Podcasts about pennsylvania council

20250224 PCB Peer Engagement Presents: Situational Awareness with Cristy Jones Originally Broadcasted February 24, 2025, on ACB Media 6   Cristy Jones discussed situational awareness as it relates to the blind and low vision community.   Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Subscribe to the PCB email list Find out more at https://acb-community.pinecast.co

Coming up on The Spark Weekly: Our Braver Angels segment for the Month of February was about the Braver Angels stye debates. Karen Ward, Debate Chair and Past Bloomsburg Alliance Red Co-Chair and Past PA Red State Coordinator, and Terry Webb, Co-founder of the Braver Angels Alliance in Lancaster, and coordinator of their first debate in 2021, gave insight into the debates. They also shared how the BA debates are different from political debates we watch on TV and from competitive debates that a high school or college team tries to win. but upfront... Each service plaza along the Pennsylvania Turnpike now contains a mural depicting landscapes and attractions in their areas. The murals were created by local high school students under a program called Art Sparks, a joint effort of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Turnpike Commission.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each service plaza along the Pennsylvania Turnpike now contains a mural depicting landscapes and attractions in their areas. The murals were created by local high school students under a program called Art Sparks, a joint effort of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Turnpike Commission. Mark Compton, CEO of the Turnpike Commission, says they want to make the service plazas more welcoming to visitors. “As we see it, about 550 ,000 travelers use this system every day and very few ever get off the system other than where their destination is. So, we wanted to make sure that some of the beautiful places around the Turnpike were able to be viewed from the service plaza, and that really was why we did what we did.” Jamie Dunlap of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts says this project had a huge impact on the students. “It's given them a chance to be a part of the creation of public art that is community driven and to work with a professional artist and to have that experience and to work with a client to then have amazing artwork produced at the end that is installed.” Dana Attivo is an art teacher on the very first mural project. The project took a few years, however, it brought the students together while creating the mural. “It's been quite a few years since we've done this, but we were super excited to participate, and one of the things that, speaking of the benefits that I noticed in my classroom is that group specifically, we had some small groups. We had a couple of friend groups that would come in and hang out with each other, and most of them were juniors that were working on the project. And by their senior year, it created such a different, tight -knit community in our classroom, because they all had to work together with each other. They weren't just coming in and doing their own thing. So we really loved the opportunity to put some work out into our community. We really loved the community that it created in our own classroom, and we loved the opportunity to work with a professional artist.” Katie Trainer and her students were the final group to create their murals. Trainers believe it forced her students to learn about local landscapes in their religion. “So getting them involved with the design, like what's important to you guys? You can't like at first all the students seem to be hesitant, like, oh, what do you mean Shippensburg is important? And it's like, well, no, it's what's like good. What's the value of your heritage or your town? What are some of the iconic buildings or what do you guys like to do? And so, getting them invested in the community aspect is always a very big deal. And from there, I can kind of find the common themes of what they've chosen to express and merge them together, figure out how it makes sense and then get painting.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20250127 PCB Peer Engagement Presents: Baking with Cathy Originally Broadcasted January 27, 2025, on ACB Media 6   This month, Cathy Long, Past President of PCB-KCB, guest speaker at the 2024 PCB Conference and Convention, and frequent contributor of baked goods to many Auctions in the Blind Community shared with us the benefit of her experience with Baking.   Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Subscribe to the PCB email list     Find out more at https://acb-community.pinecast.co

Top shot © Ron Tarver Cowboy lore has deep roots in American culture. Yet, black cowboys have lived pretty much under the radar until recently, when songs by pop culture icons Lil Nas X and Beyoncé went viral and catapulted the black western aesthetic into the limelight. In today's show, we're getting the inside scoop from two photographers who've been fully immersed in these vibrant communities since long before they became a top fashion trend. Separated by a generation in age and with pictures spanning from film to digital, we follow Ron Tarver and Ivan McClellan from their early years in Oklahoma and Kansas, to the urban stables of Northern Philadelphia, the legendary Roy LeBlanc Rodeo in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and beyond. Listen in and discover how the popularity of a single newspaper assignment led Ron to the pages of National Geographic and a career defining body of work. In a similar manner, Ivan's hunch to act on a chance invitation morphed into a passion project that reconnected him to his midwestern roots and ultimately expanded his role from photographer to that of an entrepreneur and rodeo boss.  Ever wonder about the funding and stamina required to compete as a rodeo athlete? We take that bull by the horns at the end of the show. Guests: Ron Tarver & Ivan McClellan Episode Timeline: 4:09: Ron Tarver and Ivan McClellan's early memories of cowboy culture during their respective youths in Kansas City and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. 9:19: Ron's early story for the Philadelphia Inquirer and his subsequent documentation of black cowboy culture. 15:06: The camera gear and film stock Ron used for his pictures, plus digitizing analog slides using a digital camera, macro lens and bellows system. 20:15: Technical limitations Ron faced when shooting film, and his editing process when working with National Geographic. 23:19: Ivan's start as a designer, his introduction to photography and the world of black cowboys, and his shooting process at the rodeo. 33:40: The dominance of women within black rodeos, a female horse whisperer, and tips for photographing horses in a rodeo context. 44:34: Episode Break 45:35: The journey behind our guest's respective books, and Ron's collaboration with a noted editor to create The Long Ride Home. 51:19: The back story to Ivan's book—from a self-published Kickstarter release to the editor he worked with to get Eight Seconds published by Damiani. 57:10: Ivan and Ron discuss each other's finished book projects, questions about model releases, plus the current hunger for black cowboy culture.  1:05:23: Ivan's work to promote black rodeo athletes and the economics of competing in this arena. 1:10:39: How Ivan's life has changed since founding the Eight Seconds rodeo in Portland, Oregon. 1:16:04: The impact of Ivan's work on the lives of rodeo athletes, and the maximum number of bulls a rodeo athlete can ride in a single day.  Guest Bios: Ron Tarver was born and raised in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, and is now based outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During 32 years as a staffer at The Philadelphia Inquirer, he was nominated for three Pulitzer's and shared the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for public service, in addition to many other accolades. Tarver's photographs have been exhibited internationally. His pictures can be found in private, corporate, and museum collections, and have appeared in major publications both in print and online.  In 2004, he co-authored the book We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans, published by Harper Collins, accompanied by a traveling exhibition. A recipient of a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship and a 2001 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, Tarver has also received funding from the NEA, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and an Independence Foundation Fellowship.  He currently serves as Associate Professor of Art at Swarthmore College. His book, The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America was released by George F Thompson Publishers in September. Ivan McClellan is a photojournalist and designer originally from Kansas City, Missouri. These days he calls Portland, Oregon home.  His work reveals marginalized aspects of black culture, challenging broad assumptions and myths about racial identity in America.  His project Eight Seconds, focuses on elevating narratives about American Black cowboys, and transforming the culture of the American West by ‘re-centering' black women and men back as an integral part of our historical narrative.  After initially self-publishing his photos in book form, Eight Seconds: Black Rodeo Culture was released by Damiani books in April 2024. The winner of the 2022 Getty Inclusion grant, McClellan's photos have been presented in and collected by Museums and cultural spaces across the United States. His work has also been featured in ESPN: The Undefeated and Fast Company.  As an experience designer for Adobe Lightroom, he has led projects for Nike, Adidas, Disney, and the U.S. National Soccer Team. And most recently, he founded the Eight Seconds Rodeo in 2023. Stay Connected: Ron Tarver Website: https://www.rontarverphotographs.net/ Ron Tarver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rontarver/ Ron Tarver Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Tarver Ron Tarver The Long Ride Home book:  http://www.gftbooks.com/books_Tarver.html Ivan McClellan Website: https://eightsecs.com/ Ivan McClellan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eightsecs/ Ivan McClellan / 8 Seconds Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/eightsecs Ivan McClellan at Damiani Books: https://www.damianibooks.com/en/collections/mcclellan-ivan End Credits: Host: Allan Weitz Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein Executive Producer: Richard Stevens

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha is joined by photographer, publisher, and educator, Ed Panar. They delve into "Winter Nights, Walking" (Spaces Corners), a nightly walk through his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the cold winter months shot over a 10 year period. Ed also describes the evolution of his process as the photo industry moved from the film era to the digital era and how that affected his work. Ed and Sasha discuss their optimistic views of our very connected photo community and how Ed and Melissa Catanese helped grow that community with their imprint and former community space, Spaces Corners. https://edpanar.com ||| https://spacescorners.com/shop/p/winter-nights-walking-by-ed-panar Ed Panar is a Pittsburgh based photographer and bookmaker. Ed has published several photobooks including: Winter Nights, Walking (2023), In the Vicinity (2018), Animals That Saw Me Volume One and Volume Two (2011 and 2016), Salad Days (2012), Same Difference (2010), and Golden Palms (2007). His photographs and books have been exhibited internationally at venues including: The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, MiCamera, Milan, The New York Photography Festival, The Cleveland Museum of Art and Pier 24 Photography in San Francisco. He is the recipient of a 2007 Artist Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and in 2022 he relieved a Creative Development Award from The Heinz Endowments and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Ed is co-founder of the project space and publisher Spaces Corners. This podcast is sponsored by picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom. https://phtsdr.com

A 100 year old woman is given some supplies and general directions. She creates art that brings forth a cherished memory of picking mushrooms with her grandmother in Poland.As a lesson on overcoming limitations, a group of older adults take a page from bed-bound Henri Matisse, who satisfied his drive to create by using a six-foot bamboo rod with charcoal in the tip to draw on his walls. The older people come up with an idea, pick up their bamboo rods, and get to work. Some have poor eyesight and others have limited mobility, but Matisse's example shows that there are few limitations on creativity. Funded by grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, there are teaching artists like Cheryl Kugler challenging older adults to express memories, make social connections, and reveal their unique experiences in art. Creating art in the later years of life is meditative and reduces stress while maintaining fine motor skills. Pushing through occasional frustrations in the process, the older adults develop a sense of self-empowerment and accomplishment.In this episode, Cheryl Kugler paints a picture of the value of artistic expression for aging people.

