On Today’s episode of The "Center", we welcome guest Brian Beals. In 1990, Brian Beals was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to 80 years in prison. Beals was incarcerated within several prisons throughout Illinois, and during his wro...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we’re joined by Sister Janet Ryan, OSF, and Eric Anderson. Our conversation will focus on the impact that restorative justice practices have on those who are incarcerated, and also on the staff working within ...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we welcome our friend, Kurt Kreiter. Kurt was a guest on The “Center” in September 2023, when we discussed prairie ecology and the importance of regenerating and maintaining prairie lands in Iowa. Today, Kurt ...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we’re joined by Carrie Donaire, the 2024-25 president of the Rotary Club of Clinton, Iowa. Under her leadership, the Rotary Club of Clinton will host its first annual Food Security Summit on Thursday, March 27...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we’re joined by Reggie Russell, Executive Director of Empowerment Through Sports, a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping youth overcome violence through youth sports. Reggie will talk about how youth...

This week's guest on The "Center" will be Eli McCarthy, Ph.D., a professor in both the Peace and Justice Studies and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University. Currently, Eli serves as the Just Peace Fellow with ...

Welcome to The “Center” – I’m your host Marsha Thrall. On today’s episode of The “Center” we’re joined by Dr. George Belitsos, current chair of the Board of Directors for the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery. Dr. George, as he...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we’re joined by Deputy Chief of Police Jim Ballauer, and Corporal Joshua Winter of the Clinton Police Department for an update on the landscape of human trafficking in the City of Clinton, Iowa, and its neighb...

On today’s episode of The “Center,” we’re joined by contemplative activist Leslye Colvin. Leslye is a writer, educator, and spiritual companion rooted deep within her Catholic faith. Leslye writes her blog “Leslye’s Labyrinth” and has been publ...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we'll be joined by Reverend Tamara Siburg. Reverend Tamara is the pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clinton, Iowa. Since beginning her service in Clinton, Rev. Tamara and her congregation have committed to...

During this season of Thanksgiving, and in recognition of Native American Heritage month, the Franciscan Peace Center invites members of our community to reflect on land justice, particularly as it relates to our indigenous neighbors. ...

On today’s episode, we will be joined by international students who are attending Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. These students will openly and candidly share the struggles and difficulties they face as international students, while also...

Today, The “Center” podcast returns from its hiatus with a timely message about our migrant neighbors, and how we can better understand the various ways in which refugees can leave dangerous situations and legally enter and live in the United S...

In recognition of Women’s History Month, on today’s episode of The “Center” we are joined by Leenah Safi. Ms. Safi is the daughter of Syrian immigrants and is currently completing PhD work at Chicago Theological Seminary. As a Muslim woman, Lee...

On today’s episode of the “Center” we are joined by Sister Maria Zeimen, OSF and her friend Nancy from Garden Center Services. Garden Center Services is located in Burbank, IL, and provides housing services, day programming, and supportive empl...

On today’s episode of The “Center”, we’ll receive a one year update from members of the Social Justice Committee at St. Ann’s Catholic church in Baltimore, MD on the progress made in the campaign for canonization of the “Saintly Six”. As our re...

On this week’s episode of The “Center”, we’ll be joined by Deputy Chief James Ballauer, Corporal Josh Winter, and School Resource Officer Chris Robertson of the Clinton, Iowa police department to discuss the landscape of human trafficking in Cl...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we’re joined by Latina feminist theologian Dr. Theresa Yugar. Dr. Yugar is best known for her research and writing work on the 17th century Catholic nun Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, publishing the bo...

On this episode of The “Center”, we are joined by Dr. Ryan Hansen. Dr. Hansen is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, having served churches in Chicago, Nashville, and northeastern Wisconsin. Ryan also serves as the Minister of V...

On Today’s episode of The “Center”, we’re joined by Anne Hoiberg, author of the book Tears of War: Stories of Refugee Women. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research “Status of Women in the States Report, near...

On today’s episode of The “Center”, we will be joined by Shannon Sander-Welzien, Executive Director of the YWCA in Clinton Iowa, and Michelle Plasschaert, the YWCA’s Empowerment Center Director for a discussion about the proposed Supportive Hou...

On today’s episode of The “Center” we are joined by Dr. Christophe Ringer, associate professor of Theological Ethics, and Society at Chicago Theological Seminary.Professor Ringer’s research interests include theological and social ethic...

On Today’s episode of “The Center” we’ll be joined by Clinton’s Deputy Chief of Police, James Ballauer, who will be talking about alternative policing tactics currently being used in Clinton, Iowa.According to the US Department of Justic...

On today’s episode of The “Center” the staff of the Franciscan Peace Center will be sharing information about the good work that has been accomplished within the past year, events that are coming up – including the Second Annual Just Living Fes...

On Today’s podcast, we will be joined by Sister Janet Ryan, OSF. Sister Janet has been a Franciscan sister of Clinton, Iowa since 2005, and is originally from Boston. She has been ministering at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliatio...