WFHB

Navigating the hills of south central Indiana by bicycle can be expensive, time-consuming and strenuous. The Go Bloomington transportation demand management program is trying to lower the cost of electric bicycles to Bloomington locals with e-bike vouchers. The e-bike voucher campaign re-launches in January with larger rebates aimed at low-income residents. Program manager Jeffrey Jackson has the details.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org

This episode of Activate! was produced by Joseph Ringer

Across the United States there are nearly a thousand Community Action Agencies, fighting poverty with public assistance programs. For WFHB listeners it’s the South Central Community Action Program, serving 4,000 local families every year. SCCAP is hosting a health and wellness fair tomorrow at the downtown Boys and Girls Club.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org

Kaley Smith (l) and Jessie Yeary (r)

Shoveling goat poop doesn’t sound like much fun, but Alex Valdez is happy to do it. Alex works at The Goat Conspiracy, a local farm that was shut down and converted into an animal sanctuary. Alex is a vegetarian for ethical reasons, but he’s not preachy about it. Instead Alex promotes “reducitarianism” – making small changes at the individual level to lower your impact on the natural world. He believes those personal choices add up to real change in the big picture. Alex is here to ask you to be that change.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org

This episode of Activate! was produced by Alex Hynes, Max Schneider and Erica Angilletta

Dana Jones over at Wheeler Mission says solving the housing crisis takes more than a hot shower and a warm bed. Dana is trying to build a support structure for the unhoused, and to do that he says they need healthy and supportive relationships. Dana is hoping you can support the Wheeler Mission mantra of help, hope, and healing.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org

This episode of Activate! was produced by Owen Koehler

This weekend the second-largest student-run philanthropy effort in the world happens right here in Bloomington. The Indiana University Dance Marathon raises money for Riley Children’s Hospital for 36 hours straight. Macy Coers looks for ways to make this weekend engaging and bring in new participants, creating games and booking local bands to play.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org

This episode of Activate! was produced by Danielle Stockwell

The College Democrats at Indiana University have registered over 1,000 students to vote and helped elect Bloomington’s first Gen Z city council member…but they’re just getting started. The group’s press secretary Damian Arambula has been working to boost political involvement among college students. He believes that local politics is where real change happens, and he sees Indiana House District 62 as the “most flippable” race in the entire state.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org

This episode of Activate! was produced by Luke Vogel

Not so long ago, it was totally legal to put a restriction on your property deed preventing Black people from buying your house. This shadowy chapter in local history was the subject of a fascinating presentation hosted by the Monroe County History Club. Founder Michael Carter recounts how the club grew from a few people in the basement of the library into a popular monthly luncheon and a growing online video archive on YouTube.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org.

This episode of Activate! was produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University

Wonderlab is Bloomington’s nonprofit hands-on learning center. Don’t call it a children’s museum – education director Kelli Debikey says Wonderlab empowers people from ALL generations to discover and learn. As a former schoolteacher Kelli loves going beyond rigid classroom curriculum to deliver hands-on science experiences.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org.

Tinker. Hack. Repair. Nothing is trash at Bloominglabs, a nonprofit “makerspace” where anyone can learn how to fix broken stuff. Go there on a Wednesday night and you might see Jason Brown. Jason fixed a broken rake at Bloominglabs and now he loves hanging out with other creative do-it-yourselfers.

Their annual makers conference is called “Makevention,” happening this year on Saturday October 12 in Switchyard Park, where you can see a jet ski motorcycle or play the banana piano.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org or by emailing [email protected].

Jason Brown straddles the “ScootSki” jet ski motorcycle

Got a bat in your attic? Baby possum crying under your porch? Your local animal control cannot help with these things but WildCare can. This local non profit rescues sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife and cares for them until they can be returned to the wild. Jules Erwin is a naturalist who enjoyed having WildCare at her events so much that she decided to join their board of directors.

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org or by emailing [email protected].

Jules Erwin (center) in photo by Gage Forrest