Charlottesville Soundboard: Recent Episodes
Mary Garner McGehee
A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. From the WTJU 91.1 FM newsroom, we cover local news with Charlottesville Tomorrow, state news with journalist Peter Galuszka, and more! Hosted by Mary Garner McGehee most weeks.
Episode Notes* Virginia's former Director of Education is getting a six-figure severance package after abruptly resigning last week. * The Quirk Gallery in downtown Charlottesville features the exhibit "Constant Anomalies" by Suzanna Fields--using unusual painting techniques to capture the beauty of nature. * Five longtime locals describe what they love about Charlottesville in the latest issue of Cville Weekly * Governor Youngkin has changed the criteria for restoring voting rights to formerly-incarcerated felons, and we're not sure why. * Amazon's pause on constructing HQ2 has been paired with layoffs and paused partnerships with Virginia institutions.
Episode Notes* The 7th Annual UVA Flute Forum took place this past weekend. * A few weeks ago, a man in custody at Central State Hospital was killed. Now seven deputies involved in the incident have been charged with murder. * Some Virginia election officials are resigning in the face of threats and harassment--with some counties facing empty offices entirely. * Virginia has a State Corporation Commission, but it still has just one member. House Republicans and Senate Democrats cannot agree on how to fill to empty seats. * After the Silicon Valley Bank went belly-up earlier this month, the federal government promised to bail out its wealthy account holders. At one time, federal regulations would have prevented this kind of bank failure--but a 2018 law co-sponsored by Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner loosened restrictions on mid-sized banks. * A new government report sheds light on a need for clarity on “earned wage access” programs--drawing parallels to the payday loan issues of the last decade.
Episode Notes* Governor Glenn Youngkin's education townhall doesn't quite land. * PVCC's Higher Education in Prison Program puts on an artistic performance for incarcerated students. * Charlottesville's only homeless center for the elderly and seriously ill is closing soon. * A new bill in the General Assembly would require age verification for pornographic websites * Where does Charlottesville's beer comes from? * In a new report, Norfolk turned out to have the fastest acceleration of sea level rise along the east coast.
Episode Notes* Virginia's Superintendent of Public Instruction resigned last week after being in the job for a year. What happened? * Live Arts has a new show opening this month: CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY | Live Arts * Charlottesville city schools wanted to address staffing issues by hiring formerly incarcerated people--but the General Assembly didn't touch the issue. * This winter, Charlottesville's homeless center staff is facing double the usual demand--a problem exacerbated by an extra-warm winter and rising inflation. * The General Assembly has wrapped its session, but the budget is still in limbo--and so is the state's Cannabis Control Agency. * Nuclear advocates are pushing for small, modular nuclear reactors--but there's a lot of questions about how that'd work for Virginia.
Have you ever looked at a map of Charlottesville, surrounded on all sides by Albemarle County, and wondered why Charlottesville and Albemarle are governed completely separately? Maybe you moved here from another state and were surprised to learn that your children would attend a city school rather than a county one. Or maybe you’ve visited northern Virginia and crisscrossed in and out of Fairfax County as you passed through the cities of Falls Church, Alexandria and even the independent city of Fairfax which is surrounded on all sides by the county of Fairfax. The answer is that cities in Virginia are independent cities. There are 41 independent cities in the whole United States and 38 of them are in Virginia. So this week we’re going to talk about what they are, why they exist and what they mean for local governance. First up, we’re going to get the legal perspective from UVA Law Professor Rich Schragger. In the second half of the show we’ll get a boots on the ground perspective from Charlottesville City Councilor, Juandiego Wade.https://www.law.virginia.edu/faculty/profile/rcs4t/1206421
It’s been two weeks since the US supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade and people all over the country have been trying to figure out how to respond to it. In Virginia abortions are still legal during the first and second trimesters. After about seven months, Virginia doctors can perform abortions only if the life of the pregnant person is threatened. But that may well change. Governor Glenn Youngkin responded to the decision by calling on his fellow Republican legislators to push for restrictions on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Here in Charlottesville a number of organizations are working to educate people about the Supreme Court Decision and its local impact on reproductive healthcare. If you have questions we encourage you to look up the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, Planned Parenthood Charlottesville, Repro Rising Virginia, UVA survivors, Period at UVA or talk to a medical care provider. We’ll have more local coverage as things unfold both here and on our sister podcast, Bold Dominion. Today though, we’re gonna focus on the decision itself. We’re bringing you a teach-in by UVA Law Professor Ann Coughlin and Professor Bonnie Gordon.
Sound Justice Lab at UVA https://soundjusticelab.org Planned Parenthood Charlottesville https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/virginia/charlottesville/22901/charlottesville-health-center-2815-90860 Blue Ridge Abortion Fund https://blueridgeabortionfund.org Repro Rising Virginia https://twitter.com/REPRORising_VA
In the past year the national average cost of food according to the Consumer Price Index rose 10%. In this episode our production team canvases Charlottesville grocery stores to find out how much food costs here relative to the national averages. In the second half of the show we talk about how these rapid increases in the cost of food are impacting the Blue Ridge Food Bank and the families they serve. Check out the Consumer Price Index: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/ Learn more about the Blue Ridge Food Bank: https://www.brafb.org
Episode Notes Notes go hereOn this episode of Charlottesville Soundboard, we discuss the trials and successes of labor unions in the area. First, we sit down with Kieran Williams, a member of the newly-founded Bodo's Union Organizing Committee. Then, we hear from the President and Vice President of the Albemarle Educator's Association, Vernon Liechti and Mary McIntyre.