2024 ACB Summer Auction Saturday, June 22 at 6:00pm ET Broadcast on ACB Media One Shipping Donors Thanks to the Bay State Council of the Blind ($250), Veterans of ACB ($150), California Council of the Blind ($100), Council of Citizens with Low Vision International ($100), ACB Families ($100), ACB Teachers ($100), Illinois Council of the Blind($100), North Dakota Association of the Blind ($100), VisAbilities Show ($100), Terry Pacheco )$100), Merrilee Hill-Kennedy ($100), Pat Tusing ($80) ACB Next Generation ($75), Natalie Couch ($50), Angelo Lanier ($50), David Trott ($50), Chris Bell ($50), and Agnes Ferris ($10) for their generous donations for shipping. Segment One - Cindy Hollis and Deb Cook Lewis 100 $50 Gift Card to The Southern Grill donated by ACB Board of Publications Director Cachet Wells The Southern Grill, a local restaurant, has been serving hearty home cooked southern meals in Jacksonville since 1998. Besides serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dishes such as BBQ, sandwiches/wraps, Greek platters, vegetarian options and more, along with beer and wine there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Located within 15 minutes and approximately 0.7 miles from the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Southern Grill promotes local musicians that have become a favorite part of their dining experience with Open Jams and live band music several nights a week. 101 A Set of 5 Holiday Ornaments Handmade and donated by Jamaica Miller You will receive one ornament of each color: red, green, gold, blue and white. They are adorned with pins and beads in various bright colors, and each will have a tag of your choosing. You can have any combination of messages, or they can all be the same. The choices are: "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Peace on Earth", or "Joy to the World". The tags feature Braille as well as printed text. The ornaments will be packaged in a decorative tin. 102A Two-pound Box of Ghirardelli dark chocolate Fudge donated by Marvelena Quesada You will receive a 2-pound box of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Fudge, made from San Francisco's own 100-year-old chocolatier's intense 72% Cacao Dark chocolate. She has crafted this rich, delicious fudge for family and friends for years. While it is especially wonderful around the holiday season, it works throughout the year for the chocolate lovers among us. Enjoy this delicacy with a morning cup of coffee or as an after-dinner treat. 102B Two-pound Box of Ghirardelli dark chocolate fudge donated by Marvelena Quezada You will receive a 2-pound box of rich Ghirardelli dark chocolate fudge, made from San Francisco's own 100-year-old chocolatier's intense 72% Cacao Dark chocolate. She has crafted this rich, delicious fudge for family and friends for years. While it is especially wonderful around the holiday season, it works throughout the year for the chocolate lovers among us. Enjoy this delicacy with a morning cup of coffee or as an after-dinner treat. 103 $50 Olive Garden Gift Card donated by ACB of Connecticut Do you ever get hungry for Italian food? Well, here's something just for you, a $50 gift card to Olive Garden. Hurry up and bid so you can get those wonderful bread sticks, salads, and delicious dinners. Braille menus available upon request. 104 Braille Read Necklace donated by Dorlyn Catron This necklace has a bright copper pendant with the word "read" written in contracted braille and features a tactile image of an open book. The pendant measures approximately 1.5 inches long by half an inch wide. Originally sold by National Braille Press, but there are no more left. Wow, this truly is an exquisite necklace to have either for yourself or someone special! 105 Snakeskin Printed Purse Created by Keri Bishop This purse had its start as a white, black, and gray pair of jeans in a rattlesnake skin printed design. Keri fell in love with this pair of jeans when she saw them at a local thrift shop. Soon the jeans were home and cut, sewn, and reconstructed into this lovely snakeskin printed purse. The words I (heart) ACB across the front in black glitter iron on vinyl. The medium sized purse makes use of the pockets in the jeans repurposed as the pockets for the purse. The shoulder strap is adjustable. 106 Amazon Echo Pop 5th Generation Speaker donated by Cheryl McNeil Fisher You will enjoy owning this ECHO POP compact smart speaker with Alexa. The speaker features full sound that's great for bedrooms and small spaces and is small enough to blend in and mighty enough to stand out. It controls music WITH YOUR VOICE, and you can Ask Alexa to play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from your favorite providers like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM and more. Connect via Bluetooth to stream throughout your space. 107 Celebrate the State of Washington with Chukar Cherries donated by Washington Council of the Blind The recipient will enjoy the no-sugar-added Organic Rainier Cherries, a delicious variety of chocolate covered cherries, Cherry Apple Crisps, Pickled Asparagus, Smoked Salmon, and more. A great gift for anyone missing the Pacific Northwest—send a taste of our beautiful region to friends and loved ones. Arrives in a keepsake metal hamper with an oversized Seattle souvenir mug. What's inside this basket: Organic Rainier Cherries: This prized Northwest cherry is organically grown and picked fresh, then gently air dried with no added sugar or preservatives. Amaretto Rainiers: Honey-sweet, dried Rainier cherries are layered with luscious dark chocolate and almond essence. A unique treat from Washington State. Cherry Quartet: An assortment of four best-selling milk and dark confections, including Cabernet, Amaretto Rainiers, Cherry Bings, and Classic Milk. Cherry Apple Crisps: Healthy and addictive! Fresh Washington state apple slices are infused with cherry juice and cinnamon, then dehydrated to a delightfully crisp texture. Cherry Caramel Twists: Luscious caramels studded with dried cherry bits and almond essence. Gift box of individually wrapped pieces. Souvenir Mug: An oversized mug is adorned with famous Northwest landmarks. Lead safe. Dishwasher safe. Washington State Pickled Asparagus: Fresh Yakima Valley asparagus is pickled with garlic and red chilies for a zesty appetizer or cocktail garnish. Smoked Salmon: Tender, lightly flaked, boneless, skinless salmon in a Seattle-themed gift box. A choice gift for any salmon fan. 108 Two Hand-Crafted Pottery Chili Bowls donated by Mucie Allred Two hand-crafted pottery pieces shaped into unique “Chili” bowls. On each side of the bowl is a curved area to hold your crackers. A beautiful blue swirl color has been added. They are designed by Marcia Springston of Wake Robin Gallery. Don't restrict them to only chili because these one-of-a-kind bowls would be beautiful to display candy or nuts on your table as well. 109 West Virginia Gift Card Bundle donated by ACB Board Director Donna Brown Planning for your upcoming vacation has just gotten easier. This black and blue neck wallet is perfect to carry your necessities wherever you go. It is big enough for your cell phone, keys, credit cards, etc., but small enough to carry easily. Written on the neck wallet is: Wild and Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Plus, a $25 Texas Roadhouse and a $25 Cheesecake Factory gift card and they fit nicely in the wallet. What a fantastic gift for yourself or someone special. 110 Sweet and Savory Treats of North Carolina donated by North Carolina Council of the Blind Enjoy the following fine North Carolina goodies: Red Bird Hand-crafted Soft Puff Peppermint Candy from Lexington; Grammy's Gourmet Pretzels from Raleigh; Chad's Carolina Popcorn from Greensboro; Memaw's Country Cookies from Raleigh; Salem Baking Moravian Thin Cookies from Winston-Salem; Baker's Peanuts from Roxobel; Dark Chocolate/Pecan Toffee from Chapel Hill. You will savor these wonderful treats and treasure the North Carolina Ornament also included. 111 BITS- Blind Information Technology Specialists, full zip, black tote bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of BITS. Blind Girl Designs has created a complete collection for BITS. We are proudly donating a 15 by 18-inch full-zip black tote bag on their behalf. The print is very circular. The center of the print is an image of the globe with the continents inverted vibrant green and the ocean in blue with North America facing front. Surrounding the globe on either side are hands holding the globe. The hands are created by drawing thin lines, all around the sides and the bottom of the globe. Overarching the globe and the hands in a half circle are the words “blind technology information specialists” with those words in braille underneath. There is a fold in the bottom of the bag to easily allow it to sit upright. It has a full zip across the top as well as a zippered inside pocket. It's a classic from Blind Girl Designs! 112 A Four Mini Loaves of Homemade Banana Bread donated by Kaila Allen You will enjoy four mini loaves of this mouthwatering banana bread made just the way you like it. Choose one of the following add ins: peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans. What a fantastic treat to either have for yourself or share with friends! 112 B Four Mini Loaves of Homemade Banana Bread donated by Kaila Allen You will enjoy four mini loaves of this mouthwatering banana bread made just the way you like it. Choose one of the following add ins: peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans. What a fantastic treat to either have for yourself or share with friends! 113 Movie Extravaganza Package donated by ACB Associate Director of Development Jo Lynn Bailey-Page Enjoy using this $50 Regal Cinemas gift card to watch the latest audio described movies with some friends or family. Plus, you will love adding some goodies to go along with your movie. 114 Ruby Heart Jewelry Set made and donated by Charlotte lang This lovely set features July's birthstone ruby in 1/2 inch puffed hearts. Each earring features a heart dangling from sterling silver hooks. The bracelet stretches easily on and off the wrist. The 20-inch necklace closes with a matching silver heart-shaped toggle clasp. The hearts on the necklace are separated by silver links. Wow, this would make a lovely gift for that someone special in your life! 115 Two Companion Framed Floral Collages donated by ACB Advocacy Director Claire Stanley The two decoupage style pieces include yellow, brown, and green flowers. The flowers have six petals each and overlap each other across the canvass. The pieces are finished with a gloss which gives off a shiny glare. The two canvasses have been framed in wooden, 10 by 10 picture frames. Wow, what a fantastic gift to have either for yourself or to give to someone special! 116 JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker donated by Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision This ultra-portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker is small in size but with a surprisingly big sound. The JBL Clip 3 features a built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery with up to 10 hours of battery life plus a metal carabiner so you can easily hook it to your clothes, backpack, or belt loop. This portable speaker has noise cancelling and wireless streaming from your smartphone or tablet. Plus, take crystal-clear calls from your speaker with the touch of a button, thanks to the noise and echo-cancelling speakerphone. JBL Clip 3 is completely waterproof, and you can even immerse it in water. Plus, the improved, durable fabric material and rugged rubber housing protects it during all your outdoor adventures. 117 Kentucky Derby Pie donated by Kentucky Council of the Blind Kern's Kitchen Kentucky Derby Pie®! Kern's Kitchen crafts each pie, one at a time, according to a legendary secret recipe. Premium chocolate and choice walnuts are folded into a decadent filling, then baked in a delicate crust. Delicious when eaten at room temperature; incredibly heavenly when eaten all warm and gooey and topped with either whipped cream or ice cream. This 9-inch, 1-pound-4-oz. pie stays fresh for about 14 days. Ready to warm and serve or freeze for later use. Serves 8 to 10. 118 Enjoy A Game Night donated by Connie and Pete Jacomini and Lisa and Ron Brooks Be the host with the most! You have everything you need included in this package for a wonderful game night. All decks of cards are print/braille and dice are tactile. Card games include Classic Playing Cards, UNO, SKIP-PO, PINOCHLE, PHASE 10, ROOK, and MILLE BORNES. Lisa Brooks personally Brailed MILLE BORNES for this package. Also included are a pair of large tactile dice, LEFT RIGHT CENTER and LEFT RIGHT CENTER WILD dice games. You will also get a wood card holder and card shuffler. 119 $100 A T Guys Gift Certificate donated by Diane Scalzi A T Guys provides affordable technology solutions for consumers, businesses, and educational customers. Our product line includes mobile phone software and accessories, portable electronics, screen readers, braille translation software and accessible games. With over 30 years of combined technology experience, our trainers offer customized instruction both in-person or via phone or online voice chat on a wide array of assistive technologies including screen readers, braille displays, embossers, the iPhone and iPad, Android phones, and general accessibility consulting. 120 Welcome to Jacksonville donated by Florida Council of the Blind Are you coming to the ACB convention in Jacksonville? Enjoy one night at the hotel and a$50 Starbucks gift card and a $50 VISA gift card to use while you are at convention! 121 A Song from the Smitherman's donated by Michael and Alison Smitherman If you enjoy listening to country or Gospel music, for your summertime listening enjoyment, Michael and Alison would like to record a song for you. You choose the song from either of these genres, and we will sing it for you. The song will be sent to you in an mp3 file. What a treat for you or someone special to enjoy! 122 A Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! 122 B Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! 122 C Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! Segment Two- Dan Spoone and Kim Charlson 123 Holy Cow Baraboo Chocolate donated by ACB of Wisconsin Chocolaty goodness in every box! This yummy package includes: • 1-Milk Chocolate Cow Pie • 1-Dark Chocolate Cow Pie • 1-Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cow Pie • 1-Milk Chocolate Moo Chews • 1-Milk Chocolate Udderfingers • 1-Milk Chocolate Green Bay Puddles • 1-Milk Chocolate Horse Apples • 10-Individually Wrapped Chocolates including mini Cow Pies and assorted Homer's Meltys. plus TWO SURPRISE BONUS ITEMS. This item will ship in September or October once the weather permits. 124 Black Pearl Necklace and Bracelet Set donated by Cindy Hollis This lovely set features a 20-inch necklace and stretch bracelet in naturally shaped black pearls. They are 7 to 8 millimeter in size. The necklace is hand knotted between for added security and elegance. It closes with a lobster claw clasp. Wow, what a wonderful set to have either for yourself or someone special in your life! 125 Get Moving with Couch to Active donated by ACB President Deb Cook Lewis This online fitness program specializes in helping people who have chronic conditions or physical limitations that impact their ability to participate in standard fitness programs. More recently, they have expanded to make sure all their instructional resources and classes are accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. You may choose between: • The 6-pack: Six classes over the next year. This is ideal if you want to have instruction once a month or once a week. • All In! Up to nine sessions per week for one month. These include Pilates, yoga, strength, mobility/stability, dance /movement, and cardio. 126 Accessible Digital Portable Recorder donated by Kim Charlson You will love having this Zoom H1 essential Stereo Handy Recorder with 32-Bit Float, Accessibility, X/Y Microphones, Record to SD Card, USB Microphone, Portable, for Musicians, Podcasters, Filmmakers, & Content Creators. The hottest accessible digital portable recorder on the market. All menus talk, and it comes with accessible documentation. Stereo 32-bit float recording - perfect audio with no need to set gain, High-Quality X/Y Mics capture clean audio up to 120 dB SPL, Records up to 96kHZ sample rate to SD card, USB Microphone for PC, Mac, iOS, or Android using the USB-C Port, Accessibility - Audio guidance function for the visually impaired. 127 Megan's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies donated by Megan Sullivan Enjoy sharing three dozen homemade Megan's chocolate chip cookies either with family or friends with that favorite beverage. These cookies will melt in your mouth. 128 Bradford Exchange Music Box donated by ACB LIONS We all admire the quality products from the Bradford Exchange. This limited-edition handcrafted heirloom porcelain egg-shaped music box features a hand-enameled red Cardinal on light pink flowers inside the open egg mounted on a base. It is inspired by Peter Carl Faberge's prized eggs and is adorned with 22K Gold accents. It is beautifully hand glazed in a soft blue hue with more than 80 hand-set jewels. It plays, “Always in My Heart.” The abundance of handcrafted details makes each egg a one-of-a-kind treasure. 129 $100 VISA Gift Card donated by Mississippi Council of The Blind Use this card anytime while dining or doing some shopping for yourself or someone special in your life! 130 Lunch with the ACB Board of Director Koni Sims donated by ACB Board Director Koni Sims Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB Bord of Director Koni Sims over lunch in Jacksonville, Florida in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Koni. 131 ACBDA Sugar Warriors Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of ACBDA This ACBDA tote bag features on the front a 12 by 12-inch colorful print to celebrate ACBDA! Across the top reads "SUGAR WARRIORS" which is printed in a velvety 3-D puff ink in both letters and Braille. Both sets of letters are a deep orange color and are very tactile. Beneath the words is a drawing of a fist with prominent knuckles, which is holding a 12-inch white cane diagonally across the bag, smashing through cubes of sugar. The white sugar cubes are flying through the air, struck by the mighty force of the white cane. To further emphasize the force, the words, “pow” and “bam” are colorfully included in yellow and red. The bottom of the print is in deep orange, the words “KNUCKLING DOWN ON DIABETES!” fill the entire length of the print. On the back of this classic navy-blue zippered tote bag, there is a white print in the center of the bag reading “ACB Diabetics in Action.” This deep navy-blue canvas tote is 15 by 20-inch full zip, canvas bag with a folded bottom so it can sit upright and a zip pocket on the inside as well! It has a generous strap so you can swing it over your shoulder. 132 Enstrom Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee Two- Pound Box donated by ACB Media and IT Manager Rick Morin This all-natural traditional almond toffee is handcrafted. It is the perfect blend of almonds, butter, and pure cane sugar, covered in a generous layer of milk chocolate and sprinkled with crushed almonds, creates a buttery toffee with a delicate crunch. Enstrom's Almond Toffee is lovingly handcrafted in small batches with a family recipe passed down through four generations. Includes simple ingredients like fresh California almonds, sweet cream butter, pure cane sugar and 36% milk chocolate. Enstrom's Almond Toffee is certified gluten free, kosher dairy and 100% preservative free. We will contact the winner to arrange shipment to consider options to avoid heat damage during shipping. 133 $200 Target Gift Card donated by Beth Corley and Dan Dillon Here's a $200 Target gift card for you to use in store or online. Enjoy this either for yourself or someone special in your life! 134 Jade 14K Gold Earrings donated by The Literacy Project You will love having these authentic small Jade earrings with gold trim. The earrings are oval and are on posts. Wow, these will dress up any outfit for a romantic outing! 135 Honoring our Heroes Patriotic Package donated by the Georgia Council of the Blind, Marsha Farrow and Blind Girl Designs This package comes in a red Blind Girl Designs bag with white lettering of the Braille alphabet in the shape of a heart. The bag contains a yard flag depicting a red truck with three labradors (yellow, black, and chocolate) flying an American flag. This package also contains a Christmas ornament with an angel holding a folded American flag, a beverage cup with the words “Fear not” on the background of the outline of the American flag, and an American flag pillow. Finally, a paper Braille American flag tactile graphic measuring 7.5 inches by 9.5 inches from the American Braille Flag project completes this gift package. 136 Phoenix Braille Embosser donated by HumanWare The Phoenix is our ninth generation of braille embossing technology that combines our durable and legendary Romeo Braille dot with a proprietary 25 DPI tactile graphics embossing system. All-in-one embosser! There is no longer a need to settle for poor-quality braille text to achieve high-definition tactile graphics. Imagine the ability to scan your pictures, graphs, and charts into your computer and with a few clicks of the mouse, emboss those images in high-definition tactile graphics without compromising the quality of your braille text. Phoenix includes the capabilities to emboss single-sided braille text and high-resolution graphics up to 25 DPI, in a simple to use format. The newly designed Phoenix is smaller and lighter, with an auto-install feature to make setup even easier. The Firebird Software Suite, included with the Phoenix, is a comprehensive set of productivity tools that powers the Phoenix Embosser. The Firebird Software Suite includes the Firebird Graphics Editor that provides you with a list of automatic tools to effortlessly create tactile graphic images. Phoenix is also compatible with your existing braille translator. 137A Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 137B Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 137 C Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 138 IROBOT Roomba 677 robot vacuum donated by Connie Jacomini For effortlessly clean floors, the Roomba® 677 Series Robot Vacuum learns your cleaning habits to suggest personalized schedules that take care of daily dirt, dust, and debris. Effective cleaning is part of the 3-Stage Cleaning System's design. Dual Multi-Surface Brushes grab dirt from carpets and hard floors, while an Edge-Sweeping Brush takes care of corners and edges. 139 $500 Coupon to HumanWare donated by HumanWare Details for this Coupon: Coupon is valid until June 30, 2025, and may be applied to any HumanWare product sold by HumanWare USA Inc. 2. Coupon is transferrable. Winning auction bidder for this coupon need only send an email to David Bradburn, HumanWare's Vice President Global Sales at david.bradburn@humanware.com providing the name and contact information of the person who will be redeeming the coupon. The coupon has no cash value. 140 Fun in the Sun! A week at the Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort at Daytona Beach donated by Tim Paul Must be used August 18-August 25, 2024. This unit is a two bedroom, two bath, fully equipped kitchen, with washer/dryer, and all the amenities of home. The resort offers activities for family members of all ages: indoor and outdoor swimming pools, outdoor hot tub, beach, lazy river water, exercise equipment, bar and grill, live entertainment and more. 141 A Song with Kolby donated by ACB Development Officer Kolby Garrison Kolby will sing a song of your choice acapella. The file will be sent to you in mp3 format. What a treat to listen to with friends. 142 A Kermit's Key Lime Pie Duo Donated by Dan Spoone Direct from Kermit's Key Lime Shop, the winner will receive two 9-inch Key Lime Pies. The pies that started it all named “the best taste Key Lime Pie” by Food Network's Keith Famie's Adventures. Kermit's Key Lime Pie is baked fresh daily. True tart Key Lime flavor in a delicious graham cracker crust and topped with fluffy whipped cream. This Key West delicacy will arrive at your door just waiting to be shared with the people you love the most. 142 B Kermit's Key Lime Pie Duo donated by Dan Spoone Direct from Kermit's Key Lime Shop, the winner will receive two 9-inch Key Lime Pies. The pies that started it all named “the best taste Key Lime Pie” by Food Network's Keith Famie's Adventures. Kermit's Key Lime Pie is baked fresh daily. True tart Key Lime flavor in a delicious graham cracker crust and topped with fluffy whipped cream. This Key West delicacy will arrive at your door just waiting to be shared with the people you love the most. 143 $500 Gift Certificate to Jack Stack's BBQ donated by Melvin Smith Your Package Includes: Pulled Pork 2 Pounds. Pork Spareribs 1 Full Slab Beef Burnt Ends 1 Pound. Lamb Ribs 2 Racks Hickory Pit Beans 1 Quart Cheesy Corn Bake 1 Quart KC Original BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle KC Spicy BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle KC Hot BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle Pulled Pork – Pulled pork might be a Carolina staple, but Jack Stack's is deliciously unforgettable. Our BBQ Pulled Pork is perfect for sandwiches. Pork Spare Ribs – Our Pork Spare Ribs are expertly seasoned, slow-roasted to perfection over hickory logs, and a delicious choice. Beef Burnt Ends – When it comes to classic Kansas City barbecue, Jack Stack's Beef Burnt Ends are second to none. Meaty, juicy, and tender on the inside - with the smokey edges you could only get from double-smoking them over hickory. Hickory-Roasted Lamb Ribs – Tender, savory and hickory roasted, Denver-cut lamb ribs are a uniquely treasured culinary find. Hickory Pit Beans – Beans may be standard barbecue fare, but there is nothing typical about these Hickory Pit Beans. Thick, slow-cooked, and loaded with chunks of our hickory-smoked brisket. Cheesy Corn Bake – It doesn't get more craveable than this: Jack Stack's Cheesy Corn Bake is bubbly, velvety, and unforgettable. Four gourmet cheeses are blended with whole-kernel corn and slivers of our hickory-smoked ham. 144 Black Hills Gold Heart shaped Pendant necklace donated by South Dakota Association of the Blind Enjoy this beautiful and delicate 10KT yellow, Black Hills Gold heart shaped pendant with .02ct round brilliant diamond in the center. It has an 18-inch gold chain. This will dress up a casual outfit or look stunning in a formal setting. What a fantastic gift either for yourself or someone special in your life! 145 Aromatherapy Bundle donated by Seth and Koni Sims, ACB Board of Director This aromatherapy bundle will give you a variety of ways to take care of yourself and your best furry friend. You will find something to help sore achy muscles and joints and headaches. These products are by Wyndmere Naturals. Included in this bundle: Lava Bead Necklace – Aura, Lavender oil 10 ml bottle, Aches & Pains Cream 4 ounce, Detoxification Aide Bath Salts 24 ounce, Citrus Delight Body & Air Mist 4 fluid ounce, Sleepy Time inhalation Patch, Breathe Blend inhaler, Head Aide Roll on 8 ml, Less Stress Pet Mist 4 fluid ounce. Wow, you, and your pooch will really feel relaxed and pampered with all these wonderful items! 146 A DaVinci Pro CCTV donated by Kim Charlson DaVinci Pro is a high-performance desktop video magnifier, featuring a Full HD 1080p 3-in-1 camera and full-page Text-to-Speech (OCR). DaVinci Pro's OCR allows it to easily read your favorite article or book aloud. DaVinci Pro's 3-in-1 Full HD camera allows you to see near, far or a mirror image. It is great for applying make-up, shaving, reading, writing, viewing presentations and whiteboards and so much more! 24” high resolution HD LCD, Auto focus 3-in-1, Magnification up to 77x, Computer compatible, Save documents, pictures or books and export files to your PC. It is a higher end CCTV. 146 B DaVinci CCTV donated by Kim Charlson DaVinci Pro is a high-performance desktop video magnifier, featuring a Full HD 1080p 3-in-1 camera and full-page Text-to-Speech (OCR). DaVinci Pro's OCR allows it to easily read your favorite article or book aloud. DaVinci Pro's 3-in-1 Full HD camera allows you to see near, far or a mirror image. It is great for applying make-up, shaving, reading, writing, viewing presentations and whiteboards and so much more! 24” high resolution HD LCD, Auto focus 3-in-1, Magnification up to 77x, Computer compatible, Save documents, pictures or books and export files to your PC. It is a higher end CCTV. Segment Three- Michael Garrett and Zelda Gebhard 147 Power Tower Donated by ACB of Minnesota This multiple outlet power strip tower has twelve grounded 3-prong AC outlets spaced out to accommodate different size plugs. The five high speed USB charging ports will meet your electronic charging needs. Charge your iPhone, iPad, tablet, or other devices. The 16-foot heavy duty cord ensures high conductivity and safety. The 45dg low profile flat plug and the vertical design makes this tower more space-saving than a traditional power strip. 148 The Pocket Bible donated by Rev. Ray Raysor, President DC Council of the Blind The Pocket Bible is a self-contained digital device that contains the entire bible. It is about the size of the old cassette tapes and has navigation buttons that allow forward and backward movement by both book and chapter. It has no moving parts and is rugged and water resistant. The Pocket Bible has both an internal speaker and an earphone jack. Available in your choice of English Standard Version, King James Version, New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version NIV, New Living Translation ®. Audio Bibles in Spanish also are available. 149 The Bring it Home $300 Bundle donated by Arizona Council of the Blind Enjoy a $100 Gift Card to Door Dash, $100 Gift Card to Instacart and $100 Shipt gift card. You will welcome the handpicked groceries delivered from your favorite local stores along with your favorite fresh produce from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy On-Demand Delivery from Instacart. Order and have your favorite meals at your door in minutes with DoorDash. Like your avocados a little firm? Shoppers with Shipt go the extra mile to ensure you get the things you want, exactly how you like them. Local stores and national chains you know and love, delivered directly to you same day. Your shopper will keep you updated every step of the way. From special requests to last-minute changes, they are here to help. You will enjoy these three $100 gift cards to shop, shop and shop some more! 150 Lunch with the ACB President donated by ACB Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB President, Deb Cook Lewis, over lunch in Jacksonville, Florida in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Deb. 151 RSVA navy crewneck sweatshirt from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of RSVA Come and support the Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk and the RSVA walk team! The print on this sweatshirt is 3-D tactile white puff ink mixed with red, slightly tactile ink. The words “at your service” are arched over the top of the print. Under the three-dimensional words there is matching three-dimensional braille. In the center of the print, there are three shields: a large center shield and smaller shields on either side. In the center of the big shield is a red checkmark and the side shields have red stars. At the bottom in 3-D tactile ink are the letters RSVA with braille underneath. Available in sizes small through five XL. You pick! The sweatshirt is cotton/poly blend and will not shrink. 152 Maker's Mark Bourbon Balls Donated by Greater Louisville Council of the Blind This is an elegant gift for family, friends, and business associates or a fantastic treat for yourself. Fine, handcrafted chocolates made from an old family recipe; laced with a generous touch of Maker's Mark Bourbon Whiskey. The one-pound gift box contains 32 delicious pieces. Shipped directly to the winning bidder. Shipping is not available to Hawaii or Alaska. 153 $150 Amazon Gift Card donated by ACB of Indiana It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $150 in spending at Amazon! 154 Shell Hematite and Rose Quartz Jewelry Set made and donated by Keri Bishop The 21-inch necklace is made of alternating chips of hematite shell and rose quartz. The shell chips are spiral slices of shell. The bracelet is elastic with two row shell and hematite beads every six shells bead is double wide with two drilled holes going across both rows. This beautiful handmade jewelry set would make a fantastic gift for that someone special in your life! 155 Ferris wheel Music Box donated by Patty Slaby The Ferris Wheel carries bears as the music plays Night In the Sky, The key to wind it is on the motor. There are more bears standing in line at the bottom. The music box is 6 inches tall and about 4 inches wide. What a fantastic gift to have yourself or to give to someone special! 156 Explore 12 donated by HumanWare Explore is an easy-to-use, portable electronic magnifier that offers HD image quality for improved near and distance viewing. As the largest portable magnifier in our Explore series, its 12-inch touchscreen is perfect for anyone desiring a larger interface, plus it has the added benefit of a foldable stand enabling easy use for reading, writing, and other manual tasks. 157A Homemade Scotchies Cookies donated by CCLVI President Patti Cox These soft and chewy Oatmeal Scotchies are sweetened with brown sugar, packed with oats, and loaded with butterscotch chips. They have crisp edges and chewy centers. Every bite is buttery delicious and packed with flavor. What a delicious treat to enjoy yourself or share with friends! 157B Homemade Scotchies Cookies donated by CCLVI President Patti Cox These soft and chewy Oatmeal Scotchies are sweetened with brown sugar, packed with oats, and loaded with butterscotch chips. They have crisp edges and chewy centers. Every bite is buttery delicious and packed with flavor. What a delicious treat to enjoy yourself or share with friends! 158 Coffee, Coffee, and More Coffee donated by ACB of Minnesota If you have a Keurig coffee maker, this is a must bid for you. You can choose from a box of 100 pods of multiple flavors or of the same flavor. What a fantastic treat for you or the coffee lover in your life. 159 Big Texas Spending Bundle donated by ACB of Texas Enjoy lots of shopping or dining with these gift cards which include: a $50 certificate to the Berdoll Candy and Pecan farm, a $50 gift card to the Container Store, a $50 gift card to Sweet Taste of Texas, and a $50 VISA gift card and others to come! 160 Mantis ™ Q40 donated by American Printing House Keep braille at your fingertips anytime, anywhere, with the Mantis™ Q40: a Bluetooth® keyboard and 40-cell refreshable braille display. Users of the Mantis Q40 no longer need to choose between a keyboard or a braille device. A student or professional typing on the Mantis has a multimodal option of refreshable braille below the keyboard making it easier to participate in, and succeed at, school or work. Contains the following built-in applications: Basic editor to function as a user's pen and paper, book reader to download and read books in braille, calculator to perform basic mathematical calculations, clock to check the date and time, file manager to organize one's work, HumanWare signature thumb keys and home button, 15 hours of battery life with rechargeable, removable batteries and 16 GB of internal storage, SD card slot and USB host port for flash drives. 161 A Song with Lucy Arguijo donated by Lucy Arguijo Lucy will sing a song of your choice. The file will be sent to you in mp3 format. What a treat to listen to with friends. 162 Homemade Peanut Delights donated by Zelda Gebhard If you like salted nut rolls, you will love these! This delightfully delicious candy is all marshmallowy and nutty throughout. There are two pounds of individually wrapped pieces so there is plenty to enjoy and to share of this salty and sweet treat made by Zelda. 163 $150 Braille Superstore Gift Certificate donated by Braille Revival League “Come browse with us and shop to your hearts' content at the Braille Superstore. Check out their great selection of accessible games, toys, signature guides, braille and talking watches, braille card games, educational items for preschool and K-12 students, adapted timers and cooking instruments, tactile labeling items, talking calculators, thermometers, scales, MP3 players, audio Bibles, and braille books, just to wet your appetite.” 164 Purple Pearl Necklace donated by Cindy Hollis This lovely necklace features 7-to-8-millimeter naturally shaped purple pearls. They are hand knotted between for added security and elegance. The 20-inch necklace closes with a lobster claw clasp. This beautiful necklace will dress up any ensemble! 165 Summer Vacation Bundle donated by GDUI Yippee! Another GDUI Sweet Summer Vacation bundle! Rating: 4 paws! GDUI-branded harness pouch where you can store a roll of pick-up bags, keys, and cash/credit card; a gray collapsible bowl with carabiner clip which holds 36 ounces; a Nerf Collapsible 2-in-1 Agility Tunnel and Target Dog Game! Also included is a large, Invincible Triple Chain dog toy and a cute 29-inch plush carrot squeaky toy by Petlou; a package of five reusable Scrubby instant, waterless bath mitts; a large 56 by 28 inch pink microfiber dog bath towel with two white embroidered bones in one corner by Frisco; a blue Coleman roll-up 24 by 36 by 2 inch travel pet bed with a durable water-resistant nylon top, a waterproof PVC base and polyester fill. It folds in half lengthwise to roll up and fasten with two sturdy buckles. Machine wash and line dry. It's time to snuggle up and dream of another fun-filled, splendid sunny summer day tomorrow! (yawn) 166 Echo Show5th Generation donated by Library Users of America The latest and greatest Alexa Echo Show is now available for you to enjoy. The 5.5-inch screen can display the time, a calendar, the weather, photos, video calls, podcasts, read audio books, plus stream your favorite music, tv shows, and podcasts, all controlled with your voice. With the built-in camera, you may check in on children and pets, or drop in on your home when you are away. When not in use, you can set the background to a slideshow of your favorite photos. Prime members also get unlimited cloud storage. There are multiple layers of privacy controls including a mic/camera OFF button and encrypted Ring videos. The Echo Show now has 2 times the bass and a clearer sound for your enjoyment. 167 Joann's Fudge (6 slices) donated by Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Joan and Frank Nephew opened the first Joann's Fudge Store on Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island. Today, Joann's Fudge is a third-generation family business that continues Joan and Frank's commitment to providing high quality products. Each slice is ½ pound for a total of three pounds. You can order six slices of one flavor or mix and match from the list below. Flavors: Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry, Chocolate Cookie Crunch, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Pecan, Chocolate Toffee, Chocolate Turtle, Chocolate Walnut, Double Dark Chocolate, Double Dark Chocolate Cherry Walnut, Double Dark Chocolate Espresso, Double Dark Chocolate Mint, Double Dark Salted Caramel, German Chocolate, Maple Walnut, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Truffle, Rocky Road, and Vanilla Salted Caramel. 168 Braille American Wall Flag donated by Veterans of ACB This beautiful flag is designed from very durable polymer and is recommended for permanent indoor display only. The flag measures 15 by 19 inches and weighs approximately 5 lbs. It has a brass-colored frame, mounting hardware and instructions included at no additional cost. Be proud and display your patriotism with this attractive flag. Segment Four- Jeff Thom and Terri-Lynn Higashi 169 $250 Pet Package donated by Tim and Maria Stone of Scoop Masters You will enjoy splurging on your pet and yourself with all the wonderful gift cards included: A $100 Chewy gift card, a $75 Amazon gift card, a $50 Cheesecake Factory gift card and a $25 Starbucks gift card. 170 Lunch with the ACB Executive Director donated by ACB Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB Executive Director, Scott Thornhill, over lunch in Jacksonville, FL in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Scott. 171 Canvas Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of AAVL Join us in celebrating the AAVL with this beautiful canvas 15 by18-inch full-zip tote bag. The 12 by 12-inch print explodes with color. The top of the print has the words CELEBRATE in teal, EXPERIENCE in pink AND WISDOM in orange. The words are in a graceful arch. Beneath the words in the center of the print is a dynamic colorful fireworks display. The bottom of the print in 3D yellow puff ink are the letters AAVL and below that are the letters in tactile, readable braille. There is a fold in the bottom of the bag so that the bag can sit upright. It has a full zip across the top as well as a zippered inside pocket. It's a Blind Girl Designs classic! 172 Delicious Homemade Cookies from Patty's Kitchen donated by Patty Slaby Let your imagination guide your taste buds selecting 3 dozen of the same choice or 3 dozen of three 1 dozen choices. Choices include: peanut butter, oatmeal, molasses-ginger, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, or anything you can imagine, even lemon. Very popular! Yum, Yum! 173 $100 Honey-Baked Ham Gift Card donated by Leslie and Jeff Thom You will enjoy having this $100 gift card for Honey-Baked Ham plus scrumptious sides from the Honey-Baked Ham Store. Enjoy this delicious feist with family or friends anytime over the summer or during the holidays! 174 Touch of Hawaiian Beauty Earring and Necklace Set donated by Hawaii Association of The Blind You will dazzle in this pair of earrings that feature a shiny ball on the top with tiny white seashell hanging from the ball. The seashell has delicate lines within it. It comes with an 18-inch necklace and a basket charm. Within the basket there are 3 delicate white stones similar to the shiny balls of earrings. It also comes with some surprise treats such as chocolate, and coffee. 175 Two Bottles of Wine donated by the Oklahoma Council of the Blind 1 bottle of Sunset Bliss and 1 bottle of Sex-In-The-Vineyard Wines. Wakefield's Winery is in the rolling hills of central Oklahoma. They produce some of the best kept secrets of delicious award-winning wines in the state for the most discriminating tastes! "SUNSET BLISS", is a tropical fruit Riesling sweet white table wine with hints of kiwi, pineapple and mango is an Oklahoma State Fair Silver Medal winner. “SEX-IN-THE-VINEYARD” is a Black Cherry Pinot Noir. This sweet wine is an “Oklahoma State Fair Bronze Medal” winner and the “People's Choice Award” winner. If you like sexy wine, this is the wine for you! Wakefield's Winery does not ship to the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia. 176 Explore 8 Magnifier donated by HumanWare Magnification up to 30X with HD stunning image quality, fully customizable functions, touchscreen to navigate easily through menus, twin Ultra HD cameras for desktop or distance viewing, large physical buttons to adjust magnification and contrast, can be connected easily to a large screen TV, battery life of 4.5 hours. 177 Two Pounds of Homemade Fudge donated by ACB Board Director Cecily Laney Nipper Indulge your sweet tooth. Enjoy two pounds of homemade fudge. Choose from flavors such as double chocolate, peanut butter, and coffee; with two pounds of the same flavor or one pound each of two different flavors. You will be contacted to customize this rich tasty treat. Enjoy yourself or share with friends or family! This will be shipped in September. 178 Fun Time in Hawaii donated by Hawaii Association of The Blind A porcelain Shaka wall hook by Hawaiian artist Jason Dow; Enamel mug with a design that says Hawaii in colorful letters below 3 pineapples; Hawaiian Harmony from Big Island Roasters 100% Kona coffee beans 7 ounces; Yellow Hau flower enamel key chain from Paradise Now Hawaii - made on Maui; Lucky Fortune Cat 3-D shaped sponge from Fred. Enamel flair pin shaped like a bowl of ramen noodle soup from Moxhi Kids; Vinyl sticker sheet with Hawaii's favorite smiling foods and 2 larger vinyl stickers shaped like spam musubi and Boba tea from Mochi Kids. These can be placed on water bottles, phone or iPad cases. Bid and enjoy all these fun items from Hawaii. 179 $100 Gift Card to Omaha Steaks donated by AAVIA Everyone loves a good steak! Omaha Steaks offers a wide selection of high-quality meats that are delivered to your doorstep. Yum, yum. 180 Handmade Story Book Quilt made and donated by Margarine Beaman You will love having this story book quilt with each page sporting a different color. The size of this quilt is 45 by 51-inches. This beautiful quilt is great for a young child to look at as they are going to bed. “My grandkids love to lay on top of their bed and look at the colors and animals.” Wow, what an entertaining quilt for that special person in your life! 181 “The Tom Kaufman Make Believe Hillbilly Band” Bundle donated by Tom Kaufman Come and bid on Tom Kaufman's choices from his Make Believe Hillbilly Band showcased during ACB Community Karaoke! You will be able to choose a song or some of Tom's exciting genres from Tom's Band. Tom will send you an mp3 file with your choices. Enjoy this amazing selection repeatedly by yourself or with some friends! 182 A Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight donated by Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind Summer days are here again! Yummy for the tummy. Need some treats to kick your summer into high gear? Back by popular demand for the auction. One loaf of chocolate banana bread full of chocolate, bananas, and nuts. If you don't like bananas, we can do mangos. Also, Anthony is perfecting his mom's energy bar treats. Get a bag of these yummy treats packed with Rice Krispies, oatmeal, raisins, peanut butter, and nuts. If you don't like peanuts, we can throw out the nuts. Made by Anthony and his mom's creation. Perfect for those summer days. And the box may even come with a few extra goodies. 182 B Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight donated by Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind Summer days are here again! Yummy for the tummy. Need some treats to kick your summer into high gear? Back by popular demand for the auction. One loaf of chocolate banana bread full of chocolate, bananas, and nuts. If you don't like bananas, we can do mangos. Also, Anthony is perfecting his mom's energy bar treats. Get a bag of these yummy treats packed with Rice Krispies, oatmeal, raisins, peanut butter, and nuts. If you don't like peanuts, we can throw out the nuts. Made by Anthony and his mom's creation. Perfect for those summer days. And the box may even come with a few extra goodies. 183 $100 Bloomin' Brands Gift Card donated by AAVL Bloomin' Brands gift cards are the freshest way to see for yourself how one card can offer so many appetizing choices from steak, seafood to classic Italian. Our card can be redeemed at any of the following restaurants: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. What a wonderful way to enjoy a night out with family or friends! 184 Versa Slate Paperless Erasable Braille Slate and Stylus donated by Lucy Edmonds The Versa Slate is a braille slate that is paperless and erasable. It works just like a regular slate and stylus, but without paper. It features four rows of 20 cells each, and a magnetic stylus that is built into the side of the unit for easy storage. 185 Himalayan Salt Lamp donated by Jeff and Keri Bishop of Tucson, AZ You will love using this Himalayan Salt Lamp. It is 9 inches high, 4 inches wide with a 7W night light bulb inside. This lamp glows a lovely pink that shows all the different variations of color in the large salt crystal. It is a spectacular piece of decor that would look great on any mantel or end table. 186 Podcasting Bundle with Accessible Tools donated by BITS This package contains all you need to conduct the interview of your dreams! You will be able to record high quality music or just capture life as it happens. The Zoom H4essentials is an accessible digital voice recorder. The first thing you hear when you turn it on is it prompting you to enable speech and beeps providing independent navigation of most system options. The Zoom H4essentials has a built-in stereo microphone, with dual XLR connections available as well and it supports up to one terabyte micro SD card, and is powered by USB-C or AAA batteries, not included. The Samson Q2U microphone is a versatile handheld dynamic mic. This microphone allows you to connect via XLR into an audio interface, such as the Zoom H4essentials, or directly to your computer via an included USB cable. Great for rejecting off access noise, these microphones are ideal for interviewing individuals in an environment that might not be the most conducive for podcast interviews. Bid today on the great podcasting bundle including one Zoom H4essentials field recorder, 2 Samson Q2U mic's, 2 XLR cables, and 1 128 GB microSD card. 187 A Home Baked Cookies from Andrea Conner's Kitchen donated by Andrea Conner These delicious cookies melt in your mouth! The light, buttery goodness of a crescent formed into a ball, loaded with chopped pecans, flavored with a hint of vanilla, then dusted in powdered sugar. One dozen with almond flavor and one dozen cocoa flavor. They're sure to satisfy your cookie craving! Enjoy these scrumptious cookies yourself or share with friends or family. 187 B Home Baked Cookies from Andrea Conner's Kitchen donated by Andrea Conner These delicious cookies melt in your mouth! The light, buttery goodness of a crescent formed into a ball loaded with chopped pecans, flavored with a hint of vanilla, then dusted in powdered sugar. One dozen with almond flavor and one dozen cocoa flavor. They are sure to satisfy your cookie craving! Enjoy these scrumptious cookies yourself or share with friends or family. 188 One-on-One In-Person or Phone Conversation with Our Talking Book Narrator Donated by ACB Enjoy chatting with our talking book narrator, Mare Trevathan. Here's your chance for a one-on-one, behind the scenes conversation with a talking book narrator. The winner could either use this in person in Jacksonville or be contacted after the convention to make arrangements for a phone conversation. 189 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 190 One-hour Business Coaching Session and $25 Gift Card to Pete's Coffee donated by Ardis Bazyn Enjoy this one-hour business coaching session with Ardis Bazyn. Ardis coaches on positive image building, secrets for coping with challenges and change, creating a plan for professional/business success, speaking skills, writing skills, advocacy skills and inexpensive marketing/public relations initiatives. Also included is a $25 Pete's Coffee gift card to enjoy with some friends or family! Expiration Date: June 30, 2025. 191 Nebraska Black Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of Nebraska The delightful Nebraska tote bag has white vinyl ink printed on a black canvas, full-zip 15 by 18-inch tote bag with an interior zipper pocket. The top of the 9 by 13-inch print starts boldly with the state name NEBRASKA and underneath it is spelled also in braille. Underneath the word NEBRASKA is the entire state outline of Nebraska exactly like a map. The only difference from a map is on the left side of the state there's a white cane instead of a straight line and on the northwestern border there is another white cane instead of a line. At the end of the strap of the white cane, the map continues along the river as it naturally would. The river continues all the way down to the southeast border of the state. In the middle of the west side of the state are the historic rolling sand hills, which are covered by prairie grasses. These sand hills are replicated by small wavy tactile hills as a nod to this critical and historic portion of the state, which supports the cattle industry. Starting in the middle to the right side of the print are three huge stalks of corn. There's a reason this is proudly called the Cornhusker state! 192 Berkey Creamery Bundle Package donated by Pennsylvania Council of The Blind One thing that most Pennsylvanians agree on is “Ice cream is good, and the Penn State Creamery makes some of the best.” We love ice cream, but we love the science behind it even more. By supporting the Berkey Creamery, you also are supporting food science, the dairy industry and agriculture across Pennsylvania and beyond. The PCB Package includes six pints of ice cream: Peachy Paterno; Cookies-n-Cream; Bittersweet Mint; Death by Chocolate; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Vanilla Bean (BASED ON INGREDIENT AVAILABILITY). Enjoy this Penn State Creamery 100% cotton t-Shirt with color options of blue or white, sizes small up to 3XL. We've got some fashion for your sweet tooth! Simply stated, all roads lead to the Creamery! Also, enjoy the 21oz travel mug which is a stainless steel beverage container with the Penn State Berkey Creamery emblem on it. Segment Five- Kolby Garrison and Mary Haupt 193 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by New Jersey Council of The Blind It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 194 Doggie Gift Basket donated by Jeff and Keri Bishop This doggie gift bag comes with lots of goodies for your guide dog. This set includes: Two jumbo collapsible dog dishes for travel, A hard rubber giggle ball, a nylon dual length leash in bright safety green It's the same size and length as standard guide dog leashes, hillside farms chicken jerky for dogs, hillside farms jerky twist (dried chicken and sweet potato), a velour kennel blanket. A back seat cover or hammock (covers the entire seat and floor by putting 2 handles on the head rest in the back or a hammock by putting the second set of handles over the all 4 heads rest of the front and back), a dog safety seatbelt, a tug of war nylon bone, doggy poo bags, a grooming kit (has right and left grooming mittens, a comb and a grooming brush the straps around your hand. This gift set comes in a reusable shopping bag that has been sewn from a recycled dog food bag. 195 Disney 100 Years of Wonder Mickey Watch and Minnie Mouse Watch donated by Connie Jacomini You will love having these enchanting Mickey and Minnie Mouse watches that feature a detailed 3-layer dial with a laser-cut silhouette of your favorite character alongside the Disney 100 logo. Plus, it arrives beautifully packaged and ready for gift giving. Wow, what a fantastic gift either for yourself or someone special in your life! 196 Dry Aged Steaks for a Summertime Grill donated by ACB Development Director Bill Reeder Enjoy four luxury steakhouse prime grade ribeye steaks, dry aged for 45 days and hand cut two inches thick. Grill ready and perfect for a fancy summer BBQ. They are accompanied by two bottles of fine wine (red or white) and Kosmos famous BBQ steak rub. What a treat to have for a summer meal with friends or family! 197 Pat's Beef Jerky Gift Box donated by Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired This fantastic beef jerky is from A Land of Kansas Company. The box features four different flavors of beef jerky made from Kansas beef, and two packages of beef stick. Enjoy this delicious treat yourself or share with friends. 198 A Gift Box of Fragrance donated by Barry Carver of Mountain Crafted A box of sulfate-free fragrance available in Cactus Flower or Jade. You may request braille labels on all your items. This bundle includes: 8 ounces shampoo, 8 ounces hair conditioner, 8 ounces shower gel, 4 ounces moisturizing cream, 1 ounce body mist, 1 ounce room spray. A little dab goes a long way. 199 $100 VISA Gift Card donated by Mississippi Council of The Blind You can use this $100 VISA gift card any time for dining or doing some shopping for yourself or someone special! 200 a Maryland box of Goodies donated by ACB of Maryland Bid and enjoy this box of goodies from Maryland. It includes: Old Bay Fisher's Popcorn, Jeppi Nuts, Chocolate Crabs dusted with Old Bay, Hot Sauce, Crab Cake Mix, Old Bay Seasoning, and some Chesapeake Mouth Party Caramels! Special Add Ons: "Home is Where the Old Bay Is" 5 by 7 print, Bigs Old Bay Sunflower Seeds, Crab Towel, and an Old Bay Insulated Tumbler. 201 Hills of Purple Heather donated and performed by Jeanette Kutash The lucky winner will enjoy sharing this piano piece performed by Jeanette. As you hear this beautiful melody, imagine yourself walking through the hills with the purple heather, a beautiful flower which represents healing and quieting of the mind. The hills and the heather invite those who walk through them to revel in a feeling of confidence to pursue living life to the fullest with those you love. As the music increases and decreases in volume, we find gradual healing, calmness, and the feeling that we can get through all storms ahead with grace and tranquility. The piece culminates with a final chord which represents that feeling of being whole from the heather's qualities. 202 $100 Honey Baked Ham Gift Card donated by ACB Media Coordinator Larry Gassman Whether you're celebrating a loved one, marking a special occasion, or simply wanting to surprise a friend, show you care with a Honey Baked Ham. Enjoy this delicious treat with friends or family. 203 Baby Afghan in White, Yellow, and Green donated by Keri Bishop Enjoy this baby Afghan crocheted like a jumbo granny square or continuous granny square. The center is white bordered by a pastel green then white and trimmed in pastel yellow. Afghan measures 42 by 42 inches. Wow, what a beautiful Afghan to give as a gift for that someone special! 204 $100 Gift Card to Walmart Donated by Mary Haupt Fill your basket with treats for your family and friends. The $100 gift card offers a wonderful opportunity for you to treat yourself or to please and surprise others. 205 Four Bags of Healthy Dog Treats donated by ACB of Connecticut Here's something for the canines in your life. You will receive 4 bags of healthy dog treats baked, packed, and shipped by special needs students at Bellcate School in Vermont. They are freshly baked upon order and contain no preservatives. The flavors are Peanut Butter Pumpkin, Calming Chamomile and Honey Maple Mousse with the maple coming from the farm on the school property and Apple, Oatmeal and Cheese. They are truly making a difference for our dogs! 206 2012 Read Easy Move Scanning Device donated by Roberta McCall You can use this freestanding scanning device which will read out all printed text to users to assist you with everyday life. It includes headphones so you can hear what the scanner is reading to you. It has a custom carrying case, clear voices, Keypad Feature Pack For users requiring additional features such as multi-page documents, WIFI navigation control, saving, loading, importing, and exporting documents! Low Vision Pack that connects your Move to television or computer screen. Let's you view your documents in large print, (up to 2x newspaper headline size on a 22” screen), as well as listen to them. 207A Loaf of Homemade Pumpkin Bread Donated by Terri Nettles Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a party, this bread will delight all who love pumpkin any time of day. Enjoy this pumpkin bread either plain or with chocolate chips yourself or share with friends or family. It is delicious. 207B Loaf of Homemade Pumpkin Bread Donated by Terri Nettles Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a party, this bread will delight all who love pumpkin any time of day. Enjoy this pumpkin bread either plain or with chocolate chips yourself or share with friends or family. It is delicious! 208 Handmade Pottery Snack Tray and Butter Dish donated by Patty Fletcher You will enjoy this lovely snack tray which is a rectangular shaped plate with rounded edges. The edges and sides of this piece are textured. It is a marigold color with a glossy finish. Also enjoy the accompanying butter dish which is an oblong shaped plate. It is marigold with a glossy finish. These one-of-a-kind handmade pottery pieces are both useful and lovely. 209 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by Friends in Art It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 210 Four-piece Amalia Serving Set donated by Becky Gleason Enjoy having this four-piece set of elegant flatware. It will add sparkle to any table setting. Made from high-quality 18/10 Stainless Steel, each piece is beautiful, durable and dishwasher safe. The serving utensils feature a unique vine design and rope detail. This set includes a Serving Spoon, Slotted Spoon, Serving Fork, and Serving Spatula. Use this serving set yourself or make someone incredibly happy by making them the recipient of this useful and classy gift. 211 $50 Starbucks Gift Card donated by Merrilee Hill-Kennedy Everyone loves a good cup of coffee. It's even better with some friends or family members over some laughs! As an extra bonus, Starbucks also has goodies to eat. Bid so you can enjoy all the delicious choices from a great coffee establishment. 212 Two Dozen Homemade Cookies donated by Mary Cook of Outta Sight Sweets LLC Your choice of either snickerdoodle or triple chocolate chip cookies. The snickerdoodle is an old-fashioned d

