Utah Weekly Forum With Rebecca Cressman

Alma Richards, a high school teen from Parowan Utah, won Utah’s first gold medal in the high jump in the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games. A new film called “Raising the Bar, the Alma Richards Story” tells the story of how the young farm boy jumped onto the world stage. In this episode, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Filmmaker T.C. Christensen who shares why he chose to create a film about Alma Richards and what audiences will find inspiring when the movie opens in theaters starting April 24th.

Do you know who in your circle or community is disenfranchised or disconnected from others? Have you taken the time to check on them and to tell them that they matter to you? Did you know that bystanders and not just close friends and family can help someone in a suicidal crisis? Dr. Michael Staley is Utah’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the Office of Medical Examiner. In this episode he joins FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman to share what Utah has learned about lifesaving conversations and relationships that can prevent suicide. For immediate and professional support for you or someone you care about who may be in an emotional crisis, text or call 988. To learn more, visit LiveOnUtah.org

The Feed Utah food drive on March 15th is a statewide effort to collect food and refill the shelves and local pantries of Utah Food Bank's 270 partner agencies throughout Utah. It's more important than ever as Utah's cost of living spikes have left nearly 415 thousand Utahns without enough money to afford their next meal. In this episode, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Utah Food Bank CEO Ginette Bott who shares the details on how to help and what to donate to help provide meals to neighbors in need. More info is on UtahFoodBank.org

A slate of new films by local and international film directors and producers will be debuted at the 2025 Zions Indie Film Festival February 24th-March 1st at the Scera Center in Orem. In this episode, FM100 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by festival owners and co-directors Marshall and Michelle Moore who share the details on the lineup that includes short films, documentaries, features, music videos, screenplays and expert panel discussion. For more info, visit ZionsIndieFilmFest.com

A Utah family has formed the non-profit Power Forward Utah to advocate for those living with substance use to find meaningful recovery. In this episode, FM100's Rebecca Cressman is joined by Founder and Co-Founder Tiffany and Raven James who explain that the advocacy and sober living resources they provide honor their son and brother Zane James and are based on a model created by NHL Hall of Fame Power Forward Kevin Stevens, a partner who founded Power Forward in Massachusetts. For more info visit, PowerFowardUtah.com.

Each year, Utah welcomes new refugees escaping violence, danger, and hardships in countries around the world. But starting new lives in new communities has its own unique challenges for families. That's why local volunteers with the nonprofit WARD foundation are working to provide them necessities like food, diapers, bikes, household goods, clothing, and commuity support. In this week's edition of Utah Weekly Forum, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Jessica White and Marty Bodell, board members of the WARD Foundation, who explain their mission and how others can get involved.   For more information or to volunteer, visit the WARD Foundation Facebook page.  

In Utah, you can connect to a trained mental halth counselor confidentially and almost immediately by calling or texting 988. The 988 lifeline and the SAFEUT app are two essential tools that provide anyone in Utah help in an emotional crisis. In this episode, FM100.3's Rebecca Cressman is joined by Rachel Lucynski who directs Huntsman Mental Health Institute's Commuity Crisis Intervention who explains how real-time mental health support is providing urgent support to thousands of Utahns at home, work, and in Utah's schools.

Being outdoors is good for our minds and bodies and a non-profit called Veterans in the Wild creates expeditions specifically to help military veterans access those benefits. In this episode of Utah Weekly Forum, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by retired Navy Commander Brandon Harding who explains his mission to provide transformative wilderness expeditions, some of them here in Utah, to help empower veterans to find healing and connection in nature.

New research reveals attitudes and perceptions about women in the workplace have changed with more men and women agreeing that the gender pay gap exists, sexual discrimation is a serious concern, and that the government needs to address childcare.  Dr. Susan Madsen leads the Utah Women & Leadership Project that released the statewide study from the Fall of 2024. Dr. Madsen joins FM100.3's Rebecca Cressman to discuss what the latest survey reveals and how it supports the efforts of "A Bolder Way Forward" a movement to help women, children, and families thrive in Utah.

The Discovery Gateway Children's Museum in downtown Salt Lake City offers Utah children hours of imaginative play and hands-on adventure. But in 2025, both younger and older children will find new exhibits at the Children's Museum to explore indoors and on top of the roof.  In this week's episode of Utah Weekly Forum, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Kathleen Bodenlos, Discovery Gateway Children's Museum CEO, who shares the details on the new areas for children and parents to explore and explains more opportunities for the community to become involved.  For more information, visit https://www.discoverygateway.org/

It is the start of the new year and Univeristy of Utah Hospitals and Huntsman Cancer Institute are short on every blood blood type needed to care for local patients. But, when local Utahns give blood to ARUP Blood Services, those donations go directly to Utah hospitals to meet the demand for life-saving blood transfusions.  That's because 100% of the blood and platelets given local through ARUP stay local.  In this episode of Utah Weekly Forum, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by ARUP Blood Services Community Relations Supervisor Deborah Jordan who explains why its urgent that Utahns give blood now. Currently at least 75 donors per day are needed to meet the growing demand for blood transfusions to treat local patients recovering from trauma, surgery, complicated medical conditions, and cancer. ARUP has two locations in Sandy and at the University of Utah's Research Park open 7 days a week. Donors can call 801-584-5272 or visit UtahBlood.org.

