Partners for Better Communities (Virginia DHCD's Podcast)

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Latest Episodes:

44. What's your Story? ⇒ Elevating your Mission with Raven Bates and Andrea Dono Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

Raven Bates has a passion for nonprofits and is driven by the work they do to transform lives and communities. Spending her entire career gaining experience in all aspects of mission-oriented work, Bates brings a well-rounded and diverse perspective as a nonprofit professional. In 2017, she joined VCDC to serve as the administrator of the Mission Elevation program, an extension of VCDC’s commitment to ensure communities are vibrant for all residents. Joined by Andrea Dono of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and DHCD's Rebecca Rowe, the group discusses the program and tools that will help your organization thrive.

This is the third podcast of in the Creating Community Vitality series. Get the full program, a participation workbook, and webinar and podcast archives here.

42. The power of sharing creative ideas ⇒ Creating Community Vitality with Laura Scherling Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

In the second podcast of our yearlong Creating Community Vitality Series, DHCD's Katherine Miller explores placemaking with GreenspaceNYC's Laura Scherling. "Vibrant, well-maintained public spaces play an important role in our daily lives," says Scherling, and art and creativity can play a role in imagining these spaces.

Scherling specializes in interactive design, research, and management. She has over 10 years of experience in marketing and advertising and currently works and teaches at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. Scherling is the co-founder Civc Art Lab and GreenspaceNYC, a non-profit collaborative that develops and curates free educational programming, hands-on workshops and public design projects that encourage dialogue, enliven public spaces and promote the future of a more equitable and sustainable city.

Explore with Scherling how residents and volunteers are creating community, piloting ideas and making better places together.

41. Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellow Lydeana Martin ⇒ Choosing Floyd County Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

A community development philosophy centered around locally grown business and care for neighbors comes through in this conversation celebrating Lydeana Martin's graduation in the inaugural class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute.

The yearlong program focuses on economic development in the 13 state Appalachian region, and Martin was one of Virginia's first cohort of fellows to complete it. The program both reinforced and further shaped thinking for the Floyd County economic and community development director.

"In Floyd County, we give most of our attention to people who have already chosen Floyd County," says Martin. The Southwest Virginia county of 15,000 people has an outsized identity shaped by its entrepreneurs, the rural quality of life, traditional music and craft, and, yes, its one stoplight. Listen to this conversation on building community bridges and just try not to choose Floyd County yourself, if only for a visit.

40. This is Where You Belong ⇒ Creating Community Vitality with Author Melody Warnick Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

Kick off a year's worth of enlightening conversation with the Creating Community Vitality series from the Community Revitalization Office. Each month of 2021, take part in an informational webinar, hear an inspirational podcast, and go deeper on the Virginia Main Street blog.

Joining Associate Director Rebecca Rowe, our first podcast guest, Melody Warnick, is the author of This is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are (Penguin Books, 2017). Hear about her path to belonging in her community, and dig into why some "soft" seeming investments might mean hard dollars for your community.

39. Kay Taylor ⇒ Winning the Training Game Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

Attendees of the 2020 Virginia Governors Housing Conference will have the opportunity to play the Diversity and Inclusion edition of Winning the Training Game. Hear trainer Kay Taylor describe the fun and competitive conversation starter and its tradition at the Governor's Housing Conference. Register for the conference until Friday, November 13.

38. Building homes, community, and hope with Habitat's Cassie Kimberlin Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Cassie Kimberlin connects the personal experience, a passion for addressing housing needs and the individual's ability to contribute in this conversation with DHCD's Kyerra Carr from the 2019 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference.

37. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ⇒ Housing in an Economy that Works for All Virginians Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

"We're working to help businesses in Virginia and to bring new businesses to Virginia, and that means we have to have affordable housing," Governor Ralph Northam told DHCD staff member Kyerra Carr at the 2019 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference. "Approaching affordable housing is a team effort, and innovation is important."

Gather with the team to explore the latest innovations as we're Responding Boldly in a Changing World at the 2020 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference.

36. Chris Thompson and Amanda Love ⇒ Rent and Mortgage Relief for Virginians Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

Stay Home Virginia. The Commonwealth is rallying coordinated relief to keep residents in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode Virginia Housing's Chris Thompson joins DHCD's Amanda Love for a conversation about the resources available for tenants, homeowners, and landlords. "Housing is a fundamental part of our livelihoods," says Thompson, "and this pandemic has intensified the level of awareness around how important it is to have safe, decent and affordable housing." Share this central link for resources (www.stayhomevirginia.com) with those in need of assistance, and hear the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

35. Ava Gabrielle-Wise ⇒ Addressing regional housing challenges on the Eastern Shore Oct 24, 2020

Show notes

Ava Gabrielle-Wise continues a family legacy of working for safe and affordable housing on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The executive director of New Road Community Development Corporation of Exmore, Inc. spoke with DHCD staff at the 2019 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference. "We're working to strengthen the capacity and skill sets of local housing practitioners," said Gabrielle-Wise. The region is advancing strategies identified in a 2019 regional housing summit. Hear the full conversation here.

34. Michelle Coward ⇒ Advancing tenant safety by reducing lead hazards in Richmond Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

At the 2019 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference, we caught up with Michelle Coward, the operations manager for property maintenance code enforcement for the City of Richmond. "We're empowering residents," Michelle told DHCD's Rajan Engh. "Everyone deserves to live in a space free of lead hazards." Hear more in the full episode and visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/lhr to explore what your community can do to address lead hazards.

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