Nehemiah Community Transformation Podcast

EP. 8: Revealing the Fullness of Faith Communities Through Black History with Pastors Stephen Feith and Tyler Nylen

Nehemiah has seen many faith groups participate in the Justified Anger Black History for a New Day course and find transformation in their communities. Eli Steenlage has a conversation about the role that the course has played in the journey of church leaders and members with Madison Church Pastor, Stephen Feith, and Nehemiah's Faith Community Relationship Manager, Tyler Nylen. These two pastors discuss how the course has shaped their racial justice paths from their experience in the Christian tradition. Stephen and Tyler also speak to their own personal experience with cultural and systemic racism, and how their faith compels their justice learning and action. Listen in to hear how they explain that they cannot ignore or separate their faith from a lifestyle of racial justice.
Stephen Feith is the Founding/Lead Pastor of Madison Church. He is the author of the book, Uprising: An Ancient Prophet’s Sacred Words for Modern Activists, and has had articles published in Outreach Magazine. Stephen holds a Master of Arts in Missional Church Movements from Wheaton College. He and his wife, Megan, live in Madison with their children, Oliver, Elijah, and Quinn.
After serving as an intern at both Nehemiah and Fountain of Life Covenant Church during the summer of 2016, Tyler relocated to Madison following graduate school in order to pursue the vision of Nehemiah after his compelling experience with the organization. In this role, Tyler loves connecting, building relationships, and strategizing with faith communities and churches to determine how they can partner with Nehemiah to strengthen the African American community while addressing racism in faith contexts. Tyler is also a pastor at Fountain of Life Church. He loves reading, exploring the city through coffeeshops (he even ranks and reviews them all), and all things Chicago sports.
Learn more about the Black History for a New Day course and other Nehemiah educational opportunities.

Ep.7: Undoing The Thinking of White Culture with Bill and Betty Rockwell

Bill and Betty Rockwell have been devoted allies that have supported the Black History for a New Day course for six years through their training of group discussion facilitators. When they first participated in the course, they were transformed initially by the history content and then they went deeper with the discussions and building relationships that helped them learn more about themselves. Bill digs into how this anti-racism work “takes time and if you don’t stick with it, you will lose the benefit of the process that is going on in you.” The Rockwells are examples of committed allies even when it's not trendy or easy. In this episode hear more of their story and their advice for staying on the equity journey and having fruitful conversations.
Learn more about Justified Anger's Black History for a New Day Course.
nehemiah.org

Ep. 6: EmpowHer Initiative Invests In Training Community Leaders with Jackie Hunt

Jackie Hunt exemplifies Nehemiah's mission in her life by applying her lived experience and education toward empowering the Black community through transformational leadership. Now she is sharing her community leadership skills with other women that she has built relationships with through the EmpowHER Initiative. Nehemiah values raising up leaders that are already serving their community and giving them the training and support to have a greater impact. Mrs. Hunt is passing on her transformational community experience and lessons to a group of women who will continue her work. As always, hear her inspiring and honest insights into what it takes to love your community by empowering the people involved.
Learn more about Nehemiah and FOSTER.

Ep.5: Thriving, Not Just Surviving: The Collective Action Of Mutual Aid

What does Mutual Aid look like and why is it important to Nehemiah's community transformation work? Eli Steenlage talks with Nehemiah Director of Mobilization, Siobhan Jackson, about the power shift of collective action. The discussion covers the history of African American mutual aid initiatives and current ways that people come together to support the Black community, including how you can get involved now. What's the difference between charity and mutual aid? We believe that mutual aid invests in a thriving community for all.
Learn more: nehemiah.org/engage/
 

Ep.4: High Schoolers Serve Up Cross-Cultural Partnership

Nehemiah’s Executive Vice President, Harry Hawkins, sat down with Kaitlyn Ko and Alex Li, two high school seniors that work at Saranghae Desserts, a non-profit organization that uses baked goods to spread love and promote Asian-American and African-American cross-cultural solidarity. For the past few years, Saranghae Desserts has generously donated its profits to Nehemiah in partnership with recognizing racial inequalities in our community.
The story of Saranghae Desserts starting during the pandemic, mentoring new members, and partnering with Nehemiah is inspiring and motivating for everyone to hear. Nehemiah is excited to continue this fruitful partnership.
Try some Saranghae Desserts for yourself: saranghaedesserts.org
nehemiah.org

Ep.3: Creating an Oasis for Black Kids: Ozanne and Marlon Anderson Lead with Love

Listen in to a honest conversation over dinner about the experience of Black youth in our public school system and how Nehemiah has worked for decades to bridge the gap for kids of color. Nehemiah staff members Andrea Dearlove and Eli Steenlage sat down with Ozanne Anderson, Nehemiah Director of Youth Development and Education, and her husband Marlon Anderson, Security Assistant at West High School in Madison, to get their personal and professional perspective.
Ozanne and Marlon are committed to Black youth excellence through high standards of academics, leadership development, building self-worth, and a positive cultural identity. Their goal is creating empowering learning environments, so youth can love, learn, and thrive.
Learn more about Nehemiah Youth Education and Leadership Development
Hear more of Marlon's story of about being fired and rehired by a Madison public school

Ep. 2: Black Community Leadership In The Public School System: New Approaches with Ozanne Anderson And Lindsey Johnson

Nehemiah staff members Ozanne Anderson (Director of Youth Development and Education) and Lindsey Johnson (Director of Youth, Family, and Community Wellness), have had to be innovative in how they serve youth and families in our community in the uncertain times of the last few years. For the last school year, they have had the opportunity to serve in new roles that are helping transform the Madison Metropolitan School District from the inside out.
Their purpose has been to support children, families, and staff of color in the public school system and in the process enrich the whole school community. There are some big challenges in our school systems for the youth of color, but Ozanne and Lindsey bring their Nehemiah experience to the table to create new relationships and possibilities. Their insights and efforts are enlightening and offer some practical steps for anyone that wants to support the health of their education systems. 
Learn More: nehemiah.org

Ep.1: 30 Years of Visionary Leadership: Lessons from Rev. Dr. Alex Gee

As Nehemiah celebrates 30 years of serving the Madison, WI area community in 2022, we are bringing you an exclusive taste of one of our staff training sessions with founder and president, Rev. Dr. Alex Gee. In this training time, Rev. Dr. Gee shares stories and lessons he has learned from leading Nehemiah for the last 30 years. He offers deep insights into what it means to be a visionary leader, especially for a multi-cultural non-profit organization that has made a significant impact on the community.
Learn more about Nehemiah: nehemiag.org