First up we’ll be discussing a new film titled Raised/Razed. It’s a documentary by local filmmaker Lorenzo Dickerson and journalist Jordy Yager about the vibrant life and later destruction of Vinegar Hill, a historically Black neighborhood in downtown Charlottesville. And coming up after that we get some tips for taking local action on climate change from the Community Climate Collaborative. Learn more and watch Raised/Razed: https://vpm.org/raisedrazed Link to join Make Your Own Impact: https://theclimatecollaborative.org/myoi
This week, we’ll delve into two interesting and important stories in Charlottesville. First up, we’ll hear from a few of the artists behind a resurgence in the drag show scene here in town. And in the second half, Charlotte Rene Woods tells us how trees are an equity issue.
Drag Shows at Pikasso Swig: https://www.pikassoswig.com/dragshow Drag Bonanza at the Southern https://www.thesoutherncville.com/events/detail/drag-bonanza-6
To view Charlotte Woods’ first article: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/charlottesvilles-10th-page-has-fewer-trees-and-higher-temperatures-than-other-residential-neighborhoods-and-its-not-by-accident/ Another tree-related work from Charlotte: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/charlottesvilles-tree-cover-has-dropped-about-15-since-2004-but-there-are-ways-to-bring-it-back/
If you love, are a part of, or want to learn more about the Charlottesville art scene, this episode is for you. We’ll hear about the benefits of destroying art, as well as making it. After all, it’s about the destination and the journey, right? We talk with Dana Wheeles of DeerHawk Healing in the first half and chat with Sri Kodakalla and Ramona Martinez from the Feminist Union of C’ville Creatives in the second.
For participating in MALA LECHE’s call for submissions: https://www.heyfucc.com/mala-leche-5-call-for-submissions To see more of Dana’s art, healing and more: https://www.deerhawkhealing.com/
In this episode we’re talking about a new Charlottesville tourism initiative to promote local Black artists, musicians and entrepreneurs. The initiative is called Discover Black Cville and they’re launching Saturday March 26th at the sixth annual Vibefest music festival at IX Art Park. And stay tuned in the second half of the show for a sneak peek at another podcast you might enjoy from the Virginia Audio Collective. It’s called Intersections in Public Service and it’s all about the public servants that run our government, nonprofits and help form and nurture our communities.
Discover Black Cville https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/black-cville/ Vibefest https://viberiot.com/home
Intersections in Public Service: https://anchor.fm/intersections Instagram @weldoncoopercenter, Twitter @UVAcoopercenter, or LinkedIn - Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
This episode deals with rezoning, housing density and peaceful mediation. Sound contradictory? Stay tuned to learn about rezoning and how to relax. We talk with reporter Erin O’Hare from Charlottesville Tomorrow in the first half and chat with Janet Evergreen of RiverBluff Sanctuary in the second.
For sharing input on housing in Charlottesville: Email engage@cvilleplanstogether.com Visit Cvilleplanstogether.com Reach out directly to Neighborhood Development Services Director James Freas at freasj@charlottesville.gov Call James Freas directly at (434) 970-3182 For Community Meditations: https://janetevergreen.com/meditation-retreats/
This episode concerns a new law that took effect in 2022. It’s known as the No Surprises Act, and it is meant to protect patients from surprise medical billing. When surprise out of network charges occur, providers can no longer bill patients for anything more than their in-network cost-sharing. This applies to ll commercially insured individuals and people who incur out-of-network services and surprise bills. Listen in to have your questions answered by local expert and Senior Managing Attorney Robin Leiter-White of the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society.
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society: https://cvlas.org/ Legal Aid Justice Center: https://www.justice4all.org/
In this episode we talk to some of the folks behind a new local company that’s all about supporting underrepresented artists and their work. On February 4th, they’re holding an event to kick of a three-month long exhibition downtown. It’s called Nature, Us, and the Future. Interested viewers can both observe and interact with the art being displayed at RevArt’s first female artists’ group exhibition. We heard from two of the artists involved, Christen Yates and Judith Ely, as well as RevArt’s CEO and Founder, Patti Pan.
Learn more about RevArt: https://revart.co/
This episode details winter weather and all the complications it can sometimes bring. Snow days are special, but they tend to come with real power and heat related issues that often affect the Charlottesville community. Today, we’re talking with Erin O’Hare of Charlottesville Tomorrow about how we can better prepare for weather emergencies, as well as what resources are already in place for residents of Albemarle County.
