Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Quad City Forum, a weekly community service program
produced by iHeartMedia to look at the issues and opportunities
that exist in our community. Now here's your hosts for
a Quad City Forum, Hot Luke and Denny Linnhowe.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Now we've got from the Quad City Arts. We've got Sandy,
We've got Crystal. We're ready to talk about all things
connected to an exciting event. Always a great draw when
we talk about the Festal of the Trees and you
guys just jump in where you want. But ladies want
to look at this thing. The Festival of the Trees
(00:37):
looks pretty good for forty years old.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now, I think so when you think about, you know,
the other big events in the area that have milestones,
I think the BIX is a little bit ahead of us.
But this is a pretty big deal, you know, considering
it involves the entire community now running. Yes, that's a
(00:58):
big thing too. I happen to have done that this year.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Oh you did let it go.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Thanks, But this is you know, the community, everyone that
comes together. It takes over two thousand people to pull
this together. We start building in the River Center on
November fourth this year, and then we open our doors
to the public. On November twenty second, we kick it
off with the huge Helium balloon parade and then the
(01:26):
doors are open and we have eight days of families, businesses, sponsors,
people coming through the door to kick off the holiday
season with us.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I do think, ladies that when we talk about the
Bicks and we talk about there's other big events too,
it's just always great when we talk about the Festival
of the Trees. That's another great example of people coming
together to just, you know, forget that there's a river,
forget anything else, zone out all that other stuff and
(01:55):
let's just enjoy a few days. Really, it seems like
all the build up to get to it and it's
over before we know it. But really with the Quad
City Arts, people associate that with Vestal the Trees. But
you guys are working all year long.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:12):
Absolutely, And I'll jump in here, pat. You know, the
organization has been around since nineteen seventy four and Festival
of Trees was started in nineteen eighty six to respond
to one of our programs, which is our Visiting Artists series,
where artists from around the world come into the Quad Cities,
they visit local public schools, they engage with the children,
(02:34):
show you know just what it takes to be a
musician or a performer or an artist, show a little
bit about a different culture, way of being and then
and it's just an amazing thing that we've been able
to offer for the Quad Cities. And some awesome women
started this event because they said, look, we need to
(02:54):
raise some money for this program. This is an incredible
thing that's happening in our local public schools. Let's start
a festival. And that's how the idea of Festival Trees
came to be and it's just been a powerhouse ever
since those forty years. It's raised millions of dollars for
Quad City Arts and are programming that we do across
the board, whether that's public art, the murals everybody sees
(03:17):
in the community, or other events throughout the year, our
granting events, what we do in the gallery. So it's
funding a lot of our program So Festival Trees is
a very important thing to.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Sell as people are walking around there and enjoining things.
Really it seems like not just the River Center, but
then you'll have something tied in with a movie and
occasionally what the most times the symphony orchestra will be
a part of that too, But you take that part
of downtown Davenport and it just becomes it's like a
(03:51):
holiday center and it's a I'm glad you touched on
it too. It's a fundraiser.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Yes, I think sometimes you know the community, that's how
do we front of mine? Because this event itself has
become such a tradition for families and they want to
come out and just have a good time in our
downtowns and spend money and support businesses and you know,
do something a little different out of the ordinary to
kick off the holidays. But but yeah, this every dollar
(04:17):
cent at the River Center goes to support our programming
and that's a huge gift that we've happened this community.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Now, not that either one of you will try to
take the ball, but we've really liked seeing that. It
just started a few days ago with the articles in
the paper just to kind of give us a backdrop.
And even when I go, I remember this back when
it like the first big day with carry Grant was
going to be one of the big the big people
(04:43):
that was a part of it, and that what happened
out of that whole thing would have stopped a lot
of organizations kind of what do we do now, we
don't want to move forward on it, and it really
proved the metal for Quad City Arts and just the
people behind the whole thing. Wait a minute, that was
that was tragic what happened, But let's keep building on
(05:05):
and make it better every year. And you guys have.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Yeah, what a wild way to kick all that off.
And the Quantity Times, you know, we were really loving
this partnership. It's a tri party partnership between Quad City Times,
the Cultural Trust, which funds six legacy partners in the
Quad Cities. They've been involved for many years in supporting
financially and with their time and energy Festival of Trees,
(05:30):
but all these other organizations as well, and Quantity Arts.
So we're just excited to be highlighting some of the
ways that the paper has you know, honored Festival of
Trees and all the people that it took to build
this thing and power it up, and just recognizing where
we are now too, in the future that we have
to create together and we do a lot of that
(05:53):
in partnership with the Trust.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Forty years and counting and now anything new, well we.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Knew pat We worked really hard this year trying to
come up with ideas something new to put on the floor.
The trees are a staple, so there will be sixty
two trees this year that people can bid on. And
you know, that's that's just been That's how it all started,
(06:20):
is with big trees. And this year we've added something
called a petite forest and we did that for people
who maybe are downsizing or maybe you're one of those
homes that likes to put up multiple trees. And so
these trees are three foot or four foot in height.
(06:42):
They can be made of various materials. They could be
just a plain green Christmas tree like you see everyone
else put up in our homes, or it could be
something crafted from wood or metal. So we tried to,
you know, give people a way to be more creative
in what they put up. So there's the petite forest.
