Close To Home
with Carmen Klassen

Ali Barnim wrote, produced and directed the documentary Agents of Change.

It's about an organization we've heard about before on Close To Home -- called Colors International. It's an organization that helps children and families in South Africa -- with projects in the Dominican Republic and Madagascar as well.

Project Colors was founded and is run by a young Nova Scotia woman named Sunyata Choyce.

We reached Ali at home 2 days before the debut of the film.

Ever since we began the show 2 1/2 years ago, we've relied on you - the listeners of Close To Home - to tell us about the interesting, accomplished, and innovative people in your communities.

Daniel Asuncion of Halifax contacted us to tell us about Mary Wood - another Halifax resident with a great story to tell.

After a very full life in the U.K., -- with experiences ranging from running a business to single-motherhood -- Mary left her home in England and relocated to the Maritimes almost a decade ago.

Since then, she's continued to delve into her own writing, and helping other people with theirs.

She recently published her first book " A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Inventing My Childhood "- to very positive reviews.

And we've reached Mary Wood this afternoon

Jeremy Novak of Wolfville, Nova Scotia is preparing to scare a few people next week.

He runs Wolfville's Gravely Ghostwalk tours --- in its 5th season this year.

The first one takes place a week from tomorrow night.

And we've reached Jeremy in Wolfville

Janelle MacKay of Antigonish, Nova Scotia spends her days as a receptionist at an oncology clinic.

But by night, Janelle is a musician --- influenced in part by the place she was born and bred --- and in part by a place very far from here.

A couple of years ago, Janelle went to Rwanda with A Partnership in Caring - an Antigonish group which gives support to hospitals in Butare.

And that trip changed her life, and her music.

She recently put out a CD inspired by Rwanda. She's also recorded music there with Rwandan musicians.

We've reached Janelle on a break.

Since June 1st of last year, Jordan Grondin of Beaverbrook, New Brunswick has been spending much of his extra-curricular time working to drum up support for a very ambitious project.

Jordan's goal is to recognize R.B. Bennett - the only Canadian prime minister born in New Brunswick - with statue on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

We've reached Jordan at home to find out what he's accomplished in almost a year's time...

Reid Power Grimm of Annapolis Royal, NS is working to finish up grade 12 over the next several weeks.

But he's doing a bit of a juggling act as well.

He's trying to raise about $6000 for a trip to Africa this summer.

We've met Reed on Close To Home before...he helped coordinate the creation of a skatepark in his town last summer.

But this time, he's taking his passion and energy across the ocean -- to help build a school with the Me to We organization.

We've reached Reed at home in Annapolis Royal...