Facts you need to know | Tyra Garlington

This is Us Next Chapter Featuring Dana Saif, Founder and Director of the International Language Academy

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

We are celebrating the seventh year of proof that dreams can come true. We have been telling stories to touch the mind, the heart, and the spirit. They have been multicultural, intergenerational, educational, and inspirational, and you have told them! This week, we are opening a new chapter from our Frankly Speaking Human Library Catalogue: This is Us Next Chapter. These stories shine a light on the courage, dedication, and imagination of people who lift others, guiding them from what was to what could be. This week, we will meet Dana Saif, the visionary founder and director of the International……
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Were it Not for Those Who Care featuring Ashleigh Conrad, Engagement Manager, Girls on the Run

Posted on November 8, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

In 1977, the Muhammad Ali film introduced the world to “The Greatest Love of All,” a soulful anthem written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and performed by George Benson. Its opening lines set a heartfelt stage for this week’s Frankly Speaking radio show: Were it not for Those Who Care. “I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Please give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let the children’s laughter remind us of how we used to be.” This vision……
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Some stories need telling. Join Melissa Juarez Ehlers from The Center for Enriched Living, Deerfield Illinois.

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Meet Patrick. “Patrick has autism and an intellectual disability. Until 2008, Patrick lived with his biological mother in Texas. She worked hard to ensure that Patrick had every opportunity to achieve his fullest potential. She socialized Patrick, taught him manners, and gave him basic skills. Sadly, after so many years of her life dedicated to the care and growth of her son, Patrick’s mother was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Patrick’s grandparents brought him to West Virginia following their daughter’s untimely death. While they were in good health, they were elderly and began looking for housing and care options……
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Rotary Opens Opportunities Through Service: Providing Clean Water to the Undeserved through District 7610 Strategic Water Alliance Featuring Bob Jansen

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Before you take your next sip of water, pause and wonder: How sure are you that what fills your glass is truly safe? “844 million people around the world don’t have access to clean water: that’s more than 1 of every 10 people around the world.” Clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education are the foundation of a thriving community. With these essentials, waterborne illnesses fade, children flourish in school, and mothers reclaim precious hours to nurture their families. Join an inspiring conversation as Rotarian Bob Jansen reveals the latest progress from the Rotary District 7610 Zambia Strategic Water Alliance.……
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A Courageous Conversation About Human Trafficking Featuring George Mason University Graduate Student Ms. Chloe Brakens

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Looking back, in 1986, Whitney Houston sang a powerful, positive message about nurturing our children and believing in their potential, titled “The Greatest Love of All.” “I believe that children are our future Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Please give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.” That was then, Today, the UN Secretary-General urgently reminds us of our duty to leave no child behind. We now face a new battle against a monster called……
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Voices From The Future: Millennials on the Move.

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

I can remember when an application was required for employment. A program was a TV show. Memory was something you lose with age, and a CD was a bank account.I love intergenerational conversations about the past and the present. Perhaps this is because I believe life is a process, not an event. It is a journey, not a destination. We also know that events shape values and behavior. Trends change over time. This week, we feature another group in our “Voices from the Future” series. Our episode focuses on how Millennials’ unique experiences—both inherited and self-created—have shaped their values, behaviors,……
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Thank You for your Service Then and Now: Lasting Memories

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

I celebrate veterans and active-duty military who keep us safe, often at significant cost. War is part of human history. I aim to share diverse war stories, including their impact on families and cultural legacies, across age, gender, and racial lines. The Vietnam War was my coming-of-age war. I was immersed in—and confused by—the war at home over US involvement, while grieving school friends who paid the ultimate price. There were so many bold and untold stories. Today’s story, although historical, is also her story. We will hear about women who decided to make history instead of reading about it. The……
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Self-Care as a Way to Community and Generational Care Featuring Writer and Teacher Alex Elle, Guest on NPR’s On Being

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

I don’t know if you have noticed in the past few years how many podcasts, self-help books, and talk shows have focused on surviving uncertainty, unrest, feelings of powerlessness, and sustaining and maintaining relationships. The term self-care has increased its presence in our vernacular, rustling its importance, but only present in authentic conversations and relationships. According to Google Trends, the number of searches for “self-care” has doubled since 2015. The World Health Organization says that self-care is being mindful of your own needs, so you are better able to support the people you care about. When you take care……
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Where Leadership, Service and Sustainability Meet; featuring Fairfax County Supervisor James Bierman

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

We are living through uncertainty, civil unrest, unnatural disasters, global misadventures, and loss. This time forces us to face reality and recognize our own and our society’s fragility. We must speak up for hope and reconsider what truly matters in our lives. Getting through tough times means encouraging ourselves. Remember, we are constantly growing and changing. Even when we are still, we show love, help others, and support one another. We may feel caught between old habits and new possibilities. When you wonder, “Am I enough?” the answer is YES. When we recognize our worth, we can achieve more than……
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Meet Phenomenal Woman Jena Olsen: Passionate Wellness and Aging Expert; Exercise Physiologist, Pianist, Artist, and Athlete

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Tyra Garlington • 0 Comments

Sometimes survival demands that we learn how to encourage ourselves. We must accept that we are a journey, not a destination; a process, not an event. However, even in our stillness, we generate motion—loving, serving, nurturing, encouraging, and empowering. We embody love, and love takes action. And sometimes we find ourselves stuck between the familiar past habits and the exciting possibilities of who we are meant to become. In these moments, we may question: “Am I enough?” Let me assure you, the answer is a resounding YES! Each of us not only has a story, but is a story as……
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