Today we talk about opportunities for neurodivergent musicians, disability rights, and music therapy. Joining us are CJ Shiloh, owner of Annapolis Music Therapy Services and co-founder of the Musical Autist, Naomi Davis, an instructor with The Musical Autist, and Will Swartz, a board member of The Musical Autist and participant of the organization's Troupe.We explain neurodiversity and how neurodivergent individuals-including musicians, and those on the autism spectrum, learn differently or e...

The college application process can be stressful for a family but we got some advice from experts Elizabeth Almeter, Director of College Counseling at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, and Lee Norwood of Annapolis College Consulting in Severna Park.Tips for a Stress Free College Application ProcessThe timeline; when do high school students truly begin the college applications process? Tours, considering things to include on their college applications such as extra curricular activities,...

Food, Health and Education is the mission of the Kids' Health and Wellness Fair on February 4th, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center at Truxtun Park, Annapolis, MD. The Fair is sponsored by Annapolis Pediatrics.The Fair purpose is to encouraging wellness as a whole for our children and providing information and resources to local families. It is free to families in the community, with lunch from Mission BBQ and food boxes for the first 100 people from the Anne Aru...

Author Zetta Elliott discusses inclusivity and representation in children's books. Elliott is an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing as she grew up in Canada and rarely read books that included characters that were children of color.Children need to see themselves in books regardless of their color, gender or ability, otherwise they feel erased and that can cause harm. Elliott has created her own imprint, Rosetta Press, “To generate culturally relevant stories that center ...

It’s clear that keeping plastic out of the Bay should be a priority. In our discussion with Doug Myers from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation he details how your decisions about the products you buy can have a big impact on the overall use of plastic.Plastic LitterPortions of the bay, especially in tributaries, are littered with plastic trash. Nationally 5 trillion pounds of plastic is disposed of each year in the United States. Unfortunately there is no state or national ban on plastics. Bag and...

Gentle Parenting is a term being thrown around quite a bit. Laura Goldstein, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and Founder of the Montgomery County Counseling Center talks about what Gentle Parenting, or as she prefers, Balanced Parenting, means.Balanced Parenting is bringing compassion and emotional well-being to interactions, but it also includes providing a structure and limits for children. Parents need as many coping skills as teens, and children learn their coping skills f...

We are discussing how to keep kids eating healthy during the holidays. Joining us from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center are Dr. Kristin Arcara, a pediatric endocrinologist, and Dr. Jennifer Dantzer, a pediatric allergist and immunologist. They will provide tips and answer the following questions.This is the time of year - full of treats, special meals, and desserts. What are some of the concerns for all of us about holiday foods, from a nutritional standpoint?What is diabetes, and why is t...

Engaging kids in reading isn't hard. That's what Kit Ballenger, a DC-based youth services librarian who helps kids and families find the right books for them, wants all parents to know. That and the fact that Graphic Novels are terrific.Kit with talks about trends in youth literature, inclusivity and diversity (LBGTQIA, various cultures and ethnicities) and strategies for engaging kids with reading.

The number of homeless kids in Maryland is about 1.8% of all kids enrolled in public school.* That means that for a high school with a total enrollment of 1,000, 18 of those kids are homeless.Anne Arundel County HomelessnessIn Anne Arundel County the number of homeless kids has risen by 58% between 2018 - 2021. The Light House Shelter notes that there are 1,000 students in the public school system that are currently homeless. The Governor’s Office for Children states that these children are p...

Poverty Amidst Plenty, is the seventh Needs Assessment undertaken by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) in partnership with Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families. Pamela Brown, Ph.D., currently the Executive Director of the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, is the author of the study.We spoke with Mary Spencer, President and CEO of CFAAC about the results of the 2022 Needs Assessment. The report examines the gap ...