Show Description:

In a world fraught with an array of challenges from the noticeably worsening climate crisis to the economic, personal, and societal disruption from COVID-19 to growing political division and increasing awareness of systemic racism, some are left feeling that there’s little they can do to make a measurable difference in the world. 

Join HealthyPlanet’s Bob DiBenedetto and co-host Jennifer Greene for a discussion with two Long Islanders, Payal Mehta and Tim Karcich, who have decided to contribute their energy to create the world they want to see. They will discuss how they are taking action by devoting their time to organizations that are addressing issues from hunger to climate change to assuring that ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society. 

Additionally, both of these change agents will share the story of when & why they saw fit to change their own lives by changing the food they eat and how that choice is intricately connected to the work they do in the world.

Payal Mehta is a 15 year resident of Long Island, a self-described “recovering corporate employee,” and an active volunteer with Community Solidarity for over four years. Community Solidarity is America’s largest vegetarian hunger relief organization whose goal is to end hunger, poverty, and homelessness. Community Solidarity helps thousands of families every week by sharing free plant-based groceries, clothing, books, toys, school supplies, and vegan hot meals. 

Timothy Karcich is an educator and the co-chair of the Suffolk County Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA. DSA wants a democracy powered by everyday people and works on a variety of campaigns from Medicare For All, to The Green New Deal, to affordable housing for all, and much more.

(SEE BELOW FOR USEFUL “RELATED LINKS AND RESOURCES”)

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About Co-Host Jennifer Greene:

Jennifer Greene is a passionate advocate for democracy, environmental & economic justice, human and animal liberation and sees all of these as interrelated. 

She is the founder of Vegan Long Island (which hosts an active Facebook forum) and has been invited by public libraries and community groups to speak about The How’s and Why’s of Going Vegan. Jennifer is also active with BLARG (Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group), an environmental justice group that grew out of the local Black Lives Matter movement, and Suffolk DSA (Democratic Socialists of America).

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