Linked in Impact with The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated

A November 2024 article by Subramaniam Vincent on forbes.com, noted that Christine Slaughter, Chaya Crowder and Christina Greer, co-authored a recent paper that refers to Black women as keepers of American democracy. The researchers found that Black women are motivated by civic duty to vote in elections and perceive voting as an effective tool to have their voice heard. The article also noted that the news media should  help fellow Americans understand the history that Black women bring to the ballot box when they vote. Our stories need to recognize that there is a profound sense of intergenerational solidarity and civic duty amongst Black women, fostered through the passing down of history from the civil rights era, shared everyday experiences, conversations, and a sense of collective responsibility.One organization which promotes Black women's civic engagement is the Black Women's Roundtable, an initiative of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.The Black Women's Roundtable (BWR) serves as the coalition's intergenerational leadership development, mentoring, empowerment and power building arm for Black women and girls. The BWR is at the forefront of championing justice and equitable public policies that center racial, economic and gender justice to promote health and wellness, economic security & prosperity, education and global empowerment as key elements of success. Our host, Krysta Jones, currently serves as one of the conveners of BWR Virginia, along with Lavern Chatman, and she is joined by Tameka Ramsey, a convener of BWR Michigan, and the founding director for the Michigan Coalition on Black Civic Participation and LaWana Brown, a co convener for the BWR Maryland. This conversation focuses on the impact BWR is making and how one can get involved.

According to Heritagediscovered.com, with there being nearly 48 million Black people in the US today, Black genealogy research can be a real challenge, especially for finding families before the 1870 census, the first census to name many Black people for the first time. Researching African American ancestors, whether freed or formerly enslaved, can be time consuming, yet fortunately, more resources are coming online as records get digitized to help you build your family tree.In this episode we speak with Viola Baskerville, Suzanne Walker, and Shamele Jordan.Viola Baskerville is a Richmond, Virginia native; however, she traces her paternal ancestry to several families with deep roots in both Buckingham and Cumberland Counties in Virginia. She has traced her maternal lines to King William County, Virginia and Sevier County, Arkansas. Shamele Jordan is a professional genealogist, producer, writer, and lecturer. Her biographical highlights include: award winning TV producer of Genealogy Quick Start, and researcher for the PBS series Oprah's Roots: African American Lives I and II. She is the former president of the African American Genealogy Group in Philadelphia.Suzanne Walker is president of the Arlington VA chapter of the Links Incorporated and is a Family History Enthusiast.She has been curious about her family history for a very long time, and is focusing on research on her great grandmother being an enslaved person in Virginia. She promotes Black people honoring and knowing our history and believes it is a legacy worth preserving.

According to Forbes.com, a survey by the travel organization Road Scholar has revealed that up to 30% of the company's tour participants are solo travelers; and of those solo travelers, 85% are women.According to Condor Ferries, 64% of travelers worldwide are female, while only 36% are male. The company estimated that $125 billion would be spent by women on travel in 2023.The average U.S. traveler is a 47-year-old woman. Some 75% of those who take cultural, adventure or nature trips are women. Despite possible dangers, 86% of women state that they are not afraid to travel. And whether women travel with their partners, their families, friends, solo or in groups, 80% of all travel decisions are made by women.In this episode, our host Krysta Jones speaks with Nickie Martin and Melandee Jones Canady about their experiences traveling.

“At its core, the role of a community foundation is to create pathways that connect our community and its many different individuals, groups, and organizations to the resources needed to flourish.”How much do you know about community foundations and the impact they are making in your community? In this episode we speak with Jennifer Owens, President and CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation, and Heather Peeler, President and CEO of ACT Alexandria, about these longstanding resources and change agents in our community. 

How much do you know about the "path to the presidency"? Of course, for some people it can start decades before they officially announce that they are running, but in today's episode we are going to talk about everything from the convention to the electoral college to the transition. If you have seen the movie Shirley, about Shirley Chisolm's historic presidential run as the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, you have seen an even more in-depth look at the convention politics. In this episode we speak with Glyda Carr, president, CEO and co-founder of Higher Heights for America, and at the center of the national movement to grow Black women's political power from the voting booth to elected office. and Rebekah Caruthers, Vice President at Fair Vote, who has managed or consulted on campaigns, voter projects, and with candidates in over two dozen states including presidential and down ballot races in battleground states.If you want to get involved with the process. One way you can do that is by becoming a delegate at a political party convention. Its best to reach out to your state party to get specifics on the process, as each state is different. 

