Podcasts about welcome center

In this week's episode of Hello West Chester, host Cara Corridoni discusses the latest in West Chester news including zoning code proposed changes, WCASD approves its 2025-2026 budget and a new county Welcome Center in the Chester County History Center.

 Is Your Welcome Center Welcoming?   Don't assume your church is good at welcoming guests. Designate a welcome area and keep it highly visible. Get volunteers who will make welcoming a passion. Train your volunteers regularly. Announce your welcome area during the service. Gather only essential information. Follow up as quickly as possible.

To make the beauty and grandeur of nature accessible to everyone, Bartram's Garden teamed up with a local audio describer and visually impaired accessibility consultant to produce audio descriptions of three gardens on their grounds. Join White Canes Connect contributor Simon Bonenfant, as he speaks with audio describer Beth Feldman Brant, along with Accessibility Coach Charmaine Parrish, about everything you need to know as part of this exciting initiative! Recorded audio descriptions include a Know Before you Go, detailing an introduction and orientation to the Welcome Center, Ann Bartram Carr Garden, the Historic Bartram House, and the Common Flower Garden. You can access the recordings here. https://www.bartramsgarden.org/audio-descriptions/ The audio descriptions will be debuted at the upcoming Bartram's Garden Spring Fest on Saturday, April 19. The fest runs from 10:00 to 2:00 PM, with the audio description portion from 12:30 to 1:30. Here is a description of what to expect.  “As part of Bartram's Garden's SpringFest event, join Beth Feldman Brandt and Charmaine Parrish for a guided walking tour featuring their new audio descriptions of select areas of the Garden, including the Ann Bartram Carr Garden, the Historic Bartram House, and the Common Flower Garden.  After we tour together using the recorded descriptions, you are invited to share refreshments and community, and to give feedback on the experience.  Friends and family are also welcome!  Note that while this tour is designed for safe navigation by people with visual impairments, exploring other areas of the Gardens is best done with a sighted companion. Registration is encouraged but not required. Register at https://www.bartramsgarden.org/event/audio-description-tour/.  Light refreshments will be served. In the event of inclement weather, this tour will be rescheduled for Saturday, May 10 at 10 AM. These audio descriptions were provided by Beth Feldman Brandt and Charmaine Parrish as part of the Sowing Excellence Awards, a collaboration of the IDEA Center for Public Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden. We are also grateful for the expertise of  Sarah Pharaon as well as staff members Mandy Katz and Emily Constantino in supporting the creation of these audio descriptions.” Those wishing to utilize the service should prepare to bring their mobile device and, if preferred, headphones for the best listening experience. After the 19th, anyone is welcome to come to the specified gardens and listen to the audio descriptions whenever the gardens are open! You can learn more about the project by reading the following article.  https://www.bartramsgarden.org/new-tools-for-garden-visitors-with-low-vision-created-by-local-accessibility-advocate-and-philly-poet/  To contact Bartram's Garden, give them a call at: (215) 729-5281 or send them an email at: info@bartramsgarden.org To contact Beth, go to https://www.brandtwords.com/aboutcontact.html. To contact Charmaine, send her an email at Hi@ABLEphilly.com.    Interested in receiving the most up-to-date information about monthly audio described offerings? Send an email to adlearningnetwork@gmail.com to be added to their monthly newsletter! Have you attended an audio-described event before or have comments about this upcoming event? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at: 267-338-4495 or send us an email at: whitecanesconnect@gmail.com Like what you hear from White Canes Connect? Please support the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania at https://www.nfbofpa.org/give/.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Monday, March 10, 2025. A major offroading trail expansion is expected to boost outdoor recreation and tourism in Eastern Kanawha County…the quirky draw of George Washington's Bath Tub attracts travelers to Berkeley Springs…and the Parkersburg CVB's new welcome center brings an increase in visitors …on today's daily304. #1 – From WV NEWS – A major outdoor recreation project in Eastern Kanawha County is poised to transform the area into a premier destination for off-road enthusiasts.  The Appalachian Outlaw Trails is adding more than 2,000 acres of trails designed for ATVs, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, and full-size vehicles like Jeeps and trucks. This expansion aims to attract tourists and outdoor adventurers from West Virginia and the entire East Coast. Currently featuring 25 miles of trails in the Upper Kanawha Valley, AOT has ambitious plans to double this mileage. The goal is to develop one of the most extensive off-roading parks in the nation, covering over 100,000 acres in the long term. The ultimate plan is to develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation resort complete with cabins, a concert venue, mountain biking trails, hiking paths, horseback riding areas, and clay shooting venues.  The Kanawha County Commission is collaborating with AOT on this multi-phase project, with the initial focus on developing trails in the Quincy area. Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/appalachian-outlaw-trails-expansion-to-boost-outdoor-recreation-and-tourism-in-eastern-kanawha-county/article_47e734c2-efdf-11ef-97b1-eba9e921ec94.html   #2 – From HIGHBROW MAGAZINE – Many historical sites in the U.S. have monuments and other remembrances of Founding Father and President George Washington. But of all the George Washington showcases, this reporter's favorite is a national park in the small town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. That's where America's first president was said to bathe in an open-air brick tub that reads, not surprisingly, “George Washington's Bath Tub.” It was filled with warm natural mineral spring water emanating from the surrounding mountainous countryside. What makes traveling to Berkeley Springs most enticing is that we can join, at least figuratively, Washington in sitting in a large indoor bathtub that can easily accommodate two bathers and is filled with 104-degree mineral water. It's situated in what's called the Old Roman Bath House at Berkeley Springs State Park. Read more: https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/25207-visit-george-washington-s-bath-tub-berkeley-springs   #3 – From NEWS & SENTINEL – The Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau continues to see more people at its Welcome Center in Parkersburg to inform people about what attractions and accommodations are available in the area. The Welcome Center, which opened in April 2022 after relocating to 113 Ann St., has continually seen more people each year, CVB President and CEO Mark Lewis said. The bureau and Lewis won the Excellence in Tourism Development award at the 2025 Hospitality University conference held Jan. 26-28 at the Greenbrier. The increase in tourism has enabled them to double the attendance at the Oil and Gas Museum and at Henderson Hall, while the main draw continues to be Blennerhasset Island Historical State Park. Read more: https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/business/2025/03/greater-parkersburg-cvb-president-reports-rise-in-tourist-stops/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Today Kara Noonan Stevens joins the show to share her experiences on staff in the 90s and on staff last summer at the Welcome Center.  She describes the Welcome Center as "Philmont's Front Porch."  It's where all crews begin their Philmont journey, and hence makes an important first impression.  It's also a place where Welcome center staff can work hard and be able to relax enough to realize that its a good thing to not always be busy or hurried.  That you in fact can sit and watch the world go by.Episode Sponsor: Tom MunchPhilmont Experience1990 - Ranger / Rayado / Mountain Trek / Rent-A-Ranger1991 - Training Ranger1992 - CD Dan Beard1993 - CD Crooked CreekNotable Mentions:Steve HoodJenny McMannCindy WerhaneTerri HeimernJohn and Jenny CraigBuddy MorseBryce StevensEllwyn StevensTim RosseisenNick BlissTom MunchSupport the show

In a time when support for immigrant communities is more crucial than ever, one Indiana organization is stepping up to provide resources and guidance. Recent executive orders from President Donald Trump and another from Indiana Gov. Mike Braun requiring state police to assist federal authorities when asked has left immigrants scrambling for help.Maria Yuquilima, marketing and communications manager at the Immigrant Welcome Center, said, “The need has increased, the emotions have increased as well, so we serve the community the best way we can.”Support from the local community and understanding is what the immigrant population needs most right now.Resources also include rides to important meetings, hotel stays, and access to food or legal services.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Thrill seekers rejoice as Harpers Ferry prepares to open its first bungee jumping site…the WVDOT is seeking community groups to provide safety breaks at the I-64 Welcome Center near White Sulphur Springs…and Southern Living magazine recommends Harpers Ferry as one of the best train trips in the South…on today's daily304. #1 – From LOOTPRESS – Harpers Ferry will soon be home to a groundbreaking attraction as The Great Bungee Company prepares to open the first quarry-based bungee jumping site in the United States. Set to debut in Spring 2025, this venue will also be the only bungee jumping site on the Eastern Seaboard. The site, located in the historic Old Standard Quarry near the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, is adjacent to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It will feature a cutting-edge cantilevered jump tower, offering jumpers breathtaking views of a Civil War battlefield. For an added thrill, participants will have the option to experience a water-dip jump, a unique feature in U.S. bungee jumping. The venue is partnering with River Riders, a local rafting company. Read more: https://www.lootpress.com/americas-first-quarry-based-bungee-jump-to-open-in-west-virginia-next-year/   #2 – From WVDOT – District 9 of the West Virginia Department of Transportation is accepting applications for nonprofit organizations to provide Safety Breaks at its Interstate 64 Welcome Center near White Sulphur Springs.   Qualifying groups will provide small pre-wrapped baked goods and coffee to promote safety during high-traffic holidays throughout the year.  Groups must be nonprofit with identifiable safety programs targeting bicycle, automotive, pedestrian, ATV, or other transportation, or participate in the Adopt-A-Highway Program.   The deadline for calendar year 2025 applications is March 31, 2025. Read more: https://transportation.wv.gov/communications/PressRelease/Pages/WVDOT_accepting_applications_to_provide_safety_breaks_at_I64_Welcome_Center_near_White_Sulphur_Springs.aspx   #3 – From SOUTHERN LIVING – With Amtrak routes that crisscross across the South, vacationing by train is easier, more affordable, and more accessible than ever. In West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, Harpers Ferry is one of nine spectacular Southern cities that you won't want to miss on your next stop. Less than two hours from Washington, D.C. by train, the area known as Lower Town offers an array of traditional bed and breakfasts just a short walk downhill from the train station. The town is home to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the Appalachian Trail Headquarters. Its downtown offers quirky shops, breweries, pubs and cafes that overlook the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers where Maryland and Virginia meet West Virginia.  Read more: https://www.southernliving.com/train-trips-in-south-8767706   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