(07:06):
And this year we also reached out and decided we
try a different kind of artistry, so we have Quilt Village. Wow,
there are going to be quilted items in there. Quilts, jackets, bags,
table runners, anything quilted could be in this area. For
(07:27):
once again it's part of a part of it's a
donation by these people and the money all funds Quad
City Arts and are programming. But those are like three
new areas on the floor. And this year we're really
excited partnering with John Deere and they are giving us
(07:47):
in partnership. We have a electric start, zero turn radius
Z track mower.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Now, this is wait, how big must that be just
to get you know what? But that how big is
this just to get all of that on the mower?
That must be a big mower just to have the
Z kind of a huge mower is.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
It can mow to it can mow two acres at
a time. So we think this is this is a
raffle that's going to be taking place during Festival of Trees.
So we think it's going to add a new dimension
of excitement and it's a great way to change things
up with the support of John Deere. They've always been
a supporter, but this year we're just trying something new.
(08:33):
We want to we want to make it fun and
interesting and they were on board, so that's what we're doing.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Well, you've always you guys have all you guys and
ladies have always made it fun. But how many times
do people come up to you? Now? The creative side
of setting up some of these incredible displays. But how
many people just go through the doors and get ideas
from what they see at the Festival of the Trees
to put in their place.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I think that's probably a big draw for a lot
of people. We have one lady who is actually doing
seven trees for us this year. I think some of
them are Petite Forest, but she has told Pat Pat
Wolford has been the head of this large design area
(09:19):
pretty much for for thirty six years. Pat has been
involved in Festival of Trees for thirty six years and
she told Pat she's already got things lined up for
what she's doing next year. So she is one of
our devoted designers and you know, so you know she
probably takes her ideas from year to year as well.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Well, maybe just on her way over to a meeting,
she's coming up with ideas, probably looking at it, wanting
to change it, sometimes right in the middle of the
Festival the Trees. But for those of you just tuning,
for those of you just tuning in, we're talking to
Sandy and Crystal from the Festival of the Trees in
the Quad City Arts and for people that want to
find out more when when will things start showing up
(10:02):
on websites or probably they're out there now and some
of the socials. So how can people get psyched up
for the big days that are coming.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Yeah, go online to our Festival of Trees website. It's
at QC Festival of Trees dot com. You can also
get there from any of Quad City Arts program platforms,
social media, Facebook, our website and Qcfestival of Trees dot
Com is really where you're going to find tickets to sell, purchase.
(10:33):
You're going to find all the activities and schedules, Santa's
hours for Santa's Throne, the parade details. That's really where
you're going to see all of the information you'll need.
So but the other piece we're doing is a part
of our honoring forty years, is we want to collect
stories and collect your memories and anybody in the community
can participate in this. We have a link on our
(10:54):
social media and our Facebook page where you can go
online and just submit a couple of little cents and
maybe some photos about what Festival of Trees has meant
to you over the years and any traditions you remember,
funny stories, interesting trees. I feel like everybody has something
to say about this event.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
When do you guys start prepping for in this case
of twenty twenty five Festival the Trees.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Actually, we came up with the theme for this year,
which is Tinsel and Tradition. We came up with that
theme in October of last year, so we didn't we
weren't just getting into the throes of twenty twenty four festival,
but we took time out to decide the theme for
(11:42):
twenty twenty five. Now this year, things are a little
busier because we've just we've changed stuff up enough that
you know, it's not cookie cutter and we're trying to
bring in this some of these new aspects. So we
haven't talked about that yet, but it will definitely be
(12:03):
on the January meeting of what are we doing this year? Well,
pretty much a year round thought process.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
I think that's amazing, and the world can be so
distracting and there's a lot of outside influences that can
get us going each which way, it seems like, but
the Festival the Trees is just a great time to
just enjoy whatever holiday it is, enjoy it and head
over to the River Center and all the other things
(12:32):
that are tied into it, ladies, keep up the great
work and looking forward to talking to you well, well,
well after you come up with the theme for next year,
but we're looking forward to talking to you next year
and beyond.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Thank you, Pat, This has been fantastic. We love the
opportunity to talk about not only you know, our remarkable team,
but also the designers who come back year after year
and support us. And you know, we always like talking
about Claude City Arts. So it's just the best of
(13:07):
all of our worlds when we can do something like this.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
We love it that you want to brag and that
you were able to talk to us while we're heading
on out. Why don't you give those ways that people
can check things out the socials on our way out
of this interview.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Oh absolutely, And you know, path there's one more thing
I want to add, you know, the not only do
we have the River Center, but we have these special
events that are sellouts for us every single year and
it's just another aspect of festival. We have sugar Plum Ball,
which is held at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf,
(13:44):
and that's kind of the Daddy Daughter dance every year
that sells out tickets are on sale now. You can
find them on QC Festival of Trees dot com. The
other huge event that sells out, and that's our Teddy
Bears and Trees held at the Double Tree into Avenport,
and it is just an afternoon of fun for adults
(14:07):
and they're littles, and it sells out every single year. Again,
those tickets are available. The really I think fun adult
event that we have is Celebrity Lunch that's held on
the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and that's held at River Center
North and it's just an afternoon lunch and of fun
(14:30):
and craziness and laugh. Community leaders and dignitaries come and
they devote their time to being silly and helping us
raise money. So you know, the River does not divide
us here and we incorporate as much of the clud
(14:50):
cities as we possibly can. And so all of this information,
you know, if you're looking for something to do with
your little look into Teddy or sugar Plumball. If you
want a fun adult afternoon before the Thanksgiving ensues, look
at Celebrity Lunch. And Crystal's got all of our sites here.
