“Given the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation, we have an opportunity, and an obligation, to make the same investments in addressing social connection that we have made in addressing tobacco use, obesity, and the addiction crisis. . .
If we fail to do so, we will pay an ever-increasing price in the form of our individual and collective health and well-being. And we will continue to splinter and divide until we can no longer stand as a community or a country. Instead of coming together to take on the great challenges before us, we will further retreat to our corners—angry, sick, and alone.”
-Dr. Vivek H. Murthy 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States
Our Purpose
Earlier this year Surgeon General of the United States issued an advisory outlining an epidemic of loneliness in the United States. This isn’t an opinion. It is the conclusion of multiple scientific studies pointing to human isolation as a driving factor in a host of negative individual health outcomes causing similar detriment to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, as well as a host of community tragedies. Human isolation, and the corresponding consequences, have a compounding effect that exploded during the Covid pandemic. Not to sound alarming, but we are at a critical juncture in our human family. Now that we have science and language around the issue, we must step in with intensive efforts to weave new fabric for the holes in our communities. For such a complex problem, the solutions are quite simple. We need an equally explosive investment in relationship/community building.
The Pollinate Hive House, located at 1011 64h street, is an innovative project that endeavors to bring a small team of therapeutic practitioners and community developers together in a practice space that is embedded into a neighborhood. From this ‘hive’ they will offer ongoing and consistent services and programming to meet the immediate needs of the surrounding neighborhood, while providing those outside the neighborhood an opportunity to come to a therapeutic community environment and experience the benefit of small, integrated solutions.
Why this approach? Because grouping healing practices and community building efforts in commercial zones, corporate and unfamiliar environments impedes access to experiencing the benefits of therapeutic community. We need to rebuild neighborhoods as places where support is as accessible next door. Our location is ideal as it can serve a large elder community–located just south of The Hive House, and an immediate neighborhood of hundreds, plus it is right off I-235 which provides for easy access to others outside the immediate neighborhood.
Goals
To provide therapeutic services and community to humans seeking holistic healing and fellowship in a unique environment.
To build a family of practitioners who desire to learn from each other, create new healing modalities together and support each other both personally and professionally.
To challenge systemic forces that undermine community building and the experience of being human through collaboration, innovation and caretaking.
Our Organization
The Pollinate community, has been growing since our first retreat in 2019–the Pollinate Women’s Weekend. Our community engages through retreats, events, and online community platforms. Pollinate facilitates its work through the Pollinate Foundation, its 501c3 branch and Pollinate Wellness LLC.
501 c3 documentation available upon request.
Our Team
Shannissy Catron
Director of Healing Arts
Shannissy is the founder of Wild Heart Body + Birthwork, which specializes in doula services and supportive, therapeutic massage. In 2023 Shannissy was honored by the Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC) for her work with teen moms over the last seven years. As a certified birth doula with continuing education focuses in lactation and childhood sexual abuse, she attends births, is a mentor for new doulas, and has provided extra training for Iowa doulas. She recently accepted the Doula Coordinator position at YWRC where she’s spearheading innovative doula practices that minimize burnout and maximize caregiving integration.
Shannissy has been the Director of Healing Arts for Pollinate Ritual since 2022. In her role as the Director of Healing Arts, Shannissy manages, leads and supports a dynamic group of healing arts practitioners as they positively impact the physical, mental and spiritual health of humans through Pollinate programming.
Shannissy also founded our rural sister project Wild Heart Sanctuary, a renovated century old church and acreage that will provide a similar hive of therapeutic community in the rural Indianola area, as well as be the home for Pollinate retreats beginning in late 2024.
Shannissy will act as co-director of the Pollinate Hive House, focusing on practitioner management and services.
Kathryn Dickel
Director of Community Outreach
Kathryn is the Founder of Pollinate Ritual. Being a founder, business owner and community activist for over 20 years has given Kathryn a wealth of experience and resources to bring to her work at Pollinate. Her life experience and education has provided her opportunities to execute in the fields of culture, politics, business development, strategic planning, outreach, messaging and healing, leading to successful outcomes for individuals and organizations in start-up and renewal cycles. She has taken this experience to build a Spiritual Direction Practice and is currently pursuing certification with The Haden Institute.
“I am fascinated with creation, transition and growth. It is within these cycles that our greatest opportunity to find meaning exists. We silo much of our lives into work, family, recreation etc. I help people to integrate these silos into one connected and meaningful life. Engaging in this process can bring struggle, but it also clarifies a path toward authentic living with purposeful work and deep relationships. Organizations are living organisms too and often experience siloing as well. Searching for and finding cohesion within larger systems helps to bring balance to communities. This is my life’s work; to be in service of growth, however and wherever that might manifest.” Kathryn has worked with artists, municipalities, CEOs, politicians, parents and non-profits to guide them through their transformation.
Kathryn is Co-Director of the Pollinate Hive House, focusing on community outreach, marketing and facility management.