Siouxland Magazine - Volume 4 Issue 4

Volume 4, Issue 4
Starting Conversations
i n s i d e
We Want
to Hear
from
You
Send Your
Questions
to the
Experts
Ask the Therapist
Ask the Doc
Ask the Kids
Want to know what kids think?
They answered our questions.
SLM is a Dynamic &
Interactive Publication!
Are you connecting with our local
communication rockstars?
Art Doesn’t SUX
Check out the fabulous
local artists at ArtSUX.

COMING IN SEPTEMBER
WELCOMING
Alex Sarkisian
MD | Gastroenterology
A NEW SPECIALTY COMING SOON!
CNOS is excited to add Gastroenterology to our scope of
specialties with the arrival of Dr. Sarkisian in September
and additional GI physicians from Midlands Clinic joining
him in January. This will continue to improve the overall
health of the patients we care for.
We’re growing stronger together to serve the growing
needs of our community.
NEUROLOGY • NEUROSURGERY • ORTHOPAEDICS • PODIATRY
RHEUMATOLOGY • SPINE • DERMATOLOGY • GENERAL SURGERY
GASTROENTEROLOGY
605-217-2667 • CNOS.NET

Starting Conversations Podcast
With Stacie and Tony
New Episode Every Thrusday.
Download on iTunes or your favorite platform.
Presented by:

BeComing
Collaborating
CONTENTSConversing
ON THE COVER
Jackie Paulson (Ask the Therapist) & Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata (Ask the Doc)
Cover Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography
Nesrin is styled by Rooted Boutique
8-15 Ask the Kids
16-17 Ask the Therapist
18-19 Ask the Doc
20-21 Unlocking the Feet through Ancient Medicine
22-23 Living Lumin
24 People of Siouxland – Robert Iron Shell
25 Inclusive Peek – Yorda Abreha
27-38 Sioux City Progress Report
41 CommUNITY
42 Future Foundation – Siouxland GO
43 Leading the Way – Leadership Siouxland
44-45 Small Business Spotlight – ArtSUX
46-47 Nonprofit Spotlight – El Proyecto Dramatico
48-49 IWCI’s Business Feature – Brutal Doodles
51 Experience Downtown
53 Sioux City Scoop
54 The Pod Squad
55 Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
57 SBDC – Taking Care of Business
61 Breathe Yoga & Meditation
62-63 Up From the Earth

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 September issue? Contact us soon!
Deadline to reserve space is August 15th! 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.
Tony Michaels,
KSUX Morning
Show Host with
Candice Nash
Alex Watter,
Sioux City Council
Semehar
Ghebrekidan,
Community
Inclusion Liasion
Dr. Meghan Nelson,
Licensed Physical
Therapist, Professional
Yoga Therapist & Co-owner
of Lumin Therapy
Jetske Wauran,
People of
Siouxland -
Portraits of the
Extraordinary
Dr. Cyndi Hanson,
Writer
Mercy Oyadare,
Siouxland GO Marketing
Committee Member
Up from the
Earth Leadership
Team
Carly Howrey,
Business
Development
Coordinator for
Downtown Partners
Jackie Paulson,
Licensed Mental
Health Counselor &
Registered 500Hour
Yoga Instructor
Amy Buster,
Writer & Editor
Emily Larson,
Licensed Massage
Therapist & Private
Yoga Instructor
Todd Rausch,
SBDC Regional
Director at
WITCC
Kari Nelson,
Graphic Designer
Michelle Lessmann,
Writer
Peggy Smith,
Executive Director
for Leadership
Siouxland

Editors Note
Siouxland Magazine really is more than just a magazine!
The intention has always been and will continue to be, to start meaningful
conversations. I want to bring people together and get them talking. Through
dynamic discussion, we grow as individuals and thrive as a community.
In the last issue, I announced the collaboration between Powell Broadcasting and Siouxland Magazine
to create a new podcast: Starting Conversations with Stacie and Tony. Ever wonder what someone is
thinking? Do you ever find yourself struggling to understand someone else’s point of view? This podcast
sparks our inner curiosity and dives into conversations with local people, just like you. We are encouraging
people to get curious and lean in to join the conversation! Maybe you’d want to join us on a podcast? We
really do want community interaction. Reach out.
Siouxland Magazine / 7
That takes me to our amazing women gracing the cover. Jackie Paulson writes our Ask the Therapist
column and Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata writes the Ask the Doc column. What rockstars! They are doing their part
to support personal growth and wellness in our community. You can submit your questions to them, and
they will answer them anonymously. We can all learn from each other’s questions. Check out how to reach
them on their individual pages in the magazine.
We also have an annual initiative - this year focused on our youth. We have open meetings held at our
location on 4th Street. We highly encourage people to join these conversations focused on supporting
our kids. Stay up to date on meeting dates/times by following us on Facebook. We are planning a live
event in the fall to bring everyone together to share resources and offer support.
Lastly, Siouxland Magazine is hosting the John Maxwell Live2Lead event this October 7th! Talk about
a world-class-thought-leadership opportunity for our community. It aligns with our mission to provide
personal growth opportunities to individuals and strengthen our community.
What it comes down to, we want you involved. Let’s interact and thrive together.
Live2Lead is a leader development experience. Mark your calendars for October 7th to join John C. Maxwell.
For more information or to purchase event tickets, please go to: SiouxlandMagazine.com
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
Ask the Kids
We asked the kids,
“What questions do you think are important
for adults to ask teens?”
Here are their responses.
Are you okay?
What do you need
to be successful?
Keturah, age 14
Why do you do
the things you do?
What can I do to help you?
Do you have someone there
for you or looking
out for you?
Steven, age 16
Is life
always fair?
Peyton,
age 13
Are you really okay?
How are you truly feeling?
Do you need help
or need to talk
about anything?
Jordan, age 14
How are your
grades?
What have you
been doing?
Montana, age 15
What do you want
or need?
How do you feel in
certain situations?
What is your input?
How would you like things
to be done or changed?
Evelyn, age 17
Why be weak when
you can be strong?
Why do weed?
Kylar, age 16
How are you
feeling?
Imari,
age 14

Who do you
look up to in life?
What motivates you in life?
How do you deal
with your emotions?
Jamie, age 15
Josa, age 13
What do you enjoy most about school and why?
Lunch, because that’s when all my friends get to take a
break and hang out.
What would you change about school and why?
The class periods, how long they are. I would make them
shorter. Like 30 minutes long. It’s shorter so the class
isn’t long and gets boring. It’s a good time to learn and
process things in shorter periods.
What are some of the hardest things you have to
deal with?
Walking. My friends and me like to explore but we don’t
have a car to drive us or people to take us around.
Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 9
Are you using
Condoms?
Malachi,
age 17
What is your story?
What can I do to help
you with your situation?
What can I do to help
you be successful?
Germany, age 16
What makes you do
what you do in life?
Are you honestly
happy with your life?
How do you want
to earn money?
Tony
Who do you go to for advice?
Some of my closest friends.
Who do you trust more? Family or friends?
Friends. My friends treat me like family more. I love my
mom, but she just doesn’t understand what I’m going
through.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever gone
through?
I got in trouble and had to go to court. I was really scared,
and I felt really depressed and I was throwing up and
getting sick. I felt like my life was so weird at that time.
Who do you look up to?
Kai Cenat, a YouTuber who inspires me. He makes a lot of
videos and travels the world. I want to do that. I wish I was
really rich like him and could donate to charity.
What are some of your goals?
I want to have enough money to buy my own house, but
I want to buy my mom a house first. I want her to have a
better life before I have a good life.
What’s your dream job?
I want to rap or sing.
What advice would you give someone going into
middle school?
Your first year don’t be goofing around, I didn’t try my first
year and got behind on my grades. Take it seriously so it’s
not hard and you get behind.
What do you think the purpose of life is?
To succeed in life.
What is success?
When your life is better than average.
Do you think money = success?
Yeah…it depends on the career I guess.
Do you think if you have a lot of money and are
sad are you successful?
If you’re living good yeah, but if not, I guess not.

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 10
Ask the Kids
Tiala, age 14
What is one piece of
advice you would give
an adult?
You were born to be real
not perfect.
Describe what a perfect day
looks like to you.
Going to the carnival with my friends.
What do you think the purpose of life is?
The purpose of life is to find your passion and to
succeed with your dreams.
Ashlyn, age 11
What do you love about yourself?
My hair
What do you enjoy most about school and
why?
I enjoy hanging out with my friend and I am kind
of shy, so I try to communicate more.
What is you biggest fear and why?
Talking to people. I’m trying to be more talkative.
Who do you trust?
My Mom.
How do you (or can you) make a difference
at school, home, or your community?
I feel like I already made a difference at the school
because I spoke at the Anti racist ted talk.
What is a goal you have in life?
Never to lose my passion, my passion is music.
What is a goal you have in mind?
To talk more and to get better grades.
What advice do you have for someone
getting ready to enter high school?
Focus a lot.
Keigan, age 12
What do you do when you are
struggling?
Sleep.
Do you feel normal when you compare
yourself to others around you?
Yes.
Do you feel safe and supported at
school or home?
Yes.
Who do you trust the most?
My parents.
Who do you go to for advice?
My parents.
Hector, age 17
What do you think the purpose of life is?
To have fun, reproduce and then die.
What is a goal you have in life?
Not to be miserable.
Describe what a perfect day looks like to you.
When everything goes right.
What is one piece of advice you would give
an adult?
Being an adult doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun.
People say that adults who do fun things are immature,
they are misinterpreting fun for immaturity.
What advice do you have for someone leaving
middle school getting ready to enter high school?
Don’t procrastinate, get good grades, and have fun.

Thijin, age 13
Have you experienced
being bullied? How did
you deal with that? Did
you tell anyone? Why or
why not?
I have experienced bullying for
about 3 ½ years. I tried to ignore them, but it got
to me. I didn’t tell anyone, it felt like if I told they
wouldn’t believe me or would think it wasn’t as bad
as it was.
Do you have to deal with clicks or the
“popular circles” at school? How does this
make you feel?
Yes. I was an unpopular kid. They made me feel
worthless and underappreciated.
Have you ever felt like you had to say yes to
be someone’s boyfriend/girlfriend, if
so, why?
Yes, my friend pressured me into dating them. Then
they broke it off. I really didn’t even like them.
What are some of the hardest things you
have to deal with every day?
Bullying, my thoughts, depression, and anxiety.
There’s a lot.
What are some of the insecurities that you
deal with as a teenager?
Sexuality and body image. There’s a lot that I
struggle with.
Collin, age 16
Have you ever felt scared to be yourself?
No.
Who do you go to for advice?
My Dad.
What motivates you to go to school every day?
College, because I plan on going to college.
Savana, age 18
Who is someone you look up to and why?
My great grandma, she’s always been there for me and
I can always look up to her.
What do you enjoy most about coming to
Siouxland YFC’s City Life Program?
The connections I make with the people there. I can
trust the people there.
If you could re-do anything in life what would it
be and why?
Not make so many mistakes, like criminal mistakes. I
made a reputation of myself. I wasn’t thinking straight
when I did it and I regret what I did now.
What is the purpose of life?
Everyone has a different purpose in life. I feel like mine
is to help people. I want to be someone that people
can always talk to, to trust me when they’re going
through tough times, to be someone you don’t have to
be scared of.
What is your dream job?
Math teaching. I enjoy math and working with kids.
Have you ever been bullied? How did you react
to that?
Absolutely. I reacted badly, we got into an argument
and fought. I felt sad, and mad in general when I was
bullied.
How has your mindset changed since being
bullied?
When I see someone getting bullied I step up and I’m
not a bystander. When I see someone upset I stop and
talk to them even if I don’t know them.
When have you felt most accomplished?
Graduating High School because I never thought I
could.
Would you consider yourself “normal?” What is
“normal?”
No, I’m not normal. I’m not scared to be who I am. I
like to be weird. “Normal” means introverted and I’m
outgoing.
What’s the best thing that’s happened to you/ a
time you felt special?
Asking to share my story live at Siouxland Youth
for Christ’s event. I got to share my story and see
everyone’s reaction and people came up and said my
story moved them.
Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 11