This time last year we all had some difficult decisions to make about holiday travel. The first vaccines were in the final stages of the approval process and COVID-19 was running wild through the population. This year the situation is a lot different if you and your family have been vaccinated. This week, we’re hearing from Dr. Avula of the Virginia Department of Health about the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 and booster shots for the rest of us. In the second half of the show we want to share some important reporting from another local podcast called Sacred and Profane. Sacred and Profane is a project of the Race Religion and Democracy Lab at the University of Virginia. This episode is about how we mark and mourn the places in our city where enslaved people were bought and sold. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ https://religionlab.virginia.edu/season/season-3/
A lot of us local policy nerds have been eagerly awaiting the new Charlottesville Comprehensive Plan. This process of laying out a vision for the city started nearly five years ago. On Tuesday October 19th, the planning commission made a major step by recommending the plan to City Council for approval. So we are very excited to get the inside scoop today with Charlottesville Planning Commissioner, Lyle Solla-Yates. Stay tuned in the second half of the show for an interview with the director of our regional libraries, David Plunkett. https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/topics/land-use-planning https://www.jmrl.org
This episode is our last in a series ahead of the local elections on November 2nd. There are a lot of important elections in Virginia this year. You can listen to our interviews with State Delegate Sally Hudson and the Democratic City Council candidates in this feed. But today we’re talking to Independent City Council candidate Yas Washington. And in the second half of the episode we’re back to our usual arts and culture coverage with the editors of the latest issue of Mala Leche, a local feminist zine.
Elections information: elections.virginia.gov Read Mala Leche: https://www.heyfucc.com
It has been a hectic week in the world of local governance. On Tuesday night, City Council accepted the resignation of the City Manager, Chip Boyles. Boyles has only been serving as city manager for ten months. So that really makes today’s topic even more important. In this episode we’re continuing our series on the local elections with interviews with two city council candidates. As a note, all of these interviews were conducted before Chip Boyles resigned last week. Juandiego Wade and Brian Pinkston won the Democratic primary for the two open at-large city council seats back in June. But the race isn’t over yet and next week we’ll be sharing an interview with independent city council candidate, Yas Washington.
This week we’re starting a little series on the upcoming local elections. Stay tuned for our next episode with the City Council candidates but today we’re kicking things off with incumbent state delegate Sally Hudson. And in the second half of the show we’re excited to introduce you to Dr. Dena Jennings. She’s a physician, a musician, a banjo luthier, a healer, a music festival organizer and she’s even farming and restoring a large farm here in central virginia. https://www.facebook.com/sankofa.thang/about/?ref=page_internal
Today we’re going to zoom in on evictions. In the first half of the show, we talk to attorney Caroline Klosko from the Legal Aid Justice Center. She specializes in representing low-income tenants. And in the second half of the show, we’re going to look at the local policy side of things with City Councilor Michael Payne.
Today we’re going to hear the latest about COVID-19 and the delta variant from the Blue Ridge Health District. They discussed vaccination rates, vaccine locations, and what back-to-school will look like. They also reviewed the new CDC guidelines, which were updated after the highly contagious Delta variant became the dominant strain circulating in the US. And stay tuned in the second half of the show for a conversation looking back on August 11th and 12th and what the ripple effects have been over the past four years.
Today we’re going to talk about evictions. Evictions happen when renters are unable to pay their rent or violate their lease. For the past year, the courts have been closed and renters have had extra protections from the CDC against eviction if they were behind on their rent. However, those protections expire next week. So we sat down with Erin O’Hare at Charlottesville Tomorrow to talk about what this means for our already very housing cost-burdened city. And in the second half of the show, we’re going to take a look at what it’s like to try and get around the city on foot, bicycle or with a mobility challenge.
Learn more about the Legal Aid Justice Center and their resources: https://www.justice4all.org/
City & County Housing Offices: https://www.cvillerha.com/ & https://www.albemarle.org/government/social-services/housing
Here in Charlottesville, it’s starting to feel like the threat of COVID-19 is subsiding. People are out and about, sometimes unmasked, maybe you’re starting to travel again… Well today we’re going to touch base with Jessie Higgins to hear about the vaccination process here in the Blue Ridge Health District and the differences between State COVID policy and Local COVID policy. And in the second half of the show, we go on a little field trip to a new interactive, outdoor sculpture garden at the Kluge-Ruhe. Make a reservation for “Breathe With Me” https://kluge-ruhe.org/exhibition/breathe-wandering-sculpture-trail/
This week we’re continuing some conversations we’ve been having over the course of the year. We’ll get some updates on the local elections season, the comprehensive plan and affordable housing, and the fate of our confederate monuments. And in the second half of the show, we give you a sneak peak of a new exhibit opening this week at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection.
Charlotte’s Articles: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/what-will-happen-to-property-sales-with-higher-density-the-answer-isnt-so-simple/ https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/wade-pinkston-win-charlottesville-city-council-democratic-primary/ https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/charlottesville-city-council-formally-resolves-to-remove-confederate-statues/ Visit Irrititja Kuwarri Tjungu (Past & Present Together): 50 Years of Papunya Tula Artists: https://kluge-ruhe.org
Episode Notes This week we’re catching up on the Charlottesville Comprehensive planning process with Erin O’Hare. We’ll talk about what the current draft would mean for affordable housing and life in the city and the region. Then we’re going to hear from an Albemarle family about their efforts to support anti-racism work in the county schools. Stay tuned in the second half of the episode for a conversation with Sam Gleaves. He’s a musician, educator, and activist from Wytheville, Virginia who uses his talents in bluegrass and old time music to tell the unsung histories of Appalachia’s LGBTQ+ community. https://cvilleplanstogether.com http://www.samgleaves.com
The June 8th primary elections are only eleven days away, so I sat down with Charlotte Rene Woods and Ali Sullivan at Charlottesville Tomorrow for a run-down on all the races, the candidates and what you need to know about how to vote this cycle. And stay tuned for stories from teachers about their experience as an educator during the civil rights movement.