This week we share a live recorded conversation Sarah hosted as part of her solo exhibition, Things Worth Saving, at Dreamsong Gallery in Minneapolis. Elisabeth Workman flips the script and asks Sarah questions this time. Let's get nerdy about painting! About Elisabeth Workman Elisabeth Workman is a writer and poet with a background in dance. Originally from the pharmaceutical suburbs of Philadelphia, she has since lived in Boston, rural Pennsylvania, the Netherlands, the Standing Rock Nation of the Dakotas, Qatar, and now Minneapolis.A recipient of a Jerome Emerging Writer Fellowship, a McKnight Artist Fellowship in Poetry, a University of Minnesota Marcella DuBourg Fellowship, and honors from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Minnesota State Arts Board, Workman has collaborated on numerous projects with visual artists and other poets. She is the author of twelve chapbooks—including ANY RIP A THRESHOLD (Shirt Pocket Press 2015) and with Michael Sikkema, TERRORISM IS WHAT WHALE (Grey Book Press 2014)—and the full-length collections ULTRAMEGAPRAIRIELAND (Bloof Books 2014) and ENDLESSNESS IS NO DESOLATION (Dusie Press 2016). She teaches creative writing and poetry at Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Show Notes Things Worth Saving at Dreamsong https://dreamsong.art/exhibitions/things-worth-saving-sarah-thibault Elisabeth Workman http://www.elisabethworkman.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thesidewoo/message

