Barry Bowden, Accelerate Counseling and Consulting , former Army Chaplain and trained Counselor – working primarily (but not exclusively) with Veterans – a sizable population in Fayetteville. 

In Fayetteville, like many military communities, many veterans who have retired here found themselves in a “mission-focused” status during their active-duty careers.  In the prevalent “Suck up your gut and go” atmosphere of military duty, it is common that many profound, traumatizing life experiences were left deferred and unprocessed!  This, and a stigma equating mental health problems and the counseling vital to easing them with weakness, have led to a multiplicity of problems:  higher than normal rates of suicide, domestic violence, stress and other mental health issues.  Barry reassured our listeners help is non-stigmatizing, readily available and easy to reach out for!   

Anna Chott, Sustainable Sandhills Solid Waste Management/Litter Prevention Specialist  

Tim Middleton, Cumberland County Solid Waste 

Jessica Howell, Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation 

Anna, Tim and Jessica discussed litter prevention and volunteer clean-up efforts in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, specifically the Earth Day-proximate Saturday, April 23rd Fayetteville Beautiful and Cumberland Clean (as well as Hope Earth Day initiatives aimed at Picking Up and Cleaning Up litter in Fayetteville and throughout Cumberland County.