Amanda Hall had it all. A flourishing restaurant career as a Regional Training Manager and even her own home. But for Amanda all of that was a facade. Inside she says, ‘I was a mess’.  The wrong choice in men, and late nights with friends at the restaurants she trained at, along with rheumatoid arthritis led her from alcohol to cannabis to hard core drugs.  As her life story played out, she eventually lost her job, her house and moved back in with her mother while finding financial support on the streets of Ohio, selling drugs.  It was a saving grace moment when Amanda sold drugs to an undercover cop, but it would take a couple more arrests, despite the legal support of her parents to finally land her a 2 1/2 year prison sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Listen in as Amanda shares her past and her miraculous journey, behind the wall, that led her to find a second chance at The JBM Packaging Company.

The Hustler Files Ep. 70 - From Career Track to Prison Track and Back

Join us as we hear from Robin Bialecki ED of the Easthampton Community Center about her dedicated approach to helping the community meet its needs. 

Under her leadership (since 2008) the ECC has grown to helping all four counties reach the gaps that they have in their respective needs. From food insecurity, housing, job loss, relocation, and more, the ECC has risen to the level that the clients demand (open 7 days). Robin and her team have a hard time saying no and as a result have steadily increased their capacity to serve more and more clients for over 46 years. As one of the only gluten and allergy free pantries in WMA they get many requests for food specific and sensitive care products. Robin gets this done through her over 200 volunteer staff that help throughout the year, including Pat Brough, Sales and Marketing Director for Finck & Perras Insurance. 10 years ago, he helped co-create the much beloved event Give Em the Bird 5K which is a benefit for the ECC. In 2015, they raised 10,000 and they now hope to raise more than 35,000 this year. With over 55 sponsors, I think they have a shot at having their best year ever.

WMBS Seg 3 -- Robin Bialecki & Pat Brough

WMBS Seg 1 -- Robin Bialecki & Pat Brough

WMBS Seg 4 -- Judith Fine

WMBS Seg 3 -- Judith Fine

WMBS Seg 2 -- Judith Fine

WMBS Seg 1 -- Judith Fine

1/22/24: Political Gold with Josh Silver: the White House, the Senate & the House. Steve Sanderson: the NEF Adult Spelling Bee. Duke Goldman—he’s front-page news: the World Series, the Negro Leagues & remembering Luis Tiant. Marissa Labozzetta: “The Men Who Walk in Dreams.”

Marissa Labozzetta: “The Men Who Walk in Dreams.”

Newman on the DEATH PENALTY

Duke Goldman—he’s front-page news: the World Series, the Negro Leagues & remembering Luis Tiant

Steve Sanderson: the NEF Adult Spelling Bee

Podcasts from all of the local show on WHMP Radio in Northampton, MA. including Talk the Talk with Bill Newman and Buz Eisenberg, The Hustler Files, The Western Mass Business Show, and Panorama.

The Hustler Files Ep. 70 - From Career Track to Prison Track and Back

WHMP Radio

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