Bold Dominion episodes with Gubernatorial Candidates: https://bolddominion.org/episodes/whos-running-for-governor-and-what-do-they-stand-for https://bolddominion.org/episodes/whos-running-for-governor-and-what-do-they-stand-for-part-2
Check your voter registration: https://www.elections.virginia.gov
Teachers in the Movement Podcast: https://virginiaaudio.org/#/teachers-in-the-movement/
This week we’re talking with the people behind two local women-centered organizations. First up we’re going to hear from Sri Kodakalla and Meesha Goldberg. They’re two artists at the Feminist Union of Charlottesville Creatives who just edited a new issue of their zine, Mala Leche. This edition of Mala Leche is called “Fever Dreams of Mother Earth” and it features all kinds of art about our planet and climate change. And in the second half of the show, we talk to Andrea Mayfield and Elizabeth Irvin of the Women’s Initiative, about mental health in Charlottesville and their mission to radically increase people’s access to it.
MALA LECHE #2: Fever Dreams of Mother Earth https://www.heyfucc.com/mala-leche-2
The Women’s Initiative Virtual Groups and Social Support: https://thewomensinitiative.org/groups-social-support/
You may have heard that a bunch of local affordable housing non-profits recently came together to buy the Red Carpet Inn on 29. Today we’re going to talk about that project and how it plans to reduce area homelessness and create 140 new low-income housing units. Plus, the residents at Crescent Halls affordable housing complex in downtown Charlottesville have been protesting substandard building conditions for over 20 years and last week the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority began extensive renovations to respond to those concerns. We’ll talk about both these projects and what it means in the broader conversation about inequality, racism, and housing here in Charlottesville. In the second half of the show, we’ll hear about a new oral history project in Louisa County.
Erin’s Premier Circle project article: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/area-nonprofits-resort-to-buying-a-hotel-to-address-local-housing-and-homelessness-crisis/ Erin’s Crescent Halls article: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/after-years-of-advocating-for-redevelopment-crescent-hall-residents-break-ground-on-renovation/
Louisa County Historical Society: https://louisahistory.org
Enslaved people have been part of the story of the University of Virginia and Charlottesville since their very beginnings. And this week, on Saturday, UVA will dedicate a major physical marker and memorial to the enslaved people who built the University and were an integral part of its founding and early years. So we sat down with Kirt von Daacke, he’s a UVA professor and served as Co-Chair of the President’s Commission on Slavery and the University, to ask him about the design and hsitory of the memorial and the people it honors. In the second segment, we share an interview with Delegate Sally Hudson about some of the new laws they passed in the Virginia General Assembly this year. Read the President’s Commission on Slavery and the University’s research: https://slavery.virginia.edu Attend the Memorial Dedication: https://majorevents.virginia.edu/mel/schedule
It’s been a turbulent year in Charlottesville City government and we are now in the midst of an election season. Mayor Nikuyah Walker and councilor Heather Hill were both elected to City Council in November of 2017, just a few months after the violent white supremacist rally. Their four year terms are nearly up and there are five candidates running in the Democratic primary to take those seats. We’ll talk about that election as well as a recent expansion of voting rights. In the second half of the show, we hear about a new play by Kelley Van Dilla that grapples with gender identity, family and mental health.
Charlottesville Tomorrow 2021 Voter Guide: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/2021-voter-guide/
https://www.restore.virginia.gov http://www.oar-jacc.org
Let Go of Me: http://livearts.org/let-go/
Still We Rise: https://www.reflectionsoralhistory.com
March 13th, marks the one year anniversary of a day that changed a lot of our lives. On March 13th, 2020 Governor Ralph Northam announced that all public schools in virginia would close for at least two weeks. You’ll hear about that day from Albemarle High School student, Mary Govan. Then we’ll talk about the racial inequities that the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated with Samantha Willis, who recently published a series with the Charlottesville Inclusive Media Project. We’re also going to talk to a student artist about her exhibit for this year’s mostly virtual Liberation and Freedom Days. See Black in America https://mbrandondesigns.com/black-in-america/ See Face Collage https://mbrandondesigns.com/face-collage/ Watch Macy’s gallery talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2qAzXGHNn0 Read Samantha Willis’s series: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/still-determined-economic-revival/
Ten days ago on February 16th, UVA reported 229 new cases of COVID-19 in one day. Those 229 cases were 15% of all the new cases that day in the whole state. And as of this morning, UVA is reporting nine hundred and twelve active cases of COVID 19 among its students, faculty, and staff. So it’s safe to say that we are experiencing an outbreak here in Charlottesville. Today on Soundboard we talk about what’s driving that outbreak and what the University is doing about it. And in the second half of the show we sit down with a local organization that’s tackling food justice in Charlottesville and Albemarle. https://cultivatecharlottesville.org https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/uva-relaxing-some-covid-related-restrictions/ https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/uva-officials-address-massive-covid-outbreak/ https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/uva-declines-to-assign-blame-for-covid-spike-but-some-point-fingers-at-fraternity-sorority-recruitment/
Most local students have not been to school in-person in almost a year. We talk to Billy Jean Louis about the mental health impact of virtual learning. Stay tuned for the second half of the show, when we talk to Caetano de Campos Lopes from the Community Climate Collaborative about a few issues at the intersection of equity and climate in our community.
