Episodios

  • Ep. 5 - How Cornerstones is Meeting the Vital Needs of our Community With Kerrie Wilson

    Ep. 5 - How Cornerstones is Meeting the Vital Needs of our Community With Kerrie Wilson
    Dec 30 2022
    In this episode of the Thriving Voices podcast, Andrew talks with Kerrie Wilson to discuss how Cornerstones is helping people build more stable lives by connecting them to vital resources that solve their needs for housing, childcare, food and financial assistance.  With 40 years’ experience in advocacy, policy development, and nonprofit leadership in the field of health and human services, Kerrie holds fast to the vision of a community where all have equitable access to the resources they need to participate and prosper. As CEO of the Northern Virginia based nonprofit Cornerstones and its affiliate, Cornerstones Housing Corporation, Kerrie has helped create that community through innovative and strategic partnerships, impactful programs, and successful advocacy for those whose voices needs to be heard.  In this episode, Andrew and Kerrie Discuss:  How Cornerstones serves the community How suburban growth is changing and evolving  communities How to include your community in planning decisions Why creating resources when infrastructure is not as robust can be difficult on communities How helping community members acquire or build assets benefits everyone What is the Cornerstones Childcare Resource Center What is Opportunity Neighborhoods  What Kerrie thinks it takes for a community to thrive fully?   Work locally.  How do you help your community to thrive?   Go in with an open mind and listen.    More About Kerrie and Cornerstones   Kerrie Wilson, CEO, Cornerstones and Cornerstones Housing Corporation: When Kerrie Wilson was presented with The Commonwealth Institute’s Virginia Legacy Award in 2016, she was described as “a tireless advocate for positive change on issues that strengthen families and communities in Virginia.”  Prior to joining Cornerstones in 2001, Kerrie’s career began at the American Cancer Society where she worked on issues related to cancer prevention and control in women, minorities and the medically underserved as the National Vice President for Government Relations / Policy Advocacy. Kerrie has been a champion for affordable housing and co-chairs the Board of Supervisors’ appointed Fairfax County Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC) which advances equitable, affordable and workforce housing development and preservation. In addition to serving on the boards of the Dulles Regional and Greater Reston chambers of commerce, she served as the Treasurer of the Meyer Foundation and currently serves as Treasurer on the board of the Virginia Nonprofit Leadership Council. Cornerstones exists so that individuals and families in the Dulles corridor who are homeless, isolated, or living in poverty can access resources that offer stability, empowerment and hope for healthy and connected lives. Cornerstones’ signature approach – working in purposeful and targeted partnerships – brings together people and strategies from multiple sectors to harness and target expertise and resources for greater community well-being.   For nearly 50 years, Cornerstones has been helping neighbors in need overcome tough economic times in an already high cost-of-living region. The service area of Cornerstones has grown to include most of northwestern Fairfax County.  Each of us can become a Cornerstone and continue our history of helping people build more stable lives by connecting them to vital resources that solve their needs for housing, childcare, food or financial assistance.  Website   Facebook Instagram Linkedin  Connect with Andrew Schneider   Thrivingvoices@arlingtonthrive.org   To learn more about Arlington Thrive, visit arlingtonthrive.org   Follow Arlington Thrive on   Facebook   Linkedin   Instagram  
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    31 m
  • Ep. 4 - How Creating Affordable Housing Benefits Communities with NVAHA Executive Director, Michelle Krocker

    Ep. 4 - How Creating Affordable Housing Benefits Communities with NVAHA Executive Director, Michelle Krocker
    Dec 16 2022

    Housing is a key ingredient to ensuring the economic well-being of all communities. Why are people fearful of affordable housing in their areas? How can communities embrace affordable housing projects so their economies can thrive?  

    In this episode of the Thriving Voices podcast, Andrew talks with Michelle Krocker, Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA) Executive Director, to discuss why the development of affordable housing is crucial to community and economic sustainability 

    Michelle Krocker is a public policy and community development consultant, assisting private sector organizations and local governments in creating diverse, affordable communities through effective housing and land use policies. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance, a regional advocacy coalition working at the intersection of housing education, advocacy, and policies for systems change. Grounding their work in racial and health equity, NVAHA seeks to address the unmet housing needs of Northern Virginia’s low and moderate-income households. 

    In this episode, Andrew and Michelle Discuss the following: 

    • How the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance serves the community 
    • How the housing landscape changed in Northern Virginia  
    • Why accomplishing the goals of housing affordability has become so elusive 
    • How taxpayer's resistance to affordable housing has affected NVAHA's advocacy efforts 
    • Surprising and Disappointing affordable housing developments during Michelle's tenure 
    • Why Resident Services regarding outside ecosystems are so important 
    • How the affordable housing space incorporates residents into the power structure 
    • Why power dynamics should be considered when incorporating residents into the decision-making process 
    • How do we expand the concept of affordable housing to include asset generation while including stability and affordable rates 

    What Michelle thinks it takes for a community to thrive fully?  

    Value the potential of all residents 

    How do you help your community to thrive?  