Living with a disability presents a unique set of challenges, especially when it intersects with professional life. In this special and insightful episode, Jaime has an engaging conversation with RJ Thompson, who is the Manager of Digital Strategy in Pitt Health Sciences. RJ shares his personal experiences of working and thriving in a professional setting while living with cystic fibrosis, offering a valuable perspective on this often-overlooked aspect of the workplace.In this episode, listeners can expect to gain several key takeaways:Insights into Navigating a Career with a Disability: RJ opens up about the strategies he uses to manage his work while dealing with cystic fibrosis, providing listeners with real-life examples and practical advice. This segment is particularly enlightening as it delves into how individuals with disabilities can navigate their career paths effectively.Ideas for Supporting Colleagues with Disabilities: Jaime and RJ discuss the roles and responsibilities of supervisors and coworkers in creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. This part of the conversation aims to foster greater understanding and empathy, offering tangible ways in which people without disabilities can be allies and supporters in the workplace.Leadership Tips for Unseen Disabilities: This episode also sheds light on the challenges faced by leaders in recognizing and accommodating staff members with non-visible disabilities. Listeners will learn how to create an inclusive culture that respects privacy while offering the necessary support.Remote Work as an Equity Issue: The conversation also explores how remote work arrangements can play a crucial role in promoting equity in the workplace. We delve into the benefits and challenges of remote work, especially for people with disabilities, highlighting how flexible working arrangements can be a game-changer in terms of accessibility and inclusivity.Guest Name: RJ Thompson, Manager of Digital Strategy in Pitt Health SciencesGuest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/studentofdesign/Guest Bio: RJ Thompson, MFA, is an award-winning marketing and graphic design professional. Currently, RJ is the Manager of Digital Strategy in Pitt Health Sciences. He was most recently the Director of Digital Marketing in the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and College of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh.Before joining Pitt, he was a tenured Assistant Professor of Graphic + Interactive Design in the Department of Art at Youngstown State University. Previous to Youngstown State, RJ taught at Carnegie Mellon University, La Roche University, and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Continuing his career in education, RJ has been an Adjunct Professor of Graphic & Interactive Design at Point Park University since 2019 where he was responsible for writing and teaching the interactive design curriculum. In 2020, he began teaching at the Community College of Allegheny County.Outside of marketing, design, and teaching, RJ is also the Co-Principal and Creative Strategist for +Public, a Pennsylvania-based social enterprise that focuses on cultivating community and economic development impact through the creation of branded communication platforms, creative place-making, and storytelling initiatives for communities-in-revival.Throughout his career, RJ has received many accolades for his creative works: In 2015, he was one of several recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant, valued at $100,000, for the INPLACE (“Innovative Plan for Leveraging Arts & Community Engagement”) project. In 2017, RJ received a “Best of Marketing Award” from the Ohio Economic Development Association for his efforts in rebranding the City of Youngstown, Ohio. In 2018, RJ was accepted into the prestigious Cohort 2 of the National Arts Marketing Project, a program supported by Americans for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In 2019, RJ also received a scholarship to join the National Arts Strategies Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy through the School of Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2019, RJ was honored with the Ohio Governors Award in the Arts in Community Development, the state of Ohio's highest recognition in the arts sector.Recently, RJ was the recipient of a certification scholarship from the National Institute for Social Media and received accolades from GDUSA and the University & College Designers Association for "Pitt Business Backstory" and "Business.Pitt.Edu" websites. RJ is presently the President of the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Marketing Association. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Jaime Hunthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMCAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:Exciting news — Jaime will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we'd love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200! Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can't wait to see you there!

Enjoy this stained glass panel discussion with top industry professionals and educators Judith Schaechter, Stephen Hartley, Megan McElfresh, and Amy Valuck. Topics addressed include: what is needed in stained glass education; how the massive number of Instagrammers making suncatchers and trinkets affect stained glass; how to promote stained glass in a gallery setting; and how to stay relevant as stained glass artists. The panelists: By single-handedly revolutionizing the craft of stained glass through her unique aesthetic and inventive approach to materials, Judith Schaechter championed her medium into the world of fine art. The content of her work – some of which gives voice to those who experience pain, grief, despair, and hopelessness – resonates with viewers, leaving a profound and lasting impression. Schaechter has lived and worked in Philadelphia since graduating in 1983 with a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design Glass Program. She has exhibited her glass art widely, including in New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, The Hague and Vaxjo, Sweden. She is the recipient of many grants, including the Guggenheim Fellowship, two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in Crafts, The Louis Comfort Tiffany Award, The Joan Mitchell Award, two Pennsylvania Council on the Arts awards, The Pew Fellowship in the Arts and a Leeway Foundation grant. Her work is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Hermitage in Russia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Corning Museum of Glass, The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution and numerous other public and private collections. Schaechter's work was included in the 2002 Whitney Biennial, a collateral exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2012, and she is a 2008 USA Artists Rockefeller Fellow. In 2013 the artist was inducted to the American Craft Council College of Fellows. The Glass Art Society presented Schaechter with a Lifetime Achievement award in 2023, and this year she will receive the Smithsonian Visionary Award. Schaechter has taught workshops at numerous venues, including the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, the Penland School of Crafts, Toyama Institute of Glass (Toyama, Japan), Australia National University in Canberra, Australia. She has taught courses at Rhode Island School of Design, the Pennsylvania Academy, and the New York Academy of Art. She is ranked as an Adjunct Professor at The University of the Arts and Tyler School of Art Glass Program, both in Philly . Born in Philadelphia, Stephen Hartley began his craft career working on a variety of historic buildings and monuments throughout the region. In 1999, he moved to South Carolina to attend Coastal Carolina University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in History. He then relocated to Savannah, Georgia, and continued to work in the traditional crafts and conservation fields while attending graduate school. After completing his MFA in Historic Preservation at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Hartley was employed as an instructor at various colleges within the Savannah area. He earned his PhD from the University of York in 2018 where his dissertation thesis studied the historical and modern frameworks of trades training in the US and the UK.  Hartley eventually returned to the Philadelphia area and accepted the position of Head of Building Arts at Bryn Athyn College, where he formulated the first Bachelor's of Fine Arts (BFA) in traditional building within the United States. Hartley, currently an associate professor in Notre Dame's School of Architecture, wants his students to have a deeper appreciation for the work craftspeople do to fulfill an architect's vision—by learning the vocabulary of the trades, understanding their history, and, when possible, trying out the tools. Executive Director of the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA), Megan McElfresh has dedicated her professional life to community service and the art and science of stained glass. With a background in fine arts and operations management, she joined the Association as a professional member in 2015 and became the Executive Director in the fall of 2017. Growing up in small stained glass studios, McElfresh continued to build on her technical skills in the medium by seeking mentorship opportunities throughout college. Some of the highlights of her glass studies were traveling to Pilchuck Glass School and time spent at the nationally recognized kiln forming resource center, Vitrum Studio.  Prior to working with the SGAA, McElfresh worked in a variety of roles from operations management at a life sciences firm in Washington, D.C. to IT and web support for small non-profit art organizations. In 2011, McElfresh moved from Northern Virginia to Buffalo, New York, and founded her studio, McElf GlassWorks. With a passion for her professional career as well as her new community, she never turned down an opportunity to collaborate with neighborhood teens and local programs to provide enthusiastic and creative educational enrichment. In her personal work, McElfresh uses her artwork in the advocacy of issues she became passionate about during her time working at a forensics laboratory concerning subjects like domestic violence and rape, and DNA backlogs. Her studio work has been featured in the Stained Glass Quarterly, Design NY, The Buffalo News, and Buffalo Rising. Find out more about the SGAA's 2024 conference here: Conference 2024: Sand to Sash | The Stained Glass Association of America Amy Valuck is a stained glass artist and conservator based in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the current president of the American Glass Guild. She began her apprenticeship in 1998 at The Art of Glass in Media, PA, and in 2014 went on to establish her own studio, Amy Valuck Glass Art, now located in West Chester, PA. Her studio's primary work is the restoration and conservation of historical windows from churches, universities, and private residences. As a conservator she specializes in complex lead work, plated windows, and replication painting. Valuck also maintains a personal art practice, producing autonomous stained glass panels for private commissions and public exhibition, including the AGG's American Glass Now annual exhibit. Her personal work is heavily influenced by the fabrication and painting techniques of historical windows but frequently includes experimental fused glass elements.  Valuck is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, who earned her BFA degree in jewelry and light metals. Her work in jewelry earned awards including the first annual Cartier Prize, and the MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths' Association) Award. She has served on the board of directors of the American Glass Guild since 2017 and has participated as a lecturer and instructor at several of the AGG's annual conferences. Registration is now open for the 2024 Grand Rapids conference, July 9 – 14. Find out more about the AGG's 2024 conference here: https://www.americanglassguild.org/events/agg-2024-conference-grand-rapids-mi For further exploration of panel discussion topics: The Campaign for Historic Trades Releases First-of-its-Kind Labor Study on the Status of Historic Trades in America – The Campaign for Historic Trades   

Thom Francis welcomes Melody Davis to the Poets Speak Loud stage at McGeary's in downtown Albany, NY. Melody Davis, a writer and art historian, is the author of three poetry collections, including a special edition artists' book, One Ground Beetle, with Harold Lohner; and Holding the Curve. Her work in the history of photography has been published widely. In 2015, she published Women's Views: The Narrative Stereograph in Nineteenth-Century America with the University Press of New Hampshire. Davis has held fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Henry Luce Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, MetroArts (PA), and she was a finalist in the National Poetry Series. She holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and is an Associate Professor of Art History at the Sage College of Albany. On April 30, 2018, Davis was the featured poet at the long-running series hosted by Mary Panza. She began her reading with work from her book One Ground Beetle: A Year in Haiku (Bad Cat Press, 2017), with prints by Harold Lohner. It was "Show & Tell" with Melody reading a haiku or two, then holding up the book to show the colorful print on the facing page. The haiku were on trees, clouds, birds, round stones, Albany, and work meetings. She then read from her collection of poems Holding the Curve (Broadstone Books), “Caillebotte's Laundry” and “Walter, the Lawyer.”

  At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a passersby about what kind of political system we would have and he reportedly replied: “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Echoing Franklin's words is Keep Our Republic, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that says its purpose is to "focus on the unconventional threats facing our election system, and on ways to help strengthen trust in our electoral system. We are most tightly focused on election integrity to assure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to vote, their votes are counted, and properly certified." More than three years after the November, 2020 election, polls show a majority of Republican voters still think President Biden's victory was illegitimate and there was cheating and fraud. That's even though there is no credible evidence of widespread fraud. Former President Donald Trump continues to claim the election was stolen from him and he actually won. Again, Trump and his allies have lost dozens of court cases claiming election fraud. What Trump has done is sow doubt and mistrust in elections. Keep Our Republic is concentrating its efforts on three swing states – Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The chair of Keep Our Republic's Pennsylvania Council is Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, was on The Spark Thursday and said that mistrust in the electoral process and the possibility of interference from foreign powers like Russia, China or Iran are threats to elections, but he added social media presents another challenge,"Social media as compared to, broadcasting and as compared to the print media really has no control over what people put on (post). And I don't mean illegal control. I mean, people can say just about anything they want to say. In the newspapers, they have editors. They have to make sure that they're saying something, that they're not going to get sued about. The same thing with broadcast media -- that doesn't happen when it comes to the social media and what we've seen in this country. Is a divide that keeps getting wider because people are looking at social media or media as a whole. Picking a camp, whether it be a red camp or blue camp, conservative, liberal, and only looking at that which they believe in and trust and not looking to see if they can find anything, maybe in the middle, maybe independent. So I think those are the fears that I have, going into November of this year." Corbett was asked how the polarization in the U.S. can be overcome and trust can be restored in elections,"I think education is part of that process, and it's going to go back to educating all the way back into the grade schools, the high schools, into the colleges. But I will circle back to what I think is the everyday process that we have of people going into camps and relying upon what they see or hear, whether it be CNN or MSNBC or Fox or whatever, and not sitting and discussing the issues with people they know. Government doesn't work by being one or the other. It's not easy. And it's kind of ugly to get there. It works by compromise."    Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new book Shifting Time: African American Artists 2020-2021 collects the art, poems, essays, and statements of over 70 African American artists as a glimpse into their lives during the pandemic years. Co-editors Berrisford Boothe and Klare Scarborough join the podcast to discuss this passion project that includes some of the Studio Noize fam like Tokie Taylor, Imo Imeh, Alfred Conteh, Delita Martin, and more. They talk about how it all came together from the Shuga and Wata online talks to the artwork and essays. They also discuss the need for community, whether online or in person, how events change artists, and the need for art during tough times. Listen, subscribe, and share!Episode 173 topics include:Shifting Time: African American Artists 2020-2021artists working during COVIDhow artwork changed over timenetworking during the pandemicvirtual communitiesShuga & Wata sessionscreating the book Shifting Timelessons from the COVID yearsthe trend of Black figuration Berrisford Boothe was born in Kingston, Jamaica and is now a U.S. citizen. Boothe has served on the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts. He is currently a Professor of Fine Art at Lehigh University. Berrisford Boothe is the Principal Curator of the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection. He was one of 100 artists nationwide featured in Robert Wuthnow's book ‘Creative Spirituality: The Way of the Artist.' Berrisford's digital print collages, ‘Virtual Lithographs' were part of the exhibition African-American printmakers: The Legacy Continues at The Aljira Center for Contemporary Arts in Newark, NJ. He was in the 2008 seminal exhibition: In Search of the Missing Masters: The Lewis Tanner Moore Collection of African American Art at The Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia, PA. His work has been featured in exhibitions at The Allentown Art Museum, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA, The African American Museum, Philadelphia, PA, The William Benton Museum of Art, The New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA and The State Museum of PA.See more: Order Shifting Time from Amazon + Berrisford Booth IG @verbena2160 Presented by: Black Art In AmericaFollow us:StudioNoizePodcast.comIG: @studionoizepodcastJamaal Barber: @JBarberStudioSupport the podcast www.patreon.com/studionoizepodcast

Eric Attinger, Chief Communications Officer, Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy, and students Zach Engle and Logan Frantz, Juniors at Lewisburg High School. Michael Creeger is their noted economics competition leader/teacher. The students have a start-up business idea; Frengle Customs (think…French Bulldog and Beagle mix). We'll talk about ‘thinking big,' their idea and how they know it will be a success. Eric will have an update on the PCFL, their critical mission to teach financial literacy to students, their Stock Market Challenge and how some insightful Valley students are doubling—and re-doubling their money. We'll talk about the lifelong lessons in financial management, investing and business learned with their work in schools and with this high school competition

Eric Attinger, Chief Communications Officer, Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy, and Mike Stebila, High School educator, Selinsgrove Area School District, with an update on the PCFL, their critical mission to teach financial literacy to students, their Stock Market Challenge and how some insightful Selinsgrove students are doing exceedingly well. We'll talk about the lifelong lessons in financial management, investing and business learned with this high school competition. We'll discuss their allies/sponsors (e.g. Susquehanna University, Northumberland National Bank)

This week, special needs consultant, advisor, and mediator Josh Kershenbaum, Esq., joins me to discuss navigating divorce when you have children with special needs. We touch on the challenges divorcing parents of children with disabilities face, the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and how to best advocate for your child now and in the future. Josh Kershenbaum, Esq., is a dedicated Peacemaker with extensive training and experience in both Mediation and Collaborative Law. He earned certifications in both Negotiation and Mediation at Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation and trained in Divorce & Family Mediation with mediation luminaries Forrest (“Woody”) Mosten and Susan Guthrie at the Mosten Guthrie Academy, where he is now on the training faculty. Featured topics include: When parents don't agree about a child's special needs or one parent disagrees that a child even has special needs or a disability (8:59) The family court system is not set up to handle divorce when there are children with special needs (14:17) How to advocate for your children's needs during a high-conflict divorce (18:53) The importance of planning for the long-term needs of your children—will they need ongoing care, a special needs trust, or other specific provisions for their unique situation? (28:23) “If you can build a flexible divorce agreement, it will serve you and your children well.” (38:01) Part of having a child-centered divorce is acknowledging the decisions you make today will have an impact on your children even years after your divorce (43:13) There are ways to go through a divorce that keep co-parents in control, such as mediation and collaborative divorce (50:21) Learn more about Josh Kershenbaum, Esq. Josh Kershenbaum, Esq., is a dedicated Peacemaker with extensive training and experience in both Mediation and Collaborative Law. He earned certifications in both Negotiation and Mediation at Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation and completed additional Mediation training through the CORA/Good Shepherd Mediation Program. Josh trained in Divorce & Family Mediation with mediation luminaries Forrest (“Woody”) Mosten and Susan Guthrie at the Mosten Guthrie Academy, where he is now on the training faculty. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators. Josh has presented at professional conferences across the country, most recently for the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), the Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP), the Council for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Education (CADRE), the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), as well as for numerous professional and community organizations. He has been a guest on several programs on National Public Radio, and on the popular podcasts, Divorce and Beyond (Susan Guthrie) and Good Law Bad Law (Aaron Freiwald). Josh began his legal career at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, LLC in Philadelphia. He went on to found of Pennsylvania's premier law firms dedicated to representing the legal rights of children with special needs. Josh later served as Senior Counsel for ADR for one of the region's most well-respected family law firms, before returning to solo-practice as a Mediator and Collaborative divorce professional. He earned his law degree, cum laude, from Temple University's Beasley School of Law and his B.A., a magna cum laude, from Amherst College. Before practicing law, Josh was a public school teacher in Newton, Massachusetts, and served as a Board member for Greater Boston PFLAG. He lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his family of five humans and three rescue cats. Resources & Links: Information and resources may also be found at: https://kateanthony.com/podcast/navigating-divorce-when-you-have-children-with-special-needs-with-josh-kershenbaum-esq/  Register to join the next Coffee Clatch with Kate on March 14th! Grit & Grace Coaching ProgramJosh on LinkedIn Connect with Josh: Jkershenbaum(at)gmail.com TODAY'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: THE REVISED SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? PROGRAM   An online coaching program designed to help you make the right decision about your marriage...once and for all.  In this groundbreaking online coaching program, you'll unlock the support, education and deep transformational work you need to finally answer to your most burning question: should I stay or should I go? JOIN THE SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO FACEBOOK GROUP   DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY, COACH, OR THERAPIST IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Dr. Catherine Richmond-Cullen, Director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Partnership Program at the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit, speaking about the regional "Poetry Out Loud" competition held annually at WVIA and recorded for broadcast on WVIA TV and Radio. For more information: www.wvia.org/

Eric Attinger, Chief Communications Officer (CCO), Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy, on the PCFL, their work with adults, young people and entrepreneurs. We'll talk about their critically important mission to teach financial management skills, and how their work is helping to eliminate poverty. We'll talk about their competitions, opportunities to teach teachers, and their very busy work with schools, students, businesses and many others.

