Women & Politics presents:
Women & Politics: Sharing our Platform for Racial Equity: Ep 1: Entrepreneurship and Engagement
For the next 6 weeks, Women & Politics is on a break and sharing our platform with Ebony Guy and her Racial Essays podcasts and interview series. You can find them at: https://richmondracialequityessays.com/podcast
In this podcast, urban planner and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant Ebony Walden talks with 15 Richmonders from all walks of life and sectors to explore their visions for an equitable Richmond, especially as it relates to racial equity, and the strategies that will help us get there. We hope this can be a model for discussion in other U.S. cities.
Today we listen to Episode 1: Ebony talks with Richmond Night Market and The Artisan Café co-creators, Melody Short and Adrienne Cole Johnson about how Richmond can advance racial equity by supporting Black entrepreneurship and improving community engagement.
Ebony Walden is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Ebony Walden Consulting (EWC), an urban strategy firm based in Richmond, Virginia. At EWC, she works with a wide range of organizations to design and facilitate meetings, training, strategic plans and community engagement processes that explore race, equity and the creation of more just and inclusive communities. Before founding EWC, Ebony worked in local government and for non-profit organizations dedicated to citywide and neighborhood level revitalization. Currently, Ebony is an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University where she teaches Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the City. Ebony’s work has been featured in The Hill, Richmond Times-Dispatchand The Nature of Cities. She holds a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Georgetown University. Inspired by The Just City Essays, Ebony Walden conceived the idea of an essay collection focused on Richmond (The Richmond Racial Equity Essays) in hopes of bringing together thought leadership and practice to advance racial equity in the region.
The Second half of the show we highlight two individual essays. “Reading and writing essays isn’t for everyone. However, we wanted to get more perspectives on: the inequities our city faces, what a vision for racial equity would look like and how to get there. Curated by Duron Chavis, below are 7 short video interviews designed to expand the discussion.”
Today we play video essays by Donald Coleman and Carolyn Lofton
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Follow our show on our social media on twitter, facebook, and our blog – look for womenpoliticsva
Follow our host and producer at @sherishannon27 and @carololson
Carol Olson Women & Politics December 2nd, 2021
Posted In: Music, Music Shows, News
Recovery Is – HIV Outreach and Testing
On today’s show, Dr. Porter talks with local activists working to expand HIV Outreach and Testing.
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You can find past shows on our blog at RecoveryIs.Life and follow us on twitter at @recoveryradiova
You can find Carol on twitter at @carololson
Carol Olson November 26th, 2021
Posted In: Local, Music Shows, News
Women & Politics presents:
Women & Politics: Sharing our Platform for Racial Equity: Ep 2: Public Housing
For the next 6 weeks, Women & Politics is on a break and sharing our platform with Ebony Guy and her Racial Essays podcasts and interview series. You can find them at: https://richmondracialequityessays.com/podcast
In this podcast, urban planner and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant Ebony Walden talks with 15 Richmonders from all walks of life and sectors to explore their visions for an equitable Richmond, especially as it relates to racial equity, and the strategies that will help us get there. We hope this can be a model for discussion in other U.S. cities.
Today we listen to Episode 2: Patrice Shelton and Sherrell Thompson converse with Ebony about their personal and professional experiences with public housing and as community health workers. From their perspective, racial equity requires better access to health resources and affordable housing for low to moderate-income Richmonders.
Ebony Walden is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Ebony Walden Consulting (EWC), an urban strategy firm based in Richmond, Virginia. At EWC, she works with a wide range of organizations to design and facilitate meetings, training, strategic plans and community engagement processes that explore race, equity and the creation of more just and inclusive communities. Before founding EWC, Ebony worked in local government and for non-profit organizations dedicated to citywide and neighborhood level revitalization. Currently, Ebony is an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University where she teaches Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the City. Ebony’s work has been featured in The Hill, Richmond Times-Dispatchand The Nature of Cities. She holds a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Georgetown University. Inspired by The Just City Essays, Ebony Walden conceived the idea of an essay collection focused on Richmond (The Richmond Racial Equity Essays) in hopes of bringing together thought leadership and practice to advance racial equity in the region.
The Second half of the show brings back a discussion on housing with Stephanie Lynch, councilwoman of the 5th district; Rachelle Hunley, Manager of Bridging the Gap at VCU; and LaToya S. Gray, creator of Planned Destruction to talk about housing issues in Richmond. Discussion centers on the issues of homelessness in the city and the impact of red-lining and its contribution to the poverty and homelessness of the African-American community most specifically. Stephanie Lynch brings her experience in working within city government to attempt to make change, Rachelle and Carol bring their experience in working with victims of violence in our city and how violence and homelessness intersect, and LaToya describes her work on examining the history of land ownership, valuation and development in the City of Richmond and the maps used to destroy black communities.
