Your weekend, simplified: July 11, 2025
Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: A warm, sunny weekend ahead
This weekend, you'll find discussions on mental health, the role immigrants play in our city and my own personal journey with Barre3 Sioux Falls. Plus, catch some Super Simplified Stories on parties this weekend and a reunion of the good ol' mayor's club.
And now, news:
COMMUNITY
How folks from other countries make Sioux Falls what it is today
Simplified: People coming to Sioux Falls from other countries are a major contributor to the city's growth, economy and nonprofit sector. A panel Thursday morning at the State Theatre featured a heartfelt and vulnerable discussion on the importance of immigration and refugee resettlement in our community. Here's a deeper look.
Why it matters
- There are an estimated nearly 43,000 immigrants in South Dakota, according to the American Immigration Council. For context, that's about how many people live in Aberdeen and Mitchell combined. Additionally, nearly 400 people came to Sioux Falls last year through refugee resettlement programs.
- Thursday's discussion, hosted by Sioux Falls Thrive and the South Dakota NewsMedia Association, featured a panel of immigrants and refugees – all of whom are now community leaders.
"The only reason Sioux Falls is growing is because immigrants are coming here," said Taneeza Islam, founder of S.D. Voices for Peace and herself a first-generation immigrant.
- Panelists shared their personal stories of what brought them to Sioux Falls, as well as broader thoughts on the challenges, prejudices and dangers faced by immigrants and refugees in the current political climate.
"We're all here to build a better society," said Zak Okuwe, a cardiac nurse at Sanford Health and founder of STEM the Gap nonprofit who came to the United States as a refugee from Sudan when he was 9 years old.
Tell me more about the panel
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How Encompass breaks down barriers to support kids' mental health
This is a paid piece from Encompass Mental Health, LLC.
Simplified: Encompass Mental Health meets kids where they are – and not just emotionally. Therapists work to reduce barriers to mental health treatment with play therapy, in-daycare visits and the support of a nonprofit arm to make sure finances don't get in the way of a child's healing.
Why it matters
- Founder Emily Learing started her career doing in-home therapy for kids in child protection services, and even ran her own daycare for a short time. In 2014, she founded Encompass with a goal to "encompass the lives of children" in every aspect of her work.
- Today, Encompass has a staff of 17 practitioners who work to support children, teens, women and couples with the ultimate goal of supporting kids and strengthening child-parent relationships. Over the last decade, the business has supported more than 2,000 individuals.
- Encompass also partners with child care providers in Sioux Falls to bring play therapy techniques directly to young children with the goal of learning feelings, improving self esteem and making meaning of different situations.
"It is really powerful to see what kind of a positive impact we can have," Learing said. "I wouldn’t choose any other job besides this one because there’s just something amazing about coming to work every day and knowing that you're trying to make life better for others."
Tell me more about Encompass
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How six years of Barre3 has brought me balance, resilience
This is a paid piece from Barre3 Sioux Falls.
Simplified: Hey! Megan here. It’s not often I insert myself into a story, but Barre3 has been such a big part of my life over the last six years that I can’t help but share my own personal experience of finding balance, resilience and community through intentional movement – especially as Barre3 Sioux Falls celebrates its ninth birthday this month.
Tell me more
I first started going to Barre3 during their birthday week in 2019, and, like any new thing, I was pretty nervous going in. I've never been what you'd call "athletic," so gym environments are intimidating.
- But everyone at Barre3 is extremely welcoming and positive, and from the moment I walked through the doors, I felt at ease.
Barre3 has not only left me feeling stronger physically, but also more resilient mentally.
I have a vivid memory of a day in late September 2019 when I was waiting for my husband to get back from a weekend trip so I could tell him the good news: I was pregnant with our (now 5-year-old) daughter.
- I couldn't keep still, so I decided to go to the Sunday afternoon Barre3 class, and I remember feeling so strong knowing that not only was my body doing these moves and exercises, but it was also growing a baby.
- At the end of class, during the regular time of mindfulness, I remember laying on my mat, hands on my belly, breathing deeply and feeling nothing but gratitude for the body I've been given.
Those workouts kept me sane during my pregnancy, and when I was in what turned out to be a very long labor, I could hear different Barre3 instructors in my head saying affirming things they say in classes:
"You can do hard things. Your body was made for this. This feeling is temporary. You are strong."
Later, during the pandemic, doing virtual workouts gave me a way to feel a sense of community and camaraderie during lockdown.
And today, I can usually track my mental health to the last time I took a Barre3 class or moved my body intentionally. If I haven't been in-studio for awhile, I get kinda crabby or feel down on myself. But going back always feel like a homecoming.
So, what makes Barre3 different?
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Ooo, vintage. Want to own your own theater seat? The Premiere Playhouse is selling some historic chairs from the Orpheum Theatre from 1973, and all proceeds benefit the nonprofit's mission of building community through theater. Learn more and get your chair here.
- HBD, running friends. 605 Running Company is celebrating 11 years in business this week with a big party Saturday, and part of the celebration is the launch of Nike products in-store. You can demo Nike shoes all day long, grab coffee from Roamin' Roast, win giveaways, catch surprise drops and more. Details here.
- It's a girl! The Great Plains Zoo had a little gender reveal Thursday morning for the new baby snow leopard, and drumroll it's a girl! Her dad, Strut, helped with the reveal, pulling a pink-dyed dead bunny out of a box. #nature
- The gang's all here. Mayor Paul TenHaken gathered all of the living former mayors of Sioux Falls this week for a tour of City Hall and a photo op. Here's a look at the crew: from left to right, Paul TenHaken, Mike Huether, Dave Munson, Gary Hanson and Rick Knobe.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, Great Bear Ski Valley, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
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