Today is Sunday January 28th – the 28th day of the year with 338 remain in the leap year of 2024.

On Jan. 28, 1986, those of us old enough to remember will never forget the space shuttle Challenger – exploding 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all seven crew members, including schoolteacher and educator Christa McAuliffe, and shuttle pilot Michael Smith, who grew up in Beaufort, North Carolina!

Three conversations on Today’s talkback.  The first is with Collyn Strother, the locally appointed Curator of the contemporary art exhibit selected for Black History Month.  The exhibit, free during regular gallery hours, debuted this past Friday and will remain on display through Saturday, March 2nd!

Interview #1 Collyn Strother

For more information about the “Our People” Black History Month exhibit, see “TheArtsCouncil.com”  or “Arts Council of Fayetteville” on Facebook.

As a community helper, The Salvation Army has proven its willingness to step up to help area families at times of crisis.  Since the pandemic year of 2020, however, it has been harder for the Salvation Army to raise the money it needs to function as a provider of the services for which Fayetteville and the Sandhills Region has come to depend…As the Salvation Army asks for your financial help now, please listen to our conversation with Salvation Army Major Tim Grider!

Interview #2 Major Tim Grider

Thank you Major Tim Grider.  Please help the Salvation Army now. Search “Salvation Army Sandhills”, log in, look to the upper right  and press the red button that says “Donate”.  Public donations like your are so important!  Thanks in advance for your generosity!

In the U.S,, it’s been estimated by the Center of Disease Control that 1 in 36 children born in this country are on the autism spectrum…with at least some challenges in learning, communication and fitting in!  Our third guest today, Kyle Johnson, is one whose been affected by autism…but has also found a useful place in our community – succeeding in school, even graduating from college at Methodist University and is determined to help others by showing his path and lending hope to the prospects of all!  He’s planning an awareness event in April in Fayetteville.  And has even selected a beneficiary  for his event – The School of Hope at 111 Burns St. in Fayetteville.  It’s founder, Amy Sparks, has declared it’s mission…which aligns with how Kyle Johnson approaches his vision of a perfect world:  …to provide a Holistic, Opportunistic, Positive Education to students with autism in a nurturing environment leading to a positive and productive future for our students and their families.

Interview #3 Kyle Johnson

A last reminder to reserve a portion of 11am to 5pm on Saturday, April 20th for Kyle’s Autism Awareness and Hope event ifo Dick’s House of Sports in the Town Center Shopping complex at Cliffdale Rd. near Skibo!  It’ll be important for any family that wants to learn more about the hope for families touched by autism!  Its fundraising beneficiary is the remarkable Fayetteville School of Hope at 111 Burns Street.  Put it on your calendar.