Arlington County Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Anita Friedman discusses the causes of rising mental health and substance abuse including the rising use of deadly opioids and the wide variety of approaches that other department along with other community partners, law enforcement, nonprofits and healthcare providers, to address these critical human services and societal issues.    

Director Friedman leads a progressive department that uses an equity lens and embodies the community’s values of diversity and inclusion; and is at the very forefront of Arlington’s efforts to address health equity, social justice, and racial equity.  DHS continues to build upon the legacy of professional, culturally competent, trauma-informed, evidence-based best-practice services to the community.

Arlington Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Anita Friedman discusses how her department uses a racial equity lens to serve the needs of the community.  The Department of Human Services serves as the foundation of the community’s safety net to strengthen, protect, and empower Arlingtonians in need.  DHS is Arlington’s largest department which consists of five divisions including:  Child & Family Services, Economic Independence, Behavioral Healthcare, Aging & Disabilities, Behavioral Healthcare, and Public Health

The work carried out by the agency uses an equity lens and embodies the community’s values of diversity and inclusion; and is at the very forefront of Arlington’s efforts to address health equity, social justice, and racial equity.  DHS continues to build upon the legacy of professional, culturally competent, trauma-informed, evidence-based best-practice services to the community 

Christian Dorsey, Chairperson of the Arlington County Board who retired in December 2023, discusses philanthropy in the community and his own personal philanthropy.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/ALSAC is a nonprofit. founded by the late actor and philanthropist Danny Thomas who many may remember starred in the television comedy Make Room for Daddy.   His daughter actress Marlo Thomas (who starred in the television comedy That Girl!) continues her dad’s important philanthropic legacy today.  St. Jude’s serves seriously ill children from across the country with the promise that no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.    In fact, no family ever receives a bill for treatment, transportation, housing or food. 

 Erin shares the important work and mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases such as childhood cancer and other disabling diseases like Sickle Cell Amenia. Erin will also share many ways folks can support St. Jude’s mission to help kids facing serious illness survive and thrive!

Lucy Bowen McCauley joins the Your Philanthropy Matters show to share her fantastic journey of 25 years leading the nonprofit Bowen McCauley Dance Company.  Tune in to hear Lucy's journey from the ballet student at the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School in New York to starting an urban contemporary dance company that performed locally and internationally, to starting an outstanding nonprofit organization giving back to the public schools to organizing an annual Move Me Festival for the community to providing free classes for seniors with Parkinson's Disease!  

As a performer who was also managing a nonprofit organization, Lucy gives her advice on how to form a nonprofit that reflects your own passions and how she learned to become a nonprofit executive director without a business background.   In  2021 Lucy concluded the 25-year run of the nonprofit Bowen McCauley Dance Company; but she continues to give back to the community in numerous ways, of course!

During Black History Month, the Your Philanthropy Matters show featured The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Virginia, just across the river from Washington DC.   Dr. Scott Taylor, President of The BHMA, joined us for a lively conversation about the museum,.

Arlington was home to many former African American slaves who had settled in Freedman's village only to be displaced for the creation of Arlington National Cemetery.  Today, Arlington is still the home to three historically African American neighborhoods and was the home of Dr. Charles Drew.  In addition Arlington was the first community in Virginia to integrate their schools leading to mass resistance.   Arlington is also the home of Joan Trumpeter Mulholland , a Caucasian woman who participated in and was arrested during the lunch counter protests of the 1960s.  She is featured in an iconic photograph in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Project PEACE (Partnering to End Abuse in the Community for Everyone) is a  coordinated community response dedicated to advancing the most effective and efficient array of education, prevention, protection and support services to end domestic and sexual violence in the community.  Katie Cristol, a former local government board chair shares how one community, Arlington Virginia, coordinated the efforts of government agencies, law enforcement, nonprofits and citizens to address abuse and domestic violence in the community.

This episode of Your Philanthropy Matters is an interview with Cheryl Beversdorf, radio and TV show host on a wide range of aging topics.  As our country ages and the boomer generation reaches retirement, there are lots of resources for information on health, safety, finance and lifestyle.  Cheryl, veteran,  former nurse and nonprofit executive director produces radio and You tube programs to benefit seniors.

An innovative nonprofit provides free health care services to 1,600 ethnically diverse and mostly low-literacy individuals struggling with chronic health conditions and social factors that impact their health.

 Dr. Nancy White, President of  the Arlington Free Clinic, shares how --with the help of over 500 volunteers, the Arlington Free Clinic provides a wide range of health services for those needing a helping hand.  Hear how they have been so successful.

If you teach a person to fish...
 
Paty Funegra, founder of nonprofit LaCocina VA, discusses why and how she started this innovative nonprofit organization.  As an immigrant from Peru focused on international business, Paty never imagined she would establish a nonprofit that helps people learn culinary skills and be placed in good paying jobs in the hospitality industry. 

 La Cocina VA’s mission is to create economic opportunities through bilingual culinary training programs and other food partnerships that help to feed the community while feeding the soul.  It offers its clients access to higher-skilled and better-paying jobs to provide a sustainable source of income for themselves and their families.  It targets unemployed and underemployed adults from low-income groups. 

 La Cocina VA began as an organization focused on serving Hispanic immigrants, but thanks to the success of our model, it has been able to expand its services to many other underserved populations as well. It now serves immigrants and refugees from across the globe, veterans, returning citizens, and victims of domestic violence and other traumas. 

 Update:  In 2023 La Cocina VA became Kitchen of Purpose.  It has has name --but the same mission and results!