September 29, 2025 • 30 mins
This week’s show featured Builder Foundation executive director Melissa Glenn discussing the work they do to inspire students to consider working in the construction trades, UNMC’s Dr. Rebekah Gundry promoting fundraising opportunities for their center for heart and vascular research, and landscape architect David Meyer inviting the community to enjoy the new Greenways at Heartwood Preserve.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is Community Matters, a weekly public affairs program to
inform and entertain you with some of the great people, organizations,
and events in and around Omaha. Now here's the host
of the program from news radio eleven ten kfab It's Scott.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Forheats and thank you so much for being a part
of our program. This week, we now welcome the executive
director of an organization called the Builder Foundation online at
builderfoundation dot org. Cool group. A very fun event coming
up later this week. We'll tell you about in a moment,
but first welcome executive director of the Builder Foundation, Melissa Glenn.
(00:42):
Great to have you on Community Matters.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Melissa Scott, it's great to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
So tell me about the Builder Foundation.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Sure, yeah, it's wonderful organization. It started back in nineteen
ninety three with a group of people in the construction trade.
So Ted Grace was one of the co founders and
this we need to get more people into the construction trade.
But the best way to do that is to get
tools into the hands of these students and let them
see what this is all about. So they started building
playhouses and fast forward over the years we are now
(01:10):
building full real houses. We're up to five houses this
year and it's been a fantastic transformation.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
So this is more about the cultivating of those doing
the building, and I'm guessing on the back end of
it there's also some assistance for those who are having
things built for them. Great question.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, So basically, the Builder Foundation exists through two main programs.
One of the programs that makes us so unique is
called Train the Trainer, So we will actually spend eighty
hours each summer in different cohorts with eighty hours per
teacher with intensive instruction to help them better teach and
educate students in the construction fields. So one we support
(01:49):
teachers by making sure they have all of the tools
and resources that they need. And then the other program
is called Builders of the Future, and that's where we
actually assist schools in getting curriculum into the program into
the schools so that students can build everything from sheds
depending on the size of the school and the resources
that they have, all the way up to full house
builds where we've helped provide obviously training, construction in kind, materials,
(02:14):
anything that we can just to make sure that the
opportunity is in front of students.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, I think that everyone has some level of patients realizing, oh,
I started off somewhere too once upon a time. When
it comes to stuff like you can even go to
the hairstyling school and pay a couple of bucks and
get a pretty bad haircut, but it's you know, it
is what it is. Or someone just starts working at
a sandwich shop and you're like, well, that's not the
way I would have made it. That's not how usually.
(02:42):
But when it comes to like building a house or something,
you know, we need that to be done correctly because
you kind of have the house fall down and go, ah,
those kids, you know, they'll learn, you know, So that
we're trying to bring people up into a very necessary trade,
especially with all the construction going on. The more people
we get involved, the more teams we can have, the
(03:03):
faster we can get stuff done right.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, and these houses are exceptionally well built. So what
happens is because of the training that we provide to
the teachers and because of the facilitation that we provide
working directly with the students to make sure that the
plans are followed, the instruction is done well. We also
have a lot of community partners that will come in
so you know, one week we might have the drywall
(03:26):
guy come in and you know, show the students how
this actually works. So we have professionals coming in all
the time. Students are learning from the best of the
best when they're learning these trades.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Oh yeah, it's a great job. And especially since it's
been the thought, I think for a long time that
while I need to get a more technology oriented job,
and you know, I got to be real busy, and
I got to have three phones in front of me
at all times, and two laptops and an iPad, and
I'm working constantly. And then you got your buddy that
(03:58):
went into the trades standard nine to five makes more
money than you do and feels good like at the
end of the day, I actually built something. I have
something to show for it. Meanwhile, some of us who
work more with computers are like, I pushed some numbers
around a spreadsheet, you know, And a lot of these guys,
some of these people in the trades are kind of
working for themselves and it's an incredibly rewarding job.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Percent And I think there are two main things that
play here. To Scott is that one. For so many years,
I think the trade's got a really bad reputation, and
that's very unfortunate because it's not lesser work, you know,
in quotes like it was painted to be for so
many years. It is amazing work. And students don't know
that they are brilliant in some of these trades because
they never were exposed. You know, trades were cut out
(04:44):
of a lot of schools. You know, the curriculum just
didn't exist, or if it was, the funding was cut
so much that you couldn't really do anything. So a
lot of i'd say forward progress was lost, and that's
what we're trying to come back to. But on the
other side, you look at the economy and how everything
moves forward and what actually goes into the economy, and
(05:05):
eighty percent of our economy is considered small businesses. So
you know, when we're looking at the trades, that is
an ideal place where you are always going to have
a job. You're not going to be replaced by AI.
You always have something that needs to be built, you know,
or fixed or remodeled or whatever it is. You know,
electricity isn't going away, plumbing isn't going away. These things
(05:26):
are here to stay, and you can, like you said,
you can make a lot of money and build a
great foundation for your family and your kids or just
for you, whatever it is. By looking at a career
in the trades.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, you're not going to be replaced by AI. Nor
are you going to be replaced by that husband who
has something go wrong at the house, watches half of
a YouTube video and says, I got this and then
screws it up worse. And that's by the way, and
the pro do you teach these these young guys, these
would be contractors, that when they show up to a
job and look at what had happened before them, that
(05:59):
they're I think constitutionally mandated to say, well, I don't
know what the last guy did he but but I'm
here and.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I've got it right and still confidence.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yes, that's always my favorite part of every time talking
to a contractor. I don't know what the last guy
was thinking, but anyway. We're talking with the executive director
of the Builder Foundation online at builder foundation dot org.
