Chantelle Lippold of King George is sharing her family’s deeply personal journey since her son, Jack, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She’s now working to raise money for a track chair that would give Jack greater freedom to get outside and experience the outdoors with his family. But Chantelle’s mission goes beyond raising money. She wants to help other families understand the challenges people with disabilities face and encourage the community to think differently about accessibility, inclusion and the simple opportunities many of us take for granted. She’s documenting the family’s journey through a blog and is also working to establish a foundation called Beyond the Pavement, with the hope of creating greater awareness and opportunities for people living with disabilities. To support Jack’s Outdoor Adventure or learn more about Chantelle’s efforts, search “Support Jack’s Outdoor Adventure” on GoFundMe or contact her at 571-225-9021.

The region’s housing challenges are the focus of a conversation with Sam Shoukas of the George Washington Regional Commission, Regional Housing Assembly Chair Jeh Hicks and Vice Chair Dr. Pamela Yeung. We discuss the Assembly’s work to address housing needs across the region and preview the fourth annual Regional Housing Summit, October 15 at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center. Tickets and more information are available at gwregion.org.

Curator of Collections Kylie Thomson previews the next installment of the What Remains series, taking place at the Masonic Lodge on August 29. These programs usually sell out, so plan ahead. We also talk about the upcoming Virginia and the Vietnam War exhibit, which opens September 1, as well as Kylie’s work as a curator—including the research, travel, and behind-the-scenes work that goes into caring for and sharing a museum’s collections.  famva.org

Patrick Catullo, UMW’s director of athletics, looks back on the Eagles’ NCAA Division III men’s basketball championship this spring—and fans can relive the excitement with free admission to all regular-season home games. He also highlights the energy around UMW Athletics and the opportunity for the community to experience it firsthand. Behind the scenes, UMW is continuing to upgrade its facilities, with newly refinished Anderson Center floors featuring a larger Eagle logo and a new press box at the turf stadium.  umweagles.com

Pat Holland with Healthy Generations talks about resources for older adults and caregivers. She says social isolation and loneliness can have serious effects on seniors’ health. One statistic she shared was that loneliness has been compared to the health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. We also talked about senior cafes, where older adults can enjoy meals, socialize, and build connections with others. 371-3375.  healthygenerations.org

It’s more than a building — it’s a place designed around the needs of children. Safe Harbor Executive Director Elizabeth McNally explains how specially trained interviewers and carefully designed forensic interview rooms help children feel safe enough to tell their stories while minimizing the trauma of the investigative process.  safeharborva.org

Spotsylvania Supervisor Chris Yakabouski (Battlefield) talks about his support for a moratorium on new data centers.  Yakabouski says the state needs to develop a plan their massive energy demands. He said data centers place a significant strain on the power grid while offering local officials limited control over how much electricity they consume.

Dr. Kevin Handley, John Stroffolino, Beverly Lemmons, and Dr. Misty Mesimer join us to talk about Germanna Community College’s Behavioral Health pathway through Workforce Development, and how it’s helping address a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals. The program gives students a faster path to the training and credentials they need to enter the workforce, without spending years working toward a traditional degree. We’ll talk about how Workforce Development connects students with practical, career-focused training and helps them move into good-paying, in-demand jobs sooner.

Mac Williams and Jason Tickle with an update.  We’ll hear about the veterans’ home, which is now nearing completion. We discuss where the project stands, what remains to be done, and how local volunteers, donors, and community partners have helped take the project to the finish line.  crrhfh.org

Melonie Barrow and Chrissy Burke talk about child care assistance available to families in the county.   This locally administered benefit helps eligible parents pay for safe, reliable child care while they’re working or attending school. They talk about who qualifies for assistance and Virginia's income guidelines.