20221022-5 Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2022 Convention 20221022 Day 3 Morning Tips for Health Literacy and Equity at the Pharmacy Counter Maintaining Self-Reliance through the Aging Process & Other Changes (Deborah Kendrick) Removing Roadblocks to Self-Reliance (Self-Hypnosis) Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20221022-6 Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2022 Convention 20221022 Day 3 Evening Greeting, Sponsorship Acknowledgments & Raffle Winners PCB Banquet topic & speaker: Accelerate Your Trip to Self-Reliance, Brian Hartgen, owner of Hartgen Consultancy PCB Awards Presentation Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20221021 Day 2 Evening Now What? Assisting Your Loved Ones Through Vision Loss The Not So Newly Blind Game State Government Resources & the State of Disability Services Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20221021-3 Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2022 Convention 20221021 Day 2 Afternoon Medication Management, Diabetes Management , Financial Assistance and Self-Reliance Improving Yourself Through Improv The Trip to Self-Reliance: Physical Fitness for the Journey Self-Reliance: Making Your First Place Your Home Addressing Sleep Barriers to Self-Reliance Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20221021-2 Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2022 Convention 20221021 Day 2 Morning New Yoga Resources & Interactive Demo Low Cost Recorders (Comparison of two digital recorders costing under $100) Take A Virtual Cruise to Self-Reliance (resources to gain and maintain self-reliance) Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20221020-1 Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2022 Convention 20221020 Day 1 Afternoon and evening Emergency Preparedness & Your Guide Dog Call to order and Welcome. Invocation & Necrology President's Address What Would You Do? (Discussion of strategies and critical thinking skills to overcome difficult situations) Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Randall Silvis is the multi-genre author of nineteen critically acclaimed novels, three story collections, and two books of creative nonfiction. He was the first Pennsylvanian to win the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize (1984), and was chosen for that award by author Joyce Carol Oates. His work has been published in over a hundred editions in several languages. Silvis has twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize for his short fiction, and was a two-time Hammett Prize finalist for literary excellence in the field of crime writing (for An Occasional Hell and Two Days Gone.) The recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships, a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award, and six writing fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for his fiction, drama, and screenwriting. ABOUT THE BOOK - THE DEEPEST BLACK (Pre-order now and get it 8/16/22) Where does the line blur between fact and fiction? Acclaimed author Randall Silvis is looking for a story—any story to follow up the series of gripping mystery novels that catapulted him to success. And then, out of nowhere, a story appears. A mysterious stranger named Thomas Kennaday tips Silvis off about a series of murders in a small Pennsylvania town, sending Silvis off on a tentative investigation in hopes of finding material for his next novel. What Silvis discovers is much more than a typical small-town murder case, and it soon becomes clear that Kennaday, who seems to have disappeared into thin air, is somehow pulling the strings of the investigation from behind the scenes. Based on true events, The Deepest Black is a profoundly thoughtful, unsettling read, and a crime novel unlike any you've ever read before.

Appetizer Auction Day 2 227 Macramé watch bands for Apple Watch 38/40/41mm Anonymous 228 Three Dozen of Your Choice Homemade Cookies Patty Slaby 229 12-inch Silver Necklace The Literacy Project 230 Handmade Winter Wear Knitted Hats Becky Hawkins 231 $50 Starbucks Gift Card Merrilee Hill- Kennedy 232 Two Trees of Life Gigi Beatty 233 White Howlite, Black Onyx, Stainless Steel Jewelry Set Anonymous 234 $50 Olive Garden Gift Card The Literacy Project 235 Echo Show 8 Carl Richardson 236 $50 VISA Gift Card Mississippi Council of the Blind 237 Temptations Giving Plate Platter Connie Jacomini 238 Luxurious Leather Coach Bag Deb Trevino for Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired 239 Hand Knitted Dishcloths and $25 Starbucks Gift Card Roberta McCall 240 Handmade Tactile Skills Books for Children Sharon Dutmer 241 White/Gray 50 oz Vacuum Insulated Mug and a $50 Walmart Gift Card Connie Jacomini and Arkansas Council of the Blind 242 Lucky Cat Teapot or Creamer Pot Anonymous 243 $75 Amazon Gift Card Bluegrass Council of the Blind 244 Insignia 32- Inch Smart Television with Amazon Fire Dan Spoone 245 Bakers Candies Kristal Platt 246 $100 Gift Card to Walmart Mary Haupt 247 Medic Therapeutics Massager with Multiple Heads Connie Jacomini 248 Nite Ize Dog Toys and Accessories Sheila Styron 249 Two Quarts Vermont Maple Syrup, $25 Gift Card to IHOP and $25 Starbucks Gift Card Vermont Council and Leslie Spoone 250 Be a pro in your kitchen with this well-equipped kitchen bundle from Future Aids ACB Next Generation 251 A Romantic Evening Friends in Art 252 Tile Locators for Lost Items ACB of Connecticut Saturday 7:00 PM Eastern Live Auction 100 Two HomePod Minis ACB Board Director Chris Bell 101 Forget 15 minutes of Fame, Grab 2 hours as Guest Host of Sunday Edition Anthony Corona 102 Cafe Che Che Coffee Sheri Richardson 103 $100 Gift Certificate to Scentzy ACB Treasurer David Trott and ACB Board Director Michael Talley 104 Rose Quartz, Aquamarine and Onyx Jewelry Set Anonymous 105 Umbreinc Umbrella Backpack Umbre Connie Jacomini 106 Two Hours Assistive Technology Training Belinda Collins 107 Homemade Fantasy Fudge Janeen Lee 108 $50 Target Gift Card ACB of Minnesota 109 West Virginia Goodies Jessie Rayl 110 Handmade Crochet Afghan Nancy Moreno 111 The Pocket Bible Rev. Ray Raysor, President DC Council of the Blind 112 Homemade Banana Bread Kaila Allen 113 Virginia Care Package ACB of Virginia 114 Glamor and Glitz Peggy Carpenter 115 Cat on a Sofa Teapot Anonymous 116 Amazon Echo Studio Arizona Council of the Blind 117 Coffee with, and homemade brownies, from Cindy Hollis Cindy Hollis 118 $100 Amazon Gift Card Lucy Edmonds 119 Kolby Sings for You Kolby Garrison 120 Lunch with the ACB Executive Director ACB 121 Strand of Freshwater Pearls Cindy Hollis 122A Three Dozen of Your Choice Homemade Cookies Patty Slaby 122 B Three Dozen of Your Choice Homemade Cookies Patty Slaby 123 Explore 8 Magnifier HumanWare 124 Crocodile Jasper, Peridot, Black Onyx Jewelry Set Anonymous 125 Luxurious Leather Coach Bag Deb Trevino for Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired 126 Double the Fun with Echo Dot 4th Generation with Alexa Library Users of America 127 Kermit's Key Lime Pie Duo Dan Spoone 128 $200 Amazon Gift Card Beth Corley and Dan Dillon 129 24K Gold Plated and Crystal Studded Ferris Wheel Music Box American Council of Blind Lions 130 DC Leadership Conference Package ACB Alexandria Office and Leslie Spoone 131 Get Up and Get Moving with Couch to Active ACB First Vice President Deb Cook Lewis 132 A Three Dozen Home Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies Brian Charlson 132 B Three Dozen Home Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies Brian Charlson 133 $500 Gift Certificate to Jack Stack's BBQ Melvin Smith 134 Maker's Mark Bourbon Balls Dan Spoone 135 Tom Brady Quarterback NF L Official Jersey Angelo Lanier 136 Sangean WR-16SE 45th Anniversary Special Edition Tabletop Radio Kim Charlson 137 Pop a Cork, sip and Learn about Wine with Gabriel and Anthony Gabriel Lopez Kafati and Anthony Corona 138 $500 Coupon to HumanWare HumanWare 139 Luxurious Leather Coach Bag Deb Trevino for Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired 140 Fun in the Sun! A week at the Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort at Daytona Beach Tim Paul 141 Get Healthy and Help Your Muscles Recover ACB Board Directors Koni Sims and Patrick Sheehan 142 Joann's Fudge Variety Pack Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired 143 $250 Amazon Gift Card ACB of Indiana 144 Black Hills Gold Heart Necklace South Dakota Association of the Blind 145 Talking Cooking Thermometer, Oven Mitts, Potholders, and Silicone Oven Rack Protectors Vicki Vogt 146 Phoenix Braille Embosser HumanWare 147 Kentucky Derby Pie Kentucky Council of the Blind 148 $75 Gift Card to Made in Oregon ACB of Oregon 149 Pizza Night at Home Georgia Council of the Blind 150 Lunch with the ACB President ACB 151 Dooney and Bourke Tote/Purse Florida Council of the Blind 152 The Chocolate Decadent Gift Basket Oklahoma Council of the Blind 153 A Texas Size Gift Card Bundle ACB of Texas 154 Crackle Quartz and Black Onyx Jewelry Set Anonymous 155 Variety of WayAround Tags for Labeling North Dakota Association of the Blind and WayAround 156 Explore 12 HumanWare 157 Homemade Peanut Delights Zelda Gebhard 158 $150 Amazon Gift Card Louisiana Council of the Blind 159 Patrick Mahomes Quarterback NFL Official Jersey Angelo Lanier 160 Anti-Pill Plush Fleece Blanket Nancy Becker 161 One-on-One Phone Conversation with Our Talking Book Narrator ACB 162 Two Pounds of Buckeyes ACB of Ohio 163 A $50 Amazon Gift Card ACB of Minnesota 163 B $50 Amazon Gift Card ACB Board Director Kenneth Semien, Sr 164 Handmade Three-Piece Jewelry Set Becky Hawkins 165 Summer Fun for Your Pooch Guide Dog Users Inc. 166 Facebook Portal Connie Jacomini 167 Delicious Chocolates from The Karl Bissinger Collection the Missouri Council of the Blind 168 $50 Gift Card to Del's Popcorn Shop, Springfield, Illinois ACB Second Vice President Ray Campbell 169 Versa Slate Paperless Erasable Braille Slate and Stylus Braille Revival League 170 Fleece Patchwork Blanket made by Sheila Young and donated by Mitsy Kit 171 Blue Jeans Jumbo Purse Anonymous 172 Enstrom Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee 2lb Box Rick Morin 173 $75 Omaha Steaks Gift Card Jeff and Leslie Thom 174 One-Year License for Office 365 Anonymous 175 Handmade Victoria Ragdoll Sharon Dutmer 176 Echo Dot 4th Generation ACB Families 177 Coffee and Treats from Hawaii Hawaii Association of the Blind 178 $150 Gift Card to The Pecan House AAVIA 179 Mommy and Me Tie-Dyed T-shirts Sharon Lovering 180 Wonderful Crafteye Designs Handmade Quilt Loren Stephens 181 Blind Girl Designs Hoodies Tricia Waechter 182 Keystone Connoisseur Combo the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 183 $100 Honey-Baked Store Gift Card and an AAVL Cookbook AAVL 184 Trio of Handmade Necklaces Becky Hawkins 185 Hawaii Beach Day Tote Hawaii Association of the Blind 186 Explore 5 HumanWare 187 A Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind 187 B Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind 188 $100 Amazon Gift Card California Council of the Blind 189 Luxurious Leather Coach Bag Deb Trevino for Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired 190 Pacific Northwest Red Wine Blend, Chocolate & Nuts Washington Council of the Blind 191 Once in A Lifetime 14k Gold Bracelet The Literacy Project 192 A Bakers Candies Kristal Platt 193 $50 VISA Gift Card Mississippi Council of the Blind 194 Deluxe Taste of Maryland Crab Bushel Style Basket Filled with Goodies from Maryland 195 Gift Certificate for One Hour Business Coaching Session valued at $120 Value plus One Pound of See's Candy Ardis Bazyn 196 Four Kagari Stainless Steel Water Bottles Connie Jacomini

20220604-3 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220604-3 Silent Auction and Banquet   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   Silent Auction and Annual Banquet Participants attended FCB'S Annual Banquet: hosted by FCB President, Sheila Young. FCB's Banquet speaker was Pamela Shaw. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Joy Filled Life. This coaching company specializes in empowering women to live the life of their dreams by integrating faith, personal development, and professional goals.  She has more than 40 years of professional social work experience contributing to the development of policy and practice in the fields of homelessness, community mental health, deinstitutionalization, child welfare, family services and disability rights. Pam is an active member in the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and serves as an associate minister at Vision of Hope Baptist Church in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.   Bid on silent auction items and purchase 50-50 tickets. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

Key Change listeners: check out Prism, a new podcast series from Keystone Edge produced in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The goal of these conversations is to shine a light on the power of creativity in PA communities. In this episode, we're talking about immigrants — artists who came from abroad to make Pennsylvania their home. Through their work, these two men are enriching their communities and adding to the commonwealth's bounty of public art.

In this episode of A Conversation With, we sat down with Emmai Alaquiva. Emmai is a 4-time Emmy award-winning film director, photographer, and composer. He has a unique perspective, having been homeless at one point in his life. He has used his art to tell stories that showcase the soulful account of humanity. I enjoyed our conversation. Emmai Alaquiva BIO: Emmai Alaquiva, a 4-Time Emmy Award-winning film director, photographer, and composer, skillfully showcases the soulful account of humanity across multidisciplinary art platforms. Once homeless, Alaquiva shifted the trajectory of his life's path to become one of the most distinct trailblazers in the arena of creative arts. Today, Alaquiva serves on the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf, CEO of Ya Momz House, Inc., a digital media agency, curator of OpticVoices, an interactive photography exhibit for social change as well as co-founder of Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. an award-winning arts education program for youth K-12. Presenting TEDx talks in 2016 and 2019, Alaquiva's work has been seen and heard across the world through media giants from CBS, Amazon and PBS to celebrity projects with Oprah Winfrey, Wiz Khalifa, Martha Stewart, the late Dr. Maya Angelou and more. This 12-time Telly Award-winner has been recognized as Pittsburgh “40 under 40”, “50 Finest”, “FAB 40”, along with several proclamations from City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEw2Ky5XxDM He was GET Involved, Inc.'s “Man Of The Year” for his community leadership and WHIRL Magazine's, “Couples Who Make A Difference” for his philanthropic work raising thousands for charity. Alaquiva hold's a 2017 Emmy nomination his international directorial debut of the film “Ghetto Steps” and was selected by the City of Pittsburgh to spearhead the Amazon Pitch Video for their second Headquarters. Moreover, Alaquiva is a Pittsburgh Business Times, “Top CEO of the Year”, nationally honored as Black Enterprise Magazine's “BE 100 Modern Man of Distinction and a national BMe Community Leader recognized by President Barack Obama. Most recently, Alaquiva wrote and directed a viral PSA, called “Unspeakable” featured on Good Morning America and seen by over 300 million people in over 60 countries which aims to amplify the voices of the Deaf, hard of hearing and those with disabilities. Emmai won two 2021 Emmy Award for his social justice work and was selected by GOGLE as a contributing film director for the 2021 Google Year End Search film released globally. “The Sky is NOT the Limit” - Emmai Alaquiva Submit Your Film to Our Film Collective: ifapfilmcollective.com Connect With Floyd Marshall Jr: instagram.com/floydmarshalljr tiktok.com/@floydmarshalljr0 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/aconversationwithfm/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aconversationwithfm/support

2022 Legislative Seminar Breakouts Day 1 Originally Aired March 14, 2022, on ACB Media 6, 7, and 8 • Breakout #1: How May Affiliates Assist the ACB National Office and Staff with the Implementation of ACB Resolutions? (Originally Aired on ACB Media 6) Panel: Chris Hunsinger, President, Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Jeff Thom, Chair, ACB Advocacy Steering Committee & Board Member, American Council of the Blind Gabe Griffith, Chair, ACB Resolutions Committee, and President, California Council of the Blind • Breakout #2: Different Levels of Advocacy for Transportation, Pedestrian, and Environmental Access: Federal, State and Local (Originally Aired on ACB Media 7) Panel: Becky Davidson, Chair, ACB Pedestrian and Environmental Access Committee Sheila Styron, Co-Chair, ACB Transportation Committee Chris Bell, Member, Board of Directors, American Council of the Blind Presenter: Beth Osborne, Director, Transportation for America • Breakout #3: Hill Etiquette and Role Playing Panel: Swatha Nandhakumar, Advocacy & Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley, Co-Chair, ACB Transportation Committee Presenters: Katie Frederick, member, American Council of the Blind Michael Garrett, member, American Council of the Blind Mark Richert, President, eXcelsis LLC Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

A community is a group of people around a shared sense of belonging but building a community is more than bringing together people who share a common belief. So, what exactly is a community? Why do we want to be a part of a community?Well, to answer this, we have with us Spud Marshall, one of the leading voices in building both offline and online Communities. During his conversation, he unveils the various facets of community building and leaves us with the question, “How can I create moments of wonder, where my community members are willing to take a pause, participate and explore possibilities?”Spud Marshall is a social entrepreneur, community builder, and fog machine enthusiast. He is the founder of My Creative Community, which supports groups in designing engaging experiences for their communities. He works with a variety of organisations, including the Sullivan Foundation, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, as well as Teach for America, the American Planning Association, and Johnson & Johnson, as a facilitator, coach, and consultant. He was the Innovation Director of 3 Dots Downtown, a community art and innovation event facility that he founded. He's also the originator and driving force behind the co. space, a 20-person intentional community for young changemakers that's been dubbed one of higher education's most innovative innovations. Spud launched New Leaf Initiative, which now acts as a dedicated co-working facility and innovation incubator, prior to those activities. He has been named a Knight Foundation Emerging Cities Champion, as well as one of the country's top millennial civic leaders and one of central Pennsylvania's "Foremost Under 40" business leaders. Spud has a master's degree in strategic sustainability leadership with a very impressive failure track record (contact him if you're interested). He and his wife, faithful dog, and curious cat currently reside in State College, Pennsylvania.

In conversation with Lise Funderburg The director of the M.F.A. Creative Writing program at Emerson College, Jabari Asim is the author of the novel Only the Strong, the story collection A Taste of Honey, and several works of nonfiction, including We Can't Breathe, The Art of Survival, and What Obama Means...For Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future. Also a Guggenheim fellowship-winning poet, playwright, and children's book author, he formerly served as the editor-in-chief of the NAACP's official publication The Crisis, and was an editor and syndicated columnist at The Washington Post. In his new novel, Asim tells the story of a group of enslaved Black people seeking love, friendship, and independence in the 19th century United States South. Lise Funderburg is the author of Black, White, Other: Biracial Americans Talk about Race and Identity and Pig Candy: Taking My Father South, Taking My Father Home. A lecturer in creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and a teacher at the Paris Writers' Workshop, her achievements include a Nonfiction Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Nation, Salon, and The Washington Post, among many other periodicals. Her most recent book is Apple, Tree: Writers on Their Parents. (recorded 2/17/2022)

Need inspiration? Meet Mamie Covell, the Community Engagement Coordinator for Berks Arts Council (BAC), an impressive fresh face, full of positive energy and ideas for the Berks art community. In this episode Mamie shares her own history and those who inspired her, the activities and opportunities, grants and visions supported by BAC. Looking to fund a non-profit or for-profit project or program? Contact Mamie; you'll be inspired! Berks Arts Council creates and supports art events, community collaborations and grants and serves as the funding liaison for Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Find more information about Studio B Fine Art Gallery on our website: studiobbb.org, on Studio B's Facebook page, by contacting Jane Stahl, janeEstahl@comcast.net, 610-563-7879, or stopping by Studio B

