A Miner Detail Podcast

Celebrating Financial Literacy Month

National Financial Literacy Month is recognized in the United States in April in an effort to highlight the importance of financial literacy and teach Americans how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits.  Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail brought to you by the Change Montgomery County Radio Network, will host a show about financial literacy with Montgomery County financial professionals, including the President of Change Montgomery County, Frank Howard and Joseph W. Jacques, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner.  Ryan and his guests will discuss: How to plan your personal or family budgetFamily consumer science and making smart economic decisions on the daily Planning for retirement Buying a house and paying a monthly mortgage Paying for college How to save and the tools to useFinancial instruments And much, much more!  If you have questions for our financial professionals, please call us between 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at (646) 716-5971.  Join us on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. for a brand new episode of A Miner Detail on the Change Montgomery County Radio Network!

Free Range Parenting in Montgomery County

Long before the Meitivs of Silver Spring clashed with Montgomery County over their young children’s walk home from a park, parents across the county were at odds with authorities over similar questions: How much supervision do our children need and when are they truly at risk?  The free range parenting movement has caused parents across the country to unite in similar fashion and protest what they consider the heavy hand of government creeping itself into how parents choose to responsibly parent their children. How much is too much government interference in parenting? How can authorities work with parents who adopt free range parenting? What conversations about free range parenting need to occur between families and the authorities?  On a new episode of A Miner Detail brought to you by the Change Montgomery County radio network, host Ryan Miner will dissect the free range parenting movement and facilitate a discussion about how parents choose to responsibly parent their children.  Listen LIVE on Wednesday, April 22 at 9:00 p.m. on BlogTalkRadio.com/AMinerDetail to a new episode of A Miner Detail! 

2015 Maryland General Assembly Legislative wrap up

This past Monday marked the end of the 2015 ninety-day Maryland General Assembly legislative session! The session began with the inauguration of a new governor and pledges of sweeping change and bipartisanship. The $40.7 billion budget took up most of the discussion as legislators avoided a last-minute showdown with the governor over $200 million in unallocated funds.  Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail brought to you by the Change Montgomery County radio network, will unwind the 2015 legislative session on a new episode of A Miner Detail. Change Montgomery County reached out to several Montgomery County legislators to join Ryan on the show and summarize all that occurred during the 2015 legislative session.  Join Ryan on Wednesday, April 15  at 9:00 p.m. for an hour-long discussion on what passed and what didn’t during the 2015 legislative session. 

Relay for Life in Montgomery County

Relay For Life is an overnight community fundraising event, coordinated by the American Cancer Society.  Communities across the globe come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too many. Teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or path at a local high school, park, or fairground. Events are up to 24 hours long, and because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. Relayers also provide a carnival atmosphere that is fun for whole families, a Survivor's Luncheon, and a closing event of lighted luminaries to honor those affected by the disease. Relay events are fun, informational, and inspiring! This week on a new episode of A Miner Detail, host Ryan Miner will interview individuals and team organizers in Montgomery County who will participate in Relay for Life events spread throughout the county. In the second half of the show, Ryan will host individuals on the show from Montgomery County impacted by the Relay for Life events.  Join Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail, this Wednesday, April 8 at 9:00 p.m. on the Change Montgomery County radio network! 

Poverty in Montgomery County

In a new episode of A Miner Detail, host Ryan Miner will unwind Montgomery County’s progress in helping its needy residents. Last Tuesday, the Interfaith Works of Rockville held its 18th annual Companies Caring Breakfast in North Bethesda to discuss the state of Montgomery County’s safety net.  This week, in the first half of A Miner Detail, host Ryan will interview Interfaith Works of Rockville CEO, Shane Rock, Margo Fonoroff, and Mary Ann Sestili. Margo Fonoroff is a former public school teacher and principal. Both Fornoff and her husband have organized the annual Park Potomac Ice Cream Social for Charity, involving hundreds of residents and local businesses within the community, according to a news release. In the past five years, the event has collected thousands of donated new backpacks and school supplies for needy schoolchildren. Mary Ann Sestili received the Legacy of Leadership Award. Sestili has volunteered for the nonprofit’s Friends in Action Program, mentoring needy families. She then served on its board as secretary, chairwoman and now vice chairwoman of its Governance Committee. In the latter half of the show, Ryan will interview Diana M. Pearce, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer and Director, Center for Women’s Welfare of University of Washington, School of Social Work about the Self-Sufficiency Standard, and alternative measures of the costs of a basic-needs budget, varied by family type, and place.

