The Collective Us: An NMCAA Podcast

[DONATE to NMCAA] What helps employees feel seen, supported, and connected at work? In this episode of The Collective Us, hosts Erica Austin and Ryan Buck welcome back NMCAA Human Resources Director Abria Morrow to explore workforce wellness and employee engagement. From walking challenges and book talks to financial education, employee assistance resources, and meaningful recognition, they discuss how NMCAA is building connections across departments and its 10-county service area. Hear how employee feedback shapes these efforts, why wellness goes beyond physical health, and how caring for the people doing the work strengthens their ability to serve others. Along the way, they share stories, laughs, and a few big dreams for the future of workplace wellness.

[DONTATE to NMCAA] NMCAA is moving forward—and doing it together. In this episode, Erica and Ryan reflect on how the agency is breaking down silos, strengthening collaboration, and creating better connections between housing stability, economic stability, and educational opportunities. Along the way, they share perspectives from NMCAA program directors on what has changed, what’s working, and how staff, culture, and fresh ideas are helping shape the agency’s future.

[DONATE] In this episode of The Collective Us, NMCAA Education Coach Manager Dru O’Connor and Manton Elementary Principal JP Katona discuss how families, preschool programs, and elementary schools can prepare children for kindergarten.They explain that school readiness is about more than letters and numbers. Independence, communication, emotional regulation, following directions, and building relationships are equally important. NMCAA and Manton support the transition through teacher visits, school tours, shared assessments, and ongoing communication.Parents can help through simple activities such as reading, talking, counting, playing, cooking, and encouraging children to complete everyday tasks independently. The episode also highlights junior kindergarten as an option for children who may benefit from additional time and support.The main takeaway is that strong partnerships among families and educators help children enter school feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn.

[DONATE to NMCAA] In this episode of The Collective Us, hosts Erica Austin and Ryan Buck explore how something as basic as clean clothing can affect a person’s confidence, health, dignity, and ability to participate fully in their community.The conversation highlights NMCAA’s Laundry Project, which helps individuals and families with limited financial resources wash and dry their clothing at participating Traverse City laundromats. What may appear to be a simple service can remove a significant burden for households facing rising costs, unstable housing, transportation challenges, or limited access to laundry facilities.The episode examines the real cost of doing laundry and the difficult choices families sometimes make when deciding between clean clothing and other necessities. Guests discuss how access to laundry can influence whether children feel comfortable attending school, whether adults feel prepared for work or appointments, and whether people experiencing homelessness can maintain their health and sense of self-worth.Listeners also hear how the program has grown through relationships among NMCAA staff, laundromat owners, volunteers, donors, and other community partners. Beyond providing washers, dryers, and supplies, Laundry Project events create welcoming spaces where people can connect, learn about additional resources, and receive support without judgment.The discussion emphasizes that economic stability is about more than income. It also means having access to the everyday essentials that help people feel secure, capable, and included. Clean clothes may be the immediate outcome, but the broader impact is greater confidence, stronger relationships, and a community that takes care of its neighbors.The episode closes by sharing ways community members can support the Laundry Project through donations, supplies, partnerships, and volunteer involvement. Those seeking assistance should visit NMCAA’s Laundry Project page or contact NMCAA for the most current participating locations, dates, and times.

In this episode of The Collective Us, hosts Erica Austin and Ryan Buck explore the realities of homeownership and housing stability in Northern Michigan with guest Grant Card, NMCAA's newly promoted Housing Stability Director. The conversation examines the region's housing affordability challenges, the connection between homelessness services and homebuyer education, and how NMCAA helps residents navigate housing from first-time renting to long-term homeownership. The episode also highlights partnerships with NeighborWorks and a local lender, emphasizing the role of education, financial counseling, and community collaboration in helping families achieve and maintain stable housing.

[DONATE TO NMCAA] In this episode of The Collective Us, hosts Ryan Buck and Erica Austin celebrate Community Action Month and explore the many ways impacts communities across Northern Michigan. The conversation highlights stories of perseverance, collaboration, volunteerism, and the collective effort required to support individuals and families working toward greater stability and independence. The episode begins with a recap of the annual Moomer’s for Meals fundraiser benefiting Meals on Wheels and Older Americans Month. Ryan and Erica thank sponsors, supporters, and community partners who help ensure seniors throughout the region continue receiving nutritious meals, connection, and support that allow them to age independently in their homes. Listeners then hear from Kerry Baughman, Executive Director of , and Tish Stave, Housing & Energy Efficiency Director, about the meaning and mission behind Community Action Month. Kerry reflects on the 60-year history of Community Action and shares a snapshot of NMCAA’s impact in March 2026 alone, including:1,487 food boxes deliveredNearly 4,500 volunteer hours completed1,400 tax returns preparedMore than 1,000 families served through early childhood educationHousing, financial stability, and senior nutrition services provided across the regionEmployment opportunities and support for local businesses and contractors Tish discusses how NMCAA’s work extends beyond individual assistance to strengthening entire communities through partnerships, housing rehabilitation, weatherization, energy efficiency projects, and economic investment. She also shares stories connected to the agency’s Community Impact Award received through the “My Hope” program, which helped families make critical home repairs and improve safety, dignity, and comfort in their homes. The hosts also discuss how Community Action agencies across the country align around the “Community Action Promise,” a shared mission focused on reducing poverty, strengthening communities, and helping people achieve self-sufficiency. Kerry explains the importance of leadership development through the Certified Community Action Professional (CAP) program and encourages staff and future leaders to pursue opportunities for continued learning and advocacy. Additional segments celebrate employee milestones, staff kudos, and volunteer recognition leading up to Michigan Community Action Legislative Day in Lansing. The episode highlights powerful stories from individuals whose lives were changed through NMCAA services, including Larry, a former homeless client who became a homeowner through Community Action support, and Chuck Corwin, a dedicated volunteer and board member recognized for his service to Northern Michigan communities. The episode closes with reminders about Early Head Start enrollment, Meals on Wheels donations, and a fun discussion about this year’s “Big Scoop” ice cream collaboration, before Ryan and Erica reflect on the importance of gratitude, partnership, and community connection in the work NMCAA does every day.