https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/the-pandemic-has-taken-a-toll-on-children-and-teens-what-can-be-done/ https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/black-charlottesville-could-get-mental-health-center-thanks-to-uva-equity-center-fellow/
https://theclimatecollaborative.org
This week we take a look at the COVID data in our health district and get an update on the local vaccine distribution process. And in the second half of the show we share a riveting interview with highly acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni from the podcast and talk show In My Humble Opinion.
Charlottesville Tomorrow Vaccine Dashboard: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/local-covid-19-vaccination-updates/
Express your intent to get a vaccine with the Blue Ridge Health District: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpPkf1nbLplRn9hdqHDLglEl3M6OCCIVpXee86I2vASQUFJA/viewform
In My Humble Opinion Podcast: https://virginiaaudio.org/#/in-my-humble-opinion/
The year is barely two weeks old and yet we already have so much to talk about. We’re going to start with what City Councilor Michael Payne has called a “leadership crisis” in city government. After an avalanche of resignations, the city was able to announce a hire this week. Chip Boyles will take over as city manager on February 15th. We’ll talk about the decision with Charlotte Rene Woods of Charlottesville Tomorrow. And stay tuned for conversation with Sri Kodakalla & Ramona Martinez. They’re local artists behind the Feminist Union of Cville Creatives and they’ve recently put ou a new zine called Mala Leche. _ _Read Mala Leche & check out FUCC: https://www.heyfucc.com Read Charlotte’s Article: https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/articles/amid-turmoil-tjpdc-head-boyles-chosen-as-new-city-manager/
Episode Notes UVA Hospital employees have begun to receive the vaccine! In our last episode of 2020, we look back on some of the big stories of year: the pandemic, the election, the racial justice protests this summer. Plus we’ll talk a little bit about a recent incident in which the Charlottesville Police Department was accused of racial profiling.
Episode Notes Last episode we were worried that COVID-19 cases might surge after the Thanksgiving holiday. And now they have. But it’s not all bad news. UVA Hospital plans to start distributing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to some of it’s employees on December 15th. Plus, we talk to Sunshine Mathon and LaTasha Durrett of Piedmont Housing Alliance about the redevelopment of Friendship Court, gentrification, and how their families are making it through the pandemic. https://piedmonthousingalliance.org/
While cases are exploding around the US, COVID-19 is pretty under control in central Virginia. At least for now. We talk to Charlottesville Tomorrow about what has kept COVID cases low here and how to keep them that way as we approach the holidays.
And stay tuned for an interview with Barbara Campbell Thomas. She’s a painter and multimedia artist based in North Carolina and her work is currently on display at the Ruffin Gallery at UVA.
Local COVID-19 Data Portal
Statewide COVID-19 Data Portal
Ruffin Gallery
Election Day has come and gone, but the election process still continues. And while we’re still waiting to know who has won the Presidential election, a whole host of state and local races in Virginia were also on the ballot, as well as a state Constitutional amendment for redistricting reform.
This week, we sit down with Nathan Moore and Aaryan Balu, from Bold Dominion, for a roundtable discussion on this year's election and what it means for Virginia going forward.
The end of this very long, very unusual election season is almost here. We talk to Charlottesville Tomorrow about the future of the Fifth Congressional District and what they’ve learned from Election 2020 so far. Plus, Nathan Moore interviews hometown congressional candidate Dr. Cameron Webb about what he’s seen as a doctor treating COVID patients and what he plans to do if he’s elected on Tuesday.
Meet the creative team behind Lost Home, Win Home. It’s an original work by Charlottesville-native Shelby Marie Edwards running at Live Arts this weekend. In this one-woman show, Edwards interrogates her experience growing up in Charlottesville in relation to the white supremacist rally of August 2017. We also talk about Albemarle County’s decision to bring more students back to in-person school in November.
We are only 32 days out from election day on November 3rd. So we reached out to Charlotte at Charlottesville Tomorrow to get the rundown on voting during a pandemic. But first we sit down with Anthony Guy Lopez he’s a UVA alum who’s been advocating for Indigenous rights in Charlottesville and across the country for over two decades. Recently, he was one of the organizers of the September 10th protest at the George Rogers Clark Statue on UVA’s campus at the Corner.
This week we talk to activists as they mark the removal of the confederate “Johnny Reb” statue in front of the Albemarle Courthouse. Plus COVID-19 has been found in four dorms at UVA. If that’s not enough news for one week, Charlottesville is also getting a new city manager. Stick around for our final segment where we sit down with the folks at Live Arts to talk about their upcoming entirely virtual season of community theater.
This week we meet some of the folks behind a new labor union at UVA, The United Campus Workers of Virginia. Plus we talk about the return of five thousand uva students and how student workers are responding.
