A hug to last through summer // Richmond’s J.E.B. Stewart Elementary School Principal Jennifer Moore gives kindergartners a big group hug last Friday, the last day of school. She reminded students to keep in mind her motto during the summer break: “Read, read, read.” During the summer, many students forget some of what they have learned during the school year. Called the “summer slide,” research indicates that reading just six books during the summer can help prevent loss of progress in reading.

Jason Marshall, 9, receives a carton of milk and a boxed lunch from Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham on Monday at the launch of the “No Kid Hungry Virginia” summer meals program. Location: The city’s new Southside Community Center at 6255 Old Warwick Road. Other officials serving meals include, from left: Richmond City Councilman Michael J. Jones, Mayor Levar M. Stoney, Virginia’s First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe and Richmond Delegate Betsy B. Carr. Anyone 18 and under is eligible for free breakfast and lunch through the U.S. Department of Agriculture-supported program without application or registration. Meals are available at 84 sites in Richmond, ranging from city recreation centers, schools and public housing offices to churches and day care centers. The goal is to ensure children receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. In past years, only 35 percent of city youths who receive free meals at school took advantage of the summer program. Mobile phones are making it simpler to find locations. Text the word FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 and then enter a ZIP code to get information on nearby sites and times of service. Locations also are listed at www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks.

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press Spiritual practice Veteran Virginia State University art educator and artist Eugene R. Vango of Petersburg demonstrates the basics of portrait still life painting with Footlights, a spiritually based program for women military veterans from Richmond’s Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center. They are, from left, Renette Rawlings, Kimberly Winn, Felicia Moore, Cheryl Moses and Dianne Butts. Led by chaplain Brenda Phillips, the vets were investigating painting as a spiritual practice during a field trip with Mr. Vango at the L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource Center at Virginia Union University. It was the culminating activity of Footlights’ 10-week session. Another session begins Sept. 14.

Magnolia blossom in North Side

Honoring the ancestors // Janine Bell of the Elegba Folklore Society and organizer of Richmond’s annual Juneteenth celebration leads the ceremony honoring African ancestors last Sunday at the African Burial Ground in Shockoe Bottom. More than 50 people attended the final event of “Juneteenth 2017, A Freedom Celebration.” The three-day event included a talk by noted cultural historian and Egyptologist Anthony T. Browder last Friday and a Backyard Party at Manchester Dock last Saturday, with panel discussions aimed at young people to learn the history of enslaved people in America and the “prequel” in Africa with thousands of years of history and culture.

Like a fish // Kole Macklin, 11, a member of the Hotchkiss Community Center Swim Team, works on his breaststroke at the center’s pool at 701 E. Brookland Park Blvd. Cloudy weather couldn’t keep the youngster away from the water last Saturday, when the city’s public pools opened for the season. The Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities operates nine pools, which offer lessons, family and adults-only swim time, as well as open swimming. Details: www.richmondgov.com (go to Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities page) or (804) 646-5733.

Diversity in fashion // Former fashion model Bethann Hardison, founder of Diversity Coalition to end racism on the runway, talks about diversity in the fashion industry during a conversation with Richmond historian Dr. Lauranett Lee on June 15 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Ms. Hardison also talked about the role of designer Yves Saint Laurent in bringing awareness of the representation of people of color to the industry. The program was inspired by the museum’s exhibition, “Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style,” which continues through Aug. 27.

Relax, relate, release // Hundreds of people relax their minds and their bodies during the inaugural Peace Love RVA Yoga Festival last Saturday on Brown’s Island on the riverfront in Downtown. The grassroots festival, started by two Richmond friends, offered a day of music, food and free yoga classes led by some of the area’s top instructors for people at all levels. Bottom photo, Yogi Jonathan Miles starts his class with meditation

Another group goes into the downward-facing dog pose, while another class,

Stretches while seated.