This show has been flagged as Explicit by the host. Greetings and welcome to Hacker Public Radio. My name is Peter Paterson, also known as SolusSpider, a Scotsman living in Kentucky, USA. This is my second HPR recording. The first was episode 4258 where I gave my introduction and computer history. Once again I am recording the audio on my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra phone, running Android 14, with Audio Recorder by Axet. The app was installed from F-Droid. Markdown For my Shownotes I learned to use Markdown by using the ReText app, which allows me to write in one window and preview the result in another. What is this show about? When I visited Archer72, AKA Mark Rice, in November 2024 in his University of Kentucky trauma room I reminded him that I work for God's Pantry Food Bank. He said he wanted to hear more, and highly suggested that I record the story as an HPR show, so here we are. I plan to ask the questions I hear from so many, and attempt to answer them as best I am able. What is the History of God's Pantry Food Bank? Reading directly from the About-Us page of Godspantry.org Mim Hunt, the founder of God's Pantry Food Bank, vowed to leave "the heartbreaking profession of social work" behind when she returned to her hometown of Lexington after serving as a child welfare worker in 1940's New York City. She and her husband, Robert, opened "Mim's," a combination gift shop, antique gallery, and health food store, but after seeing poverty in Lexington that rivaled what she'd fought against in New York, she found herself unable to remain silent. Mim began her work in Lexington by filling her station wagon with food, clothing, and bedding, and distributing it directly to individuals in need. Soon, neighbors were bringing food donations to what became known as "Mim's Pantry" located at her home on Lexington's Parkers Mill Road. But Mim quickly corrected them. "I don't fill these shelves," she said. "God does. This is God's Pantry." God's Pantry Food Bank was born out of this work in 1955 and remained mobile until the first pantry was opened in 1959. Since its founding, the food bank has grown in many ways. What started with one woman attempting to do what she could to address a need is now an organization serving 50 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky through a number of programs with a dedicated staff committed to the mission of solving hunger. Mim Hunt devoted her life to helping others, and we continue to honor her legacy at God's Pantry Food Bank. Her work is proof that one person, with every small action, can make a large impact. We invite you to join us in continuing Mim's work. Where have been the locations of the main Food Bank facility? My ex-workmate Robert Srodulski recently wrote a reply in Facebook when our newest building was announced. He stated: "If I count right, this is the 6th main warehouse location in Lexington. Congratulations! > Mim's house and car Oldham Avenue garage A building next to Rupp Arena (which is now gone) Forbes Road Jaggie Fox Way, Innovation Drive." My friend Robert was employed by the Food Bank for 26 years. I am chasing his time as the longest lasting male employee. Two ladies have longer service times: Debbie Amburgey with 36.5 years in our Prestonsburg facility. She started on 19th October 1987. Sadly my good friend Debbie passed earlier this year, and I miss her greatly. She never retired. Danielle Bozarth with currently just under 30 years. She started on 30th May 1995. It would take me just over 11 years to catch up with Debbie's service record, which would take me to the age of 68. Unsure if I shall still be employed by then! What exactly do I mean by Food Bank? In February 2023 I wrote a blog post with my explanation of Food Bank. My website is LinuxSpider.net, and you will find the direct link in the shownotes. The blog was written as a response to friends, mostly from the United Kingdom, asking me very this question. To many there, and indeed here in USA also, what is called a Food Bank is what I call a local Food Pantry. Nobody is wrong here at all. We all gather food from various sources and distribute it to our neighbours who are in food insecure need. Most Pantries are totally staffed by volunteers and often open limited hours. The Food Bank has a larger scope in where we source food from, the amount sourced, does have paid staff but still dependent on volunteers, and we are open at least 40 hours a week. More if you include projects that involve evenings and Saturdays. God's Pantry Food Bank has a service area which includes 50 of the 120 Counties of Kentucky, covering central, southern, and eastern, including part of Appalachia. When I started in 1999 we were distributing 6 million pounds weight of food per year. This is about 150 semi-truckloads. Over 25 years later we are looking at distributing about 50 million pounds this year, about 1,250 truckloads. Over 40% of our distribution is fresh produce. We are an hunger relief organisation, so this amount of food is assisting our neighbours in need. In those 50 Counties we have about 400 partner agencies. Many of these agencies are Soup Kitchens, Children's Programs, Senior Programs, as well as Food Pantries. God's Pantry Food Bank is partnered with the Feeding America network of 198 Food Banks. In my early years I knew them as America's Second Harvest. In 2008 they changed name to Feeding America. Their website is FeedingAmerica.org What they do is outlined in their our-work page, including: Ensuring everyone can get the food they need with respect and dignity. Advocating for policies that improve food security for everyone. Partnering to address the root causes of food insecurity, like the high cost of living and lack of access to affordable housing. Working with local food banks and meal programs. Ending hunger through Food Access, Food Rescue, Disaster Response, and Hunger Research. I have visited a few other Food Banks, but not as many as I would have liked. We all have our own areas of service, but do often interact as the needs arise, especially in times of disaster. The Feeding America network came to Kentucky's aid in the past few years with the flooding in the East and tornadoes in the West. Feeding America aided the Food Banks affected by the devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. How did I get started at the Food Bank? As mentioned in my introduction show I moved from Scotland to Kentucky in May 1999 and married Arianna in June 1999. Before our wedding I had received my green card. My future Mother-in-Law Eva recommended I check with God's Pantry Food Bank to see if they were hiring. She was working for Big Lots and had applied for a warehouse job at the Food Bank. Unfortunately for her she never got the job, but she was quite impressed by the organisation. She knew that I had warehouse and driving experience. So, one day after dropping Arianna at her University of Kentucky Medical Staff Office I stopped by the Food Bank on South Forbes Road to ask. The answer was that they were indeed hiring for the warehouse, and to come back that afternoon to meet with CW Drury, the Warehouse Manager. I drove home, put on smarter clothes, and drove back. It was a pleasure meeting CW and hearing about the job. Although most of the explanation of what they did in their mission went over my head at the time, I knew needed a job, and wanted to join this company. A few days before our wedding I received a phone call from CW offering me the position. I accepted and went for my medical the next day. My first day with God's Pantry Food Bank was on Tuesday 6th July 1999, the day after our honeymoon. I will admit that although my previous job in Scotland was a physical one, quite a few months had passed, and the heat was hot that Summer in Kentucky! I went home exhausted everyday, but totally enjoying the work I was doing. I started off mostly picking orders, assisting Agencies that came in, going to the local Kroger supermarkets to pick up bread, deliver and pick up food barrels of donations, and all the other duties CW assigned me to. I particularly enjoyed the software part of the job. I forget the name of the software back then, but do remember learning the 10 digit Item Codes. 1st is the source 2nd and 3rd are the category. There are 31 officially with Feeding America. next 6 is the unique UPC - usually from the item bar code 10th is the storage code of dry, cooler, or freezer The first code I memorised was Bread Products: 1040010731 This broke down to Donated, Bread Category, UPC number, and Dry Storage. I must admit we did not create a new code when we started storing Bread Product in the Cooler. That is probably the only exception It has been my responsibility all these years to maintain the Item Category Code sheet with different codings we have used and had to invent. An example is that when the source digit had already used 1 to 9, we had to start using letters. Although there were concerns at the time, everything worked out well. When I started at South Forbes Road there were 11 employees there and Debbie in Prestonsburg. 12 in total, in 2 locations. These days we have over 80 employees in 5 locations: Lexington, Prestonsburg, London, Morehead, and a Volunteer Center on Winchester Road, Lexington, near the Smuckers JIF Peanut Butter plant. My time at 104 South Forbes Road was for a full 4 weeks! In August 1999 we moved to 1685 Jaggie Fox Way, into a customised warehouse with 3 pallet tall racking, and lots of office space. It felt so large back then! On my first couple of days of unloading trucks there I totally wore out a pair of trainers!! Jaggie Fox does sound like a strange name for a street, but I later learned it came from 2 ladies, Mrs Jaggie and Mrs Fox who owned the land before the business park purchase. Anyway, that's what I have been told by mulitple people. Technology was fun in 1999, as we had a 56K phone modem, about 10 computers, and 1 printer. You can imagine the shared internet speed. I forget how long, but we eventually got DSL, then Cable. What have been my duties at the Food Bank? For my first decade of employment I worked the warehouse and as a driver. This included delivering food to the 4 to 5 local pantries that we ran ourselves in local church buildings in Fayette County. Funny story is that a couple of years into the job, I was approached by the Development Manager and asked if I knew websites and HTML. I informed her that I was familiar, and she made me responsible for the maintenance of the website that University of Kentucky students had created. It indeed was quite basic with only HTML and images. I had this duty for a few years before a professional company was hired. I mentioned Inventory software. In early 2000 we moved to an ERP, that is an Enterprise Resource Planning suite named Navision written by a Danish company. That company was then taken over by Microsoft. For as while it was called Microsoft NAV, and these days it is part of Dynamics 365. Feeding America commissioned a module named CERES which assisted us non-profits to use profit orientated software. Inhouse, we just call the software CERES. Even though I was no longer maintaining the website, I was still involved in IT to a degree. I became the inhouse guy who would set up new employees with their own computer. Ah, the days of Active Directory. I never did like it! I was also the guy the staff came to first with their computer problems. Funny how a lot of these issues were fixed when I walked in their office. If I could not fix an issue there and then, we did have a contract company on-call. They maintained our server and other high level software. This was still when I was in the warehouse role. After that first decade I was allocated to be our Welcome Center person, which I did for 3 years. This involved welcoming agencies, guests, salespersons, volunteers, and assisting other staff members in many ways. I also went from being a driver to the person who handed out delivery and pick-up routes to the drivers. During these years I became a heavy user of CERES working with the agencies and printing out pick-sheets to our warehouse picking staff. Although I really enjoyed the work, I will openly admit that I am not always the best in heavily social situations. I did have some difficulty when the Welcome Center was full of people needing my attention and I was trying to get software and paperwork duties done. Somehow I survived! My next stage of employment was moving into the offices and becoming the assistant to the Operations Director. This is when I really took on the role of food purchaser, ordering fresh produce and food from vendors as part of our budget. I also took over the responsibility of bidding for food donations from the Feeding America portal named Choice. National Donors offer truckloads of food and other items to the network, and we Food Banks bid on them in an allocated share system. The donations are free, but we pay for the truck freight from the shipping locations. A full time IT person was hired. We are now on our 4th IT Manager. The last 2 each had assistants. Although I am grandfathered in as an admin, my duties in this regard are very low, but still have the abity to install software as needed. Quite handy on my own laptop. As well as being the Food Procurement Officer I also became the Reporting Officer. This has been greatly aided by our team receiving the ability to write our own reports from the Navision SQL database using Jet Reporting. This is an Excel extension that allows us to access field data not directly obtainable in the CERES program. The fore-mentioned Robert Srodulski used to spend a day creating a monthly report that included all of our 50 counties across multiple categories of data. He would step by step complete an Excel worksheet with all this information. I took his spreadsheet, converted it into a Jet Report, and it now runs in about 5 minutes! It is my responsibility to supply reports on a regular monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis to my Directors, fellow staff, and to Feeding America. Yes, I do have an orange mug on my desk that says "I submitted my MPR". That is the Monthly Pulse Report. It sits next to my red swingline stapler! What are God's Pantry Food Bank's sources of food? This is probably the question I get asked the most when friends and online contacts find out what I do for a career. We receive and obtain food from various sources, including: Local donations from people like you. Thank you! Local farmers. Local retail companies and other businesses giving food directly to us and to our Partner Agencies. We are the official food charity of many retailers, including Walmart and Kroger. National Companies, mostly through the Feeding America Choice Program. The USDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, supplies us with multiple programs of food: TEFAP (the Emergency Food Assistance Program), CCC (Commodity Credit Corporation), and CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program). Purchased food, including Fresh Produce, via donations and grants. Without all this food coming in, we would not be able to distribute to our internal programs or to our partner agencies, allowing them to run Backpacks for Kids, Food Boxes for Seniors, Food Pantries, Mobile Distributions, Sharing Thanksgiving, and a multitude of other services we offer our neighbours. We have a team of Food Sourcers that work directly with the retail companies, so I am not fully involved there, but I am the main Food Purchaser for the majority of the food we buy. Specialised internal programs like Backpack and local Pantries do order specific foods that they need on a regular basis. I try to supply for the long term. With the USDA CSFP program I am responsible for the ordering of that food through a Government website. Often 6 to 12 months ahead of time. Here's a truth that staggers many people when I inform them: If you are spending cash on food donations to God's Pantry Food Bank, the most efficient use of those funds is to donate it to us. I truly can obtain about $10 worth of food for every $1 given. An example is that I recently obtained a full truckload donation of 40,000lb of Canned Sliced Beets (yum!) that we are paying only freight on. Do the maths. #Where is God's Pantry Food Bank located? As mentioned we have 5 locations, not including our own local pantries, but our main head office is at 2201 Innovation Drive Please check out our webpage at GodsPantry.org/2201innovationdrive as it includes an excellent animated walk-through tour of the offices and warehouse, including the Produce Cooler, Deli Cooler, and Freezer. They are massive! I personally waited until the very last day, Friday 13th of December, to move out of my Jaggie Fox office and into my new one at Innovation. Our official first day was on Monday 16th December 2024. What I tooted and posted on that Friday caught the eye of my CEO, Michael Halligan, and he asked me if he could share it with others. Of course he should! In the Shownotes I have included a link to my Mastodon toot. It's too long a number to read out. I am absolutely loving our new location. It's my challenge to fill the cooler, freezer, and dry warehouse with donated food! My new office is 97% set up to my workflow, including my infamous hanging report boards, and spiders everywhere. The last line of my blog says: All that said, it truly is the only job I have ever had which I absolutely enjoy, but totally wish did not exist!! This remains true. Our mission is: Reducing hunger by working together to feed Kentucky communities. Our vision is: A nourished life for every Kentuckian. #How may HPR listeners support God's Pantry Food Bank The quick answer is to go to our website of GodsPantry.org and click on Take Action. From there you will be given a list to choose from: Donate Food Volunteer Host a Food Drive or Fundraiser Become a Partner Attend an Event Advocate Other Ways to Help Thank you so much for listening to my HPR show on God's Pantry Food Bank. Apart from leaving a comment on the HPR show page, the easiest ways for people to contact me are via Telegram: at t.me/solusspider or Mastodon at @SolusSpider@linuxrocks.online I look forward to hearing from you. Now go forth, be there for your fellow neighbours, and record your own HPR show! … Adding this comment to the Shownotes, that I shall not be speaking aloud. Although I consider this show topic to be Clean, as it is basically about my life and work, not my beliefs, there may be some worldwide who hear the name God's Pantry and consider it to be religious. Therefore I am flagging the show as Explicit. just in case. It is merely the name of our non-profit Food Bank, as called by our founder Mim Hunt. Although the majority of our Partner Agencies are faith based non-profit organisations, the Food Bank itself is not faith based. … Provide feedback on this episode.