(15:14):
She can tell you exactly where you can go for
all of this.
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Yes.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
To find out more, head online to Qcfestival of Trees
dot com. You can also find us on Facebook at
Facebook dot com slash Festival of Trees QC. So you
always want to include that QC as you're searching for
a Festival of trees, so you get the right one.
But please go on check us out, buy tickets, and
make your plans early.
Speaker 8 (15:40):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page on
our station website.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Now back to Pat Luke and Danny Linnhoue.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Got nowak execk you the director with Life Connections Peer
Recovery Services on the phone, Todd. When we hear Life
Recovery peer service, this is what does that mean?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
We are a peer run nonprofit and that means that
the majority of our board of directors are people in
recovery with mental health or addiction, and one hundred percent
of the staff, including myself, our people in recovery. And
when I say that, we all walk different paths. Mine
is a physical recovery, an addiction recovery, and a mental
(16:25):
health recovery. So it's a little different than some of
the other staff, but some parts we share the same qualities.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
How did you end up over here?
Speaker 5 (16:37):
I began my recovery about seventeen years ago, and sixteen
years ago I've been in recovery fully from addiction and
pain management and also mental health, and so for about
ten years I did a lot of advocacy for the
role of the peer support specialists. And so when I've
(17:00):
seen the need happen and our institutions were shutting down
in twenty fifteen, I had a vision to open up
what is going on in a lot of other states,
and some states have multiple peer run respite and what
that means is that is a diversionary piece that can
(17:23):
help somebody from not having to use an er, not
go into impatient and not be locked up in a
jail cell, and you could stay up to seven days
and get the support from other trained staff members that
have been there and just change your environment. And for me, pat,
(17:44):
if I would have changed my environment in my beginning
of my recovery, i might not be where I am today.
But I'm glad I've walked the walk that I walk
because now we run the only peer run respite in
Iowa and the only after our Wellness Recovery Center now.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
I want you to go not that you want to
keep revisiting the past on this, but this is not
like you can say, Okay, well I had an addiction
and I had some physical things to deal with. I mean,
your road was not that straight up a road to
be able to get to this point.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Oh absolutely. And you know, I think when you talk
about recovery, recovery is linear. You know, my wife also
has walk a path in recovery, and hers is different
than mine, right, because we're all different. And for me,
I like to just say that, you know, it happened
a little quicker because of the supports that I was
(18:39):
able to find my community, my church, the right doctors,
the right counselors. And sometimes people don't have that opportunity
to find them right ones, and mostly Pats, they don't
know that they have the right if they're not getting
that to find the right one. I like to tell
(18:59):
people when I go to do presentations and talk to families,
is that the thing is, you know, if you don't know,
you don't know, and how are you going to find out?
And sometimes not just in Iowa, in the whole world.
Trying to find the path to the right pieces for
recovery is like a pirate with half a treasure map,
(19:22):
and you need to find the rest of the map
to find the gold. And we as peer specialists and
the peer run organization are able to help them find
the rest of the map to the gold and find
what it is they can use for their recovery.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
With those successes, there also has to be like constant.
Do you feel like every other day or every day
is a fundraising day?
Speaker 5 (19:46):
Or what you know every day is a fundraising day?
To be honest with you, some are a little bigger
than others. But yeah, that does tend to be a
little bit of the challenge, right. I like to think
of the good people in the quad Cities with betterhealth.
I like to think of the people with Community Foundation
in Davenport. You know, the thing is it's easy for
(20:07):
these other nonprofits to go there and get the funding,
but when you have a new and still newer peer
run organization, it's like, well, I don't know about that
because I don't know what this is, and so I
like to try to educate them. But also the state too,
Right we're talking about Iowa, but I look right next
(20:28):
to the river Wisconsin. Wisconsin has six peer run respites,
but they've been doing it for a while. And what
I want to see is I want to see the
Hawk guys beat Wisconsin, and I like to think of
me as the quarterback for the Hawk guys. I need
to educate my state what a peer run organization is
(20:51):
and the importance of having a peer run respite.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Ronda's House is an award winning house that people can
check out right now, but it's thanks to a lot
of great work, not just from you, with all the
other people with life recovery peer services.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
And I like to think about this when I'm talking
to possible funders to the state, to politicians, is that
it costs about two thousand dollars a day to be
an an end patient. And here's the thing. You don't
get a lot of help when you go to the
end patient because nothing ever really gets resolved because they
(21:26):
get mad when they see that person come back thirty
days later. But here's the big kicker for everybody. The
big kicker is at Ronda's House. It only costs an
average of four hundred and thirty dollars a day to
fund this for each person. So if we had four
hundred and thirty dollars a person per day. Not only
(21:49):
are we saving a ton of money, we are putting
people into the skilled buildings of what it takes to
walk that path in recovery.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
With Ronda's House, how are things worked out where you
try to help as many people as you can.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
So we can have people go to our website and
just fill on and online the reservation, or they can
call for a reservation at our phone number and that's
five six three six five nine one one seven one.