Montgomery County Teacher of the Year

Three Montgomery County Public Schools teachers are in the running for an annual award that honors one of the area’s top educators. The finalists for the county’s 2015–2016 Teacher of the Year award can be found leading classrooms in Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg and Damascus. Josephine Luster teaches in The Center Program for the Highly Gifted at Chevy Chase Elementary School, Jill Raspen is a sixth-grade English teacher at Ridgeview Middle School in Gaithersburg and Joseph Gannon Jr. teaches social studies at Damascus High School. Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail of the Change Montgomery County radio network, will interview Ms. Luster, Ms. Raspen and Mr. Gannon about their nominations for Montgomery County Teacher of The Year, and will listen in as they each discuss what drives them as educators and how their students challenge them inside of the classroom.  Tune in this Wednesday, March 25 at 9:00 p.m. for a new episode of A Miner Detail! If you miss the live broadcast, be sure to listen in to the podcast on Change Montgomery County's YouTube channel. 

Homelessness in Montgomery County: How can we help?

On any given day, over 800 people in Montgomery County experience homelessness, and out of that number, nearly 200 are children. Every person who experiences homelessness has a unique story. At Change Montgomery County, we strive to provide real solutions to end homelessness in the County by increasing awareness, enabling resources, and connecting people. Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail brought to you by Change Montgomery County, will address how citizens of Montgomery County can help those experiencing homelessness.  Ryan and his guests will discuss the 100,00 homes initiative, the recent point-in-time county, and local resources for safe living conditions.  Special guests include:  - George Leventhal, Montgomery County Council President  - Heather Sheridan, Director of Homeless Services with Maryland's Interagency Council of Homelessness   - Marta Bohorquez, a Montgomery County advocate for the homeless - Y. Maria Martinez, CEO of Respira Medical  Join us this Wednesday, March 18 at 9:00 p.m. on the Change Montgomery County radio network for a new episode of A Miner Detail.

Moving past Mistakes: The Power of Redemption

We all make mistakes, but some mistakes can follow us for a lifetime. This week, Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail brought to you by Change Montgomery County, will discuss how someone can redeem past indiscretions and turn their lives around. Guests discuss in salon format how through faith, mentoring and owning up to mistakes can make a huge difference. The panel will discuss issues ranging from life after prison and how ex criminals can take responsibility for their mistakes, to how to go on to live a healthy and productive life. But this show is also about how society can help get someone back on the right track - because that benefits everyone. Tune in to A Miner Detail this Wednesday, March 11 at 9:00 p.m. learn how you can help be a part of the solution.

How Could this Happen? Change MoCo Investigates Child Sex Abuse in MCPS!

Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail, will investigate the more than 20 reported incidents of child sex abuse or exploitation in the Montgomery County Public Schools since 2011. Ryan will host several guests on the show to discuss how sexual predators were allowed in the Montgomery County Public Schools and how the background check process failed to protect children from predators in the school system. Ryan has invited parents, teachers and community leaders  to offer policy alternatives to fix the system in place.  This show will focus on how to prevent future incidents from happening in the future and how to work with local school officials, and law enforcement to protect children in Montgomery County Public Schools. From the WUSA9 Report:  "John Epps Junior was a contract employee for MCPS who did work in 58 schools. Ironically, the security camera technician was caught on surveillance video grabbing the behind of a 12 year-old Baker Middle School student. He's alleged to have done the same to a Damascus High School student. Court documents show Epps had a criminal history of groping women in public, of which the school system was unaware. He will go to trial in March for those school groping incidents."  Please call in to the show to join the conversation. Join Ryan Miner, host of A Miner Detail as brought to you by Change Montgomery County, on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. *Editor's note: We will approach this conversation with an extra degree of delicacy and sensitivity considering the content and materials. 

Maryland's Heroin Emergency & LIVE with Change Montgomery County's Frank Howard

Governor Larry Hogan has declared a heroin state of emergency in Maryland, and he has tasked his number two, LG Boyd Rutherford, to oversee the efforts to combat the burgeoning epidemic plaguing the state.  Ryan will talk with a mom from the Eastern Shore whose family has been directly affected by the widespread use of heroin. Ryan will dissect the heroin problem in Maryland and talk about how families can help fight and cope with drug use.  ---- The second half of the show will feature a LIVE, on-the-set interview with Change Montgomery County's President Frank Howard. Change Montgomery County is a non-profit start-up registering as a 501(c)(4) focused on education and advocacy, providing community engagement tools to residents of Montgomery County, Maryland. We're building a movement for change by encouraging and supporting the development of grassroots leaders committed to local issues that matter to everyone. --- And the conclusion of the show, Ryan will make a BIG ANNOUCEMENT about the future of A Miner Detail.  Tune in this Wednesday, February 25 at 9:00 p.m. for a new episode of A Miner Detail with host Ryan Miner!