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Follow our show on our social media on twitter, facebook, and our blog – look for womenpoliticsva
Follow our host and producer at @sherishannon27 and @carololson
Carol Olson Women & Politics November 25th, 2021
Posted In: Local, Music, Music Shows, News
Women & Politics presents:
Women & Politics – Post Election with Jewel Jordan and Ebony Guy – reairing! (It’s that good)
We are airing this post-election show again because we can’t get enough of these two amazing advocates. So if you missed it the first time… or want to to hear them again..
Jewel Jordan was born and raised in Portsmouth, VA and is a proud graduate of Norfolk State University with a Bachelors in Sociology and Iowa State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Masters in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Disorganization, Victimization and Community Cohesion. In May 2012 she became a Fellow with the Obama for America campaign. It is here where her passion for civic engagement, community advocacy and organizing developed. After the re-election of President Obama, Jewel would continue her work on various state and local elections through her creation of the Suffolk Young Democrats (SYD). With the support of the Suffolk Democratic Committee, Jewel served as President of SYD from 2013 to 2015 and was able to organize numerous community engagement events, such as political education forums, voter registration, school supply and food drives. In 2017 Jewel took her gifts to Richmond, VA and began her work as an Assistant Legislative Aide for the Office of Senator Lynwood Lewis and the Office of Delegate Luke E. Torian.Jewel is a graduate of the Virginia Progressive Leadership Program, a Life Member of the NAACP, a former Suffolk Chair with the Hampton Roads Young Democrats, a former member of Urban League of Young Professionals Greater Richmond, has worked with the Virginia Civic Engagement Table as an Organizer for the Youth Virginia Votes Center-Richmond.
You can follow Jewel on twitter at: @The_BKC and @BrownVANews
Ebony B. Guy is an award-winning organizer, advocate, and community leader. She began to explore a career of service at seventeen by organizing in her hometown of Halifax County, Virginia, sharing information with residents throughout the year.
Over twenty-four years, Ebony has worked with local, state, and federal political officials, community leaders, citizens, and youth in various positions such as case manager for the federal government, campaign staffer and liaison, advisor, public speaker, and panelist.
She has become a well-respected strategist and consultant in Halifax County, her home, the city of Danville, and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ebony is currently producing a film documentary about her Grandmother, a global civil rights leader, and advocate while continuing to address matters of importance in southern Virginia.
You can follow Ebony on twitter at @hey_ebie
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Follow our show on our social media on twitter, facebook, and our blog – look for womenpoliticsva
Follow our host and producer at @sherishannon27 and @carololson
Carol Olson Women & Politics November 18th, 2021
Posted In: Music, Music Shows, News
Monday Breakfast Blend – Women Art Revolution presents:
Monday Breakfast Blend – Music from Kyrgyzstan with RadioGirlRVA
Music from Kyrgyzstan with RadioGirlRVA
Today the show focuses on the music of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz music is described as nomadic and rural, with ties to Turkmen and Kazakh folk forms.
Carol Olson Monday Breakfast Blend – Women Art Revolution November 15th, 2021
Posted In: Music, Music Shows, News
Women & Politics presents:
Women & Politics – Post Election Discussion with Andrea Miller, Rachel Levy and Amy Wentz
We are continuing our discussion of the Virginia Election results and what brought the Democratic party to lose the ticket. Joining Sheri Shannon today are three former candidates and activists who continue to work to ensure voters get access to their voting rights, activate for their communities, and brings women’s voices to the forefront.
Andrea Miller is Founding Board Member, Executive Director, People Demanding Action, Founding President, National Women’s Political Caucus of Virginia, Founding Tri-Chair Virginia Poor People’s Campaign and a member of the Democracy and Governance working group of the Virginia Green New Deal. Andrea is an IT and Political Director, a digital and elections strategist. She designs and administers digital phonebanks and texting programs. From 2013 to 2015 she led the Progressive Round Table on Capitol Hill bringing together members of Congress, activists and non-profit leaders. Her expertise is in voting rights, climate and the Equal Rights Amendment. She has successfully advocated for legislation on both the Federal and State level. In 2008 she was the Democratic nominee for the Virginia 4th Congressional district.
