Virginia
Paid college internships: A smart way Virginia can ease its youthful brain drain – Virginia Mercury
Virginia needs to keep the Breyana Stewarts who are graduating from our colleges and universities from taking their brains, their energy and their winning personalities to other states.
In May, Stewart will become the first in her family’s line of descent to earn a degree when she graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University. At age 23, she’s smart, optimistic, instantly likable, and looking for a job where she can soon put her new bachelor’s degree in communications to good use.
She is a candidate for a permanent, fulltime, post-commencement job within Virginia. But she plans to search elsewhere, too.
“I just applied for my first communications job,” she said over a latte in a Shockoe Bottom coffee shop this week. “I think it’s a shot in the dark because I haven’t graduated yet, but I want to get the ball rolling.”
Too many newly minted graduates from Virginia’s institutions of higher learning are finding their futures outside the commonwealth, and it’s creating a demographic brain drain that could have economic consequences. That bothers Kirk Cox.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the 55th speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 to 2020. A Republican and a career educator who represented Colonial Heights for 32 years in the House, Cox now heads the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of leaders from the state’s business community and higher education institutions.
In an interview earlier this month, Cox was blunt about challenges Virginia faces from other states that are magnets for early-career professionals and recent college grads. And he’s advancing a solution that makes sense: paid internships that build bridges to connect Virginia college students — particularly diverse students and those of limited economic backgrounds — with relevant experience in their fields of study, which can lead to jobs here after college.
“They’ll tend to stay if they get a really good internship. If they don’t, they’re looking for other places to go,” Cox said. “The statistics show — and I think the kids will tell you —[that] if they get a meaningful internship, it’s much more likely that they get offered a job, [and] they’re much more likely to stay.”
The “stay” part has become a problem in the past decade. During the latter 20th century though the first decade of this one, educated, upwardly mobile, young professionals flocked to Virginia for jobs in such numbers that it created uncontrolled suburban sprawl, especially in Northern Virginia. That trend is now in reverse as more of today’s smart, youthful and affluent cohort are leaving for opportunities in other states than are moving here.
One way to track arrivals from other states vis-à-vis departures is Internal Revenue Service year-to-year personal income tax returns. The IRS aggregates data on the number of returns filed each year from within all 50 states and the District of Columbia and the number of individuals represented in them. Recent year-over-year comparisons do not inspire confidence for Virginia.
Thirty years ago, almost 15,000 more people moved into Virginia than left, according to the IRS data for tax years 1994-95.
Returns from tax years 2020-21, however, show that almost 9,300 more left Virginia than moved in. There were 243,217 departures compared to 233,924 come-heres. Twenty-seven states took more people from Virginia than migrated here from those states. Florida alone took in 10,584 more people from Virginians than came to Virginia from Florida, roughly the equivalent of Essex County.
Hamilton Lombard, the chief demographer for the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, said the trend has hit Northern Virginia the hardest. Hampton Roads has also lost more than it gained, he said, but not as sharply. Smaller, less urbanized areas of Virginia, by contrast, have enjoyed net gains, especially since the pandemic popularized widespread use of working virtually from home, Cooper Center research shows.
Another worrisome omen for colleges and businesses in need of their graduates is that enrollment still struggles with pandemic disruptions.
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data from last September shows that undergrad enrollment ticked marginally upward for the first time since the start of the pandemic, but freshman enrollment dipped by 3.6%.
That may be because teens see some recent college grads moving back home with their parents, working gigs as rideshare drivers, pizza deliverers and wait staff to repay college loans and seek work in their degree field. Short-term undergraduate certificate programs spiked by nearly 10% compared with a 3.6% jump in associate degrees and just under 1% for bachelor’s degrees, according to the NSCRC.
The idea of paid internships has done the nearly impossible: united Democratic and Republican policymakers. It’s no mean feat to get Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and her frequent nemesis, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, literally reading from the same script as they did in this recent promotional video.
At the behest of the VBHEC and its development campaign, Growth4Va, the program is poised to receive either $24 million (under the Senate version of the budget) or $29 million (in the House version) from the state through June of 2026. Some of that will help small businesses pay for interns.
(Some disclosure is in order here. This initiative is advised by McGuireWoods Consulting, a public policy advisory services firm where I was a senior advisor for more than five years. I did not perform work for the VBHEC.)
