Community Difference Makers

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa discuss how youth violence and engagement show up in Des Moines, highlighting Safe & Thriving Youth, a collaborative effort focused on long-term solutions, with guests Mary Sellers, Jaquie Easley McGhee, and Bridget Cravens-Neely.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of childcare in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Dave Stone, and Jillian Herink of Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of childcare in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Kate Bennett, Kay Strahorn of Conmigo Early Education Center, and Brittany Brown teacher and parent at Conmigo.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of childcare in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Erin Davison-Rippey, Kim Bonjour-Eiteman of Perry Child Development Center, and Boaz Nkingi of Iowa Congolese Organization and Center for Healing (ICOACH).

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of childcare in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Mary Sellers, Janice Lane Schroeder of Children & Families of Iowa, and Deidre DeJear of Oakridge Neighborhood.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of housing in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Dave Stone, Lance Henning, CEO of Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, and Julian Neely, director of advancement and community investment at Polk County Housing Trust Fund.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of housing in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Luke Lynch, Melissa Gradischnig, who serves as a community navigator, and Brandi Courtney, as she shares her lived experience.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of housing in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Erin Davison-Rippey, and Shelby Ridley, Director of Programs at Primary Health Care, Inc.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn about the state of housing in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's  Mary Sellers, Angie Arthur, Executive Director of Homeward, and Doug Romig, Executive Director of Housing Solutions Alliance.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn about the state of food insecurity in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Dave Stone, Lyn Wilson, Districtwide Homeless Liaison of Des Moines Public Schools, and Melissa Stimple, Executive Director of Waypoint Resources.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of food insecurity in Central Iowa with United Way of Central Iowa's Luke Lynch, Priscilla Marquez, who serves as a community navigator, and Shelby Chavez-Chun, Executive Director of Clive Community Services.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn more about the state of food insecurity in Central Iowa. United Way of Central Iowa's Erin Davidson-Rippey and Patty Sneddon-Kisting, CEO of the Urbandale Food Pantry, talk about the rising costs of living and its impact on food access.

On this episode of Community Difference Makers, Bankers Trust and United Way of Central Iowa learn about the state of food insecurity in Central Iowa from Kathy Underhill, CEO of DMARC and Tami Nielsen, CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa.

Learn more about the important work the Iowa Bankers Association is doing to be the voice for financial services in Iowa from President and CEO Adam Gregg, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about the important work that The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand is doing to is doing to improve, engage, and promote this area in the historical heart of Des Moines from Executive Director Lauren Kollauf, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the important work that the Chris Norton Foundation is doing to help people with neuromuscular injuries and disabilities overcome their obstacles and live better lives from Founder Chris Norton, Chris' mother, Deb Norton, who is Client Experience & Relationship Manager for the bank's affiliate, BTC Capital Management, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about Broadlawns Medical Center and how you can support their mission from Proctor Lureman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Broadlawns Medical Center, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about the Bankers Trust Employee Volunteer Award winners. Hear about what drives our top volunteers, what causes they are most passionate about and how they serve our community. 

