Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Ok, the end of the heat is in sight. Finally!
This week, you'll meet the folks moving into Habitat for Humanity's 200th home and learn how the organization is looking to build the next 200. You'll also find the latest on Christ the King Elementary's closure (or maybe not??) and find a couple Super Simplified Stories quite close to my civics-lovin' heart.
And now, news:
COMMUNITY
What's next for Habitat for Humanity after dedicating its 200th home?
Simplified: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls celebrates a significant milestone Friday with the dedication of its 200th home in the area since the organization started 35 years ago. Sioux Falls Simplified chatted with the new homeowners as well as Executive Director Rocky Welker about what's next.
Why it matters
- Habitat for Humanity helps connect people with safe, affordable housing through construction and renovation projects. The Homeownership program helps people build their own homes, learn how to maintain them and learn how to manage finances to ensure they keep them.
- The impact of the programming is generational. Welker estimates as many as 1,000 kids have grown up in a Habitat home in the Sioux Falls area, and this week's dedication adds two more to that number – Dalonda Dalin's 6- and 8-year-old daughters.
- Dalin will share the twin home with neighbor Vickie Randall, who's worked herself from a place of homelessness to homeownership in part with Habitat's help.
- The twin homes are one of Habitat's pivots over the years to increase housing density as land becomes harder and harder to acquire in Sioux Falls, Welker said. Looking to the next 200 homes, that higher density is going to continue to be important.
"In my opinion homeownership has always been kind of the cornerstone of the American dream," Welker said. "But housing is a bigger issue now than it's ever been in our community. When we first started, a home was less than $30,000. Now a Habitat home is appraising for more than $300,000."
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SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How a Pavilion membership opens a world of possibilities
This is a paid piece from Washington Pavilion Management, Inc.
Simplified: There's more to a Washington Pavilion membership than meets the eye – from exclusive discounts at museums worldwide to cafe discounts. Here's why a membership is a good buy not only for your family, but for the broader arts community.
Why it matters
- Pavilion memberships can pay for themselves in only a few visits to the Kirby Science Discovery Center or the eight galleries at the Visual Arts Center. That's three floors of art, science and numerous hands-on learning opportunities for all ages.
"It's a great place for our kids to burn some energy while also learning about science, art, and engineering," said Samantha Sarks, Pavilion member and mother of two.
- Members also get access to a variety of additional perks, including free or discounted admission at more than 400 museums worldwide through the Association of Science-Technology Centers Passport Program.
- Beyond the museum and gallery access, membership is also a way to show support for the Pavilion's work to integrate art and science into the daily lives of Sioux Falls residents. Members help the Pavilion bring events like Ag Day and the Sidewalk Arts Festival, as well as ongoing educational programming including the Spotlight Theatre Company.
"All of our supporters, from a single membership to a family of nine, contribute to our overall affect on the community and what we have to offer," said LuAnn Wolfe, business development and sales manager.
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TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Do you wanna run for office? C'mon let's go and run. The city sent out a reminder this week that there are four up-for-grabs City Council seats and a soon-to-be-empty mayor's office. The next city election is June 2, 2026 in conjunction with the state's primary election. You can throw your hat in the ring, too. Remember what Mayor Paul TenHaken just said about needing a next generation of leaders? It could be you. Learn more here, or email sfelections@siouxfalls.gov.
- It's your last chance to 'Shape Sioux Falls.' The city is giving folks one more chance to weigh in on the Shape Sioux Falls 2050 plan, which will guide planning, zoning, building requirements, etc. for years to come.
- “Sioux Falls has a huge opportunity right now to get involved in their community’s long-term planning efforts, through the Shape Sioux Falls 2050 plan,” said Fletcher Lacock, Senior Planner. “Oftentimes, people learn about City planning after the plan is adopted, either through zoning or building requirements. Residents have the opportunity, today, to tell us what they want the future of Sioux Falls to look like.”
- Learn more about the plan and share your thoughts here. Or, you can join city planners in-person from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6 at the downtown library.
EDUCATION
What's next for Christ the King Elementary?
Simplified: Less than a month after the Catholic school system announced the closure of Christ the King Elementary, there's a chance the school will stay open after all thanks to the work of several parents and more than $100,000 in pledges to financially support the school.
Why it matters
- The Bishop O'Gorman Catholic School System last month announced the long-time elementary school would be closing at the end of the current school year. Immediately after the announcement, work began on petitioning the school system to change its mind.
- After that immediate pushback, the school system held a parent meeting last week to discuss next steps and give parents a chance to come up with a solution to keep the school open.
- The response has been significant, with pledges for more than $100,000 – more than double the initial goal – to help save the school. Additionally, a group of parents has been working to draft a strategic plan to present to the board – which is expected to make a final decision on the school Oct. 10, per a statement from school system spokeswoman Rachael Kapperman.
- But as for now, morale is high, parent and CTK Strong member Jessica Baltazar said.
"I think (the board) is sincere," Baltazar said. "I don't think they are just humoring us. But I don't think our work is done yet."
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THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, SafeSplash Swim School, Dakota State University, Redmond Prime Cuts, 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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