Charlotte Rene Woods updates us on an idea to create a mobile crisis unit to respond to 911 calls when there’s a mental health concern. And we talk to Kaymin Hester, a Charlottesville High School student, whose essay about the twelve African-American students who integrated Charlottesville City Schools was awarded in the Jefferson School’s Liberation and Freedom Days essay contest.
Albemarle County has unanimously voted to take down it’s confederate statue on the Courthouse lawn. We revisit the history and meanings of the statue. Plus Billy Jean Louis updates us on how local schools are coping with the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Speaking of pandemics, in the last segment we look back in time to the 1918 Flu here in Charlottesville and think about what has and has not changed about public health in the last 102 years.
The Freedom of Information Act is one of the primary tools that we as citizens have to hold our governments accountable. This week we meet Jessie Higgins, the newest reporter at Charlottesville Tomorrow, and talk about why Albemarle county says it no longer needs to fulfill Freedom of Information Act requests in a timely manner. Plus we talk to pipeline activists from Buckingham about the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and environmental racism.
This week we talk to Charlotte Rene Woods about her search to find out what’s actually in the Charlottesville Police Budget. Plus stay tuned to hear voices from the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project. Listen to their new podcast, Transcripts here: https://anchor.fm/transcripts-podcast.
This week we talk to Billy Jean Louis about School Resource Officers and his article on mental health in the Black community. Plus an update on Charlottesville’s confederate monuments and a new audio drama from Leslie Scott Jones about what it’s like to be a Black academic. Listen to Grounds here: https://soundcloud.com/eugene-martin-543168643/grounds-episode-1-part-1-we-got-you-bruh
This week we focus on the local demonstrations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. First we’ll catch up with Charlottesville Tomorrow about what they saw on the ground at the Charlottesville protests. We’ll also talk to Sarad Davenport of Vinegar Hill Magazine about how the same systemic inequities fueling worldwide demonstrations exacerbate the impact of COVID-19 in communities of color. And stay tuned to hear some of the conversations about police brutality happening in the rural parts of our area.
It’s been a while since we got back to our usual topics of conversation like housing, education, and climate. Charlotte Rene Woods and Billy Jean Louis fill us in on the school budget, businesses as they start to reopen, and the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
This week we’re talking with Sarad Davenport and Jordy Yager about their series with Charlottesville Tomorrow, Determined. Determined explores how Charlottesville’s history of racial injustice has left many people of color in our community particularly vulnerable to the pandemic and the economic distress in the region. Plus stay tuned for a conversation with Sin Barreras about how the immigrant community is affected by COVID 19.
This week we talk to Jodean Chisholm and Kendall Barger. Kendall is a nurse in UVA’s Medical Intensive Care Unit and Jodean is a Nurse Manager on 3 Central. They’re both working on the frontline and have treated some of those in our community who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Stay tuned to catch up with Charlottesville Tomorrow and hear from a lawyer representing folks who have been detained by ICE in our area and are especially vulnerable to COVID 19.
Forty one of forty six patients at the Envoy skilled nursing facility in Fluvanna County have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Central Virginia Health Services’ Paula Tomko. We talk about how rural areas are coping with COVID-19 and the non-profit community health clinic’s mission to provide high quality primary health care to anyone who needs it.
This week we have an update on COVID-19 in the Charlottesville area. We talk about hospital preparedness, the economic pain many are feeling, and how the schools are helping students keep up with their education.
This week on Soundboard we cover the issue that has changed all of our lives in some way the past two weeks: the novel coronavirus. Elliot at Charlottesville Tomorrow gives us an update on how the virus has impacted the health and economic security of people in our community. Plus we talk to Dr. Leigh-Ann J. Webb, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Virginia about how the health system prepares for a crisis like this one.
This week we cover the primary candidates running to represent the Fifth District in congress. Many of the candidates live right here in the Charlottesville Albemarle area. Plus a conversation with Matthew Slaats about what theater can illuminate about local democracy.
Starting on Sunday, March 1st Charlottesville celebrates Liberation and Freedom Days for the fourth year. The week’s events commemorate the beginning of emancipation in Charlottesville after the city surrendered to the Union Cavalry on March 3, 1865. Find out more at https://jeffschoolheritagecenter.org/events/liberation/.
How should we teach our kids about slavery? And at what ages? A conversation about a Black History Month poster that was taken down this week at Cale Elementary School. Plus we talk to UVA Professor Lisa Speidel and Micah Jones about their new book called The Edge of Sex. It’s an anthology of people’s experiences learning about and coming to terms with sexuality.
Some Albemarle residents are worried that a new development might worsen the traffic congestion on their commute. But traffic experts say more housing might actually be part of the traffic solution. Plus a conversation about whiteness and how to be an ally of the local racial justice movement.
Governor Northam is pushing for a huge increase in funding for early childhood education programs. Billy Jean Louis and Elliot Robinson give us the local perspective. Plus “The Corner” music scene past and present.
New Charlottesville City School Board member, Lashundra Bryson Morsberger, plans to focus on inequities in the school system. Plus a conversation with Erin Tucker, Executive Director of On Own Own Charlottesville, a peer support recovery center that provides free support to people struggling with a mental health challenge.