At a time when there is a backlash against DEI efforts, along with the resignation of Claudine Gay, the first black woman to serve as president of Harvard University, we felt it was time to have a discussion about how those of us who are DEI proponents continue moving DEI forward. I don't think we take the time to define, what success looks like for DEI, and acknowledge practically and realistically what we discuss in our conversation as the backlash that history tells us we can expect, and how we emerge from this current backlash with a stronger movement and a stronger society. In this conversation with Joi Chaney, founder of principal of J.O.I. Strategies, and Jessica Paige, social scientist with the RAND Corporation, two Harvard graduates, we hear their perspectives on what DEI means, how Black women can succeed despite the challenges, and what's next for the future of DEI post Claudine Gay's resignation.

"I learned that my story was not uncommon. There were others like me, just like me -Black like me, healthy like me, doing their best, just like me. And they faced death just like me too."- Allyson Felix, Olympic Track & Field ChampionWe have all heard the stats-the maternal death rates for Black women - regardless of socio economic status are 2-3 times that of white women. The 2022 documentary Aftershock directed and produced by Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee. I- was a heart wrenching accounting of how maternal mortality strikes black families and what is being done to solve the crisis. For one, birth workers, doulas, and midwives are associated with improved maternal outcomes. Additionally, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, introduced by The Black Maternal Health Caucus and reintroduced in the 118th Congress in May 2023, is a comprehensive legislative initiative aimed at eliminating preventable maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and health disparities in the U.S. In this conversation, host Krysta Jones speaks with Mallory Mpare, with the March of Dimes, to talk more about this critical issue and what we can do. Aftershock | Documentary Film (aftershockdocumentary.com)

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, our host Krysta Jones speaks with Canek Aguirre, on the Alexandria City Council, to discuss the state of youth in Alexandria and how our community can get involved. 

In this conversation we speak with Dr. Alfred Taylor, author of "Bridge Builders of Nauck/Green Valley: Past and Present” which details the stories of over 100 Arlingtonians,  Scott Taylor, president of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, which celebrates the African American Journey to Freedom, focusing on Arlington's Freedman's Village, Wilma Jones Killgo, a fourth-generation resident of the Halls Hill community in Arlington, and author of the book, "My Halls Hill Family: More Than a Neighborhood", and Councilman John Chapman, a fourth generation Alexandrian and founder of Manumission Tour Company LLC. These dynamic leaders share their thoughts about local black history and why it's so important. How much local history do you know, and what impact has it had on how you see your community? Enjoy the conversation, and I challenge you to learn even more about, and support -  your local Black history. 

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.This conversation with Dr. Lisa Loury Lomas, Eastern Area Director of The Links, Incorporated, on Black women's mental health, is a "must listen". Lisa has worked in the field of psychology for 30 years and is an expert in human relations and development, with a specialty in mood disorders, trauma, grief, DEI, life adjustment disorders and couples. Women are at least twice as likely to experience an episode of major depression as men. And, compared to our Caucasian counterparts, African American women are only half as likely to seek help.No matter what you are going through, remember that it's "OK, to not be 'OK'". 

Join several community leaders and activists as we discuss reparations - what they are, and what progress has been made in the movement to make the descendants of chattel slaves in America "whole". 

September is HBCU awareness month.  Through our National HBCU Initiative, The Links, Incorporated seeks to increase the retention and graduation rates of students attending HBCUs, which were founded in the face of discrimination and have a proud history and legacy of achievement.For more than a century, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have produced a significant portion of the nation's doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and political and religious leaders. Listen in on this conversation among members of The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated as they share their experiences, why they feel HBCUs are so important, and what they hope for the future of HBCUs. With so many forces trying to tear our students and communities down, it makes us proud to support the institutions which are doing everything they can to hold our communities up. 

What is the future of DEI? Lately, there have been more and more media reports about a decreasing number of DEI officers, and a growing number are being asked to take on additional responsibilities outside of the DEI lens. The Supreme Court's landmark decision to gut affirmative action has made it unlawful for colleges to take race into consideration as a specific factor in admissions like program at the two universities at the center of the case, Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Attacks on Black history in our schools have become more common. Despite the ostensible desire for corporations, universities, organizations and other institutions to embrace diversity after the George Floyd murder, what many thought was too good to be true, may truly be a fad. Additional questions have arisen like how artificial intelligence can be discriminatory, how are our communities, philanthropy and workplaces adapting to demands of inclusivity and belonging. How do we measure our progress, and when will be know if we are indeed a diverse, equitable and inclusive society?In this episode I speak with Samia Byrd, Chief Race and Equity Officer, Deputy County Manager for Arlington County and Diane Britt Smith, actor and model, about their experiences and thoughts about how we are embracing DEI today.

Reading is a pathway - to imagination, to growth, to learning. While dueling perspectives on parent rights, censorship and violations of 1st amendment rights are dominating conversations today, in this episode we chat with Tracie Hall, the first Black female Executive Director of the American Library Association, to discuss what communities can do to preserve a love and respect for reading and literacy and how we can celebrate books. She also shares with us our own bit of library history in Alexandria, VA.