We do a very very limited screening. I like to
call it's our reservation, just like a bed and breakfast,
(22:27):
and then once we have them approved to come, they
walk in and it's basically whatever they need. We actually
have a lot of people that come in with co
occurring disorders. We've been able to help a lot of
people get into twenty eight day pre treatment programs around
the state for that co occurring If they need to
(22:48):
come instead of going to an er because they're going
through grief, that's totally fine. It's whatever it is they
need pat And you know the thing is, it's we
are able to listen to them however long they need,
right and a lot of times when you go to
a counselor unfortunately they're looking at the clock. You know,
(23:12):
I got another patient coming in. Well, I'm sorry, but
we need to work with these people when they need it,
not when we want to work with it.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
There are successes, and without getting into too much detail,
you have to feel like and how many people, just
in the last year alone, has Life Recovery Peer Services
been able to touch on an effect in a positive way?
Because I would imagine the first meeting you probably just
the vibe that you're getting that person's already starting to
(23:42):
heal just a little bit thanks to your help.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Absolutely, And there's a person right now that I just
left the house that I feel that that said, oh
my gosh, I don't know if I ever want to
leave again. I've never been supported in this fashion. And
in the last year, we've served over one hundred and
thirty people. You know, next Wednesday and I know you're
going to talk about this is going to be our
seven year anniversary. Seven years and we're almost at a
(24:10):
seven hundred and fifty people in the state of Iowa
that we've supported because we're contracted with the state. And
again we are contracted, but we need more sustainable funding
and we serve the whole state. I mean, we've had
people come from Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, a Tumwa,
oscar Loosa. We don't care. We'll get them here. And
(24:33):
that's our thing is we don't want people to go without.
I remember in my recovery when I went into my
pain doctor being on five different narcotics and said, Doc,
I'm really struggling. Is there a support group for people
with chronic pain? And his words are what devastated me.
(24:53):
He said, no, there's nothing out there. Nobody in this
organization will ever let anybody hear there.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
You do have an occasion on a Friday night where
people can kind of join in and have a good
time and do a little bonding.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
So that's the after our Wellness Recovery Center in Cleddon
at sixteen sixty three Lincoln Way in a little strip mall.
We have two suites that's open Monday through Friday from
four pm to ten pm. And here's the nice thing
that we found through the pandemic. If somebody can't make
it in there, or if somebody's in Des Moines and
(25:28):
needs some extra support, that doesn't recall them leaving their home.
They can join virtually. So if they go to our
website Life Connections Recovery dot org and they go to
the services tab, they'll see a thing there that says
Virtual Recovery Center. They can join virtually by their phone,
(25:49):
a tablet, a computer and get the support they need.
They can also take part in support groups, but if
they need private support, we can put them in a
breakout room and the staff will support them. We actually
just helped somebody from Chicago, Chicago get into a treatment
(26:09):
place that they needed to go to.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
And how do you do that?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Though?
Speaker 2 (26:12):
For people that are more than a few miles away.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
The best way is through our website, through an inquiry there,
or if it is the respite house, they can absolutely
call the respite house. But let's just say they want
to get a hold of somebody and they don't want
to leave their home. They don't need to leave their home.
They can actually call the Wellness Recovery Center and that
phone number real quick is five six' three two zero
(26:39):
six one four four. Seven but here's the nice thing
about The Wellness, center and let's just say they are.
Close they could just walk. In there's no appointments. Needed
we're there when they need. It we are their.
Speaker 7 (26:52):
Appointment you got to give that number again five six'
three two zero six one four seven and if they,
want to they can end up talking to a staff
on the phone and if it doesn't, get resolved they.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Will figure out a way to help get what they.
Need resolved we have helped many people at that recovery
center and get what it is. They need and to
be quite honest, with you that we have three people
that we've served At the rest Of the house And
The recovery center that have worked.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
For, us well that just kind of shows how much
they appreciate what's happened to them and how they want
to pass on all that help.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
And, knowledge ABSOLUTELY and i really would like to get
to the big thing that's going to happen because it's
really just, exciting me to be honest, With you iowa
has the only peer unrespit and IN, the us it's
the only one in the. Rural area seven years is
going to Be, next wednesday So, next friday where you
are having an anniversary party where they can come from
(27:57):
eleven am to, two pm take a two we're of,
the house enjoy, a, cookie, cupcakes water and just see what.
IT is i can sit here and tell you all
morning long Pat About, respite House The, recovery center but
what you need to do is take a tour and
then you will see here and feel the energy that
we change in people's lives and you would. BE thankful
(28:20):
i look back at a lady that came to Us
in january of twenty twenty other side of the state in,
twenty nineteen this person was in an endpatient, nine times
nine times out of. Twelve months so they came to
Us in january of twenty twenty and since they have
stayed in touch and used The respite house at least
(28:42):
a dozen times and has only had to go back
to an indpatient. One time and she said the reason
she did is because we. Were full so.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
If people want to check things out, next week address
information just so they can be a part.
Speaker 5 (28:58):
Of this toost nine to Sixteen eleventh Street. In DeWitt
they would come in at eleven am to two pm,
and again just take, a tour check. It out even
see our support dog that we have that lives at.
The house that is a, huge support sometimes more than
(29:18):
the staff because he is.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Still loving oh no doubt and what's the?
Speaker 7 (29:22):
Dog's?
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Name yoda just Like In, star wars well it has.
To be here's, The, thing pat is that the Definition
of yoda, is warrior and he is a warrior for
all the guests to come in and sometimes even.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
The staff you've been Listening To Quad, city forum a
weekly community service program Produced.