A Richmond native and Southside resident for over 35 years, Amy Wentz is a devoted mother, veteran, entrepreneur, innovator, and public advocate. A proud graduate of Richmond Public Schools, Amy has firm ideas on how to improve communication throughout the 8th district in order to keep residents informed of important issues. As an advocate of active citizenship, Amy truly believes that engaged and informed residents lead to better communities. Understanding that a district is as strong as its constituents, she has diligently worked with the past two administrations to improve the public education system, promote safe and healthy neighborhoods, and to begin to create more equitable outcomes for residents through Southside Richmond and beyond. Recently named a 2020 Richmond History Maker by the Valentine Museum for her dedicated and sustainable service to the city of Richmond, Amy is no stranger to working hard to uplift her hometown.
Rachel Levy is running for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 55th District. The 55th includes the Western half of Hanover County, most of Caroline County, and a slice of Spotsylvania County. Rachel is a mother of three, a teacher, and a community leader with a PhD in educational leadership and policy. Rachel is a longtime member of the Hanover Democratic Committee, the Hanover NAACP, Together Hanover, the PTA, and is the President of Caroline Education Association. She lives in the Town of Ashland.
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Follow our show on our social media on twitter, facebook, and our blog – look for womenpoliticsva
Follow our host and producer at @sherishannon27 and @carololson
Carol Olson Women & Politics November 11th, 2021
Posted In: Music, Music Shows, News
Women & Politics presents:
Women & Politics – Post Election with Jewel Jordan and Ebony Guy
We are post-election folks and the feelings are flying. We invite in two community activists to discuss the results.
Jewel Jordan was born and raised in Portsmouth, VA and is a proud graduate of Norfolk State University with a Bachelors in Sociology and Iowa State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Masters in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Disorganization, Victimization and Community Cohesion. In May 2012 she became a Fellow with the Obama for America campaign. It is here where her passion for civic engagement, community advocacy and organizing developed. After the re-election of President Obama, Jewel would continue her work on various state and local elections through her creation of the Suffolk Young Democrats (SYD). With the support of the Suffolk Democratic Committee, Jewel served as President of SYD from 2013 to 2015 and was able to organize numerous community engagement events, such as political education forums, voter registration, school supply and food drives. In 2017 Jewel took her gifts to Richmond, VA and began her work as an Assistant Legislative Aide for the Office of Senator Lynwood Lewis and the Office of Delegate Luke E. Torian.Jewel is a graduate of the Virginia Progressive Leadership Program, a Life Member of the NAACP, a former Suffolk Chair with the Hampton Roads Young Democrats, a former member of Urban League of Young Professionals Greater Richmond, has worked with the Virginia Civic Engagement Table as an Organizer for the Youth Virginia Votes Center-Richmond.
You can follow Jewel on twitter at: @The_BKC and @BrownVANews
Ebony B. Guy is an award-winning organizer, advocate, and community leader. She began to explore a career of service at seventeen by organizing in her hometown of Halifax County, Virginia, sharing information with residents throughout the year.
Over twenty-four years, Ebony has worked with local, state, and federal political officials, community leaders, citizens, and youth in various positions such as case manager for the federal government, campaign staffer and liaison, advisor, public speaker, and panelist.
She has become a well-respected strategist and consultant in Halifax County, her home, the city of Danville, and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ebony is currently producing a film documentary about her Grandmother, a global civil rights leader, and advocate while continuing to address matters of importance in southern Virginia.
You can follow Ebony on twitter at @hey_ebie
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Follow our show on our social media on twitter, facebook, and our blog – look for womenpoliticsva
Follow our host and producer at @sherishannon27 and @carololson
Carol Olson Women & Politics November 4th, 2021
Posted In: Music Shows, News
Women & Politics presents:
Women & Politics – The Election Series
Today is our last show of election coverage bringing in Princess Blanding, candidate for Governor and Marrena Davis, speaking on behalf of the Paul Davis campaign.
Princess Blanding, an educator for over 13 years here in the Commonwealth and a grassroots activist, has a history of fighting to elevate the voices and concerns of every day, working-class Virginians and for increased accountability from our local and state elected officials to address the inequities in our Black and most marginalized communities.
As a single LGBTQIA+ mother based in the Middle Peninsula with roots in the rural working class, Princess’s connection to marginalized communities runs deep. Our campaign will prioritize the growing challenges of hard-working families in all regions of Virginia.
A veteran educator and community activist, Princess’s expertise has been in-demand in the Virginia General Assembly. In 2020, Princess worked closely with prominent members of the Virginia State Senate and House of Delegates in proposing legislation that puts community care and safety first.
