DMV Spotlight shines a light on one father’s battle to continue care for his young adult Autistic son at one of the few such care facilities available.

Ben Smith of Bristow, a single dad who works in DC provides an overview of the struggle to both find and maintain care for his 26 year old non verbal son. Smith shares his support for the Bright Center in Manassas Virginia and the challenges to continue funding for the non profit amid federal cuts.

Learn more here: https://brightcenter.org/

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DMV Spotlight on 5-18-25 shines a light on the Bettie Jane Cancer Foundation. Guest Kathryn Landis-Bogush, President of the Foundation explains that founder, Bettie Jane Bryant of Frederick died of cancer back in February of 2023 but during her battle with the disease, Bettie Jane, who ran a dance studio, was staggered by the costs associated with fighting cancer.

Bryant created the foundation to assist with costs ranging from  oxygen tanks to transportation to groceries. The Foundation continues with annual events to raise money to support the foundation, including the yearly Gala in October as well as a 5K Run/Walk.

Learn More: https://www.bjcfmd.org/

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DMV Spotlight on 5-11-2025 shines a light on the DMV Regional Economic Outlook. Guest, Dr. Terry Clower, Economist and Professor of public policy at the Schar School at George Mason and the Director of the Mason Center for Regional Analysis offers insight on last month’s Washinton Economy Watch from the Stephen S. Fuller Institute  for April 2025.

Dr. Clower points to uncertainty in the job market based on Federal cuts and layoffs, though points out the full impact is not yet reflected in the current data. Dr. Clower also notes declining numbers in both Consumer Confidence due to tariff uncertainty adding that regional travel data shows air travel at Reagan National and Dulles International airports both falling.

A shift in the growth sectors of the regional economy is needed says Dr. Clower.

Learn more: https://cra.gmu.edu/

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DMV Spotlight shines a light on the most recent American Lung Association report finding that air quality in the larger DC-Baltimore Metro area is getting more with the State of the Air report giving a failing grade in several sectors for both ozone and particulate pollution.

Guest Dr. Amit Mahajan, commonly known as, “ Dr. Bobby” the national spokesperson for the American Lung Association and Medical Director for Inova Interventional Pulmonology and Complex Airway Disease Program explains that lung disease and conditions from asthma to COPD can be triggered by pollution.

Dr. Bobby also notes the unique toll that air pollution takes on children with developing lungs in underserved areas. Dr. Bobby further explains the impacts of allergies on lung conditions and urges advocacy for cleaner air.

Learn More: https://www.lung.org/research/sota

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DMV Spotlight shines a light on a recent find from the James Webb Telescope on an exo-planet 120 light years from earth where researchers claim to have found two molecules that could indicate biological life.

Virginia Tech Professor Nahum Arav, an Astrophysicist, says more scientific research is needed and is casting doubt on the significance of the finding but offered an in depth explanation of how the finding was made.

Professor Arav also provided information on the nature of the molecules and the importance of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Learn More: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39jj9vkr34o

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DMV Spotlight on 4-20-25 shine a light on Homelessness in the DC Metro region. The Council of Governments ( COG)  Housing Planner, Hilary Chapman explains the benefits of addressing homelessness with a regional approach. She notes collaborative efforts during the pandemic across county borders helped drive down the rates of homelessness adding COG’s annual Point in Time count of the unhoused provides crucial data for county governments to approach solutions.

Chapman explains the number one factor in homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. Chapman says  housing supply has been lacking since the great recession and has not recovered.

Learn More: https://www.mwcog.org/community/planning-areas/housing-homelessness/

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DMV Spotlight on 4-13-25 shines a light on the Dulles South Food Pantry, a community non profit that battles hunger in Loudoun County. Executive Director, Karen Ergenbright explains the Pantry currently feeds over 225 families each week. In addition, the Dulles South Food Pantry holds a school program called “Backpack Buddies” at 23 Loudoun County Schools with each bag providing weekend meals for students including 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners as well as snacks, juice and shelf stable milk.

 Ergenbright notes the community support from local food drives as well as hundreds of volunteers. Ergenbright also says the demand for food help has increased in Loudoun County, often cited as the richest county in the United States, both following the pandemic and during the federal workforce reductions.

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DMV Spotlight shines a light on Childhelp on 4/6/25. Guest Meghan Krein, Director of Communications for Childhelp explains that  the non- profit meets the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of children who have been abused, neglected, or at-risk.

Childhelp offers a National Hotline to report child abuse or suspected abuse and provides educational tools for schools to help fight ‘sextortion’ that is becoming more prevalent with children being blackmailed over social media content. Krien explains such abuse can lead to victim suicide. Childhelp also runs a therapeutic horse farm that serves as a residential psychiatric treatment program for abused children that is located in Virginia , called; ‘The Village’.

Learn More: https://www.childhelp.org/

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DMV Spotlight on March 30, 2025 shines a light on over a thousand students in Frederick County, Maryland, who are homeless. Guest Melissa Muntz, Executive Director of SHIP of Frederick County explains while there are county services for younger students and families, there is a gap in services for teen students and older.

Muntz says that is where SHIP or Student Homelessness Initiative Parnership of Frederick comes in, connecting students aged 16 to 24 to stable housing and services that they need.

SHIP does depend on donations from the community..especially toiletries, laundry detergent and current clothing.

Learn More: https://shipfrederick.com/

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DMV Spotlight shines a light on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation  as spring begins in the DC area. Guest, Hannah Jaffee, Research Director for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation shares its list of the top one hundred “ 2025 Allergy Capitals “. The Nation’s Capitol landed at number 70 on the list..up from last year’s ranking.

Jaffee also notes the link between allergies and asthma that can be triggered by pollen as well as pet dander, dust mites and more. Jaffe urges allergy sufferers to make a plan to deal with the pollen season in the DC area. She also shares information found on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation website.

Learn More: https://aafa.org/

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