Cynthia Axne

Madam Speaker. I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Raedeen Bigelow, who leads the MATURA Neighborhood Center in Greenfield, as our Iowan of the Week,

In September of 1974, Raedeen found herself working a brand-new job after graduating high school. She wasn't exactly sure where her career path would take her, but she was finding her footing working with Head Start, the preschool program provided by MATURA Action Corporation. Raedeen was at Head Start for two years when she saw the MATURA Outreach Center in Greenfield was looking for an aide. She applied in May of 1976, and since then. she has worked tirelessly at the Greenfield Neighborhood Center to help those in need of assistance.

MATURA is a non-profit community action agency that partners with communities in southwest Iowa to provide a multitude of comprehensive programs for individuals and families seeking assistance. It's dedicated staff provides crisis assistance to Iowans in need of food and help with utilities and rent, but services go far beyond that, MATURA also offers access to its Head Start comprehensive preschool program, thrift stores, education for pregnant women, assistance wIth programs like WIC breast feeding peer counseling and Healthy and Well Kids of Iowa, and workforce training for youth, dislocated workers, and long-term unemployed individuals. Each year MATURA provides these types of critical services to more than 10,000 individuals and 3,700 families across Adams, Adair, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor, and Union Counties, where some of the state's most rural areas are located.

This September, Raedeen will be celebrating 48 years at the Greenfield Neighborhood Center, in that time, she has helped folks get the assistance they need, no matter the challenges. But when the COVID- 19 pandemic prevented normal interactions between neighbors and changed business operations nationwide. Raedeen and the rest of the folks at MATURA faced their biggest challenge yet. With their doors closed for the first time, meeting families and others to discuss their needs and offer solutions was difficult. Raedeen's Outreach Center was getting more and more requests for assistance as the pandemic prolonged. People needed general assistance, help with housing, energy needs, maternal health service, and much more.

Knowing there was great demand for their help, each Outreach Center had to figure out what processes worked best for each individual office across its six-county footprint, such as drive-through appointments. Raedeen and her team adjusted as each Outreach Center did things their own way, working tirelessly to accommodate each person and family and get them connected with the help they needed at such a crucial time.

Today, Raedeen and the Greenfield Outreach Center are stepping up to help those in their community as our economy struggles with the burden of inflation. Rural communities are facing increased challenges as costs rise. Raedeen's work and expertise is critical while the Outreach Center yet again adjusts to meet high demand. She is now focused on connecting folks with resources like food pantries, of which the Greenfield Outreach Center has its own that's used across the area. She engages the community regularly so neighbors know when the Center is open and what services are being offered, including handing out backpacks at the beginning of August.

Assistance in rural communities can often be overlooked, and it's people like Raedeen who make these services accessible for those who need it most and during times of crisis. Raedeen is as dedicated as ever, and she's excited to soon pass the 50-year anniversary of her time at MATURA. Madam Speaker, because of her perseverance, passion, and nearly 50 years of dedicated service to her community. I am honored to recognize Raedeen Bigelow as this week's Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to name Mary Wade of Red Oak, Iowa as Iowan of the Week. Mary is a lifelong Iowan who has worked with Nishna Productions for 37 years improving the wellbeing of individuals with disabilities across Southwest Iowa. Mary's dedicated work developing life and job skills for those in need deserves recognition.

Mary began working for Nishna Productions when she was 19 years old, serving as Activity Coordinator and as direct care staff. Mary helped her Nishna Productions clients learn how to cook, clean, and manage money. Mary then became a supervisor at the group homes in Red Oak where she led the staff and continued to work in direct care with the clients. Mary's help growing the skills of her clients ensured that individuals with disabilities can retain independence and find success living in their communities.

Mary then transferred back to work as a Program Instructor with Nishna Productions. Working directly with clients, Mary began to teach classes developing important life skills. From there, Mary transferred to the vocational department to focus on the development of employable skills. Nishna Productions has its own laundry service in which clients can develop working skills, while Nishna Productions also contracts with small businesses to fulfill their basic labor needs. By supporting individuals with disabilities in a comfortable environment, Mary has helped grow confidence with those who need it the most.

Currently, Mary is the lead supervisory staff member at Nishna Production's Red Oak and Shenandoah sites. While she now leads overall day to day operations, Mary still finds the most enjoyment in direct work with clients. Mary believes that each client is their own unique person and that a one size fits all approach would be ineffective. Providing unique care for each client takes a full team effort, and Mary and her team at Nishna Productions remain committed to tailoring their programming and operations to fit each individual person and the needs of the community.

I am thankful to Mary for her work empowering individuals with support and opportunity to meet their goals, and I am proud to name Mary Wade as Iowan of the Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Doctor Erika Hendel as Iowan of the Week. Erika is the co-chair of the Iowa Queer Communities of Color Coalition, board member of the Des Moines Pride Center, and in their free time manages to work as a veterinarian. June is Pride Month, and the purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Erika has been a tireless advocate for the LGTBQ community and truly encapsulates the meaning of Pride Month.

Erika was a founding member and now sits as co-chair of The Iowa Queer Communities of Color Coalition (IQCC). The Iowa Queer Communities of Color's mission is to use an intersectional lens to address the inequity of services, lack of support and space, socioeconomic disparities, and institutional racism experienced by our communities through education, advocacy, intentional inclusivity, and organizing. Erika has always been involved in LGBTQ advocacy but knew that visibility is important. As Asian American. Erika has lived in Iowa for 5\1/2\ years, but it was a difficult transition coming from some of the other diverse places that they have lived. This led Erika to get even more involved in the community and become the co-chair of the IQCC. Erika found that it made the most sense of community with the diversity that they have experienced in the queer organizations in the city. Erika is looking to address the question of how to create a system of support. That is a goal that Erika is looking to work towards in Des Moines through continued advocacy.

Additionally, Erika is a board member of the Des Moines Pride Center, an organization dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families

as well as our allies in the Greater Des Moines area. They offer a safe environment for community members to visit with a large library and free Wi-Fi. The community center also serves as a meeting place for other non-profit organizations with similar missions. It serves as a hub for information and socialization for the gender and sexual minorities in the community.

Erika is a shining example of tireless advocacy to make our community a better place and embodies what Pride Month is all about and what it means to be an Iowan. I will always fight in Congress to make Iowa a more inclusive and welcoming state right alongside Erika and the countless other advocates in our community. It is my pleasure to name Dr. Erika Hendel as Iowan of the Week.