Speaker 8 (29:41):
By iHeartRadio if you were your nonprofit organization would like to,
be featured please visit the contact page in our station
website or Contact Quad city forum and Care. Of iHeartMedia
quad cities three five Three Five East, Kimberley, Road davenports
iowa five two eight zero seven
Welcome to Quad City Forum, a weekly community service program
produced by iHeartMedia to look at the issues and opportunities
that exist in our community. Now here's your hosts for
a Quad City Forum, Hot Luke and Denny Linnhowe.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Now we've got from the Quad City Arts. We've got Sandy,
We've got Crystal. We're ready to talk about all things
connected to an exciting event. Always a great draw when
we talk about the Festal of the Trees and you
guys just jump in where you want. But ladies want
to look at this thing. The Festival of the Trees
(00:37):
looks pretty good for forty years old.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now, I think so when you think about, you know,
the other big events in the area that have milestones,
I think the BIX is a little bit ahead of us.
But this is a pretty big deal, you know, considering
it involves the entire community now running. Yes, that's a
(00:58):
big thing too. I happen to have done that this year.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Oh you did let it go.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Thanks, But this is you know, the community, everyone that
comes together. It takes over two thousand people to pull
this together. We start building in the River Center on
November fourth this year, and then we open our doors
to the public. On November twenty second, we kick it
off with the huge Helium balloon parade and then the
(01:26):
doors are open and we have eight days of families, businesses, sponsors,
people coming through the door to kick off the holiday
season with us.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I do think, ladies that when we talk about the
Bicks and we talk about there's other big events too,
it's just always great when we talk about the Festival
of the Trees. That's another great example of people coming
together to just, you know, forget that there's a river,
forget anything else, zone out all that other stuff and
(01:55):
let's just enjoy a few days. Really, it seems like
all the build up to get to it and it's
over before we know it. But really with the Quad
City Arts, people associate that with Vestal the Trees. But
you guys are working all year long.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:12):
Absolutely, And I'll jump in here, pat. You know, the
organization has been around since nineteen seventy four and Festival
of Trees was started in nineteen eighty six to respond
to one of our programs, which is our Visiting Artists series,
where artists from around the world come into the Quad Cities,
they visit local public schools, they engage with the children,
(02:34):
show you know just what it takes to be a
musician or a performer or an artist, show a little
bit about a different culture, way of being and then
and it's just an amazing thing that we've been able
to offer for the Quad Cities. And some awesome women
started this event because they said, look, we need to
(02:54):
raise some money for this program. This is an incredible
thing that's happening in our local public schools. Let's start
a festival. And that's how the idea of Festival Trees
came to be and it's just been a powerhouse ever
since those forty years. It's raised millions of dollars for
Quad City Arts and are programming that we do across
the board, whether that's public art, the murals everybody sees
(03:17):
in the community, or other events throughout the year, our
granting events, what we do in the gallery. So it's
funding a lot of our program So Festival Trees is
a very important thing to.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Sell as people are walking around there and enjoining things.
Really it seems like not just the River Center, but
then you'll have something tied in with a movie and
occasionally what the most times the symphony orchestra will be
a part of that too, But you take that part
of downtown Davenport and it just becomes it's like a
(03:51):
holiday center and it's a I'm glad you touched on
it too. It's a fundraiser.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Yes, I think sometimes you know the community, that's how
do we front of mine? Because this event itself has
become such a tradition for families and they want to
come out and just have a good time in our
downtowns and spend money and support businesses and you know,
do something a little different out of the ordinary to
kick off the holidays. But but yeah, this every dollar
(04:17):
cent at the River Center goes to support our programming
and that's a huge gift that we've happened this community.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Now, not that either one of you will try to
take the ball, but we've really liked seeing that. It
just started a few days ago with the articles in
the paper just to kind of give us a backdrop.
And even when I go, I remember this back when
it like the first big day with carry Grant was
going to be one of the big the big people
(04:43):
that was a part of it, and that what happened
out of that whole thing would have stopped a lot
of organizations kind of what do we do now, we
don't want to move forward on it, and it really
proved the metal for Quad City Arts and just the
people behind the whole thing. Wait a minute, that was
that was tragic what happened, But let's keep building on
(05:05):
and make it better every year. And you guys have.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Yeah, what a wild way to kick all that off.
And the Quantity Times, you know, we were really loving
this partnership. It's a tri party partnership between Quad City Times,
the Cultural Trust, which funds six legacy partners in the
Quad Cities. They've been involved for many years in supporting
financially and with their time and energy Festival of Trees,
(05:30):
but all these other organizations as well, and Quantity Arts.
So we're just excited to be highlighting some of the
ways that the paper has you know, honored Festival of
Trees and all the people that it took to build
this thing and power it up, and just recognizing where
we are now too, in the future that we have
to create together and we do a lot of that
(05:53):
in partnership with the Trust.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Forty years and counting and now anything new, well we.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Knew pat We worked really hard this year trying to
come up with ideas something new to put on the floor.
The trees are a staple, so there will be sixty
two trees this year that people can bid on. And
you know, that's that's just been That's how it all started,
(06:20):
is with big trees. And this year we've added something
called a petite forest and we did that for people
who maybe are downsizing or maybe you're one of those
homes that likes to put up multiple trees. And so
these trees are three foot or four foot in height.
(06:42):
They can be made of various materials. They could be
just a plain green Christmas tree like you see everyone
else put up in our homes, or it could be
something crafted from wood or metal. So we tried to,
you know, give people a way to be more creative
in what they put up. So there's the petite forest.
