By Jelena Kecmanovic, Ph.D., Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute (ABTI)

We all face unprecedented uncertainty right now, with limited control over many factors influencing our business and personal lives.  Psychologically, worry and anxiety flourish during uncertain times. In an attempt to resolve the tension of not knowing, our minds get stuck in a loop of repetitive thinking, often going down the rabbit hole of worsening “what if” scenarios. This process of filling up the gaps of uncertainty with potential negative outcomes, often called “catastrophizing,” leaves us feeling anxious, unmotivated, and pessimistic.

By Mike Rosenow, Senior Membership Director, Arlington Chamber of Commerce

​One of the most overlooked, yet important aspects of membership here in the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is your business being listed on our members-only Business Directory page. Since that is a staple feature of joining the Chamber, a member might think that all they need is their basic contact information to be listed and they are done. While this is true, and the listing can contain just your address and phone number, I want to let you know about how to get the most out of your listing. 

By Eshauna Smith, Urban Alliance

Yesterday, George Floyd was laid to rest, more than two weeks after his death rocked the world. Yet the pain is still fresh. 

As a black woman and the mother of two black children, as the CEO of an organization that works to increase economic and workforce opportunity for black and brown youth – I am heartbroken for the next generation. I am angry that they are forced to grow up in a world in which the color of their skin can be a death sentence.

COVID-19’s disproportionate and devastating impact on communities of color has laid bare pre-existing racial and socio-economic disparities across the country. Today, our black and brown students are fighting on two fronts: they are fighting against the systemic racism they experience every day, while fighting for their own and their families’ health and stability in the midst of a pandemic. 

By R. Doug Taylor, Bean, Kinney, and Korman

​Virginia’s governor recently signed into law nearly two dozen bills that provide significant new rights for Virginia employees, to combat wage theft, prohibit non-compete covenants for low-wage workers, and expand the scope of the ban on workplace discrimination. Also signed into law were enhanced employee whistleblower protections against retaliation for reporting suspected violations of state law or cooperating with law enforcement.