activity in his brain when he plays guitar, 

especially improvisationally in a jam. 

According to Anita Collins, doctor of Neuroscience 

and Music Education, playing a musical instrument 

creates many connections in the brain, including 

centers for movement, sensation, emotion, audition, 

and visualization. She says this develops the level 

of connection across the left and right hemispheres 

of the brain, strengthening the music player’s 

ability to marry creativity with precision, planning 

with improvisation, and language with emotion. By 

tapping many different areas of the brain, playing 

music becomes a way to connect the mind, body, and 

heart. The brain is the center of the central nervous 

system and communicates with every system of the 

body, primarily through the bioelectrical activity 

informing the rhythm of the heartbeat. Thus, learning 

a musical instrument would not only be in harmony 

with ancient heart medicine but also has support from 

more Western styles of medicine. 

Sioux City Conservatory of Music 

1309 Pierce St 


For a TED Talk on Music and 

the Brain with Dr. Anita Collins: 

TedxTalk - Anita Collins Music 

https://www.anitacollins.com/tedxtalk 

For an herbal consultation with 

Kathy Jensen, seasonal cleanse 

workshops or medicinal herbs: 

Mind & Body Connection 

1925 Geneva St. 


Emily Larson, Licensed Massage Therapist, Private 

Yoga Instructor, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology 

& Human Performance, Instructor of Anatomy and 

Pathology for massage therapy students at the Bio Chi 

Institute, and mother to Noah. 

Photo Credit Emily Larson. 

Pickens, Medema, and Rhymer unite in their basement 

studio once a week, inside cushioned walls that 

create a womb-like echo chamber, a macrocosm of 

the heart’s warm, electrical, pulsing inner ventricles. 

Medema creates a deep well of driving force bass 

tones as he explores ancient Raga scales, representing 

the walls of the heart, reverberating and constant. 

Pickens rips streams of color and emotion dark and 

deep, representing the flow of blood and energy as 

crashing, tympanic skins reinforce each sound, giving 

it clear meaning. Rhymer’s every strike represents 

the heartbeat, supporting the hallucinogenic, bluesexploring, 

grunge sound of the trio speaking their 

own language. This collaboration even stands to 

represent the different areas of the brain lighting up, 

coming together as one storm and true expression of 

the heart’s energy.

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Dare 2B Great 

By Cody Rininger 

Summer Is Around The Corner – Time To Get That Shred On 

The glorious drug, caffeine, is 

frequently used in pre-workout 

and fat-burning supplements 

to increase energy and focus. It 

improves mental alertness, memory, 

exercise performance, and fat burning. 

So why are they so popular in these 

supplements? 

Caffeine studies have shown 

enhanced peak torque and motor unit 

recruitment in lower and upper body 

muscle groups. The increase in energy 

allows individuals to produce more 

power (energy) to squeeze out extra 

reps. Muscle burns calories. Caffeine 

is a central nervous system stimulant. 

It works by stimulating the brain. 

There are also plant sources of 

caffeine, including kola nuts, guarana, 

Mexico Shred. 

and yerba mate. You will often see these 

last two ingredients when looking at a 

thermogenic (fat burner). Caffeine can 

be useful and, typically, most people’s 

best friend, but it is a drug. It can 

cause shakiness, agitation, decreased 

coordination, high blood pressure, and 

increased heart rate in extremely high 

doses. It should be taken with care and 

always assess tolerance. 

Nitric oxide is a compound that your 

body NATURALLY produces to relax 

blood vessels and improve blood flow. 

It contributes to “the pump.” The pump 

is when your muscles swell, caused by 

excessive blood. 

Some common compounds used to 

make nitric oxide are included in preworkout 

supplements. These include 

L-arginine, L-citrulline, and sources of 

dietary nitrates. L-citrulline is an amino 

acid found in meat, nuts, legumes, 

and watermelon. An example of how 

the pump powers growth is through 

oxygen. 

