Grounded and Growing: Martha Judy Bailey on Land, Legacy, and Leadership

 

                                 

In this episode of The Wandering Pen, host Christine Musser welcomes guest Judy Bailey—a retired nurse anesthetist, lifelong conservationist, and now candidate for Upper Allen Township Commissioner. Judy shares her inspiring journey from her early days in a student conservation program in the Smoky Mountains to her leadership in the South Mountain Trolley Greenway project.

They discuss the power of community-driven conservation, the legacy of trails and open spaces, the urgent need for sustainable township planning, and how Judy’s personal story—raising two daughters as a single parent, maintaining her family farm, and stepping up in the face of community challenges—has shaped her mission.

Together, Christine and Judy reflect on the importance of preserving what makes a place feel like home, and how every voice can make a difference.

Topics include:

• Judy’s candidacy and campaign values

• The history and future of the South Mountain Trolley Greenway

• Land use, development pressures, and open space preservation

• Personal stories of resilience, responsibility, and grassroots leadership

   Tune in and hear show one person’s voice, paired with passion and purpose,       can help shape the future of a community.

   #SouthMountainPA #OpenSpaceMatters #RailsToTrails #GreenwayProject             #CommunityPodcast #WomenWhoLead #JudyBaileyForCommissioner                   #LocalLeadership #PennsylvaniaTrails #TrailToChange #ConservationVoices           #TheWanderingPen