For the second episode in our two-part series on redistricting, you’ll hear from Sean Kumar and James Abrenio, two Sorensen Institute Alumni who both served on Virginia’s 2020 Redistricting Commission. They’ll discuss their experiences on the Commission in 2020: what went well, what could be improved, and what redistricting in Virginia might look l…

In this episode of Intersections in Public Service, we take a close look at how libraries function as a public service. Williamsburg's Regional Library Director Betsy Fowler, provides insight into the many unique ways libraries meet the needs of their communities. Along with a historical overview of how public libraries came to be in Virginia, we a…

Many of us have heard the word “redistricting”, but what does it actually mean and how does it work? For the first episode in our two-part series on redistricting, University of Virginia undergraduates Ellis Nolan and Garreth Bartholomew discuss the basics of redistricting in the United States at large and in Virginia. You’ll hear about the steps o…

In this first episode of the second season of Intersections in Public Service, we take a look at the Afghan refugee crisis and Virginia's specific role in welcoming refugees to the United States. We get to hear from two public servants about refugee intake from a structural and individual perspective. Translator Marjan Noori, speaks about the impor…

Intersections in Public Service Season 1 has come to an end, so we want to highlight some of our most memorable episode moments. We have explored topics from cultural preservation, climate change, voting rights of previously incarcerated people, and much more. Take a listen to see how encompassing public service really is. Host & Editor: Ellis Nola…

In this final episode of a three-part series on returning citizens, media intern Esther Eriksson von Allmen, speaks to Sandra Carter from the Piedmont House, a transition house in Charlottesville, Virginia. Piedmont House provides housing and employment assistance to returning citizens. Ms. Carter discusses her personal experiences working as a pee…

In this second episode on returning citizens, Cassie Deering discusses the ways in which state legislators and governors are taking action to better support returning citizens. Deering focuses on the issue of felon disenfranchisement: it’s history in the state of Virginia, as well as recent reforms to address it. Richard Miles is featured again in …

In this episode, Cassie Deering discusses the upward battle that formerly incarcerated people face after being released from prison. She examines the history of mass incarceration, the rights of returning citizens, and the psychological toll of imprisonment. This episode features Richard Miles, the co-founder of Miles of Freedom, a Dallas-based non…

On this episode of Intersections in Public Service, we dive into Virginia’s Executive Order 43, an order pledging 30% of Virginia’s energy will be allocated from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2050. To learn more, we talk with Hannah Boyles, an intern at the Center for Economic and Policy Studies. We discuss Virginia’s Executive Order 43 and…

In this second episode from a two-part series on housing inequality in Charlottesville, Esther Eriksson von Allmen discusses the intersection between homeownership and various socio-economic factors. She interviews Beth Kennan, a former employee at the Piedmont Housing Alliance to learn more about affordable housing in Charlottesville. This episode…

In this episode, Media Team Intern Esther Eriksson von Allmen discusses housing inequality in Charlottesville through a historical lens. She examines the role of private real estate developers as well as federal and local public policy in creating the unequal housing market and homeownership rates that we see today. This podcast covers the history …

On this episode of Intersections in Public Service, Media Team Intern Cassie Deering covers an interview between Virginia Institute of Government's Associate Director, Charles Hartgrove and the founders of the Appalachian African American Cultural Center, Ron and Jill Carson. Since the killing of George Floyd in May of 2020, the topics of race and …

On this episode of Intersections in Public Service, we take a close look at the different ways Virginians can vote safely and securely amid the COVID-19 pandemic during this years presidential election. The voter registration deadline for Virginia is October 13th, 2020. If you hear this podcast before then and are looking to register, go to the Vir…

On this episode of Intersections in Public Service we talk with three UVA researchers; Jay Furhman, Andres Clarens, and the Cooper Center's own Bill Shobe about a research paper that they have just published in the highly renowned scientific journal called Nature: Climate Change. In their research, they explore variations and outcomes of how Direct…

On this episode of Intersections in Public Service, Media Team Intern Anna Miller interviews her local town councilman Chuck Anderson from Vienna, Virginia. They discuss the local impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement as well as how to advocate for change on the local level. This episode was made in partnership with th…

Former U.S. Senator John W. Warner (R-Virginia) discusses the importance of effective leadership and bipartisanship to deliver results for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation during his 30-year tenure in the Senate. In conversation with Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership Director Larry Roberts, Senator Warner reflects on how his ex…

Former U.S. Senator John W. Warner (R-Virginia) issues a call to public service and offers advice on being true to yourself and use advantages given to you to make the next generation's experience better than your own. In conversation with Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership Director Larry Roberts, Senator Warner reflects on how his experie…

In this episode of Intersections in Public service we have an open conversation with Kara Fitzgibbon, the new director of the Center for Survey Research. We discuss everything from what surveys accomplish, to research transparency, and how surveys are changing with new technology. Center for Survey Research Website Cooper Center Website Host: Clair…

Have you ever wondered how borders, dracula, and passports all relate to each other? On this episode of Intersections of Public Service we talk with Dipsikha Thakur, a fourth year Literature PHD student at the University of Virginia. She discusses her partnership with the Weldon Cooper Center as a PHD+ student, as well as her research on how Gothic…

The Sorensen Institute is a bipartisan leadership organization, that focuses on the development of leadership skills for Virginia residents interested in becoming active in public service through politics. In this episode of Intersections of Public Service we talk to Associate Director of Sorensen; Lauren Gilbert, to take a deeper dive into the 5 d…

Sorensens Institute's High School Leaders Program gives teenagers the tools to become policy makers by teaching them about how to craft well made policy. In the summer program of 2017, three Charlottesville students Choetsow, Alex, and Lucas took what they learned in the program and went on to pass a mental health education bill into Virginia Legis…

Although the process of making public policy seems intimidating, the Sorensens Institute's High School Leaders Program gives teenagers the tools to become policy makers. In the summer program of 2017, three Charlottesville students took what they learned in the program and went on to pass a mental health education bill into Virginia Legislature. To…

Climate change is an issue that affects everyone, but some communities are especially at risk. Today on episode 4 of Intersections in Public Service, we talk to UVa environmental science professor Scott Doney about the impacts climate change will have on Virginia specifically. Scott discusses the specific impacts that changes to the carbon cycle wi…

In episodes 1 and 2 of 'Intersections in Public Service', we established some key causes and effects of the affordable housing crisis. We aimed to put on spotlight on public servants providing solutions. In this episode, we find out how people like you can get involved in helping address the housing crisis. We went back and found out how you can he…

In this episode we’re continuing our multi-part series on how public servants are addressing the massive issue of affordable housing in Central Virginia. In episode one, Ed Olsen discussed one of the major causes of the problem, while Antonio Rice showed us the effects. For episode two, we talked with a public servant who had a vision to be a huge …

This episode starts a multi-part series on how public servants are addressing the massive issue of affordable housing in Central Virginia. Throughout the series, the podcast will dive into what’s causing the problem, what its effects have been, what the solutions are, and how you can get involved. On this episode, we discuss the cause of the proble…