As of the 2024 census, women and girls comprise approximately half the population of Chester County, Pennsylvania. With that mind, we speak at length with Cheryl Brubaker, Executive Director of The Fund for Women and Girls. Cheryl details a number of the challenges that local women and girls face, and walks us through The Fund’s programs to address those challenges. She highlights The Fund’s focus on advocacy and helps us understand the direction of the organization’s current efforts.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

The Fund for Women and Girls

• Website: thefundcc.org
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-fund-for-women-and-girls
• Facebook: facebook.com/thefundchesco
• Instagram: instagram.com/thefundchesco
• YouTube: youtube.com/@ChescoFund
• The Blueprint Report (4th edition)
• Impact Report (2023/2024)

Additional Links

• Kaly – clothing, gifts, and accessories
• Committee of Seventy
• Women Against Abuse

TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

As we embrace the hustle-bustle of the holiday season, local retail shop owners are rushing to make the most of their busiest time of the year. We were lucky to connect with Kari Matthews, owner of Clean Slate Goods in Kennett Square. Kari unfolds how she built a purpose-driven retail boutique that connects local shoppers with makers from around the world. Kari shares the story behind her storefront, the values guiding her sourcing decisions, and why investing in artisans and ethical production matters deeply to her. We also talk about the in-person experience she creates for customers, the community partnerships that shape her business, and the impact of choosing gifts that truly change lives.

OUR PARTNERS

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Clean Slate Goods

• Website: cleanslategoods.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/cleanslategoods
• Facebook: facebook.com/cleanslategoods

Local Nonprofits

• Kennett Area Community Services
• Young Moms
• The Wardrobe
• Family Promise of Southern Chester County
• Kennett Collaborative

Additional Links

• Boutique Hub
• WhizBang Retail Training

Related Episodes

• Keeping Kennett Square Welcoming and Beautiful with Daniel Embree

TRANSCRIPT

The full episode transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

The growth and vibrancy of Kennett Square and Southern Chester County is shaped by the places where the community gathers, works, and connects. In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Bosley, Vice President and CFO of LGB Properties, to explore how a family-run real estate company transforms buildings into community assets across the southern end of the county. Geoff shares the story behind the Market at Liberty Place – and walks us through the company’s approach to renovation, tenant partnerships, and supporting local businesses. We also discuss the challenges of running a boutique property firm, and Geoff’s years of service in local government.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

LGB Properties

• lgbproperties.com
• Geoff Bosley on LinkedIn
• Property listings: lgbproperties.com/property-listings

Local Restaurants

• The Market at Liberty Place (An LGB Properties venue)
• Mary Pat’s Provisions
• State Street Pizza & Grill
• Kaboburritos
• La Verona
• The Naked Olive
• Lily Sushi & Grill
• Hangry Bear
• Braeloch Brewing
• Portabellos of Kennett Square
• Flowers Cafe

Local Nonprofits

• Kennett Collaborative
• The Mushroom Festival
• Mushroom Cap Half Marathon
• Camp Dreamcatcher
• The Garage Community and Youth Center

Related Episodes

• Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk
• Keeping Kennett Square Welcoming and Beautiful with Daniel Embree

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

Despite the great wealth in Chester County, homelessness is a significant and persistent local issue. We sit down with Jessica Chappell, Executive Director of Safe Harbor of Chester County, to explore how her team provides shelter, meals, and compassionate support to adults experiencing homelessness. Jessica walks us through the realities facing the financially at risk population, the growing challenges around attainable housing, and the trauma-informed approach that guides the organization’s work. We discuss Safe Harbor’s partnerships, volunteer network, and the systemic pressures shaping homelessness in our county.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Safe Harbor of Chester County

• Website: safeharborofcc.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/safeharbor_ofchestercounty
• Facebook: facebook.com/safeharborofchestercounty
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/safe-harbor-of-chester-county-inc/
• Givebutter (Donations/Events): givebutter.com/safe-harbor-of-chester-county-inc

Local Nonprofits

• Chester County Food Bank
• West Chester Food Cupboard
• The Melton Center –
• PA 211
• Act Now
• Camp Dreamcatcher
• Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County

Additional Links

• Better Than Bacon Improv
• Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center

Related Episodes

• Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk
• Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence and Other Crimes with Christine Zaccarelli

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our site as soon as it is available.