(07:06):
And this year we also reached out and decided we
try a different kind of artistry, so we have Quilt Village. Wow,
there are going to be quilted items in there. Quilts, jackets, bags,
table runners, anything quilted could be in this area. For
(07:27):
once again it's part of a part of it's a
donation by these people and the money all funds Quad
City Arts and are programming. But those are like three
new areas on the floor. And this year we're really
excited partnering with John Deere and they are giving us
(07:47):
in partnership. We have a electric start, zero turn radius
Z track mower.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Now, this is wait, how big must that be just
to get you know what? But that how big is
this just to get all of that on the mower?
That must be a big mower just to have the
Z kind of a huge mower is.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
It can mow to it can mow two acres at
a time. So we think this is this is a
raffle that's going to be taking place during Festival of Trees.
So we think it's going to add a new dimension
of excitement and it's a great way to change things
up with the support of John Deere. They've always been
a supporter, but this year we're just trying something new.
(08:33):
We want to we want to make it fun and
interesting and they were on board, so that's what we're doing.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Well, you've always you guys have all you guys and
ladies have always made it fun. But how many times
do people come up to you? Now? The creative side
of setting up some of these incredible displays. But how
many people just go through the doors and get ideas
from what they see at the Festival of the Trees
to put in their place.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I think that's probably a big draw for a lot
of people. We have one lady who is actually doing
seven trees for us this year. I think some of
them are Petite Forest, but she has told Pat Pat
Wolford has been the head of this large design area
(09:19):
pretty much for for thirty six years. Pat has been
involved in Festival of Trees for thirty six years and
she told Pat she's already got things lined up for
what she's doing next year. So she is one of
our devoted designers and you know, so you know she
probably takes her ideas from year to year as well.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Well, maybe just on her way over to a meeting,
she's coming up with ideas, probably looking at it, wanting
to change it, sometimes right in the middle of the
Festival the Trees. But for those of you just tuning,
for those of you just tuning in, we're talking to
Sandy and Crystal from the Festival of the Trees in
the Quad City Arts and for people that want to
find out more when when will things start showing up
(10:02):
on websites or probably they're out there now and some
of the socials. So how can people get psyched up
for the big days that are coming.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Yeah, go online to our Festival of Trees website. It's
at QC Festival of Trees dot com. You can also
get there from any of Quad City Arts program platforms,
social media, Facebook, our website and Qcfestival of Trees dot
Com is really where you're going to find tickets to sell, purchase.
(10:33):
You're going to find all the activities and schedules, Santa's
hours for Santa's Throne, the parade details. That's really where
you're going to see all of the information you'll need.
So but the other piece we're doing is a part
of our honoring forty years, is we want to collect
stories and collect your memories and anybody in the community
can participate in this. We have a link on our
(10:54):
social media and our Facebook page where you can go
online and just submit a couple of little cents and
maybe some photos about what Festival of Trees has meant
to you over the years and any traditions you remember,
funny stories, interesting trees. I feel like everybody has something
to say about this event.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
When do you guys start prepping for in this case
of twenty twenty five Festival the Trees.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Actually, we came up with the theme for this year,
which is Tinsel and Tradition. We came up with that
theme in October of last year, so we didn't we
weren't just getting into the throes of twenty twenty four festival,
but we took time out to decide the theme for
(11:42):
twenty twenty five. Now this year, things are a little
busier because we've just we've changed stuff up enough that
you know, it's not cookie cutter and we're trying to
bring in this some of these new aspects. So we
haven't talked about that yet, but it will definitely be
(12:03):
on the January meeting of what are we doing this year? Well,
pretty much a year round thought process.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
I think that's amazing, and the world can be so
distracting and there's a lot of outside influences that can
get us going each which way, it seems like, but
the Festival the Trees is just a great time to
just enjoy whatever holiday it is, enjoy it and head
over to the River Center and all the other things
(12:32):
that are tied into it, ladies, keep up the great
work and looking forward to talking to you well, well,
well after you come up with the theme for next year,
but we're looking forward to talking to you next year
and beyond.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Thank you, Pat, This has been fantastic. We love the
opportunity to talk about not only you know, our remarkable team,
but also the designers who come back year after year
and support us. And you know, we always like talking
about Claude City Arts. So it's just the best of
(13:07):
all of our worlds when we can do something like this.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
We love it that you want to brag and that
you were able to talk to us while we're heading
on out. Why don't you give those ways that people
can check things out the socials on our way out
of this interview.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Oh absolutely, And you know, path there's one more thing
I want to add, you know, the not only do
we have the River Center, but we have these special
events that are sellouts for us every single year and
it's just another aspect of festival. We have sugar Plum Ball,
which is held at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf,
(13:44):
and that's kind of the Daddy Daughter dance every year
that sells out tickets are on sale now. You can
find them on QC Festival of Trees dot com. The
other huge event that sells out, and that's our Teddy
Bears and Trees held at the Double Tree into Avenport,
and it is just an afternoon of fun for adults
(14:07):
and they're littles, and it sells out every single year. Again,
those tickets are available. The really I think fun adult
event that we have is Celebrity Lunch that's held on
the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and that's held at River Center
North and it's just an afternoon lunch and of fun
(14:30):
and craziness and laugh. Community leaders and dignitaries come and
they devote their time to being silly and helping us
raise money. So you know, the River does not divide
us here and we incorporate as much of the clud
(14:50):
cities as we possibly can. And so all of this information,
you know, if you're looking for something to do with
your little look into Teddy or sugar Plumball. If you
want a fun adult afternoon before the Thanksgiving ensues, look
at Celebrity Lunch. And Crystal's got all of our sites here.