Beacon continues partnership with high school class For the third year, students in Erin Haddeland's Participation in Government class at Beacon High School made proposals in November to the City Council on "how to improve Beacon." The council includes $10,000 in its budget each year for the "participatory budgeting" exercise, which, in its first two years, yielded new basketball backboards and rims at South Avenue Park and a water-bottle refilling station at Memorial Park, among other completed projects. This year, City Administrator Chris White recommended during the council's Dec. 9 workshop that the city fund two of the student proposals: the creation of a native garden at Hiddenbrooke Park on Beacon's east side and a "creative" public space for artists. The native garden, proposed by Anabelle Arginsky, Taryn Beardsley and Anastasia Santise, dovetails with the city's partnership with the Pollinator Pathway Working Group to install patches of native flowers and plants at Hiddenbrooke, White said. The city already plans to enhance the gardens there in the spring through seeding and allowing wild flowers to grow in the meadow, with walking paths cut around the perimeter and through the field. White recommended allocating $5,000 to the student proposal for additional plantings, bench areas and other public amenities. He recommended using the remaining $5,000 for Chiara Fedorchak and Kira Sheehan's proposal to create space for artists to express themselves without adversely impacting buildings or other structures. The city plans to resurface the skateboard park at Memorial Park in the spring while repairing fences and adding new elements for skating, and White recommended purchasing wall installations and cement barriers that can be painted by community members without a lot of restrictions beyond a ban on hate speech or obscenity. Inspired by the students' idea, the skate park would become a space where people can "graffiti, essentially, legally," he said. A third proposal, presented by Sally Betterbid and Katherine Ruffy, to repair the fencing at Memorial Park's softball fields will be folded into the city's capital plans. White said that he and Recreation Director Mark Price inspected the fences and found the supporting posts and wire mesh beyond repair. Replacement of the fencing will cost more than the $10,000 set aside for student proposals, "but that is more than a worthy capital project," White said. Funding for the replacement, expected to cost around $30,000, will come from the Recreation Department budget. The city also will look for ways to improve drainage at the fields, which flood often. Other projects proposed by the students will not be funded this year but could be added to long-term plans. Jude Betancourt and Brody Timm suggested creating a "fitness community" by installing a circuit of exercise stations at the former tennis court behind the skate park in Memorial Park. White said that he and Price like the idea but the proposed location is already being considered for rehabilitation as pickleball courts. The city will consider other locations, including the walking path along Wilkes Street and a concentrated space at South Avenue Park, which is being rehabbed this spring. Amir Figueroa's proposal for the city to purchase 50 electric scooters for residents to use around Beacon raised concerns about liability, storage in public areas and conflicts with pedestrians. There are "micro-mobility" programs being tested in other municipalities, White said, but he did not recommend advancing the proposal. Kekoa Baysa's idea to expand public restroom facilities on Main Street could become a long-term project, White said. The city will install a public restroom at South Avenue Park in the spring, with its exterior to become a community mural led by artist Joe Pimentel, who created the murals at Memorial and Green Street parks. White noted that a public restroom at the Welcome Center at Polhill Park reopened last year...

In this episode, Melea chats with Trisa Collier, Welcome Center Administrator for the state of Alabama, about the Ardmore Welcome Center—your first stop for Southern hospitality in North Alabama. Trisa shares how the center goes beyond simply providing directions, creating a warm and welcoming experience for visitors. They also discuss the exciting news about the return of the iconic rocket, a true source of pride for locals and travelers alike. Tune in for a fun and informative look at what makes the Ardmore Welcome Center a must-visit stop on your North Alabama adventure. Follow North Alabama on Social Media! Website Instagram TikTok LinkedIn YouTube Twitter Facebook The Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Melea Hames and produced by Relic. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast Network and to listen to our other shows, please visit https://thedmpn.com/. If you are interested in becoming a part of the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

Can a building tell a story?How do you design a glass wall to be ... mist? What if architecture, landscape, and exhibitions were all thought of as one thing? What changes when you etch barbed wire into a handrail? How can the floor plan of an entire museum relate to a nautilus shell? What does “A.D.R.O.I.T.” stand for? We're going to find out, so notebooks at the ready.Alan Reed, FAIA, LEED AP (President and Design Principal of GWWO Architects), joins MtM host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discuss “Story-Based Design.”Along the way: dendrites, neurons, Seminole history, and a famous mathematical sequence that goes 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 …Talking Points:1. What is Story-Based Design?2. Do the Research3. Define the Essence4. One Experience: Architecture + Landscape + Exhibitions5. Intuitive Wayfinding: A.D.R.O.I.T.6. Materials Matter, Down to the DetailsHow to Listen:Listen on Apple Podcasts > Listen on Spotify > Listen at Making the Museum, the Website > Links to Every Podcast Service, via Transistor >   Guest Bio:Alan Reed, FAIA, LEED AP is President and Design Principal of GWWO Architects. Alan has focused his career on the planning and design of facilities that engage users, foster interaction, and enhance communities. Alan is a regular speaker on issues related to museum and interpretive facility design. He has spoken at numerous conferences, on many panels, and for many organization events including the National Association for Interpretation Conference, Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Conference, Southeastern Museums Conference, and Building Museums Symposium. His work has been featured by Architectural Record and Metropolis, among other publications, and has received accolades at the national, regional, and local levels. About MtM:Making the Museum is hosted (podcast) and written (newsletter) by Jonathan Alger. This podcast is a project of C&G Partners | Design for Culture. Learn more about the creative work of C&G Partners > Links for This Episode: Email Alan ReedAlan Reed on LinkedInGWWO Architects Projects referenced:Pikes Peak Summit Visitor CenterRalph C. Wilson, Jr. Welcome Center at Niagara Falls State ParkHarriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor CenterCade Museum for Creativity & InventionGeorge Washington's Mount Vernon Ford Orientation Center and Donald W. Reynolds Museum & Education CenterLinks for Making the Museum, the Podcast:Contact Making the MuseumHost Jonathan Alger, Managing Partner of C&G Partners, on LinkedInEmail Jonathan AlgerC&G Partners | Design for Culture Making the Museum, the Newsletter:Liked the show? You might enjoy the newsletter. Making the Museum is also a free weekly professional development email for exhibition practitioners, museum leaders, and visitor experience professionals. (And newsletter subscribers are the first to hear about new episodes of this podcast.)Join hundreds of your peers with a one-minute read, three times a week. Invest in your career with a diverse, regular feed of planning and design insights, practical tips and tested strategies — including thought-provoking approaches to technology, experience design, audience, budgeting, content, and project management.Subscribe here >

Our guest today is Jess Vogt, Welcome Center Manager, Brainerd Lakes Chamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest today is Jess Vogt, Welcome Center Manager, Brainerd Lakes Chamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Chamber Vibes podcast, Kayla steps in as host while Foster is at training. She is joined by Lainey Skinner from Destination Bedford, Virginia, who discusses the upcoming Festival of Trees event at the Welcome Center, featuring 40 decorated Christmas trees representing local businesses and charities. Amy Gallagher from Select Bank shares her background and the bank's mission to support small businesses through personalized assistance and community engagement. 

WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers reports. 

Immer freitags frisch aus dem Podcast-Studio von Boyens Medien: der „Wochenblick“. Host Jörg Lotze und Maurice Dannenberg in „Studio 2“ schauen, unterstützt von den Reportern aus der Redaktion, auf die Themen, die Dithmarschen und die Dithmarscher bewegen. - In dieser Folge geht es unter anderem um diese Themen: - Man nennt ihn den "Gedankenleser“: Der bekannte Magier und Mentalist Thorsten Havener will am 19. November bei seinem Auftritt im Stadttheater sein Publikum regelgerecht verzaubern. Wir haben vorab mit ihm telefoniert. - Halloween steht vor der Tür. Und so mancher Dithmarscher dekoriert Haus und oder Vorgarten mit schaurig-schönem Zubehör. - Der Kreis Dithmarschen ist vom Bundesumweltministerium ausgezeichnet worden. Dabei geht es um Papier. Was genau Preis und Urkunde bescherte, erklärt Dirk Sopha, der Chef der Abfallwirtschaft Dithmarschen (AWD), in diesem Podcast. - Ein digitales Welcome-Center soll in Dithmarschen entstehen und die sogenannte Ankommenskultur weiter verbessern. - Es ist Rummel-Zeit: Noch bis Dienstag, 29. Oktober, lädt der Heider Herbstjahrmarkt zum Bummeln und Karussellfahren auf den Marktplatz ein.

The HRBT Expansion Project is rolling out the welcome mat to the public. The project has an official Welcome Center which will soon be open for STEM learning, community engagement and meetings, tunnel history and more! Tune into HRBT Tunnel Talk for details on what you can expect to find at the HRBT Welcome Center.

Schneider-Solis, Annette www.deutschlandfunk.de, Campus & Karriere

Today, the Safari heads back to our heart zoo...Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, PA! The zoo has a brand new entrance area with a new Welcome Center, new exhibits, a new Commissary and, most importantly, a new Vet Hospital! We talk to Michele all about her career and her growth at the zoo, how the new hospital space will impact animal care, how our buddy Slash the red panda is doing, why Elmwood Park Zoo is so good at breeding peccaries and porcupines, and so much more! EPISODE LINKS: @elmwoodparkzoo on socials elmwoodparkzoo.org ROSSIFARI LINKS: @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok rossifari.com patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod One Lagoon, One Voice: The Podcast Scientists, researchers, and community leaders discuss projects and progress in the IRL.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Wild Times: Wildlife EducationDiscover thrilling wildlife encounters, mysterious animals tales, and daring expeditions!Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Immigration polls as a top issue for voters this Fall. We'll talk about the candidates' positions on the border, asylum, and jobs and also ask where's the invasion. Then, we'll […] The post Project 2025, Trump and Harris on Immigration and KCMO School District's International Welcome Center appeared first on KKFI.

