Partners for Better Communities (Virginia's DHCD Podcast)

International Code Council (ICC) Building Safety Month continues with week two on Training the Next Generation.   As President of the Virginia Building & Code Officials Association , City of Galax Special Projects Coordinator Jimmy Moss is actively involved in advancing the profession of a group committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of Virginians. Key in this work is som...

DHCD Staff Member Richard Potts celebrates week one of Building Safety Month with a conversation with Viridiant's KC Bleile. "We're collaboratively working within an industry to make important improvements," says Bleile. Many of those improvements are happening in the Virginia Building Code and through innovations in products, systems, policy and financing mechanisms that will drive greater energy...

Vinton, Virginia-based nonprofit The Advancement Foundation is growing a small-business and community development structure that now encompasses 650 program alumni and more than 200 mentors and industry experts. The work began with a local Community Business Launch (CBL)-funded competition, and since, The Gauntlet has grown in reach and resources, serving 150 entrepreneurs this year. "We see ourse...

Sarah Milston listens. In her work with communities and organizations at The Spark Mill , she helps future-focused groups frame the right questions though authentic community engagement. "The key," she says, "is deep, deep listening." Even shaping the questions needs greater participation, she says. "We'll create a better product through deep listening." Milston says it's worth the effort and expe...

Resilience might be defined as a practiced state of readiness. But what does that look like across the country? "We're finding that many of our rural communities were already working on strategies that served them well during the pandemic," says Jack Morgan , program manager for resilient economies and communities for the National Association of Counties (NACO) . His work at NACO gives Jack a high...

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 commitmen...

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...

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...

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 Belon...

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.  

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.   

"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 exp...

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...

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...

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...

"It's such a blessing to be able to help others," says Cheryl S. Carter of Culpeper Housing and Shelter Services . Cheryl's spent a career providing housing solutions and shelter in the Culpeper area, and she shows no sign of stopping. In this conversation with DHCD's Traci Munyan, learn about the wide range of partnerships and support resources that help the organization do more than  tempor...

"The best part of my job is watching residents leave," says JaLauna Burton,  public housing administrator at the Williamsburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority . Incorporating first-time home buyer, budgeting, and home repair classes, the organization is housing families with an eye to helping them take their next step. Hear the full conversation with DHCD staff member Kyerra Carr from the...

Listen in on a conversation from the 2019 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference.  Resiliency Program Manager Traci Munyan talks about the partnerships and engagement strategies behind the living shoreline project in Norfolk's Ohio Creek watershed with VHB team member Kimberly Blossom.  "The engagement, the networking, the team dynamic was fun to be a part of," says Blossom. Hear the ful...

Spanning seven years and seven blocks, St. Paul , Virginia, completed its comprehensive downtown infrastructure project in 2019. Lead by the town, with input from St. Paul Tomorrow’s Design Committee in the early stages, this $16 million project reconstructed the stormwater system, sidewalks, curbing, roadways, crosswalks, water lines and sanitary sewer lines. The need for upgrading arose from inc...

Watching Lineage owner Paul Hansbarger work on his signature leather and waxed cotton canvas designs is a key attraction at Agora Downtown Market in Harrisonburg, Shoppers marvel in the details of the totes, weekenders, backpacks, and accessories. Now hear him in conversation with   Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Executive Director Andrea Dono on the development of his business and the rol...

Winchester entrepreneur Holly Redding inspires volunteers and residents with a unique, infectious brand of can-do, creative energy. This year, she was awarded the 2020 Virginia Main Street Merit Award for Volunteer of the Year. Join her Winchester Brew Works business partner, Bonnie Landy, and the staff of the Old Town Advancement Commission in a look at the importance of leadership, volunteerism,...

Grizzly's Hatchet House has developed a new gathering spot in Danville's River District. Join owner Christie Wall and River District Executive Director Diana Schwartz for a conversation about entrepreneurship that's good for the community. Grizzly's Hatchet House is a 2020 Virginia Main Street Merit Award Winner for Outstanding Business.

At the recent 2020 Downtown Intersections virtual conference Merit Awards session , the Town of Strasburg received the Best Downtown Business Promotion award for their annual Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup Festival , a food festival celebrating the delicious duo and nourishing the local economy.  Hear the behind-the-scenes of the festival's development and success with Olivia Hilton, Commu...

Hear the behind-the-scenes scoop on how Sip and Shop became a reality for Downtown Manassas. The recurring event allows attendees to bring their favorite adult beverage along to wander and explore the streets downtown. Debbie Haight, Executive Director of Historic Manassas, Inc., worked closely with a local ABC agent to secure a Special Event License and coordinated with the City Manager, City Cou...

Wytheville's R.P. Johnson's building was built in 1939. The business, established in 1840 was a large manufacturer of wagons and carriages until 1928. Now the site is a downtown gathering space in the form of Seven Sisters Brewery. Join property developer Bill Smith, brewer David Clark, and Downtown Wytheville, Inc. Executive Director Todd Wolford for a conversation about the community and this im...