    Become more involved in your community.  Attend meetings, talk to elected officials, and find a non-profit organization to contribute to. 

    More About Michelle Krocker and Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance 

    https://nvaha.org/ 

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekrocker/ 

    Prior to joining the Alliance, Michelle was Director of Housing and Community Development for Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith), a human services agency serving low income families in northwestern Fairfax County. In that capacity, she led the department in the acquisition, financing and rehabilitation of scattered-site rental housing for households served by the agency. Michelle has served on multiple citizen advisory boards. She was a member of the Tysons Land Use Task Force (2005 – 2010), charged with planning the redevelopment of 1700 acres of Tysons Corner, and Chair of its Affordable Housing Subcommittee. She also served on the Housing Advisory Board to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, acting as Chairman for two years. Current advisory boards include the Greater Washington Community Development Council for Truist, the Housing Leaders Group of Greater Washington, the Fairfax County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, the Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (Chair), and Vice-Chair, Board of Directors for Housing Forward Virginia, a statewide housing education and policy organization. In 2015, Michelle was awarded the inaugural “Game Changer Award” by the Virginia Housing Alliance for her work exemplifying ‘significant and innovative impact on the affordable housing industry.’ Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from George Mason University, and a Master of Arts in Environmental and Urban Planning from the University of Virginia. 

    Connect with Andrew Schneider  

    Thrivingvoices@arlingtonthrive.org  

    To learn more about Arlington Thrive, visit arlingtonthrive.org  

    Follow Arlington Thrive on  

    Facebook  

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    Instagram  
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    32 m
  • Ep. 3 - Why Emphasizing Equity in Economic Mobility will Benefit Metropolitan Washington with Chuck Bean

    Ep. 3 - Why Emphasizing Equity in Economic Mobility will Benefit Metropolitan Washington with Chuck Bean
    Dec 2 2022

    Is it possible to create economic mobility for all members of our community? Can we bring equity into vital issues like transportation and housing?    

    In this episode of the Thriving Voices podcast, Andrew talks with Chuck Bean, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) to discuss how COG prioritizes and plans for important issues like the environment, transportation and public safety for the Metropolitan Washington area. 

    Chuck Bean is an executive and civic leader with more than 25 years of experience in government, nonprofits, and philanthropy. Since 2012, Bean has served as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), one of the country’s prominent regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations. COG is an independent, nonprofit association that brings area leaders together to address major regional issues, including economic development, land-use, human services, public safety, and environmental and transportation planning. Its membership is comprised of 300 elected officials from 24 local governments, the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, and U.S. 

    In this episode, Andrew and Chuck Discuss: 

    • What is the purpose of the Council of Governments 
    • A brief history of population and economic growth history in the Arlington area 
    • How transportation planning can increase economic mobility for all 
    • The Malaise and Mojo of the Arlington area 
    • Why rapid growth effects homelessness 
    • What factors do economic mobility depend on 

     

    What Chuck thinks it takes for a community to thrive fully?  

    The inclusion of everybody in opportunity 

    How do you help your community to thrive?  

    Volunteering and being active in the public sphere 

     

    More About Chuck Bean and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments 

    Bean previously served as President of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington and the Director of the Community Capacity Fund. Bean earned his Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. 

    Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) website: https://www.mwcog.org/ 

    Twitter: @Chuck4theRegion 

     

    Connect with Andrew Schneider  

    Thrivingvoices@arlingtonthrive.org  

    To learn more about Arlington Thrive, visit arlingtonthrive.org  

    Follow Arlington Thrive on  

    Facebook  

    Linkedin  

    Instagram  
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    30 m
  • Ep. 2 - How Childcare Aware of America is Changing Public Childcare Policy with Michelle McCready