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 12
Ask the Kids
Camdyn
Age: 16
Wellbeing
What are you most
confident about?
I am most confident about
my intelligence.
What do you do when you are
struggling? Or who do you turn to?
When I am struggling, I try to work through things.
Challenges
Have you ever felt too scared to be yourself?
I have felt scared to be myself plenty of times with
lots of different people. It is natural to be scared
to be yourself. I wish it wasn’t natural, but it is.
What are some things you would change
about school?
I would try and make it a more bully-free zone.
Have you been a bystander of someone
else being bullied? Did you engage? Want
to engage? Why/why not?
Yes, I have been a bystander. I chose to engage
and tell the bully to stop. I engaged because I
have also been bullied.
Support
What are the top three qualities you look
for in a friend?
Loyal, kind, and well-meaning.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
I look up to Jesus. He is the perfect example for
humans to follow.
What do you enjoy most about coming
to Mayor’s Youth Commission/Young
Ambassadors?
I enjoy the friendships I have made and developed
from Mayor’s Youth Commission.
Purpose/Future
What is a goal you have in life?
I would like to be in a political office.
How do you (or can you) make a difference
at school, home, or your community?
I can make a difference by being active in things
going on in my community.
What is one piece of advice you would give
an adult?
Look ahead to the future, don’t be afraid to protect
and defend the future from those wanting to make
the world a worse place for the future.
Sam, age 14
If you could redo
anything in life, what
would it be?
I would redo the
8th grade because
I’m going to miss my
principal.
What motivates you to get up for
school each day?
Video games after school. Overwatch, I want to
make it to the championships.
What is a goal you have in life?
Become a professional video game player
in Overwatch or become a policer officer
or S.W.A.T.
Describe what a perfect day looks like
to you.
When I have a Mt Dew code red, my overwatch
game and snap chat.
What do you look forward to at school?
Becoming an E-sport Champion in high school,
it’s a video game program.

Lawren
Age: 17
Wellbeing
What are you most confident about?
I am most confident in my ability to adapt to new
situations.
What do you do when you are struggling?
Or who do you turn to?
When I am struggling it is usually because I am
overwhelmed with school, and I tend to turn to my
dad. He somehow always knows what to say and
helps me focus on one thing at a time.
Support
What are the top three qualities you look
for in a friend?
The top three qualities I look for in a friend are
humor, loyalty, and kindness.
Dan, age 14
What do you dislike
about yourself?
That I think I’m fat.
What are some
of the insecurities
that you deal with as a
teenager?
The way I look and how I dress.
What are some things you would change
about school?
Rules and the summer school laws. I’d like to do
it in just 31 days and pass.
Do you feel safe/supported at school? At
home?
Yes. I feel welcomed at school, and I can be
myself at home.
Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 13
What do you enjoy most about coming to
Mayor’s Youth Commission?
The thing I enjoy most about being in Mayor’s
Youth Commission is the community the group
offers and how all the kids involved are committed
to making a difference.
What are your fears at school, what do
you think when you’re at school?
Bullying. I fear that in high school people can
actually hurt you or beat you up.
Purpose/Future
What is a goal you have in life?
The main goal I have in life is to be my family’s
main source of income.
What is one piece of advice you would give
an adult?
I would remind them to remember that their
childhood was much different than ours and some
teens are under a lot of pressure.

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 14
Ask the Kids
Elizabeth
Age: 17
Wellbeing
What are you most
confident about?
I am most confident about
the people around me. I know
my friends and family will be there
for me when I need it most.
What do you do when you are struggling? Or
who do you turn to?
When I am struggling with something, I always go
and talk to someone who could relate or support me.
I most often turn to my mom and dad. Sometimes it’s
nice to talk to someone closer to my age like my sister
and friends as well.
Challenges
Have you ever felt too scared to be yourself?
I do not think I ever actually felt scared to be myself.
Sometimes I reflect on my actions and decide whether
I was being too crazy or not.
What are some things you would change
about school?
I think I would change the amount of work. If we could
limit busy work and only focus on the important work,
then that extra time could be spent reflecting and
clearing our conscience. People need to take care of
their mental and physical health.
Have you been a bystander of someone else
being bullied? Did you engage? Want to
engage? Why/why not?
I have been a bystander of someone getting bullied.
I did really want to engage and almost did, but I was
very hesitant. I think I was nervous how everyone
would react; I did not know if they were going to
bully me. Looking back, I wished I would have stood
up for the person being bullied because they do not
deserve that kind of hate.
Support
What are the top three qualities you look
for in a friend?
I look for someone who is honest. Someone who
wants to see me. I also look for someone who is
willing to be open and understanding.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
I look up to my mother and father. They are here for
me when I need them and offer any advice they may
have. They also take interest in what I am doing.
What do you enjoy most about coming to
Mayor’s Youth Commission?
I enjoy the volunteer opportunities. I get to go out
of my comfort zone and experience new things.
I sometimes volunteer places that I would have
otherwise not volunteered at if I was not in Mayor’s
Youth Commission.
Purpose/Future
What is a goal you have in life?
My goal in life is to show my art to the world! I
want to create art that makes people happy; I want
them to have a good laugh when they see my art. I
also want to support others and our world to keep
it as clean and friendly as possible. I want my life
to be fun and I want to experience new things.
How do you (or can you) make a difference
at school, home, or your community?
I make a difference at my school by volunteering
at our food pantry. I also used to work on the
recycling for our school. I help lead the crosscountry
team at my school to become the best
team we can be! When I am at home, I make sure
to recycle anything I can. I help neighbors and hear
what others have to say. I help in my community by
leaving the area I have been in cleaner than what it
originally looked like.
What is one piece of advice you would give
an adult?
One piece of advice I would give to an adult would
be to find the best in everything. Always give time
for yourself because you are important.

Kamryn
Age: 13
Wellbeing
What are you most
confident about?
My schoolwork.
Purpose/Future
What is a goal you have in life?
As a recent goal, I would like to make student
council in 9th grade.
Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 15
What do you do when
you are struggling? Or who do you turn to?
I turn to my teachers, my counselor, and my
friends.
Challenges
Have you ever felt too scared to be yourself?
Yes.
What are some things you would change
about school?
I wish I had all classes with my friends.
Have you been a bystander of someone
else being bullied? Did you engage? Want
to engage? Why/why not?
Yes, people have said some bad things about my
friends. I would let that friend know, but I would
also tell that person to not say something like that
because it’s not right to treat people that way.
Everyone is struggling with something.
Support
What are the top three qualities you look
for in a friend?
Nice, funny, and helps anyone when in need.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
Anyone that teaches me anything really because
they teach me how to be better.
What do you enjoy most about coming to
Mayor’s Youth Commission?
I like that we get to do fun things and get to help
out around Siouxland.
How do you (or can you) make a difference
at school, home, or your community?
By helping out where needed and treating
everyone with kindness.
What is one piece of advice you would give
an adult?
If there’s one piece of advice I can give you or
anyone it’s this- if there is something in life you
really want, fight for it, don’t give up no matter how
hopeless it seems.
Sophia, age 12
If you could redo
anything in life,
what would it be?
Getting into trouble
at school but make it
better than before.
What is a goal you have in life?
Keeping my promise to my grandma that I
would do better in life.
How do you (or can you) make a
difference at school, home, or your
community?
By being the best me I can be.
What is one piece of advice you would
give an adult?
Even when times are rough it just means that
something there is waiting, you just have to get
through the tough times first.
What do you think the purpose of life is?
To experience what it’s like to have people
that care about you.

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 16
Ask the Therapist
By Jackie Paulson
Send Your
Questions
to the
Therapist.
watching everything happening in our world, the never-ending
violence and divisiveness, it feels like it won’t stop. I am feeling
Q:“In
overwhelmed. What can I do?”
Dear Reader,
We are going through an intense portal of change.
How overwhelming it can be to see the deep shadow
of our country emerge. As painful as it is, seeing it
in its totality is imperative to the changes that are
so desperately needed. The key is to do this in a
compassionate way in our ability to maintain regulation
in the process. If we are going to maintain our energy
for what it is going to take to truly rebirth a new way
of being in this world - one that is conscious, loving
and in service to the whole - will require sustainability.
Going into the Dark
Throughout thousands of years, across cultures,
story has been a powerful way to process difficult
life material, to make sense of what can seem so
insane. There is a Sumerian story about the Goddess,
Inanna. In the story, Inanna had to fall from grace,
meet the darkest aspects of herself and die in total
helplessness before she could emerge back into the
light - transformed forever. When she returned, she
ruled with more consciousness and love than ever
before, not just from unconscious greed and desire.
Death requires us to wake up. It is the ultimate
transformer. How many people heal decades of
anger and resistance in the moment before they
pass? Death can cause immense grief and trauma;
and it is often that which brings people onto their
knees and into their hearts. What I am asking of you
here, is to not look away from what we all often fear
the most - the pain of death, the vulnerability and
deep self-reflection that transformation requires.
The Journey Back into the Light
Each of us were born into this world helpless. The
experience of being an infant, totally at the mercy of
our caretakers. We see at the core of much of our daily
resistance is a fight against feeling that way again. We
want to control and hold on. We want to fix, fight, and
run away from that which feels too vulnerable to pain.
The invitation, though, is for you to stop, turn and look
towards those feelings, just as Inanna did with her own
death. Only she could face her own shadow, but she
was never alone in the process. In one version, her
sisters come to sing to her as she lay helpless on a hook
in the pit of Hell. In another, some allies come to help
resurrect Inanna directly by her shadowed side coming
into a place of total accountability and reparation.
Sometimes we need to sing ourselves into hope and
other times, it requires an epic surrender and admitting
where we have gone wrong and what we really need
to do to make it right. Love can prevail. But only if we
can truly welcome the pain in the process and make way
for what it is teaching us. To face the devastation with a
courageously open heart and say, I’m here now in this
and I am open to change.
Giving Change a Chance
What is occurring in our world requires an existential
awakening so deep that forces beyond our current
understanding need to be called forth in order to face,
surrender and act in the wake of such death. It requires
an outrageous strength to be initiated into this level
of change, for us to not buckle under the pressure of

feelings of helplessness, darkness, and death. To
accept the need that we do actually need each other.
To not be the victim, but to rise to people we are meant
to be.
We are being called to come together in this collective
dying process. Some literally die in the process. We
are being called to wake up. To be pushed out into
the world and see what needs to be done. To carry the
innocent in our arms with such delicacy knowing that
they are at the mercy of the greater powers that be. We
are being asked to call those in that seat of power into
full accountability so that we can finally rise into the
humanity that we know we are. We are being asked to
give change a chance. To be vulnerable, to face what
we fear most and walk together towards transformation.
No one is alone in this. We must remember that we are
one cosmic body, together and no one is beyond the
consequence of each individual choice that is made in
this experience. The impact we have through the way
we live our daily life, the impact of our words, what we
choose to share, support, express. Can you slow down
so much that you see what you yourself are avoiding?
It is only then that we can trust that we are moving from
a place of truth - not fear.
Now What?
Breathe, focus, and stay open to the process - including
the pain. And when the time comes - push forward.
This is what mothers are invited to do in the birthing
room. The child itself is being squeezed into new
life. You are birthing yourself and we are birthing our
future. Resistance toward ourselves and each other
will only keep us stuck. We focus on what we want to
come moving forward and how we will literally be a
part of the change we wish to see. To know what it
is your heart is calling requires going down into your
own darkness and resurrecting the truth from the
unseen shadows that even you are holding inside.
This starts inside your own being - addressing your
own internal tensions. Remember why you are here
and what you are truly wanting to create. I doubt it is
war and violence. A majority of the collective, when
willing to truly surrender beyond our shadows of the
past hurts, will see what we want is the same. Love,
Unity, and Freedom for all. Then bring that out into
the world, become it, practice it in your friendships,
families, and work, see it put into action by those that
hold the power. Advocate for those who are lost in
this process. Step up to the initiation and take care
when you can. Sing and be sung to. Let death wake
you up, PROFOUNDLY. Don’t wait a moment longer.
Helplessness can turn into Hope and death is not
always for nothing but can be for all that is to come.
With love,
Jackie
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 / 17

