Category : Community

The food we eat today and the products we use in our home were made, in part, by farmworkers who travel across the country doing difficult, risky work so we have what we need. As we celebrate National Farmworker Awareness Week from March 25-March 31, we encourage you to think about those who are working hard for us and how we, in turn, can support them.

In this podcast, HealthConnect Fellow Aubrey Alvarez shares her personal journey to becoming Eat Greater Des Moines' executive director and how the food system can be improved so everyone in central Iowa can access quality food.

Working in journalism and nonprofit communications, I’ve spent my career asking individuals to share their personal stories. While I’ve tried to approach these conversations with respect and care, I’ve only recently begun to appreciate the relationship building that’s required to honor their voice.

It’s New Year’s resolution time, when we think about eating healthier, exercising more, being a bit kinder or less stressed, and generally looking at self-improvement. And yet, a voice keeps saying, “Take a skip day from healthy eating. You don’t have time for the gym today.” What you may not realize is that voice is often coming from your neighborhood, streets, and community.

As I embark on the second cohort of Mid-Iowa Health Foundation’s HealthConnect Fellowship, I reflect back on moments in my career journey that have been pivotal for me. Moments that have given me the courage to do new things, courage to continue forward when challenges arise, and courage to take a new direction. Here are three of my most pivotal moments.

Remarks shared by Fellow Andrea Dencklau at the HealthConnect Fellowship Celebration on November 18, 2019. Andrea shares what the fellowship experience has meant to her and the hope it brings that we can address critical issues in our community.