In this episode, I talk with a student from the New School about the encampments there and what we can learn from the experience. Students at the New School set up their encampment in the lobby of the University Center in April a few days after the encampment was established at Columbia University and over 100 students were arrested. The New School student encampment last for over two weeks and eventually took the Parsons Building across the street, before President Donna Shalala had the students arrested early one morning. A few days later, faculty at the New Schools set up another encampment at the University that also lasted a couple weeks and eventually took the Welcome Center, holding it a few days before disbanding on the promise of a vote on divestment (which has not been delivered). In this conversation, we talk about the way the university administration dealt with the encampment, using less brute force than many of the other schools, and how this altered the organization of the encampment. In going through the whole experience, we discuss how our groups start mirroring bureaucracies, the use of divestment as a goal, the changing experience of study of revolutionary texts in the context of an encampment as opposed to the classroom, and more. Ultimately, we don't know where the energy that was invigorated by the encampments will turn up next in resistance to genocide and control. But it is important to look at our actions and name their consequences. If you like this show, please share with your friends and rate and follow us wherever you get podcasts. You can also support the project and my writing by subscribing to my patreon https://www.patreon.com/thebreakuptheory. If you have any extra cash, you can sign up for $5/month, though nothing there is paywalled. On my patreon, I regularly post both short and long written pieces, along with episodes, and other conversations I'm having. I am so grateful for all of you supporting me and this project! As always, We have an online submission form at https://form.jotform.com/thebreakuptheory/stories and a phone line at ‪(917) 426-6548. Please write and call us, to share your break up stories, your questions about ending things, and your hopes for liberation!  

Jennifer Landers, community director of the Kolter Homes Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes community, joins host Carol Morgan for this week's Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio episode. In this podcast segment, Landers discusses the 55+ active adult home industry and all things Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes. Landers began her career working in real estate for a single-family home builder and then transitioned to a national developer of master-planned communities. After almost 20 years with that developer, she joined the Kolter Homes team, leading its new 55+ active adult community. Landers said, “Now I'm working in the best of both worlds, working in a master-planned community and selling the homes here for Kolter at Cresswind Twin Lakes in Hoschton.” Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes is a master-planned community located in historic Hoschton. When complete, this community will welcome 1,300 families home with high -class amenities and breathtaking natural landscapes. The Cresswind community offers residents access to 29,000+ square foot clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, 40 acres of lakes, trails and golf cart paths and an event lawn for gathering with neighbors. Residents also enjoy Georgia's largest, private pickleball center located within their community. Location plays a huge role in the planning of 55+ active adult living, taking into consideration the population, healthcare and external amenities in the area. Families often want to move together, so building near growing local communities is crucial to keep everyone together. Landers said, “One of the biggest challenges, just in the Atlanta market, is that there are not enough large pieces of land left close enough to local amenities. That is probably our biggest challenge as we look for new Cresswinds.” Why does the active adult home shopper prefer community life? Social engagement is a driving factor. Homebuyers want opportunities to get to know their neighbors and connect through activities. Cresswind communities provide amenities and events that encourage residents to get out, have fun and engage in their community. The Cresswind-exclusive concert series has been a huge hit, highlighting local talent on the event lawn. Landers said, “There is something going on every single day, and you can be as active as you want or not.” Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes is outfitted with a model home village featuring 15 decorated residences, giving prospective homebuyers a glimpse of life in the community. Buyers also have access to hundreds of personalization options and convenient access to professional guidance in the Welcome Center's onsite design studio. Home shoppers still have plenty of time to secure a home in Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes. Of the 1,300 homes planned, only 500 homes have closed. Kolter Homes is now building in Phase Five of Eight. Phase Six is under development and set to open next year. The second phase of the community garden recently opened and introduced a new greenhouse and herb garden. The full community is expected to finish in 2030, giving prospective buyers time to unlock a new life with Cresswind. Tune in to the full interview above to learn more about Cresswind Georgia, or visit www.CresswindGA.com. A special thank you to Denim Marketing for sponsoring Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Known as a trendsetter, Denim Marketing has been blogging since 2006, podcasting since 2011 and is currently working on strategies for the Google Helpful Content update and ways to incorporate AI into sales and marketing. Contact them when you need quality, original content for social media, public relations, blogging, email marketing and promotions. A comfortable fit for companies of all shapes and sizes, Denim Marketing understands marketing strategies are not one-size-fits-all. The agency works with your company to create a perfectly tailored marketing strategy that will adhere to your specific needs and niche.

Colorado is a magical place to so many people, and for so many different reasons! Some venture into the mountains to get glazed on big box weapons-grade weed in a puddle of pine sap, some scour Denver for the latest fast casual slop hut bastardizing ethnic cuisine, but me? I'm here to visit one of the last great vestiges of Christian Americana left in these United States of Tanger Outlets: the Focus on the Family world headquarters in beautiful Colorado Springs! While I was disappointed to find that Whitt's End and the Welcome Center were closed for renovations, Grandpa Dobby made sure that the bookstore was open and ready to take my money. Sam and I chat about all the fun things I found in the store, and one brand in particular that caught my attention called Hold Fast. I'm not sure how to describe their clothing other than that I expect their t-shirts will become a staple of Kid Rock's wardrobe after the terminal cirrhosis prompts him to join Greg Locke's biblical manhood Bible study. However, they are doing big things for their brave-but-beleaguered “Big Brother,” Israel. We take a look at some strange organizations with vague goals supported by t-shirt purchases from Hold Fast and have a good time talking about our recent travels. Enjoy the show and have a great week!

CreepGeeks Podcast Episode 308 INTRO  You're listening to CreepGeeks Podcast! This is Season 8 Episode 308 Bigfoot Festival, Fate Magazine, 5th Graders save Bigfoot, T Rex still stupid, UFO Welcome Center Destroyed, Bugs in Food Meat! Your favorite anomalous podcast hosts are Greg and Omi Want to Support the podcast? Join us on Patreon:  CreepGeeks Paranormal and Weird News is creating Humorous Paranormal Podcasts, Interviews, and Videos!  What is the CreepGeeks Paranormal and Weird News Podcast?  We broadcast paranormal news and share our strange experiences from our underground bunker in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Get our new Swag in our Amazon Merch Store: https://amzn.to/3IWwM1x  Hey Everyone, You can call the show and leave us a message!  1-575-208-4025 Use Amazon Prime Free Trial! Did you know YOU can support the CreepGeeks Podcast with little to no effort? It won't cost you anything!  When you shop on Amazon.com use our affiliate link and we get a small percentage!  It doesn't change your price at all. It helps us to keep the coffee flowing and gas in the Albino Rhino!  CreepGeeks Podcast is an Amazon Affiliate CheapGeek and CreepGeeks Amazon Page's Amazon Page    Support the Show:  CreepGeeks Swag Shop!  Website- CREEPGEEKS PARANORMAL AND WEIRD NEWS Hey everyone! Help us out!  Rate us on iTunes!  ‎CreepGeeks Paranormal and Weird News Podcast on Apple  WARNING: This Podcast May Contain BioEngineered and Cell Cultivated Food Products. Interested in Past Lives or Past Life's Journeying- RC Baranowski. Past Life Journeying: Exploring Past, Between, and Future Lives Past Life Journeying: Exploring Past, Between, and Future Lives - Kindle edition by Baranowski, R. C.. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.  Patron's Messages-  1-800 Number Comments-  From the Parking Lot-  LAST EPISODE WNC Bigfoot Festival in Marion North Carolina- RECAP   Fate Magazine - Fate Magazine  Fate is celebrating 75 years of covering the strange and unknown. Six decades before the AMC's Walking Dead, SyFy's Paranormal Witness, late-night radio's Coast to Coast AM, and countless websites, blogs, books, and movies began captivating audiences with true tales of the paranormal — there was FATE — a first-of-its-kind publication dedicated to in-depth coverage of mysterious and unexplained phenomena. Largest Bigfoot Festival in North Carolina on May 18th Fate Magazine: Thanks for mentioning the Festival! Singular Fortean Society Thanks Tobias, Singular Fortean Society! MACA McDowell Arts Council Association  Last Episode NEWS: Watch: South Carolina's Iconic 'UFO Welcome Center' Destroyed by Fire  Inside the Homemade UFO Welcome Center in South Carolina  Even the Kids are more skeptical. Resolution passed. Washington State Fifth Graders Secure Sasquatch Protection for Third Straight Year TREX- Wrong again? We've Probably Been Wrong About T. Rex Again, New Study Says  Sperm Whale's Secret Weapon- Me too, in case of Cryptid attack Sperm Whales Have Been Seen Using Their Ultimate Weapon Against Attacking Orcas : ScienceAlert  Move over Fish Punching Octopus, here's Eagle spitting Seal First-of-Their-Kind Pics Capture The Moment a Seal Spat at a Swooping Eagle : ScienceAlert Bugs in Meat Fact Check: Tyson Foods does not put insects into products for human consumption | Reuters  *AD BREAK* READ: If you like this podcast subscribe on YouTube, follow on Spotify, review on Apple podcasts, support on Patreon, and connect with us on Facebook, and Twitter Instagram @CreepGeeks.  LIBSYN AD *AD BREAK* Bumper Music- SHOW TOPICS: AD- Want to Start your own podcast? https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=CREEP  Looking for something unique and spooky? Check out Omi's new Etsy, CraftedIntent: CraftedIntent: Simultaneously BeSpoke and Spooky. by CraftedIntent  Want CreepGeeks Paranormal Investigator stickers? Check them out here: CraftedIntent - Etsy  Check out Omi's new Lucky Crystal Skull Creations:  Lucky Crystal Skull: Random Mini Resin Skull With Gemstones - Etsy  Get Something From Amazon Prime! CheapGeek and CreepGeeks Amazon Page's Amazon Page     Cool Stuff on Amazon -Squatch Metalworks Microsquatch Keychain:  Microsquatch Keychain Bottle Opener with Carabiner. Laser-cut, stone-tumbled stainless steel. DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED IN THE USA.  Amazon Influencer!  CheapGeek and CreepGeeks Amazon Page's Amazon Page   Instagram?  Creep Geeks Podcast (@creepgeekspod) • Instagram photos and videos   Omi Salavea (@craftedintent) • Instagram photos and videos  CreepGeeks Podcast (@creepgeekspodcast) TikTok | Watch CreepGeeks Podcast's Newest TikTok Videos  Need to Contact Us? Email Info: contact@creepgeeks.com  Attn Greg or Omi  Want to comment on the show? omi@creepgeeks.com   greg@creepgeeks.com   Business Inquiries: contact@creepgeeks.com   CreepGeeks Podcast Store   Music: Music is Officially Licensed through Audiio.com. License available upon request. #bigfoot #fatemag #bigfootfestival #creepgeeks  Tags: Bigfoot, Bigfoot Festival, Sasquatch, , Ghosts, Dinosaur Ghosts,trex, wnc bigfoot, fate magazine,

On May 12 join us for Sunday worship at 9:30 or 11:00. Don's message is called, Jesus Wants to Come in, from Revelation 1:9-18, 3:30. It's also Mother's Day so visit our photo booth in the Welcome Center to snap a picture of mom and the family.

On today's show: 1. Charleston County says Judge Irv Condon must personally repay $11,342 in unauthorized spending - https://www.postandcourier.com/news/charleston-judge-condon-audit-chewbacca-mask/article_cbd49c56-0c7e-11ef-b7f5-6f3c189b9e38.html 2. UFO Welcome Center burns in Bowman, gutting one of SC's oddest attractions - https://www.postandcourier.com/ufo-welcome-center-bowman-fire-burned/article_206b08d2-0e09-11ef-88e7-374073b82396.html/ 3. Proposed bill would hurt transgender people, their families in S.C. - https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/opinion/readers/2024/05/05/s-c-bill-on-gender-affirming-health-care-is-dangerous-heres-why/73529304007/ 3a. Resources for Transgender Youth & Families in South Carolina - https://southernequality.org/scresources 3b. Resources for Transgender Adults in South Carolina Impacted by H.4624 - https://southernequality.org/SChealthcarehelp/ This episode's music is by Tyler Boone (tylerboonemusic.com). The episode was produced by LMC Soundsystem.