(15:14):
She can tell you exactly where you can go for
all of this.
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Yes.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
To find out more, head online to Qcfestival of Trees
dot com. You can also find us on Facebook at
Facebook dot com slash Festival of Trees QC. So you
always want to include that QC as you're searching for
a Festival of trees, so you get the right one.
But please go on check us out, buy tickets, and
make your plans early.
Speaker 8 (15:40):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page on
our station website.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Now back to Pat Luke and Danny Linnhoue.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Got nowak execk you the director with Life Connections Peer
Recovery Services on the phone, Todd. When we hear Life
Recovery peer service, this is what does that mean?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
We are a peer run nonprofit and that means that
the majority of our board of directors are people in
recovery with mental health or addiction, and one hundred percent
of the staff, including myself, our people in recovery. And
when I say that, we all walk different paths. Mine
is a physical recovery, an addiction recovery, and a mental
(16:25):
health recovery. So it's a little different than some of
the other staff, but some parts we share the same qualities.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
How did you end up over here?
Speaker 5 (16:37):
I began my recovery about seventeen years ago, and sixteen
years ago I've been in recovery fully from addiction and
pain management and also mental health, and so for about
ten years I did a lot of advocacy for the
role of the peer support specialists. And so when I've
(17:00):
seen the need happen and our institutions were shutting down
in twenty fifteen, I had a vision to open up
what is going on in a lot of other states,
and some states have multiple peer run respite and what
that means is that is a diversionary piece that can
(17:23):
help somebody from not having to use an er, not
go into impatient and not be locked up in a
jail cell, and you could stay up to seven days
and get the support from other trained staff members that
have been there and just change your environment. And for me, pat,
(17:44):
if I would have changed my environment in my beginning
of my recovery, i might not be where I am today.
But I'm glad I've walked the walk that I walk
because now we run the only peer run respite in
Iowa and the only after our Wellness Recovery Center now.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
I want you to go not that you want to
keep revisiting the past on this, but this is not
like you can say, Okay, well I had an addiction
and I had some physical things to deal with. I mean,
your road was not that straight up a road to
be able to get to this point.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Oh absolutely. And you know, I think when you talk
about recovery, recovery is linear. You know, my wife also
has walk a path in recovery, and hers is different
than mine, right, because we're all different. And for me,
I like to just say that, you know, it happened
a little quicker because of the supports that I was
(18:39):
able to find my community, my church, the right doctors,
the right counselors. And sometimes people don't have that opportunity
to find them right ones, and mostly Pats, they don't
know that they have the right if they're not getting
that to find the right one. I like to tell
(18:59):
people when I go to do presentations and talk to families,
is that the thing is, you know, if you don't know,
you don't know, and how are you going to find out?
And sometimes not just in Iowa, in the whole world.
Trying to find the path to the right pieces for
recovery is like a pirate with half a treasure map,
(19:22):
and you need to find the rest of the map
to find the gold. And we as peer specialists and
the peer run organization are able to help them find
the rest of the map to the gold and find
what it is they can use for their recovery.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
With those successes, there also has to be like constant.
Do you feel like every other day or every day
is a fundraising day?
Speaker 5 (19:46):
Or what you know every day is a fundraising day?
To be honest with you, some are a little bigger
than others. But yeah, that does tend to be a
little bit of the challenge, right. I like to think
of the good people in the quad Cities with betterhealth.
I like to think of the people with Community Foundation
in Davenport. You know, the thing is it's easy for
(20:07):
these other nonprofits to go there and get the funding,
but when you have a new and still newer peer
run organization, it's like, well, I don't know about that
because I don't know what this is, and so I
like to try to educate them. But also the state too,
Right we're talking about Iowa, but I look right next
(20:28):
to the river Wisconsin. Wisconsin has six peer run respites,
but they've been doing it for a while. And what
I want to see is I want to see the
Hawk guys beat Wisconsin, and I like to think of
me as the quarterback for the Hawk guys. I need
to educate my state what a peer run organization is
(20:51):
and the importance of having a peer run respite.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Ronda's House is an award winning house that people can
check out right now, but it's thanks to a lot
of great work, not just from you, with all the
other people with life recovery peer services.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
And I like to think about this when I'm talking
to possible funders to the state, to politicians, is that
it costs about two thousand dollars a day to be
an an end patient. And here's the thing. You don't
get a lot of help when you go to the
end patient because nothing ever really gets resolved because they
(21:26):
get mad when they see that person come back thirty
days later. But here's the big kicker for everybody. The
big kicker is at Ronda's House. It only costs an
average of four hundred and thirty dollars a day to
fund this for each person. So if we had four
hundred and thirty dollars a person per day. Not only
(21:49):
are we saving a ton of money, we are putting
people into the skilled buildings of what it takes to
walk that path in recovery.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
With Ronda's House, how are things worked out where you
try to help as many people as you can.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
So we can have people go to our website and
just fill on and online the reservation, or they can
call for a reservation at our phone number and that's
five six three six five nine one one seven one.