Let’s put aside the retail politics as well as the commercial and macroeconomic considerations. Paid internships for all Virginia students stands on its own egalitarian merit because of the way it can improve the lives of kids like Breyana Stewart.
She knew she wanted to work in communications since her elementary school days in Hampton Roads, when she was an anchor of the school’s closed-circuit morning newscast.
“My mom always advocated for me to go to college,” Stewart said. “She was always saying how important it is to get a degree. I knew that when I started college that I would have to support myself … so I’ve always worked since I’ve gone to college.”
Now in her final semester, she works two jobs — one as a receptionist at a clinic and another as a promotions assistant at Radio One’s Richmond stations.
But the big differentiator for her career path is the three months she spent last summer as an intern at the Hodges Partnership, a marketing, PR and media relations shop in Richmond.
“Being able to have an internship that paid me for my time was definitely necessary,” she said. Because of that, she was able to cover her rent in Richmond during that time.
Might she wind up where she interned? Who knows. Stewart said she loved her time at Hodges and stayed in touch with the friends and colleagues she made there. Regardless, just listing experience with such an esteemed company on her résumé gives her an edge wherever her search leads her.
It’s time for Virginia to make paid internships accessible to any kid willing to learn and put in the work the way she did and — with a little luck — keep more of our most promising prospects home.
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Down trees, destroyed roads, communities underwater. These are just some of the chilling impacts Helene had in the Commonwealth.
“Our hearts go out to all those people in those communities that are going to be recovering for quite a while,” said Kristopher Dumschat with the Red Cross of Virginia.
The category four hurricane made landfall in Florida Thursday, leaving neighborhoods in utter disarray.
“It’s devastating. From houses that have been flooded or completely damaged to people who have no place to sleep anymore or don’t have the ability to take a shower or cook in their home,” Dumschat said.
Helene’s remnants eventually making its way to Virginia, where the southwest region got hit the hardest.
“This is a very rural area, so many of these homes may not be part of a neighborhood per say, so that adds some challenges on top of communications issues that we’re experiencing and just navigating some of these communities that have roadways that are washed out due to mudslides,” said Jonathan McNamara with the Red Cross of Virginia.
Governor Glenn Youngkin made stops in those communities. His team announced Sunday that the governor’s request for assistance from FEMA was approved.
Meanwhile, crews with the Red Cross of Virginia are on the ground helping those residents in whatever way they can.
“Supporting emergency shelters, going into areas to speak with families to understand what damage they have experienced and get a sense for what resources from not only the red cross, but those other relief agencies can be put to bare to help them recover,” McNamara said.
Despite the destruction here at home, Virginians are still assisting people in other states.
Dumschat and dozens of other Red Cross volunteers loaded trucks with food, water and clean up kits in Florida.
“I have a line of ERVs [emergency response vehicles] waiting to come in and as they come in they are getting loaded up by our volunteers and then they’re going out to the communities to drop off those much needed supplies,” Dumschat said.
The Red Cross is seeking help from the public. They’re in need of donations, volunteers and blood.
“There’s dozens of blood drives cancelled up and down the east coast. We feel that here in Richmond, but we feel that exponentially greater in those communities that have been impacted. You want to make sure we don’t a second crisis on our hand,” McNamara said.
Click here if you’re interested in helping the Red Cross of Virginia.
Copyright 2024 WWBT. All rights reserved.
Virginia
Virginia jury awards $300 million to women alleging sexual abuse at children's hospital – Times of India
A Richmond jury has ruled in favour of three women who alleged they were sexually abused while patients at Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents in Virginia, awarding them a total of $300 million in damages, as per the news agency AP.
According to WTVR-TV, the jury awarded each woman $60 million in compensatory damages and $40 million in punitive damages.
The trial, held in Richmond Circuit Court, is the first in a series of lawsuits brought by 46 former patients against the hospital and Dr. Daniel Davidow, its longtime medical director. The women accused Davidow of inappropriately touching them during femoral pulse exams while under his care.
Kevin Biniazan, the lawyer representing the women, expressed the emotional significance of the verdict, stating, “To have a group of strangers look at them, listen to them, and tell them they believe them… it broke them down in tears immediately. It broke us all down in tears.”