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 18
Ask the Doc
By Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata
Send Your
Questions
to the
Doctor.
Q:
My tween spends most of her time on her smartphone and has no
interest in hanging out with her family. Even when she is sitting with
us, she is constantly scrolling through her phone and doesn’t engage.
When we take away her phone so that she can have supper with us, she
cannot sit still, gets agitated, constantly stares at the clock waiting for
the one hour to be up to go back to her phone. She has even voiced
being suicidal, got into fights with us, and told us that she doesn’t
love us and wants to run away when we take away her phone. What
is happening to our 12-year-old? Her grades dropped. Her constant
argument is, “Mom, dad, you don’t know what it’s like being 12 years
old and phoneless! It’s a death sentence!”
Dear Reader,
You have every reason to be
alarmed. These devices are quickly
changing childhood. You are not
the only parents feeling helpless
in the face of technology and the
negative impacts it is having on
your daughter. But you can do
something about it.
Smartphones are Addictive
Smartphones are intentionally
designed to target the reward
area in the brain and its chemical
messenger pathways which affect
decisions and sensations. When
someone experiences something
rewarding (or uses an addictive
substance), neurons in the
principal dopamine producing
areas in the brain are activated
and dopamine levels rise. Thus,
the brain receives a “reward” and
associates the drug or activity with
positive reinforcement.
When an individual gets a
notification, the brain receives a
rush of dopamine and sends it
along the reward pathway causing
the person to feel pleasure. The
more notifications the person gets,
the brain gets rewired to seek
more similar stimulus and thus
positive reinforcement to recreate
the same pleasurable feeling.
To further complicate matters,
the brain reward center is most
active when people are talking
about themselves. And thus in
social media, people post about
themselves, what they are thinking
or doing, perpetuating the cycle.
Another tool that social media uses
to encourage constant engagement
and to promote behavior that will
reinforce engagement is “infinite
scrolling.” As the user continues
to scroll down, new content shows
up and the user doesn’t take a
break from it, and perpetually
continues to scroll down and is
constantly bombarded with new
content that he/she keeps scrolling
through without an innate ability or
awareness to break the cycle and
take a break from it. If the person
does take a break from scrolling
down, then this may result in
anxiety that is known as “Fear of
Missing out” (FOMO), which is
likely what your daughter deals
with during dinner time when you
take away her phone from her.
You may have noticed the
automatic reels that play on your
Facebook page or Instagram. That
is another way of engaging the
reward center in the brain. Let’s
just say that the “autoplay” feature
shows you videos that you are not
interested in watching. You are
forced to engage with it, because
you have to pay attention to it in
order to stop it. If the autoplay
feature didn’t exist, you wouldn’t
have to stop and go out of your
way to avoid engaging with the
content.

The Impact of Social Media on
Mental and Physical Health
About 27% of children who spend
three hours or more a day on social
media show symptoms of poor
mental health. Excessive social
media is correlated with anxiety,
depression, impulsivity, and ADHD.
People, and especially children,
tend to become psychologically
dependent on social media, similar
to how people become physically
dependent on substances.
Adolescents who habitually use
social media have severely stunted
social interaction skills. Despite
adolescents interacting with each
other online, this doesn’t translate
well to the real world. In fact, such
adolescents tend to have worsening
social anxiety in groups, higher
rates of low self-esteem, negative
body-image, and lower levels of
empathy and compassion towards
others. The constant bombardment
of perfect filtered photos also leads
to disordered eating. The constant
competition for attention of likes
can also result in cyber bullying.
ability in language reasoning and
thinking.
Relationships also suffer as a result
of social media use, especially
between parents and their
children. Children also shift their
attention to online and become
less interested in investing in
personal relationships with friends
in real life.
A Digital Detox
Consider doing what is known as
a “digital detox.” It doesn’t have
to be completely stopping using
social media, but rather being
intentional about creating a break
from it for a certain amount of time.
That being said, consider starting a
conversation with your adolescent
about what they think of their
social media use. In addition, lead
by example, by reflecting on your
social media use, and the length
and type of break you are willing to
take from social media use.
Some questions you may ask your
teen are:
As you embark on this journey
with your teen, remember to be a
role model and reward your teen
for any tech free moments. You
are helping rewire their brain and
create a different reward pathway.
You can submit your questions
f o r “A s k t h e D o c t o r ” t o
drnesrinabuata@gmail.com.
Please put “Ask the Doctor” in the
subject line.
Dr. Abu Ata is a board-certified
psychiatrist and family medicine
physician in private practice, providing
holistic care for the mind, body, and
spirit in the context of personal growth
and relationships. Offers a mindfully
cultivated practice of presence and
expertise. Her healing practice draws
on her mindfulness, yoga, family
medicine, and integrative psychiatry
training to weave a unique tapestry
supporting your YOU-nique journey.
Connect at www.nesrinabuatamd.
com or drnesrinabuata@gmail.com.
Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 19
In a study done by the National
Institute of Health, children who
spend an excessive amount of
screen time have premature thinning
of the cortex, which processes
information relayed through the
five senses. Furthermore, smart
phones impact the quality and
quantity of sleep. Children and
adolescents are restless when they
don’t have access to messages at
night and so may not sleep through
the night or may wake up at night
to check their smartphones.
Disrupted sleep results in poor
health outcomes, such as obesity,
a weakened immune system, and
stunted growth.
The Impact on Relationships
and Academics
Learning how to manage time,
projects, and homework are
skills that children learn. Having
distractions, such as social media,
hinders them from learning these
skills and thus impacts their
academic performance. Relaying
on social media, along with being
distracted by it, results in poor
• How is their sleep impacted after
they look at their screen? And talk
about how lack of sleep impacts
anyone in general, but also you
and your teen specifically.
• How have their relationships
been impacted by constant social
media use? How do they feel
when they are with a friend who
is constantly on their screen?
• What are they missing out in real
life by constantly being on social
media?
• Do they feel in control of their
online activity? If they feel like
their use is too much and they
want to decrease it, you may
talk to them about deleting
certain apps or switching off
their notifications. You may also
encourage them to use a timer,
so that when the designated time
to use the internet is up, the timer
goes off, then they start working
on their other tasks. They may
also consider putting their phone
on do not disturb mode.
Resources
Waituntil8th.org
Reset Your Child’s Brain
Untethered
Technological Addictions

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 20
Unlocking the Feet through Ancient Medicine
By Emily Larson
Feet. We stand our ground on them. We travel with
them, anywhere from home to the sea, and eventually
Mars. We wiggle baby toes, massage our tired “dogs,”
have strange obsessions, and they are the foundation of
our vertically aligned body. Some alternative medicine
practices tell us that our feet have connections to our
internal organs.
It all began with ancient medicine and records. Papyrus
records and drawings on tombs in ancient Egypt show
illustrations of hand and foot treatments from as early
as 2300 BC. Later records, from around 1,000 BC, in The
Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, describe
the “Foot Method.” It is said to have been written by
the famous and somewhat mythical Chinese emperor,
Huangdi, but it could also be a compilation of authors.
In some of these ancient medicinal practices, such
as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), practitioners
were able to develop complex diagnostics with no
modern medical technology, including reading the
pulse (even though they may not have understood
exactly how the pulse is related to the heart and
heartbeat) and observing markings on the tongue,
all while taking into consideration the season, time
of day, and sex of the patient. TCM even describes
rivers of vital energy running throughout the body,
similar in concept to our blood vessels and nerve
vessels. Ancient medicine developed almost
mysteriously effective techniques using connections
they built with this approach. This style of medicine
reverberated through time and has even made its
way to more modern forms of medicine, specifically,
through the feet.
Dr. William Fitzgerald developed a sort of adapted
and expanded version of the Foot Method in the
early 1900s called Zone Therapy. He observed five
zones running vertically along the length of the
body, head to toe. Zone one has its pathway along
the thumb, through the center of the body to the big
toe. Zone two follows suit, running the length of the
body, second finger to second toe. Zones 3-5 follow
the same pattern, forming connections between the
toes and their corresponding fingers.
Dr. Fitzgerald observed that putting pressure within
the same zone as an injury could help alleviate the
resulting pain. For example, pain from an injury
at the inside of the knee could be alleviated by
applying specific pressure to the arch of the foot
or the inner thigh. This form of whole-body therapy
rippled into the development of the horizontal
zones of Dr. Shelby Riley’s research and eventually
the Reflexology maps we see today.
Eunice Ingham, a physical therapist, studied under
Dr. Riley and spent much of her academic career
diving into research and experiments regarding zone
therapy. This inspired her own research in the 1930s
which came full circle back to ancient medicine and
a key to the body it provided: the feet.
Ingham’s experiments involved applying pressure
within specific areas of the foot. This sparked the
development of her foot maps that show specific
areas of the foot reflecting specific organs of the
body. These findings refined Fitzgerald and Riley’s
Reflexology techniques typically involve deep specific
pressure.

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 21
Maps of the original Ingham method show intuitive
connections between foot and body.
research, as Ingham observed that specific work
in the foot could help alleviate pain related to the
corresponding organ, not just anywhere along an
entire zone running the length or width of the body.
For example, working along the area of the foot
corresponding to the colon could help alleviate pain
from irritable bowels. This integrative approach is the
major influence for Reflexology in practice today (and
may be influencing your pedicure, as there are even
a few nail salons in Siouxland that offer some of that
deep Reflexology-style foot work. And sometimes
wine!).
Dr. Fitzgeralds Zone Therapy paved the way for
reflexology zones specific to-the feet.
The foot methods of ancient civilizations in Egypt
and China have withstood the test of time even
though they lacked modern medical technology.
Their introduction of a whole-body approach used
an in-depth understanding of the vast and seemingly
endless connections throughout our bodies. Also,
their complex system of diagnostics still offers
perspectives on health and healing practices today,
particularly regarding the feet: the foundation of our
soul home, our body, and our center of contact with
the world.
Emily Larson, Licensed Massage Therapist, Private
Yoga Instructor, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
& Human Performance, Co-Teacher of Anatomy for
massage therapy students at the Bio Chi Institute,
mother to Noah.
Photo Credit Aurora Adams, left page. Photo
Credit Emily Larson, right page.