Melissa Glenn is with us here on community matters, and
there's a fundraising event coming up this Thursday, October second,
this Thursday that helps do all these things that you're
(06:29):
talking about through the Builder Foundation tell me about this event.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Oh, we're really excited. The event is going to be
at Peter Finks Muscle Car Museum, So one, if you
haven't been there, it's a phenomenal experience. You walk in
and I swear there's not a spect of dirt in
the whole place. But it's a really interesting museum. But
for us, it's really almost a reintroduction of what the
Builder Foundation is because again, for the last thirty years,
(06:54):
the organization has been changing and growing, and we're now
at a place where we're at a cusp of a
lot bigger growth. We're expanding to more places in the
state of Nebraska, we're in Iowa. We have a lot
of things that are really exciting coming up, and this
is really our way to almost tell the world again
who we are and what we do. So it's going
to be a lot of fun. It is a fundraiser,
(07:16):
but it's a whole lot of fun, so we hope
people can make it out.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I have yet to see the Muscle Car Museum cultivated
carefully and lovingly by mister Peter Fink, but I've heard
so much about it, and this is this is not
exactly something where you just go in just an irregular
Thursday and be a part of it. This is just yeah,
this is a very special opportunity. So what's happening at
(07:39):
the event on Thursday? And how more importantly, how can
people be a part of it?
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, So what's happening at the event is where are
going to have a lot of entertainment at the event,
along with a live auction with some really exciting live
auction packages and a raffle which again has some really
nice items curated in there. And you'll also get to
hear from student and teachers and really get some first
hand experience about what projects they're working on and how
(08:04):
it's made an impact to them. And one thing too
that we're really trying to express is that there is
a need for everyone to follow their path and their
career explore the trades because it's an amazing option. We
need doctors and teachers and lawyers and administrative assistance, we
need all of that, but don't forget about everything that's
(08:26):
happening in the trades. That's for men, women, everybody.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Oh yeah, especially as I said earlier, the opportunity to
do great work be thanked by the person you're doing
the workforce. See the work that you've done, having built
something with your hands that day. It adds a lot
of self worth and a lot of people are looking
for purpose and life at all different stages of life.
This is it for so many people. And the people
(08:51):
I know who work in the trades, you couldn't extract
them from what they do with the jaws of life.
They love what they do, maybe not every single moment
of every day, especially when they come to my house.
I'm like, I tried to like great, thanks, but they're
wonderful people. It's great work and the fact that the
Builder Foundation is bringing that next generation forward, especially with
(09:14):
fun events like the event this Thursday, is so great.
As you said, it is a fundraiser. So if people
want to be a part of the fundraiser, what do
they need to do right now so they can be
there on Thursday?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Right now? Go to Builder Foundation dot org, click on events.
You'll see the Fall twenty twenty five event link. You
can buy tickets right there. There's still a little bit
of time to sponsor and get ready. When you show
up there, grab a paddle so that you can be
in on those live auction items.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Now, what about that parent listening going. I want my
kid to be a part of this. How do they
do they reach out to you and.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Reach out to me. Yes, So my email is m
Glenn at Builder Foundation dot org. I would be happy
to talk to the parents. See if their school is
already involved, I can get them connected with the teacher.
If their school isn't involved, we're working on a lot
of growth over the next five years, so the goal
is to get that school and on board.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yeah, and this only for students right now. It's not
for like if you've got a twenty seven year old
still living in your house and like his dream of
playing the triangle and a rock band has not come
true yet, and you're like, I'm putting him in the program.
We're not quite doing that right yet.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
But at the same time, call me because we work
with industry partners all the time who are constantly looking
for people, and the great thing about the trades is
that industry partners are willing to train. So talk to me.
There's a big network. Hopefully it can get you connected in.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
The right place.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Perfect. It all is on that website builder Foundation dot org.
Builder Foundation dot org dedicated to inspiring and educating the
next Generation of Construction Leaders with, among other things, the
event like this Thursday at the Peter Fink Musclecar Museum.
All the details at Builder Foundation dot org. Melissa glenn
(10:57):
is the executive director of this group. Thank you so
much much for what you're doing for young people and
all of us in the community. We all benefit from
this and thanks for telling us about it on Community Matters.
Thanks Scott, you're listening to Community Matters. Up next in
the program, we welcome from the UNMC Center for Heart
and Vascular Research, someone who's been nominated as a twenty
(11:19):
twenty five Omaha Leader of Impact with the American Heart Association,
doctor Rebecca Gundry. Welcome to Community Matters. It's good to
have you here.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Well, thank you so much, Scott. I am really delighted
to be here and excited to have the opportunity to
talk a little bit about our research and what we're
trying to do here in Omaha.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Absolutely well, first of all, I'm glad that a number
of people obviously have noticed the work that you guys
are doing at UNMC. It's got to be quite an
honor to be named a Leader of Impact with the
American Heart Association, right it is extraordinary.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
It certainly kin is quite a surprise. So I've been
a really passionate heart disease researcher for just about twenty years,
and it's really exciting to see some of the new
developments that have, you know, came to fruition over the
past decade or so because of outstanding research that happens,
and really excited to see how that research will continue
(12:13):
to create new treatments and options for patients.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
At the same time, I imagine it's also a little bit
of you know, something that makes you blush a little
bit because you're not the only person at the Center
for Heart and Vascular Research there. So you're like, but
I need to share this honor with everybody here. But
as as coordinator with this fantastic group out of UNMC,
tell me about what you do.
Speaker 6 (12:37):
Sure, so you are correct. So this is a team effort.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
So while I have been nominated, I have this amazing
fundraising team that includes scientists, surgeons, cardiologists that are all
doing research to advance, you know, improve patient care. And
so at the Center for Heart and Vascular Research, we're
just about two hundred members of research, researchers, scientists, engineers
(13:04):
and clinicians from un MC, un l U, and O
and we have a few members from Creighton. And the
idea is to come together in kind of a critical
mass of investigators that have a passion for making a
difference for heart and vascular disease patients, and we develop
really incredible collaborations, new lines of research, and are working
(13:26):
together every day to make a difference on how patients
lives can be improved.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Yeah, and that's got to be a daunting job, especially
since heart and vascular diseases are the number one killer in,
among other places, Nebraska every single year. And oftentimes it's
people who I mean, for some people, and every situation
is unique and different, but I'm guessing that you know,
for a lot of people, they're doing the things in
(13:54):
life or not doing the things in life that they
know they should or shouldn't be doing. When you're telling
people we got to raise awareness for those things that
people can do to make themselves healthier, it's frustrating because
a lot of people know those things, but they're not
putting them into practice, right.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, I think that's certainly true for many of us.
