Linked in Impact with DC Metro Area Chapters of The Links, Incorporated

On this episode of Linked in Impact —hosted by the DMV chapters of The Links, Inc. —the discussion focuses on how businesses can better support their local communities. Guest Angela Mitchell, President and CEO of ARM Consulting LLC and the first Black woman to serve as Board Chair for the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, joins the conversation to share her insights. The episode explores why corporate...

In this episode, we sit down with Rae Mitchell , the inaugural Chief of Schools for Loudoun County Public Schools. Since stepping into this pioneering role in 2021, Rae has leveraged her 27 years of experience across Fairfax and Newport News to advocate for student success and academic excellence. Beyond her professional accolades, Rae is a deeply rooted community member and a dedicated member of...

In this episode of Linked In Impact , host Krysta Jones welcomes Joy D. Calloway, President and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), to honor National Minority Health Month. As a veteran leader with over 30 years in healthcare, Calloway discusses the urgent "survival and success mandate" of health equity in 2026. The conversation explores the systemic phenomenon of weathering—the cel...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Alexandria Maloney, a powerhouse foreign affairs professional and President of Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA). Named one of the top 100 most influential people of African descent, Alexandria has served at the U.S. Department of Defense and the White House, building ecosystems that empower over 60,000 professionals. In this episode, we...

In this episode, we dive into the critical work being done to safeguard and uplift the Northern Virginia community. We explore the commitment of the Loudoun County (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated to eradicating human trafficking and their strategic partnership with Reset180. Key Highlights: The Fight Against Human Trafficking: Learn how the Loudoun County Links have addressed local exploit...

The health of our democracy depends entirely on active civic participation. In Virginia, we have elections every year, often more than once a year, so we have 365 days a year to be engaged. In this episode, we speak with Amini Bonane, a Congolese American Commissioner, community organizer, and award-winning advocate for women & girls, and  Darrlynn Franklin, the President of the Alexandria Bra...

A November 2024 article by Subramaniam Vincent on forbes.com, noted that Christine Slaughter, Chaya Crowder and Christina Greer, co-authored a recent paper that refers to Black women as keepers of American democracy . The researchers found that Black women are motivated by civic duty to vote in elections and perceive voting as an effective tool to have their voice heard.  The article also noted th...

According to Heritagediscovered.com, with there being nearly 48 million Black people in the US today, Black genealogy research can be a real challenge, especially for finding families before the 1870 census, the first census to name many Black people for the first time.  Researching African American ancestors, whether freed or formerly enslaved, can be time consuming, yet fortunately, more resourc...

According to Forbes.com, a survey by the travel organization Road Scholar has revealed that up to 30% of the company's tour participants are solo travelers; and of those solo travelers, 85% are women. According to Condor Ferries , 64% of travelers worldwide are female, while only 36% are male. The company estimated that $125 billion would be spent by women on travel in 2023. The average U.S. trave...

“At its core, the role of a community foundation is to create pathways that connect our community and its many different individuals, groups, and organizations to the resources needed to flourish.” How much do you know about community foundations and the impact they are making in your community? In this episode we speak with Jennifer Owens, President and CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation,...

How much do you know about the "path to the presidency"? Of course, for some people it can start decades before they officially announce that they are running, but in today’s episode we are going to talk about everything from the convention to the electoral college to the transition. If you have seen the movie Shirley, about Shirley Chisolm’s historic presidential run as the first black candidate...

At a time when there is a backlash against DEI efforts, along with the resignation of Claudine Gay, the first black woman to serve as president of Harvard University, we felt it was time to have a discussion about how those of us who are DEI proponents continue moving DEI forward.  I don’t think we take the time to define, what success looks like for DEI, and acknowledge practically and realistica...

"I learned that my story was not uncommon. There were others like me, just like me -Black like me, healthy like me, doing their best, just like me. And they faced death just like me too." - Allyson Felix, Olympic Track & Field Champion We have all heard the stats-the maternal death rates for Black women - regardless of socio economic status are 2-3 times that of white women. The 2022 documenta...

Youth are facing a number of challenges today. Deaths from suicide among youth and young adults have been increasing over the last two decades in the United States, Despite negative headlines and growing concerns about social media’s impact on youth, teens continue to use these platforms at high rates – with some describing their social media use as “almost constant,” according to a new Pew Resear...

In this conversation we speak with Dr. Alfred Taylor, author of "Bridge Builders of Nauck/Green Valley: Past and Present” which details the stories of over 100 Arlingtonians,  Scott Taylor, president of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, which celebrates the African American Journey to Freedom, focusing on Arlington’s Freedman’s Village, Wilma Jones Killgo, a fourth-generation resident of the...

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. This conversation with Dr. Lisa Loury Lomas, Eastern Area Director of The Links, Incorporated, on Black women's mental health, is a "must listen". Lisa has worked in the field of psychology for...

Join several community leaders and activists as we discuss reparations - what they are, and what progress has been made in the movement to make the descendants of chattel slaves in America "whole". 

September is HBCU awareness month.  Through our National HBCU Initiative, The Links, Incorporated seeks to increase the retention and graduation rates of students attending HBCUs, which were founded in the face of discrimination and have a proud history and legacy of achievement. For more than a century, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have produced a significant portion of th...

What is the future of DEI? Lately, there have been more and more media reports about a decreasing number of DEI officers, and a growing number are being asked to take on additional responsibilities outside of the DEI lens. The Supreme Court’s landmark decision to gut affirmative action has made it unlawful for colleges to take race into consideration as a specific factor in admissions like program...

Reading is a pathway - to imagination, to growth, to learning.  While dueling perspectives on parent rights, censorship and violations of 1st amendment rights are dominating conversations today, in this episode we chat with Tracie Hall, the first Black female Executive Director of the American Library Association, to discuss what communities can do to preserve a love and respect for reading and li...

Host Krysta Jones serves as one of the co conveners of the Black Women’s Roundtable Virginia, an organization focused on building intergenerational leadership, advocating for our rights, and prioritizing the wellness of Black women and girls. The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated strongly believes that advocacy is 365 days year, no matter the election cycle or court decision, and o...

When we look at what is facing our community, racial equity, health disparities, economic injustice - its easy to get discouraged. These are complicated issues that will not be solved overnight, it takes leadership - often incremental. Since 1966, the The Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has worked  to ensure that all community members have equal access to that leadership, those t...

In this episode, host Krysta Jones speaks with Joi Chaney, Founder/Principal, J.O.I. Strategies, and A’shanti Gholar, President of Emerge, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training women to run for office. They both provide great perspectives on how to engage our community - including getting youth involved, how they engage voters who are unlikely to vote, and the importance of running...

According to the Women Business Coalition - In January 2023, women comprised nearly 33% of new appointments to the boards of public companies. Among the 36 of the 117 newly appointed women board members who chose to self-disclose their race, Asian/Pacific Islander women made up nearly 15% and Black women 9%. Paula HJ Cholmondeley, a seasoned corporate director who has served on 10 public company b...

April is Minority Health Month, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) observes National Minority Health Month to highlight the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and reducing health disparities. The theme for National Minority Health Month 2023 is "Better Health...