Did you know that 62% of Americans are eligible to donate blood, but only 2–3% actually do?
In this episode of Off the Record with Lehigh Valley with Love, we sit down with Rami Nemeh, President & CEO, and Lina Barbieri, VP of Communications and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Miller-Keystone Blood Center, to explore the very real crisis facing our region’s blood supply — and what it will take to fix it.
With cohost Jeff Warren, we hear powerful stories of survival (including one that hits close to home for Jeff), and we learn how Miller-Keystone is using apps, AI, and even virtual reality to modernize donation and inspire the next generation of donors.
💡 Key stats we discuss: – 62% of Americans can give blood, but only 2–3% do – Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood – 60% of local donors are over age 55 – Only 5% are ages 18–25
What started with a single blazer in the trunk of a car has become one of the Lehigh Valley’s most powerful stories of community-driven change.
In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, host George Wacker sits down with Sarah Barrett, Executive Director of YWCA Allentown, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Perfect Fit, a workforce empowerment program that’s helped more than 13,000 women step into new careers with confidence.
Topics include:
How The Perfect Fit began as a grassroots effort
Why clothing is just a tool, and the real heart is community support
Career workshops, tech certifications, and professional mentoring
David Robertson – Founder & Executive Director, JOSHWAY
Glenn Breslauer – JOSHWAY Board Member
In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love: Off the Record podcast, hosts George Wacker and Jeff Warren sit down with David Robertson and Glenn Breslauer of JOSHWAY, a new nonprofit based in Easton, Pennsylvania that’s using technology, collaboration, and lived experience to connect with and uplift the youth of Northampton County and beyond.
JOSHWAY: Building a Future Where Vision Meets Action
JOSHWAY began as a personal mission after founder David Robertson lost his brother Joshua to “modern day challenges.” What started as a response to grief has become a movement grounded in digital literacy, financial education, public speaking, and youth mentorship.
“Joshua was the response to a loss,” David says, “but what was lost became something beautiful.”
Tech-Driven, Vision-Focused
JOSHWAY’s programming is uniquely collaborative—partnering with nonprofits and schools to bring modern tools and leadership development to young people. From Toastmasters-style public speaking to Apple-powered media literacy, JOSHWAY isn’t just meeting kids where they are—it’s helping them lead.
They’re not reinventing the wheel—they’re upgrading it. “We’re not just starting new programs,” says Glenn. “We’re transforming existing ones for the 21st century.”
Digital Skills Meet Real-World Impact
Through partnerships with Apple and others, students are learning how to use Keynote to build presentations, GarageBand to create podcasts, and financial literacy tools to better understand money. And the team’s entrepreneurial spirit shines: “We’re scrappy. We’re flexible. We move fast,” David adds.
Community First, Always
JOSHWAY’s new headquarters on Northampton Street is just the beginning. The team is now running inbound and outbound workshops and collaborating with organizations like El Sistema and Century Promise to scale impact.
They’re calling for others—especially those aged 35 to 45—to join the movement. “If you’re not ready to start your own thing,” David says, “take a board seat. Get involved.”
What’s Next?
JOSHWAY is working on expanding into school curricula, launching youth Toastmasters programs, and publishing Joshua and the Power of Resilience, a forthcoming book co-authored by Glenn.
The message is clear: This is just the beginning. And they’re building a blueprint for a new kind of youth empowerment—visionary, modern, and deeply rooted in community.
