Dale Bell

Early in the 21st century, a small town, Sheridan, in Northern Wyoming decides it must change how it cares for its elders and its frail. More retirees are arriv-ing; more people with disabilities and frailties need home care. What might they do? In 2004, community leaders see a glimpse of what their town's future could become. They watch a video that depicts the very first Green House Project model built for elders in Tupelo, Mississippi. Though the...

We spotlight the importance of mentors illustrated in stories like that of a police detective starting a free judo school to “bait and switch” kids onto a better path. A revolutionary accelerated kindergarten program propels disadvantaged children by celebrating their smartness. Living in a homeless shelter designed around the needs of families, a little girl expresses her pride and determination in song.

Did you know that today, we have more parents to care for than children? Eldercare has replaced childcare as a leading healthcare issue. The groundbreaking PBS series And Thou Shalt Honor brings to light the challenges facing today's caregivers. The struggles and rewards of caregiving are given equal treatment in this incisive and thoughtful series. Sensitively hosted by Joe Mantegna, the purpose of the program is to promote awareness of the issue,...

With deteriorating classroom conditions and the worst test scores in the nation, this alarming episode casts its eye on the current educational crisis in Detroit. In this cautionary tale, both public and unregulated charter schools suffer from high teacher turnover, a shortage of up-to-date textbooks, lack of funding and financial accountability. We visit with students, teachers, parents and educational leaders in their innovative attempts to improve...

For the first time in American history, more people (80 per-cent) are living in cities than in rural areas. Though people move to urban areas for better job prospects and a better life, this demographic shift inevitable places an enormous strain on natural resources, such as air, water, and energy reserves. Edens Lost and Found highlights what communities all across the country are doing to revive their ecosystems and, as a result, improve the quality...

Children living in fractured homes and poverty can’t achieve equally with children who are financially and emotionally secure. Underserved children need extra services to be competitive. Equal is not Equitable. We illustrate this point in Duluth, MN, Boston, MA, Springfield, MO, and Nashville, TN. A grade school offers wrap-around-services including free food, family meals, clothing

Caregiving involves not just the body and mind but also the spirit. Religious communities pay particular attention to enriching the spiritual component of their caregiving programs, each in its own way. Perhaps no other aspect of caregiving is as infinitely varied as the spiritual, and there is much to learn from every religious community - whether it is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or nondoctrinal. The groundbreaking PBS special And Thou Shalt...

1. Retrofitting suburbia: Dr. Richard Jackson MD MPH, investigates the link between our nations obesity and Type 2 Diabetes epidemic with urban sprawl fueled by car dependency. To prevent disease through better urban planning, Boulder, CO redesigns the city to make bicycles a safe alternative transportation. Two Denver suburbs transform dead malls into --2. Rebuilding places of the heart: When U.S. industry and manufacturing collapsed or went elsewhere,...