Making Change with Catherine Read

We always love our time with Catherine Read, the genius behind ReadThinkAct.com and a true walk-the-walk social activist. Catherine is also a strategist, activist, advocate, speaker, trainer and a host of two weekly television shows and a live radio show on the Fairfax Public Access Channel. I was privileged to be her guest on one of those radio shows, Making Change, on March 18, where I spoke about Heard’s exciting plans for world domination, or at least for sharing how we are ready to help those in need in all communities through art.

“10 Questions” with Barbie Sweeney, Residential Coordinator, Domestic Violence Program

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it was our honor to interview Barbara Sweeney, the City of Alexandria Residential Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Program. Barbie, as we call her, runs the city’s domestic violence shelter and does so much more. Did you happen to walk through Market Square any evening this month? It’s awash in purple to bring attention to this most important cause.

Barbie talks about how COVID-19 has impacted domestic abuse, what signs to watch for, how to help, and so much more in our video and our “5 More Questions” follow-on story.

Jane Collins of Heard (and Z-TV LIVE) to Speak at Tom Tom Foundation Summit

We love The Zebra! They are so good to us!

Alexandria, VA – Jane Collins, founder and executive director of the local nonprofit Heard, and frequent host of The Zebra’s Z-TV LIVE, will speak at the Tom Tom Foundation’s virtual summit, Cities Rising, on October 8. The event had been slated for spring 2020 before the pandemic shut it down, and it’s been reinvented as a seven-week virtual summit. Read the rest of the story here.

Update: Listen to Jane share the value of the arts in healing a community, and how she can help you start a similar organization:

“10 Questions” with Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Superintendent, Alexandria City Public Schools

Wasn’t that a great Z-TV LIVE! show on August 12? What, you missed it? Fear not, you can view it here. Our executive director, Jane Collins, asked way more than “10 Questions” with Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, the Superintendent, Alexandria City Public Schools. First, we’re impressed that he made time to be on this The Zebra show, given how crazy busy he is preparing for the “Virtual Plus” school year. Yikes, what a challenge for the 16,000 kids who attend school in Alexandria. We’re so glad we could learn more about him – did you know he was his high school’s prom king? Missed the show? Just click below, and then read even more surprising things about him in our “5 More Questions” follow-up.