Strengthening Communities

In this episode, we continue our 50th anniversary reflection by exploring the power of lived experience, relationships, and purpose in action. As Access Services looks back on five decades of impact, hosts Mike and Mark are joined by Marissa, Director of the Bucks County Life program, whose journey with Access Services comes full circle.

In this episode of Strengthening Communities, hosts Mark and Mike sit down with former President & CEO Rob Reid to revisit the early years of Access Services and the mission that has guided the organization for five decades. Rob reflects on the pivotal shift in the late 1970s and early ’80s as Access Services helped lead the movement from institutional care to community-based living for people with developmental disabilities. From the impact of the landmark Halderman v. Pennhurst case to the challenges of opening the first group homes, Rob shares powerful first-hand stories from a time when there were no templates, just a committed team determined to do the right thing. Together, Mark, Mike and Rob explore how person-centered support evolved, how the team worked to build trust within neighborhoods, and how innovative models emerged from listening deeply to people’s needs. They also reflect on the personal impact of this work: the relationships that shaped them, the life lessons learned, and the shared commitment to stepping into the gaps where support is needed most. This episode offers a meaningful, behind-the-scenes look at the values, stories, and mission that have defined Access Services for 50 years, and continue to strengthen communities today.

In this powerful episode of the Strengthening Communities Podcast, we continue our two-part exploration of hunger, homelessness, and the lived experiences of our neighbors facing housing insecurity. This installment turns toward the reality of homelessness in our region, featuring a moving interview with Matt, a former resident of the Tent City encampment in Pottstown, and a first-hand account of what it takes to survive outdoors through brutal winters. Joined by longtime volunteers John Niarhos and Rob Heayn from Pottstown Beacon of Hope, a seasonal winter warming center, we hear candid reflections on resilience, leadership, and the quiet acts of human connection that make survival possible. Matt’s story brings a deep personal perspective to the crisis of homelessness. Resources: Code Blue Shelters: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1L91TI7P9GUvMQEoM_9vwd1lvE2dach0&ll=40.20692792666611%2C-75.48862365000001&z=10 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Q1W81282VZII/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex Understanding Homelessness: https://www.accessservices.org/understanding-homelessness/

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Mike, Mark, and their guests explore the transformative impact of lived experience in shaping community, recovery, and mental health support. Featuring voices from Creating Increased Connections of RHD and Minding Your Minds, the conversation centers around how individuals who have faced challenges, such as mental health struggles, can become vital contributors to their communities. Listeners will hear inspiring stories of resilience, including the journey of Mike Nelson, who shares how his personal experiences have fueled his passion for creating inclusive, non-judgmental spaces for healing and growth where people can find their purpose. The episode also features Kristen Harootunian from Minding Your Mind, a nonprofit focused on reducing mental health stigma through youth engagement and storytelling. This episode is a moving reminder that recovery is not just about overcoming hardship, it's about discovering purpose, building relationships, and recognizing the inherent value in every person’s story. Learn more about the resources mentioned: Creating Increased Connections: https://www.ciconnections.org/ Integrated Diversity Education: https://www.ideyas.org/ Minding Your Mind: https://mindingyourmind.org/

This episode of the Strengthening the Community podcast continues the discussion on disability and belonging, featuring Bev Weinberg of Integrate for Good and Angela McFarland of Jake’s Baristas. Both share how their organizations create spaces for people with disabilities to connect, contribute, and thrive, whether through leadership programs, inclusive service projects, or a welcoming coffee shop & open mic nights. The conversation emphasizes that belonging is a human need, not a special one, and that true inclusion comes from proximity, safety, and opportunities to give back. Stories of individuals working in competitive employment, volunteering, and building confidence illustrate how communities become stronger when everyone is valued and celebrated. Learn more about Bev and Angela's organizations: https://integrateforgood.org/ https://www.jakesbaristas.com/

Join some of our Crisis Prevention and Intervention team members, individuals with lived experience and one of their partners in the Montgomery County Veterans Response Team (VRT) as they discuss PTSD and how to support those in our community who may be struggling. Trauma is part of human experience. Healing happens in connection to our community.

National Foster Care Month recognizes the important role that people from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth, and families. The 2025 theme, “Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.” highlights the need to create a support system that authentically engages and prepares young people who are leaving foster care. In 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care, ages 14–21 years old, exited care without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living. Our hosts, Mark Boorse and Brianna Amantia, are joined by Ursula Yao, our Director of Foster Care, John Crawley, a young adult who has aged out of foster care, and Juli Apple, our Provider Recruiter and long-time advocate for children and families who have adopted through the foster care system. Together, they discuss the foster care system, the challenges that young adults face as they exit the foster care system, the support foster families and children need and how the community can come alongside the child welfare system to help build strong supports. Resources mentioned in episode: Valley Youth House Mentoring Program https://valleyyouthhouse.org/programs/life-skills-independent-living/mentoring/ The Kindness Project https://mykindnessproject.org/ Foster Love https://fosterlove.com/ Access Services Foster Care Foster Care & Foster Homes | Access Services Become a Foster family Providers - Access Services

Introducing Strengthening Communities, a podcast where we will discuss a variety of topics in the human services fields and how our communities can be strengthened as we all work together.