It can be a challenging sometimes to always make.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
Really good choices. But you are correct.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
So the heart and basselaar disease is number one killer
in Nebraska and across the United States. Just in Nebraska alone,
more than four thousand Nebraska's died last year of heart
disease and strokes. So when we think about what are
the things we can do, like you mentioned, there's a
lot of things we know we should do, and sometimes
it can be hard to implement it every single day
(14:38):
all the time. But even a little positive change can
make a big change. So eating your fruits and vegetables,
minimizing your intake of things like red meat, getting your
regular exercise, whether it's a walk or a jog, avoiding
tobacco and smoking if you can, and really, really really
important is to see your doctor regularly and get your
(15:01):
blood pressure checked. A lot of folks don't know their
blood pressure, so start with that information and you can
have a goal of what.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
You want to work on.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Yeah, I'm glad that you phrased it in that way,
but because by the way, I love my red meat,
but I don't eat it for five and a half
meals every single day. Right, it's you know, just you
know a little bit of this a little bit of that.
When you said, like, there's just a few little things
that we can do in our daily lives to make
ourselves healthier. You're not talking about a complete overhaul, like
(15:31):
completely cut this out except maybe smoking. And you know
you've there are things you can do to make yourself
healthier every day, and when you present it to someone
like that, it's not as daunting, right, correct.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
And what can also help is if you have friends
or family that you know. You know that you want
to make the right decision, but sometimes it can be
hard doing it alone. You know, make an agreement with
a friend or a coworker that you know every day
at lunch you're going to take a ten or fifteen
minute walk. Simple things start simple and easy, and just
try to build in good habits and they will grow
(16:03):
over time.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Talking here with doctor Rebecca Gundry, she is a coordinator
with the UNMC Center for Heart and Vascular Research and
because of this nomination as a twenty twenty five OMAHA
Leader of Impact with the American Heart Association, you guys
at UNMC are raising funds. How can people come alongside
this mission and help you guys out with not only
(16:26):
raising the money, but allowing you guys to turn that
money into healthy practices, to turn the tide on stuff
like what we're hearing about heart and vascular disease being
the number one killer here in our area.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Great.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
So we have a number of ways that people can
support our team. So first, all of the options that
we have for donations and fundraise events are on our
website at team gundry for Aha dot com, and on
that website you can donate funds directly. You can purchase
(17:00):
auto spot tickets to Tidal Wave of Autospa. Tickets cost
ten dollars, but they're a thirty dollars value to use at.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Any of the Omaha locations.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
We also have a fun variety of custom laser engraved
wood items, and our really three big events are kind
of our showcase pieces. So we have three events coming
up in the Omaha area. All are open to the public,
and all of them will feature an event attended by
several different researchers and scientists from UNIMC who will be
(17:29):
available to talk to attendees about their research and about
science in general, and there will also be opportunities for
CPR education.
Speaker 6 (17:39):
So our first event is going to be outstanding.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
It's on October eighth at seven pm and it's a
benefit concert put on by Willie Porter, who's just a
phenomenal musician and human being. He's going to fly in
specifically to do the show for us. And it's at
the Enchanting Barn at Ackerhurst Dairy in Bennington. So for
fifty dollars a ticket, you get the show, plus you
get appetizers and soft drinks included, as well as opportunities
(18:05):
for raffle prizes. So that's going to be a fun evening.
Then our second event is October twenty fifth at Top Golf,
Omaha from ten am to twelve pm, and this is.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
One hundred dollars a ticket.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
You get two hours of golf play, free analysis of
your golf swing and advice by a golf coach which
is key, and a full hot breakfast buffet included. And
our third event is going to be on November second,
and this is a pickaball tournament at the Union Bank
and Trust Sports Complex in Elkhorn, so teams of all
abilities are welcome. The cost is one hundred dollars per team.
(18:38):
All participants get a T shirt minimum of three games
and again all events.
Speaker 6 (18:43):
Have access to raffle prizes that we.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Have had donated by many of the local businesses who
are supporting our efforts. So overall, three really fun events,
lots of time to interact with scientists, to get CPR education,
and just learn about things that you can do every
day to help improve your health.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I love this and I would have loved to have
been a part of the meeting about like, Okay, we
have an opportunity to raise some funds. What are some
ways that we can ask people for money? And then
that I'm and it kind of sounds like doctor Gundry.
It was perhaps you that were pushing like, well, we
don't just want to ask people for money. Let's have
a concert, Let's play some golf, let's play some pickle ball,
(19:23):
let's eat some good food. And this is a great
way to do multiple fundraisers. But boy, that's a lot
to take on all all three of these events coming
right up.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
Yes, Well, we have an incredible administrator, Amy Bigger Staff,
who is my partner in crime, and we just have
a great team. We also, you know, the artist Willie
Porter has been a longtime friend and I chexted him
with this opportunity and he wrote back immediately. Yes, happy
to help in any way. And we've had incredible support
by local vendors and venues where our events are taking place.
(19:54):
So this has all come together really within a short
few weeks.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
So that's why.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
We're really grateful to have your help to get the
word out, because we have a short amount of time
to sell tickets and make people aware of these really
fun events where all the money is going to a
great cost.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
So once again, for people who want to be a
part of all or part of these events, here, what's
that website?
Speaker 4 (20:14):
It's Team Gundry for AHA dot com and the gundry
is g u n is in Nancy Das and dog Ry.
So team Gundry for AHA dot com.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Is that for the number or for the word?
Speaker 6 (20:31):
It is for spelled out fo R.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Thanks for asking, absolutely so Team Gundry for AA. Pardon
me ah? A is an American Heart Association.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Correct dot com?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
All right, yep. And as I always say on this program,
if you're driving around, you're like, well, I tried to
remember it and then I couldn't do it. Just call
the radio station or communicate with the radio station email.
And at some point if you just call and say
the guy on the radio said something about thing. That
will get back to me and I will pass along
the website Team Gundry for AHA dot com so you
(21:09):
can learn about the concert coming up again. The date
on that concert, which sounds great is October eighth, yes, okay.
