Episode 38: Ready. Set. Vote! In this episode, we hear from Cynthia Williams, President of the League of Women Voters and Linda Frascarella, Director of Education at the League of Women Voters on furthering the cause for voter education. Later we will also chat with Allison Jessing, Events & Seminars Manager and Emily Trovato, Children's Instructor & Research Specialist of Howard County Library System to hear about HCLS’s resources and action plan to engage citizens before the general election on Tuesday, November 3rd.

HCLS Voter Education Page

https://hclibrary.org/community-education/attend-learn-vote/

League of Women Voters

https://hoco.lwvhowardmd.org/

Howard County Board of Elections

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Board-of-Elections

Bump the Ballot

https://www.hocobumptheballot.info/

Episode 37: Equity In Action. In this episode, we speak with Ms. TiQuoria Jackson and Ms. Alicia Whye, the two youth activists leading the NAACP's local We Are Done Dying campaign. We also talk to Mr. Jonathon McKinney, the Mid-Atlantic Field Director, and Mr. Trovon Williams, Vice President of Marketing and Communications about the Virtual March on Washington, their current initiatives, and how they are mobilizing on voter education and access to elections this Fall.

https://www.naacp.org/

https://naacp.org/campaigns/we-are-done-dying/

Episode 36: School Readiness. In this episode, we hear from Ms. Laura Johnson, Vice President of Communication for the National Summer Learning Association. Ms. Johnson shares the latest developments in summer learning, a newly published study on summer learning loss, and the organization’s most up-to-date resources to keep students engaged. Then HCLS Teens’ Instructor & Research Specialist, Lori Conforti, joins us to share about the library’s summer learning resources and what to expect from the library this fall.

National Summer Learning Association

https://www.summerlearning.org/

Episode 35: Helping Hands. In this episode, we hear from three community organizations lending their helping hands to provide various forms of relief aid during this crisis. We speak with Jessica Mahajan and Amy Brooks of Oakland Mills Online or OMO. Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Executive Director, and Barb Van Winkle, Board Chair of the Women's Giving Circle. Last but not least, Sanjay Srivastava of the Indian Cultural Association and The Lentil.

In this episode, we hear from Michelle Marks-Osborne, an Inclusion & Equity Expert. Michelle coaches, trains, and speaks publicly to help individuals and organizations facilitate changes to exercise anti-racism. Her ability to handle diverse interactions with insight, tact and diplomacy make her a transformative leader. We will also hear from our Howard County Library System President & CEO, Tonya Aikens on her call to action for the library and our community to take a stand against racism and use suggested resources to begin or continue the journey to anti-racism.

whenequitymatters.com

Libraries Stand Against Racism: Getting Started

https://bit.ly/2BfHtvO

Libraries Stand Against Racism: Parenting Resources

https://bit.ly/2N5hNF6

Libraries Stand Against Racism: Housing

https://bit.ly/2YyYvgo

Episode 33: School Days. In this episode, we speak to Howard County Public School System Superintendent, Dr. Michael J. Martirano, and three HCPSS students. Dr. Martirano will weigh in on how the school system prepared for distance learning and what is on the horizon after the recent state-wide school closures for the remainder of the academic year. The students will share their overall experiences during this time of crisis.

Episode 32: Health Wise. In this episode, we talk to Maura J. Rossman, M.D., Health Officer of the Howard County Health Department. With a mission to "Promote, Preserve and Protect the Health of All in Howard County", the Health Department is leading the county's response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Howard County Health Department: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Health

Episode 31: Financial Literacy Matters. In this episode, we talk to Kimberly Linderman of Making Change, Inc., about navigating one's finances in the midst of the current pandemic

Episode 30: State of Mind. In this episode, we speak with Amy Miller from the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and Tiffany Callender from The Horizon Foundation about their work in the community and the emotional challenges of the current pandemic.

Episode 29: A Most Notorious Woman. In this episode we speak with author and biographer Anne Chambers. Her book “Grace O’Malley: The Biography of Ireland’s Pirate Queen 1530-1603” is now celebrating its 40th anniversary. We also talk to award-winning actress and Smithsonian scholar Mary Ann Jung about her entertaining performance as Grace O’Malley and other iconic women that inspire a love of history, drama and literature in classrooms and beyond. Finally, writer Susan Thorton Hobby, a board member of HoCoPoLitSo (Howard County Poetry & Literature Society) and contributing editor of the Little Patuxent Review, reads a poem from Anne Chambers’ book and discusses the local literary scene.