Activate! – WFHB

Activate! Chris Herring, PALS

It’s been nearly a year since a tornado wiped out the horse barns [https://palsindiana.org/disaster-relief/] at People and Animal Learning Services [https://palsindiana.org/]. No animals were hurt, and if you look at photos of the damage you might call that a miracle. For 25 years this local nonprofit has connected people to horses for adaptive riding therapy and educational programs. PALS executive director Christine Herring says the utter destruction of their facilities was a chance for PALS to reinvent itself as an equine-assisted learning campus. Herring is looking for donations to continue rebuilding, and volunteers to carry out their mission. Activate! [https://wfhb.org/category/news-public-affairs/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 [https://www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/] or by emailing getconnected@bloomington.in.gov [getconnected@bloomington.in.gov]. [https://wfhb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260330-PALS-PHOTO.jpg] This episode of Activate! was produced by Daniel Flick through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University [https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/index.html]

Activate! Laynie Pitts, IU Student Television

Indiana University Student Television [https://www.iustv.com/] is a student-run organization that allows IU students to get hands-on experience running real broadcast operations. Recently IUSTV was a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press Broadcast Pacemaker award [https://www.iustv.com/page/awards], honoring the top college broadcast programs in the nation. Laynie Pitts started out filling in as a photographer behind the scenes and now she is Executive Director and Producer. Laynie says IUSTV is producing content useful for a Bloomington audience – for example, last election season IUSTV did 12 hours of election night coverage. Activate! [https://wfhb.org/category/news-public-affairs/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 [https://www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/] or by emailing getconnected@bloomington.in.gov [getconnected@bloomington.in.gov]. [https://wfhb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260323-Laynie-Pitts-PHOTO.jpg] This episode of Activate! was produced by Graham Nash through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University [https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/index.html]

Activate! Nick Thornburg, Timmy Global Health

Access to healthcare is a problem in America AND around the world. Timmy Global Health [https://www.timmyglobalhealth.org/] is an Indianapolis-based non-profit that works to expand healthcare access in developing countries like Guatemala and Nigeria. The Bloomington chapter, Timmy Global Health at Indiana University [https://globalhealth.iu.edu/impact-map/timmy-global-health.html], is the original and largest collegiate chapter. IU student Nick Thornburg is the Director of Service for the local chapter. He’s done blood drives and blanket drives locally, but then also went to Ecuador for a “medical brigade” service project. Nick tells that story and how YOU can support accessible healthcare for resource-challenged people. Activate! [https://wfhb.org/category/news-public-affairs/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 [https://www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/] or by emailing getconnected@bloomington.in.gov [getconnected@bloomington.in.gov]. [https://wfhb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260316-Nick-Thornburg-PHOTO.jpg]Students active in Timmy Global Health at IU show blankets they donated to Shalom Center   This episode of Activate! was produced by Paige Zuckerman through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University [https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/index.html]

Activate! Olivia Throckmartin, Harmony School

Sometimes traditional education doesn’t work for everyone – and that’s where Harmony School [https://harmonyschool.org/] steps in. This Bloomington nonprofit is focused on democratic principles and individualized learning, helping students get a unique education through small class sizes and direct, hands-on experience. Olivia Throckmartin is Harmony School’s development coordinator. Olivia says March is Art Month at Harmony School and students are spending the whole month collaborating with local artists to create pieces for the upcoming art show InterACTION! [https://harmonyschool.org/school-portfolio/interactionartshow/] The show will be part of the First Friday Gallery Walk on April 3 and select works will be displayed in Fountain Square Mall through May. Activate! [https://wfhb.org/category/news-public-affairs/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 [https://www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/] or by emailing getconnected@bloomington.in.gov [getconnected@bloomington.in.gov]. [https://wfhb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260309OliviaThrockmartinPHOTO.jpg] This episode of Activate! was produced by McKenzie Vitale through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University [https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/index.html]

Activate! Isabel Westin, Indiana Canine Assistant Network

The Indiana Canine Assistant Network [https://icandog.org/] trains service dogs for people with disabilities. ICAN was one of the first organizations to begin training service dogs in prisons, providing a means of rehabilitation and purpose to its incarcerated dog handlers. On the Bloomington campus of Indiana University you might see a dog wearing a snazzy ICAN bandanna [https://iub.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ICANatIU/gallery/album/374410], because IU students are helping train those dogs. Isabel Westin leads ICAN Service Dogs at IU [https://iub.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/icanatiu], and she needs more volunteers not just to train dogs but also to help with fundraising and education. Isabel says you’ll change lives at both ends of the leash! Activate! [https://wfhb.org/category/news-public-affairs/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 [https://www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/] or by emailing getconnected@bloomington.in.gov [getconnected@bloomington.in.gov]. [https://wfhb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260302IsabelWestinPHOTO.jpg] This episode of Activate! was produced by Chase Dodson through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University [https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/index.html]