In the United States, more than 60,000 refugees arrived in 2023, outpacing the prior two years. In January of this year, the greatest number admitted were arriving from nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, and Afghanistan--a reflection of increasing global conflict and war.rnrnResettlement for newcomers and their families is a daunting task as they start their new lives with limited resources, and away from the lives they once knew. Yet, according to Re:Source Cleveland (formerly known as Refugee Response), resettled refugees are expected to acculturate, acquire English language skills, and become self-sufficient within three months of arriving.rnrnJust in February, Cuyahoga County opened its new Welcome Center in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood. A beginning step in their Newcomer Navigator Program. The facility will serve as a multi-service center, providing access to workforce training, educational services, healthcare, legal support, housing, language services, and more. With a goal to become a "Certified Welcoming" community, how can Cleveland empower the region's growing newcomer population?rnrnJoin the City Club as we hear from Re:Source Cleveland, as well as newcomers themselves, on what is needed to support all refugees as they become engaged members of their new communities.

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists.   This year, more than 24,000 Chinese migrants have made the dangerous 60-mile trek through the Darien Gap to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.   For this episode of AACRE Thursday, host Cheryl is joined by Annette Wong, Kelly Wong, and Kennis Chen, members of Chinese for Affirmative Action's Immigrant Rights and Chinese Digital Engagement teams who flew down to the San Diego Migrant Welcome Center early March to meet the influx of Chinese migrants who would have otherwise had to rely on Google Translate for support.   In the three days the team was in San Diego, they had met people from all over the world. There were Vietnamese speakers, Arabic; Gujarati, Portuguese, in addition to Chinese, Spanish, and English. But according to CAA's Managing Director of Programs, Annette Wong, “what folks were coming and looking for– it's very much the same story. Economic opportunity. And family reunification.”   Important Resources: Chinese for Affirmative Action website Chinese for Affirmative Action Instagram Justice Patch article Kelly and Kennis' Podcast: 第二十一集 | 美墨邊境走線者的故事: 追逐夢想與更美好生活 | EP21 | Chasing Dreams & A Better Life: Chinese Migrants at the Southern Border Transcript Cheryl Truong: Good evening, everyone. You were currently tuned in to APEX express on 94.1 KPFA. We are bringing you an Asian-American and Pacific Islander point of view from the bay and around the world. I'm your host, Cheryl Truong. And tonight is an AACRE night, a series on APEX express, where I highlight groups from within the AACRE network, AACRE being short for Asian Americans for civil rights and equality. APEX express is proud to be part of the acre network.  I am so excited to introduce you all to the guests on tonight's show. They are from Chinese for Affirmative Action, You'll hear it referred to as CAA all throughout tonight's episode. They are people whose work I really admire and I feel so lucky to work closely with them through the AACRE Network.  A little bit of history. CAA was founded in 1969 and has for five decades now been a progressive voice in an on behalf of the broader API community. The advocate for systemic change that protects immigrant rights, promotes language diversity, and remedies racial and social injustice.   Early this March members from the Immigrant Rights and Chinese Digital Engagement Teams from CAA flew down to the San Diego Migrant Welcome Center to meet the influx of Chinese migrants who are crossing the Southern border. This year. More than 24,000 Chinese migrants have made the dangerous 60 mile Trek. Through the Darien gap to cross the U S Mexico border. The San Diego Migrant Center is only the first stop for thousands of migrants entering the United States, and is for many only the beginning of an even longer and greater journey.   Annette Wong: Earlier 2023, the immigrant rights team at CAA started to receive more and more calls from Chinese community members that were seeking asylum. And so this kind of raised a flag for us to inquire a little bit more about why is this happening? Where is this coming from? Are other organizations that are similarly situated seeing the same trend? So we have been working with a couple partners that also do similarly kind of immigrant legal services in the Chinese community, and we also asked them, “Are you seeing the same uptick?” And the same kind of issue arising for them as well, where they're getting this increase in calls of Chinese asylum seekers who are sharing a very similar story of coming in through the southern border. And so, as a result, we started to pay more attention to what the news was reporting out about that phenomenon and paying attention more to what we're also seeing in terms of the local impact in San Francisco.  Cheryl Truong: Speaking currently is Annette Wong. The managing director of programs at CAA.  Annette Wong: in the fall of 2023 a group called the Haitian Bridge Alliance reached out. At the time they were working out of the San Diego Migrant Welcome Center And provide services to migrants that are arriving from the southern border in San Diego. There were many groups that were staffing the center, but none of the groups were Chinese speaking, so they were having a lot of difficulty communicating with Chinese community members that were coming through. And yeah, that was how we got plugged in.  In December of 2023. We went down for our first trip.  Kennis Chen: when IR team first go down to San Diego last December, I was like so excited. I was like, Oh, let me hear more about the stories. And this March, we have budget for one of the CDE advocate could go down there with IR team and see what is going on. And luckily, that person is me.   Definitely this time is more chaotic than last time. And I will say for me is. It's both physically and mentally a challenge because I have many cultural and well language connection with those migrants, so I feel a lot for them. It's an issue, but it also gives me some hope when seeing them. Cheryl Truong: Speaking now is Kennis Chen, who is one of three members of the CDE team at CAA. CDE which stands for Chinese digital engagement. The CDE team does a lot of incredible work debunking right-wing misinformation and lifting up progressive viewpoints in Chinese language spaces, such as WeChat and Weibo which is a Chinese micro-blogging site whose name I, just Googled how to pronounce, and am probably saying wrong anyway.  Kennis who is absolutely my inspiration for being powerfully multilingual actually wrote about CAA's experiences in San Diego in an article on JusticePatch.org, which is one of CAA's Chinese language websites that has become a trusted source of in-language information for thousands of viewers. Because Justice Patch is not subject to the political censorship that occurs on platforms like WeChat, readers actually have access to a wider selection of content. Including more progressive commentary, fact checks, and news alerts. I'll have Kennis's article linked in the show notes and I'll also have information on the ways you can stay engaged with CAA's Chinese Digital Engagement work. For those interested in reading the article, but are like me and can't read Chinese, the article actually has cool pictures in it. And if you scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll actually see a list of English articles that were cited and used as resources when writing the article.  Speaking next is my dear colleague Kelly Wong, who is. part of CA's immigrant rights team. the IR team as you'll hear it referred to throughout the show.  Kelly Wong: When the Immigrant Rights team went last December, San Diego still funded a Migrant Welcome Center that's allowed a migrants that were released from Customs and Border Protection, so, short for CBP. When they released the migrants last December, we have the center where the migrants can go there take some rest, and try to figure out what the next move would be. But this time, it's a lot harder. In March the county government decided to pull out funding for the migrant center. As a result, the migrants actually didn't get to drop off at the center anymore. They would just be released on the street and that make the whole situation a lot harder.  I didn't join the group last time, so for me it is also my first time going to San Diego. I heard so much from my teammates as to what had happened before. And obviously from the news as well. So part of me is a little anxious, not gonna lie, just to not knowing what to do on the spot.  And I already foresee that it's going to be a lot of challenges with languages because it's not just Chinese migrants that's going to be there, right? It's going to be people from around the world that cross the border. So I think part of me is really anxious. But at the same time, I also really want to talk to migrants directly because, many things were said on the news, narratives, but these are actual human beings and people, right? So I wanted to know what motivated them to come here, their journey, and literally just how are they doing? So part of me is curious, but at the same time, also nervous for them. And kind of trying to prepare myself for the worst. Just like what Kennis was saying, I am naturally a empathetic person, especially as an immigrant myself. So mixed feelings of anticipating the work, not knowing, preparing for the emotionally taxing work that we're about to do.  Kennis Chen: Our plan was kind of changed last minute because we didn't know when we planned the trip there will no longer be a Welcome Center. Our team has to be split to separate our work in different transit centers. So I didn't expect that will be that many unexpected situation coming up.   My work on a daily basis for Chinese Digital Engagement team, is mostly on social media or monitoring the digital space. Especially because this year is election year, people are using their immigration topic as a political driven tool to get anti immigrant sentiment from people. On social media space we can see a lot of inhuman narrative flowing around. Like, Oh, these people are just number– they are not human. There are like 100 millions people coming to the border. So called border crisis. But when we go down there, I feel like these people could be my parents, you know. Some folks, they're similar age as my parents and suffer a lot to come here. We need to show more empathy to them.  If we look at the broader picture, people migrant for a place to another place. We're all looking for the good stuff. No one want to came to the state to do bad things, you know. Everyone wants came here for maybe a better future for the next generation, maybe a more stable financial situation for their family. Many of them just scared of the thing happening in their home country, and they don't feel safe, or they don't feel financially secure or politically secure; that they feel like I have to leave this place. Immigration or migration is not an easy choice for an individual. Those migrants, they have to Separate from their family for who knows how long.  When they made that decision they need to have the mentality that they probably need to suffer a lot, and they suffer for the good. We really need to see them as human. Human want to live in a safer place, live in a more financially stable place. That's why they want to come to another country. American is a place that people think is the best country in the world. It's illustrated by the mainstream media or illustrated by people's imagination. True or not, but people think it that way, for example, me as a Chinese, growing up, we think American people so free and people has money to eat and everything. We need to understand more of their reason to come to the state, other than, oh, people come here want to do crime, which is not true at all. Kelly Wong: Lots of them, that being said, we are restricted to talking to people that speak Chinese, have struggles back home economically and coming here to make a better living and to create a better future for their families.  I met a young Chinese immigrants woman between 25 to 35 years old. I met her at, one of the transit center that she got dropped off at. Her whole journey took roughly 20 days from China to a Western country to Panama. And then from there Basically going through different Latin American countries by vehicles.  The whole journey was really rough for her as a single woman. She was staying in refugee camps and really shady motels. Eventually she landed in Mexico, walking, hiking for two to three hours before crossing the border to San Diego. She is a single mom and her family suffer from bondage issues back home. She doesn't clarify what it is exactly. And she wants to earn some money on the East coast through a friend's connection, to take care of her nine year old child in China.  Her husband, her child's father is not in the picture anymore. So she's the sole provider for the family. And she actually does not plan to stay in the U. S. permanently because eventually she wants to reunite with her child back in China. She also mentioned that the economy's got worse during COVID in China, and that's why the financial situation back home is more dire. And that's kind of prompt her to think outside the box to try to make this journey.  Her experiences during the journey was really rough because she didn't get enough money to fly directly to Mexico, like lots of migrants do. If you have more money, you flew directly to Mexico and then rest there for a little bit and then walk for two to three hours or maybe a day to cross the border and that is actually relatively safe and not as rough. But for her because she doesn't have enough money, she have to go through the whole journey from Panama all the way to Mexico before crossing.  She encountered a lots of robberies, and cops in those country asking for money to cross certain areas and constantly staying on the street, refugee camps. And those places are open areas. Anything could have happened hto er or her peers. That was the kind of insecurity that she has been experiencing. Her belongings were all stolen at one point, including her passport, which is actually relatively common in these kind of journey.  My interaction with her is actually pretty memorable for me. She was very confused. She didn't even know that she was in California. She thought she was somewhere in the on the east coast. But despite feeling confused and scared, she's relatively calm and just really grateful for us being there able to speak Chinese with her, explaining where she's at, directing her to the airport to her destination and all of that. And even though she was really confused and lost during that journey, she managed to take care of other people too. She talk about coming across with a 65 years old grandmother during detention. That grandmother was also Chinese and was separated from the rest of her family– two children, a daughter-in-Law, and her son. They actually went through the whole journey through the jungle to get to San Diego. The grandmother was left alone at the detention center because She had troubles doing fingerprinting. The rest of the family were before the grandmother. The Young Chinese immigrants woman was the only one that were able to communicate in Chinese, So she was there for the grandmother, guide her through different things, calm her down when she was feeling emotional thinking she will never see her family again.  I think that really shows their resilience, how strong they are. Even though they are suffering a lot and going through a lot, they still were able to take care of one another, care for other people.  Me and this person, we sat down for two hours. We talked just like a human beings. She actually speak Cantonese too, since she from the Guangdong region and remind me of my friends because she's not too old, you know, like she's really young, just like our age. So I just really can't imagine What she has been through as a young woman myself as well.  