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Friday, September 17, 2021 Finding Your Stride: How to Advocate for Yourself. Melissa Carney, PCB Director of Outreach and Engagement, underwritten by Democracy Live, Community Advocate. The first steps to becoming a strong self-advocate are determining when it is necessary, remaining in motion, and most importantly, obtaining confidence in your own abilities and persistence. Please join us for an interactive discussion on how to make your voice heard by speaking up for what you do or do not need as a blind individual. Each of us possess different identities, skillsets, life stories, access priorities, and so forth, but, as a community, we all experience challenges that can be negated through our words, actions, and efforts to maximize our autonomy. Building Communities through Technology, Jule Ann Lieberman, MS CLVT/CATIS ATP, TechOWL. The TechOWL program provides all Pennsylvanians opportunities to explore a variety of technology devices which can assist persons who are blind or visually impaired in everyday life. This session will describe updates to the equipment lending library, options for obtaining special telephones, and devices to meet the distance communication needs of persons with both hearing loss and blindness. Learn how TechOWL has met the challenge during the pandemic with projects such as Connect with Tech. Learn how senior centers and adult communities are connecting with their clients through device loans to address social isolation. Increasing Accessibility with the Louie Voice App, Pramit Bhargava, App Developer. Created originally for Android phones but in development for iPhones, the Louie Voice is a voice-controlled app that performs tasks within other apps through voice commands. Louie's developer will show us what we can do in apps such as YouTube, WhatsApp, and Uber. So, if you are ready to simplify your smartphone functionality and ease your inaccessibility frustrations, be sure to attend this session. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Friday, September 17, 2021 Talk Description to Me, Podcast Hosts, Christine Malec and JJ Hunt. We will learn more about the unique podcast where the visuals of current events and the world around us get hashed out in description-rich conversations. In Talk Description to Me, discussions plunge into current events and topical issues to explore the content of important images and help place vivid descriptions in their cultural context. The show enhances our ability to connect with the vision-centric world. Resolutions, First Reading, Carla Hayes, PCB Parliamentary Team. Enhancing Architectural Accessibility. Chris Downey, Architecture for the Blind. As an experienced architect who lost his vision, Chris provides accessibility advice to builders. He recently consulted on the UPMC Vision Rehabilitation Hospital in Pittsburgh. He will share tips for the kinds of blind-friendly features we should be advocating for when buildings are constructed or renovated. Two Truths and a Tall Tale, hosted by Mary Ann Grignon, sponsored by the Golden Triangle Council of the Blind. This game is all about faking out your peers. Contestants will be given one minute to tell two true statements and one tall tale about themselves. Then the inquisition panel gets two minutes to ask questions and expose which is the tall tale. Listen carefully from the audience because you'll be the judge of which story is pure fiction. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Saturday, September 18, 2021 Questioning the Limitations of Vision Loss, Joseph Koury, Author and Tony Swartz, Facilitator. The presentation will include a discussion based on the book, “Seeing without Eyes,” considering multi-sensory development as a response of adaptation to vision loss. When at 19, Joe suddenly lost his vision, out of despair and fearing that he would be a burden to his family, he decided to embark on a trip hitch hiking across the United States. More than just a cross country journey, it turned out to be a quest of exploration and development of his remaining senses. Joe will briefly chronicle his journey and describe the abilities he developed, allowing him to build a successful life both personally and financially. Enlightening News from LAMP, Andrea Lemoins, Outreach Coordinator, Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians. Many changes have occurred at our regional NLS libraries since we last heard from them at the PCB Conference. A new name, new equipment, and new outreach opportunities to name a few. You don't want to miss the update from this invaluable community resource. Focusing on Diversity. This discussion will share a variety of life perspectives from persons of varying ethnicities and races who are blind or visually impaired. Panelists will share some of the biases and challenges they face regularly within the vision loss community. They will explore ways for increasing diversity and inclusivity within the council. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Saturday, September 18, 2021 Virtual Banquet, sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, Pre-Session Entertainment. Greetings and Sponsor Acknowledgements, Sue Lichtenfels, Conference Coordinator. PCB Student Merit Award, Suzanne Erb, PCB Board of Directors. PCB Award Presentations, William Grignon, PCB Board of Directors. Strengthening Community through Unity, Jonathan Mosen MNZN, Disability Advocate, Multi-Media Producer, and Assistive Technology Consultant. Born congenitally blind, Jonathan Mosen has been breaking barriers throughout his life. As the creator of ACB Radio in 1999 and the more recent Mushroom FM, he's been a pioneer in internet radio for decades. He's shared his knowledge and insight through podcasts, lectures, books, articles, tutorials, product reviews, and more. A native New Zealander, Jonathan's impact on the blind community is worldwide. Be sure to join us as Jonathan speaks on “Strengthening Community through Unity.” Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Sunday, September 19, 2021 Creating Audio Description, Dr. Joel Snyder, ACB Audio Description Project. We've all enjoyed audio described tours and movies, but what's involved in the process of bringing the content to life. Let's ask the AD expert. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Thursday, September 16, 2021 Auction Item Showcase Preview. The bidding won't begin until Sunday, but you don't have to wait any longer to hear the parade of great items up for bid this year. Start making your wish list and familiarize yourself with the bidding process to give you the best chance of nabbing your favorite item. 5:50 PM Pre-Session Entertainment Conference Call to Order and Welcome, Christine Hunsinger, PCB President Invocation, Jacqueline Wissinger, PCB Chaplain. President's Address, Christine Hunsinger, PCB President. Necrology Remembrance, Jacqueline Wissinger, PCB Chaplain. Door Prizes Sharing Your Craft-Ability with the World. Panelists, Kaila Allen, Mike Grove, and Annie Pineda, and Facilitator, Mary Ann Grignon. Community, confidence, compensation, and charity can all be achieved when we pursue our crafty, creative aspirations. We will hear from a panel of creative individuals about their crafty journeys to success. Low-tech Solutions to Get Grocery Essentials. Lisa Salinger and Jule Ann Lieberman, sponsored by the PCB Technology Access Team. Life changed dramatically for most of us in the past two years. Routine grocery shopping changed with social distance and limited transportation. This session discusses options to get the groceries you need even if you don't have a computer or smart phone. Proposed Bylaw Amendments, First reading. John Luttenberger, PCB Parliamentary Team. Door Prizes & Announcements Jeopardy for the Common Man (Women and Non -Binary Individuals Welcome), hosted by Tony Swartz and Blair Wissinger, sponsored by the Golden Triangle Council of the Blind, Community Advocate underwriter. Whether you love or hate the television game show, you will surely enjoy this homemade version of the popular game that has you guessing the question to meet the answer. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Thursday, September 16, 2021 HIMS Inc, Earle Harrison and Thomas Simpson. We believe the star of this year's exhibits will be our BrailleSense 6 notetaker because it's the fastest notetaker out there and it's now running Android 10. And don't miss learning more about the one-of-a-kind QBraille XL 40-cell braille display which pairs with your computer and screen reader better than your favorite wine and a good cheese. Guide Lights and Gadgets, Barry Scheur and KaeAnn Rausch, Owners. We specialize in 3 lines of products, all intended to assist in access to adaptive electronics, enhance experiences for guide dog teams, and offer practical accessories for organization and travel. Then there are the random products that are included, just for fun! We work with our customers 1-on-1 to assure the proper selection of product to meet each individual customer's goals and needs. PM Guide Dog Foundation, Lauren Berglund, Consumer Relations Coordinator. For 75 years, the Guide Dog Foundation has trained and placed guide dogs and service dogs to provide increased independence and enhanced mobility to people who are blind, have low vision, or have other disabilities. Once the decision is made to get a guide dog, applicants become part of the Foundations' open and welcoming community and are supported with an uncompromising commitment to excellence, from highly empathetic and certified trainers to a meticulously constructed curriculum. Come learn more. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Thursday, September 16, 2021 Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Maggie Felton, MSN, CRNP, Clinical Nurse Educator. Vanda offers the only approved treatment for Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24), a serious, chronic disorder that disrupts a person's circadian rhythms. Non-24 affects up to 70% of people who are totally blind, whether you were born blind or became so later in life. Democracy Live, Bryan Finney, CEO. OmniBallot is an ADA compliant solution that allows people with disabilities to accessibly exercise their right to vote. We will demonstrate the accessibility our system offers. The Seeing Eye, Chelsea White, Outreach Specialist. The Seeing Eye enhances the independence, dignity and self-confidence of people who are blind through the use of specially trained Seeing Eye® dogs. Come join folks from The Seeing Eye to learn about our program and what we've been up to lately. We love questions, so come ready to ask. Accessible Pharmacy, Andy Burstein, Founder. Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind is a home delivery pharmacy service specializing in blind and low-vision patients. They are the only provider of its kind and the largest blind-owned healthcare company in America. EnVision America: Advocating for Accessible Prescription Labels in the Store and at the State Capitol, Sharla Glass, Public Policy Liaison. For those who can't clearly read their medication labels, accessible prescription labels can be crucial to ensuring medication safety and adherence. Find out more about advocating for accessible prescription labeling locally at your pharmacy and statewide through support of legislation such as Pennsylvania House Bill 89. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind 2021 Virtual Conference and Convention Friday, September 17, 2021 Support Groups- Sharing Ideas and Resources to Build a Stronger Peer Community. Marcy Graboyes, Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center, Jeanette Schmoyer, PCB Mentor and Residential Group Leader, and Jule Ann Lieberman, CVLT CATIS. Sponsored by the PCB Vision Loss Resource Team, this session will cover the role of support groups in the lives of persons impacted by vision loss or blindness. Join the experienced group leaders in discussion of their support groups, their settings, how they started a group and how they engage members. Come learn how to start a group in your area. Nurturing the Handler/Guide Dog Bond. Join Pennsylvania Guide Dog Users and Supporters (PAGDUS) and representatives from Guide Dog Foundation (GDF) as we discuss the bond with our trusty guides. In the first half, Lauren Berglund, GDF Consumer Relations Coordinator, and Cameron McLendon, GDF Graduate Support Manager, will discuss cultivating the unity of the handler and new dog team, including trust between the handler and new dog, and the information handlers can expect their guide dogs to provide. The second half of our session will focus on the handler perspective of bonding with our guides. A panel of PAGDUS members, who are graduates from various guide dog schools, will discuss the joys and challenges of bonding with our guides, whether it's our first or sixth. They will talk about bonding with a new guide dog after retirement, loss, and bonding with a new dog during the pandemic. Whether you're an experienced or potential guide dog user, we hope you'll join us. Enabling the Deaf-Blind Community, Jessica Adams, Director of Deafstone and Melissa Hawkins, Director of the PA Office of Deaf & Hard of Hearing, sponsored by the Golden Triangle Council of the Blind, Community Advocate underwriter. Many individuals who are deaf-blind rely on the services of workers called SSP's to assist them with bill paying, grocery shopping, doctor visits, and other errands. We will learn why these assistants are so important and what we can do to ensure future services continue. Gadget Gallery, hosted by the PCB Peer Engagement Team and underwritten by Tech OWL, Community Organizer. Are you looking for ways to make your life a little easier? Never fear, just call a PCB peer! Make sure you have your note-taking materials nearby when a cadre of peers share information about their favorite life-simplifying gadgets. Volunteering outside of the Blind Community, with Panelists, Ellie Goldfon, Angela Hadbavny, Jody Mullis, and Art Rizzino, Facilitator, Sue Lichtenfels. Many of us who are blind or have vision loss are unemployed, multi-talented, and highly skilled, so let's consider how we stop wasting our abilities at home and start playing an active role in strengthening our communities. A panel of individuals will discuss both the trials and triumphs of their volunteer experiences in mainstream society. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

Tony Swartz is a voice artist and well-known member of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind. And he joins us to talk about his life, blindness, and work with PCB speaking out for the blind.   To listen to this week's “Speaking Out for the Blind,” go to: https://www.acbmedia.org/home/streams/, and choose one of the links under the heading “ACB Media 1 – Mainstream,” or call 1-518-906-1820, and when prompted, press “1” for ACB Media 1. You may also listen to the program live on the ACB Link mobile app. For more information, go to http://link.acb.org. Show archive page is at https://speaking-out-for-the-blind.pinecast.co/.   How to access ACB Media 1 on Amazon Alexa: From your Alexa-enabled device first Enable the skill by saying: 1. Approach your Alexa device and issue this command: “Alexa, Delete Everything I've Ever Said on this device” Please Note: This will need to be done on each Alexa device in your home.   2. Wait 30 seconds and then say: “Alexa, Open ACB Media” The new ACB Media skill will launch.   As a reminder, ask for the name of the stream that you would like to hear. The list below are the names for each of the ACB Media stream designations:  ACB Mainstream is now ACB 1   Facebook page is at Speaking Out for the Blind and Twitter page is at SpeakOutfortheBlind (you may also access this at SpeakOutBlind).

Author, Entrepreneur and Community Builder, Spud Marshall, shares his thoughts on outrageous contributions to building and healing our communities and how world-changers can grow our creativity and connections. Learn more about his perspective as we discuss:his new booksnow machinesfollowing your curiosity and not your passiondivergent vs convergent thinkingGuest BiographySpud Marshall is a serial social entrepreneur, creative community builder, and lover of fog machines. He is the founder of My Creative Community, which supports groups in designing engaging experiences for their communities. He serves as a facilitator, coach, and consultant alongside organizations ranging from the Sullivan Foundation, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to Teach for America, the American Planning Association, and Johnson & Johnson.In 2021, he published 'Designing Creative Communities' alongside the 'Creative Communities Field Guide' which helps readers meaningfully contribute to the places where they live, work, learn and play. The books coach emerging leaders and community members alike through a simple process for how to transform their town into a creative place to call home. In addition to his community consultation work and writing, he founded 3 Dots Downtown, a community arts and innovation event center, where he served as the Innovation Director. He is also the founder and chief catalyst for the co.space, a community for young changemakers, which has been listed as one of the top disruptive innovations to emerge in higher education. Prior to those efforts, Spud founded New Leaf Initiative, which currently serves as a dedicated co-working space and innovation incubator.He has been honored as a Knight Foundation Emerging Cities Champion, listed as one of the top millennial civic leaders in the country, and been featured as one of the Foremost Under 40 Business Leaders in central Pennsylvania. Spud has a Masters in Strategic Sustainability Leadership and a pretty spectacular failure resume (reach out if you're interested). He currently resides in State College, Pennsylvania with his wife, loyal dog, and curious cat. Connect with Spud FacebookInstagramWebsite---Lady Grey is an award-winning international entertainer and educator. She has been at the helm of numerous performing arts organizations and has performed everywhere from Broadway to the Sydney Olympics. She currently serves as Artistic Director of Lady Grey's Lovelies and leads international sell-out retreats for women (Outrageous Adventures for Outrageous Women).Connect with Lady GreyFacebookInstagramSchedule a coaching call with Lady GreyLeave a Comment or a Voicemail for Lady Grey 

This is an interview with Rev. Craig B. Mousin, an Adjunct Faculty member of the DePaul University's College of Law, Refugee and Forced Migrations Studies Program and the Grace School of Applied Diplomacy.  The podcast celebrates the cooperative work of Somali refugee farmers in Maine and elsewhere demonstrating the talents and gifts they bring to our nation.  The podcast also urges listeners to email their congressional Representative to vote for the Afghan Adjustment Act.ACTION STEP:  We provide two links to offer background information and to email your congressional Representative to vote for the Afghan Adjustment Act. Refugee One recommends this link to email your Representative in support of the Afghan Adjustment Act:        https://humanrightsfirst.quorum.us/campaign/36088/For additional information about the proposed Act or Refugee One, visit its website at: https://www.refugeeone.org/afghanistan.html The Pennsylvania Council of Churches also provides background information and a link to email to your Representative at: https://pachurchesadvocacy.org/pass-afghan-adjustment-act/The information on Little Juba and the Agrarian Trust came from two articles.  Initially, this podcast was inspired by Katy Kelleher's article, “Maine's Somali Bantus Are Reenvisioning American Farming,” Down East:  https://downeast.com/features/maines-somali-bantus-are-reenvisioning-american-farming/  The article contains the specific information on percentage of farmland owned by white famers and non-white farmers, information on the Somali produce grown at Little Juba, and the Agrarian Trust.The quote from the Somali farmer and the quote on percentage of farm ownership by white persons can be found in an article by Audrea Lim, “‘We're trying to re-create the lives we had': the Somali migrants who became Maine farmers,” The Guardian, February 25, 2021."For more information on the Agrarian Trust, see:  https://agrariantrust.orgInformation on Portland, Maine's services and hospitality to asylum seekers and refugees comes from Eric Russell, “We bring our dreams with us.  All of us,” Portland Press Herald, November 14, 2021:  https://www.pressherald.com/2021/11/14/we-bring-our-dreams-with-us-all-of-us/The Center for American Progress Report contains the information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the quote on immigrants breathing “fresh life” into rural areas and the information about Arcola, Illinois including the statistics on the Hispanic population of Arcola.  It provides the statistics regarding United States rural population from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:  “Revival and Opportunity, Immigrants in Rural American,” September 2, 2018:  https://www.americanprogress.org/article/revival-and-opportunity/Information on the New Roots community farms sponsored by the International Rescue Committee can be found in “How refugee farmers are confronting food insecurity in the U.S.” October 14, 2021: https://www.rescue.org/article/how-refugee-farmers-are-confronting-food-insecurity-us

We had the great honor of speaking with Christiane Dolores, aka Madame Dolores. Do not miss this! Multi-platform cross-disciplinary artist, Christiane Dolores, a.k.a. Madame Dolores, employs sound, vision, text, and performance as storytelling tools to create radical, sometimes controversial, cultural engagements. At the heart of her work is a humanistic empathy that questions our inability to coexist and reimagines new mythologies of inclusion and belonging. Her practice is rooted in responding to compelling questions about cultural definitions, the root of hatred, cognitive dissonance, binary systems, and the ongoing social conflicts of Us vs Them. She thinks of what she does as social-cultural anthropology, employing the ethnographic technique by culling audio, text and images to create a record of our struggle to be human. Her textual, visual, musical work responds to burgeoning questions about human behavior and inhuman cruelty. How are these confounding, at times, disturbing actions seen through the lens of justice, compassion and understanding and how will that propel us to evolve? Madame Dolores has earned many accolades and opportunities for her work. In 2017, she received the Pittsburgh Business Times Women First award, and in 2014, was commissioned by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to create a song and lead Pittsburgh's inaugural Complaints Choir during the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. She has also been recognized as the winner of an 2010 August Wilson Center Fellowship; an awardee of a 2011 and 2020 grant from Advancing the Black Arts in support of solo musical releases; a 2007 honoree at the New Hazlett Theatre “Celebrating Women in the Arts; a 2003 winner of the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Fellowship for World/Jazz/Blues musical composition; and a 2002 Pittsburgh Magazine “40 under 40” award winner. She received funding from Sprout for two MiniM Music Festivals for the Blues and Jazz genres and for “Listen to This, featuring poetess, Ursula Rucker; a commission from Pittsburgh Foundation to write her first play, Saffronia; funding from Multi-Cultural Arts Initiative to produce Saffronia: the Mulatto Slave, which came in 2nd place at the Trinidad Theater Festival, in 2016. Madame Dolores is the founding member of the #notwhite collective, a group of 13 femme artists who use their art to make their stories visible as they excavate histories, expose realities, and exorcise oppression. She has also been very dedicated to the arts community as the artist relations manager at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, where she worked for 15 years leading several landmark programs and increasing engagement and support of typically underserved artists, especially people of color and women, and is now currently working at the Pittsburgh International Airport's Art as their technical assistant of arts and culture. Visit her website at madamechristianedolores.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/otherborderwall/message

On the latest edition of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews author Kimi Cunningham Grant. Kimi is the author of Fallen Mountains, Silver Like Dust, and These Silent Woods. Kimi is a two-time winner of a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Poetry and a recipient of a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts fellowship in creative nonfiction. Her poems and essays have appeared in Fathom, Literary Mama, RATTLE, Poet Lore, and Whitefish Review. She lives, writes, and teaches in Pennsylvania.

On the latest edition of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews author Kimi Cunningham Grant. Kimi is the author of Fallen Mountains, Silver Like Dust, and These Silent Woods. Kimi is a two-time winner of a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Poetry and a recipient of a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts fellowship in creative nonfiction. Her poems and essays have appeared in Fathom, Literary Mama, RATTLE, Poet Lore, and Whitefish Review. She lives, writes, and teaches in Pennsylvania.

On the latest edition of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews author Kimi Cunningham Grant. Kimi is the author of Fallen Mountains, Silver Like Dust, and These Silent Woods. Kimi is a two-time winner of a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Poetry and a recipient of a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts fellowship in creative nonfiction. Her poems and essays have appeared in Fathom, Literary Mama, RATTLE, Poet Lore, and Whitefish Review. She lives, writes, and teaches in Pennsylvania. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/eliot-parker/support

Our biggest episode yet brings together the medical professionals in New York and Philadelphia who care for some of the biggest companies in the dance world. They give us insight on how they keep those performers on stage. We talk about what it's like to work in small, medium, and large-sized programs, how their dancers access care, and the challenges of pushing the boundaries of choreography without pushing physical boundaries. Brought to you by the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine. Our guests: From Philadelphia: Christine Cox, founder and artistic director of Ballet X (Instagram: @christineccox) Marc Harwood, MD: Rothman Orthopedic Institute and consultant Ballet X and Pennsylvania Ballet From New York: Melody Hrubes, MD: Rothman Orthopedic Institute and medical director Radio City Rockettes (Instagram: @melodyhrubes) Sheyi OjoFeitimi, PT, DPT: Director of Therapy Services, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. #drsheyipt #dancereadyproject For more information on Athletes and the Arts, go to https://www.athletesandthearts.com For American Medical Society of Sports Medicine, go to https://www.amssm.org For Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, go to https://www.alvinailey.org For Ballet X, go to https://www.balletx.org Bios: Christine Cox: Christine Cox co-founded BalletX, America's premier contemporary ballet company, with Matthew Neenan in 2005. The BalletX team has produced over 100 world premiere ballets by nearly 60 renowned and emerging choreographers to date, reaching more than 150,000 dance patrons. Under her leadership as Artistic & Executive Director, the company has performed at prestigious national stages including The Kennedy Center, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Vail International Dance Festival, and The Joyce Theater. In 2013, she and her team launched The X-Process, an engagement program that invites audience members to participate in pre-show conversations with choreographers, an interactive lecture series about contemporary ballet, and open rehearsals. Through the Dance eXchange education program, she has partnered with elementary schools from the Philadelphia School District to emphasize dance as a means to promote self-confidence and acquire valuable life skills, reaching more than 2,000 local students in its first six years. Cox also led a TEDx talk at the George School about innovation in the field of contemporary ballet, from the art form's historical traditions to today's world of evolving definitions and globalization. As an arts leader, she has served on review panels for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Arts & Business Council. Christine has been recognized with two Rocky Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, as well as fellowships from the Independence Foundation and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Cox was a full-time company member with the Pennsylvania Ballet from 1993 until her retirement from the stage in 2006. Some of her featured roles included Rum and Coca Cola in Paul Taylor's Company B, Vortex in Alvin Ailey's The River; Choleric in George Balanchine's The Four Temperaments, Eve in Margo Sappington's Rodin, Mis En Vie the Cowgirl in Agnes DeMille's Rodeo, and principal female roles in Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free and The Concert. During this time, Cox served for ten years as the rehearsal assistant of the children's corps for Pennsylvania Ballet's annual production of Balanchine's The Nutcracker. Prior to joining the Pennsylvania Ballet, she danced with BalletMet (Columbus, OH), as a guest artist with Ballet Hispanico (New York, NY), and with the American Repertory Ballet (Princeton, NJ). Cox is the proud mother of two young boys, Warren and Wesley. Marc Harwood, MD: Dr. Harwood is a board certified non-operative sports medicine physician and serves as the Service Chief of the Non-Operative

This recording is from a roundtable discussion during a session at the 2021 Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts Conference held October 22, 2021 in Harrisburg, Pa. This was a wide-ranging conversation about the impact that 9th grade English class can have on students during their remaining years of high school and beyond. Themes of connectivity, failure, and recovery came through many of the answers from four English teachers from across the state. The major questions addressed during the conversation included What was your 9th Grade English class experience? How can we encourage students during their 9th grade year to embrace the content, curriculum, and skills taught in their English class? At the end of a student's 9th grade year, what should students have learned that will help to prepare them for success in high school and beyond? Many thanks to the following educators who participated in the roundtable discussion Kristen Spangler, York Country Day School Kelly Jones, PA Cyber Charter School Sarah Wilt, Bridgeway HomeSchool Academy Jon Fogle, pre-service teacher studying at Lancaster Bible College To learn more about the work of this organization and future conferences, please visit http://www.pctela.org/.