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 22
Today, a journey begins.
It’s been happening for years, but
like many things, I’ve been too
afraid to share. Now I know this
cannot wait. And now, I accept
that I can’t wait for it to come out
perfect.
Today, I took a long look down a
winding path. And when I fix my
gaze, I learn by looking—that this
path is leading me to where I’ve
been all along, to where I spend
the most time, but unfortunately
probably recognize the least,
the path in my past where I’ve
logged millions of moments wildly
running away from it.
Today, I come home to myself,
and I read the book that is my
life simultaneously as I write and
revise it.
Today, I come humbly to some
important truths, bowing before
Living Lumin
By Meghan Nelson & Ryan Allen
the forces that have shaped my
journey thus far. I look into my
past, and now, with a deep breath
in and out, I let it go. I let go of all
the moments I wasn’t the person
I wanted to be. I let go of all the
times I quit because things were
too hard. I let go of the noise and
seek a silence—a quiet both heavy
and dark, a silence that is also
full of light. I enter into a dream I
can control. I enter into this thing
called my choice.
So, now I make these choices. I
choose that my meditation is God
speaking to me. I choose that my
whole life is an act of creation. I
choose that my heart is open and
ready to receive. I choose that my
will is stronger than my thoughts.
I choose that my will is the me
behind my thoughts. I choose that
my mind will take me far, but my
soul is without bounds. I choose
that my thoughts are not me and
that they too will pass. And lastly, I
choose that the eternal me, who I
am, will never go away.
And here, in this place of quiet,
I look inward, and I feel a great
glow:
You don’t have a soul, I hear, you
are a soul, you have a body.
And I feel that I am everything I
need to be. I retreat into my Self. I
stand atop the mountain within my
Himalayan peak. I am being. I am
consciousness. I am joy. I fill what
is empty. I empty what is full. I am
light. I am love. I am life. I am alive
in the present moment.
And this present is a present, so
I unwrap the gift of awareness of
the infinite now.
I am free.
I’m finding myself speaking these
words a lot to my Self a lot these
days. It’s like I keep hearing
the lines from the Jesus Christ
Superstar rock opera song, “I
Don’t Know How To Love Him”:
“Could we start again, please?
I think you’ve made your point
now. You’ve even gone a bit too
far to get the message home.” Of
course, the ‘you’ I’m talking to is
me. It’s my Source, the Divine from
within. And what I’m coming to
learn is that the harder I strain to
listen, the more difficult it is to hear.
Like so many, I’ve been trained to
grind, to whittle problems down to
the nub, to work so hard, and to
struggle.
In other words, to fake it till I make
it.
Katie and Nathan Jones leaning into love.

And it’s worked kind of, mostly,
okay, not really. At least not as well
as it could. I guess what I’m saying
is that I’m getting pretty worn-out
toiling in the minor leagues. It’s
like when you’re tuning your radio
and you get close to the right
station, but not quite. That’s what
life has been like—I can hear the
words, but there’s still too much
static to feel them. I keep climbing
the mountain, but when I reach
the peak, I don’t feel the elation I
expected. Or it’s so temporary. Or
I just see another mountain.
Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 23
Just when I figure everything out,
I blink, and life changes. Thank
God!
Maybe what’s different now is the
awareness that I will only get so
far from climbing. Or accepting
the grace we can gain from
acceptance. One of my favorite
visualizations in a Yoga Nidra
practice is when the guide leads
you to the edge of the cliff, looks
back, and then says, “Follow me.”
And then the guide walks off the
edge and into the abyss. And this
makes me think of my favorite
scene from the Indiana Jones
movies. In the third installment
of the series, The Last Crusade
(1989), there’s the part where, to
reach the Holy Grail, Indiana must
cross an invisible bridge across a
Finn Kuehl hopping for hope
and fun.
Mia Dieffenbach leaping into life.
great chasm that doesn’t exist. So,
he puts his hand on his heart and
affirms to himself that this crossing
requires a “leap of faith.”
Maybe that’s what’s happening
now. We’re at this kind of threshold
that requires us to leap forward
out into the unknown. To be
vulnerable. To trust the universe,
our God, our Source within, one
another. It’s an iffy proposition, I
know. We let each other down so
often. We disappoint ourselves
sometimes the most. Yet, this is our
work. No, what I mean to say is that
this is our practice. I can hear Billy
Crystal now, “Yeah, yeah, that’s the
ticket.”
And when we jump, we may fall.
We may not always land where
our two eyes are looking, but if we
can trust the course of the one eye
gazing within, our Source, we will
always see what we need to see.
So, this is our practice, my friends—
to lean into the wind, to soften
the resistance, and to tune and
calibrate to our most mystical,
divine frequency. And when we
get there we’ll finally learn that
it’s been here inside us all along.
Brothers and sisters, we are all
the holiest of instruments. I can’t
wait to hear the togetherness of
the collective chorus of our most
spiritual jam!
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 their over forty-plus combined
years of knowledge and experience
serving others to learn and heal and
live without boundaries.
Photo Credit left page Ryan Allen.
Photo Credit right page Katie Jones,
top and Meghan Nelson, left.

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 24
Robert Iron Shell
By Jetske Wauran
Robert Iron Shell knows what it’s like to live in the fast lane. After all, the 27-yearold
is one of the fastest Native American sprinters in the country. “In track, I get what I put
into it,” said Robert. Robert, a Rosebud Sioux member, has put in an incredible amount
of dedication to the sport. In all sprint running races, every hundredth of a second lost or
gained in the race counts.
“I like having to rely on myself because, in most sports, you have teammates to rely on,”
said Robert. The Briar Cliff University graduate, who’s sprinted in a great number of
races recently, recorded an electronically timed 46-second split in his 500-meter time
trial in December. “There’s something about running fast that keeps me intrigued. You
get that feeling of euphoria, and it’s addicting,” said Robert. Additionally, he ran a time
of 47.21 and 47.20 seconds in the 400 meter early in the indoor season this January,
holding the indoor bests and meet records, placing him 36th nationally.
Currently, Robert is not only competing independently and traveling to track meets
across the country, but he’s also a trainer for himself, following a strict workout schedule.
Robert Iron Shell
“Discipline is paramount in my life, and I think it’s a disservice to yourself to not see what you’re capable of, not just physically but
spiritually and mentally as well. So if I inspire anybody to do anything, I hope it’s to see just what they’re capable of accomplishing,”
said Robert.
Within the last year, Robert also discovered what else he is capable of accomplishing. He created his own handcrafted sandal
line called The Grounded Athlete, which incorporates the art of grounding. “Grounding is the bioelectrical process of being
barefoot on the ground, which yields tremendous benefits in terms of metabolism and anti-inflammatory effects. The mission
is to teach the physics and chemistry behind it. It’s beautiful when science and spirituality come together,” commented Robert.
Since he launched the line last summer, he’s had clients from all over the world. “It’s back-breaking work, but it’s also really
rewarding work. When I first started, it used to take three hours for each sandal; now, it takes one hour,” shared Robert.
Robert gives utmost thanks to his parents and his roots. “My dad and my mom are definitely my biggest role models, and they
worked hard to bring us up and raise us in the right environment. Growing up on the reservation, there is a lot of negative
influence there. So you have to take it upon yourself to figure out what you need to focus on, and push away the noise because
there is a lot of that in reservations across the country,” he advised.
Hello, I’m Jetske Wauran-Castro and I am thrilled to team up with Siouxland Magazine to share my passion
project, “People of Siouxland - Portraits of the Extraordinary.” As a visual storyteller, my mission is to highlight
the hidden gems and underrepresented individuals that have enriched the lives of others, shown ongoing
leadership, and become outstanding role models in our community. I hope this inspires and uplifts you.
Jetske Wauran-Castro is a community activist, professional photographer, and Emmy award-winning
journalist. She and her husband, Rueben, live in Sioux City.

Inclusive Peek – Interview with Yorda Abreha
What challenges have you experienced in Siouxland?
I’m an immigrant so it was hard adjusting to life here. I
could not take advantage of the many opportunities that
Sioux City had to offer because I simply did not know
about them. But as I built up my communication skills and
connections with people, this how I got more involved.
How has Siouxland been welcoming?
I remember at Hunt elementary school the teachers were
so accommodating towards me when I first came to Sioux
City; I was fairly new to the U.S too. I did not speak a lick of
English so the teachers and I could not understand each
other but towards the end of my journey at Hunt, I could
say they really helped me come out of my shell. I felt most
welcomed in Sioux City because of people like Treyla M
Lee and Mrs. Clarahan (my math teacher at West High)
that took a special interest in me. Trelya is my advisor,
and she has helped me through the college admissions
process, finding and applying to scholarships, and she
continues to support, guide and cheer for me through
my accomplishments and struggles I face coming into
adulthood. Mrs. Clarahan went out of her way to help me
study for the ACT test on the math portion. I would go
to her class before school, and she would have questions
from the ACT for me to figure out and if I couldn’t she
would show me how to.
Inclusive Peek – En Espanol
Yorda Abreha
What do you want the people of Siouxland to
know?
This a place where anyone can make home. The community
is kind, welcoming and giving. And the opportunities here
are endless.
Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 25
¿Qué desafíos ha experimentado en Siouxland?
Soy inmigrante, así que fue difícil adaptarme a la vida
aquí. No pude aprovechar las muchas oportunidades que
Sioux City tenía para ofrecer porque simplemente no las
conocía. Pero a medida que desarrollé mis habilidades de
comunicación y conexiones con la gente, así es como me
involucré más.
¿Cómo ha sido la acogida de Siouxland?
En la Escuela Primaria Hunt, los maestros fueron muy
complacientes conmigo cuando llegué por primera vez
a Sioux City; Era nueva en los EE. UU. No hablaba ni
una pizca de inglés, por lo que los maestros y yo no
podíamos entendernos, pero hacia el final de mi viaje
en Hunt, podía decir que realmente me ayudaron a salir
de mi caparazón.
Me sentí más bienvenida en Sioux City gracias a
personas como Treyla M. Lee y la Sra. Clarahan (mi
maestra de matemáticas en West High), quienes
mostraron un interés especial en mí. Trelya es mi
asesora y me ha ayudado en el proceso de admisión
a la universidad, encontrando y solicitando becas. Ella
continúa apoyándome, guiándome y animándome a
través de los logros y las luchas que enfrento al llegar
a la edad adulta. La Sra. Clarahan hizo todo lo posible
para ayudarme a estudiar para el ACT en la parte de
matemáticas. Iba a su clase antes de la escuela y ella
tenía preguntas del ACT para que las descifrara. Si no
podía, ella me mostraría cómo hacerlo.
¿Qué quieres que sepa la gente de Siouxland?
Este es un lugar donde cualquiera puede hacer un
hogar. La comunidad es amable, acogedora y generosa;
y las oportunidades aquí son infinitas.

Live2Lead is a leader development experience designed to equip you with new perspectives, practical
tools and key takeaways. Mark your calendars to elevate your leadership! For more information or to
purchase event tickets, please go to: SiouxlandMagazine.com

DESTINATION OF CHOICE
INTERACTIVE ART
COLD STORAGE SOLUTION
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 2 2

SPACE TO CHILL
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
2FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIOUX CITY LOG ON TO: WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG OR CALL 279.6102

HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
COMMUNITY
PARK PLANS
DESTINATION:
SIOUX CITY
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIOUX CITY LOG ON TO: WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG OR CALL 279.6102
3

DESTINATION SIOUX CITY:
OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS
DAY 1 ITINERARY
.
DAY 2 ITINERARY
4FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIOUX CITY LOG ON TO: WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG OR CALL 279.6102

DESTINATION SIOUX CITY:
FAMILY FUN
DAY 1 ITINERARY
DAY 2 ITINERARY
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3 5

DESTINATION SIOUX CITY:
ARTS LOVERS
DAY 1 ITINERARY
DAY 2 ITINERARY
6FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIOUX CITY LOG ON TO: WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG OR CALL 279.6102

DESTINATION SIOUX CITY:
HISTORY BUFFS
DAY 1 ITINERARY
DAY 2 ITINERARY
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3 7

SO MUCH TO DO!
CONE PARK
DOROTHY PECAUT NATURE CENTER
DOWNTOWN LIVE CONCERTS
DOWNTOWN SIOUX CITY
FARMERS MARKET
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS
GOLF COURSES
HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
IBP ICE CENTER
LAUNCHPAD CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
LEWIS & CLARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER
& BETTY STRONG ENCOUNTER CENTER
LONG LINES CLIMBING
ORPHEUM THEATRE
SIOUX CITY ART CENTER
SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS BASEBALL
SIOUX CITY PARKS & REC
SIOUX CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
SIOUX CITY PUBLIC MUSEUM
SIOUX CITY RAILROAD MUSEUM
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
EXPLORESIOUXCITY.ORG
8FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIOUX CITY LOG ON TO: WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG OR CALL 279.6102