And then win's the Top Golf that's the one I'm interested.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
In, October twenty fifth.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Okay, then ten twenty five on Top Golf and pickleball.
I don't know. You might have to put up barricades
to keep people from being a part of a pickleball tournament.
People love pickleball.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Wins that event that's on November second.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Awesome this is and we have.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
You'll notice that we have carefully avoided Husker games.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Yeah, very nice. People love pickleball so much they're like, yeah,
my daughter was gonna get married on that date, but
instead I'm gonna go to this pickleball thing. That's how
much people love pickleball.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
So it's gonna be so much fun.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Yeah, and if you've got Amy bigger staff who's being
a part of this, you cannot go wrong. Is one
of the best, So absolutely, Team Gundry for AHA dot
Com Forrest spelled out. Gundry is g u N as
a Nancy Diaz and David Ry team Gundry for Aha
(22:17):
dot com for all these events coming up here. Doctor
Rebecca Gundry, you and MC coordinator the Center for Heart
and Vascular Research and nominated as a twenty twenty five
Omaha Leader of Impact with the American Heart Association. Thank
you so much for what you're doing and your team
as well for people right here in our community. And
thanks so much for telling us about it on Community Matters.
Speaker 6 (22:38):
Great, thank you so much for having me And.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Finally on Community Matters this week, Omaha has a really
beautiful project that's coming to Fruition and we are lucky
to have the architect of this project on the show
to share his vision with us from Meyer's studio, Land Architects.
David Meyer is here on Community Matters, David, but it's
great to have you on the show.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
Thank you, Scott. And just one clarification, I am a
landscape architect, not an architect. So that's a clarification on
my profession.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Okay, well let's talk about that for a second here,
because architecture, obviously you're thinking about buildings as a landscape architect.
It's a different palette you're working with, right.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
That it is. And we like to refer to ourselves
as land architects because there is a common thing where
people think of landscape architect as landscapers. And you know,
we shape the land, we cite the land, We help
the architects locate where the buildings should go. So we
(23:45):
are the shaper of the land and composer of the
land and everything within it. So that's a bit of
a clarification there, got it.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Well, Heartwood Preserve, is this this incredibly shaped land that
is already taking some shape here in Omaha, and you've
been in charge of the greenways part of this project.
Please share with us this vision of what we can
experience soon here in Omaha.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Thanks well, thanks again Scot for having me. It's so
exciting for you and your listeners to have Heartwood Preserved
in your neighborhood because it is an extraordinary place. It's
a five hundred acre mixed use development that has an
exceptional regard for the environment, integrating more than one hundred
and fifty acres of open space, providing the city with
(24:37):
a beautiful and enduring natural asset. And I just put
an exclamation point on that, because it's rare to have
a developer dedicate that much land to open space and
pass off to Steve Menzi's and apply to underwriters for
making that happen.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Yeah, so this is the part of this is the
Old Boys Town property. A lot of long time on
Hans are certainly familiar with this great tract of land
near one hundred and forty fourth and just south of Dodge.
So what is it that the greenways project is going
to look like as you're working with this land, David.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Well, the greenways are very performative. It's really based upon
a commitment to design and social impact, and I believe
that Hartwood sets a really high holistic bar. What we
have done, working with Applied Underwriters, we have reimagined climate
change infrastructure and really further the idea of what a
part public park can and should be. The cornerstone of
(25:42):
our plan is a storm water system that addresses the
disastrous flooding of the area that once ravaged the area.
And to address that, our design features fourteen large earthen
vessels that collect every drop of water that lands on
our property. And what that does protect the community downstream
of heartwood, It restores aquifers, it creates habitat, so it's
(26:07):
very much a performative design. And while the earth is
being meticulously shaped to capture and manage one hundred and
seventy acre feet of water, the esthetic intention was to
bring natural phenomenon forward and foster a deeper appreciation of
our ever changing environment. So we see the opportunity to
(26:28):
not just collect water and mitigate floods, but transform the
basins into structures that have presence, constructed of earth and
dry stack limestone. The vessels give heartwood a very distinctive
character and really bring nature's dynamism forward. And our intent
is that people who see and feel these spaces will
(26:48):
become more conscious observers of their planet and what's happening
to it with climate change.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
This is a fascinating conversation and I'm thinking about it
in relation to music. Some people like to write the
words first. Some people like to write the music first.
When you're looking at a piece of land with which
you're thinking about working or have been contracted to work with,
are you seeing the usage and some of these more
infrastructure things you're talking about, like floodplain management, that kind
(27:18):
of thing or are you looking at the finished project
and how beautiful it's going to be and working within
the infrastructure to get to that point.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
Very good question. Beauty is always our guiding light. Having
said that, on this project, the greenways had so much
area required to collect storm water that it really became
the primary program component of our design and how we
(27:49):
shape the earth to do that. To have these level
vessels was a critical component of the design process. So
I would say that was a very driving factor in
how we approached our design. But it was really critical
to have the volume, but equally important was that they
(28:10):
were beautiful sculpted objects that became spectacles in the landscape
that ultimately will become a publicly accessible parkland for the community.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Where are we and the percentage way done of the
project right now?
Speaker 5 (28:29):
That's a really good question. There's five hundred acres as headquarters,
which is fifty acres that is probably ninety percent complete.
The greenways north of Pacific are probably ninety percent complete.
South of Pacific, they're at probably in seventy five percent completion. Uh,
(28:51):
And we're just really excited to see that people are
already walking their dogs, biking through the greenways. I'm seeing
fox and critters and migratory birds starting to occupy what
used to be Mama culture of Corn. So the use
of the park is beginning to happen, even though it's
(29:13):
not really formally opened.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
David Meyer is founder of Meyer Studio Land Architects, and
he and his team responsible for providing this wonderful greenways
space to the Old Boys Town property in Heartwood Preserve
near one hundred and forty fourth and Dodge. David, fascinating conversation.
Thank you so much for what you're doing for our
community here in Omaha, and thanks so much for talking
(29:37):
with us about it here on Community Matters.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
My place is Scott. Appreciate talking here.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
This has been Community Matters, a weekly public affairs special
on KAT one O three, Omaha's Greatest Hits ninety nine
point nine, KGr News Radio, eleven ten KFAB Country's Greatest
Hits ninety three three The Wolf, and ninety six one
Kiss FM. Thank you so much for listening and enjoy
the real of your day.