We do a very very limited screening. I like to
call it's our reservation, just like a bed and breakfast,
(22:27):
and then once we have them approved to come, they
walk in and it's basically whatever they need. We actually
have a lot of people that come in with co
occurring disorders. We've been able to help a lot of
people get into twenty eight day pre treatment programs around
the state for that co occurring If they need to
(22:48):
come instead of going to an er because they're going
through grief, that's totally fine. It's whatever it is they
need pat And you know the thing is, it's we
are able to listen to them however long they need,
right and a lot of times when you go to
a counselor unfortunately they're looking at the clock. You know,
(23:12):
I got another patient coming in. Well, I'm sorry, but
we need to work with these people when they need it,
not when we want to work with it.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
There are successes, and without getting into too much detail,
you have to feel like and how many people, just
in the last year alone, has Life Recovery Peer Services
been able to touch on an effect in a positive way?
Because I would imagine the first meeting you probably just
the vibe that you're getting that person's already starting to
(23:42):
heal just a little bit thanks to your help.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Absolutely, And there's a person right now that I just
left the house that I feel that that said, oh
my gosh, I don't know if I ever want to
leave again. I've never been supported in this fashion. And
in the last year, we've served over one hundred and
thirty people. You know, next Wednesday and I know you're
going to talk about this is going to be our
seven year anniversary. Seven years and we're almost at a
(24:10):
seven hundred and fifty people in the state of Iowa
that we've supported because we're contracted with the state. And
again we are contracted, but we need more sustainable funding
and we serve the whole state. I mean, we've had
people come from Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, a Tumwa,
oscar Loosa. We don't care. We'll get them here. And
(24:33):
that's our thing is we don't want people to go without.
I remember in my recovery when I went into my
pain doctor being on five different narcotics and said, Doc,
I'm really struggling. Is there a support group for people
with chronic pain? And his words are what devastated me.
(24:53):
He said, no, there's nothing out there. Nobody in this
organization will ever let anybody hear there.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
You do have an occasion on a Friday night where
people can kind of join in and have a good
time and do a little bonding.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
So that's the after our Wellness Recovery Center in Cleddon
at sixteen sixty three Lincoln Way in a little strip mall.
We have two suites that's open Monday through Friday from
four pm to ten pm. And here's the nice thing
that we found through the pandemic. If somebody can't make
it in there, or if somebody's in Des Moines and
(25:28):
needs some extra support, that doesn't recall them leaving their home.
They can join virtually. So if they go to our
website Life Connections Recovery dot org and they go to
the services tab, they'll see a thing there that says
Virtual Recovery Center. They can join virtually by their phone,
(25:49):
a tablet, a computer and get the support they need.
They can also take part in support groups, but if
they need private support, we can put them in a
breakout room and the staff will support them. We actually
just helped somebody from Chicago, Chicago get into a treatment
(26:09):
place that they needed to go to.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
And how do you do that?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Though?
Speaker 2 (26:12):
For people that are more than a few miles away.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
The best way is through our website, through an inquiry there,
or if it is the respite house, they can absolutely
call the respite house. But let's just say they want
to get a hold of somebody and they don't want
to leave their home. They don't need to leave their home.
They can actually call the Wellness Recovery Center and that
phone number real quick is five six' three two zero
(26:39):
six one four four. Seven but here's the nice thing
about The Wellness, center and let's just say they are.
Close they could just walk. In there's no appointments. Needed
we're there when they need. It we are their.
Speaker 7 (26:52):
Appointment you got to give that number again five six'
three two zero six one four seven and if they,
want to they can end up talking to a staff
on the phone and if it doesn't, get resolved they.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Will figure out a way to help get what they.
Need resolved we have helped many people at that recovery
center and get what it is. They need and to
be quite honest, with you that we have three people
that we've served At the rest Of the house And
The recovery center that have worked.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
For, us well that just kind of shows how much
they appreciate what's happened to them and how they want
to pass on all that help.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
And, knowledge ABSOLUTELY and i really would like to get
to the big thing that's going to happen because it's
really just, exciting me to be honest, With you iowa
has the only peer unrespit and IN, the us it's
the only one in the. Rural area seven years is
going to Be, next wednesday So, next friday where you
are having an anniversary party where they can come from
(27:57):
eleven am to, two pm take a two we're of,
the house enjoy, a, cookie, cupcakes water and just see what.
IT is i can sit here and tell you all
morning long Pat About, respite House The, recovery center but
what you need to do is take a tour and
then you will see here and feel the energy that
we change in people's lives and you would. BE thankful
(28:20):
i look back at a lady that came to Us
in january of twenty twenty other side of the state in,
twenty nineteen this person was in an endpatient, nine times
nine times out of. Twelve months so they came to
Us in january of twenty twenty and since they have
stayed in touch and used The respite house at least
(28:42):
a dozen times and has only had to go back
to an indpatient. One time and she said the reason
she did is because we. Were full so.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
If people want to check things out, next week address
information just so they can be a part.
Speaker 5 (28:58):
Of this toost nine to Sixteen eleventh Street. In DeWitt
they would come in at eleven am to two pm,
and again just take, a tour check. It out even
see our support dog that we have that lives at.
The house that is a, huge support sometimes more than
(29:18):
the staff because he is.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Still loving oh no doubt and what's the?
Speaker 7 (29:22):
Dog's?
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Name yoda just Like In, star wars well it has.
To be here's, The, thing pat is that the Definition
of yoda, is warrior and he is a warrior for
all the guests to come in and sometimes even.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
The staff you've been Listening To Quad, city forum a
weekly community service program Produced.
Speaker 8 (29:41):
By iHeartRadio if you were your nonprofit organization would like to,
be featured please visit the contact page in our station
website or Contact Quad city forum and Care. Of iHeartMedia
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