Davidow, however, has denied all allegations. His lawyer, Bob Donnelly, claimed in court that the femoral pulse examination, a standard medical procedure from the 1960s and 1970s, was used. Donnelly stated, “Davidow firmly denies the allegations of sexual assault.”
Earlier this year, Davidow was acquitted of felony sex abuse charges involving two other former patients after a criminal trial in April. Despite his acquittal, civil lawsuits against him and the hospital continue, with the next trial scheduled for March.
The football program at Virginia has come off to a relatively good start, garnering three wins and only dropping one contest against Maryland. The cavaliers will have to rely on a number of key players to keep this success afloat.
QB Anthony Colandrea
Colandrea is no surprise here. He is the starting quarterback and the engine of this Cavalier offense. The sophomore has been clocking an encouraging upward trend in his completion percentage and touchdown numbers. His completion percentage was around 75% for the first two games of the season before a drop to 56% against Maryland. Colandrea picked it up against Coastal Carolina, clocking in at 65%. He also threw for two touchdowns against Coastal Carolina and Richmond, three against Wake Forest. but threw for zero against Maryland. He will have to make sure to limit turnovers, however, as he threw two interceptions each against Wake Forest and Maryland. Colandrea’s ability to protect the ball on offense and continue to improve will determine the future of the Cavalier football season.
WR Malachi Fields
Malachi Fields has been the leader on the receiving front for Virginia. He collected two touchdowns against Coastal Carolina and had 100+ receiving yards versus Richmond and Wake Forest. The 6’4 Charlottesville native seems to be picking up steam, which could be invaluable for the Cavaliers if he can keep it up. Fields must stay cool under pressure as he will continue to draw the top cover-guys from ACC squads and be tested in the latter part of the schedule.
RB Xavier Brown
Xavier Brown had a killer performance against Coast Carolina. He rushed for 171 yards with his longest run going for 75 yards . This was the definition of a breakout game, as he had not recorded over 100 rushing yards in a single game in his career. This showing may be enough to make him the starter at running back. Can he continue to put together strong rushing numbers as the season progresses? His ability to do so would be invaluable to the Cavaliers.
TE Tyler Neville
Tyler Neville represents a new age for Virginia. He notably collected two touchdowns against Wake Forest. The Cavaliers have not utilized tight ends in the passing game often since Jelani Woods in 2021. He racked up 57 receiving yards against Maryland as well but only had 31 receiving yards against Coastal Carolina. His performance against Wake Forest is certainly an indicator of the great potential Neville holds. If the Cavaliers can find a consistent place for Neville in their passing game, they will find themselves with a sneaky weapon to utilize.
Safeties Jonas Sanker and Antonio Clary
Jonas Sanker and Antonio Clary are important as duo and leaders of the defense. There’s an argument to be made that these two make up one of the best, if not the best, safety tandem in the ACC currently. These two need to chase the ball and force takeaways, however. Clary recorded an interception against Coastal Carolina, the first of the season for the UVA defense. Sanker and Clary have made over 70 tackles between the two of them. Their ability to cause turnovers and make interceptions will give Virginia the turning-point advantage that they really need.
LB Kam Robinson
Kam Robinson was a notable absence in the Hoos’ only loss of the season versus Maryland. The defeat was not exactly a defensive issue, but Robinson would certainly have been able to provide a greater chance of victory. The linebacker has made 15 tackles in 3 games, including a sack against Wake Forest. His potential is high and his true impact has not been fully revealed as of yet.
DE Kam Butler
Kam Butler is a player that could be invaluable to the Hoos if he rises to the occasion. The remarkable seventh-year player has the opportunity to put pressure on opposing QBs, which will give the team a much needed boost in the pass-rushing department for the next stretch of the season. So far, he has made 15 tackles with one sack at Coastal Carolina. He’ll have to utilize his experience and game-sense in order to fuel an effective pass rush for the Cavalier for the rest of the season.
Bonus: Grady Brosterhous
We have to give a shoutout to the leader of the Grady Bunch. The junior quarterback is something of a QB sneak specialist. He has recorded just 10 yards over the whole season, but these have led to three touchdowns. If Brosterhous can be a consistent goal line playmaker for the Cavaliers this will prove to be a valuable tool on 4th and short situations.
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