Youth are facing a number of challenges today. Deaths from suicide among youth and young adults have been increasing over the last two decades in the United States. Despite negative headlines and growing concerns about social media’s impact on youth, teens continue to use these platforms at high rates – with some describing their social media use as “almost constant,” according to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens. In this episode we speak with Meghan Alderton on the Alexandria City School board, to discuss the state of youth in Alexandria and how our community can get involved. 

The General Assembly session has started, and our legislators are debated a number of important bills. Listen to this conversation with state senator Barbara Favola, former Arlington County board member, as she reviews highlights of 2023 and what we might expect during the remainder of the 2024 Regular General Assembly session. 

In this episode we have a short conversation with Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey, who provides an overview of 2023, what we might expect in 2024, and her advice for advocates who want to make a difference. 

Many of us know that on August 24, 1920, Tennessee became 36th and final state to ratify the 19th amendment - or the women’s suffrage amendment, which passed by only one vote. That one vote belonged to Harry Burn, who heeded the words of his mother when she urged him to vote for suffrage. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the amendment into law on August 26, 1920. Fifty years later on August 26th, 1970, Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women organized a nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality, the largest protest for gender equality in United States history. There were demonstrations and rallies in more than 90 major cities and small towns across the country and over 100,000 women participated, including 50,000 who marched down Fifth Avenue in New York City.

In 1971, Representative Bella Abzug (D-NY) introduced a successful bill designating August 26th of each year as Women’s Equality Day. But how much do you know about local women’s history? In this episode, host Krysta Jones speaks with Gayle Converse, co-founder and vice president of Alexandria Celebrates Women -a 501c3 organization designed to promote voter education, history and women’s empowerment. She is also the author of The Alexandria Celebrates Women History Walk and shares some interesting facts about women’s history in Alexandria. 

Young people show alarming increases in the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other behavioral health challenges that have consistently increased over the past decade, recent national surveys show. Last year, the Surgeon General issued a new Advisory to highlight the urgent need to address the youth mental health crisis. The Advisory pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the pre-existing mental health challenges and substance use disorders that children and youth face. Arlington has not been immune, and earlier this year a Wakefield High School student died from an overdose. In this conversation our host Krysta Jones speaks with Kristin Devaney, Director of Counseling Services, and Wendy Crawford, Licensed Psychologist Supervisor, with Arlington Public Schools, to discuss ways we can all help improve our students mental health. 

In this episode we are sharing a conversation host Krysta Jones organized between Mary Burroughs Gray (moderator), Nile Blass and Andrea Miller on behalf of the Black Women’s Roundtable Virginia. Nile and Andrea are two African American women who are looking to increase voter participation in different ways. 

Nile is an organizer with the League of Women Voters of the US, and Andrea Miller is the founding board member for The Center for Common Ground. As we seek to increase voter engagement in all of our communities, we thought this would be a useful conversation to share. 

Listen to this conversation with Audrey Davis, Director of the Alexandria Black History Museum and Tiffany Pache, the Project Coordinator for the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project, as we discuss Alexandria’s history of lynching, the Alexandria Remembrance Project, and Juneteenth celebrations, as well as how you can get involved. 

Join Krysta Jones from the League of Women Voters in Arlington and Alexandria City and she discusses ranked choice voting with Tania Griffin, the Communications & Outreach Coordinator for the Arlington Electoral Board, and Liz White, the Executive Director for Up Vote Virginia.