This recording is from a roundtable discussion during a session at the 2021 Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts Conference held October 22, 2021 in Harrisburg, Pa. This was a wide-ranging conversation about the impact that 9th grade English class can have on students during their remaining years of high school and beyond. Themes of connectivity, failure, and recovery came through many of the answers from four English teachers from across the state. The major questions addressed during the conversation included What was your 9th Grade English class experience? How can we encourage students during their 9th grade year to embrace the content, curriculum, and skills taught in their English class? At the end of a student's 9th grade year, what should students have learned that will help to prepare them for success in high school and beyond? Many thanks to the following educators who participated in the roundtable discussion Kristen Spangler, York Country Day School Kelly Jones, PA Cyber Charter School Sarah Wilt, Bridgeway HomeSchool Academy Jon Fogle, pre-service teacher studying at Lancaster Bible College To learn more about the work of this organization and future conferences, please visit http://www.pctela.org/.

Are You Being Gentle With Your Mental  Podcast Season 3 | Episode 6 discover:Emmai Alaquiva, an Emmy Award-winning film director, composer and mentor is known for his impact across mixed-media art platforms. Once homeless and one who occupied the unforgiving streets of Pittsburgh Pa., Alaquiva shifted the trajectory of his life's path to become one of the most distinct trailblazers in the arena of creative arts. Multi-award decorated, Alaquiva is the CEO of Ya Momz House, Inc, co-founder of Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. and curator of OpticVoices. Alaquiva hold's a 2017 Emmy nomination his international directorial debut of the film “Ghetto Steps” and was selected by the City of Pittsburgh to spearhead the Amazon Pitch Video for their second Headquarters. Moreover, Alaquiva is a national BMe Community Leader recognized by President Barack Obama, Pittsburgh Business Times, “Top CEO of the Year” and most recently was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to serve on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for the state of Pennsylvania.Please connect with Emmai: IG/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmai_alaquiva/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Emmai_AlaquivaWebsite:  www.emmaialaquiva.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/user/emmaialaquiva Thank you for tuning in to another episode. Please hit the FOLLOW button. While listening screenshot and tag @_jessbeu & @emmai_alaquiva so we can repost to showcase the love and support from you all! If listening on Apple Podcast leaving a rating and a review would be greatly appreciated and shared on our main pages.Purchase Podcast Merch Today:  https://jessbeu.square.site/s/shop

A WEEKLY CANDID CONVERSATION ON GAMBLING ADDICTION ​Craig is joined by Josh Ercole, the executive director from the Pennsylvania Council on Compulsive Gambling. And as always Dan Trolaro, from the Council on Compulsive Gambling. Josh talks to Craig and Dan about the work he does in Pennsylvania and much more.

In conversation with Wendy Moffat, Professor of English and Curley Chair of Global Education at Dickinson College and author of the prize-winning biography, A Great Unrecorded History: A New Life of E.M. Forster A professor in the Pennoni Honors College of Drexel University, William di Canzio has also taught writing and literature at Yale University, Smith College, and Haverford College. His plays Dooley and Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier have been staged in New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, among many other places. He has been honored with the Julie Harris Playwright Award, a Brown Foundation Award, and residencies and fellowships from the MacDowell, the Eugene O'Neill Theater's National Playwrights Conference, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Alec, his debut novel, continues the story at the end of Maurice, E.M. Forster's tale of a gay romance. Books with signed book plates are available from the Joseph Fox Bookshop (recorded 7/15/2021)

Hoy quiero presentarte a un amigo, y compañero de labores: Wilfredo Seda, quien forma parte de nuestra casa radio en WLCH, aquí en Lancaster, presentador y productor de uno de nuestros programas culturales especializados Jazzarama, que puedes escucharlo a través de nuestras frecuencias 2 veces por semana, los Miércoles a las 8 de la noche y los Domingos a las 7 PM. Si estas un poco distante o en cualquier latitud, puedes disfrutar de su programa en la plataforma SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/adesuno/programa-jazzarama-2-de-junio-2021 Hoy vamos a conversar con Wilfredo sobre arte, específicamente sobre El consejo de las Artes de Pensilvania, o Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) por su nombre más conocido. El PCA tiene como misión principal fortalecer la vitalidad cultural, educativa y económica de las comunidades de Pensilvania a través de las artes. Promover el acceso equitativo para que todos los residentes de Pensilvania participen plenamente en una vida creativa y en las diversas formas de arte y cultura en el estado. Wilfredo me ofrece una panorámica sobre esta agencia gubernamental, y como apoya el arte y la cultura aquí en el área Central de PA. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radiocentro/message

In this episode of Next Up to The Mic, we welcome Melody Davis who was our featured poet at the Poets Speak Loud open mic series at McGeary's in downtown Albany, NY on April 30, 2018. Melody Davis, a writer and art historian, is the author of three poetry collections, most recently, a special edition artists' book, One Ground Beetle, with Harold Lohner (2017); and Holding the Curve (2013) from Broadstone Books. Her work in the history of photography has been published widely. In 2015, she published Women's Views: The Narrative Stereograph in Nineteenth-Century America with the University Press of New Hampshire. Davis has held fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Henry Luce Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, MetroArts (PA), and she was a finalist in the National Poetry Series. She holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and is an Associate Professor of Art History at Russell Sage College in Troy NY. Please welcome, next up to the mic, Melody Davis. To find out more about the great poetry and spoken word community in upstate New York, go to albanypoets.com Our theme music was “Imagination” by Danijel Zambo (https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/imagination) License code: 44TCGFPF1L1434BE

In this episode, we are joined by PA state commander Ron Peters. This interview took place at the Pennsylvania Council of Administration (COA) in Harrisburg, PA April 9-April 10.

Lonnie Graham is a photographer, a Pew Fellow and Professor at Pennsylvania State University. He is former director of Photography at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an urban arts organization dedicated to arts and education for at risk youth. There, Lonnie developed innovative pilot projects merging Arts and Academics, which were ultimately cited by, then, First Lady Hillary Clinton as a National Model for Arts Education.   In 1996 Lonnie was commissioned to create the “African/American Garden Project.” which provided a physical and cultural exchange of disadvantaged urban single mothers in Pittsburgh, and farmers from Muguga, a small farming village in Kenya, to build a series of urban subsistence gardens.   In 2005, Lonnie was cited as Artist of the Year in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and presented the Governor’s Award by Governor Edward Rendell. He served as a panel member for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC.  Lonnie is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts/Pew Charitable Trust Travel Grant for travel to Ghana and is a four time Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Fellowship recipient. His book “A Conversation with the World,” has been published by Datz press in Seoul, Korea. That project seeks to reveal our common humanity through interviews conducted by Lonnie with individuals through out the world. He recently delivered a TED talk on economic disparities of artists in modern culture.               Other exhibitions include an exhibition of photographs at Goethe Institute, Accra Ghana; an exhibition of collaborative portraiture in Christchurch, New Zealand, a group of works at Kulttuurivoimala, Culture Silo, Meri-Toppila, Oulu, Finland, a full scale reproduction of one of the educational galleries in the Barnes Foundation shown at La Maison de Etat-Unis, Paris, France, an exhibition of larger than life photographs at the Toyota City Museum in Aichi, Japan as well as a room sized installation featured at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Lonnie’s work can be found in the permanent collections of the Addison Gallery for American Art in Andover, MA and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in Philadelphia, PA. Sound and Vision is supported by the New York Studio School, where drawing, painting and sculpture are studied in depth, debated energetically, and created with passion. The School’s full-time programs: a two-year MFA and a three-year Certificate prioritize experimental learning and perception. Beginning in Fall 2021, the Studio School welcomes artists from around the world to join its inaugural Virtual Certificate Program. Combining the studio-centric emphasis of the School’s teaching methods with an individual, real-time approach to online learning, this full-time program is designed for serious artists, and dedicated aspiring artists, who seek to cultivate the studio skills and methods that will prepare them for a lifetime of art-making. The priority application deadline is April 30th, 2021 - apply online today at nyss.org

(S4, EP 7) Award winning Lao-American artist and poet Catzie Villayphonh joined me as a guest for this week's episode. Catzie spoke about her work with fellow Lao artists on amplifying the voices and history of the Lao American experience through her organization, Laos in the House. Catzie shared about the challenges that Laos in the House, and other nonprofits in refugee / immigrant communities have faced since the pandemic. To learn more about Laos In The House, visit www.laosinthehouse.com and to check out Catzie's work on her IG @catzuella . --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio: Catzie Vilayphonh is a multimedia artist with a background in writing, spoken word poetry, photography and filmmaking. She runs Laos in the House, a project that promotes storytelling in the Lao American refugee community, and is a founding member of the group Yellow Rage who were featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam. Through her work, Catzie provides an awareness not often heard, drawing from personal narrative. She has worked on various artistic projects with partners such as Mural Arts Philadelphia, Asian Arts Initiative, Smithsonian APIA Center, The Moth, Philadelphia Assembled and Legacies of War. Throughout her artistic career, Catzie has been a recipient of awards from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts as well as the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. She has been a 2012 Creative Capital finalist, a four-time Leeway Foundation honoree, and was named a 2016 Woman Non-Profit Leader by Philadelphia City Council. She is a co-founding chair of the national Lao American Writers Summit, and was recently appointed to the Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season 4 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR aims to bring awareness to the tragedies, atrocities and cultural destruction the Cambodian people endured from 1975 to 1979 under the communist Khmer Rouge regime and how that period impacts us today. With that awareness, Red Scarf Revolution advocates the silenced art, music, culture, and language, with designs that incite the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Visit their website at www.redscarfrevolution.com to check out their merch line and to learn more about their work, or follow their Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on their Facebook. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

In this episode, Adam and Budi interview Chan Harris a true renaissance man of the theatre about his career in the theatre and how life can be circuitous and fortuitous at the same time.Chan Harris studied at the Juilliard School with classmates that included Renee Fleming, Audra MacDonald, and Laura Linney. He studied voice with Beverley Peck Johnson, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Music.After graduation, he worked for Theatre Under the Stars (West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles, the world premiere of Kopitt & Yeston’s Phantom, Evita, the Merry Widow), the Alley (Forever Plaid, Robert Wilson's Danton's Death) and in Houston Grand Opera's historic production of Astor Piazzolla's Maria de Buenos Aires. He has been cast in several national tours (Evita, Big River, Into the Woods) and worked in New York, both Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional theatres all over the country in Forever Plaid, Brigadoon, Old Wicked Songs, Beauty and the Beast, Godspell, and was a resident actor at the Mountain Playhouse (Don't Dress For Dinner, The Winslow Boy, Funny Money, Inherit the Wind, Broadway Bound, The Lion In Winter, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Internationally, Chan was cast in a German-language tour of Phantom of the Opera, for which he toured Germany, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland. In Berlin, he worked for the prestigious Theatre Des Westens and Berliner Ensemble. He also created the role of Young Kafka in Kafka: In the Penal Colony for the Polish National Opera.In 1997 he was asked to play Jesus in the Korean-language Jesus Christ Superstar for the Hyundae Theatre Company in Seoul, South Korea. For this role, he was the first foreigner to work as an actor in Korean-language theatre and the first foreigner to win a “best actor” award at the Korean Theatre Awards.In 1999, he was asked to direct the national tour of Forever Plaid. At the Mountain Playhouse, Chan has directed over 20 plays, including four world premieres, three of which were commissioned through a grant by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. He has continued to direct in New York and for theatres all over the country.During his career as a director, Chan has continued to study. He enrolled in The Actors Center conservatory program, studying under Ron van Lieu (acting), Earl Gister (acting), Felix Ivanov (stage combat), Grace Zandarski (voice), Per Brahe (mask), Katherine Fitzmaurice (voice), Christopher Bayes (clown) and Frank Deal (improv). He spent time in Bali, Indonesia studying Balinese dance, mask work, and kecak, and in Korea studying Pansori. As a teacher, he has taught all over the world. In addition to teaching masterclasses in New York City, at the University of Alabama, the University of Montavallo, the Foxcroft School, Bowdoin College, and the University of Texas, he taught drama and theatre development as a “sustainable” resource in the Transvaal area of South Africa through a U.N. Sponsored program.To submit a question, please visit http://www.speakpipe.com/theatreofothers for voice recording or submit an email to podcast@theatreofothers.com Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwiseIf you enjoyed this week´s podcast, we´d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest in it and make it even betterMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.comhttp://www.theatreofothers.com

When the resident theatre at a Jewish Community Center commissions a new play about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a half-Jewish/half-Jordanian playwright, the Center finds itself pulled in several directions. The playwright was sent on a trip to Israel and came back with a story that only explored one side of the Westbank conflict. The playwright's narrative, told to them by a Palestinian family. Questioning the premise of the story and the balance of it becomes a point of conflict within the organization. One of the Center’s major donors, the Center’s Board President, the theatre’s Artistic Director, and the playwright each fight for a different outcome, while the Center’s Executive Director tries to keep the institution from falling off its foundation. SETTLEMENTS examines conflicts inside the Jewish community, the radicalization of young people's thoughts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how existing Jewish institutions are coping with these new realities. To see a video of this production: https://youtu.be/nnygZz3U3HE Playbill: https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/Quarantine_Players_A_Virtual_Theater_Company/2020/SETTLEMENTS_85144 Website: QuarantinePlayers.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/q_players Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quarantineplayers/ Genre: drama, political Subject Matter Keywords: Jewish, Israel-Palestine, Israel, theatre, Politics, artist, art Age Appropriateness: ages 18 and up Narrative Attributes: Centers Female Characters Directed by Leslie Ross Produced by A. J. Campbell, Quarantine Players Characters: NOAH 44, (Timothy Lynch) Jewish; Artistic Director of the theatre JUDITH 52, (Lori Muhlstein) Jewish, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center that houses the theatre YASMIN 28, (Tarnim Bybee) half-Jewish/half-Jordanian, playwright MARION 65, (Barrie Alguire) Jewish, President of the Board of the Jewish Community Center CAESAR: 76, (D. Scott Graham) Jewish, a retired opthalmologist-turned-major-philanthropist Seth Rozin Seth is the author of numerous plays, including SETTLEMENTS, HUMAN RITES (produced at Phoenix Theatre, 2017; InterAct Theatre Company, 2018), THE THREE CHRISTS OF MANHATTAN (InterAct, 2015), TWO JEWS WALK INTO A WAR... (National New Play Network rolling world premieres at Florida Stage, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey and New Jersey Rep, plus productions at Shadowlands Theater, Merrimack Rep, Unicorn Theatre, InterAct, Florida Studio Theatre, GEVA Theater, Barter Theater, Jewish Theatre of Grand Rapids and New Repertory Theatre; published by Playscripts.com), BLACK GOLD (NNPN rolling world premieres at InterAct, Phoenix Theatre, PROP Thr, Arts West Playhouse), REINVENTING EDEN (InterAct), MISSING LINK (InterAct, Civic Theatre of Schenectady), THE SPACE BETWEEN US (readings at Abington Theatre, Philadelphia Art Alliance) and MEN OF STONE (Theater Catalyst; published by Playscripts.com). He is also the composer, lyricist and book writer of A PASSING WIND a musical about history's greatest "fartiste" that premiered at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts' inaugural Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts in 2011. Seth is the winner of two playwriting fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the 2006 Smith Prize (awarded by the National New Play Network), a 2002 Commission from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture, and two Barrymore Award nominations for Outstanding New Play. https://newplayexchange.org/users/226/seth-rozin Representation, Susan Gurman, susan@gurmanagency.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/qplayers/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/qplayers/support

Policy Lessons from COVID “Nursing home residents need access to technology to speak to their loved ones.”— Lieke van Heumen, PhD 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow Responding to COVID-10 required the Aging Services Network to become even more creative in responding to the constraints the pandemic put on service delivery.  They now feel much more prepared to deal with the challenges that a pandemic brings. Even if there are new lockdowns, they can use the experiences 2020 required to continue to serve seniors. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Lieke van Heumen and Samantha Koehler. We'll learn about: Challenges for the Aging Services Network Nutrition and Social Isolation Policy Solutions Lieke’s Next Steps in her Career after completing the Health and Aging Policy Fellowship Part One of ‘Policy Lessons from COVID with Lieke van Heumen and Samantha Koehler’ The Aging Services Network consists of the agencies, programs, and activities supported by the Older Americans Act that help older adults who live in the community be healthy and have the social engagement they need. Some states only have a state unit on aging; they don't have an Area Agency on Aging in each county. If you are unsure if your county has an Area Agency on Aging (AAA), use the Eldercare Locator website to connect with the nearest  be available AAA in your area.    In this week’s episode, we discuss the challenges COVID posed for The Aging Services Network and how they responded.     At the start of the pandemic, along with the rest of the country, seniors were asked to stay home to protect themselves and others from the virus. You can imagine how difficult it became for them to access nutritional resources,  home and community-based services, and stay socially connected without being able to leave their homes. During the spring of 2020, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) held a series of roundtables with 52 of the Area Agencies on Aging in Pennsylvania to hear directly from them about their concerns, as they tried to ensure the health and well-being of the seniors they serve. Senator Casey also spoke with the Pennsylvania Council on Aging, an organization of older adults across Pennsylvania designated to inform the Pennsylvania Department of Aging on issues that impact them.    Several different challenges were revealed during these insightful conversations, including the lack of: (1) sufficient COVID testing; (2) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); (3) sufficient staffing of the long-term care workforce; (4) technology for nursing home residents to stay in touch with their family members; and (4) concerns about Ombudsmen not being able to access seniors in congregate settings. These conversations with the AAA’s also revealed the need for flexibility with program funding; flexibility that would allow distribution of funds based on the specific needs of each county. Some expressed concern about older adults’ ability to enroll in Medicare because of the closure of some of the Social Security offices, and about delays in receiving care due to the stay at home orders. Many AAA’s shared concerns about older adults’ increased mental health needs due to  increased loneliness, social isolation, and anxiety. And finally, they shared that many more older adults were requesting home-delivered meals than before the pandemic.  “We saw a boom in older Americans requiring nutrition assistance.” — Samantha Koehler, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging COVID has impacted access to nutrition for many older adults in this country. How has the aging services network responded? Prior to COVID, seniors have long relied on a patchwork of federally funded nutrition programs to meet their needs. And yet food security has long persisted, even with this patchwork of programs administered out of the Administration for Community Living and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Due to the pandemic, even small changes in access to and availability of nutritious meals can put the health and well-being of older adults in jeopardy. Millions of seniors across the country are served each year by senior nutrition programs, particularly the home-delivered meal program. Many of us know this program as Meals on Wheels America. The home-delivered meal program and  the congregate meal program are authorized by the Older Americans Act. Many seniors are also served by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (senior food box program). These are all authorized programs under the Farm Bill and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  In March, when COVID-19 hit, there was a boom in older Americans requiring nutrition assistance. As part of both the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act which were passed in March, Senator Casey championed over a billion dollars in funding for programs authorized under the Older Americans Act, including a significant increase in funding for home-delivered meals and congregate meal programs. The Area Agencies on Aging have used that funding to serve increasing numbers of seniors in need of nutritious foods. But most importantly, that legislation also included flexibility for Area Agencies on Aging to designate individuals who usually attended senior centers for congregate meals as eligible for home-delivered meals.  Senator Casey has also been advocating for expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. When the pandemic started, we began hearing from older Pennsylvanians who are SNAP recipients that although they had SNAP benefits, they were not able to use them because they were afraid and unable to leave their homes to go to the grocery store. Many people relied on grocery delivery during the initial phases of the pandemic. Yet, for low-income seniors who utilize SNAP there were limited options to have their groceries delivered. Throughout the pandemic's summer months, there was an expansion of the SNAP online purchasing program that Senator Casey had been pushing for. This allowed some individuals to receive grocery deliveries using their SNAP card. But additional barriers remain. Senator Casey has continued to call on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase access to SNAP grocery delivery by including additional retailers and purchasing options.  We have come a long way in the past seven months. However, we have a long way to go to make sure that seniors continue to have access to nutrition and that the Area Agencies on Aging and the SNAP program can continue to serve seniors as the pandemic unfortunately continues. Part Two of ‘Policy Lessons from COVID with Lieke van Heumen and Samantha Koehler’ Social isolation and loneliness are something that is experienced at very high rates in the older population and has worsened because of the pandemic. This has caused a lot of concern for the mental and physical health of older adults, and will probably have a long-term impact. Senator Casey co-sponsored the ACCESS Act with Senator Klobuchar (S. 3517), the purpose of this Act is to facilitate virtual visits for those who live in nursing homes. This fall, Senator Casey also published a report: ‘Reimagining Aging in America:  Blueprint to Create Health and Economic Security for Older Adults. This report explores how the pandemic has impacted seniors and offers policy solutions to address the inequities of aging in America. Preventing social isolation and loneliness is an important focus in the report. Some policy solutions that need to be enacted to alleviate social isolation and loneliness in seniors include giving Area Agencies on Aging and senior centers the tools and the funding that they need to implement virtual programming and support seniors to participate in small group activities. Another priority is expanding Internet access and increasing access to phones and tablets, which can partly be accomplished through passing the Act.  “Millions of seniors across the country are served each year by senior nutrition programs, particularly the home-delivered meal program.” —  Samantha Koehler, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Moving forward, what are some of the policy solutions that will be required to alleviate the problems older American’s are facing? Access to nutritious foods and social isolation are issues during this pandemic, but those are just two of the many issues seniors are facing at this time. There are also issues related to seniors in terms of keeping economic security during this pandemic, issues related to job loss. We continue to hear from seniors in Pennsylvania and from our Aging Network in Pennsylvania that these issues persist. While they are certainly grateful for the funding and the flexibility they have received so far, this is just a step in the right direction, and we cannot go backward. We need to continue supporting the Aging Network because they are in need, and seniors are in need.  What can the general public do to help? Or, how can individuals volunteer? At the beginning of the pandemic there were some concerns about having less volunteers available since many are older adults themselves. However the influx of volunteers has been overwhelming, particularly from younger individuals like college-age students who were home and physically unable to be on their college campuses. If you are a local business or individual, and you want to donate or volunteer, just giving a call to your local organization that serves seniors is the best thing that you could be doing. It is good to realize that there are ways of volunteering without leaving your home. Samantha highlights the importance of researchers knowing how to speak policy. She says, "I don't think that policy professionals always know how to speak about research. The more researchers that can translate their research into short, easy to consume pieces of information for policy professionals, the more likely we will consume that research. By having Lieke as a fellow, and the other fellows that we've had on the committee, just spreading the word of how to better communicate with policy with individuals in the policy sphere is so important." About Dr. Lieke van Heumen, PhD Dr. Lieke van Heumen is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research expertise is aging of adults with lifelong disabilities, specifically intellectual and developmental disabilities. She holds a PhD in Disability Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She received both her undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology with a specialization in gerontology from the Radboud University in the Netherlands. Before moving to Chicago, she worked as a direct support professional and later as a psychologist in several Dutch group homes for older individuals with intellectual disabilities. She is a 2019-2020 American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow and 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow. About Samantha Koehler, MSW, MPH Samantha Koehler is a Senior Policy Aide for Ranking Member Bob Casey of the U.S. Senate Special Committee of Aging. Her current work focuses on the intersection of aging and health policy, including the Older Americans Act, rural health, and Medicare access and affordability. Previously, Samantha served as a direct practice social worker. As a Care Manager for older adults, she focused on long-term care planning and access to health care and social services. Samantha has her MSW and MPH from the University of Michigan. About Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FGSA, FAAN I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (‘96) and Master of Science in Nursing (‘00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I truly enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home and office visits) then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my PhD in Nursing and a post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing (’11) and then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the faculty at George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor where I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health and Humanities. Find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Louis Greenstein is the author of the 2014 novel Mr. Boardwalk (New Door Books) and the co-writer of One Child Born: The Music of Laura Nyro, a one-woman cabaret featuring collaborator Kate Ferber that had critically acclaimed productions at the New York Musical Festival, A.R.T.'s second stage Oberon Theater, and Joe's Pub at the Public Theatre as well as a successful east coast tour. Louis has written for Nickelodeon's EMMY-winning show Rugrats and he was commissioned to write two children’s plays for New Jersey’s Stageworks touring company. A recipient of a Pennsylvania Council of the Arts playwriting fellowship, Louis’s one-act plays, Smoke, Interview with a Scapegoat, and The Convert were commissioned by Theatre Ariel, published by Dramatic Publishing and produced many times in the U.S. and abroad. He is the co-author of the critically acclaimed With Albert Einstein, a one-man show about the great scientist that featured Don Auspitz and has been performed at the Walnut Street Theater, Princeton University, and in schools and science museums around the nation. His short stories have been included in Margins Magazine and Philadelphia Stories and presented by the award-winning performance series, Writing Aloud. Louis is also a freelance magazine writer whose articles about popular culture, history, public health, medicine, nursing, business, and technology have appeared in publications including Philadelphia Magazine, Wharton Magazine, the University of Miami Medicine Magazine, and Penn Nursing. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As National Recovery Month continues, we're joined on the Behavioral Corner by Sara Thompson of the S.E. Pennsylvania Council. Sara describes the council's extensive behavioral health services and her personal story of addiction and recovery.