Increasing the delivery of oxygen-rich 

red blood cells to your starving muscles 

accelerates the speed at which your 

system is able to cleanse itself of muscle 

toxins, such as ammonia. It also may 

decrease muscle soreness due to the 

oxygen-rich blood cells. Nitric oxide is 

also crucial for the fat-burning process, 

as it facilitates the breakdown of fats. 

If nitric oxide levels are low, fat 

accumulation increases, leading to 

negative impacts on blood flow and 

2B Skull Supplements. 

heart health. Moreover, insufficient 

nitric oxide can result in a slow 

metabolism and hinder weight loss. 

So, that last part is critical for those 

reading, not necessarily interested in 

muscle building or fat burning. 

Nitric oxide production is essential 

for overall health because it allows 

blood, nutrients, and oxygen to travel 

to every part of your body effectively 

and efficiently. It offers heart-boosting 

effects, including reducing arterial 

stiffness, reducing blood pressure, 

and improving carotid artery blood 

flow. Limited nitric oxide production is 

associated with heart disease, diabetes, 

and a particular “male dysfunction.” 


Cody Rininger is certified by the National Academy of Medicine as a Professional Fitness Instructor. He is also certified in Cardiorespiratory 

Fitness, Heart Variance, Nutrition, Neuromuscular Flexibility, Supplements, and Mental/Behavior Performance. He incorporates techniques 

for concentration, focus, motivation, and coping with anxiety. He has been featured in National Fitness Magazines and has spoken 

on several national Podcasts. Prior to personal training, Cody received his Master’s in Instruction. He has first-hand experience with 

differentiating personalized instruction, planning, and goal setting. Cody brings his 2B Imperium training methods, knowledge, and 

experience to give clients the best overall experience, whether they have been exercising for years or are beginning their fitness journey. 

He was named 2022 Siouxland Trainer of the Year and is nominated for the 2023 Award. Cody trains at the Four Seasons in Sioux City and 

North Sioux City. 

Photo Credit Cancun Resort Photography. Photo Contributed by Cody Rininger.


Living Lumin 

Dr. Meghan Nelson & Dr. Ryan Allen 

Getting Schooled: Cultivating A Mindful Classroom 

We are all connected, we like to say. It doesn’t 

always feel that way, especially with my own children 

and those I serve. The force and frequency that so 

many of our young people operate with today has us 

all in a frenzy. The pace is too frantic. The energy out 

there can be just too much. 

In our work in the community, nowhere do we see 

these truths at play more than in our schools. Many 

kids today carry a heavy emotional weight in those 

backpacks to class each morning. Massive forces are 

reshaping the development and maturation in how 

all young people learn: a destabilization of family 

life, a lack of academic preparation, a decline in 

social-emotional learning, the absence of resiliency, 

an explosion of behavioral, intellectual, and physical 

disability diagnoses, and a rapid rise in mental health 

issues—we’re at a tipping point. And this was all even 

before Covid-19. Additionally, childhood trauma can 

negatively impact learning and behavior because of 

how terror and fear change the brain. Without trauma 

intervention, research has shown that these emotional 

states alter brain function and the young person’s 

ability to process information. 

It doesn’t have to be trauma, though. There are all 

sorts of barriers to learning—disabilities, environment, 

language acquisition, curriculum design, teacher 

disposition, the list goes on. Thus, those of us who 

hold leadership positions have a special responsibility 

to ensure that what we’re fostering is universal and 

accessible to all. To create equitable and inclusive 

classrooms and schools, it’s our job to co-create with 

our students, parents, and community the space for 

diverse voices and visions to flourish. 

One of my favorite places to practice all these virtues 

in action is Bishop Heelan’s Dual Language Academy. 

There’s a beautiful community of learning and care here, 

evidenced clearly in the closeness of bonds between 

teachers and students and amongst the students in 

the different classes. They belong to one another. They 

support one another. They pick each other up when 

someone gets knocked down, even if they are the 

ones who knocked them down in the first place (they’re 

kiddos, after all). They have challenges, and some of 

Laughing – Learning – Fun 

their students struggle pretty mightily, but there’s a lot of 

love in that building and clear communication between 

the adults. These aren’t always a given. 