This is Community Matters, a weekly public affairs program to
inform and entertain you with some of the great people, organizations,
and events in and around Omaha. Now here's the host
of the program from news radio eleven ten kfab It's Scott.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Forheats and thank you so much for being a part
of our program. This week, we now welcome the executive
director of an organization called the Builder Foundation online at
builderfoundation dot org. Cool group. A very fun event coming
up later this week. We'll tell you about in a moment,
but first welcome executive director of the Builder Foundation, Melissa Glenn.
(00:42):
Great to have you on Community Matters.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Melissa Scott, it's great to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
So tell me about the Builder Foundation.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Sure, yeah, it's wonderful organization. It started back in nineteen
ninety three with a group of people in the construction trade.
So Ted Grace was one of the co founders and
this we need to get more people into the construction trade.
But the best way to do that is to get
tools into the hands of these students and let them
see what this is all about. So they started building
playhouses and fast forward over the years we are now
(01:10):
building full real houses. We're up to five houses this
year and it's been a fantastic transformation.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
So this is more about the cultivating of those doing
the building, and I'm guessing on the back end of
it there's also some assistance for those who are having
things built for them. Great question.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, So basically, the Builder Foundation exists through two main programs.
One of the programs that makes us so unique is
called Train the Trainer, So we will actually spend eighty
hours each summer in different cohorts with eighty hours per
teacher with intensive instruction to help them better teach and
educate students in the construction fields. So one we support
(01:49):
teachers by making sure they have all of the tools
and resources that they need. And then the other program
is called Builders of the Future, and that's where we
actually assist schools in getting curriculum into the program into
the schools so that students can build everything from sheds
depending on the size of the school and the resources
that they have, all the way up to full house
builds where we've helped provide obviously training, construction in kind, materials,
(02:14):
anything that we can just to make sure that the
opportunity is in front of students.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, I think that everyone has some level of patients realizing, oh,
I started off somewhere too once upon a time. When
it comes to stuff like you can even go to
the hairstyling school and pay a couple of bucks and
get a pretty bad haircut, but it's you know, it
is what it is. Or someone just starts working at
a sandwich shop and you're like, well, that's not the
way I would have made it. That's not how usually.
(02:42):
But when it comes to like building a house or something,
you know, we need that to be done correctly because
you kind of have the house fall down and go, ah,
those kids, you know, they'll learn, you know, So that
we're trying to bring people up into a very necessary trade,
especially with all the construction going on. The more people
we get involved, the more teams we can have, the
(03:03):
faster we can get stuff done right.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, and these houses are exceptionally well built. So what
happens is because of the training that we provide to
the teachers and because of the facilitation that we provide
working directly with the students to make sure that the
plans are followed, the instruction is done well. We also
have a lot of community partners that will come in
so you know, one week we might have the drywall
(03:26):
guy come in and you know, show the students how
this actually works. So we have professionals coming in all
the time. Students are learning from the best of the
best when they're learning these trades.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Oh yeah, it's a great job. And especially since it's
been the thought, I think for a long time that
while I need to get a more technology oriented job,
and you know, I got to be real busy, and
I got to have three phones in front of me
at all times, and two laptops and an iPad, and
I'm working constantly. And then you got your buddy that
(03:58):
went into the trades standard nine to five makes more
money than you do and feels good like at the
end of the day, I actually built something. I have
something to show for it. Meanwhile, some of us who
work more with computers are like, I pushed some numbers
around a spreadsheet, you know, And a lot of these guys,
some of these people in the trades are kind of
working for themselves and it's an incredibly rewarding job.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Percent And I think there are two main things that
play here. To Scott is that one. For so many years,
I think the trade's got a really bad reputation, and
that's very unfortunate because it's not lesser work, you know,
in quotes like it was painted to be for so
many years. It is amazing work. And students don't know
that they are brilliant in some of these trades because
they never were exposed. You know, trades were cut out
(04:44):
of a lot of schools. You know, the curriculum just
didn't exist, or if it was, the funding was cut
so much that you couldn't really do anything. So a
lot of i'd say forward progress was lost, and that's
what we're trying to come back to. But on the
other side, you look at the economy and how everything
moves forward and what actually goes into the economy, and
(05:05):
eighty percent of our economy is considered small businesses. So
you know, when we're looking at the trades, that is
an ideal place where you are always going to have
a job. You're not going to be replaced by AI.
You always have something that needs to be built, you know,
or fixed or remodeled or whatever it is. You know,
electricity isn't going away, plumbing isn't going away. These things
(05:26):
are here to stay, and you can, like you said,
you can make a lot of money and build a
great foundation for your family and your kids or just
for you, whatever it is. By looking at a career
in the trades.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, you're not going to be replaced by AI. Nor
are you going to be replaced by that husband who
has something go wrong at the house, watches half of
a YouTube video and says, I got this and then
screws it up worse. And that's by the way, and
the pro do you teach these these young guys, these
would be contractors, that when they show up to a
job and look at what had happened before them, that
(05:59):
they're I think constitutionally mandated to say, well, I don't
know what the last guy did he but but I'm
here and.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I've got it right and still confidence.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yes, that's always my favorite part of every time talking
to a contractor. I don't know what the last guy
was thinking, but anyway. We're talking with the executive director
of the Builder Foundation online at builder foundation dot org.
Melissa Glenn is with us here on community matters, and
there's a fundraising event coming up this Thursday, October second,
this Thursday that helps do all these things that you're
(06:29):
talking about through the Builder Foundation tell me about this event.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Oh, we're really excited. The event is going to be
at Peter Finks Muscle Car Museum, So one, if you
haven't been there, it's a phenomenal experience. You walk in
and I swear there's not a spect of dirt in
the whole place. But it's a really interesting museum. But
for us, it's really almost a reintroduction of what the
Builder Foundation is because again, for the last thirty years,
(06:54):
the organization has been changing and growing, and we're now
at a place where we're at a cusp of a
lot bigger growth. We're expanding to more places in the
state of Nebraska, we're in Iowa. We have a lot
of things that are really exciting coming up, and this
is really our way to almost tell the world again
who we are and what we do. So it's going
to be a lot of fun. It is a fundraiser,
(07:16):
but it's a whole lot of fun, so we hope
people can make it out.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I have yet to see the Muscle Car Museum cultivated
carefully and lovingly by mister Peter Fink, but I've heard
so much about it, and this is this is not
exactly something where you just go in just an irregular
Thursday and be a part of it. This is just yeah,
this is a very special opportunity. So what's happening at
(07:39):
the event on Thursday? And how more importantly, how can
people be a part of it?