Men in Utah are at higher risk of suicide than women. And, in the construction industry's predominantly male workforce, it's even more worrisome. Suicide is the leading cause of death for construction workers, claiming more lives than all workplace-related fatalities combined. In this episode, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Marissa Gallegos, Benefits Manager at Big-D Construction who is an expert on mentoring and policy work in the construction industry.  Marissa explains how employers can transform a work culture to make it safe and normal for an employee in crisis to get help and what policies a workplace can put into place that will help prevent suicide and create a culture that supports mental health. To learn more about how to help someone live on, visit LiveOnUtah.org. Or to reach immediate help in Utah, text or call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

As Utah's population grows, the number of people who need support grows, too. Community Action Services and Food Bank, or CASFB, is a non-profit organization that helps individuals and families develop long-term self-reliance in Utah, Summit, and Wasatch Counties. In this episode, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Community Action Services Chief Impact Officer Jessica Miller who explains that by first providing critical food and housing support, CASFB is able to connect those individuals with mentors, reources, and services to help them rebuild their social and financial self-suffiency. Donations and volunteers are always needed. To give help or to get help from Community Action Services and Food Bank, visit CASFB.org.

The 2024 Festival of Trees opens Dec 4th-7th at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah offering Utahns a chance to celebrate Christmas together while raising money for Intermountain's Primary Children's Hospital. In this episode, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by 11-year old Ruby Thackeray- a young childhood cancer survivor who received care at Primary Children's Hospital, her mother Alli Thackeray, and Festival of Trees Co-Chair Jonique Dyer who share festival details and how the event helps provide special medical care for children in Utah and throughout the country. Tix are at FestivalofUtah.org.

It's the season of sickness, colds, and flus, and doctors’ offices often get crowded this time of the year. But, adults with basic medical concerns can access care without an appointment, video visit, or phone call by using "E-Visits" that cost $35 through the MyHealth+ app. In this episode, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Dr. Maurine Cobabe, an Intermountain Health Family Physician in West Jordan. Dr Cobabe explains what common medical illnesses can be addressed through E-Visits and how they make healthcare more accessible by allowing patients with an Intermountain Health patient portal account to send information about how they're feeling to a provider who reviews those symptoms, sends a diagnosis, and a treatment plan within a few hours. For more information, visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/virtual-care/message-with-provider  

Cancer patients in Utah County will soon be able to find comprehensive cancer treatments and care closer to home. That's because Huntsman Cancer Institute is building a new campus in Vineyard situated close to I-15, a Frontrunner station, and Utah Valley University. In this episode, FM100.3 Host and Breast Cancer Survivor Rebecca Cressman is joined by Dr. Mary Beckerle, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute, Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer, and Lehi cancer survivor Jenni Thompson who share how the new center will give Utahns easier access to innovative treatments, enhance research collaborations with BYU and UVU, and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. To learn more, visit HuntsmanCancer.org/Vineyard

Dr. Michael J Staley studies suicide in Utah and the data reveals that most of us would be surprised by who is most at-risk.  In this episode, FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Dr. Staley, Utah's Suicide Prevention Research Coordinator, who shares how Utah is trending in regards to suicide and what specific things we can do to prevent it. For immediate help in a mental health crisis or to know what to do to help a loved one, text or call 988. The free Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is open 24 hours a day providing support from caring counselors and connections to helpful resources in Utah.

Award-winning composer and music artist Kurt Bestor will perform his annual A Kurt Bestor Christmas concerts on December 5-7, 2024 at the Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City.  Bestor's shows will be one of the only Christmas concerts in the state that feature a full, live band comprised of some of Utah's and the country's most talented musicians. In this episode FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Kurt Bestor who reveals who this year's special guests will be and gives us a sneak peak of songs he'll be performing from his brand new album, "Etches." For show information and tickets, visit Artix or Live-at-the-Eccles.com.

From emergency food and shelter services to recovery programs, the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake has real and compassionate solutions to homelessness. In this episode, FM100.3 Rebecca Cressman is joined by Chris Croswhite, the Pastor and Executive Director of the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake and Curtis, an inspiring graduate of the programs that turn lives around. The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake receives no government funding and needs more community support to continue to change lives. To learn how to help, visit https://rescuesaltlake.org/

The legendary story of Jekyll & Hyde opens Ballet West’s season from Oct. 25 – Nov. 2 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Though the adult psychological thriller is just in time for Halloween, audiences will see the company dance and act out the complex story in a new and surprising way. FM100.3 Host Rebecca Cressman is joined by Ballet West's Artistic Director Adam Sklute who explains how the innovative storytelling in this new portrayal of Jekyll & Hyde pushes the boundaries of classical ballet while connecting the audience to modern themes like addiction, mental instability, and the complexity found within ourselves. For ticket info, visit balletwest.org.