The entire time I was by her side, guiding her. Eventually she took a shuttle to the airport and we actually both felt a little bit emotional when we parted ways, because we just connected. She gave me the warmest hug and told me that she's grateful for seeing us there and hoping that we can keep the work going to help other people. And, of course that really left a mark in my heart; that brief encounter with her. That was something that I still think about sometimes and make me emotional. Hopefully can humanize these people more than what was reported on the news. Kennis Chen: There was a young girl, maybe 20 something. Young girl. We were talking just chitchatting. And then she asked, how long have you been in the U S and I say, probably almost 10 years. And then that girl was saying, if I came here when I was in middle school, then I probably will be here for 10 years as well. Her response really inspired me to think if I didn't have the privilege to come to study for college, will I be her? Will I be in a situation that I probably also need to cross the border, go through her journey to came to this day. And sometimes, people's life is sometimes only is about luck. It's not how hard I work. My background or my family already determined something for me. They could provide me for college. I don't need to work myself for college. I don't need to pay for student loan and those kind of stuff.  If I was that girl, I probably would be in the same situation. Or if I was that uncle, I probably will did the same choice as well. I think sometimes when we think about immigration and migration, we think about so called American born, maybe they're just lucky to be born as American. It's nothing about they're better than other people, it's just they have the luck to be born in the state, and they're born with voting rights. They're born with democracy. It's not like other people don't deserve this good stuff. If they choose to believe in a better life, they should have the choice to do so. Kelly Wong: I think as an immigrant, like what Kennis just talked about, we both came here as a student and with the support from our parents and financial security that we get a job eventually here, and settle in the U. S. It's really easy to fall into the mainstream narrative of differentiating good migrants from the bad ones. From the quote unquote illegal ones, right? And not gonna lie, before entering this kind of work, that's how I feel, too I don't really know why people make those choices to go undocumented across the border. But then, came to work for Chinese for Affirmative Action, CAA. My line of work is serving migrants from different backgrounds, and that's when I realized the privilege that Kennis was talking about. I never have to make those choices of should I go through those journey to come here, should I overstay so I can make a living here or getting separated from my loved ones. That would never happen in my life because of my privilege. And I think lots of migrants or immigrants that were able to make it here in a more regular ways often think that, because we went through so much ourselves to get here, we deserve those spaces versus those who crossed the border irregularly, or, those who goes undocumented, that they do not deserve the same thing that we both we all desire, right? So when I speak to the migrants that I serve here in San Francisco, and then at the border, both regular or irregular, it's the same story. Same as the story that me and Kennis have. We come here because we want a better future for ourselves. And as much as America also too has a broken system, there's some really beautiful, beautiful things about the U. S. too. Not everything is true from what we learned since a kid about America, but this is true that it's a land of opportunities; a land of democracy, maybe not the perfect ones, but they do have democracy here. And something that lots of people don't get to enjoy back home. So these migrants that cross the border, they very much know these things and decide to pursue and have that for our children. So I think My lived experiences and my line of work really informed how I see them right now at the border.  Instead of thinking that we are better than them because we are quote unquote legal, I actually think that we're all the same essentially. And as, immigrants communities, especially Chinese migrants communities, we should help each other out instead of putting each other down or, categorizing people using certain stereotypes. Annette Wong: I think the one thing that We encounter that is difficult for people to understand is that the reasons that people are coming here today are very similar to the reasons that people have come for generations, centuries, even. Really what they're seeking is more economic opportunity and potentially more freedoms. And that has not changed over time. The current lens through which people are absorbing this news is really through mainstream media. And the way that it's painted isn't looking at people in a very human way. This is a very bad analogy, but, like ants crawling through a log or something. It's like, just look at all these hordes of people is what we hear all the time. But, really it's not different than what it has been in the past. It's really about how it's been sensationalized and because of the upcoming November election, how it's being used and leveraged to push a certain political agenda on many fronts. At the end of the day, people are coming for every human reasons they're coming because they want to survive, they want to have a better life.  For many of us who may be first, second, third generation Asian American, where our ancestors at some point had migrated, I think that that's something that we can connect with– this idea that people want to come for a better life for their families. that's something that often gets lost in all of the political football around the issue in particular. Kennis Chen: When we go out to live our life, We actually maybe already met so many undocumented friends or foes. When we met people, we did not say, Hey, could you show me your immigration document?  We're just seeing them as human beings. So we just know them as, how they work, and how we communicate, and we maybe speak each other's language so we will see them as human beings. We will not say, oh, you are undocumented, so you are less than me. Undocumented folks, they all work very hard. And just like us, they all pay taxes, but sometimes they do not get the benefits like we have. Kelly, for Kelly's work, for example, sometimes the Immigration Rights team will help people to renew their green card. For me, when I was a student, there are some restrictions for me to have to stay in my legal status. For example, if I skip a semester, then I probably could not have my student visa. Then, right now, I'm having my working visa. If I, for example, move to another state, I probably could not maintain my legal status. So even though I have a so called legal status, I already see that many restrictions. So I can imagine for people who do not have a legal status, the life might be even harder for them. I also see my privilege that holding a legal status. For example, I don't need to worry about on the street, I.C.E. (ICE) will chase after me. So they need to work, or they need to live. in a really careful way, then at the same time they sacrifice a lot of freedom to, for example, move to other places or do certain job or staying with their families. I feel we should learn from our privilege and also learn from our experience and to understand others. Annette Wong: Over the course of my years doing immigrant rights work I would say that what was different for me in coming to do this type of work in particular is actually seeing a lot of the diversity of the folks that are coming through. In that diversity, though, there is a community. And I thought that that was really beautiful and something that I did not expect. I think technology and, the World Wide Web essentially has made the world a lot smaller place.  Once the buses emptied, there was a line that formed for people to go through intake. There was clearly like a food station, a restroom station, a water station. you know, but There were also places where people could charge their phones and access internet.   People that wouldn't typically be able to communicate with one another have the technology and tools to do so. And they have just come out of this very arduous journey where they have probably a lot of shared trauma around what they saw along the way. And so there was a level of bonding between the folks that were coming through the center that I had not anticipated, but it was very beautiful to see. People that were complete strangers before, but in the process of the journey had become friends and actually built quite a bit of trust with one another. So much so that even once they arrived in the U. S., they're discussing next steps together and making decisions together about who to trust, who not to trust, et cetera.  I remember there was this one gentleman and he came up to us and he was like, well, I'm trying to get to Los Angeles and I, I don't really know how to get there. What are some of my options? Another woman who was standing nearby, also a Chinese migrant, we had been helping her try to get to the airport, overheard this conversation and she comes over and she's like, Oh, actually, I know a group of folks , over on that side of the migrant center and they're also going to LA maybe you all can catch a ride together.  People just seem so relieved to be in the United States. There was a sense of hope. Even though they were telling us we saw people that we had to leave behind in the Darien Gap. But despite seeing so much tragedy, their spirits were hopeful about what was to come here in the States. Kelly Wong: Migrants themselves, they experience a lot of language barriers among themselves. So it's a little hard to help each other, even if they want to, just because of the existing challenges of languages.  A lot of Hispanic migrants we're actually waiting at the transit center for their loved ones. Many of them, for example, husband or wife got released before the other ones. So they didn't really know how to reunite with other peoples. They end up just sitting at the transit center with other people, trying to wait for the loved ones to be released, hopefully on the same day. A couple of people, they were there for almost the entire day, maybe the day before as well, waiting for the loved ones to be released. And Instead of just waiting there doing nothing, they were actively helping each other out. I don't speak any Spanish, but people will come to me because I had information of directions, but we don't have enough Spanish speaking volunteers. Spanish speaking migrants actually came to me, I can interpret for you. I remember one of them. She's a young woman herself. She actually took the lead. Because at one point we do not have any Spanish speaking volunteers, she took the lead, copying what we told people earlier, about what's happening.  You see solidarity; a mutual understanding of how everyone is going through, and we have to help each other out. There's only so many volunteers there speaking limited languages. So migrants are stepping up for one another and passing those correct information to one another. And at that point I don't see language barriers as much– just a mutual understanding that girl just came to me– don't worry, I'm going to help. you.. She speak more English so she can do the interpretation for me. I think that's something that I did not anticipate. The resilience that we all have to function and to help each other out with limited resources. Cheryl Truong: While I was listening to Kelly tell this story I felt tears coming on. Her very comment of I didn't see language barriers as much just mutual understanding really inspires me. I am finding from these stories, from these courageous migrants. I'm going to say something really cheesy. But hear me out anyway. I am being reminded from these stories of the essence of our humanity. That when we come to one another with the deep intent to understand each other, we do, or we can, when we summoned the courage to do so.  I had a weird, but brilliant professor back in college and he. I remember he said, something like. Hopes dwelling place. Must be at the most visceral and emotional part of our being. This feels to me like a pretty promising kind of hope Doesn't it.  More stories from the Southern border after a music break, so don't go anywhere.  Cheryl: Welcome back. You are tuned into apex express on 94.1 KPFA and 89.3 KPFB in Berkeley and online at kpfa.org.. We were just listening to “Acceptance” by Gavin grant from The Khamsa Project.  Annette Wong: When you're coming through the border and you get processed by CBP, men and women are separated and they're processed separately. So when the buses arrive at the transit center, It's a bus full of men and then a bus full of women, bus full of men, bus full of women. So people are essentially being separated from their family members if you're traveling with opposite sex people.  There was one bus that got off that was predominantly women. And we saw this one Chinese woman. So we approached her, and we noticed that she was using Google translate to communicate with a Georgian family. The Georgian family, was a male and there were two females. The male looked at me and he started pointing at his ring on his ring finger. And you know, I kind of gathered, okay, he's looking for his wife. He can't find his wife. And so he, he expressed that it's actually his wife and his kid. They were talking to the Chinese woman because they were asking if the Chinese woman had seen the wife and the child in the interview process, because the husband wasn't privy to what happened to the women. The Chinese woman was saying yes because they started showing a photo of the wife and the child. she was like yes, I saw her. We were processed at the same time, but I don't know what happened to her. So the Georgian family was asking, did she get on the bus with you? And the Chinese woman said no. And the Georgian family was like, why, what happened to her? And the Chinese woman was like, I don't know. It was really a heartbreaking kind of moment to see the desperation in people's eyes. I was watching the Georgian family. They were approaching all the women that were waiting on the sidewalk and they were just showing this photo on the camera phone. Have you seen her? Did you see her? Just going person to person. And eventually we figured out because there was a child in the picture, those people went straight to a shelter. The husband was relieved to find that out, took off and went to go to the shelter to try to meet them. But it was just one of those things; a very surreal and sad scene watching the family show the photo to anybody that would listen, even though they couldn't communicate in any kind of shared language, but everybody knew what they were looking for to because other families were experiencing the same thing; separation from their family members. It's ridiculous that people have to go through that level of anxiety, and for them I did hear that they were able to reunite within the same day. Which doesn't always happen.   Another woman was also waiting for her husband. She had been waiting days.  Typically, at The transit center, one of the organizations would have staff who would be coordinating for the day. That staff person would be making announcements every time the buses came, handing out flyers to people, they would be directing the flow of volunteers, you do this you cover that. But at times, there were limitations on the number of staff, people were really operating on a very shoestring kind of operation where sometimes there's only one staff person, and there's more volunteers than there are staff.  One of the days we were at the site, it was nearing four o'clock or so and the staff person said to us I've been here since 7am. I have to go. There's supposed to be another lead volunteer but they haven't arrived yet. Can you guys just watch the situation, receive more buses, do the orientation spiel for the newly arrived folks. We had only been there for a couple days, but the fact that they were just going to leave this in our hands because they really just had no other support was not shocking necessarily, but sad how little infrastructure was in place. And it's not the fault of the organizations. It's really just a lack of support from the local city and county to provide infrastructure for these kinds of releases.  