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, So what's happening at the event is where are
going to have a lot of entertainment at the event,
along with a live auction with some really exciting live
auction packages and a raffle which again has some really
nice items curated in there. And you'll also get to
hear from student and teachers and really get some first
hand experience about what projects they're working on and how
(08:04):
it's made an impact to them. And one thing too
that we're really trying to express is that there is
a need for everyone to follow their path and their
career explore the trades because it's an amazing option. We
need doctors and teachers and lawyers and administrative assistance, we
need all of that, but don't forget about everything that's
(08:26):
happening in the trades. That's for men, women, everybody.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Oh yeah, especially as I said earlier, the opportunity to
do great work be thanked by the person you're doing
the workforce. See the work that you've done, having built
something with your hands that day. It adds a lot
of self worth and a lot of people are looking
for purpose and life at all different stages of life.
This is it for so many people. And the people
(08:51):
I know who work in the trades, you couldn't extract
them from what they do with the jaws of life.
They love what they do, maybe not every single moment
of every day, especially when they come to my house.
I'm like, I tried to like great, thanks, but they're
wonderful people. It's great work and the fact that the
Builder Foundation is bringing that next generation forward, especially with
(09:14):
fun events like the event this Thursday, is so great.
As you said, it is a fundraiser. So if people
want to be a part of the fundraiser, what do
they need to do right now so they can be
there on Thursday?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Right now? Go to Builder Foundation dot org, click on events.
You'll see the Fall twenty twenty five event link. You
can buy tickets right there. There's still a little bit
of time to sponsor and get ready. When you show
up there, grab a paddle so that you can be
in on those live auction items.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Now, what about that parent listening going. I want my
kid to be a part of this. How do they
do they reach out to you and.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Reach out to me. Yes, So my email is m
Glenn at Builder Foundation dot org. I would be happy
to talk to the parents. See if their school is
already involved, I can get them connected with the teacher.
If their school isn't involved, we're working on a lot
of growth over the next five years, so the goal
is to get that school and on board.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yeah, and this only for students right now. It's not
for like if you've got a twenty seven year old
still living in your house and like his dream of
playing the triangle and a rock band has not come
true yet, and you're like, I'm putting him in the program.
We're not quite doing that right yet.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
But at the same time, call me because we work
with industry partners all the time who are constantly looking
for people, and the great thing about the trades is
that industry partners are willing to train. So talk to me.
There's a big network. Hopefully it can get you connected in.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
The right place.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Perfect. It all is on that website builder Foundation dot org.
Builder Foundation dot org dedicated to inspiring and educating the
next Generation of Construction Leaders with, among other things, the
event like this Thursday at the Peter Fink Musclecar Museum.
All the details at Builder Foundation dot org. Melissa glenn
(10:57):
is the executive director of this group. Thank you so
much much for what you're doing for young people and
all of us in the community. We all benefit from
this and thanks for telling us about it on Community Matters.
Thanks Scott, you're listening to Community Matters. Up next in
the program, we welcome from the UNMC Center for Heart
and Vascular Research, someone who's been nominated as a twenty
(11:19):
twenty five Omaha Leader of Impact with the American Heart Association,
doctor Rebecca Gundry. Welcome to Community Matters. It's good to
have you here.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Well, thank you so much, Scott. I am really delighted
to be here and excited to have the opportunity to
talk a little bit about our research and what we're
trying to do here in Omaha.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Absolutely well, first of all, I'm glad that a number
of people obviously have noticed the work that you guys
are doing at UNMC. It's got to be quite an
honor to be named a Leader of Impact with the
American Heart Association, right it is extraordinary.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
It certainly kin is quite a surprise. So I've been
a really passionate heart disease researcher for just about twenty years,
and it's really exciting to see some of the new
developments that have, you know, came to fruition over the
past decade or so because of outstanding research that happens,
and really excited to see how that research will continue
(12:13):
to create new treatments and options for patients.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
At the same time, I imagine it's also a little bit
of you know, something that makes you blush a little
bit because you're not the only person at the Center
for Heart and Vascular Research there. So you're like, but
I need to share this honor with everybody here. But
as as coordinator with this fantastic group out of UNMC,
tell me about what you do.
Speaker 6 (12:37):
Sure, so you are correct. So this is a team effort.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
So while I have been nominated, I have this amazing
fundraising team that includes scientists, surgeons, cardiologists that are all
doing research to advance, you know, improve patient care. And
so at the Center for Heart and Vascular Research, we're
just about two hundred members of research, researchers, scientists, engineers
(13:04):
and clinicians from un MC, un l U, and O
and we have a few members from Creighton. And the
idea is to come together in kind of a critical
mass of investigators that have a passion for making a
difference for heart and vascular disease patients, and we develop
really incredible collaborations, new lines of research, and are working
(13:26):
together every day to make a difference on how patients
lives can be improved.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Yeah, and that's got to be a daunting job, especially
since heart and vascular diseases are the number one killer in,
among other places, Nebraska every single year. And oftentimes it's
people who I mean, for some people, and every situation
is unique and different, but I'm guessing that you know,
for a lot of people, they're doing the things in
(13:54):
life or not doing the things in life that they
know they should or shouldn't be doing. When you're telling
people we got to raise awareness for those things that
people can do to make themselves healthier, it's frustrating because
a lot of people know those things, but they're not
putting them into practice, right.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, I think that's certainly true for many of us.