A lot of people are burdened by the cost of housing in the Charlottesville area. Area Median Income is one of the tools that helps sort out which remedies are most effective for people of different income levels. Plus decades of what UVA students wrote in Alderman Library, all over its walls.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about news, arts and equity in Charlottesville. We’re back with Charlottesville Tomorrow to give you an overview of the Charlottesville Area Transit system. Public transportation is essential for many community members to get to work, school, healthcare and food. It’s also one of the ways the city hopes to meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Stay tuned for a conversation with the new director of the University of Virginia Press.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. In our last Soundboard of 2019, we talk about the city and county’s efforts to improve infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. Come for the discussion of transportation policy, stay to learn how to make a Baby Yoda gingerbread cookie. Plus, we introduce Bold Dominion! A new podcast from WTJU about state news!
This week we catch up on the comprehensive plan and how the City Council and Planning Commission make decisions on new development in the meantime. Plus Nathan Moore and Peter Galuszka talk about the number of Virginia counties considering becoming a “gun sanctuary.”
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. Albemarle County has one high school “Center” and another on the way. Learn what students do there and how the county is trying to make up for the under-representation of Latinx students at the Center in its first two years. Plus Outreach Co-Chair of Dreamers on Grounds at UVA talks about the challenges faced by local undocumented people and how Charlottesville and Albemarle residents can support them.
The Soundboard crew is out of the studio this Thursday filling up on turkey and mashed potatoes. We're inviting you to binge with us on a new radio drama by WTJU: The Perfectly Circular Rock. Regular episodes back Thursday, December 5th!
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. Albermarle’s growing population of Latinx students know how county schools can better serve them and their families. Plus we talk to Alice Clair about Femme Funk and its mission to promote femme artists and support reproductive justice in Charlottesville.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we talk food this week. Emily Hays and Elliot Robinson discuss redevelopment of the city's affordable housing and the community gardens run by their residents. Plus we talk to local Chef and entrepreneur Antwon Brinson about the art of making food for people and his culinary and life skills training program.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. This week we talk elections from the school board to the state senate. Stay tuned and because in the second half of the show we meet the artists behind Locatora radio and talk about how they made a femme-centered, survivor centered, podcast by and for women of color.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. We discuss reverberations of UVA’s announcement to raise wages for over 800 contract workers in January. Plus Professor Anne Garland Mahler talks about the Tricontinental Solidarity Movement and why she wanted to display its materials in Charlottesville.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. Charlottesville Tomorrow shares its encyclopedic knowledge of all the upcoming local election candidates. Plus we talk about the history of the Living Wage Campaign at UVA and the impact of today’s announcement regarding contract workers.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. The Albemarle County School Board voted to change the name of Cale Elementary School this week. We discuss the vote and the era of Albemarle County Schools that Cale oversaw. Plus we talk to Charlottesville residents about civic engagement.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. We wade deep into the weeds of Charlottesville’s zoning policy with Charlottesville Tomorrow. Plus a review of former Governor McAuliffe’s new book on the Unite the Right Rally of 2017.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. This week Charlottesville Tomorrow introduces us to Charlottesville’s City Manager and Albemarle’s County Executive. Plus an overview of the General Assembly elections and a conversation with Richard Harwood of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation.
Tune in to hear about a new resident-driven redevelopment project in Charlottesville’s public housing neighborhood at South First Street. Also we take you to the Youth Climate Strike in Downtown Charlottesville.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. This week Charlottesville Tomorrow catches us up on the legal case that will determine the fate of Charlottesville’s confederate monuments. Peter Galaska fills us in on the Governor’s goals for expanding renewable energy by 2050. Plus a discussion with Micah Ariel Watson on her web series about surviving in a black community at a predominantly white university.
This week Charlottesville Tomorrow guides us through the world beyond our trash cans and recycling bins. And we accidentally record ASMR with MG’s trash. Plus Peter Galaska discusses UVA hospital’s aggressive billing practices.
Charlottesville Soundboard - A podcast about equity, arts and news in Charlottesville. There are quite a few new buildings going up downtown and along West Main Street. Emily Hays and Giles Morris give us the details and discuss the historical context of the development. Plus UVA Religious Studies professors Martien A. Halvorson-Taylor and Kurtis Schaeffer talk about the ways religious belief affects our city and our everyday world. Tune in to hear more and learn about school district rezoning in Richmond.
Charlottesville City Schools is making big changes to its gifted program following criticism from students and parents. Plus Ty Cooper tells us why it is essential for community members to support black-owned businesses in Charlottesville. Plus Peter Galaska discusses the impact of tariffs on farmers in the Commonwealth. More information about the Black Business Expo on September 14th at IX Art Park can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/354453301894415/
Charlottesville Tomorrow reflects on the physical, mental and policy reverberations of August 12th. Plus we discuss how rehabbing homes can be a powerful tool in repelling the forces of gentrification with Jennifer Jacobs. She’s the executive director of the Albemarle Home Improvement Program. Tune in for this and to hear about a potential policy package that could reduce Virginia’s homicides by 36%.
Just in time for back-to-school, Billy Jean Louis gives us an update on infrastructure projects at county and city public schools. Plus Don Gathers reflects on the second anniversary of August 12th. Tune in for this and to find out where in Virginia was almost home to a third Disney theme park...