Annette Wong: So we're like, yeah, sure, we'll take care of it. They pointed me to this lady who was Sitting near all of the staff materials. I had seen her around the first day that we had been there and then of course the second day. I recognized her but I hadn't really talked to her because she only spoke Spanish. The staff person before she left was like. This woman is actually waiting for her husband, and she's been waiting for six days, and every day she just comes back and waits at the bus station. And so she has come to know the process that people go through when they arrive, so she's willing to help. So if you can utilize her support, utilize her support because she's a Spanish speaker and none of us spoke fluent Spanish. I was grateful to have her support, but also very sad for her situation. The fact that she had waited so long that she has no idea when her husband's going to come, if he's going to come. But then the fact that she wanted to help people was just also very beautiful and amazing. She and I started to coordinate because she was the only one who could communicate with the Spanish speakers that also knew how this operation runs. So we worked very closely with her. To try to help Spanish speaking migrants arrive and be able to get to where they needed to go, whether it was the airport or the Greyhound or wherever they were headed.  There's a lot of these, like, I wish that we didn't have to always look for that silver lining to give us hope. Because we really shouldn't have to deal with these kinds of situations to begin with. But it's the reality of what's happening now because there's no infrastructure, there's no process, there's no federal immigration reform, there's no local infrastructure to support people that are coming through. It really is just the dedication and hard work of the advocates at the organizations that are based out of San Diego that are doing this work. Kennis Chen: I remember when I first come to the state for school and my luggage was delayed and I couldn't find my luggage. I was so nervous because it's completely new environment for me. And I spoke relatively fluent English and staff couldn't understand the English I spoke, so they couldn't help me . You're seeing how people are being treated when they don't speak English, and how less information they could gather when they don't speak the dominated language in the U. S. And the service they get is also very limited. How can we expect people to live a same life as U. S. Born folk when they do not get the same amount of information they could get her just like the example that Kelly provided. Even if you want to gather some government provided documents where you want to get public resources. The information you got just maybe 20 percent or 30 percent the same as the amount that if you could read English. It's unfair for folks. Language and also community are super segregated in the U. S. For example, folks in Chinatown, they could only live in Chinatown because They probably don't speak so called perfect English because it's very hard for them to live in other area in their city. The way that we are limiting the resources for the people who in need is just so insane to me.  Kelly Wong: After going to one of the transit centers and noticing that a lot of Chinese migrants gravitate towards unlicensed drivers who are Chinese migrants themselves, because they're the only one that are Chinese speaking. And when they look at us, they're confused who we are. Even though we speak Chinese, there's still differences, right? Those drivers went through the same thing that they went through. So automatically there might be some trust over there. And we also noticed that there might be some gender dynamics there. Everyone except for one colleague, are, immigrant woman. And many of us are young woman, who back home Oftentimes not seen as authority figure, right? They just think that we're kids, right? Some people when they see us, they might not associate us with authority or people that actually have knowledge to share  On the first date. Kennis make this suggestions of maybe we should make a big sign saying that we are volunteers and we're here to provide some immigration services or basic information if they need it. And we have a free buses to the airport, you don't have to pay those drivers to get to your destination.  Kennis Chen: Not saying those unlicensed drivers are bad people or something like that, but because they were the only one, they sometimes might be seen as authority because they were the only one who were there giving Chinese information. So whatever they say might be seen as truth to those Chinese migrants. As volunteers, we definitely want Chinese migrants to get accurate and reliable resources that we can provide. So we're there making sign and say, Hey, please talk to us. We have free shuttle bus to the airport. Please don't get to the unlicensed driver first, because definitely those people are making money. They're doing business, which I respect, but I don't want them to be the only reliable sources there.  I really see the potential threat that this driver could cause. Because again, if people want to make a living out of their challenging situation, I could not imagine what they would do. And given that because they are also migrants, they probably do not have the work permit right away so they probably need to do certain stuff to make a living. So if they would be the only resources there, then they literally could do anything. Because there's no certain thing to prevent them to do so. Maybe a little bit extreme example could be human trafficking or stuff like that. That could also happen, so we try to hand it out. resources for anti human trafficking hotline and stuff like that to the migrants. I told them, don't trust anything you hear. And be careful about stuff. Like for example, people try to hire you or people try to say, Oh, I could give you a job right away and stuff like that. Maybe try to be more cautious about that.  Kelly Wong: So that's kind of how we try to navigate that dynamics. That being said, like what Kennis was saying, we also respect those drivers are trying to make a living. At the same time, we also want to make sure those new migrants that were just released knows what's going on and they're actually entitled to just get on the free buses to the airport instead of paying God knows how many money they have to pay for a trip to airport or other places.  Kennis Chen: I want to compliment the mentality of those migrants. They are very strong. I could not imagine that if I go through the whole journey and then be captured in the CBP border for a couple days, how would I look? I probably would be very upset and very worried and probably anxious. But those migrant, Every one of them, they're so sweet and they're so optimistic and they express so many gratitude to us. Even though they don't speak the same language, they were like gracias. And thank you, sister. . I feel really like inspiring. even though people at their lowest, they still could share so many appreciation and gratitude to others. So I really just hope them all the best. Kelly Wong: one point, I was helping a Muslim Arabic speaking family. I met this young girl. And she looks so confused. She was crying when she got off from the bus. So I approached her. We were able to communicate through Google Translate.  She told me, she didn't know where her husband is. Her husband doesn't have phones, all the phones were with her. And she doesn't have even one dime of money, nothing. It was a desperate situation. You don't know where your husband is. You don't have any money. She was really panicking. I told her to, you know, stay calm. Don't worry. Hopefully your husband will come in soon. Even though we don't really speak the same language, she actually kept following me the entire time. She told me she wanted to stay beside me, which I was like, yeah, don't worry. If you feel safer, you can stay beside me. And then luckily her husband was there for the next bus. Actually, not too long and not too far away. It was, I think maybe within 30 minutes, her husband came down and I saw them reunited. I was really moved just to see them hugging. And her husband also have some friends that also crossed the border together. So they were all reunited one big family. She came to me and just telling me sister. That's when they start calling me and the other folks sister. Thank you so much for being there for me. And then she told her husband what had happened. So her husband then call me sister to. And then she just gave me the warmest hug. She told me thank you so much. When I was panicking, you were there for me. And the husband, they were so cute. They were young couples. The husband speak English and told me that they have never been apart from each other for more than one day. So the fact that they were separated for two days was very scary for both of them. And then, he tell me that she is the love of his life. Before they went onto the bus, they turn around and call me– goodbye, sister, and God bless you. To this day, it's really moving and keep me going. Annette Wong: I think that this idea of like family reunification is definitely one that rings true for my family as well. Not in the micro sense of , getting off of buses and looking for your family, but a lot of my family's migration history is one of seeking family reunification. My mom actually came to the United States to reunite with her dad, my grandfather in 1968 after the immigration act. What happened was my grandfather had come to the United States first to find a job, make some money, get the home ready to bring over my grandmother, his wife, and then their two daughters. When my grandmother came, unfortunately my grandfather had actually. done his own thing and found himself another family. But the initial desire to come was for that a family reunification. My grandmother wanted to be with her husband. She wanted my mom and my aunt to be with their dad.  The grandmother that I just mentioned, her mother, ended up coming to the United States to reunite with my grandma and my grand uncle, her son. Within the same family, multiple points and multiple generations of family reunification being end goal and the end desire of all of this. For these different generations, my mom was in her twenties when she came, my grandmother was in her forties. My great grandmother was older at the time. When I think about the journeys that people took at those points in their lives, where they probably had established themselves to some extent , but, to leave all that behind, to reunite with family is something that came up during the trip as . This, constant reminder that people want to be with those that they care about. People want to be united with their family. They don't necessarily want to have to go through all this struggle in order to do so, but that's what love is, right? Like that's what love is about.  Kennis Chen: I want to appreciate the volunteer there. Because though our colleague were there for like three days, we were literally so exhausted. I couldn't feel my leg every day. Those volunteer there are from 7 a. m. to 7 p. m. every single day. when you talk to people and when you need to help people, you need to open yourself as well. So you're being vulnerable and sometimes it's just physically, mentally exhausted.  Many volunteer, they are women of color and they're so strong. , I could not imagine life or the world will continue without them. They're just like so strong, so resilient. Part of me was worried because they are all volunteer groups that doing this at their own capacity without the budget they need. And the other part of me think, whatever the challenge would be, they will find a way to get through because they are just like so strong and so human. They're just like beautiful human. I just appreciate the opportunity to see them and work with them. Kelly Wong: We were only there days. We were tired. I slept through the whole weekend. These people are continuously perservering every single day.  the beginning of our interview, we talked about how things just changes within a few days. We do not have migrant center anymore. Within a few days. I don't know how they do it. Within a few days they were able to produce info sheets from multiple languages. I stopped counting. I think at least 8 to 10 languages that I saw of how to get to airport, where you're at, if you have questions, try to do this and that. They ran all the of shelters that host children and their parents. They managed to arrange buses from another nonprofit to transport Migrants from one transit center another one and eventually to the airport so people won't be stuck at one place and creates issue for the local residents too .They have to react on the spot and figure out how to do all of that.  So to see how resilient, quick they are to respond to all this ongoing changes, and frankly problems one after another is, just so inspiring to me as a fellow person to also do direct services.  Annette Wong: The patchwork of immigration laws that we have holding our immigration system together has not been updated for over 20 years. It desperately needs an overhaul. When we're talking about lack of federal action, what does that actually mean? We're talking about comprehensive immigration reform. The world has changed so much in the last 25, 30 years. Globalization. The economy. geopolitical relationships with other countries. Everything has changed so much yet our immigration system has not been updated to reflect it. Ever changing needs of our world. I think that is one of the things that would help address the situation. And not in a way that is. all about punishment and punitive measures. What we're hearing now is immigration is going to be one of the top issues for the upcoming November election, and what everybody's talking about is cracking down on border enforcement. Nobody's talking about where is the pathway for the 11 million? Where is the, humanitarian aid and humanitarian relief for folks that are seeking that. We're not really hearing about that side of things. And I think that's where we hope to see more emphasis is on a more inclusive policy package rather than what we're seeing now, which is just exclusion and punishment, . So, I think that's one level of infrastructure. I think the other level of infrastructure is how do people manage, how do cities and counties manage the influxes. And then also for the receiving city– people going to places like New York, like LA, like San Francisco. Making sure that there's infrastructure there in those cities as well, whether it is temporary shelters, whether it is immigration legal services that are free and low cost or accessing jobs while people are navigating their immigration paperwork. There's a lot of things that localities have been planning for, some are doing very well. Some are needing more local support in order to enact around providing support to migrants. But this kind of thing will help because when migrants can land on their feet and integrate into the local neighborhood, the local economy, et cetera, it will help make things better for everybody. It will be a better life for the migrant. It will also be something that can help a neighborhood thrive. And so I think that's really what we're hoping to see in terms of investments and support for migrants that are coming into the country.  Cheryl Truong: and that's the end of our show! Learn more about the incredible work of Chinese for affirmative action in the show notes.. Speakers and readers of Chinese will also be able to find Kennis' justice patch article written in Chinese, as well as the podcast that Kennis and Kelly made about this very trip.  Apex express is produced by Miko Lee, Paige Chung, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar. Shekar, Anuj Vaidya, Kiki Rivera, Swati Rayasam, Nate Tan, Hien Nguyen, Nikki Chan, and Cheryl Truong   Tonight's show was produced by me, cheryl. Thanks to the team at KPFA for all of their support. And thank you for listening!  The post APEX Express – 03.28.24 – Stories from the Southern Border appeared first on KPFA.

