Over the past quarter-century, the state of healthcare has changed dramatically, with new cures and treatments becoming available for conditions that have been around for far longer. While there's no cure yet for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a lot of progress has been made when it comes to research and support, and much of that progress is thanks to the Jett Foundation of Norwell. Eric Snyder, President and CEO, and Maura Carroll, the Director of Development, talk with Nichole about the Foundation's storied history, their efforts, and their upcoming event to celebrate their 25th year.

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Despite the recent snow, spring is here in Massachusetts, and it's a perfect time to get out and explore all the beautiful parks Greater Boston has to offer! Many of them are connected by the more-than-century-old Emerald Necklace, which is stewarded by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. The Conservancy is offering the public a chance to experience those parks on two wheels with some upcoming community bike rides, and Carlen Singmaster, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Conservancy, joins Nichole to share the details.

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April vacation isn't far off, and instead of vegging away in front of the TV or iPad, the City of Boston is rallying kids to get involved in the upcoming Mayor's Cup Street Hockey Tournament! Teams from all over the city are coming to Dorchester to compete, and they're not just in it for the bragging rights. There's a great prize, too! Damien Margardo from Boston Parks and Recreation returns to the show to share all the details parents need to know to get their kids involved.

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Greater Boston is full of philanthropists and grassroots non-profits that are dedicated to doing good in underserved communities. The Boston Women's Fund has just released a new first-of-its-kind report that goes through the financing for these non-profits, tracking exactly where the money goes. They found only a tiny fraction of the billions in available funding is going to organizations that support women and girls of color. Boston Women's Fund CEO Natanja Craig Oquendo, and Jessica Martin, a research consultant for the Fund, join Nichole to explain what they found, discuss the contributing factors, and offer their advice for a fairer future.

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Often, when you go to the doctor or psychiatrist and tell them you're in a funk, or not feeling like yourself, they'll prescribe you a pill or some other type of medicine. However, in some cases, instead of being handed a prescription for an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medicine, patients are being prescribed visits to local art and culture institutions, like museums, community centers, and the theater. Nichole talks with Erik Holmgren, Manager of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships at the Mass Cultural Council, and Chris Appleton, Founder and CEO of SocialRx, about their efforts to connect more Bay State residents to these life-changing programs.

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Families on the South Shore have relied on, and enjoyed, their local YMCA for more than a century, and that's not changing anytime soon! Tens of thousands of people utilize the South Shore YMCA's programs each year, which include everything from youth programs to social services like a food pantry. Newly appointed President and CEO Trevor Williams says they've got a blueprint to expand their offerings to assist even more residents over the coming years. He talks with Nichole about their new "Together We Thrive" plan and the upcoming "Taste of the South Shore" event.

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Lovers of the fiber arts and all things witchy are making their way to Salem, Massachusetts next month for the upcoming Fiber Witch Festival! With trolley tours, a maker's market, and a special sea-themed gala, it's an enchantingly creative celebration of crafters and the supernatural. Ana Campos, the festival's founder and owner of Circle of Stitches in Salem, joins Nichole to share all the details.

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While Massachusetts, and especially Greater Boston, are often seen as a hub of progress and innovation, that's not always the case when it comes to wage equity. There have been some advancements to shrink the gap, but there's also a first-in-the-nation program in Boston working with city officials and local businesses to try and eliminate that gap completely. Kim Borman, Executive Director of the Boston Women's Workplace Council, shares their latest wage inequity data with Nichole and discusses their efforts.

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Oftentimes, when your local library is putting on a book sale, it's held at the library itself. In Nahant, they're doing a cleanout of some rare titles that, in some cases, haven't seen the light of day in decades. What's different here is that they're doing it on eBay, opening up bid opportunities from all over the world. Nori Morganstein, Director of the Nahant Public Library, discusses their decision to go digital with this latest book sale, and why it's necessary to part ways with some of these aged books.

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