Strengthening Communities

In this episode of the Strengthening Communities podcast, Mark and Mike sit down with County Partner and former Access employee Tricia Malott. Together, they reflect on over 40 years of shared history and look back at the early days of community-based human services. Tune in to hear how rallying a community and thinking outside the box (and the treatment plan) remains the ultimate blueprint for ca...

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. Marissa shares her story of first being served as a young ad...

In this episode of the Strengthening Communities podcast, hosts Mark and Mike sit down with Don and Terri Bredamus (former house parents of a group home in the early 1980s) and their daughter Kristie. Together, they revisit what it was like to raise three young children while also supporting three men with intellectual disabilities as part of everyday family life.

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 peop...

The Season 2 premiere of the Strengthening Communities podcast marks the start of Access Services’ 50th anniversary year with a powerful look back at the organization’s roots and lasting impact. Through archival stories, staff reflections, and a moving feature on Bob, a man who transitioned from crisis into a thriving Lifesharing home, the episode highlights Access’s unwavering commitment to helpi...

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...

In today’s episode, Mark and Mike dive into one of the most pressing issues facing our communities: hunger. Listen as they explore what food insecurity really looks like, why it’s on the rise, and how organizations like Martha’s Choice Marketplace are not only feeding families but building connections that transform lives. Join us as we uncover the stories behind the statistics, and learn how each...

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 contribut...

In this episode of the Strengthening Community Podcast, we begin a two-part series called Reimagining Recovery. Guests Ivan Rosa, John Niarhos, and Ryan Schweiger share both professional insights and lived experiences with addiction and recovery. Together, with hosts Mark and Mike, they explore how substance use impacts families, workplaces, and neighborhoods, and highlight the importance of conne...

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 sho...

This episode introduces new co-host Mike McKenna and sets the tone for a podcast centered around building inclusive communities. The conversation is deeply personal, reflective, and rooted in the value of belonging—especially for people with disabilities. The episode includes interviews with community members with disabilities, centering their lives, insights, and the supports that help them thriv...

PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, typically occurs in people after they have experienced a particularly traumatic event like war, violent physical/sexual/verbal assault, accidents, medical trauma, and so forth. Many people recover from PTSD after a few days, weeks, or months. Yet, for others, the recovery road might be much longer. Join some of our Crisis Prevention and Interv...

Every June, Pride Month is celebrated globally. This Pride month, we are reminded that our greatest strength is found in our shared humanity and unity with everyone in our community. Communities are their strongest when everyone has a sense of belonging.   Join our host, Mark Boorse and some of our Crisis Prevention and Intervention team members, Lindsey, Dottie and Alex, as they share their work...

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...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. One of the less talked about topics is the intersection of incarceration and mental illness. According to NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness, “About two in five people who are...

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.