Below the Median Income

Lesley Payne interviews Champagne about growing up in Des Moines, IA and finding poetry. She works with Movement515, as a mentor. The program is offered to students in Des Moines Public Schools. Students and mentors attempt to slow down the world and investigate themselves. They work toward becoming change agents, shedding light on the impact human emotion and connection brings to the global community. Movement515 is an urban arts community where, twice a week, students and mentors come together to create spoken word poetry.

Lesley Payne interviews Will Keeps about moving to Des Moines, Iowa and starting a movement. He founded Starts Right Here to make change for youth so they wouldn’t go through life without feeling cared for, loved, or being in a home where they don’t feel safe. Will found that his true God given abilities were helping others and empowering them to go down a better path…one he wishes he had the opportunity to go down when he was younger. He is actively working in his community as a mentor, activist, motivational speaker, and using his voice to write and produce songs as a way to reach out to children.

Lesley Payne interviews Courtney Smith about growing up in Iowa and working with Movement515 as a mentor. Movement515 is a program offered to students in Des Moines Public Schools. Students and mentors attempt to slow down the world and investigate themselves. They work toward becoming change agents, shedding light on the impact human emotion and connection brings to the global community. Movement515 is an urban arts community where, twice a week, students and mentors come together to create spoken word poetry and graffiti art.

Get an update on Courtney from Unashamed & Unapologetic: The Mental Health Podcast: Episode 1 & Episode 12

Lesley Payne interviews Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel about growing up in Iowa and working in Des Moines. He is the Executive Director of One Iowa. The organization advances, empowers, and improves the lives of LGBTQ Iowans statewide.

Lesley Payne interviews Tira about working in Des Moines. Tira is the Government Programs Coordinator at Broadlawns Medical Center. The organization has a longstanding history of attending to the medical needs of Polk County residents. With its origins dating back to 1903, the hospital was established to provide medical care for the indigent, and the same mission of service drives the hospital today. New programs, new services, and advanced medical expertise are constantly being added and updated to meet the evolving needs of Polk County for the highest quality healthcare.

Lesley Payne interviews Matthea about her life. Matthea is a Support Group Facilitator and Trainer for the State of Iowa with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The mental health organization is dedicated to building better lives for those affected by mental illness. The staff and volunteers work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

Lesley Payne interviews Montesha about her involvement with Movement515, a program offered to students in Des Moines Public Schools. Students and mentors attempt to slow down the world and investigate themselves. They work toward becoming change agents, shedding light on the impact human emotion and connection brings to the global community. Movement515 is an urban arts community where, twice a week, students and mentors come together to create spoken word poetry.

Lesley Payne interviews DeLayne Carrington about her life. DeLayne is the Event Director at Wildwood Hills Ranch of Iowa. The organization exists to transform lives and strengthen communities. The staff believes Iowa’s kids don’t have to fall through the cracks. They help close the gaps, changing cycles of dysfunction and impoverishment by offering healing, hope and God’s unconditional love to Iowa’s at-risk kids.

Lesley Payne interviews Anthony San about growing up in Des Moines, IA. He works with Turnaround Arts: Des Moines and RunDSM to share his break dancing skills with the students in Des Moines Public Schools. The organizations use arts education as a tool to help create improved conditions for learning in some of the most challenged schools in the city. Thank you for joining me Anthony.

Lesley Payne interviews Marlú Abarca about coming to Iowa and working as the Vice Chair of the Latino Affairs Commission, a part of the Office of Latino Affairs, which streamlines access to services offered by the State of Iowa. The commission is made up of seven Governor-appointed community members who volunteer their time to represent the Latino community in Iowa. During the week, you might find Marlú working as a Bilingual Services Library Assistant in the Des Moines Public Libraries. Through her position, she ensures that the Library is a welcoming environment that engages the community, celebrates culture, and promotes literacy.

Find Marlú on Facebook or LinkedIn