Karl Blischke, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, speaking about the agency and about the state of the arts in the Commonwealth--before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. There will be a free webinar on reopening safely on July 15, 2020, presented by the PCA and the PA Humanities Council. www.arts.pa.gov/

Emmy-winning composer, director & photographer Emmai Alaquiva joins host Grant Oliphant to discuss the role of art in fighting “the radical particles that have been dropped in our laps” by the COVD-19 crisis, & protests brought on by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, who were later fired.   Emmai is CEO of the media production entity Ya Momz House, which has produced work for clients such as Wiz Khalifa, The Roots, Martha Stewart, and NBC. He serves on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and is a dedicated husband and father with an impressive social media presence.   His photography is front and center in his ongoing Optic Voices project, which has opened eyes to race relations, equity movements, oppression, homophobia and xenophobia. Emmai and his camera have been working especially hard during these past few months, creating a record of life during COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement.   Emmai is a positive force who is using his art and voice to expose truths during historically trying times. Hear about the recent photo that moved him most, why “it’s OK to not be OK” during times like this, and what he’ll tell his kids when they ask, “What did you do?”   We’ll be back later this summer with the debut of Season 3 of “We Can Be,” but in the meantime, join host Grant Oliphant for “Stronger than This,” a special podcast series of candid conversations about COVID-19. You’ll hear from those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic as they share first-hand experiences, challenges, victories, and what they see for the long road ahead. Recorded remotely — with a quick turnaround time from recording to release and minimal editing — these episodes give a unique, unvarnished opportunity for deeper insight into the current crisis.   The “Stronger than This” series is hosted by Heinz Endowments President Grant Oliphant, and produced by the Endowments and Treehouse Media. Theme music by Josh Slifkin; guest image by Joshua Franzos. Guest inquiries can be made to Scott Roller at sroller@heinz.org.  

Erica Shames, founder and publisher of Susquehanna Life Magazine, initially had doubts about releasing the Summer 2020 issue. She recognized the disruption the Coronavirus lockdown caused for advertisers and for businesses that sold the magazine. Then she began to hear from readers and subscribers who expressed how important the magazine has been for them. In this episode of Susquehanna Life Out Loud podcast Erica explains to her co-host Peterson Toscano, "We have a role to play here," and that is to uplift and to provide a positive way to look at the region and at life. We also give readers information to make their lives more enjoyable.In the Summer 2020 edition of the magazine, Jennifer Pencek writes about a group of women who are breaking ground by getting into the water. In our show, Jennifer chats with Peterson Toscano about the growing fly fishing phenomenon drawing women in the region to the sport. The is in large part due to the work of the Women, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  The committee is the result of partnerships with the state Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, and local organizations with the shared goal to connect diverse populations to fly fishing and waterway conservation efforts. They offer a special training program: Intro to Fly Fishing for Women.  As a result of working on this story, Jennifer sees a wonderful connection between people who enjoy outdoor activities and their efforts to conserve the wild spaces they love. Fly fishing enthusiast, Jamie SanFillipo, trains guides people in the sport through her own business, The American Fly Fishing Company. She explains the many benefits and joys of fly fishing, as she outlines the basics a beginner will need to get started. She answers questions about the cost of the sport, safety when fishing alone, and even where you can borrow free equipment. Both Jennifer Pencek and Jamie SanFilippo outline factors that have kept women and girls from taking up outdoor sports like fishing. They also tell us what we can do to foster gender diversity and equity in the great outdoors. Kendra Aucker, President and CEO of Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania chats with Peterson Toscano about the Covid-19 pandemic and what we can do to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and fellow community members. She stresses the importance of wearing masks as part of the overall plan. Like everyone else, her life has been turned upside down by the lockdown, and she shares some of her own strategies for when she hasn’t been able to go out and see family and friends. She also tells us about her favorite Corona comfort foods. Food lovers will learn about two opportunities to sample authentic dishes. You will hear about Kavkaz Restaurant, a truck stop off I-80 in Logantown, PA close to Jersey Shore. They specialize in preparing food from the Caucasus region including Georgian, Armenian, and Russian cuisine. What do they offer?  Homemade Khachapuri bread, which you can get with melted cheese and an egg in the center. They have stews and soup, including the most hearty borscht you may ever encounter. Meatballs with homemade mash potatoes is a favorite with the many people who left positive reviews on Yelp. They also serve Greek salad and various potato and vegetable dishes.In Sunbury, PA, writer Glen Retief, associate professor of creative writing at Susquehanna University, celebrates a local delicacy and tells us all about the annual Sunbury Sandwich Stroll organized by Sunbury Revitalization Inc. In addition to explaining how the sandwich stroll works, and how it has been received, Glen also reveals the peculiar incident that led up to the popular event.Almost four years ago our host, Peterson Toscano, a resident out on an early morning walk, saw that someone plastered Sunbury's Market Street with racist and anti-immigrate posters. The posters warned that Sunbury residents were being replaced by outsiders. Peterson spent the next few days walking around town wondering what Sunbury residents value and that we can boost and share with others. Turns out the sandwich, in one form or another, is king in Sunbury with nearly 20 shops within walking distance. Peterson's reflections led to the wildly successful sandwich stroll. The third annual Sandwich Stroll is scheduled for June 27. Check the Sunbury Revitalization Facebook page for the latest information.    From the Toscano family recipe files Peterson shares Mom's Homemade Raw Tomato Sauce. Hear about an absolutely delicious dish that is incredibly easy to make. You will hear all this and more in the latest episode of Susquehanna Life Out Loud.  Susquehanna Life Out Loud is the companion podcast to Susquehanna Life Magazine. You will find a full transcript of this episode and listings of previous episodes on our show notes page. You can hear our podcast on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Stitcher Radio. Let us know where you hear podcasts, and we will submit our show to that platform. See a listing of where you can buy our magazine and find out about subscription options. Do you want to be a sponsor of Susquehanna Life Magazine? Find out about advertising options. For questions, comments, suggestions, and recommendations, you can reach us at SusquehannaLife@gmail.comThis episode of Susquehanna Life Out Loud is brought to you by the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership. The LDP supports downtown businesses and the commercial district. They are responsible for beloved Lewisburg events: like the Heart of Lewisburg Ice Festival, Fall Festival, Late Night Shopping in December and more. The LDP thanks everyone who have been supporting downtown Lewisburg. They want you to know that Many Lewisburg stores are open to shoppers--almost all offer curbside pickup and delivery. This include the many fantastic restaurants.For the most up-to-date information, visit their Facebook page. 

Trapeta B. Mayson is the city of Philadelphia’s current Poet Laureate. She reads her poetry widely and works extensively facilitating poetry and creative writing workshops. Her work sheds light on and honors the immigrant experience as well as amplifies the stories of everyday people.    She is a recipient of a Pew Fellowship in Literature, Leeway Transformation Award, Leeway Art and Change Grant and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Grants. Her work was also nominated for a 2016 Pushcart Prize. She is a Cave Canem and Callaloo Fellow and a 2019 Aspen Words Emerging Writer’s Fellow with the  Aspen Institute. She is the author of She Was Once Herself and Mocha Melodies.  Trapeta also released two music and poetry projects, SCAT and This Is How We Get Through, in collaboration with internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist, Monnette Sudler. Her other publications include submissions in The American Poetry Review, Epiphany Literary Journal, Aesthetica Magazine, Margie: The American Journal of Poetry among others

Ep. 88: Robert Aldridge, composer Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan GRAMMY®-winning composer Robert Livingston Aldridge (1954, Richmond,VA) has written over sixty works for orchestra, opera, music-theater, voice, dance, string quartet, solo and chamber ensembles. His music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe and Japan and Australia. He has received numerous fellowships and awards for his music from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Massachusetts Artist's Foundation, the Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Fund, Meet the Composer, The American Symphony Orchestra League, the New Jersey Council on the Arts and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. In this podcast we talk about his approach to composing, commissions, revisions and music education. Aldridge also talks about his journey from an English literature student to an award winning career in music. Lastly, he talks about his father as an inspirational figure, gives advice to young composers and what it means to be a successful composer. For more information about Robert Aldridge please visit his official website: http://www.robertlivingstonaldridge.com/index.php   © Off The Podium, 2020

PART I - AUTHOR, RANDALL SILVIS joins Susan Wingate for Episode 6 of 7 on Dialogue's Expert Panel on Writing & Publishing series for Dialogue's 10-Year Anniversary! Randall Silvis is the multi-genre author of twenty critically acclaimed novels, story collections, and a book of creative nonfiction named a Best of the Year book by the Toronto Globe & Mail. He was the first Pennsylvanian to win the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize (1984), and was chosen for that award by author Joyce Carol Oates. His work has been published in over a hundred editions in several languages. The recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships, a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award, and six writing fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for his fiction, drama, and screenwriting, Silvis received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 1988, and in 2001 received the same honor from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2007 IUP bestowed upon him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for “a sustained record of distinguished literary achievement.” Also a prize-winning playwright and produced screenwriter, Randall's work has appeared on Best of the Year lists from the New York Times, the Toronto Globe & Mail, SfSite.com, Strand magazine, and the International Association of Crime Writers, and has been hailed as “masterful” not only by the New York Times Book Review but also by Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Mystery Scene magazine, and several other review sources. His two novels from 2017, (Two Days Gone and Only the Rain) were Amazon #1 Bestsellers in Psychological Suspense. Website: www.RandallSilvis.com

After a break for Christmas and New Year's Eves, the Rattlecast returns with an episode featuring another frequent contributor, Barbara Crooker, and her new book Some Glad Morning. Barbara Crooker is the author of nine books of poetry, most recently The Book of Kells (which won the Best Poetry Book 2018 Award from Poetry by the Sea) and Some Glad Morning (Pitt Poetry Series). Her first book, Radiance, won the 2005 Word Press First Book Award and was finalist for the 2006 Paterson Poetry Prize; Line Dance, her second book, won the 2009 Paterson Award for Excellence in Literature. Crooker is a poetry editor for Italian Americana and has received a number of awards, including the WB Yeats Society of New York Award, the Thomas Merton Poetry of the Sacred Award, and three Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Creative Writing Fellowships. Her work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Find Barbara's books at: https://barbaracrooker.com/books.php Prologue: “Morir Soñando” by Martín Espada https://www.rattle.com/morir-sonando-by-martin-espada/ Luis Garden Acosta Legacy Fund at El Puente: https://www.classy.org/campaign/luis-garden-acosta-legacy-fund/c242344

To be sent a heart of gratitude is one of the wishes on this birthday. Barbara Crooker is a poetry editor for Italian Americana, and author of nine full-length books of poetry; The Book of Kells (Cascade Books, 2018) won the Best Poetry Book 2018 Award from Poetry by the Sea and Some Glad Morning is forthcoming in 2019 in the Pitt Poetry Series.  Her awards include the WB Yeats Society of New York Award, the Thomas Merton Poetry of the Sacred Award, and three Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Creative Writing Fellowships. Her work appears in a variety of anthologies, including Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania, and The Bedford Introduction to Literature.  

Even though the world is a crazy place, it's all we have, listen to find the good. Barbara Crooker is a poetry editor for Italian Americana, and author of nine full-length books of poetry; The Book of Kells (Cascade Books, 2018) won the Best Poetry Book 2018 Award from Poetry by the Sea and Some Glad Morning is forthcoming in 2019 in the Pitt Poetry Series.  Her awards include the WB Yeats Society of New York Award, the Thomas Merton Poetry of the Sacred Award, and three Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Creative Writing Fellowships. Her work appears in a variety of anthologies, including Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania, and The Bedford Introduction to Literature.  

Hear all about SPARK Saturday, an event sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind to light the fire in anyone impacted by vision loss. Features guest speakers all of whom are Peers Challenging beliefs! Including yours truly kicking off the event! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast or your favorite podcast app. follow @tsreid on twitter

In this episode, I interview Michael Hollinger, who is a successful playwright based in Philadelphia. We dive into his exciting journey in the arts, the complexities involved in creating dynamic characters for the stage, as well as the importance of human relationships. Be sure to check out Michael's website and learn more about his work at http://michaelhollinger.com/ Michael Hollinger’s plays include Under the Skin, Opus, Ghost-Writer, Tooth and Claw, Red Herring, Incorruptible, An Empty Plate in the Café Du Grand Boeuf, and the musical TouchTones (co-authored with composer Robert Maggio), all of which premiered at Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre Company and have variously been produced around the U.S., in New York City, and abroad (London, Paris, Tokyo, Athens, Poland and Slovenia). Plays premiered elsewhere include: Hope and Gravity at Pittsburgh’s City Theatre; Cyrano (translated, and co-adapted with Aaron Posner) at Washington’s Folger Theatre; Sing the Body Electric at Philadelphia’s Theatre Exile, and the musical A Wonderful Noise (co-authored with Vance Lehmkuhl) at Creede Rep. Awards include an ATCA/Steinberg New Play Citation, an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award, a Mid-Atlantic Emmy, four Barrymore Awards, nominations for Lucille Lortel and John Gassner awards, and multiple fellowships from the Independence Foundation and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Michael is a Professor of Theatre at Villanova University, Artistic Director of Villanova Theatre, and a proud alumnus of New Dramatists. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/relate-patrick-mcandrew/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/relate-patrick-mcandrew/support

Jack Israel is a former tax accountant turned full-time poet. His work has appeared in American Poetry Review, The Beloit Poetry Journal, Cream City Review, River City, Courtland Review, Recours au Poeme, Southern Poetry, and others. He is also half of the blogging team Yaakov Murchadha. He has been nominated for a Pushcart prize, and has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. He lives in Berwyn, PA. On the Edge is a production of Cleaver Magazine and is produced by Ryan Evans. Visit cleavermagazine.com for more high quality art and literary work.

Mel and Lisa discuss recent experiences, both as a caregiver and a patient. Lisa mentions a book, available from Bookshare and other sources. It is called Advance Directives, and deals with a number of end-of-life and healthcare decisions. Mel discusses the Five Wishes document, which can help individuals clarify their options. They also discuss two helpful resources. The first is an article from AccessWorld: Advocating for Yourself in an Emergency Medical Situation. The second was developed by the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind’s Information Access Committee and is designed primarily for individuals to share with medical staff. The document consists of Best Practices for Healthcare Professionals with Patients who are Visually Impaired. We welcome your feedback or questions! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and our BlindAlive Community on Facebook. Be the first to know of new and exclusive promotions by Subscribing to our Newsletter. For more information on Eyes-Free Fitness® Workouts go to www.BlindAlive.com

In this episode, you’ll hear a talk by Laura Ellsworth, Jones Day’s first Partner-in-Charge of Global Community Service Initiatives, on leadership through service. If I had to sum up who Laura Ellsworth is, I would say that she is the definition of a world changer. Before Laura spoke at our breakfast, I sent her a list of leadership challenges that I’ve collected from the leaders in our L3 community. She looked them over and said that she would cover every single one of the challenges in her 30 minute talk. She did! In her talk, you’ll hear Laura share 5 stories that changed her life and could have a huge impact on yours. Enjoy! To see the notes and ways to connect with Laura Ellsworth, go to the show notes at L3Leadership.org/episode145. Laura Ellsworth’s Bio: Laura Ellsworth is Jones Day’s first Partner-in-Charge of Global Community Service Initiatives, spearheading the Firm’s rule of law initiatives around the world. In her litigation practice, she has handled landmark public nuisance cases, multijurisdictional product liability matters, the largest health care bankruptcy of its time, and nationwide qui tam cases. Laura’s commercial litigation work repeatedly has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers, and Super Lawyers, and she was named one of Pennsylvania’s top female litigators by the Legal Intelligencer. She served on the Local Rules Advisory Committee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and in 2013-2014 was co-chair of the Federal Judicial Selection Committee for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She served as Partner-in-Charge of the Pittsburgh Office from 2003 to 2015. Laura is active in civic and community affairs, serving on the board and executive committee of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and chair of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Youth Policy Council, vice-chair of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, and past chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council. She was named by Governor Rendell as one of the Top Businesswomen in Pennsylvania and was appointed by Governor Corbett to serve on the boards of the Pennsylvania State System for Higher Education, the Pennsylvania Council on Privatization and Innovation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. She also serves on the boards of Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation (leading their $100 million global campaign), Imani Christian Academy, the Heinz History Center, F.N.B Corporation, Waynesburg University, The Duquesne Club, the McCune Foundation, and the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics. She previously served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Economy League, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, the Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Neighborhood Legal Services. She also serves on many advisory boards, including A+ Schools and the Chatham Center for Women in Politics. Laura has taught law classes in inner-city schools and conducted two Lawyers Without Borders programs in Nairobi, Kenya, before lawyers, prosecutors, and judges. Laura’s civic contributions have been recognized in the 2013 CCAC Educational Foundation Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2013 ATHENA Award, the 2014 Pittsburgh Business Times BusinessWomen First Award, the 2014 Pennsylvania Diversity Council’s Most Powerful & Influential Women Award, the 2016 Carlow University’s Women of Spirit Award, the 2016 Legal Intelligencer‘s Lifetime Achievement Award, and named a 2017 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America. In 2015 she was named #20 among the 50 Most Powerful People in Pittsburgh. Connect with L3 Leadership: Website: L3Leadership.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/l3-leadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/L3Leader Twitter: @L3leader Instagram: @l3leadership Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/l3leadership)