One of the greatest lessons I learned from my time 

studying and serving with the Veterans Yoga Project years 

back is how the teacher/facilitator can help to shape the 

interpretation or meaning of internal states by: 

1. Focusing on breath and sensation 

2. Normalizing sensations and experiences 

3. Encouraging non-reactive awareness/acceptance 

4. Facilitating consciousness rotation throughout 

the body (body scanning) 

The constant test-taking in schools, over-committing in 

sports and clubs, and lessons out of school, coupled with 

a generally more disjointed home life and an over-reliance 

on technology is producing a generation of children who 

are missing golden opportunities to cultivate their critical 

thinking, communication, and resilience skills. And they’re 

screaming at us for help. 

When our schools listen and our teachers create safe,

mindful classroom spaces, we all feel the benefits. 

During the school year, our kids spend more time with 

their teachers each day than with their parents. There is 

power in time. Here are a few suggestions for how to 

use it wisely: 

1. Have fun. Rethink discipline. Emphasize play. 

2. Repeat #1 often. 

The closer an activity is to a game the more likely it is 

to be successful. Games allow us to forget that we’re 

learning because we’re having so much fun playing. 

Imaginative play empowers children to use physical, 

social, and intellectual skills. They develop focus, 

concentration, coordination, self-awareness, selfcontrol, 

and a trust in their creativity and problemsolving 

skills. 

Preschoolers finding and losing themselves. 


The physiological impact of fun and joy produces 

a coherent mind-body state and stimulates the 

production and secretion of positive mind-body 

regulating chemicals, such as dopamine, serotonin, 

and epinephrine that integrate and support all the 

systems of the body to function optimally and are vital 

to the growth and plasticity of the brain. And because 

the body is always keeping score (Van Der Kolk), when 

we play games, we allow ourselves to journey from 

body to bliss within the layers of our Being. The more 

we play, the better we feel, and the better we feel, the 

quicker and deeper we learn. 

A relaxing brain break. 

Play is essential to childhood development. Play is 

not a reward—IT IS A NECESSITY and taking play time 

or recess away almost always backfires. So, when in 

doubt, play a game. Change the momentum. Create 

a little confusion. When the flower doesn’t grow, we 

don’t blame the flower. We change the environment. 

We observe. We plan. We evolve as our understanding 

changes. We keep caring. We keep loving. 

Maybe the hardest thing for a more seasoned 

educator to do is to rethink discipline and to reframe 

the negative behaviors we experience more as bids 

for connection. The hour of the time out is ending, 

my friends; the era of the time in is here. Instead of 

thinking kids act out because they want attention, 

we understand that kids act out because they need 

attention. Instead of forcing time apart, disconnecting, 

and withdrawing, we cultivate time together, give 

attention, and foster connection. Instead of leaving a 

child to regain their regulated state on their own, we 

offer ourselves to help the child co-regulate back to 

stasis. Instead of being punitive, and shaming, and 

rejecting, we promote growth, self-empowerment, and 

acceptance. It’s time for all of us who love and serve 

kids to up our game, to go to school ourselves, and to 

look ourselves in the mirror. Loving that person is step 

one to serving the rest. 

The bell is ringing. Take a deep breath. Class is back 

in session. 

Lumin Therapy provides integrative health and education for the mind, body, and spirit to those who are suffering or struggling to step into and live 

their heartfelt mission and purpose. Through the practice of physical therapy, medical therapeutic yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and resiliency 

mentoring, Dr. Meghan Nelson, DPT, and Dr. Ryan Allen, PhD, bring more than 40 years of knowledge and experience serving individuals, families, 

and organizations to learn and heal and live without boundaries. 

Photo Credit Ryan Allen.

Siouxland Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 3

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