GIVE & GROW DSM

In the 3rd of 3 episodes featuring Children & Family Urban Movement (CFUM): Hear how one after-school program transformed the life of Michael Hardat — and why community-centered youth programs matter now more than ever. The conversation explores the importance of representation and access in education, and the urgent need for investment in Des Moines youth. Michael shares personal stories abou...

The 2nd of 3 episodes dedicated to Children & Family Urban Movement (CFUM): Host Siobhan Spain speaks with longtime community leader and philanthropist Nicky Schissel. As Board Chair, Reading Buddy and passionate advocate at CFUM, listeners will discover how donor engagement, volunteerism, and community partnerships fuel the mission of Children & Family Urban Movement. Nickey shares her in...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Children and Family Urban Movement: Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain sits down with Andy Bales, Executive Director of Children and Family Urban Movement(CFUM). With decades of experience serving people facing homelessness—including 20 years leading the Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row—Andy shares why he returned to Des Moines and what he’s learned about dignit...

In the 3rd of 3 episodes featuring Six Degrees of Separation Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain sits down with Osnel Vilmael—board member, donor, and beneficiary. Osnel shares his journey from growing up in rural Haiti without electricity or water to building a life and career in Des Moines. Learn how this experience fuels his commitment to expanding education access in his hometown of La Bich...

When people choose to support a nonprofit, what truly motivates them to give? For Six Degrees of Separation donor Andrea Joseph, the answer is trust, dignity, and meaningful impact. Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain sits down with Joseph to discuss what drew her family to the organization and why its mission resonates so deeply. For more than a decade, Six Degrees of Separation has been worki...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Six Degrees of Separation: Give & Grow DSM, host Siobhan Spain sits down with Jane Hemminger, co-founder of Six Degrees of Separation, to share how a failed relief effort after Haiti’s 2010 earthquake turned into a long-term mission to build a sustainable school system in the remote community of La Biche. What began as packaged hygiene supplies that never reache...

The 3rd of 3 episodes featuring Civic Music Association: Host Siobhan Spain speaks with Heather Nail, a passionate music educator and former Civic Music Association board member. Heather shared her journey with music and how Civic Music has enriched Des Moines for 100 years by making world-class performances accessible to all. Learn about the organization’s educational outreach, master classes wit...

The 2nd of 3 episodes featuring the nonprofit Civic Music Association (CMA): Host Siobhan Spain sits down with longtime Civic Music Association donor and community leader Susan Voss to explore what has sustained CMA for a century—and what will carry it forward. Susan reflects on her lifelong connection to music, her experience co-chairing CMA’s successful $2M capital campaign, and why variety, ris...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Civic Music Association: The nonprofit has been a cornerstone of Des Moines’ cultural life since 1925. In this episode of Give & Grow DSM, host Siobhan Spain sits down with CMA’s Executive Director Ashley Sidon to explore the organization’s rich history, its 100th anniversary season, and the future of world-class music in Central Iowa. Ashley shares her journey...

The 3rd of 3 episodes featuring Change Course: In this episode of the Give & Grow DSM podcast, host Siobhan Spain speaks with Pita Martinez, a graduate of Change Course, which is a free workforce development nonprofit in Des Moines. Pita shares her journey from addiction, domestic abuse, and homelessness to sobriety, job stability, and a career helping others. We are so grateful for Pita's...

The 2nd of 3 episodes featuring the nonprofit Change Course: Host Siobhan Spain talks with Mark Young, a former physician turned dedicated volunteer and donor with Change Course. Mark shares how he discovered the nonprofit, his journey from ally to career coach, and the deep impact volunteering has had on him. We discuss Change Course’s community-driven approach, financial transparency, and innova...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Change Course: In this episode of Give & Grow DSM, I sat down with Joseph and Karen Johnson, founders of Change Course in Des Moines. They shared how Joseph’s experience with incarceration inspired them to help others break cycles of poverty and reentry. We discussed the power of community, their unique curriculum, and the transformative journeys of participants...

The 3rd of 3 episodes featuring Community Support Advocates (teamcsa.org): GIVE & GROW DSM host Siobhan Spain speaks with Eden Sampaguita, a beneficiary Community Support Advocates and their Momentum Art Program. The conversation shares insight on how art can be a lifeline for individuals living with mental illness and disabilities, and how programs like Momentum are redefining what support, i...

