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These Are Your Neighbors

These Are Your Neighbors

By: Bismarck Human Relations Committee
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About this listen

 These Are Your Neighbors is a podcast hosted by Thea Jorgensen and Sargianna Wutzke who are members of the City of Bismarck’s Human Relations Committee. Through conversations with diverse change-makers in the community, the podcast hopes to strengthen inclusivity amongst the Bismarck community, by encouraging others to get to know their neighbor.Copyright Dakota Media Access Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • TAYN Ep. 62 - Katie Cashman Fitzsimmons

    TAYN Ep. 62 - Katie Cashman Fitzsimmons
    Aug 11 2025
    Katie Cashman Fitzsimmons is exactly one half of The Cashman Auctionisters, the auctioneering sisters. Her partner in crime is her Bozeman-based sister Missy. Since 2016, Katie and Missy have auctioned at over 250 events for charities, non-profits, organizations, and individuals. Those auctions have brought in over $18,000,000, allowing those groups to further the good work they each do for their communities.

    Katie resides in Bismarck, North Dakota where she serves in her day job as the Director for Student Affairs for the North Dakota University System. In this role, she works with the 11 state colleges and universities (who enroll roughly 45,000 students) to advance all the initiatives that take place outside of the classroom. That includes substance misuse prevention, sexual assault prevention and intervention, student mental health, initiatives that support belonging and community, student health insurance, student access to voting, and many other things that pop up along the way. This would also involve briefing the State Board of Higher Education and developing policy that they approve which are in effect for the campuses. In addition to that, Katie serves on the legislative team for the System Office which consumes an inordinate amount of time every other year.

    Auctions and higher ed aside, her real full-time gig is wife to her firefighting husband Owen and mom to their three young kids, Maggie (9), Connor (8), and Tommy (5). Katie has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, used to enjoy running half marathons (ha! As if my joints would tolerate such abuse now), and holds the title of “First to all Fifty States” amongst her five siblings (but is tied with her sister Missy on the continent count). Katie loves playing cards, hiking, long walks paired with a podcast, baking, and spending time with her family. She is terrible at going to bed but really good at sleeping; she’s also terrible about planning meals but really good at eating; and she loves talking a bit game with Christmas lights but chickens out when it gets too cold and slippery.
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    36 mins
  • TAYN Ep. 61 - Amanda Yellow

    TAYN Ep. 61 - Amanda Yellow
    Jul 29 2025
    For nearly 12 years, Amanda has served as the Sales & Marketing Manager at the Bismarck Event Center, where she gets to do what she loves most: connect with people, support our community, work in the entertainment business and help bring unforgettable events to life. Before this role, she got her start at Agency MABU as a college intern, then joined the team full-time. From there, she took on a management role at AAA Travel and Insurance and later worked with Rasmussen College as a Professional Development Coordinator — each experience helping her to learn how to lead, collaborate, and grow.

    Amanda earned her bachelor’s degrees in Business Communications and Business Administration from the University of Mary, and went on to complete her Master’s in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University in Chicago. Along the way, she also became a proud graduate of the Bismarck-Mandan Leadership Academy and was honored to be named the Bismarck-Mandan Business & Professional Women’s Foundation “Woman of the Year” in 2016. Amanda was also the Sakakawea Award winner for the Young Professionals Network and most recently was recognized by the Dakotas-Manitoba Minnesota Optimist District in 2018 as the Optimist of the Year and then the Bismarck Optimist Club 2022 Outstanding Optimist of the Year.

    Outside of work, she loves giving back. Amanda has served on many different boards and volunteered in different capacities in the community, but some of her most favorite include coaching Basketball, Volleyball and Soccer for Bismarck Special Olympics, volunteering her time with the Bismarck Optimist Club on many different projects including the annual Easter Egg Hunt and Bowling Tournament and her previous involvement with the Young Professionals Network. In her free time, she enjoys camping, traveling and spending time with her husband, two kids and mini-labradoodle.
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    37 mins
  • TAYN Ep. 60 - Megan Dooley

    TAYN Ep. 60 - Megan Dooley
    Jul 14 2025
    Megan Dooley is an occupational therapist and the founder of Innovative Therapy Solutions & Consulting, a mobile outpatient clinic that brings therapy and support directly to people across North Dakota—especially in rural and underserved areas. She specializes in working with individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, brain injuries, and other neurological conditions, helping them stay safe, independent, and connected to their communities.

    Megan is a proud member of the Bismarck Parkinson’s Support Group Board and collaborates with the Alzheimer’s Association and North Dakota Brain Injury Network to offer education, support, and hands-on therapy to individuals and their care partners. Her passion lies in walking alongside families through life’s hardest transitions—offering both expertise and encouragement when it’s needed most.Whether she’s adapting a home to support aging in place, leading wellness groups, or mentoring other healthcare providers, Megan is rooted in the belief that strong communities start with neighbors looking out for each other.

    When she’s not working, Megan enjoys coaching and playing volleyball, boating, camping, and spending time with her family. She’s proud to call Bismarck/Mandan home and to be part of the network of helpers that keep this region strong.
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    31 mins
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