Hi Everyone,

Today (Tuesday) was the first day of the NOFA-NY’s Annual Winter Conference and it opened up with a presentation from this years, Farmer of the Year, Zaid Kurdieh of Norwich Meadows Farm. The story of how his farm grew from a small 2 acre farm to over 230 acres with 180 high tunnels was fascinating, and inspiring. Check out the schedule of workshops and presenters, and join the conversation!

My guest this week on the Progressive Radio Network is Randi Shubin Dresner, the President and Chief Executive Officer for Island Harvest, Long Island’s largest hunger-relief organization.

Randi Dresner has been serving as President and Chief Executive Officer at Island Harvest Food Bank for for most of her 21 years there. Under her direction, Island Harvest has increased its income by more than 463 % and its distribution of meals helping people in need has increased by more than 196 % in the past thirteen years alone. During this time, the organization has expanded programming to include advocacy, food-insecurity root cause analysis and action, the creation of a Workforce Skills Development Institute, holistic programming and the acquisition of an organic farm.  

Randi Shubin Dresner was appointed by the New York State governor to serve on the NYS Council on Hunger and Food Policy and the College Council at Farmingdale State College. She serves on many councils and boards, including the Suffolk County Food Policy Council, The Long Island Food Council, the Consultative Council of Non-Profit Leaders for Charity Navigator and an Advisory Disaster Response Council for Feeding America. Randi is a frequent guest speaker at the national and local levels, contributing writer about issues related to human service needs, people-first terminology, poverty and more. She is a member of the Energeia Partnership at Molloy College (a regional ethical-leadership academy), and recently, Randi has also been able to check off radio talk show and podcast host from her bucket list, with “Conversations with Randi Shubin Dresner”.

Randi served as adjunct faculty at Long Island University at CW Post and Molloy College spanning more than 25 years, served as the Co-Chair of the State University of New York (SUNY) Task Force on Food Insecurity and was Chair of the Advocacy Committee for Feeding New York State. Prior to joining Island Harvest Food Bank, Randi was a partner in a successful development consulting firm and made her mark at several national and local nonprofit organizations, including the Heckscher Museum of Art, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, The Viscardi Center, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Randi was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from St. Joseph’s College in 2013. She is a lifelong and proud resident of Long Island, NY.

I hope you can join us on Thursday for a great conversation with one of Long Island’s real movers and shakers!

My Radio Show

iEat Green with Bhavani on the Progressive Radio Network is live, every Thursday, from 10-11 am, EST.  To tune in to the live show, just navigate to PRN.fm and listen in! Or, if you prefer, listen on the phone by calling 712-775-6850.

If you miss our live show please listen to the iTunes Podcast by downloading the App.

You can call in during the show with any questions for me or my guest by dialing 888-874-4888. If you are not listening live you can still ask me a question by calling 862-800-6805. Please leave your name, the show you’re calling about (iEat Green with Bhavani), and your question. I will get back to you.

With Love and Gratitude,

Bhavani

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