It can be a challenging sometimes to always make.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
Really good choices. But you are correct.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
So the heart and basselaar disease is number one killer
in Nebraska and across the United States. Just in Nebraska alone,
more than four thousand Nebraska's died last year of heart
disease and strokes. So when we think about what are
the things we can do, like you mentioned, there's a
lot of things we know we should do, and sometimes
it can be hard to implement it every single day
(14:38):
all the time. But even a little positive change can
make a big change. So eating your fruits and vegetables,
minimizing your intake of things like red meat, getting your
regular exercise, whether it's a walk or a jog, avoiding
tobacco and smoking if you can, and really, really really
important is to see your doctor regularly and get your
(15:01):
blood pressure checked. A lot of folks don't know their
blood pressure, so start with that information and you can
have a goal of what.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
You want to work on.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Yeah, I'm glad that you phrased it in that way,
but because by the way, I love my red meat,
but I don't eat it for five and a half
meals every single day. Right, it's you know, just you
know a little bit of this a little bit of that.
When you said, like, there's just a few little things
that we can do in our daily lives to make
ourselves healthier. You're not talking about a complete overhaul, like
(15:31):
completely cut this out except maybe smoking. And you know
you've there are things you can do to make yourself
healthier every day, and when you present it to someone
like that, it's not as daunting, right, correct.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
And what can also help is if you have friends
or family that you know. You know that you want
to make the right decision, but sometimes it can be
hard doing it alone. You know, make an agreement with
a friend or a coworker that you know every day
at lunch you're going to take a ten or fifteen
minute walk. Simple things start simple and easy, and just
try to build in good habits and they will grow
(16:03):
over time.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Talking here with doctor Rebecca Gundry, she is a coordinator
with the UNMC Center for Heart and Vascular Research and
because of this nomination as a twenty twenty five OMAHA
Leader of Impact with the American Heart Association, you guys
at UNMC are raising funds. How can people come alongside
this mission and help you guys out with not only
(16:26):
raising the money, but allowing you guys to turn that
money into healthy practices, to turn the tide on stuff
like what we're hearing about heart and vascular disease being
the number one killer here in our area.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Great.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
So we have a number of ways that people can
support our team. So first, all of the options that
we have for donations and fundraise events are on our
website at team gundry for Aha dot com, and on
that website you can donate funds directly. You can purchase
(17:00):
auto spot tickets to Tidal Wave of Autospa. Tickets cost
ten dollars, but they're a thirty dollars value to use at.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Any of the Omaha locations.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
We also have a fun variety of custom laser engraved
wood items, and our really three big events are kind
of our showcase pieces. So we have three events coming
up in the Omaha area. All are open to the public,
and all of them will feature an event attended by
several different researchers and scientists from UNIMC who will be
(17:29):
available to talk to attendees about their research and about
science in general, and there will also be opportunities for
CPR education.
Speaker 6 (17:39):
So our first event is going to be outstanding.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
It's on October eighth at seven pm and it's a
benefit concert put on by Willie Porter, who's just a
phenomenal musician and human being. He's going to fly in
specifically to do the show for us. And it's at
the Enchanting Barn at Ackerhurst Dairy in Bennington. So for
fifty dollars a ticket, you get the show, plus you
get appetizers and soft drinks included, as well as opportunities
(18:05):
for raffle prizes. So that's going to be a fun evening.
Then our second event is October twenty fifth at Top Golf,
Omaha from ten am to twelve pm, and this is.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
One hundred dollars a ticket.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
You get two hours of golf play, free analysis of
your golf swing and advice by a golf coach which
is key, and a full hot breakfast buffet included. And
our third event is going to be on November second,
and this is a pickaball tournament at the Union Bank
and Trust Sports Complex in Elkhorn, so teams of all
abilities are welcome. The cost is one hundred dollars per team.
(18:38):
All participants get a T shirt minimum of three games
and again all events.
Speaker 6 (18:43):
Have access to raffle prizes that we.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Have had donated by many of the local businesses who
are supporting our efforts. So overall, three really fun events,
lots of time to interact with scientists, to get CPR education,
and just learn about things that you can do every
day to help improve your health.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I love this and I would have loved to have
been a part of the meeting about like, Okay, we
have an opportunity to raise some funds. What are some
ways that we can ask people for money? And then
that I'm and it kind of sounds like doctor Gundry.
It was perhaps you that were pushing like, well, we
don't just want to ask people for money. Let's have
a concert, Let's play some golf, let's play some pickle ball,
(19:23):
let's eat some good food. And this is a great
way to do multiple fundraisers. But boy, that's a lot
to take on all all three of these events coming
right up.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
Yes, Well, we have an incredible administrator, Amy Bigger Staff,
who is my partner in crime, and we just have
a great team. We also, you know, the artist Willie
Porter has been a longtime friend and I chexted him
with this opportunity and he wrote back immediately. Yes, happy
to help in any way. And we've had incredible support
by local vendors and venues where our events are taking place.
(19:54):
So this has all come together really within a short
few weeks.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
So that's why.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
We're really grateful to have your help to get the
word out, because we have a short amount of time
to sell tickets and make people aware of these really
fun events where all the money is going to a
great cost.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
So once again, for people who want to be a
part of all or part of these events, here, what's
that website?
Speaker 4 (20:14):
It's Team Gundry for AHA dot com and the gundry
is g u n is in Nancy Das and dog Ry.
So team Gundry for AHA dot com.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Is that for the number or for the word?
Speaker 6 (20:31):
It is for spelled out fo R.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Thanks for asking, absolutely so Team Gundry for AA. Pardon
me ah? A is an American Heart Association.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Correct dot com?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
All right, yep. And as I always say on this program,
if you're driving around, you're like, well, I tried to
remember it and then I couldn't do it. Just call
the radio station or communicate with the radio station email.
And at some point if you just call and say
the guy on the radio said something about thing. That
will get back to me and I will pass along
the website Team Gundry for AHA dot com so you
(21:09):
can learn about the concert coming up again. The date
on that concert, which sounds great is October eighth, yes, okay.
And then win's the Top Golf that's the one I'm interested.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
In, October twenty fifth.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Okay, then ten twenty five on Top Golf and pickleball.
I don't know. You might have to put up barricades
to keep people from being a part of a pickleball tournament.