Host Krysta Jones serves as one of the co conveners of the Black Women's Roundtable Virginia, an organization focused on building intergenerational leadership, advocating for our rights, and prioritizing the wellness of Black women and girls. The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated strongly believes that advocacy is 365 days year, no matter the election cycle or court decision, and our work is dependent on partnerships. Representatives of the Arlington (VA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated recently met with several of the other area Black women's organizations to strategize and discuss how we can work more effectively together. In this episode we spotlight the work of Deborah Foreman Speller, President of the National Council Negro Women, Northern Virginia section, and Sherelle Carper, the 24th National President & CEO, of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Incorporated. 

When we look at what is facing our community, racial equity, health disparities, economic injustice - its easy to get discouraged. These are complicated issues that will not be solved overnight, it takes leadership - often incremental. Since 1966, the The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has worked  to ensure that all community members have equal access to that leadership, those tables, and those "backrooms". In this episode we speak with three Black women leaders who have cracked the code-they lead, they serve, and they do it well. Alyia Gaskins serves on the Alexandria City Council, Amini Bonane is a champion for women and girls, and Charniele Herring is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Listen in to hear how they lead, and share their pearls of wisdom. 

In this episode, host Krysta Jones speaks with Joi Chaney, Founder/Principal, J.O.I. Strategies, and A'shanti Gholar, President of Emerge, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training women to run for office. They both provide great perspectives on how to engage our community - including getting youth involved, how they engage voters who are unlikely to vote, and the importance of running for office. 

According to the Women Business Coalition - In January 2023, women comprised nearly 33% of new appointments to the boards of public companies. Among the 36 of the 117 newly appointed women board members who chose to self-disclose their race, Asian/Pacific Islander women made up nearly 15% and Black women 9%.Paula HJ Cholmondeley, a seasoned corporate director who has served on 10 public company boards shares her wisdom about the nuts and bolts of serving on a corporate board, and what you need to do to put yourself in the position to get that board seat. 

April is Minority Health Month, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) observes National Minority Health Month to highlight the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and reducing health disparities. The theme for National Minority Health Month 2023 is "Better Health Through Better Understanding", focuses on improving health outcomes for racial and minority communities by providing them with culturally and linguistically competent healthcare services, information, and resources. As we think about eliminating health disparities, a part of that is making sure we are empowered as individuals to be advocates for ourselves. While we work on changing policies, we also have to make sure we are educated about our bodies, our minds, and our daily habits. Listen in to this conversation with Sandra Jenkins Clark, a certified yoga instructor and Dr. Nicholette Martin, a health and wellness coach and author, and former National Director, Health and Human Services for The Links, Incorporated - to give you some tips on the benefits of yoga, some commonly asked nutrition questions, and the importance of self-care.

How do you "love the skin you are in"? You may consider ways you can Reset, Rejuvenate, Reimagine, Resist, and Act, as your first steps. Self care (however you define it) is an important part of that journey.  One way we can do this is to start with the largest organ of our bodies, our skin. In this episode, we explore ways we can better care for our skin with Dr. Yolanda Holmes, a dermatologist in Washington, DC, and the chair of the Health and Human Services Facet of The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. 

The latest episode of "Linked in Impact with The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Inc." highlights our STEAM PLUS Pathways to a Lifetime of Unlimited Success initiative, and how the program is a positive focus for youth amongst the many societal challenges that they are facing. Karen Johnson, Chapter program chair, discusses why college preparedness and career readiness is so important to the Arlington Links. We will also hear from two speakers from our 2022 STEAM Plus program: Kerron Duncan, Director of Innovation at Northrop Grumman and Alexandria Maloney, President, Black Professionals in International Affairs and National Director of Membership for National Association of Black Accountants, both accomplished professionals who inspire our students to truly succeed. 

In this episode, we discuss the importance of self advocacy, movement, accountability, education and eliminating the stigma associated with certain behaviors in order to fight heart disease. Since 2008, The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has led the charge in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area through our Red Dress Event. The podcast focuses on a conversation from the 2022 virtual Red Dress event moderated by Andrea Roane, longtime DC area newscaster, Dr. Reginald Robinson, President of the Board of Directors for the Eastern States region of the American Heart Association (AHA), and Gail Harris Berry, 5 time heart attack survivor. Host Krysta Jones leads a discussion with Dr. Yolanda Holmes, dermatologist and chair of the Arlington Links Health and Human Services facet, LaJuanna Russell, co-chair of The Arlington Links Health and Human Services facet, and Michelle Bailey, chairwoman of the DMV Links Red Dress Event.