In a striking turn of events, San Diego has become the latest hotspot in the ongoing debate over illegal immigration, as over 1,300 migrants were released onto its streets following the closure of a Welcome Center due to budgetary constraints. This surge in street releases has sparked controversy and concern among local residents and officials, highlighting the broader implications of immigration policies and border security measures. The closure of the Migrant Center, which was instrumental in assisting newly arrived migrants, underscores the acute challenges faced by local governments in managing the influx of migrants, particularly when federal support is perceived as lacking. As Texas intensifies its border security, redirecting migrant routes to cities like San Diego, the situation has escalated, prompting calls for a more sustainable and coordinated response to the migrant crisis. The incident raises critical questions about the balance between humanitarian aid and national security, the responsibilities of federal versus local governments in immigration management, and the long-term implications for communities receiving migrants. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darien-dunstan3/message

The San Diego County Migrant Welcome Center abruptly closed last week. The closure has forced advocates for migrants and asylum seekers to work around the clock. In other news, the Sempra earnings report released yesterday caused a stir among advocates lobbying to replace SDG&E with a municipal utility. Plus, there's a new classroom on wheels in the San Diego Unified School District. We learn about San Diego's latest food truck.

We take a look at the state of the U.S. immigration system and the increased role the San Diego-Tijuana border region is playing in it. The San Diego-Tijuana border region has seen a growing number of migrant arrivals over the last few years. Meanwhile, a San Diego migrant welcome center closes its doors.

The credit union movement's biggest annual advocacy event, the Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) hosted by America's Credit Unions, will occur this year from March 3 to 7 in Washington, D.C. and draw an estimated 6,000 attendees.  Doug English sits with Todd Spiczenski, Chief Association Services Officer at America's Credit Unions, to discuss what changes and improvements attendees can expect and how they can make the most of their time between Hill hikes, networking, and breakout sessions. Tune in for a sneak preview into how GAC's getting bigger and better than ever with an expanded Welcome Center, more exhibitors, and new post-event virtual resources. Stream the episode.

A secret migrant camp pops up in Phoenix. The scramble begins after the release of Epstein's client list. NYC Mayor Eric Adams slams Governor Abbott's handling of the migrant crisis. Tom Horne and Debbie Lesko join the show.

Beamer continues the topic of what the state of New York can do to liven up the drive for tourists and if New York were to open up a few more welcome centers, what should they put in them?

San Diego County's migrant welcome center is expected to run out of money by the end of the year. In other news, a case before the Supreme Court could upend the city of San Diego's robust program for removing guns from people who pose a threat. Plus, hear transgender stories unfolding in a San Diego hair styling school.

In this episode, Julian Lineham, PE, Founding Principal at Studio NYL, talks about the Bonnett Springs Park project. This site was previously inaccessible due to an abandoned rail line. So by removing the abandoned line, many acres of land were suddenly opened up and accessible. This project includes the design and construction of several buildings throughout the site but our talk focuses on four main buildings: the Event Center, Welcome Center, Children's Museum and Nature Center. Materials included mass timber and CLT (cross laminated timber) and concrete and steel. Listen in to hear how soil challenges were addressed and to also hear how sustainability aspects were worked into the design of these structures.If you enjoy this show and want more content like this, visit www.gablmedia.com.

The Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center has arrived, a spectacular new front door to Baylor University. The beautiful, technology-rich facility houses a variety of features and amenities—among them, four columns which offer unique interactive experiences to visitors, an alumni center, ballroom, auditorium, spirit shop, coffee shop, meeting spaces and more. Learn more about the Hurd Welcome Center from Jason Cook, Vice President for Marketing and Communications; Toby Barnett, Interim Vice President for Advancement; and Ross VanDyke, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Recruiting, in this Baylor Connections.

Trump indicted for 3rd time, AL welcome center Rocket is taken down, The High Cost of Retail Theft, Making room for cougars at B'ham Zoo, Power Outage across B'ham MetroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump indicted for 3rd time, AL welcome center Rocket is taken down, The High Cost of Retail Theft, Making room for cougars at B'ham Zoo, Power Outage across B'ham Metro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump indicted for 3rd time, AL welcome center Rocket is taken down, The High Cost of Retail Theft, Making room for cougars at B'ham Zoo, Power Outage across B'ham MetroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump indicted for 3rd time, AL welcome center Rocket is taken down, The High Cost of Retail Theft, Making room for cougars at B'ham Zoo, Power Outage across B'ham MetroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded live on July 1, 2023, from the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita, Oklahoma — this is a history presentation from Cherokee Nation's first-ever Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show! This presentation by Callie Chunestudy featuring research by Cherokee National Treasure Tonia Hogner-Weavel, discusses the history of Cherokee women's fashion from pre-European contact to the present-day. Introduction by OsiyoTV host Jennifer Loren. To watch the video recording of the full Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show, go to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DqDuRjj3gk

FLORIDA FRIDAY - Meth lab found at Florida Welcome Center. Florida woman ate the most wieners in July 4th. Florida rich lady left her mansion to 7 cats. So many new bad laws went into affect in Florida on July 1. Florida police find crack pipe and baby raccoon in woman's backpack. // Weird AF News is the only daily weird news podcast hosted by a comedian and recorded in a closet. Show your SUPPORT by joining the Weird AF News Patreon where you'll get bonus episodes and other weird af news stuff http://patreon.com/weirdafnews  - WATCH Weird AF News on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/weirdafnews - check out the official website https://WeirdAFnews.com and FOLLOW host Jonesy at http://instagram.com/funnyjones or http://twitter.com/funnyjones

Glen Slater grew up riding bikes everywhere and later worked in a bike shop in college, where he realized that his interest in building and machinery connected nicely with his love of cycling. He opened his own shop, Pro Bike Repair, in 2012 and moved it to Serenbe in 2019. In the intervening years, PBR has become the unofficial Welcome center due to its location in the Crossroads, just past the Serenbe entrance, and its laid-back, easygoing feel. So laid-back in fact, that it's not uncommon to see residents and visitors alike head into the bike shop with beer, a glass of wine, and even a charcuterie board ready to unwind and hang out. We also have a very special guest co-host for this conversation. We're joined today by Micah Adler, the COO of Serenbe Real Estate, husband of Steve's middle daughter Kara, and a pretty avid cyclist in his own right. In this interview, Micah and Monica chat with Glen about the bike scene in Serenbe, the many ways people choose to hit the trails and roads in Chatt Hills, and his love for a good pair of jean shorts.Show NotesSerenbe Events CalendarPro Bike RepairHamlin's Big Wheels Keep Turning with Stacy Simmonds (Serenbe Stories)Handup Cycling Gloves & ApparelSCOTT Electric BikesSURLY BikesBelgian Waffle Ride: North Carolina Key Words: Biking, Cycling, BMX, Bike, Pro Bike Repair, E-Bike, Community, Serenbe, Placemaking, Intentional Community, New Urbanism, Retail, Shop 

Going to any hospital can be a stressful experience.  The buildings are usually large and it can be easy to get lost, you may have questions about if you're in the right place, and you may not know exactly who you need to talk to.  Going to a VA hospital can be doubly stressful when you add in benefits and enrollment requirements and a whole slew of other things unique to VA care.  The VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System recognizes Veterans can sometimes have a multitude of questions before they even check in for an appointment, and that's why we recently cut the ribbon on our brand new Welcome Center at our North Las Vegas Medical Center to help Veterans find the answers they need when they come to the hospital.   On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak with two of our Patient Navigators about the role the Welcome Center plays, what it means to Veterans and staff to have this resource available, and much more.

Dr. Kent Ingle serves as the 15th president of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. Before becoming SEU's president in 2011, Dr. Ingle held leadership positions in higher education and the nonprofit sector. He is an expert in leading turnaround organizations and led teams through transformational change in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle.  During his tenure, SEU's enrollment has grown from approximately 2,400 students to over 10,000 students. Over 400,000 square feet of student space has been added on campus, most recently including a state-of-the-art Welcome Center, as well as the addition of new sports teams such as football, wrestling and more. Under his leadership, the university has been recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as the fourth fastest-growing private nonprofit master's institution in the nation. Dr. Ingle has pioneered an innovative education model, through which over 200 partner site campuses have been added to the SEU Network, offering students affordable and accessible education.  kentingle.com Let's Connect: https://www.instagram.com/jr.spear/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jr.spear.3 CREED CONSULTING : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1750459338428570 Please subscribe, like, and share. I appreciate the support and look forward to serving you further in the future. Semper Fi

Today, Ashley Olson, E-Commerce Manager for the Tooth of Time Traders (ToTT) joins the show.  We discuss her seasonal summers in Activities, where she fell in love with the Welcome Center and the role of being the first to greet crews upon their arrival at Philmont.  As an impressively productive retail store with six backcountry satellite operations - we discuss the ToTT's history and goals for the future. Ashley shares her passion for seasonal staff, the intentional training and team bonding that takes place each summer, as well as coaching her personal trademark of Legendary Customer Service.From placing purchase orders, receiving and stocking to website, social media, and custom crew gear - the ToTT really does it all! Philmont Experience2005 - Activities staff 2006 - Activities Tent City Manager 2008 - Activities Assistant Manager2009 - Activities Assistant Manager 2021 April - E-Commerce Manager Tooth of Time Traders fulltime Notable Mentions:EricaBetty PachecoWill TaylorRy TaylorMathias OlsonLuke TeskeShelley O'NeillDavid O'NeillSupport the show

In today's episode, host John Laurito talks with the President of Southeastern University, Dr. Kent Ingle, as they dive deeply into leadership. They talk about Dr. Kent's journey of leadership from ministry to the academe. He also shares his four-step system of leadership and how it has worked for the university throughout the years.Dr. Kent Ingle serves as the president of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Dr. Ingle has a heart for students. He is passionate about educating and preparing students for Christ-centered leadership and service.Since Dr. Ingle became the university's fifteenth president in 2011, the university has seen significant growth. In the fall of 2014, SEU launched the first season of Fire football in its newly completed state-of-the-art football stadium. The College of Natural & Health Sciences Building, featuring a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab, opened in 2015. In 2016 the Student Activities Center was expanded, and a 120,000-square-foot Live/Learn Facility was opened. Additionally, a 32,000-square-foot Welcome Center and an eight-lane NCAA track and field facility are also in the works.Under Dr. Ingle's leadership, the university has grown from 2,546 students in 2011 to a current enrollment of more than 8,700 students, with over 112 extension sites and six regional campuses. Before coming to SEU, Dr. Ingle held leadership positions in higher education, pastoral ministry, and the nonprofit sector. He is an expert in leading turnaround organizations and led teams through transformational change in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle.Dr. Ingle is a founding member of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. He also currently serves on the Global Leadership Council for Pray.com, a social network for faith organizations and nonprofits. A frequent guest on Fox & Friends, CBSN, and CNN, Dr. Ingle is the author of several works on leadership theory and commentary on the issues relating to higher education.Earlier in his career, Dr. Ingle spent 10 years as a television sports anchor for NBC and CBS. He covered many professional sports teams and interviewed several notable athletes, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pete Rose, Muhammad Ali, and Carl Lewis.Learn more about Dr, Kent:Website: https://www.kentingle.com/Check out his podcast, Framework Leadership: https://www.kentingle.com/podcast/Grab a copy of his books: https://www.kentingle.com/books/Show notes:[1:45] What's Kent's background?[5:17] What took him to his next chapter?[8:19] What was the difference between ministry leadership and academia?[9:32] When leaders struggle to adapt to the change[11:40] How does he find the balance between going into the unknown and being confident in leading?[12:56] Listen[15:06] Auditing the context[15:30] Clarifying the goal[17:05] Aligning the vision [19:46] Framework Leadership podcast[20:29] Where to find Dr. Kent[21:35] OutroGet a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9hText LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right NowFor questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at john@lauritogroup.com