Welcome to the Strong Women podcast, where each week we explore a deeper understanding of the humanity, value, intellect, and creativity of women.

I'm Sarah Stone Street.

And I'm Erin Kunkel.

Glad you're here.

You all are going to love our guest today, Valerie Huber, who sees what's in front of her

and uses her gifts and resources to make an impact in a difference in those around her.

This way of seeing and doing has taken her from serving teachers' lunch at her kids' school,

working in the Department of Health and Human Services to founding

the Institute for Women's Health. We're so glad that you're here today. Well, thanks so much

for having me, Sarah. I'm glad to be here. We have a lot to talk to you about and, of course,

the work that you're doing, but we love to start with all of our guests at your childhood and where

you started and kind of walk with you through your journey of life. So can you tell us just about

the home you grow up in, where you grew up, and anything about your family you're willing to

share with us? Sure. Well, I just left my dad who turned 90 years old

just a few weeks ago. And I told him what I'm going to tell you, and that is, you know, you don't realize

how fortunate you are to have wonderful, loving family and, you know, growing up in a nest

where you feel secure and you feel free to spread your wings and try almost anything as long as

it's moral, legal, ethical, and all of those things. And that's the kind of family I grew up in in a little town in Michigan, real close to Lake Michigan.

And most people in that little town when I was growing up stayed in that little town,

at least for quite a while and didn't necessarily even go to college or if so did so

you know very close by and I think that that little I'll call it a red thread that began with my parents

and their real commitment to being great parents and great role models

...