People love pickleball.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Wins that event that's on November second.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Awesome this is and we have.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
You'll notice that we have carefully avoided Husker games.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Yeah, very nice. People love pickleball so much they're like, yeah,
my daughter was gonna get married on that date, but
instead I'm gonna go to this pickleball thing. That's how
much people love pickleball.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
So it's gonna be so much fun.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Yeah, and if you've got Amy bigger staff who's being
a part of this, you cannot go wrong. Is one
of the best, So absolutely, Team Gundry for AHA dot
Com Forrest spelled out. Gundry is g u N as
a Nancy Diaz and David Ry team Gundry for Aha
(22:17):
dot com for all these events coming up here. Doctor
Rebecca Gundry, you and MC coordinator the Center for Heart
and Vascular Research and nominated as a twenty twenty five
Omaha Leader of Impact with the American Heart Association. Thank
you so much for what you're doing and your team
as well for people right here in our community. And
thanks so much for telling us about it on Community Matters.
Speaker 6 (22:38):
Great, thank you so much for having me And.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Finally on Community Matters this week, Omaha has a really
beautiful project that's coming to Fruition and we are lucky
to have the architect of this project on the show
to share his vision with us from Meyer's studio, Land Architects.
David Meyer is here on Community Matters, David, but it's
great to have you on the show.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
Thank you, Scott. And just one clarification, I am a
landscape architect, not an architect. So that's a clarification on
my profession.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Okay, well let's talk about that for a second here,
because architecture, obviously you're thinking about buildings as a landscape architect.
It's a different palette you're working with, right.
Speaker 5 (23:25):
That it is. And we like to refer to ourselves
as land architects because there is a common thing where
people think of landscape architect as landscapers. And you know,
we shape the land, we cite the land, We help
the architects locate where the buildings should go. So we
(23:45):
are the shaper of the land and composer of the
land and everything within it. So that's a bit of
a clarification there, got it.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Well, Heartwood Preserve, is this this incredibly shaped land that
is already taking some shape here in Omaha, and you've
been in charge of the greenways part of this project.
Please share with us this vision of what we can
experience soon here in Omaha.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Thanks well, thanks again Scot for having me. It's so
exciting for you and your listeners to have Heartwood Preserved
in your neighborhood because it is an extraordinary place. It's
a five hundred acre mixed use development that has an
exceptional regard for the environment, integrating more than one hundred
and fifty acres of open space, providing the city with
(24:37):
a beautiful and enduring natural asset. And I just put
an exclamation point on that, because it's rare to have
a developer dedicate that much land to open space and
pass off to Steve Menzi's and apply to underwriters for
making that happen.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Yeah, so this is the part of this is the
Old Boys Town property. A lot of long time on
Hans are certainly familiar with this great tract of land
near one hundred and forty fourth and just south of Dodge.
So what is it that the greenways project is going
to look like as you're working with this land, David.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Well, the greenways are very performative. It's really based upon
a commitment to design and social impact, and I believe
that Hartwood sets a really high holistic bar. What we
have done, working with Applied Underwriters, we have reimagined climate
change infrastructure and really further the idea of what a
part public park can and should be. The cornerstone of
(25:42):
our plan is a storm water system that addresses the
disastrous flooding of the area that once ravaged the area.
And to address that, our design features fourteen large earthen
vessels that collect every drop of water that lands on
our property. And what that does protect the community downstream
of heartwood, It restores aquifers, it creates habitat, so it's
(26:07):
very much a performative design. And while the earth is
being meticulously shaped to capture and manage one hundred and
seventy acre feet of water, the esthetic intention was to
bring natural phenomenon forward and foster a deeper appreciation of
our ever changing environment. So we see the opportunity to
(26:28):
not just collect water and mitigate floods, but transform the
basins into structures that have presence, constructed of earth and
dry stack limestone. The vessels give heartwood a very distinctive
character and really bring nature's dynamism forward. And our intent
is that people who see and feel these spaces will
(26:48):
become more conscious observers of their planet and what's happening
to it with climate change.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
This is a fascinating conversation and I'm thinking about it
in relation to music. Some people like to write the
words first. Some people like to write the music first.
When you're looking at a piece of land with which
you're thinking about working or have been contracted to work with,
are you seeing the usage and some of these more
infrastructure things you're talking about, like floodplain management, that kind
(27:18):
of thing or are you looking at the finished project
and how beautiful it's going to be and working within
the infrastructure to get to that point.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
Very good question. Beauty is always our guiding light. Having
said that, on this project, the greenways had so much
area required to collect storm water that it really became
the primary program component of our design and how we
(27:49):
shape the earth to do that. To have these level
vessels was a critical component of the design process. So
I would say that was a very driving factor in
how we approached our design. But it was really critical
to have the volume, but equally important was that they
(28:10):
were beautiful sculpted objects that became spectacles in the landscape
that ultimately will become a publicly accessible parkland for the community.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Where are we and the percentage way done of the
project right now?
Speaker 5 (28:29):
That's a really good question. There's five hundred acres as headquarters,
which is fifty acres that is probably ninety percent complete.
The greenways north of Pacific are probably ninety percent complete.
South of Pacific, they're at probably in seventy five percent completion. Uh,
(28:51):
And we're just really excited to see that people are
already walking their dogs, biking through the greenways. I'm seeing
fox and critters and migratory birds starting to occupy what
used to be Mama culture of Corn. So the use
of the park is beginning to happen, even though it's
(29:13):
not really formally opened.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
David Meyer is founder of Meyer Studio Land Architects, and
he and his team responsible for providing this wonderful greenways
space to the Old Boys Town property in Heartwood Preserve
near one hundred and forty fourth and Dodge. David, fascinating conversation.
Thank you so much for what you're doing for our
community here in Omaha, and thanks so much for talking
(29:37):
with us about it here on Community Matters.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
My place is Scott. Appreciate talking here.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
This has been Community Matters, a weekly public affairs special
on KAT one O three, Omaha's Greatest Hits ninety nine
point nine, KGr News Radio, eleven ten KFAB Country's Greatest
Hits ninety three three The Wolf, and ninety six one
Kiss FM. Thank you so much for listening and enjoy
the real of your day.
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