Episode #4: Dan Templin, DeKalb County Community Foundation

06/06/19 • 32 min

On this episode, I interview Dan Templin from the DeKalb County Community Foundation, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Growing up in Peoria, we’ll hear how Dan spent his time at Northern volunteering with local nonprofits and then graduating with a degree in psychology. Eventually administration found him very early in his career, first at the Dekalb County Youth Service Bureau when he became an executive director at just 26, and then he jumped at the chance to get involved in the nonprofit sector more broadly by moving to the DeKalb County Community Foundation. He truly loves working in what he calls the field of generosity.

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Episode 3: Dan Kenney, DeKalb County Community Gardens

In this episode, number 3 of the All Things Local podcast, I speak with Dan Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of the DeKalb County Community Gardens https://www.dekalbgardens.org. We hear about his childhood experiences growing up in a farming family, his passion for social justice sparked by Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King in the 1960s, and how he sees access to food as a social justice issue. We learn how government, nonprofits and individuals have come together to address issues in the Annie Glidden North Neighborhood in DeKalb through community engagement. Dan challenges all of us to see people for people, not others, not them and us. He truly believes in service to others. I know you’ll enjoy this episode!

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Episode #5: Alex Nerad, The Historic Egyptian Theatre

Welcome to Episode number 5 of the All Things Local Podcast, and my first in my new role as acting director of the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies. In this episode, we learn all about the Egyptian Theatre from its executive director Alex Nerad. The Egyptian supports the quality of life of this region which attracts residents, businesses, and visitors. You might be surprised to know that the Egyptian Theatre has a $2 million direct economic impact every year, thanks to the 40,000 visitors to the theatre and it will turn 90 years old in December. Alex reminds us that the theatre is a community centre, welcoming all generations, from all walks of life. It’s where community conversations happen. Hear about exciting plans ahead with a $4.5 million renovation. Enjoy the episode!