Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation Wed, 27 May 2026 15:07:03 -0400 https://sparkingchange.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation yes Berks County, PA, USA 79180e56-8c66-5f16-a4e6-c6944ad58e0e Berks County Community Foundation episodic false Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation convenes the foundation's team of experts with local leaders, volunteers, and change-makers to share the good work being done across Berks County.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Berks County Community Foundation https://storage.buzzsprout.com/jci34z2j9u9tf2t5rbvdq2w9d1rr?.jpg Sparking Change: The Official Podcast of Berks County Community Foundation Berks for School, for Good Berks for School, for Good Chad Ganley, Assistant Director of Career Development at Kutztown University, and Katie Diamond Rothstein, Generation Impact Program Director at VOiCEup Berks, join the Sparking Change podcast to discuss student retention in Berks County. The idea to increase employment and internship opportunities, as well as community engagement for recently graduated college students, originated from an initiative led by Kim Sheffer, Lifelong Learning Program Officer for Berks County Community Foundation.

You can connect with the foundation by emailing info@bccf.org, calling at 610-685-2223, or visiting www.bccf.org.

Chad Ganley can be reached by emailing ganley@kutztown.edu

Katie Diamond Rothstein can be reached by emailing katie@voiceupberks.org 

]]> Chad Ganley, Assistant Director of Career Development at Kutztown University, and Katie Diamond Rothstein, Generation Impact Program Director at VOiCEup Berks, join the Sparking Change podcast to discuss student retention in Berks County. The idea to increase employment and internship opportunities, as well as community engagement for recently graduated college students, originated from an initiative led by Kim Sheffer, Lifelong Learning Program Officer for Berks County Community Foundation.

You can connect with the foundation by emailing info@bccf.org, calling at 610-685-2223, or visiting www.bccf.org.

Chad Ganley can be reached by emailing ganley@kutztown.edu

Katie Diamond Rothstein can be reached by emailing katie@voiceupberks.org 

]]> Buzzsprout-19250113 Wed, 27 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 1569 1 3 full false What's Up with Plastic, Berks? What's Up with Plastic, Berks? Emily Smedley, Environment and Energy Program Officer, hosts a conversation with representatives from What'SUP Berks, a local initiative whose mission is to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of Single-Use Plastic (SUP) bags in all stores, restaurants, and businesses in Berks County by 2027. By providing educational opportunities, engaging with community leaders, and encouraging the use of reusable bags, What'SUP Berks hopes to ultimately help pass legislation banning SUP in the Commonwealth. Listen to the episode now to learn about the environmental, health, and financial repercussions SUP has on the Berks community--and how you can join the fight against SUP. Tom Crotty, Executive Team Member, and Linda Dapcic-Angst, Treasurer of What'SUP Berks, join the conversation.

]]> Emily Smedley, Environment and Energy Program Officer, hosts a conversation with representatives from What'SUP Berks, a local initiative whose mission is to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of Single-Use Plastic (SUP) bags in all stores, restaurants, and businesses in Berks County by 2027. By providing educational opportunities, engaging with community leaders, and encouraging the use of reusable bags, What'SUP Berks hopes to ultimately help pass legislation banning SUP in the Commonwealth. Listen to the episode now to learn about the environmental, health, and financial repercussions SUP has on the Berks community--and how you can join the fight against SUP. Tom Crotty, Executive Team Member, and Linda Dapcic-Angst, Treasurer of What'SUP Berks, join the conversation.

]]> Berks County Community Foundation Buzzsprout-18947041 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0400 1533 1 2 full false Social Services in Rural Libraries Social Services in Rural Libraries Cindy Milian, Health & Human Services Program Officer, hosts a conversation with representatives from United Way of Berks County, Friend, Inc., Bethel-Tulpehocken Public Library and Hamburg Public Library. Together, the group discusses the need for social services in our rural libraries, what it means to meet people where they are, and the foundation's newest initiative.

]]> Cindy Milian, Health & Human Services Program Officer, hosts a conversation with representatives from United Way of Berks County, Friend, Inc., Bethel-Tulpehocken Public Library and Hamburg Public Library. Together, the group discusses the need for social services in our rural libraries, what it means to meet people where they are, and the foundation's newest initiative.

]]> Berks County Community Foundation Buzzsprout-18870151 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400 1701 1 1 full false