CHECK OUT OUT THE THE LIBRARY!
JUST FOR FOR
FOODIES
SUMMER TUBING FUN FUN
FOR FOR MORE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ABOUT SIOUX SIOUX CITY CITY LOG LOG ON TO: ON WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG TO: OR CALL OR CALL 279.6102
279.61023
93

COMMUNITY POLICING
GRANDVIEW PARK IMPROVEMENTS
The old four-million-gallon water reservoirs were included on the National
10FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIOUX CITY LOG ON TO: WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG OR CALL 279.6102

FIRE STATION UPGRADE
HANDS-ON TEACHING TOOL
SCFR TRAINING TOPICS
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3 11

ART CENTER ANNIVERSARY
REINVIGORATING
THE RIVERFRONT
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIOUX CITY LOG ON TO: WWW.SIOUX-CITY.ORG OR CALL 279.6102

CONGRATULATIONS
TO MARY STERK
FORBES TOP WOMEN IN WEALTH &
FORBES BEST-IN-STATE WEALTH ADVISORS
FOR FIVE YEARS RUNNING!
Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors list includes 10 recipients per state. The Forbes awards are based on qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth
advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience
and best practices. The award is not based on portfolio performance or client reviews. There is no fee in exchange for rankings. Third-party rankings and recognitions
are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These
ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluation. The Forbes ranking of Top
Women Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria and quantitative data. Criteria include years of industry
experience and weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, and those that encompass best practices in their approach to
working with clients. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through Woodbury
Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance offered through Sterk Financial Services which is not affiliated with Woodbury. Neither Woodbury Financial
nor its representatives or employees provide legal or tax advice. 350 Oak Tree Lane, Suite 150, Dakota Dunes, SD 57049 605-217-3555 sterkfinancialservices.com

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CommUNITY
By Semehar Ghebrekidan
“Wow, you really have a master’s degree?” “Your name sounds foreign, but your English is great.” “You are too young for the
job you have.” “You have a lot to learn.” “I’m not racist; my wife is Latinx.” “Men and women have equal opportunities for
achievement.” “Your hair looks crazy, like it’s unkempt.” “You are too emotional or cold.”
Believe it or not, I have heard all of these during my 1st year as the Community Inclusion Liaison. But these comments are not
singular to my work-life and often have happened every day. I would like to break down what microaggressions are, why they
are harmful, and how to deal with microaggressions.
What is it?
According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of microaggression is a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously
or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group. They often happen casually,
frequently, and in everyday life. Maybe these comments feel well-intended, , or not out of line, but they are more than
just comments. These comments often come because of a person’s membership in a protected class (race, color, religion
or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, and/or
citizenship). In short, they affect everyone!
Why is it harmful?
It is all about impact here. Even if your statement was without malicious intent, it may be received that way. For example,
below is what I said and what message I received.
What was said
“Wow, you really have a master’s degree?”
“Your name sounds foreign, but your English is great.”
“You are so articulate.”
“You have a lot to learn, and you are really young for your job.”
“I’m not racist; my wife is Latinx.”
“Men and women have equal opportunities for achievement.”
“Your hair looks crazy, likes it’s unkempt.”
“You are too emotional or cold.”
What message was received
People of color are generally not as intelligent as the
majority population.
You aren’t American.
It’s unusual for someone of your race to be intelligent.
You are not qualified and under-prepared for your position.
I could never be racist because I have a wife who is a person
of color.
The playing field is even, so if women cannot make it, the
problem is with them.
Your hair is not professional or has the right texture.
As a woman of color, you are not allowed to be anything
but happy in front of me.
Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 41
How to deal with microaggressions:
This can be uncomfortable because we often don’t even think about how our words touch people. But I feel it is
important that everyone learns this to be kinder to the people with whom we interact. There isn’t a right way to stop using
microaggressions. Some tips I can offer to help you are the following:
• Look at what your biases are and what makes you uncomfortable.
• Do your research: Read books and peer-reviewed sources on microaggressions. It is great to talk to BIPOC (Black,
Indigenous, and people of color) or LGBTQIA+ folks, but we cannot be responsible for teaching the majority
communities. Especially when it comes to issues that may negatively impact us daily, it can be helpful to you but
harmful to us reliving trauma.
• If you use microaggression in conversation and someone notifies you of that, start with “I am sorry” and do not be
defensive. No one likes to say how you may have negatively impacted them, but be open to turning that conversation
into a teaching moment when they decide to share that with you.
Remember, microaggression stops with you! If you start recognizing, researching the effects and correcting when you use
microaggressions, you can have an impact on everyone around you.
Semehar Ghebrekidan is the Community Inclusion Liaison for the City of Sioux City. She is charged with Inclusion efforts to help connect the City and the community.
Semehar has her master’s degree from South Dakota State University in Sociology and her bachelors in Global Studies with minors in Spanish and Leadership & Nonprofit
Management. When she is not working, you can catch her cooking, reorganizing her home, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 42
We’ve got 20 years under
our belts. What’s 20+ more? This
year, 2022, is the year Siouxland
Growth Organization celebrates
two decades’ worth of contributions
to our community. Haven’t heard
of us? SGO encourages young
professionals to become active
members of the Siouxland
community. We accomplish our
mission by hosting meetings, as
well as volunteer and networking
opportunities that produce growth.
Future Foundation – Siouxland GO
By Mercy Oyadare
“Joining Sioux City GO provided
me with many opportunities
to network and connect to key
leaders, organizations, and other
young professionals within the
community. I enjoyed my time as
the Special Events Chair being able
to connect young professionals in
a fun and interactive environment.
The murder mystery dinner and
music bingo were two highlight
events of my time with Siouxland
GO and I hope the organization
continues to flourish and grow!”
– Sarah Rol, 2016-2019 SGO Member.
One of our largest events each year
is the Innovation Market. The 12th
annual event took place on May 5th
at Design West in Downtown Sioux
City. The five finalists: Crumb, Furrow
Flower Farm, Munchies, Beverages
and Snack Imports, Siouxland Junk
Removal, and UCreate Studios
will advance on to the Pitch Event
Thursday, June 9th hosted by
Jefferson Beer Supply. That night is
limited to Siouxland GO members
and event sponsors to vote for the
top three winners who will walk away
with cash prizes to aid them in turning
their pitches into realities. Fun fact--
Jefferson Beer Supply was birthed
out of an SGO Innovation Market, and
Siouxland GO Trivia Night.
now they get to host their very own
Pitch Event!
You may have not realized, but 20
years is a long time. In our time as
an established organization, we’ve
volunteered at various community
events such as the Wine and
Chocolate Festival that supports the
Alzheimer’s Association and hosted
educational events such as resume
workshops and public speaking
forums. We added our annual
Golf Classic which is just around
the corner, and has been loads of
fun! (This year’s golf tournament is
Monday, July 25th- visit our website
to register or sponsor today!) More
recently, we have expanded to
include the communities surrounding
Sioux City, foregoing the old name
(Sioux City Growth Organization)
and rebranding as Siouxland Growth
Organization. Even though our name
and logo look different now, our
mission has not changed!
“Siouxland GO is an awesome way
for people to get connected and be
a part of the Siouxland community. If
you’ve been looking for ways to get
more involved, volunteer, or meet
new people, I would highly suggest
joining Siouxland GO!”
We appreciate the support of
our community members and
businesses. Siouxland GO is looking
forward to what the future has in
store! Stay tuned for our 20th year
celebration event.
Siouxland Growth Organization
welcomes progressive and innovative
ideas. As a group, we work
to put these ideas into action
and build the momentum to take
Sioux City into the future.
Mercy Oyadare, Siouxland GO
Marketing Committee Member.
Photo Contributed by Siouxland GO.

Leading the Way – Leadership Siouxland
By Peggy Smith
After nine months of learning and growing, 36
amazing individuals graduated from Leadership
Siouxland, joining the ranks of more than 1100
other graduates from this program that started in
1983. I am proud to introduce you to these outstanding
Siouxlanders who are eager to make a positive difference
in our community!
Aleisha Barclay and Terri Lee Medina, Sponsored by
Ho Chunk, Inc.
Alejandra Flores and Kevin Woockman, Sponsored by
WITCC
Allison Berg, Anne Yoder, Buffy Shrauner, Candace
Jauer, Chase Vondrak, Jon Schoenfelder, Josh
Breugem, and Bob Armentrout – Sponsored by Wells
Enterprises, Inc.
Anne Lofgren, Sponsored by Chesterman’s
Bryan Shusterman, Sponsored by Heidman Law Firm
Casey Johnson, Sponsored by MercyOne Siouxland
Medical Center
Crystal Jauer, Sponsored by Bollmeyer, Inc.
Jeff Lamoreux, Sponsored by Trinity Electric
Jennifer Hart, Sponsored by Heartland Counseling
Jessica La Fleur Malm, Sponsored by Girl Scouts of
Greater Iowa
Jetske Wauran-Castro, Sponsored by Big Brothers/Big
Sisters
Kasey Sandman and Tessa Dinsdale, Sponsored by
Security National Bank
K. Lance Roberts, Sponsored by FEH Design
Kodi Benson, Sponsored by Premier Bankcard
Mary DeBolt and Phil Dahlhauser, Sponsored by Great
West Casualty Company
Monica Gileta, Sponsored by Tyson Fresh Meats
Rebekah Kennelly, Sponsored by D2 Worldwide
Ron Lorenzen and Tonja Winekauf, Sponsored by the
185th National Air Guard
Samantha Kavanaugh, Sponsored by Sky Ranch
Behavioral Services/SHIP
Sydney McManamy, Sponsored by United Real Estate
Solutions
TJ Wilcke, Sponsored by L&L Builders
Tracy Pomerson, Sponsored by Holcomb Appraisal Firm
Troy Nelson, Sponsored by Iowa Division of Criminal
Investigation
Will Hale, Sponsored by Goosmann Law Firm
knowledge, and find ways to become involved and make
positive differences in our community. This year’s 9-month
curriculum included sessions on Gallup Strength Finder,
Change Cycle Management, IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity,
Equity, Access/Accessibility), Economic Development, Self-
Care as a Leader, and a flight with the 185th Refueling Wing.
Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming
2022- 2023 class, which runs from September 2022 to
May 2023. To learn more, reach out to any one of the 36
new graduates eager to tell you about the program and its
difference in their careers and lives.
Leadership Siouxland is an organization dedicated
to developing diverse, informed leaders who shape
our community positively for today and tomorrow.
To learn more about this organization, contact info@
leadershipsiouxland.org or call 712-898-8594.
Peggy Smith, the Executive Director of Leadership
Siouxland.
Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 43
The Leadership Siouxland program provides an
opportunity for participants to learn more about
themselves, be exposed to professionals from all lines of
business, enhance their leadership skills, discover places
and opportunities in Siouxland, gain confidence and