Learn more about Healthy Birth Day and how you can support their mission from Emily Price, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Birth Day, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about Mainframe Studios’ journey and how you can support local artists from Julia Franklin, Executive Director of Mainframe Studios, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about ICON Water Trails’ mission and their top priorities in 2025 from Stephanie Oppel, Executive Director of ICON Water Trails, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more on the state of fundraising for Central Iowa nonprofits from Nikki Syverson, Principal of Isaacson-Syverson Consulting, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about the important work Above + Beyond Cancer is doing to doing to elevate the mind, body, and spirit of patients, survivors, and caregivers throughout the cancer journey from Executive Director Alissa McKinney, Above + Beyond Cancer board member and Senior Private Banking Officer Becky Moomey, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about how the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden works to explore, explain and celebrate the world of plants with our community from CEO Kim Perez and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about how the Principal Charity Classic not only brings world class professional golf to Des Moines but how it also raises millions of dollars for Iowa’s children’s charities from Alex McCarty, Tournament Director, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about the important work WesleyLife is doing to support the independence, health and well-being of older adults wherever they call home from Sophia Ahmad, Vice President of Philanthropy of the WesleyLife Foundation and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the important work Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa is doing to improve the lives of children who are at-risk, underprivileged, critically ill or living with special needs from Executive Director Sheri McMichael, Polo on the Green committee member and Bankers Trust’s General Counsel and Senior Risk Officer Emily Stork, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the important work the Greater Des Moines Partnership is doing to support economic and community development initiatives throughout the region from President and CEO Tiffany Tauscheck and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about what HOME, Inc. is doing to give their clients the tools and resources needed to feel empowered to make a safe, stable home for themselves or their family from Executive Director Carrie Woerdeman, board member Jeni Cooper, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the work 6th Avenue Corridor is doing to remember the history of the area while focusing on purposeful revitalization and economic development from executive director Breann Bye, board member Wayne Middleton, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about what the Young Women’s Resource Center is doing to empower participants to become strong, self-confident and resilient from Executive Director Kari Zimmerman, board member Stephanie Dose, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about what The Iowa Center is doing to empower and guide entrepreneurs to start believing they can achieve financial success from President and CEO Megan Milligan, board member Kevin Chorniak, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the work Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa is doing to remove barriers and level the playing field so all young people can reach their full potential from CEO Tony Timm, board member David Chapman, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the work Orchard Place, the largest children’s mental health provider in Iowa, is doing to develop strong futures for Iowa’s kids from CEO Anne Starr, board member Joe DeJong, and host Emily Abbas. 

Learn more about the Bankers Trust Employee Volunteer Award winners. Hear about what drives our top volunteers, what causes they are most passionate about and how they serve our community. 

Learn more about the creation of the Bankers Trust Iowa Artists Collection and how individuals, businesses and cities can enhance their spaces through art with Liz Lidgett of Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design. 

Learn more about the work Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa is doing to help girls build courage, confidence and character from CEO Beth Shelton, board member Jenny Carter, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the work Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa is doing to support mentoring relationships that empower youth from CEO Bridget Cravens-Neely, board member D’Angelo Johnson, and host Emily Abbas.

Learn more about the work Goodwill of Central Iowa is doing to help make purposeful employment possible for all from president and CEO, Mary Hunter; board member, Susan Rathjen; and host Emily Abbas.

Our latest episode of the Community Difference Makers podcast features @ChildServe! Listen to ChildServe CEO Dr. Teri Wahlig, board member and Bankers Trust Chief Human Resources Officer Amanda Young, and host Emily Abbas discuss the organization’s efforts to help children with special healthcare needs. 

In this episode, we learn more about Polk County Housing Trust Fund from executive director Eric Burmeister and board president Cole McClelland, who is a CRE relationship manager at Bankers Trust. Listen to learn about how the organization is strengthening the Central Iowa community through affordable housing.

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity CEO Lance Henning and Habitat board member and Bankers Trust COO Tina Fritz join the podcast to help us learn about the organization's long history of developing community and housing.

We close out Season 2 of the podcast with a Quick Community Insights episode featuring Ray Cole, award-winning broadcaster and author of the book, "Hangin' with Winners."

Michelle Book, President and CEO at the Food Bank of Iowa joins the podcast and shares more about the organization's 40 years helping reduce food insecurity for Iowans, with the help of 5,000 volunteers annually!

Joe Gonzalez, executive director at Latino Resources, Inc., joins us for this week's episode of the Community Difference Makers podcast to talk about the annual Latino Heritage Festival, which will celebrate its 20th year in Des Moines this fall.

In this Quick Community Insight episode of our Community Difference Makers podcast, we welcome Bankers Trust's own Christina Jarck, who oversees the bank's employee volunteer program, to share the many ways we encourage, support and recognize team members for their involvement within the community.

Peter Cownie, executive director of Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, joins us to talk about the foundation's mission to raise funds for fair improvements and make the Iowa State Fair the best it can be.

Kellie Markey, founder and executive director of Dorothy's House, joins us to talk about her mission to help people whose lives have been interrupted by human trafficking.

Easterseals Iowa President and CEO Sherri Nielsen joins us to talk about how the organization serves children and adults with disabilities and special needs throughout the community.  

Jeff Fleming, Director of the Des Moines Arts Center, joins us to talk about how the Arts Center was founded, how he first got involved, and what the organization has planned for its 75th anniversary.