Chasing the Dream

A look into local school districts' response to the COVID-19 crisis and the unique challenges faced by rural schools. Host Natasha Thompson, President & CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, has a conversation with Dr. Patricia Follette, Superintendent of the Whitney Point Central School District. Interviews with students responding to the crisis are also featured.

A look into Community Arts of Elmira and their public art initiative, Elmira Infinite Canvas. Dr. Connie Sullivan-Blum, Executive Director of The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes comes to the studio for a conversation about how the arts impact our local economy and we hear from a local artist chasing her dream.

Interview with Dr. Beth Dollinger, Food Meets Health program in Elmira, NY. Interview with Cynthia Cave-Gaetani, Director of Food and Nutrition at Lourdes Hospital. Interview with Rachel Mischler, a registered dietitian with Lourdes Hospital. A Dream interview with Robin, from the Speakers Bureau in Bath, NY.

This episode of Chasing the Dream takes a look at the modern farmer, the struggles that they face every day, and the organizations that are offering them support. Host Natasha Thompson interviews Kate Downes, Outreach Director of the New York FarmNet organization, and a look at a regenerative farm in upstate New York.

We take a look at the work that the Food Bank of the Southern Tier is doing in our region, how food pantries are an integral part of a complex system to make sure that no family goes without food, and how COVID-19 has impacted those in need as well as the organizations working hard to help them.

We visit the Stand With Me Service Dog Team Training Program to see how some veterans are coping with life after being in the service by training their own service dogs. We Speak with Cara Tilton, Vice President of the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group, about the needs of local veterans, and the services available to them. We also visit a veteran living in Bath, NY.

This episode of Chasing the Dream takes a look at suicide, and the effect it has on family members and loved ones. Karen Heisig, with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Deborah Duffek, a suicide prevention advocate, share their experience with losing someone to suicide, and how it moved them to work with others facing similar tragedies.

We revisit some of the organizations that were featured in the series. We also speak to Amanda McIntyre, Executive Director of the Klee Foundation, about the inspiration for Chasing the Dream, and how by telling the stories of people in our community, Chasing the Dream can help foster understanding and compassion towards our neighbors here in the Southern Tier.