Podcast
Empowering Voices in Homeless Education and McKinney-Vento
Each year, close to 20,000 K-12 public school students experiencing homelessness are identified in Virginia. The barriers of high mobility can make achieving educational success an overwhelming challenge. Our podcast highlights inspiring stories from individuals throughout the state who work directly with children and youth experiencing homelessness. Each episode features interviews with local McKinney-Vento liaisons and community-partners who work to uphold the McKinney-Vento Act and remove barriers for these students.
Project HOPE-Virginia Podcast Episodes
Through insightful conversations, we explore the resources, partnerships, and best practices that help these students thrive in school. Each episode underscores the work of local liaisons and advocates, while amplifying the stories of students experiencing homelessness across Virginia. Join us in our mission to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their housing situation.
Lisa Ann Abernathey, Education Specialist for McKinney Vento
In the first episode of the Project HOPE-Virginia Podcast: Empowering Voices in Homeless Education and McKinney-Vento, Lisa Ann Abernathey, Education Specialist for McKinney-Vento in Henrico...
In the first episode of the Project HOPE-Virginia Podcast: Empowering Voices in Homeless Education and McKinney-Vento, Lisa Ann Abernathey, Education Specialist for McKinney-Vento in Henrico County School Division in Virginia, discusses the impact of summer pop-ups that her team hosted at local motels this summer along with activities planned throughout the school year to ensure students experiencing homelessness can thrive at school.
Damion Wilson and Dustin Schwandt, Virginia Beach City Public Schools
For our second episode, HOPE Heroes Damion Wilson and Dustin Schwandt, both from Virginia Beach City Public Schools, discuss their dynamic partnership as McKinney-Vento liaison and dedicated...
For our second episode, HOPE Heroes Damion Wilson and Dustin Schwandt, both from Virginia Beach City Public Schools, discuss their dynamic partnership as McKinney-Vento liaison and dedicated McKinney-Vento school social worker. They highlight the thoughtful systems they have put in place and the relationships they have built in and outside of their division to best support their students.
Angela Graciani, Education Chief at Forkids
For our third episode, we are joined by Angela Graciani, Education Chief at ForKids, an organization providing emergency shelter to families and children across the Greater Hampton Roads area since 1988. ForKids has expanded to serve thousands of families across Virginia as one of the largest providers of homeless services....
For our third episode, we are joined by Angela Graciani, Education Chief at ForKids, an organization providing emergency shelter to families and children across the Greater Hampton Roads area since 1988. ForKids has expanded to serve thousands of families across Virginia as one of the largest providers of homeless services. Angela shares her experience creating programming aimed to connect students experiencing homelessness with the educational supports they need outside of school and the importance of collaborating with other partners to ensure students receive wraparound services essential to their success.