[DONATE to NMCAA] This episode highlights the impact and community support behind the Meals on Wheels program through the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency. The program serves seniors and homebound individuals by delivering nutritious meals along with wellness checks, social interaction, and emotional support—often the only daily contact some clients receive. Meals are carefully planned with dietitians to meet federal nutrition guidelines, accommodate health conditions (like diabetes), and reflect client preferences. The emphasis is on meals being both healthy and enjoyable, recognizing that “food is medicine” but must also be appealing to be effective. Beyond food, the program provides a “360-degree” service—ensuring safety, reducing isolation, and fostering dignity for seniors. It relies heavily on community partnerships, volunteers, and funding, with only about 30% coming from government sources and the rest raised locally. A major fundraising effort, “Moomers for Meals,” brings the community together through a family-friendly ice cream event, sponsorships, and campaigns to support the program’s growing financial needs amid rising costs and uncertain funding. Overall, the episode emphasizes that Meals on Wheels is more than food—it’s connection, care, and community, ensuring seniors can remain healthy, independent, and supported.

[DONATE to NMCAA] This episode of The Collective Us focuses on the power of preschool through the voices of NMCAA staff, a teacher, and parents. Hosts Erica Austin and Ryan Buck speak with Mistie Watson, an Education Coach, and Alex Beilfuss, a GSRP teacher, about how NMCAA preschool programs support children, families, and the broader community.The conversation highlights that preschool is about far more than basic academics. Alex and Mistie explain that early childhood is a critical period for brain development, emotional regulation, social skills, creativity, and problem solving. They describe how classrooms are intentionally designed to help children feel safe, build confidence, learn routines, and prepare for kindergarten through both structured support and play-based learning.A major theme is that NMCAA’s preschool approach is individualized and relationship-centered. Teachers use tools like the Creative Curriculum and GOLD assessment to understand each child’s developmental progress and tailor lessons to their interests and needs. Examples include dinosaur studies, owl pellet dissections, art shows, field trip prep, and hands-on science activities that show preschoolers can handle rich, advanced concepts when learning is engaging and developmentally appropriate.The episode also emphasizes the importance of family engagement. Parents share how preschool has helped their children grow socially and emotionally, while staff discuss home visits, family workshops, behavior support, and regular communication with caregivers. Preschool is presented as a partnership where parents are recognized as a child’s first and most important teacher.The guests stress that preschool should never be seen as babysitting. Instead, it is described as intentional teaching that builds the foundation for lifelong learning, creativity, resilience, and success in school. The episode closes with encouragement for families to enroll, especially since Michigan’s GSRP program no longer requires income eligibility, expanding access to more children.

[DONATE to NMCAA] The Collective Us: An NMCAA Podcast Episode 67, “Moments that Mattered,” reflects on the most meaningful conversations of 2025, highlighting how NMCAA’s work strengthens families and communities through early support, stable housing, strong partnerships, and a culture of care. Erica Austin and Ryan Buck revisit powerful moments from parents, partners, staff, board members, and community leaders that show how stability begins long before crisis, how asking for help takes courage, and how housing, dignity, and trust create the foundation for long-term success. The episode connects personal stories to measurable impact through data and reporting, celebrates staff milestones and everyday leadership, emphasizes the importance of advocacy and staff wellness, and explores legacy giving as a way to sustain the work into the future. Together, these moments underscore that NMCAA’s impact is collective and ongoing—driven by people showing up for one another and working together to make lasting change as the organization moves into 2026.

[DONATE to NMCAA] The episode of The Collective US focuses on NMCAA’s new Gift Guide, a way for donors to support community members through three core “buckets”: Educational Opportunities, Housing Support, and Economic Stability. Erica Austin, Ryan Buck, and guest Melissa Thompson explain that while gifts are framed as things like safety items for families, classroom supplies, home repairs, or Meals on Wheels support, the money actually goes toward flexible funding that fills gaps federal and state dollars can’t cover. They tie the guide to NMCAA’s Cornerstones of Culture—respect, accountability, acceptance, compassion, and cooperation—and show how giving moves people from being “them” to part of the “us.”Throughout the episode, they share stories and sound bites from staff, clients, and volunteers that illustrate impact: helping a single mom repair an ice-damaged mobile home, supporting a client named Larry from apartment to homeownership and then crucial repairs, delivering 187,000+ meals to seniors, and the deep personal connections Meals on Wheels drivers and other volunteers build. They emphasize that any level of giving—one-time, recurring, matched, or legacy—creates life-changing opportunities and invite listeners to donate, volunteer, and see themselves as part of the broader community action network.