Starts Right Here

09/18/2026

Yeah… this is me. This my second-in-command Jeremy. I can already tell this man got a whole HR complaint saved in his drafts. 😂😂

09/15/2026

Show love, y'all; Juan passed social studies! Yeeeeeeeeeee! And he wanted me to let y'all know he did better than the average.

09/04/2026

I want to take a moment to share an organization doing some very important work here in Iowa.

The National Shattering Silence Coalition (NSSC) is working to improve access to mental health treatment, support individuals and families impacted by severe mental illness, and advocate for meaningful changes within our mental health system.

This work hits close to home for me because every day I see how important it is for people—especially our young people—to feel seen, heard, supported, and to have access to the help they need.

I also want to congratulate Amy Bassett on recently becoming the Iowa State Co-Director for NSSC. I appreciate anyone who is willing to step up, use their voice, and fight to make sure people and families don't have to struggle in silence.

I'm asking my Iowa friends and community to check out their page, give it a follow, and share it. Sometimes simply getting the right information in front of the right person can make a difference.

Let's continue breaking the silence around mental health and making sure people know they don't have to face these challenges alone.

NSSC Iowa page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1D3dRkqDHW/

NSSC builds the policy infrastructure, caregiver resources, and peer networks to ensure severe mental illness is met with medical care, not neglect.

09/03/2026

I have to share this.

One of my students, Andy Cruz, came into my office today and just wanted to talk. He started by sharing some of his story with me because he wanted me to know a little more about him and what he’s been through.

Then, after hearing that we’re a little short on funding for the new project, he asked me, “Can I pray for you?”

Andy prayed for me and my family in Spanish. He prayed that God would make a way and help this dream come true so we can continue helping as many kids as we can.

Man, that moment touched me. Here I am trying to pour into these young people every day, and today one of them walked into my office and poured right back into me.

It was much deeper than I can put into a post, but I wanted to share this moment with you all.

Thank you, Andy. Your prayer meant more to me than you know. And I hope you’re okay with me sharing this.

09/03/2026

Kaeshaun passed his first reading test today, the first one of the year! Let’s get it yeeeeeeee. Show him some love and let him know we’re proud of him. Keep it up, Kaeshaun!

08/05/2026

Congratulations to Wellpoint Iowa on celebrating 10 years of serving families and strengthening communities across our state!
We have had the privilege of knowing this organization through its transition from Amerigroup Iowa to Wellpoint. Although the name has changed, their commitment to the community has remained strong.

Wellpoint has been more than a supporter of Starts Right Here. They have been a true partner in our mission to help young people who have been pushed out, written off, or left behind. Their investment in our organization has helped us continue providing education, mentorship, workforce development, stability, and hope to young people who need someone to believe in them.

We are also grateful that, for the second year in a row, Wellpoint is helping sponsor the Starts Right Here Gala. Their continued support allows us to celebrate our students, share their accomplishments, and bring the community together around the work of changing lives.
Wellpoint understands that health is about more than medical care. It is also about education, safe housing, opportunity, support, and having people in your corner who refuse to give up on you.

Thank you to the entire Wellpoint team for believing in Starts Right Here and standing with our young people. Congratulations on an incredible 10-year run, and here’s to many more years of making a difference across Iowa!

07/20/2026

🚨 Please help me welcome the newest member of the Starts Right Here leadership team!

I'm excited to introduce Jeremy Orcutt as our new Director of Administration & Operations at Starts Right Here.

Jeremy will play a key role in helping us strengthen our day-to-day operations, build systems that support our mission, and ensure we're positioned to serve even more young people with excellence.

Please join me in giving Jeremy Orcutt a warm Starts Right Here welcome! Show him some love in the comments and help us welcome him to the family. We're excited to have you on this journey, Jeremy!

07/16/2026

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone at NABIP Iowa, all of the sponsors, volunteers, golfers, and supporters who made this year's Annual NABIP Golf Outing such an incredible success.

Your generosity and commitment to Starts Right Here means more than you know. Every sponsorship, every round of golf, every silent auction bid, and every act of support helps us continue changing the lives of young people by providing education, mentorship, housing, and hope.

We are truly grateful that you chose to invest in our mission. Because of partners like you, more young people will have the opportunity to build a brighter future.

From all of us at Starts Right Here—thank you for believing in our students, our mission, and our community. We are honored to have you standing with us, and we look forward to seeing the impact your support will make in the lives of the youth we serve.

Thank you, NABIP Iowa! ❤️⛳

07/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17wdgvyxu3/

07/14/2026

Today was a historic day for Starts Right Here.
We are incredibly grateful to the Polk County Board of Supervisors for believing in our mission and investing $1,000,000 into the Starts Right Here STAY Project.

This investment is about so much more than a building. It's about creating opportunities, providing stable housing, supporting education, and giving young adults a real chance to build a brighter future.

On behalf of our students, staff, board, and the countless lives that will be impacted for years to come, thank you to the Polk County Supervisors for your leadership, your partnership, and your commitment to investing in our community.

Together, we're proving that when a community comes together, we can change lives.
The work continues, and this is another major step toward making the Starts Right Here STAY Project a reality.
Thank you, Polk County!