Happy Friday! Megan here.

Weather check: Hot and windy

Status check: TODAY is Friday! Sorry for getting the date wrong in Wednesday's newsletter. The weather got nice, and I forgot how to read a calendar.

  • Oh! And while we're remembering dates: It's Mother's Day on Sunday 💐(and, incidentally, it's my wedding anniversary on Monday – love you, honey! Seven years down, and hopefully 70 more to go).

This week, I've got some exciting news about a childcare solution helping both parents and the provider workforce. You'll also learn more about how the Premiere Playhouse is expanding its mission and how neighborhood associations are bringing more public art to the city. Plus, catch some Super Simplified Stories to take you into the weekend.

And now, news:

COMMUNITY

How the Premiere Playhouse is expanding to creative hub

Simplified: The Premiere Playhouse, a community theater company that's been around for more than two decades, announced this week a new home, an expanded mission and a big fundraising goal to make it all happen.

Why it matters

  • The playhouse – formerly known as Sioux Empire Community Theatre – has long operated out of the Orpheum Theater downtown. While there will still be three main-stage productions at that venue next year, the organization is moving across the street to the Rock Island building.
  • The new office will provide space for rehearsals and small-scale performances as well as a rentable venue for year-round community events.
  • Along with the new space, Premiere Playhouse is also restructuring its programming to three distinct series – Mainstage, Artist Development and Underground. Tickets to all of these events will now be offered at a lower price point, too.
"While this move is not without risk, we believe it is the right one," Executive Artistic Director Oliver Mayes said.

Tell me more

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

How a new innovative childcare solution will support teachers, future workforce needs

This is a paid piece from EmBe.

Simplified: A state grant will support a new, first-of-its-kind partnership between EmBe and the Harrisburg School District to provide in-school childcare that supports educators.

Why it matters

  • Without childcare, teachers can't teach. In a 2024 EmBe survey of Harrisburg teachers, 90% of respondents cited access to quality childcare as a barrier to keeping their job – with at least one teacher noting they've considered leaving the profession because of childcare challenges.
  • The new partnership – supported by a $218,000 Workforce Education Grant from the South Dakota Department of Education – will create a childcare center in Heritage Elementary School specifically to care for the children of school district employees.
  • This partnership also creates opportunities for Harrisburg High School students in the Child Development Associate training program. Students will get hands-on experience working in early childhood education while earning credits and a credential for a high-need career path.
“This is more than a new childcare center—it’s a community solution that’s going to shift how we support educators,” EmBe CEO Kerri Tietgen said. “We’re creating a model that addresses the childcare gap, supports teacher retention, and trains the next generation of early childhood professionals—all in one.”

Tell me more about the partnership

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Win SIX tix and help kids.* The Sioux Falls Family YMCA is raffling off five premium tickets to the hit Broadway musical SIX live at the Washington Pavilion on Friday, May 30. Raffle tickets are just $20, and all proceeds support scholarships for local kids to attend Camp Leif Ericson, participate in YMCA youth sports, or access after-school care through our Community Learning Centers. Get your tickets here.
  • Don't waste water. The city of Sioux Falls is reminding residents not to waste water this spring – especially after a particularly dry winter. The city is currently in a "stage 1" watering schedule, meaning property owners with even-numbered addresses can water on even-numbered days, and odds on odds. Learn more here.
  • Don't forget to vote. The Sioux Falls School Board election is this coming Tuesday, May 13. There are four candidates seeking two open seats, and whoever wins will oversee decisions that impact about 25,000 kids and another few thousand teachers/staff. Don't know the candidates? Well, don't let that be your excuse – you can find information on all of them (and how they feel about various education-related issues) here.

COMMUNITY

How city grants are bringing art to Sioux Falls neighborhoods

Simplified: Several neighborhood associations across Sioux Falls are using funds from a city grant program to bring more public art to their neighborhood. Here's a closer look.

Why it matters

  • Sioux Falls is seeing a growing number of neighborhood associations as the city itself grows, and with that more of those groups are taking advantage of the annual Neighborhood Project Grant, which has a budget of $100,000 to help complete various projects.
  • These grants have been used for projects like planting trees, adding lighting and even building a baseball diamond.
  • This year, one common theme among grant recipients was a goal of increasing public art. Three different associations – Downtown, Oak View and Southern Hills neighborhoods – are all using grant funds for artistic displays.
"We’ve always supported art because that's something people can take a look at, they're proud of it, and it adds to the identity of their neighborhood," said Diane deKoeyer, neighborhood and preservation planner with the city of Sioux Falls.

Tell me more about what's happening in the neighborhoods

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

School board candidates talk after-school care, workforce, supporting teachers
We’re less than a week away from the Sioux Falls School Board election, and Sioux Falls Simplified sat down with each of the four candidates to talk about a variety of issues to help you feel prepared to cast a ballot.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Stuff to do: May 7-13
From Mother’s Day fun to a “bring your own book” club, here’s a look at what’s happening in Sioux Falls this week.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Who’s using the new Westside Recreation Center?
The city has sold more than 3,700 monthly or annual passes to the new Westside Recreation Center since taking over the facility at the start of the year. The parks department shared what they’ve learned so far about who that center is serving.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

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Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Encompass Mental Health, Live on Stage, 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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