Ability Radio

(Part 1 of 2) Join Amelia Headley LaMont on Ability Radio as she engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Paula Whatley Matabane, exploring the compelling life story of her grandmother, Ione Davis, and the memoir she penned in 1948 detailing the resilience and struggles from the sharecropping farms of South Georgia. As the granddaughter of formerly enslaved people, Davis’s narrative unfolds against the backdrop of socio-political turmoil and racial injustice.

Dr. Matabane delves into her personal journey, weaving through the intricate tapestry of familial ties, societal shifts, and cultural metamorphosis profoundly impacted by landmark moments in history, including the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of Black Power. This episode reflects on identity, heritage, and the quest for dignity, tracing the echoes of ancestry through personal and collective history.

Join host Kishma B. Francis for the crucial topic of technology-facilitated sexual assault with special guest Ms. Simona Thomas, an expert in education and psychology. This conversation sheds light on how digital platforms can be misused for harassment and exploitation, putting victims in emotionally distressing situations.

Learn about the various forms of online sexual violence, including non-consensual image sharing, sextortion, and deepfake technology. We discuss the profound impacts of these violations on victims, including emotional distress and loss of trust, and explore the critical role of community support and awareness in addressing these issues.

Discover practical advice on how students and others can protect themselves with stronger privacy settings and cautious digital footprints. Gain insights into the importance of reporting assaults, available resources, and fostering a supportive environment to combat the stigma and isolation often faced by victims.

Tune in to empower yourself and your community with knowledge, ensuring a safer digital world for everyone.

Host Kishma B. Francis and guests Dr. Muria Nisbett, and Destiny Samuel discuss grief by sharing personal stories and advice on how grief impacts children and adults. They explore various types of grief, such as losing a loved one or facing life changes like ending relationships, changing jobs, and moving.

This episode offers valuable tips on supporting ourselves and others in times of sadness. It emphasizes the importance of allowing everyone to speak openly about their feelings without judgment and highlights how seeking help from a therapist can be life-changing.

Join Amelia Headley-Lamont and teacher Diane Collingwood on Ability Radio as they talk about a cool journey from dance to farming. Diane shares her amazing story of becoming the first woman to graduate in farming from the University of the Virgin Islands. She loves to change how we teach farming and wants to help young people get involved.

 

You’ll learn about how important women are in farming, why having good communication skills matters, and how kids can make a difference through farming and caring for the environment. They’ll talk about the challenges and chances in farming in the Virgin Islands and the new ideas to help people grow food and take care of our planet.

 

Join Amelia Headley-Lamont from the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands for an important talk about help for finding and keeping jobs. Special guest Kimberly Washington from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and her team members, Reneta Adjodha and Rifkah Deane, share how they help students with disabilities move from school to good jobs. Learn how important it is to support people with disabilities and why having jobs in the community helps them succeed!

Shammi Carr, DRCVI advocate, discusses collaborations, workforce readiness, and job accommodations. She explains how people work together to help others get ready for jobs and find the right support they need. It focuses on helping students and adults get equal chances to work in different jobs, like government, stores, cooking, or fixing things. The goal is to help everyone find satisfying and lasting jobs they enjoy.

This episode of Ability Radio delves into the experiences of longtime U.S. Virgin Islands residents, Lad and Lisa Wallace, as they discuss the challenges of surviving both hurricanes and wildfires. With the host, Amelia Headley-Lamont of the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands, the Wallaces share their experiences of evacuating during a massive wildfire in California and the lessons they learned about emergency preparedness.

The episode highlights the importance of heeding evacuation warnings, being prepared with emergency supplies, and having a plan in place for keeping in touch with family during disasters. It also explores the emotional aftermath of losing irreplaceable personal items and the role that community support plays in recovery. For those living in the Virgin Islands and similar regions, the insights shared by the Wallaces offer a valuable perspective on dealing with both hurricanes and fires.

Welcome to the 2024 year-end episode of Ability Radio, hosted by Angus Drigo, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands. This special episode features conversations with key team members: Archie Jennings, Shammi Carr, and Kishma Francis, who share insights into the organization's mission and activities throughout the year.

The discussion highlights the importance of legal advocacy for individuals with disabilities, the role of the Parent Training Information Center, and the innovative programs like the Youth Empowerment Leadership Program designed to empower and support young individuals on their journey to becoming self-advocates.

The episode also addresses critical issues such as mental health services for children with disabilities and stresses the importance of community collaboration to enhance accessibility and support. Join us as we reflect on the achievements and ongoing efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities in the Virgin Islands.

In this episode of Ability Radio, host Amelia Hedley-Lamont of the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands engages in a powerful conversation with Kalyn Fahie, an advocate, author, and training & technical assistance manager for Ujima - the National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community. Kalyn shares her personal journey from surviving domestic violence to becoming a beacon of hope and support for others facing similar challenges.

During the discussion, Kalyn highlights the importance of financial empowerment for domestic violence survivors and offers key insights into culturally specific support services that address the unique needs of black communities. She also provides valuable resources available for victims, such as local US Virgin Islands support organizations and national hotlines, emphasizing the significance of discreet planning and community-based initiatives.

This episode sheds light on the pressing need for collective action, advocacy, and a robust support system to aid survivors and prevent further violence, while reinforcing that anyone, regardless of gender, can be affected by domestic violence.

Links from the episode:

https://ujimacommunity.org/

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://usvifrc.org/

https://wcstx.org/