Charlottesville Tomorrow gets us up-to-date on local electoral politics. Then an interview with Dr. Deborah McDowell of the Carter G. Woodson Institute on the legacy of Julian Bond. Plus an opportunity to donate your time to preserving black history.
More information here: http://woodson.as.virginia.edu/julian-bond-transcribe-thon
Learn about the people behind the counters of Charlottesville's many restaurants and the paradoxes of food insecurity in a bountiful town. Plus an interview with rapper and University of Virginia professor, A.D. Carson, shared from the Virginia Humanities.
This week on Soundboard we discuss efforts to combat systemic and symbolic racism in Charlottesville, virtual tours of enslaved people's dwellings and more.
This week we talk with Charlottesville Tomorrow about growth in Albermarle County, an author talks about her new book on haunted spaces in the Charlottesville area, and more.
This week we sit down with Charlottesville Tomorrow to discuss the Cherry Avenue Small Area Plan, affordability in Charlottesville's Fifeville neighborhood, and recent changes at Charlottesville Tomorrow, plus a couple interesting anecdotes from a UVA alumna.
Charlottesville Tomorrow discusses the recognition of Thomas Jefferson's birthday and the public hearing on the possibility of renaming Cale Elementary.
Plus: Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka discusses Supreme Court refusal to hear a GOP redistricting challenge and Matt Villiott interviews Gwen Cassady about FASHION shows in Charlottesville.
This week we sit down with Charlottesville Tomorrow to discuss primary results, plus an interview with University of Virginia Associate Professor of Education, Michael Lyons.
This week's Soundboard includes a look into the 2019 Virginia Voter Guide, an overview of state gun legislation in light of the Virginia Beach tragedy, and an interview with local author Tamra L. Dicus.
This week's Soundboard discusses a possible name change to an Albemarle school as well as dealing with the growing risk of cyber threats.
This week's Soundboard discusses the first ESOL member to join the Albemarle High School Student Council, how the Rio29 plan is being implemented, and the EVMS yearbook investigation.
This week also includes part 3 of the an audio documentary series on Charlottesville's refugee community, produced by UVA professor Stephanie Ceraso's class.
This week's Soundboard looks at Charlottesville Tomorrow's 2019 Voter Guide for Charlottesville/Albemarle elections as well as a look at Abortion in state politics.
This week includes part 2 of the an audio documentary series on Charlottesville's refugee community, produced by UVA professor Stephanie Ceraso's class.
This week's Soundboard looks at a local film by high school students that explores the migrant experience, discussion surrounding (re)moving the Lewis & Clark statue in downtown Charlottesville, and more. This week includes part 1 of the an audio documentary series on Charlottesville's refugee community, produced by UVA professor Stephanie Ceraso's class.
On this edition of Soundboard: Giles Morris, Emily Hays, and Billy Jean Louis of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss the new supervisor of equity and inclusion for Charlottesville Schools and Greensboro Civil Rights Leaders.
Plus: An interview with Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka and a piece from the Southern Environmental Law Center's new podcast called "Broken Ground"
On this edition of Soundboard: Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka discusses elections
Plus: Giles Morris, Elliot Robinson, and Emily Hays of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss Changes in Belmont and an interview with Vanessa German
On this edition of Soundboard: Giles Morris, Emily Hays, and Charlotte Woods of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss this past week's Tom Tom Fest.
Plus: Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka discusses what the NCAA championship for Virginia means and Lewis Reining interviews Reena Raghavendran.
On this edition of Soundboard: Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka discusses the scandals surrounding Virginia's politicians
Plus: Elliot Robinson, and Emily Hays of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss "Opportunity Zones" in Charlottesville
On this edition of Soundboard: Giles Morris, Elliot Robinson, and Emily Hays of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss recent Charlottesville City Council news, plus whether or not to rename Cale Elementary.
Plus: Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka discusses the Dominion pipeline and the recent visit of Al Gore and Rev. William Barber opposing it. And will Virginia soon have a bunch of new casinos?
On this edition of Soundboard: Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka discusses the controversies surrounding Virginia's governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general -- and what they all mean for the bigger picture.
Plus: Giles Morris, Elliot Robinson, and Emily Hays of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss UVA's recent real estate development. And will the University adjust how it makes development decisions?
We discuss the Charlottesville City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors' joint meeting as well as an update on the General Assembly. Also, a conversation with Jeff Bushman on a design contest for Invisible Cville.
On this edition of Soundboard: Giles Morris, Elliot Robinson, and Josh Mandell of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss city funding of local nonprofits, plus a new housing proposal at Seminole Square.
Then state news in review from Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka, looking at the General Assembly this week.
Finally, Emily Richardson-Lorente describes WTJU's UVA Bicentennial Oral History Project, launching this week.
On this edition of Soundboard: Giles Morris and Elliot Robinson of Charlottesville Tomorrow discuss their new feature report, "The Reimagining of Friendship Court." Plus state news in review from Richmond-based journalist Peter Galuszka.
Soundboard is your source for news, culture, and community in and around Charlottesville. We cover local news with Charlottesville Tomorrow, state news with journalist Peter Galuszka, and more! Hosted by Nathan Moore most weeks.