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"Our town, our people" is a weekly Q&A with a local resident who is active in the community. Have a suggestion for someone we should talk to? Email T-R news editor Emily Barske at ebarske@timesrepublican.com.
Wendy Soltero, the business manager of the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, has lived in Marshalltown for 16 years.
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: "I'm passionate about service. I love to feel like I can help. So, starting with my family, obviously, then the community and all of us around me."
Q: What community activities do you participate in?
A: "I'm lucky through my job here at the Y, I get to be a part of different initiatives. We do a lot of partnerships with the city and police department (and) schools. Especially when it comes to schools, I have done a lot. Most recently, I have participated in the junior achievement class. I'm also the president of UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown Foundation. (In the foundation), we support, obviously, our local hospital, but it's more than that. I have been involved with the breast cancer awareness luncheon. We have the heroes fund -- it's to support our local veterans. I'm also, officially a Red Cross volunteer, so, I am a first responder."
Q: What do you enjoy about this community?
A: "I enjoy that it is small enough to get involved and get to know people and, kind of, make a difference when you are out there in the community, but still has a lot of the services we need. I enjoy the people. So, I think it's close to big cities, and you can still get that small-town feel – the feeling that people care. You get to know more people than when you would in a big city. Everybody tries to work together if there's an issue in the private sector and non-profit organizations."
Q: What changes do you feel need to be made in the community?
A: "The racial diversity, even though there is 50 plus languages spoken at the high school, I would still like to see a little bit more of that."
Q: What advice would you pass on to young people?
A: "I always started with my kids: I said if you want something, work for it so you can appreciate it."
Q: What is your favorite Marshalltown activity?
A: "Family fun nights (also known as) community events at the Y."
Q: What social activity or event would you like to see come Marshalltown and why?
A: "I would like to see more activities for youth or even teenagers. I would like to see more concerts or more festivals. There's not a whole lot...especially for that age group."