Beyond the Box

SBS Collaborates with St. Lawrence University

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2025906/open_sms] Over the winter we've had a lot of exciting things happening at S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. The tiny homes have been placed at our farm property located in the country and construction has begun at our second apartment building at 1515 Knox Street in Ogdensburg.  This winter our Executive Director, Dave Bayne, connected with Kearney Coupland, a professor at St. Lawrence University. They were able to collaborate on an exciting project with  Environmental Psych and Design students at St. Lawrence University. The students created landscape designs for Knox Street as well as the SBS Farm.  The students generated ideas for designs that would not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also provide gathering spaces for the tenants and community members. They focused on themes such as horticulture therapy, artistic expression, and privacy. They had many ideas like gardens, amphitheaters, cooking areas, libraries, fire pits, fences, and natural barriers.  In today's episode, Dave and Carrie first chat with Kearney about her background, how they connected, and the importance of immersing the students in the community with real-life projects; followed by the students' presentations describing their interesting and exciting designs. The students put a lot of thought and research into their projects, and we are very grateful for all their ideas!  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025906/support] Support our show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepbystepinc] Sign up for our newsletter [https://www.stepbystepinc.org/blog]

Nutrition & Your Mental Health

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2025906/open_sms] In this episode Carrie and Dave meet with Gayle Morrissey, who is the Education Coordinator for the adult mental health unit at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center. Gayle's job focuses on topics such as educating people about their diagnosis, self-regulation, self-care, coping skills, and becoming more self-aware. Gayle's job changes from person to person and day to day as she provides person-centered, individualized care as she helps provide people with tools to be successful in their lives. In today's episode Gayle explores one of the recent topics that she has been people learn more about - how nutrition can help improve your mental health. Gayle discusses foods that can help, foods to stay away from, tips to stay on track, and moderation.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025906/support] Support our show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepbystepinc] Sign up for our newsletter [https://www.stepbystepinc.org/blog]

S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. and BOCES Announce Tiny Home Project

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2025906/open_sms] We are excited to finally announce our collaboration with the three BOCES locations in St. Lawrence County. Together we are constructing tiny homes built by the students at BOCES that will be transported to S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc.'s garden and greenhouse property, which will begin the development of our social farming community. Each house is a duplex and will provide homes for six separate individuals that are in need of housing in our county, with more on the way next year.  This collaboration has been in progress for the last year, and as the houses finally near completion Dave and Carrie sit down with Nicki O'Donnell, the principal at BOCES Seaway Career and Technical Center located in Norwood, New York. Join us as we discuss how the project originated, the social farming model, the obstacles to get it up and running, the benefits that are provided to both S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. and the BOCES programs, and some of the incredible experiences along the way.  Join Dave and Carrie as they visit with Nicki at BOCES to discuss the project. Visit our website to check out photos!  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025906/support] Support our show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepbystepinc] Sign up for our newsletter [https://www.stepbystepinc.org/blog]

With Barbara Ward - How the SBS Garden & Greenhouse Project was Born

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2025906/open_sms] "He loves to grow things, and he is very proud of what he does. Brian worked at the greenhouse and he loved it. He had a purpose, he felt good about himself and like he was contributing. He was so proud to be a part of something, accepted, and to be praised for the work that he did."  ~ Barbara Briggs Ward Dave and Carrie talk with Barb Ward, a local author and self-taught illustrator. Barb also has a long history with Dave and S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. She not only sits on our Board of Directors, but has collaborated with Dave as an advocate for mental health for many years. She has been a long-time advocate on a systems level, but Barb also relates to the topic on a very personal level - as a mother. Barb shares her son Brian’s journey with Schizophrenia and discusses how the Garden and Greenhouse Project improved her son's quality of life. Dave and Barb also discuss their history and how their collaboration led to the Garden and Greenhouse Project at S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. and the many years of advocating that it took to get there.  If you would like to check out some of Barb’s work you can find her at barbarabriggsward.com [https://www.barbarabriggsward.com] . Barb and her son, Brian, also recently visited our greenhouse as we are getting it up and running this year. If you’d like to check out some of her photos you can visit our blog us at stepbystepinc.org [http://stepbystepinc.org] .  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025906/support] Support our show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepbystepinc] Sign up for our newsletter [https://www.stepbystepinc.org/blog]

SPECIAL EDITION - Homeless No More (Event Announcement)

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2025906/open_sms] We are very grateful to be receiving so much support, and we regularly receive messages from our community members asking how they can help. S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. will be hosting an event on Thursday, January 25th called Homeless No More, and we need your help - we need your voice! With your participation we can help reduce homelessness in our community. This is how you can become involved and help us advocate for housing in county. If you can’t be there, but would like to provide a monetary donation to help support our cause, then you can follow the link below.  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepbystepinc [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepbystepinc] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025906/support] Support our show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stepbystepinc] Sign up for our newsletter [https://www.stepbystepinc.org/blog]