Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.

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Goodwill launches online career development platform

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has launched a new online career development platform that offers free training and community resources.

My Career Advisor provides access to a resume and cover letter builder with resume feedback, certification-backed computer training for Microsoft programs, skills training courses and local job postings and more.

Anyone can sign up to use My Career Advisor at www.mycareeradvisor.com.

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Pride Week celebration will include screenings of documentary about 1980s lesbian community in Roanoke

The documentary film “The Unlikely Story of the Lesbians of First Friday” will be shown in Roanoke and Blacksburg next week as part of Virginia Tech’s Pride Week celebration.

The film presents a group called First Friday that was created by a group of lesbians — many of them Virginia Tech alumni — who lived in Roanoke in the 1980s, according to a news release about the documentary. The group put on events including house parties and theater productions and developed a community around its work.

The film will be shown at 7 p.m. April 6 at the Grandin Theater in Roanoke and at 5:30 p.m. April 7 at Virginia Tech’s Newman Library. The Blacksburg showing is free.

Producer Kathryn Beranich and associate producer Nancy Kelly and other Virginia Tech alumni and organizers of First Friday of Roanoke will attend both showings and will participate in question-and-answer sessions following the film.

Watch the film’s trailer here.

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Forest Service seeks 2023 project proposals for Alleghany, Bath, Bland and Smyth counties

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, on behalf of the Virginia Resource Advisory Committee, is accepting proposals for projects that benefit natural resources in Alleghany, Bath, Bland and Smyth counties.

The Virginia RAC will have approximately $89,500 to recommend for projects made available through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Title II Program.

The Virginia RAC works closely with the USDA Forest Service to recommend projects that will benefit forest health, fish, wildlife, soils, watersheds and other resources; maintain roads, trails and other infrastructure; or control noxious weeds.

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest will accept proposals through May 15. Projects must be located on National Forest System land or on other nearby property if the project will benefit resources on Forest Service land. Projects can be completed by Forest Service personnel, through partnership agreements or by open-bid contracting with individuals and corporations.

The proposal application and process guidance is available on the VA RAC webpage. Completed project proposals should be submitted to the public affairs office at SM.FS.GWJNF-PA@usda.gov. For general questions about the application process, email Jennifer Hummel at jennifer.hummel@usda.gov.

The Virginia RAC will begin reviewing projects for possible funding in July.

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