• Grant opportunities for artists and arts organizations
• Funding programs for creative entrepreneurs
• Resources to help creatives build sustainable careers
• How to connect with Pennsylvania Creative Industries

Funding Information Website

Whether you're looking for support, inspiration, or a better understanding of how imagination and community intersect, this episode offers both insight and practical direction. Contact Sarah: skmerritt@pa.gov & (717) 787-1521

Season 2 closes with one of the most powerful conversations we've had.

In Episode 38, I sit down with Jane Jacobs of the Skaroreh Katenuaka Nation in North Carolina — founder of Eastern Woodland Protectors, water protector, seedkeeper, and advocate for ancestral land.

This episode runs just over an hour. Part of that time includes a reflection on Season 2 — the growth, the numbers, and the voices shared — but the heart of this finale belongs to Jane and her story.

Jane speaks about the deep connection between land, water, language, and people — how they are not separate things, but one and the same. She shares the history of her Nation's presence in North Carolina, the legacy of Indian Woods, and the responsibility to protect the land for seven generations.

We talk about the Cape Fear River, once a traditional trade and fishing route for her people — now polluted with PFAS and GenX chemicals released by Chemours, a DuPont spin-off. Jane explains how these “forever chemicals” entered the waterway and what it means for elders who still rely on that river for food.

The story of corporate pollution in this region was portrayed in the film Dark Waters starring Mark Ruffalo.

Ruffalo also produced the documentary GenX, examining the ongoing contamination of the Cape Fear River and the human cost of industrial waste: The Good Mind Project — a plan to use hemp to filter toxins from water and soil, create sustainable housing materials, and restore balance.

The conversation then turns to the 2024 confrontation at the Cedar Point / Bridge View archaeological site, one of the most significant Native archaeological discoveries in North Carolina in over 30 years. Jane and others gathered in ceremony to honor ancestral remains uncovered during construction. What followed was a violent assault and a legal battle that is still unfolding.

She shares what happened that day, the trauma that followed, and the strength it takes to forgive.

This episode is not just about activism. It is about responsibility. It is about water. It is about memory. It is about what we owe the generations coming after us.

If you want to reach Jane Jacobs or support her work, you can contact her at: easternwoodlandprotectors@gmail.com

Across Pennsylvania, and especially here in Cumberland County, conversations about data centers are no longer abstract or far-off. They're showing up on township agendas, zoning maps, and sometimes—quietly—right in our own backyards. These decisions, often made in small rooms on weeknights, have enormous consequences for our water, our land, our energy grid, and the character of our communities. Most people don't realize that municipalities are the front line. That's where the first doors open—or close—to large data-center projects. And while these developments are marketed as progress or innovation, the reality is more complicated. Many experts are now warning about an "AI data center bubble," meaning we may be building far more of these massive facilities than the industry will actually need long-term. When a bubble forms, growth is driven by hype, not stability—and when it pops, communities are often left with stranded buildings, environmental burdens, and very few benefits. We're already seeing signs of that instability. AI-related stocks have been fluctuating wildly, rising quickly on speculation and then dropping just as fast. That kind of market volatility is a reminder that this rush to build isn't grounded in guaranteed, lasting demand. And yet, our townships—and our landscapes—are asked to carry the risks. At the same time, legislation relating to warehouses and data centers is moving through the Pennsylvania House, and the Senate could take zoning control away from residents and municipalities to regulate warehouse and data center development. Bills like HB 502 and SB 939 would shift decision-making to Harrisburg or even to a single appointed official, removing the public's voice from the process entirely. If local zoning is weakened just as the AI bubble wobbles, communities could lose both their say, their protection, and the landscape they cherish. That's why this episode matters

Today's conversation with Ginny Marcille-Kerslake of Food and Water Watch breaks down what data centers really are, what's at stake for Cumberland County, how quickly these proposals can move, and how residents can use their rights under the Sunshine Act and the Municipal Planning Code (documents) to stay informed and take action. It's a lot to take in, but knowledge is power—and being aware of what's happening at your local meetings and in the state legislature is the first step in protecting our land, our water, and our future.

Ginny Marcille - Kerslake email gmarcillekerslake@fwwatch.org

Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania

Protect Cumberland County, PA

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