    Ep. 2 - How Childcare Aware of America is Changing Public Childcare Policy with Michelle McCready
    Nov 18 2022
    Are you barely able to cover the cost of your childcare? Do you provide childcare services and find that you can barely keep your business open? Childcare as an industry in America is woefully under-invested in.  In the inaugural episode of the Thriving Voices podcast, Andrew talks with Michelle McCready, Deputy Executive Officer at Childcare Aware of America to discuss how we can affect change in Childcare Policy.  Michelle McCready. M.P.P., currently serves as the Deputy Executive Officer at Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA). In this role, Michelle works in partnership with the executive team to oversee and manage all aspects of operations, set comprehensive goals and metrics for performance and growth, and establish policies that promote CCAoA’s culture and mission. Michelle joined CCAoA at the beginning of 2011.  In this episode, Andrew and Michelle discuss:  How Childcare Aware is affecting change in Childcare policy The intentions behind childcare policy advocacy How you can use your story and voice to impact policy change What are the primary intractable barriers in childcare Why is childcare a fundamental public good How history has played a role in childcare inequities What communities are getting childcare policy right  What Michelle thinks it takes for a community to thrive fully?  Understand the needs, barriers, the wants of each family member and knit together this whole neighborhood, whole community approach in supporting those.  How do you help your community to thrive?  Your voice matters.  Find what you are passionate about and get involved   More About Michelle McCready and Childcare Aware of America  She formerly served as the Chief of Policy at CCAoA and provided vision, leadership, and management of policy and evaluation division, including federal policy, state initiatives, and advocacy. She partnered with board members, executives, staff, national and local coalition partners, and the community to make sound policy decisions that help children and families. She successfully executed the national advocacy movement, Child Care Works, which led to the attainment of the 2016 MarCom Award. She also secured several core contracts and grants for the organization such as: emergency preparedness, health and wellness, multiple state advocacy initiatives and increased federal training and technical assistance work. In addition to her leadership in developing a policy agenda that promotes CCAoA’s mission and vision, Michelle also helped develop CCAoA’s signature research reports on state child care data and the cost of child care in the United States. She is a key policy contributor to Huffington Post Politics, CNBC, and Exchange Magazine.  She has more than a decade of leadership experience on several presidential and congressional campaign efforts. Most notably, Michelle staffed various campaigns and efforts in Virginia with Organizing for America during the first three years of the Obama Administration, was the Field Director for Representative Gerald Connolly (D-VA), and for the past six years has implemented CCAoA’s policy and legislative agenda. Michelle has considerable experience working on early learning and child care policies, including the re-authorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) of 2014, Labor-HHS appropriations, Head Start/Early Head Start, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), state and local advocacy campaigns, the Affordable Care Act, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response, and children’s health initiatives.  Michelle earned her master’s degree in public policy at George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in social welfare and policy at University of Wisconsin – Madison. Her studies included considerable qualitative and quantitative research experience, focusing on a range of topics including policy analysis, race and equity disparity, conflict resolution and negotiation, and advocacy. She holds leadership roles as the Executive lead for CCAoA’s Public Policy Committee, the Public Policy Committee for Generations United, and on the Early Childhood Advisory Committee to the Arlington County School Board.  https://www.childcareaware.org/  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Linkedin  Connect with Andrew Schneider  Thrivingvoices@arlingtonthrive.org  To learn more about Arlington Thrive, visit arlingtonthrive.org  Follow Arlington Thrive on  Facebook  Linkedin  Instagram 
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    31 m
  • Ep. 1 - How Challenging Racism Creates Thriving Communities with Alicia Jones McLeod

    Ep. 1 - How Challenging Racism Creates Thriving Communities with Alicia Jones McLeod
    Nov 4 2022

    How can you stand up against the inequities of institutional and systemic racism in your community and the world at large? 

    In the inaugural episode of the Thriving Voices podcast, Andrew talks with Alicia Jones McLeod, Executive Director of Challenging Racism, to discuss how Challenging Racism provides the tools and resources necessary to those who want to disrupt racism in their communities. 

    Ms. Jones McLeod comes to Challenging Racism from the Ellicott City Partnership where she led a “Main Street” organization responsible for marketing the area as a destination for shopping and dining. Prior to that she founded the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce, which continues to raise the profile of black-owned businesses. Her tenure at each of her employers has been marked by the implementation of innovative ideas designed to raise the organization’s profile and draw new supporters to the work. 

    In this episode, Andrew and Alicia discuss: 

    • How COVID impacted Challenging Racism's programs 
    • What types of experiences helped Alicia to prepare for her Executive Director position 
    • How to recognize your privilege and use it for good 
    • The number one thing Alicia has learned since being at Challenging Racism 
    • What Alicia has learned about her community and racism 
    • How to balance self-care versus the care for your community 
    • How power dynamics affect equity 

    What Alicia thinks it takes for a community to thrive fully? 

    Compassionate Leadership 

    A clear plan of action 

    How do you help your community to thrive? 

    Offer what you are passionate about 

    Find an organization that you can apply that passion to 

    More About Alicia Jones McLeod and Challenging Racism  

    Ms. Jones McLeod is a resident of Pikesville, Maryland and brings deep relationships on the Maryland side of the river to Challenging Racism’s work. She has a B.S. in Marketing from Kean University, New Jersey, and is in a Masters of Public Administration program at the University of Delaware with a concentration in non-profit management. She and her partner are the parents of three children, Richard (27), Alyssa (21) and Amanda (20). 

    www.challengingracism.org 

    Connect with Andrew Schneider 

    Thrivingvoices@arlingtonthrive.org 

    To learn more about Arlington Thrive, visit arlingtonthrive.org 

    Follow Arlington Thrive on:

    Facebook 

    Linkedin 

    Instagram 
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    30 m
  • Thriving Voices - Trailer

    Thriving Voices - Trailer
    Sep 13 2022

    On November 4th, Arlington Thrive launches our new podcast, Thriving Voices. 

    Join host Andrew Schneider, Executive Director of Arlington Thrive, as he talks with experts, community leaders, and folks living and working in our community to discuss how we can work together to make our community more just, equitable, and where all have homes, are financially stable, and thrive.

    Learn more at Arlingtonthrive.org or send us ideas for a topic or speakers at thrivingvoices@arlingtonthrive.org
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    1 m