Princess’s fearless advocacy has, and always will, prioritize the needs of everyday people.
Marrena Davis with a background in nursing and graduate of Tidewater Community college then transferred and earned her degree in psychology from Old Dominon University. Marrena is married to Paul Davis. Both born in Norfolk Virginia. They met through friends and later discovered their grandmothers we’re neighbors and best friends 45 years! Marrena’s grandparents were major business owners in the Hampton roads . Tidewater Steel company supplying navy steel to the navy and other governmental agencies. Also she shadowed her step grandfather and grandmother that owned Bayview plaza pharmacy for 33 years. Marrena is involved in volunteering and building individuals future. Especially the children as she realizes they will shape the future of this country. A young constitutional advocate and advocate for young children growing up in different living situations such as foster care and guardianships like she did growing up. She is looking into a law protecting Virginia heirs see their inheritance as she is fighting for her rights as an heiress in Virginia today. Marrena loves athletics and soccer is her favorite !
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Follow our show on our social media on twitter, facebook, and our blog – look for womenpoliticsva
Follow our host and producer at @sherishannon27 and @carololson
Carol Olson Women & Politics October 28th, 2021
Posted In: Music, Music Shows, News
Recovery Is – Response and Training for Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence
On today’s show, Carol talks with two experts working in violence:
Ron Wallace
Dr. Ron Wallace is a criminal justice professional with over 38 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, both as practitioner and educator. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at American Military University. Dr. Wallace is a recognized subject matter expert in the area of criminal justice and intimate partner violence. His research focus is in the area of intimate partner violence.
Dr. Wallace has worked with various state and national criminal justice organizations to develop and deliver training focused on intimate partner violence. In addition to his teaching experience, he also works with Institutional Review Boards in both the private industry and academic setting.
Jarrod Sadulski has a Doctorate in Criminal Justice with over twenty years of law enforcement experience that includes counter human trafficking, counter terrorism, homeland security, and local law enforcement. Jarrod has participated in speaking engagements and presentations in the United States, Europe, and Central America on the topics of human trafficking, global security, international drug trafficking, stress management in policing, and has presented at an intelligence conference on the topic of police responses to domestic terrorism to intelligence experts from over ten different nations in Europe. Jarrod has conducted in-country research on human trafficking and international narcotics trafficking in Central and South America in the past three years, which includes Belize and Colombia. Jarrod has been a speaker and presenter at the International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference in 2019 and 2020.
Jarrod has written over 100 articles on a wide range of relevant criminal justice topics, which include domestic violence and human trafficking to an international audience. Jarrod’s research has been published in the United Nations Office on Drug Control World Drug Report and international media outlets. Recently, Jarrod served as a consultant for the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime’s 2021 Global Organized Crime Index by reviewing content associated with organized crime in the nation of Belize.
Awards Jarrod has received include the Global War on Terror Medal, National Defense Service Medal, City of Sunrise Police Officer of the Year Award, and the Coast Guard Reserve Mcshan Inspirational Leadership Award. Jarrod is available for training and public speaking events and can be contacted through his website at www.Sadulski.com
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You can find past shows on our blog at RecoveryIs.Life and follow us on twitter at @recoveryradiova
You can find Carol on twitter at @carololson
Carol Olson October 22nd, 2021
Posted In: Music, Music Shows, News
Women & Politics presents:
Women & Politics – The Election Series
Jackie De Fusco joined 8News in January 2020 as our Capitol Connection reporter.
Jackie previously worked as an investigative and general assignment reporter for WJHL, Nexstar’s sister station in Johnson City, Tennessee.
She graduated from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. In college, she interned for NBC’s Nightly News in Washington D.C. and completed an investigative journalism fellowship in Albania.
Catch Jackie singing karaoke and trying new restaurants in the River City. Make sure to say hello!
Inspired by Toni Griffin and The Just City Essays, alumna Ebony Walden (MUEP ’06) conceived the idea of an essay collection focused on Richmond in hopes of bringing together thought leadership and practice to advance racial equity in the region. Walden is
an urban planner and consultant who leverages her experience to design and facilitate racial equity training, strategy and community engagement processes that explore race, equity and inclusion in cities. She is the Principal Consultant at Ebony Walden Consulting, an urban strategy firm based in Richmond, Virginia and an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
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Follow our show on our social media on twitter, facebook, and our blog – look for womenpoliticsva
Follow our host and producer at @sherishannon27 and @carololson
Carol Olson Women & Politics October 21st, 2021
Posted In: Local, Music, Music Shows, News