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 44
Want to join
Stacie on a
Facebook
Spotlight?
Small Business Spotlight
ArtSUX
By Dr. Cyndi Hanson
“Art is such an expression. It can
be angry, and it can be sad; it can
be happy, it can be anything. It just
helps us to get our emotions out and
that is a healthy thing – especially
for children. It is an escape and
transports us to a different place
and we are better for it,” explained
Amy Thompson, owner of ArtSUX.
For years, she had a vision of a place
for local artists to work together,
learn from each other, and share
with each other. On July 23, 2021,
that vision began a reality at 515 4th
Street, Sioux City, Iowa.
Amy and her friend, Kristin, had
been creating and sharing art with
each other for years. A few years
ago, they began sharing a space
with a couple other artists in the
Ho-Chunk Center. While it was a
good start to the vision, they knew
almost immediately the space
was too small. The interest from
artists was strong and there was
additional vision to create workshop
opportunities for kids to explore
art as well. Amy said, “We knew
right away we had to step up our
search for a building.” She and her
husband, Matt, had been looking
casually for a building for several
years. Amy continued, “We walked
into the former Carlton’s building
and, even though it was torn apart,
we both saw what we wanted it to
be immediately. We saw where the
walls should be, where the coffee
shop would go, where the kids’ area
would go.”
ArtSUX offers free kids’ creation
workshops periodically at the
studio. The goal is to encourage
kids to explore different types of
art, provide them the tools and
materials needed, and let them take
home what doesn’t get finished.
“We want art to be part of what
they do all the time,” Thompson
noted. Parents can learn about the
workshops by following the ArtSUX
Facebook page.
Hardline Coffee is located in
ArtSux, drawing members of the
public into the space to enjoy
local art on display. In addition to
the open gallery, 22 local artists
have individual studio space in the
building. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. is designated open studio
time. During that time frame, many
of the artists open their studios
and are available to talk with the
public about their pieces, answer
questions, provide background
stories, and share their passion for
creating. Amy explained, “It’s a little
bit of a maze through the studio
space and it is amazing. We are
all different genres and styles; it is
really fun to walk through and see
what people are doing. Each artist
has a piece on display in the open
gallery as well.”
If you walk up the orange staircase,
you’ll find five additional artists.
“That is the most beautiful space
besides the main gallery of the
building in my mind. We kept it
almost exactly as we found it – from
the 1970s. We kept the vinyl, the
signage from the business originally
there, the rooms are beautiful.” Amy
said.
Art doesn’t SUX in Sioux City. Visit ArtSUX.
“Through collaboration the three
galleries and the Art Center are
creating an art walk this summer. It
begins at the Art Center, goes to the

Ho-Chunk Center where there is Three Rivers Gallery,
Gallery 103 and continues to the ArtSUX gallery. It
is an amazing event that everyone should come to
at least once.” Thompson explains. “You begin with
national artists and then proceed to local galleries
and local artists, it’s a wonderful progression. We are
hoping Vanguard Arts might join in the future. It’s
a celebration of art.” Walks will be held in July and
October – watch for details and rediscover downtown
Sioux City and the beauty of local art all around you.
Dr. Cyndi Hanson, Executive Director for Northeast
Community College’s Extended Campus.
Sponsored by:
Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 45
Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography.
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 all the details by emailing
connect@empowering-conversation.com.
Who will be the
next winners?
Coming soon in the highly
anticipated September issue!
Siouxland‘s Premier Leader for
Arthritis and Chronic Pain Management
712-276-4325
www.multicareclinic.com | 3930 Stadium Drive, Sioux City

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 46
Nonprofit Spotlight
El Proyecto Dramatico
By Michelle Lessmann
Want to join
Stacie on a
Facebook
Spotlight?
El Proyecto Dramatico is a
program coordinated through
New Stage Players in South
Sioux City. Translated, it means
“the dramatic project or people
also call it the Spanish Drama
Project,” explained Ivonet Torres
De Anda, one of the founders and
directors. This first-ever bilingual
drama project in Siouxland has four
directors: Ivonet Torres DeAnda,
Kristy Tremayne, Natali Ramirez
Markworth, and Sydney Siomara
Siordia. Christine Wolf is the
president of the organization. “The
group formed when I was asked to
be part of a bilingual group focused
on Hispanic productions,” Sydney
explained. “The planning for this
program began over two years
ago. As a predominantly Hispanic
community, we wanted to bring the
theater to all of our community, and
we just kept working at it. Natalie
and Kristy have a lot of theater
experience in the area and are
always happy to share those with
others,” added Ivonet.
For many immigrants in our
community, they may not have
learned the language but have
experience in the performing arts
from their home countries. “It’s not
El Proyecto Dramático is a cultural
gem in Siouxland serving as the first
ever bilingual theater in our metro
area. Our mission is to celebrate the
vibrancy and diversity in siouxlands
cultures offering new experiences and
opportunities for individuals, families,
artists and audiences throughout our
community. Whether they are an advanced
actor or want to experience theater for the
first time, they will be sure to flourish throughinvolvement and
education in our vibrant and dynamic organization. Through
unity and diversity, both Spanish only speakers and English only
speakers will unite with an end goal of producing Siouxlands
first ever bilingual musical production. We are like no other in
our area.
just in Spanish,” Ivonet clarified, “it is
truly bilingual in English, too.
There are two components – one
is an open invitation portion where
people can participate, the other
will be productions where there will
be auditions, casting, rehearsals,
and performances.
Sydney explained, “The open
portion meets the first and third
Sunday of the month and is open
to anyone age 11 or older. At the
beginning of the program, there is
a little introduction to the program
and what can be expected. We
meet at the New Stage Players
Performing Arts Center, located at
3201 Dakota Ave., in South Sioux
City, Nebraska.” Ivonet added, “The
first few times we just got to know
each other and what each person
is interested in doing. We found a
lot of people are interested in music
so we kind of did an open mic type
one meeting.”
The group will be putting on a
showcase in September at the
theater and will also be performing
in the Mexico Independence Day
even on September 17th. “It is a
great time to present our talents,”
Ivonet said. “It will be a great time
to share our diversity and vibrancy
of the program which celebrates
our culture, too.” New participants
are welcome anytime.

The first ever bilingual production in Siouxland will
be held summer 2023. Watch the New Stage Players
website and Facebook page for more details!
New Stage Players has been providing inclusive
opportunities for community members to engage in
performing arts for a number of years. In addition to
El Proyecto Dramatico, they also sponsor “The Penguin
Project ” which is a theater performance featuring
individuals with disabilities.
Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 47
Natali performing for Encanto themed events at Lewis &
Clark Elementary for “El Día del Niño”.
“A lot of people are hesitant to come to the program
because they think it is just acting and singing and not
everyone is comfortable with that,” Sydney explained.
“But there is so much more to it than just that. There is
makeup, costuming, set designs, lighting, and sound.
You don’t have to act to be a part of it.”
While operating a performing arts center requires
financing to pay for licensing and play rights of shows,
makeup, costumes, building utilities, and more, New
Stage Players is providing services to performers at
no cost. This is largely due to their status as a nonprofit,
corporate sponsorships, and ticket sales. These
sponsorships and ticket sales are critical to being able to
provide the unique performance opportunities that exist
at New Stage Players.
Angela Iverson rehearsing with the group.
Going forward, there is a project being developed to
share the voices of Siouxland. Ivonet explained, “There
are so many businesses or people who have made
contributions to Siouxland and through our history.
We want to have an opportunity to hear those stories,
to document and collect them. That is the next project
we have in mind.”
Michelle Lessmann, a fully licensed Office Professional
in Keith Bales office of Thrivent. She can be contacted at
mrlessmann@hotmail.com.
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.
South Sioux City Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Get all the details by emailing
connect@empowering-conversation.com.

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 48
Brutal Doodles
Iowa’s West Coast Initiative Feature
Short description of your business:
I’m an artist who specializes in painting murals and live
performance painting.
What motivated you to start your business? What
drives you each day?
I’ve been an artist my whole life. I started painting murals
in 2019 and never stopped! I enjoy the thrill of creating
larger-than-life artwork, and I’m driven by the love and
support of my community. I want to make Siouxland a
more interesting and colorful place!
What’s unique about your business?
Every day is different, and each piece of art is unique.
Creating public artwork has given me an opportunity
to engage with my community in a unique way. From
organizing events to leading crews of volunteers, I have
enjoyed getting people involved with creative projects.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to
overcome as you’ve grown your business?
I am finding the balance between being an artist, and an
entrepreneur has been tricky. I’ve learned to work with
my inner critic to create art that I’m proud to share with
the world.
What has been your greatest reward?
I’m very grateful for the opportunity to leave my mark on
Siouxland with public artwork. Meeting people, making
friends, and getting the community involved in creative
projects are the gifts that keep on giving.
How have you benefited from the startup
community in Sioux City and the region? What
resources did you use?
I attended Venture School in the spring of 2021.
Afterward, I competed in the 2021 Innovation Market
Jessica Hammond painting a mural.
and took second place in the pitch competition. Since
then, I have enjoyed the First Friday Coffee events and
a monthly mastermind group!
Are there any experiences that were particularly
influential in that regard?
Venture School was a game-changer for my business.
It helped me step out of my comfort zone, talk to
many new people, gather valuable feedback from the
community, and solidify my business strategies.
Why is it essential for the community to support
startups and small businesses? What more can
be done to help them?
Small businesses are the core of our community.
Supporting local businesses keeps the money
circulating throughout Siouxland and helps our
community thrive. We can help our favorite local
businesses by spreading awareness, following social
media, attending events, and sharing with our friends.
What is one thing you know now that you wish
you knew when starting your business?
The importance of organization and keeping track of
time.

What advice would you give to someone looking to
start a business?
Talk to your customers, and ask them about their experiences,
issues, and ideas. Then use your resources and figure out a
way to help them.
How can the community continue to help your
business?
Follow Brutal Doodles on social media, share my work, and
visit my studio at the Art SUX Gallery! I have original artwork,
prints, and merchandise for sale. You can also help support
events by sharing flyers and showing up when you can.
What are some future goals for your company?
To start filming and capturing the process of each mural I paint
and creating videos that tell the story of each project. These
videos will showcase murals in the spaces where they live and
promote the businesses, nonprofits, and people involved in
the projects.
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 IWCI.

A boutique brokerage offering Siouxland
Strategic Marketing, Customized Service, Elevated Experiences
Licensed in IA, NE, & SD | 712.560.2025 | 3450 S. Lakeport St, Sioux City IA 51106

Experience Downtown
By Carly Howrey
Events are crucial to the downtown atmosphere and are fundamental to what makes Sioux City
unique. Business owners in downtown Sioux City take pride in their establishments, and hosting events celebrates
monumental moments, supports neighbors, and deepens the connection with the people of Sioux City and
beyond! Last year there were more than 500 events and countless guests bringing life, business, and recognition
to the downtown area. We are so excited for downtown Sioux City to host various events in the coming weeks as
summer begins in Siouxland. We’re ready for Downtown Live, Food Truck Fridays, and everything else that Sioux
City has to offer this summer! As our calendar fills up, it’s our goal to keep businesses, residents, and guests in
Sioux City updated on what’s happening downtown.
Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 51
Planning, advertising, and executing events can be daunting, especially for new businesses in the downtown
district. Even established businesses may find advertising an event on Facebook just isn’t doing the trick. That’s
why Downtown Partners is excited to offer our platforms to businesses within the district. We share events on two
platforms for guests, residents, and businesses to stay updated. First is our website, www.downtownsiouxcity.
com. After creating an account, users can submit an event to our “What’s Happening” page. This page was created
to be the one-stop-shop for every downtown event. Sioux City hosts events for anyone and everyone! From
Musketeers games to pop-up shops, ribbon cuttings to art galleries, you can find it all on our website. Details
necessary to post an event are location, date, time, and a description. But our website allows users to go as in
depth as necessary to give website visitors the best understanding of the event. Possible details include posting
ticket prices, social media links, videos, images, and more. Once the event has been submitted, it will be reviewed
by Downtown Partners staff and posted to the webpage within 24 hours. The creator of the event is free to edit
as necessary after the event is posted. And best of all, posting to our website is absolutely free! We want to see
downtown events succeed and we’re excited to offer the tools to do so.
The second platform we post events to is our weekly E-Blast. The E-blast is a newsletter that is sent out every
Wednesday and previews events happening from that Wednesday to the following Tuesday. The E-Blast reaches
approximately 8,300 inboxes monthly and has new content every week! That number continues to grow as more
events are hosted (and posted) downtown. You can sign up for our weekly E-blast and stay up to date on the
newest events in downtown Sioux City by visiting www.downtownsiouxcity.com.
We are so excited for everything that’s happening downtown, and we hope you’ll stay updated by visiting our
website and signing up for the E-Blast.
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 to stay up to date on downtown projects and events,
visit www.downtownsiouxcity.com.