The 2nd of 3 episodes featuring Community Support Advocates (teamcsa.org): GIVE & GROW DSM host Siobhan Spain speaks with Cara Kennedy-Ode, a passionate Community Support Advocates (CSA) board member and donor. Hear them discuss recent changes in Iowa’s behavioral health system, SNAP interruptions, and Medicaid uncertainties, and the impact on vulnerable populations. Cara explains CSA’s determ...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Community Support Advocates (teamcsa.org): GIVE & GROW DSM host Siobhan Spain speaks with Christina Smith, CEO of Community Support Advocates (CSA), about their vital work supporting Iowans impacted by mental illness and disabilities, as well as those experiencing trauma or a crisis. Christina shares her 27-year journey with CSA, describing how the organization...

The 3rd of 3 episodes featuring Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC): Give & Grow DSM Host Siobhan Spain sits down with Kimberley Strope-Boggus, Senior Advancement Director at the Young Women’s Resource Center, and her 11-year-old daughter Journey, who was adopted after time in foster care. We discuss Journey’s experiences with YWRC programs, her love of graphic novels, and the importance of c...

The 2nd of 3 episodes featuring Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC): Give and Grow Podcast, host Siobhan Spain interviews Suzanna de Baca — business leader, professor, and longtime supporter of the YWRC. Suzanna discusses her diverse career, the importance of the arts in leadership, and her commitment to philanthropy. They highlight YWRC’s recent revival of the iconic Planned Parenthood Book Sale...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC): Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain sits down with Rachel Woodhouse, executive director of Young Women’s Resource Center, to explore the organization’s nearly 50-year legacy of empowering girls and young women in Central Iowa. Learn details the YWRC’s free programs and the revival of the Planned Parenthood Book Sale. They dis...

The 3rdof 3 episodes featuring Skate DSM: Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain interviews nine-year-old Drew, an enthusiastic skateboarder involved with Skate DSM. Drew shares how he got started, his favorite tricks, and the supportive skateboarding community fostered by Skate DSM’s camps and lessons. He discusses skatepark etiquette, the importance of perseverance, and dreams of an indoor skate...

The 2nd of 3 episodes featuring Skate DSM: Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain interviews philanthropist Virginia Lauridsen about her involvement with the nonprofit promoting skateboarding in Des Moines. Virginia shares how her family helped launch the Lauridsen Skatepark and Skate DSM’s "Get On Board" project, which provides skateboards and helmets to local children. The discussion e...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Skate DSM: Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain sits down with Norm Sterzenbach, founder and president of Skate DSM, to explore how a grassroots non-profit is transforming the skateboarding landscape in Des Moines, Iowa. Learn their impact on community building and youth empowerment - and the nuanced challenges of running and fundraising for a mission-driven organ...

In the 3rd of three episodes featuring Mind & Spirit Counseling Center Give & Grow DSM podcast host Siobhan Spain sits down with Starr Hinrichs, a donor and beneficiary of the Mind & Spirit. This conversation is a powerful exploration of mental health, the journey toward healing, and the transformative impact of accessible counseling services. Starr’s story, marked by resilience, vulne...

The 2nd of 3 episodes featuring Mind & Spirit Counseling Center: Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain speaks with donor Michele Whitty. This conversation is a masterclass in the nuances of philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and the transformative impact of intentional giving. Drawing from Michele’s 25+ years in fund development and her personal journey with Mind & Spirit, she discusses...

The 1st of 3 episodes featuring Mind & Spirit Counseling Center: Give & Grow DSM host Siobhan Spain speaks with Executive Director Jim Hayes to discuss the nonprofit's holistic approach to mental health. They explore the integration of spirituality in therapy, financial accessibility for clients, and the growing demand for mental health services in Iowa, which faces workforce and resou...

The 3rd of 3 episodes featuring Joppa: Give & Grow DSM podcast host Siobhan Spain talks with Terry, who shares his journey through homelessness, health challenges, and recovery from addiction. Terry discusses the hardships he faced—including divorce, cancer, and living on the streets—and how support from organizations like Joppa helped him rebuild his life. The conversation highlights the impo...