Tanya Zabinski, a traveling artist from New York, is making her debut as author illustrator with Peace, Love, Action!: Everyday Acts of Goodness. The book is an offshoot of Zabinski's inspirational designs that she and her husband hand print on eco-friendly apparel and sell under the name of Planet Love. For a look at the project's scope and philosophy, WBOI's Julia Meek caught the author by phone during the Wheatland Music Festival to discuss the experience, and what Tanya calls "a guide to building a peaceful world." This interview originally aired on 89.1 WBOI on September 10, 2019. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Since the Fort Wayne Children's Choir has been unable to perform this season due to COVID-19 restrictions, it turned its focus to recording a brand new holiday album called Sing! Choirs of Angels. The collection includes a performance of Robert Shaw's "The Many Moods of Christmas," accompanied by a full orchestra. Other seasonal pieces listeners will connect with are "This Little Babe" from Benjamin Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols," and "Lightsongs," by Fort Wayne Philharmonic bassist, Adrian Mann. "Music is something that helps bring people together," says Jonathan Busarow, the choir's Executive Artistic Director, "and after a time where we have been so far apart, and away from one another, it's great when we can come together, and to make music." For a look at the project's scope and purpose, WBOI's Julia Meek talked with the Busarow via zoom to learn what impact the experience has made on everyone involved. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

As Creative Women of the World continues to flourish in its second decade of operation, founder, Lorelei Verlee, is passing the directorship of its retail store in downtown Fort Wayne to local women's advocate, Lynne Gilmore. This new arrangement will allow Verlee to return to her first and biggest passion, which is training women around the world to create and manage successful businesses. And Gilmore, whose forte is organizing and networking, will be carrying the torch locally to expand the commercial business and develop local projects. WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with them to discuss the reason for this shift, the additional programs and training it will generate and how it will affect the organization's home base as well as the global community it serves. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Keegan Lee. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

As tightening COVID-19 restrictions continue to diminish the prospects of work for freelance musicians in the coming months, Alicia Pyle has reactivated her Fort Wayne Freelance Musician Fundraiser project. This effort was originally initiated last March when the coronavirus pandemic forced the closing of music venues completely. After a summer of somewhat normal live music activity, Pyle feels that it's time to get ahead of the next wave and preserve the local music scene. To learn what this reboot looks and sounds like, WBOI's Julia Meek spoke with Alicia by Zoom about its purpose as well as the impact it is making on the entire community. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter, Keegan Lee, and Brittany Smith. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Award winning author Lynn Cullen is a Fort Wayne native who draws heavily on her childhood memories to spin the plot of her latest novel, The Sisters of Summit Avenue. The tightly woven story, set in the era of the Great Depression, is driven by a host of that day's sociological issues, as well as its pop culture icon, Betty Crocker, and the impact her marketing campaign had on the nation. WBOI's Julia Meek spoke with Cullen by phone to learn what motivated this approach, and how the author regards her hometown, and those family dynamics and relationships, now that they have shaped the tale. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter, Keegan Lee, and Brittany Smith. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne's Downtown Improvement District has found a creative way to keep the community safe while preserving its yearly holiday shopping tradition. The reinvented celebration, called The Days of Holly Shopping," takes place every Saturday until Christmas. To see what 2020's festivities will look like, WBOI's Julia Meek contacted D.I.D. president, Mike Galbraith, by Zoom to discuss the importance of this event, and just what's in store this year for shoppers and shop owners alike. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Brittany Smith. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne native Eric Rhoads is an internationally recognized artist and career entrepreneur now living in Austin. Since graduating from Homestead High School nearly forty-five years ago, his accomplishments have included all aspects of business turnarounds, radio broadcasting and programming, publishing and marketing which he balances with a love for painting, and teaching others to do the same. When WBOI's Julia Meek learned that Rhoads was in town for a show at the Castle Gallery last month, she invited him into the studio to talk about his artistic passions and how insatiable curiosity continues to shape his world. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo” by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Brittany Smith. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne resident Mike Durbin may spend his nights as webmaster and assistant systems manager at the Journal Gazette, but his off hours are devoted to photographing the world he lives in. Born in Kentucky, Durbin came to the area eighteen years ago to school, and decided to make it his home. To gain insight on what drives his passions and where all they lead him, WBOI's Julia Meek contacted Mike by Zoom to discuss how this type of storytelling, both on and off the clock, has shaped that world and defines his sense of place. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo” by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Brittany Smith. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Purdue University Fort Wayne's Environmental Resources Center has a greatly expanded new home on the campus, located right along the St. Joseph River. WBOI's Julia Meek sat down with the center's director, Biology Professor Bruce Kingsbury, to talk about this development, the opportunities it will afford the university and the impact it will have on the community. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo” by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Brittany Smith. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the Saint Mary's Soup Kitchen will be able to safely host its 42nd Thanksgiving Dinner this Thursday by turning it into a carryout only affair.

The soup kitchen got its start in 1975 when Father Tom O'Connor began serving a few bowls of soup out the back door of the Rectory to those in need. During that year it grew to serving 75,000 meals and is now serving over 300,000 meals annually.

The kitchen is just one of the church's ministries, along with the Ave Maria House And Miss Virginia's Food Pantry. Matthew 25 Health & Dental Clinic, now a freestanding organization, got its start with the church's help as well, in 1976. To learn the scope of the Soup Kitchen's citywide celebration and what this year's reinvention will look and taste like, WBOI's Julia Meek was able to reach its chairman, Pat McBride, by telephone during a lull in the turkey roasting operation to discuss the event's history, evolution and place in the community. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo” by KelsiCote. Our administrative assistants are Olivia Fletter and Brittany Smith. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Steve Mullaney, and Sydney Wagner.