Poverty, Pitfalls, and the Price of Diapers – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Kristal Ronnebaum lives in Leawood with her husband Joe, black lab Bentley, son Connor 9 years, daughter Jordyn 7 years old. She’s served the veterinary pharmaceutical sales community in her career for over 15 years and dedicates countless hours to her work with HoneyDewsKC, a company dedicated to providing families with education and local resources that strengthen our relationships. Events are designed to encourage a safe space for growing grace, resilience and compassion for ourselves and one another in this great city we call HOME.

HappyBottoms holds a special place in her heart as the mission works to improve the lives of babies who are in need of diapers. Motherhood is Kristal’s greatest gift and a job she is eternally grateful to hold. Bringing greater awareness and education to the lack of resources available for mothers and babies drives her passion for the mission. It is with great hope, commitment and gratitude to get to serve as a Co-Chair to Diaper Bowl II once again. Now is the time when these babies need our love more than ever.

Decemeber Brammer is not a Kansas City native, but has lived in the city for the last 14 years. And definitely where she calls home now with her husband Scott and two boys Decker and Stricklen. Spending time with her family, designing and decorating their new home, and enjoying a glass of wine or coffee are a few of her favorite things. Being busy is her game! Working as a Project Manager for Sun Life occupies her during the day.  But what she loves the most, is bridging her passion and business of event and wedding planning, Soirée Event Designs, by serving and lending her expertise in the community.

Pam, Susan, Elizabeth, Stacy, Andrea, Brittany, and Brandon join us today on the podcast.  These folks, along with Ashley and I, keep the wheels of HappyBottoms turning day in and day out. Don't miss Stacy's mic-drop moment!  If you know one of these folks, be sure to give them a huge hug for their passion and work!

Please enjoy this look back at some of our favorite clips and guests so far!  Enjoy!

Michelle Goth is a Kansas City based food blogger and cookbook author who has been sharing recipes on her blog, Blackberry Babe for the past 8 years. Her debut cookbook  A Crowded Table was released in 2021.

Michelle's work has appeared in publications like Men's Health, Country Living and Better Homes and Gardens, and she has developed recipes for more than 100 major food brands and grocers.

You can find Michelle on Instagram at @blackberrycooks, or on her web-site, www.blackberrybabe.com.

Lisa Truong is a social entrepreneur with 20 years experience in non-profit and communications sector. She has been working across sectors to build public and private partnerships to address diaper need since 2009. Under Lisa’s leadership, Help a Mother Out has grown from a grassroots, volunteer-run kitchen table idea to a nationally-recognized, policy-influencing organization with an annual operating budget of $2.5 million. During her tenure, HAMO established (2015) and operates the nation’s first publicly funded diaper program, the San Francisco Diaper Bank. Lisa is a 1.5 generation immigrant and grew up in the Bay Area. She is a graduate of the University of California, at Berkeley and is one of Jill's diaper banking idol's.   Please enjoy....Lisa!

The article referenced in the podcast can be found here: https://www.helpamotherout.org/blog/2015/11/4/if-the-government-can-make-cheese-why-cant-they-make-diapers

Hakima Tafunzi Payne, known to her community as Mama Hakima, is the founder, and Chief Executive Officer of Uzazi Village, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating health outcome disparities in maternal and infant health in African-American communities. She holds a Bachelors in Nursing and a Masters in Nursing Education and is currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing Education from Walden University. Ms. Payne is the creator of the Sister Doula Program (a community-based home visiting community health worker program for pregnant individuals), Chocolate Milk Café, (a breastfeeding support group for Black families), and the Village Circle, an Afro-centric group prenatal care model. She sits on her local Fetal Infant Mortality Review Board (FIMR) to address Black infant mortality. Ms. Payne is the owner of a national consulting firm, Global Village Doula. Ms. Payne works tirelessly to make birth safer, the village healthier, and to promote anti-racist care models for Black and African-American families. She is the subject of an upcoming documentary, “Sister Doulas” Ms. Payne resides in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jim MacDonald is the Senior Vice-President for Community Investment and Agency Relations at United Way of Greater Kansas City.  In his role with United Way, Jim is responsible for managing a portfolio of $15 million worth of annual investments in health and human service programs throughout Greater Kansas City.  Jim also oversees a range of projects and initiatives aimed at combating poverty and building financial stability among low-income families.  Jim has worked for United Way in various capacities for 29 years, having served with the United Ways in Kansas City and Jacksonville, Florida. Jim and his husband Andy are actively involved in efforts to promote LGBT equality in Kansas City, particularly on behalf of LGBT youth and families, and live with their daughter in the Volker area.  Jim is a long-standing member of the City of Kansas City’s Public Improvements Advisory Committee and a 25-year resident of midtown Kansas City.  Please enjoy, Jim MaDonald!

Join us as we talk to Jill Bright, founder of The Diaper Bank of the Ozarks.  We talk cloth diapers, the stress of starting a diaper bank, and you'll want to listen to Jill's accent all day long!  The Diaper Bank of the Ozarks has been doing great work since 2012.  We hope you enjoy, Jill!

Rod & Sharon have been married for 8 years, are retired and live in Leawood, KS. They have 5 children between them ranging in ages from 27 – 31. They are members of Church of the Resurrection where they are active in small groups and all kinds of volunteering including serving on international mission trips. In 2012, they founded Offering Hope Foundation which has a mission of “Serving God and our neighbors, near and far, by helping children meet their most basic needs”. Through the foundation, they volunteer and grant funds to like-minded organizations. Their hobbies include reading, golfing, traveling, cooking and of course spending time with their 2 grandsons.

It's time for introductions!  Listen up as Jill and Ashley talk about where they come from, when they learned about poverty, and discuss all that's to come for HappyBottoms in 2022.  Stick around to the end for the new "Man on the Street" segment (it's a working title).  We hope you enjoy, Jill and Ashley!