Homelessness and housing insecurity affect people in every community – including here in Chester County. We sit down with Kelly Faust, Community Engagement Coordinator at Good Samaritan Services, to learn how the organization supports individuals and families on their journey from crisis to stability. Kelly explains Good Sam’s personalized, relationship-based approach, its housing programs, and the wraparound services that include mentorship, counseling, and microloans. We also talk about the community partnerships that make their work possible – and the local events and fundraisers that make their work possible.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Good Samaritan Services – Good Sam

• Website: goodsamservices.org
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/good-samaritan-services
• Instagram: instagram.com/goodsamserv
• Facebook: facebook.com/GoodSamServ
• Kelly Faust on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelly-faust-477b9a2b3

Additional Organizations

• Anne’s Heart
• Phoenixville Women’s Outreach
• Phoenixville Free Clinic
• Union Community Care
• PA CareerLink
• Orion Communities
• Open Hearth, Inc.
• Citizen Advocacy of Chester County
• United Way of Chester County
• New Story Church
• Hopewell United Methodist Church

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

Electricity powers nearly every part of our lives – and the infrastructure behind it keeps our communities running. In this episode, we talk with Jim O’Farrell, Director of High Voltage Operations at the Tri-M Group, based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Jim walks us through how Tri-M delivers electrical construction, high-voltage services, building automation, and energy analytics across the region – and beyond. We also discuss Tri-M’s employee-ownership model, its accredited apprenticeship program, and the company’s commitment to workforce development and focus on supporting the local community.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Tri-M Group

• Website: tri-mgroup.com
• Careers: tri-mgroup.com/careers
• Tri-M Group’s Apprenticeship Program
• Instagram: instagram.com/tri_mgroup
• Facebook: facebook.com/TheTriMGroupLLC
• Jim O'Farrell on LinkedIn

Additional Links

• Penn Medicine
• Kennett Library
• YMCA of Greater Brandywine
• KACS (Kennett Area Community Service)
• Camp Dreamcatcher
• Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC)
• KAU Little League (Kennett-Unionville)

Related Episodes

• Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

History lives all around us in Chester County – in our buildings, our landscapes, and our communities. In this episode, we sit down with Conor Hepp, President of the Chester County History Center, to explore how one of our region’s oldest cultural institutions continues to preserve and share the stories that shape us. Conor walks us through the Center’s extensive collection, the creative ways the organization adapted during the pandemic, and how new technologies and community programs are helping expand its reach to audiences near and far. We also hear how the Center is honoring local legacies through exhibits, walking tours, and partnerships, and why history – even when difficult – must be told truthfully.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Chester County History Center

• Website: mycchc.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/ChesterCountyHistory
• Instagram: instagram.com/ChesterCountyHistory
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chestercountyhistorycenter
• Conor Hepp on LinkedIn

Additional Local Organizations

• The Colonial Theatre
• Chester County Art Association
• Historic Yellow Springs
• North Star of Chester County
• Home of the Sparrow
• Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County
• NAACP Coatesville Area Branch

Punk/Rock Bands

• Bad Religion
• Pennywise
• Rage Against the Machine

Related Episodes

• Building a Thriving Theater to Benefit the Local Community with Jennifer Carlson
• Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence and Other Crimes with Christine Zaccarelli

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon it is available.

Few topics matter more to parents than the medical well-being of their children. We sit down with Brad Myer, MD, to learn from his decades of experience as a leading local pediatrician. The founder of All Star Pediatrics, in Exton, Pennsylvania, Brad spent almost two decades growing an independent medical group. In our conversation, Brad talks us through the buying the practice from Penn Medicine and growing it to serve thousands of families, while navigating the world of health insurance, and recruiting and retaining a top team around him. Now with the management of the practice behind him, Brad walks us through how he gives back to his local community through board leadership and volunteerism with a number of local organizations.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

All Star Pediatrics

• Website: allstarpediatrics.com
• Brad Dyer on LinkedIn

Additional Organizations

• Chester County Food Bank
• Better Days Ahead
• West Chester Food Cupboard
• Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS)
• Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM)
• Phoenixville Free Clinic (Phoenixville Free Medical Clinic)

Area Hospitals

• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
• Nemours Children’s Health
• Penn Medicine

Related Episodes

• Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andrea Youndt

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.