In this episode, we dive into the critical work being done to safeguard and uplift the Northern Virginia community. We explore the commitment of the Loudoun County (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated to eradicating human trafficking and their strategic partnership with Reset180.

Key Highlights:

The Fight Against Human Trafficking: Learn how the Loudoun County Links have addressed local exploitation since before their chartering. Through the National Trends and Services Uplifting Restoration program, they provide survivors with essential "Restore" pillar services, including professional wardrobes, financial aid, and scholarships for industry certifications.

Expert Insight: We are joined by Esther Daniel, Executive Director of Reset180. A former engineer turned human rights lawyer with experience at the International Justice Mission, Esther discusses her trauma-informed approach to disrupting cycles of abuse.

HBCU Excellence: We highlight the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). As the only public HBCU in the nation’s capital, UDC serves as a vital engine for urban sustainability and a launching pad for leaders in government and policy.

Links & Resources:

Reset180: Learn more about survivor restoration and advocacy. https://reset180.com/

The University of the District of Columbia: Exploring the "beacon" of the HBCU ecosystem. https://www.udc.edu/

The health of our democracy depends entirely on active civic participation. In Virginia, we have elections every year, often more than once a year, so we have 365 days a year to be engaged. In this episode, we speak with Amini Bonane, a Congolese American Commissioner, community organizer, and award-winning advocate for women & girls, and Darrlynn Franklin, the President of the Alexandria Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who has also served as a member of the Executive Committee since 2017.

HBCUs are more than institutions of higher education — they are incubators of Black excellence, innovation, and leadership. They were created out of necessity, but they continue to thrive out of purpose.

Even today, HBCUs represent just 3% of colleges and universities, yet they produce:

• Nearly 20% of all Black college graduates,

• 50% of Black doctors and lawyers,

• 40% of Black engineers,

• And some of the most influential voices in education, science, business, and culture.

HBCUs remain essential because they provide access, belonging, and opportunity. They level the playing field by giving students the resources, mentorship, and culturally centered support that many PWIs simply can’t replicate.

A November 2024 article by Subramaniam Vincent on forbes.com, noted that Christine Slaughter, Chaya Crowder and Christina Greer, co-authored a recent paper that refers to Black women as keepers of American democracy. The researchers found that Black women are motivated by civic duty to vote in elections and perceive voting as an effective tool to have their voice heard.

The article also noted that the news media should help fellow Americans understand the history that Black women bring to the ballot box when they vote. Our stories need to recognize that there is a profound sense of intergenerational solidarity and civic duty amongst Black women, fostered through the passing down of history from the civil rights era, shared everyday experiences, conversations, and a sense of collective responsibility.

One organization which promotes Black women’s civic engagement is the Black Women's Roundtable, an initiative of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.

The Black Women's Roundtable (BWR) serves as the coalition’s intergenerational leadership development, mentoring, empowerment and power building arm for Black women and girls. The BWR is at the forefront of championing justice and equitable public policies that center racial, economic and gender justice to promote health and wellness, economic security & prosperity, education and global empowerment as key elements of success.

Our host, Krysta Jones, currently serves as one of the conveners of BWR Virginia, along with Lavern Chatman, and she is joined by Tameka Ramsey, a convener of BWR Michigan, and the founding director for the Michigan Coalition on Black Civic Participation and LaWana Brown, a co convener for the BWR Maryland. This conversation focuses on the impact BWR is making and how one can get involved.

According to Heritagediscovered.com, with there being nearly 48 million Black people in the US today, Black genealogy research can be a real challenge, especially for finding families before the 1870 census, the first census to name many Black people for the first time.

Researching African American ancestors, whether freed or formerly enslaved, can be time consuming, yet fortunately, more resources are coming online as records get digitized to help you build your family tree.

In this episode we speak with Viola Baskerville, Suzanne Walker, and Shamele Jordan.

Viola Baskerville is a Richmond, Virginia native; however, she traces her paternal ancestry to several families with deep roots in both Buckingham and Cumberland Counties in Virginia. She has traced her maternal lines to King William County, Virginia and Sevier County, Arkansas.

Shamele Jordan is a professional genealogist, producer, writer, and lecturer. Her biographical highlights include: award winning TV producer of Genealogy Quick Start, and researcher for the PBS series Oprah’s Roots: African American Lives I and II. She is the former president of the African American Genealogy Group in Philadelphia.

Suzanne Walker is president of the Arlington VA chapter of the Links Incorporated and is a Family History Enthusiast.

She has been curious about her family history for a very long time, and is focusing on research on her great grandmother being an enslaved person in Virginia. She promotes Black people honoring and knowing our history and believes it is a legacy worth preserving.

According to Forbes.com, a survey by the travel organization Road Scholar has revealed that up to 30% of the company's tour participants are solo travelers; and of those solo travelers, 85% are women.

According to Condor Ferries, 64% of travelers worldwide are female, while only 36% are male. The company estimated that $125 billion would be spent by women on travel in 2023.

The average U.S. traveler is a 47-year-old woman. Some 75% of those who take cultural, adventure or nature trips are women. Despite possible dangers, 86% of women state that they are not afraid to travel. And whether women travel with their partners, their families, friends, solo or in groups, 80% of all travel decisions are made by women.

In this episode, our host Krysta Jones speaks with Nickie Martin and Melandee Jones Canady about their experiences traveling.

“At its core, the role of a community foundation is to create pathways that connect our community and its many different individuals, groups, and organizations to the resources needed to flourish.”

How much do you know about community foundations and the impact they are making in your community? In this episode we speak with Jennifer Owens, President and CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation, and Heather Peeler, President and CEO of ACT Alexandria, about these longstanding resources and change agents in our community.

How much do you know about the "path to the presidency"? Of course, for some people it can start decades before they officially announce that they are running, but in today’s episode we are going to talk about everything from the convention to the electoral college to the transition. If you have seen the movie Shirley, about Shirley Chisolm’s historic presidential run as the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, you have seen an even more in-depth look at the convention politics.

In this episode we speak with Glyda Carr, president, CEO and co-founder of Higher Heights for America, and at the center of the national movement to grow Black women’s political power from the voting booth to elected office. and Rebekah Caruthers, Vice President at Fair Vote, who has managed or consulted on campaigns, voter projects, and with candidates in over two dozen states including presidential and down ballot races in battleground states.

If you want to get involved with the process. One way you can do that is by becoming a delegate at a political party convention. Its best to reach out to your state party to get specifics on the process, as each state is different.

At a time when there is a backlash against DEI efforts, along with the resignation of Claudine Gay, the first black woman to serve as president of Harvard University, we felt it was time to have a discussion about how those of us who are DEI proponents continue moving DEI forward.

I don’t think we take the time to define, what success looks like for DEI, and acknowledge practically and realistically what we discuss in our conversation as the backlash that history tells us we can expect, and how we emerge from this current backlash with a stronger movement and a stronger society.

In this conversation with Joi Chaney, founder of principal of J.O.I. Strategies, and Jessica Paige, social scientist with the RAND Corporation, two Harvard graduates, we hear their perspectives on what DEI means, how Black women can succeed despite the challenges, and what’s next for the future of DEI post Claudine Gay’s resignation.