Three upcoming opportunities to meet shared NCPR/Adirondack Explorer reporter David Escobar and help shape future work
By Adirondack Explorer
In June 2024, North Country Public Radio and Adirondack Explorer launched a multi-year project to explore who feels included in Adirondack communities, who is left out, and how the Adirondacks can be a more welcoming place for all.
Starting March 25 in North Creek, the two media outlets are bringing that conversation to three towns spread across the region. Join us for a series of in-person, informal events featuring Report For America corps member David Escobar and managers and editors from NCPR and the Explorer.
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They’ll present their latest reporting and moderate a discussion: What are some ways communities can attract new residents? What are the barriers preventing that from happening? What can the Adirondacks do as a region to make our communities more welcoming for all, including those with different physical abilities, religions, classes, races, genders or sexual orientations?
“As the Adirondacks contend with long-term population decline and its impacts on schools, fire departments, taxes, and more, belonging and welcoming have become front-and-center issues in the Adirondack Park,” said NCPR News Director David Sommerstein. “We want to listen to how Adirondackers think about these issues and ask for their ideas for stories.”
“Over the past eight months, David has made inroads into groups traditionally underrepresented in the Adirondacks, introducing us to a new range of voices and perspectives. Through hosting a series of these small, informal events, we hope to uncover new stories that aren’t currently being told. We’re looking to local communities to help move the conversation forward on how we, as a region, can make this special place even more inviting for visitors and would-be residents,” said Adirondack Explorer editor Melissa Hart.
Escobar has covered a number of issues around the region – from ongoing debates over access for people with mobility disabilities at Great Camp Santanoni to the legacy of Jamaican workers at a Champlain Valley apple orchard.
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This will be a chance to connect with our newsrooms and learn more about David’s work. We’ll also open the floor for a Q&A session so you can ask questions about our coverage and share your thoughts for future stories.
Thank you to our sponsor Adirondack Council.

Here is the information for the three upcoming events:
North Creek Listening Session: Tuesday, March 25th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Tannery Pond Community Center, 228 Main St, North Creek, NY 12853
Old Forge Listening Session: Tuesday, April 1st, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
View Arts Center, 3273 NY-28, Old Forge, NY 13420
Tupper Lake Listening Session: Thursday, April 10th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tupper Lake Emergency Services Building 21 Santa Clara Ave, Tupper Lake, NY 12986
If you can’t make our in-person events, we’d still love to hear your thoughts! You can fill out this brief survey.
Everyone is welcome except for those who voted for trump, right?
The trump haters are always willing to listen to differing opinions. Except when someone has a differing opinion.
I’m very willing to listen to Trump loving opinions. Problem is, Trump loving seems to involve divesting one self of any relationship to facts. So, right out of the gate goofballs are disputing facts, we never get to opinions. Within the reality based community, people typically share their opinion of commonly accepted facts. Trump lovers seem to debate facts in order to obscure or justify opinions they seem to sense are probably offensive in some way or not quite a normal human reaction or that the opinion in question will lead to a never ending cycle of hypocrisy and therefore they’d rather not share their “opinions.” I mean seriously, have the courage of your convictions. Here let’s practice: Fact: Elon Musk is an unelected Canadian/African who has been given unprecedented access to state secrets in exchange for money. What is your opinion? (I realize you may not be a Trump lover, but on the off chance you are…)
Not everything is about politics. The people who voted for Trump already live in the Adirondacks.
To answer the question in the headline – jobs. If there are not jobs the rest doesn’t matter. There is no point in having conversations that just get people mad at each other, note the first comments….
To attract the people they want on their list it’s as simple as building a casino in Lake Placid.
Is there a recording where we could listen to these sessions ?
Please advise
Thanks so much ,
kim pope