Start Local

Students from under-resourced communities face hurdles that can block or limit their educational opportunities. We speak with Katie Duffus, Executive Director, Chester County Futures, to learn how she and her colleagues support students, connecting them to resources and networks, to enable those young people to flourish in school and life. As Chester County Futures celebrates its 30th anniversary, Katie explains how her team walks with students from middle school through college graduation and beyond. She spells out their programs and explains how students can engage with this program across Chester County. Katie also shares her insight as a nonprofit leader, including skills garnered as a two-sport college athlete. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LINKS Chester County Futures Website: ccfutures.org Instagram: instagram.com/chestercountyfutures Facebook: facebook.com/chestercountyfutures LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chester-county-futures Local Organization Spotlight First Resource Bank Coatesville Area School District Additional Links Smedley County Park Ridley Creek State Park Related Episodes Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andrea Youndt Steering a Large Local Nonprofit with Bertram L. Lawson II ADVERTISEMENT Need legal help? The Chester County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service connects community members with local attorneys for a $25, 30-minute consultation. Start local—and find a path forward. Get legal help

Finding quality mental health and well-being support can make the difference between struggling and flourishing. We sit down with Katie Bowman, Executive Director with New London Counseling Center, about how her team of therapists works to meet the needs of communities in southern Chester County. Katie explains how as a nonprofit, the organization provides counseling, group education, and workshops for local adults and young people. She guides us through the different avenues that her therapists work with and support their neighbors. Katie helps us understand how they partner with schools and other nonprofits to support young people. Importantly, Katie also dispels some myths around people seeking help - making it clear that seeking help is a sign of strength. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LINKS New London Counseling Center Website: newlondoncounselingcenter.com Instagram: instagram.com/newlondoncounselingcenter/ Facebook: facebook.com/NewLondonCounselingCenter/ YouTube: youtube.com/@newlondoncounselingcenter3362 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/new-london-counseling-center-pa/ Katie Bowman on LinkedIn Local Business Spotlight Lola’s Jackson & Haines (on Instagram) Brookside Greenhouse (on Facebook) Maple Shade Greenhouse ADVERTISEMENT Need legal help? The Chester County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service connects community members with local attorneys for a $25, 30-minute consultation. Start local—and find a path forward. Get legal help

Long abandoned by the music industry, vinyl records have made a strong return to the marketplace in recent years, as music lovers of all generations embrace this historically significant medium. We speak at length with rock music legend Phil Nicolo and his daughter-in-law, Ashley Nicolo, about running Studio4Vinyl, a world-class record pressing plant in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. As owner, Phil, and Chief Operating Officer, Ashley, walk us around their factory floor, they teach us about the complex and unpredictable process of pressing vinyl records. We learn about industry trends and hear about Studio4Vinyl’s cutting edge process for producing the best sounding records. Of course, we throw in a question or two about Phil’s storied career in music production, mixing, and mastering. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LINKS Studio 4 Vinyl Website: studio4vinyl.com Instagram: instagram.com/studio4vinyl Twitch: twitch.tv/studio4vinyl New promotional video from Studio4Vinyl Studio4 Recording Studio (on Facebook) Musicians/Artists Saturation by Urge Overkill $uicideboy$ Ice-T Taj Mahal – Like Never Before (1991 album) Urge Overkill – Saturation (1994 album) Todd Rundgren – Something/Anything? (1972 album) Couldn’t I Just Tell You by Todd Rundgren Turnstile Local Business Spotlight Jack’s Pizza and Pasta Double D Diner Additional Links Women in Vinyl Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) Seedcopa Third Man Pressing RIAA Curve (Wikipedia entry) Memory Music Studios ADVERTISEMENT Need legal help? The Chester County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service connects community members with local attorneys for a $25, 30-minute consultation. Start local—and find a path forward. Get legal help

Children in the midst of proceedings in Dependency Court face countless questions, fears, and uncertainties. To understand more, we speak with Leigh Anne McKelvey, Executive Director of CASA Youth Advocates, which serves Delaware and Chester Counties as part of a national nonprofit network. A social worker first, Leigh Anne guides us through the challenges confronting children who have experienced abuse and neglect – and explains how CASA’s staff and volunteers advocate for those children. She unpacks how CASA’s volunteers are screened and trained to support children navigating instability in many areas of their lives. Leigh Anne also shares her passion for teaching graduate-level social work students and reveals how she likes to unwind amidst the pressures of leading CASA, teaching courses, and raising a young family. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LINKS CASA Youth Advocates Serving Delaware and Chester Counties Website: chescocasa.org Instagram: instagram.com/casayouthadvocates Facebook: facebook.com/CASAYouthAdvocates CASA on YouTube Careers with CASA: delcocasa.org/jobs-casa Leigh Anne McKelvey on LinkedIn Local Business Spotlight TLC Rescue (To Love a Canine) ADVERTISEMENT Need legal help? The Chester County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service connects community members with local attorneys for a $25, 30-minute consultation. Start local—and find a path forward. Get legal help

For many people, few culinary pleasures compare with fine Swiss chocolate. Indulging our own dreams, we joined Albert Lauber, Owner and Chocolatier at Neuchatel Chocolates, on his factory floor in Oxford, Pennsylvania. Surrounded by the irresistible sights and aromas of chocolate being made, we spoke with Albert about the craft and business behind it all. He explained how he transforms Swiss chocolate into delicious truffles – and how he makes his own chocolate from Philippine cocoa beans. We also explored industry trends, the challenges of managing a factory, and his approach to sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers. If you have even a hint of a sweet tooth, this delicious episode is not to be missed. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LINKS Neuchatel Chocolates neuchatelchocolates.com swisschips.com Facebook: facebook.com/NeuchatelChocolates Instagram: instagram.com/neuchatel_swiss_chocolates ChocoEve Website: chocoeve.com Local Business Spotlight SILO Additional Links Extract and Box Maplehofe Diary The Market at Liberty Place Related Episodes Buying, Renovating, and Renting Properties with Geoff Bosley ADVERTISEMENT Need legal help? The Chester County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service connects community members with local attorneys for a $25, 30-minute consultation. Start local—and find a path forward. Get legal help