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 52
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Sioux City Scoop
By Alex Watters
As a member of the City Council, I have always made it my mission to improve our community for those
that call it home and do everything I can to attract people from other cities. However, undoubtedly, people may
move away from Siouxland for work, family, or other reasons. I recently caught up with a friend who had done just that
and found her story compelling. It reminded me that sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. So please,
enjoy her story and heed her call to explore your own community!
-Alex Watters
Comfort food(ie)
By Jenna Rehnstrom-Liberto
Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating /53
I’ve always had a knack for being
a tourist in my own town. It’s a skill
I learned as a cub reporter when I
was still a student at Morningside
University (then Morningside
College). And I say skill because
you have to cultivate a passion for
curiosity about your community,
especially if you’ve lived there your
whole life.
As a journalist, it’s your job to take
viewers, readers, or listeners to
places they can’t go. Perhaps even
more importantly, to all the places
they can go but have yet to discover.
And I loved it. I saw it as a free
pass to explore the old, the new,
the reinvented, the forgotten, the
interesting, and the “I didn’t think
that was interesting in Siouxland.”
At the beginning of the new year,
our family picked up our roots and
replanted in South Bend, Indiana, to
follow a dream opportunity for my
husband, Chris, as a development
director for the University of Notre
Dame. A lifelong Siouxland girl, my
acclimation is still a work in progress.
Still, I’m finding comfort in going
back to my roots as a passionate
explorer of my surroundings –
now all unfamiliar and ready to be
learned by someone new.
Just as any good journalist (or
exhausted mother of three) would
do, I started with coffee.
My favorite coffee spots in
Siouxland meant conversation
with my best friend over a latte
(Hardline), a lunch date with
my hubby (Pierce Street Coffee
Works), a Saturday morning
treat with my daughter (High
Ground), catching up with
an old friend (Stone Bru) and
brainstorming with a colleague
over espresso (CodeBrew at
MercyOne Siouxland Medical
Center). These spots (and my
other local favorites) evoke
feelings as warm and strong as
the coffee itself.
Arriving in South Bend in the
middle of snowy January, I poured
myself into replicating these
feelings in my new surroundings.
I found a bit of discomfort:
navigating new streets, more
traffic (so many roundabouts!),
and unfamiliar faces. I also found
no shortage of new acquaintances
willing to take an hour for coffee.
Confident I’d found my favorite
local coffee spots (shout out to
Cloud Walking Coffee in South
Bend!) I moved on to the food.
Just a few weeks in our new home,
we had a favorite family breakfast
spot, a local pizza go-to, and a
special date night spot. What I
didn’t expect (or worried I wouldn’t
find) was a group of neighborhood
friends for birthday dinner at a
local Mexican restaurant, a new
Comfort food from Pierce Street
Coffeeworks.
friend to help me explore the best
sushi spots, and a farmers market
buddy. Food is comforting. Food is a
connection. Food is to be explored
(and in my opinion, Instagram-ed
excessively).
If you’re craving that feeling
of experiencing something
new right at home, try out that
restaurant you drive by every day,
but haven’t stopped at yet. Play
tourist downtown and wander into
someplace you haven’t perused in
a while. Explore how special Sioux
City is for where it’s been and how
it’s growing, and invite someone
who’s new to town for coffee at
your favorite spot. I promise, they’ll
appreciate it.
Alex Watters, City Council of Sioux City
awatters@sioux-city.org
Photo Credit Jenna Rehnstrom-Liberto.

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 54
I’m a major fan of the spoken word.
The Pod Squad
By Tony Michaels
The radio was always on at my house growing up, and
it served as a constant companion, background noise,
and my original social network. If an event wasn’t talked
about on AM radio in the early ’80s, it didn’t happen.
Not talking about the Husker football program would
have come in handy during the dark ages of the past
decade, but that’s a conversation best saved for a pub.
That thirst for consuming communicative messages
through voice was enhanced throughout my
professional career in my 25 years broadcasting over
the 105.7 airwaves on KSUX. I can name hundreds
of moments from listeners eliciting joy, laughter,
compassion, heartbreak, and every emotion under the
Siouxland sky.
Ironically, my oldest son would not have the gift of
verbal speech, but that too is best saved for another
location – see me at the grocery store in the Pop-Tart
aisle or near the Kleenex display. Trey brings far more
joy to my life than challenges, and that journey could
easily be a book.
I get uber excited when I see the new issues of
Siouxland Magazine. Hopefully, you do as well. There is
such a bounty of authentic perspectives from some of
the best individuals in the tri-state area. Maybe it’s just
the way my mind works, but I often thought, how cool
would it be if those stories had a voice element? You
know, voiced by Morgan Freeman and that delightful
Kristen Bell. That’s better than a Husker championship.
Well, close.
In the last issue, you may have heard that Siouxland
Magazine and Powell Broadcasting have partnered
for the Starting Conversations with Stacie and Tony
podcast series. It’s the same content you love in the
magazine, taken to the next level without constraints
and focusing on the spoken word! As of the penning of
this article, we have already completed a good portion
of season one, and I can honestly say the chats I’ve had
with Stacie and our guests will stick with me for a long
time.
– including myself. It’s an undertaking rooted in honesty
and intrigue. What conversations mattered the most to
you? What’s the value of a mentor? What words from a
loved one or total stranger molded you into what you
have become? Did you make a life change because your
actions had a negative effect on someone you care for
deeply?
We tap into the BEST resources of this magazine…the
people making this community thrive. They are your
neighbors and people you don’t know because their
background is so different from yours.
My favorite song no one knows about is “They Don’t
Understand” by Sioux City Auditorium alum Sawyer
Brown. It so aptly chronicles the curiosity needed to learn
more about others. It’s funny, sometimes to improve our
worldview we just need to see what Siouxland looks like
from an unfamiliar perspective. To hear something from
a different voice.
Understanding begins with Starting a Conversation.
In the words of Sawyer Brown’s lead singer Mark Miller:
“Stop and take a little time. You never know what your
neighbors are going through.” I’ve learned so much
through this podcast journey and I can’t wait until you
hear it.
All you need to experience it is an open mind and one
less episode of “Is This Cake?” on Netflix.
Tony Michaels
KSUX radio host for a quarter century
Yup. It probably is cake. Go listen to
“Starting Conversations with Stacie and
Tony” podcast or Sawyer Brown or you
know, the radio on the free KSUX app
or 105.7
Paid advertisement.
Real conversations about topics that are easy to talk
about as well as the tough ones that make your palms
sweat and your heart rate increase. I learned so much
about everyone who lends their voice to this venture

Destination Iowa
By Brad Newton
In April 2022, Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a
new program called Destination Iowa. The program is
designed to bolster the quality of life in Iowa’s communities
and attract visitors and new residents by virtue of a $100
million investment across the state. These dollars will be
spread across four separate funds: Economically Significant
Development, Outdoor Recreation, Tourism Attraction, and
Creative Placemaking.
Destination Iowa will provide new grant opportunities to
create and invest in transformational, shovel-ready attractions
to raise Iowa’s profile, welcome out-of-state travelers, and
increase tourism spending. It will also spur local economies
and contribute to efforts designed around adding exciting
amenities for current residents and newcomers to Iowa’s
workforce.
Siouxland leaders, including Matt Salvatore - City of Sioux
City Parks and Recreation Director - and executives with
The Siouxland Initiative, joined forces to submit a significant
regional trail connection project. The proposal aims to
leverage state funding under the Outdoor Recreation fund,
which contains $40 million. This unique opportunity allowed
the community to combine five trail projects that were each
at various stages of completion:
• Cone Mountain Bike Park - 9 miles of natural surface
mountain biking trails
• Floyd River Trail Connection - 0.9 miles connecting the
Riverfront Trail to the Floyd River Trail
• PlyWood Trail Connection – 11.5 miles connecting Le Mars to
Merrill and Sioux City to Hinton
• Big Sioux River Pedestrian Bridge Connection - 0.2 miles
connecting Sioux City to Dakota Dunes, SD
• Loess Hills Scenic Trail – 4.3 miles connecting Sioux City to
Sergeant Bluff
By combining these projects, local funding approached 60%,
which is the percentage required by Destination Iowa to be
considered for its 40% funding match. Through very generous
contributions from individuals and organizations in Siouxland’s
private sector, $2.2 million was raised in 14 days achieving the
crucial 60% requirement.
Applications to Destination Iowa were due on May 9, 2022,
and Sioux City’s project was the first application received. In
total, community-wide trail projects estimated at $19 million
were submitted. Private and public contributions totaled $11.4
million, making the Siouxland region’s total request from the
Destination Iowa grant program nearly $7.6 million.
If the grant proposal is successful, connecting Sioux City,
Hinton, Le Mars, Merrill, Sergeant Bluff, and Dakota Dunes,
SD, will enhance the quality of life throughout Siouxland and
pave the way for years of creative events and activities for the
residents and visitors to enjoy.
Brad Newton, Director of Economic Development & Workforce
Solutions, The Siouxland Initiative
Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 55
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Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 56

Last month I submitted a list of resources that
we give to our clients to help start a business,
expand a business, or exit a business.
The goal was to put you in touch with people who can
move you forward in your business. It is essential to
know that there is a resource for nearly every challenge
you face as a business owner. The most important thing
to remember is that you are your greatest resource, and
your ability to face challenges head-on with a winner’s
attitude is what will drive you to find the resources you
need. My company TR Defense Solutions has a motto
that I strive to always live by which is, “Never be a victim.”
In life, circumstances can put us into tough situations.
Inflation, resource shortages, freight expenses, finding
personnel, getting your business online and how does
that look, controlling expenses, increasing profits, etc.,
all of these are situations in which you as the owner
will be the decision maker as to how your business will
handle them.
SBDC – Taking Care of Business
By Todd Rausch
Finally, I will leave you with this thought. We can see that
times are tough and may get tougher. Take the time now
to prepare for the future so that you can survive the tough
times and learn how to grow during them.
My grandfather started his trucking company in the middle
of the Great Depression. He succeeded where others failed
because of his determination, having friends who helped
him in business, and knowing he wasn’t the only one with
answers. His company grew from one truck to 12 and
became a regional transportation company during some
seriously rough times. If he can do it, you can too.
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
Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating /57 / It is entirely conceivable that you will not have the
answers you need at the time you need them. That
is why we have the resources we do. Most of those
resources are free or very inexpensive. Most of them
you will only use a few times, but some I hope you will
use a lot, especially the Small Business Development
Center here at WITCC. I have been blessed to work with
many clients for nearly a decade now. I have watched
their businesses grow as well as their families. I have
seen them in good times and bad. I would like that
relationship with all of our clients. We are here for you.
Like Us on Facebook and
Share our Facebook Spotlights
Making a Difference for
Small Businesses & Nonprofits
Now, I know that most people who start a business
are type A personalities. I know, I am one. However,
that doesn’t mean you can’t use a sounding board
sometimes. Most type As move through life as rugged
individuals and I am all for that. At the same time, it
is good to be part of a community of like-minded
individuals who help each other grow and succeed.
Here in Sioux City and the surrounding area we have a
large group of self-employed people who can become
your circle of friends who can help each other find
solutions to challenges the rest of the world doesn’t
even know exist. I would say that those people are
your second-best resource after yourself. Reach out
and become friends now with people who are owners,
so that when the time comes, you can tap into their
knowledge base. That has unlimited value.

