Do you want to be more civic-minded, but don’t know how? We’ve got three stories about civic engagement, from the general assembly to the People’s Assembly to drawing a line on a map and making it real.

Features:

Nick, Isabelle, and Ashley from Randolph Macon College

The Richmond's People's Assembly

Brantley Tyndall, Director of Bike Walk RVA.

The federal government may be cutting food benefits, drastically - is Richmond ready? What does the safety net for hunger look like in RVA? What COULD it look like, and how do we get there?

Guests: 

Eddie Oliver, Federation of Virginia Food Banks

Ayanna Ogaldez and Irina Rogova, MADRVA

Kimberly Battle, VCU School of Nursing

Richmond has a plan called Vision Zero – the goal is zero pedestrian deaths. But so far this year, that goal seems farther away than ever. Rich talks to experts to ask: what are we doing to make our city safer, and is it enough?

To learn more about pedestrian safety in Richmond, check out VPM's Curious Commonwealth: Curious Commonwealth asks: How does Richmond prioritize road safety work?

Guests:

Tara Fitzpatrick, GreaterRichmondFit4Kids

Richard Hankins, Partnership for Smarter Growth

Whittney Evans, VPM News

Last year, the Richmond City Council’s Sarah Abubaker had a lot to say about the budget process. Now we're heading into the budget season again. Rich sits down with Sarah to talk about what's changed, how we could think bigger, and the balance of power in Richmond.

Guest: Sarah Abubaker, 4th District Representative for the Richmond City Council

RVA's Got Issues returns for its fourth season, bringing you stories about the important issues shaping Richmond, Virginia. Hear directly from key leaders; discover how the federal government impacts your community; and listen to inspiring stories about the people in your own backyard who are making change. Follow us on @RichGotIssues for bonus content and download e wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Wednesday.

Richmond’s had a good run lately, but it always seems like it prospers in spite of city government, not because of it. Can Mayor Avula and his new Chief Administrative Officer, Odie Donald, finally be the ones who turn that around? Rich sits down with Odie to find out.

RVA's Got Issues will be taking a break for the holidays, but will be back with new episodes early in the new year.

Guest:

Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Richmond

When is that pothole or broken sidewalk going to get fixed?

To get answers, Rich sits down with Bobby Vincent of Richmond's Department of Public Works, or DPW. But just a warning: those answers may be more complicated than you think.

Guest:

Bobby Vincent, Richmond Department of Public Works

There seems to be new vibes on the Richmond City School Board. Certainly things have quieted down. But the public schools are still vitally important to our city, still under scrutiny, and still making news.

Rich sits down with School Board Chair Shavonda Fernandez to ask: What's with the new vibes, and what do they mean for the future of Richmond Public Schools – and our city?

Guest: Shavonda Fernandez, Richmond City School Board

What is it about Richmond that makes it a Tattoo City, maybe THE Tattoo City? Rich talks to working artists about the RVA tattoo scene. He also does something he hasn’t done in years: get his own tattoo.

Guests:

Amy Black, Amy Black Tattoos

amyblacktattoos.com

Roman Walston, Black Rabbit Tattoos

www.blackrabbitrva.com

Jen Bean, Loose Screw Tattoo

www.loosescrewtattoo.com

It’s almost Thanksgiving, so Rich shares three stories about all the things we’re thankful for: about birthday parties; about getting up off the couch; and about kids reading poetry – specifically, Rich's kid.

We’re highlighting the members of our community making RVA just a little bit brighter, a little bit happier, a little bit stronger.

Guests:

- Julia Warren Mattingly, founder of Celebrate RVA

https://www.celebraterva.org/

- Anthony Clary of We Off the Couch

https://weoffthecouch.org/

- Luisa A. Igloria, former Poet Laureate of Virginia

https://www.luisaigloria.com/

- Local poet Tris Meagher