What to do if your wallet is
lost or stolen
Maybe you drove all the way home before realizing you left your purse on top of the car. Maybe you
made it to the front of the checkout line, only to reach for an empty pocket. Or maybe you’re in a
time crunch, and no matter how many steps you retrace, you just can’t recall where you left your
wallet. In any case, that moment you realize your wallet is lost — or worse, stolen — isn’t just
annoying and embarrassing. It can also pose a huge risk to your identity and financial picture. Here
are six things you should do right now to prevent, or minimize the damage of, identity theft and
start getting back to normal:
FREEZE YOUR ACCOUNTS
Contact your bank or financial institution as soon as you realize your wallet is missing. Thanks to
the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), you’re only liable for up to $50 in fraudulent charges as long as
you report your missing debit card within two business days. Triage the situation and prioritize
high-risk accounts: always start with your debit card provider, then call the bank that issues your
checks, and finally contact any other credit card companies, including retail stores whose cards
you own. When you report your debit and credit cards as missing, an employee will likely verify
and review recent transactions with you to pinpoint if — and when — any fraudulent charges have
been placed. Then they’ll put a freeze (or hold) on your accounts while they send a replacement
card. A freeze isn’t the same as cancelling or closing your credit card, so it won’t affect your
credit score.
BONUS TIP: Some institutions like Security National Bank offer free card control tools on their mobile
banking app. That way, you can freeze your debit card with a single touch (or turn it back on right away,
if you happen to find your wallet).

FILE A REPORT
It’s important to file a police report if your wallet is lost or stolen. Officers will need a description
of your wallet, the items in it and the circumstances surrounding when and where it was lost
or stolen. Most precincts allow you to file police reports online, so you can quickly and easily
create a paper trail. Keep a copy of the case number and report for future reference. It might
be needed as evidence, or to help your bank with its own fraud investigation. The Federal Trade
Commission also takes identity theft very seriously, even if they can’t help with immediate
recovery. Fill out an additional report at identitytheft.gov to access resources and to document
the incident. The FTC regularly publishes studies and analyses with this data to help protect
consumers from fraud.
BONUS TIP: Choose a financial institution that offers an identity monitoring and resolution service,
like Security National Bank does with its Value Checking account.
REQUEST A FRAUD ALERT
Placing a fraud alert with one of the nation’s three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and
Transunion — will add an extra verification step if anyone tries to take out a loan in your name.
The three agencies all report to each other, so you only need to request an alert on one credit
bureau’s website to get coverage on all three. Fraud alerts last for one year, and you can extend
the protection up to seven years with proof of a police report or FTC identity theft report (see
#2 above).
BONUS TIP: While you’re there, it might also be a good idea to sign up for credit monitoring services
to help identify and prevent future damage. Because of the pandemic, all three credit bureaus are
currently offering free credit reporting services.
REPLACE ID CARDS
Every state has different rules and processes to replace your driver’s license or state-issued ID
card. In most cases, you’ll need to brave the DMV lines and request a new card in person. Bring
alternate forms of ID, including your social security card, birth certificate, or passport, and tell
the clerk that your card was lost or stolen. Meanwhile, you can get a new health insurance card
by placing a phone call to your provider. In most cases, they’ll be able to issue a replacement
card without changing your plan ID. If your Social Security card was in your wallet — and
remember, it NEVER should have been in the first place — you’ll need to notify the Social
Security Administration office to get a replacement. It is free, but will take some time to fill
out a Form SS-5 (you can get the process started online).
BONUS TIP: Reduce risk by using your wallet less — and paying with your phone more! Features like
Security National Bank’s mobile wallet let you upload your debit card to your mobile device, and pay at
checkout with a simple wave or tap of your phone.

CHANGE YOUR LOCKS
If the thief has both your keys and your home address, you may also need to change your locks.
Stay calm! Most locksmiths provide same-day service, and a home security system can also
provide peace of mind if you’re worried about burglaries or the risk of home invasion.
MAKE A LIST
If you have any patience left after all of those phone calls, it’s time to make a list of anything
else you remember having in your purse or wallet:
• Gym memberships
• Student IDs
• Library cards
• Security cards/FOBs (parking ramps, employers, etc.)
This way, you can let the other miscellaneous providers know what happened, prevent
additional charges and cast a wider net to potentially catch the thief.
BONUS TIP: If you upload your gift cards, retail rewards or airline miles to an online profile
somewhere, you’ll have less cards to carry around — and you can always redeem those points before
a thief does.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Pennings is the Branch Manager at Security National
Bank’s Northside (Leeds) branch location in Sioux City. She has
more than 15 years of Banking experience at SNB, including Safe
Deposit Box Clerk, Teller Trainer, Personal Banker, Senior Personal
Banker and Assistant Branch Manager.
Member FDIC
SNBonline.com

Breathe Yoga and Meditation Center
Breathing Generosity into the Community
By Amy Buster
Breathe Yoga and Meditation Center, led by
instructors Joanne Keane and Lisa Corbett,
offered free yoga classes to the public in the
month of May in recognition of mental health
awareness.
Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / /61
Due to the overwhelming response they received they
have extended that opportunity.
“Our mental health is so important. An individual’s
psychological well-being is directly related to our
happiness and productivity, and that affects the
community as a whole,” stated Joanne.
According to Web MD, yoga is practiced by more
than 36 million people in America. The most common
form of yoga practiced in the U.S. is hatha yoga, which
combines both physical poses and mindful breathing.
The use of yoga helps a person physically by
improving their balance, flexibility, range-of-motion,
and strength. Mentally, yoga helps release mood
boosting chemicals in the brain such as: dopamine,
serotonin, and norepinephrine. This can help with
lessening depression, relieving stress, easing anxiety,
and improving strength.
“We are offering yoga classes to the public, with a free
will offering, every Tuesday and Thursday night, 5:30
p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 1551 Indian Hills Drive, Building
C, Second Level. It is part of the Boys and Girls Home
and Family Services’ new Ginny Peterson Behavioral
Health Campus,” said Joanne.
“The free will donations may be in any amount. It
is important to us that no one be excluded due
to finances. Everyone is welcome. All proceeds
collected will go directly to the Boys and Girls Home,”
explained Lisa.
The Boys and Girls Home received a grant from the
Delta Dental Foundation. The Foundation was looking
for innovative programming to support mental
wellness.
“The Boys and Girls Home president and CEO Art Silva
approached us with his vision to start a yoga program.
We replied with great enthusiasm and gratitude! The
Boys and Girls Home graciously provided a beautiful
new studio with all of the equipment needed. All you
need to bring is yourself and an open heart and mind!”
said Lisa. She also suggests wearing comfortable
clothing for the class.
Joanne Keane and Lisa Corbett
Joanne and Lisa are both certified Yoga instructors,
RYT (Registered Yoga Teachers) with 200 hours of
training. They are also both registered members of
Yoga Alliance.
“Yoga is for everyone! We teach the foundations
of yoga. Even if you’ve never tried yoga before, we
welcome you to join us,” said Joanne.
“We begin with teaching mindful breathing, long
even inhales, long even exhales. Next we incorporate
breathing with the poses. “Lastly, we wind down with
Savasana, which is a resting and meditation period.
It is a basic gently yoga, mind meditation through
visualization,” explained Lisa.
For more information, or to answer any questions
about the classes, please contact Mary Pickens at the
Boys and Girls Home and Family Services, 712-293-
4919, or pickensm@bghome.net.
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.
Photo Credit Lisa Corbett.

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 62
Sharing Labors of Love from the Pantry – UFTE Volunteers
By Up From The Earth
Up From the Earth applauds our community’s efforts on many levels to increase local food security.
This trilogy of personal experiences and perspectives covers the growers (last issue), with this issue focusing on
Pantry Volunteering as another level.
Blessed to be a Blessing
By Janet Gross
The Holy Family Food Pantry
at First Lutheran Church
in Sioux City has been
working to provide food
to guests for years. We
distribute on Wednesday,
from 9 a.m. to 11:30
a.m. The pantry relies
on monetary donations,
Up from the Earth, other
grower food donations, and
a wonderful volunteer group. I
became involved with the pantry in the fall of 2021
when I, newly retired from teaching, was able to
volunteer during the weekdays. I was impressed by
the pantry operation and asked our leader many
questions. He answered the questions and mentored
me into taking on a leadership role. Through ordering
of products, moving items from the Foodbank of
Siouxland to church, packing frozen items bags & dry
goods bags, and overseeing weekly distribution to
guests has been a learning process. I love being a
part of the volunteer team in this ministry.
Guests that receive fresh produce, frozen meat/
protein, and dry goods are grateful for the biweekly
visit. Our team members share a smile while guests
check in, make food selections, or volunteers lend
a hand in taking items to vehicles. Guests share
thanks, a quick joke, or a short snippet of their life
when we make our personal connections. We make a
difference in easing food insecurity in our community
because we are part of the Siouxland network. We
are all blessed to be a blessing!
Serving our Pantry Guests in Many Ways
By Jeannette Domaye
“Is this a cucumber or a
zucchini?” “How do you cook
squash?” As the person who
oversees the fresh produce
at the St. Thomas Episcopal
food pantry, I love to
answer questions like
these. I encourage people
to try a new food for variety
and better nutrition.
Many people don’t have access to
quality produce, either because of living in a food desert
or the rising prices of fresh fruits and vegetables. I try
to bring in about 400 pounds of produce each week,
in addition to about 2000 pounds of other food. Every
pantry offers canned goods, but with the assistance of
the Food Bank and local farmers and gardeners, we can
offer fresh produce all year long.
The pantry has been a ministry of St. Thomas for 20
years. Located in the lower level of the church building
at 12th and Douglas, we’re convenient for our neighbors
to walk to the pantry. We serve many young families,
people with health issues, grandparents, and other
senior citizens.
Our pantry lets people shop for what they like and
need. Depending on what is available, they can choose
their own cereal, produce, meat, and extras such as
coffee and sugar. We try to offer a small number of
toiletry items, essentials that can’t be purchased with
food assistance benefits. Sometimes we ask members
and friends of the church to donate items that are not
currently available from the Food Bank.
We are open every Monday morning from 10 a.m.
to noon.

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating /63 / A Fresh Produce Collection Site Story
By Mike and Carole Doll
We have always enjoyed working in our garden
and being outside in the fresh air and sunshine. It
is very rewarding to see things grow and getting
to enjoy the fresh food is like adding the cherry
on top! Growing such a large garden gives us an
opportunity to share with our family and friends as
well as with those that are in need. One thing that
we discovered was to “add an extra row” to share
with others. We learned that the extra produce
really adds up fast when we think of it this way.
One of the things we enjoy most is knowing that
it makes an impact for others in the Siouxland
community. When our daughter started working
at the Boys and Girls Home, we sent some of our
“extras” to them. It was great to know that kids
there were trying things they had never tried
before, and really enjoying them too! We were
surprised to learn that they were even more willing
to try it if she was able to tell them “It came from
my parents’ garden”.
Looking for ways to supplement with
more nature at home?
Check out 1000hoursoutside.com
It will get your family moving!
These articles share the experiences and perspectives of
the many from our community who volunteer their time and
efforts to ensure collection of fresh produce and staff the food
pantries serving our community to help increase food security
in the Siouxland area. In the fall issue we focus on the pantry
guests and how our pantry system impacts their lives.
Up from the Earth exists to connect extra produce from
home gardens to people in need.
We are happy to be a part of Up from The Earth
and you can find us gathering fresh produce from
others in the community too. We will be in front
of Blessed Sacrament Church, 3012 Jackson St,
Sioux City from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and
Thursday evenings starting July 7th. The fresh
produce that is collected there will be donated to
the Soup Kitchen, Gospel Mission, and The Boys
and Girls Home.