Increase financial access
Our nation has made great progress in the advancement of minorities. However, the current election cycle serves as a reminder of how far we have to go. National, state and local political races are prompting many to ask the simple question, “Will our next elected officials create more opportunity for Richmond’s African-American community or stifle the progress that already has been made?”
Black-on-black and white-on-white crime facts
I have written about Bill O’Reilly, aka “Bill O’Racist,” and his proclivity to distort the facts when discussing African-Americans. Well, he’s at it again.
Drinking the water
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder should feel like he is in the eye of the storm — and in the crosshairs of state and federal investigators — when it comes to the appalling ongoing crisis of poisoned water in Flint. Last week, the myopic governor had the nerve to tell Flint residents that they should use more filtered water from Flint’s public tap and less bottled water.
How much is enough?
We continue to watch with great concern as the intense and sometimes emotional debate over school funding continues in Richmond.
Festivals, cleanups mark local Earth Day celebrations
There’s just one international Earth Day, but Richmond area residents will have the opportunity this weekend to attend festivals on both sides of the James River. Both events are scheduled to take place Saturday, April 23.
Mother of shooting victim to discuss documentary on teen son’s death
The case became a national sensation — an angry white man shooting into a car with four unarmed black teenagers for playing their music too loud. One teen was killed.
Holistic expo to be held May 7 at Richmond Raceway Complex
Five-time cancer survivor and Richmond resident Steven Wentworth is bringing the Greater Richmond Holistic Expo to the Richmond Raceway Complex in Henrico County.
Black social workers group hosts symposium April 22
The Richmond Association of Black Social Workers will present its spring 2016 education symposium, “I Am My People’s Keeper: Progressive Strategies in Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline,” from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 22, at Sixth Baptist Church, 400 S. Addison St.
Va. People’s Assembly set for Saturday
Jobs, criminal justice reform, a living wage, LGBT rights and other issues will be the focus of the 8th Annual Virginia People’s Assembly that will convene this weekend at a Richmond church, it has been announced.
Author, poet to speak April 29 at Main Library Downtown
New York Times bestselling author and poet Nikki Grimes will speak 6 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St. in Downtown.
Richmond Jazz Society presents Kia Bennett in concert May 10
Richmond soul and jazz singer and songwriter Kia Bennett will make her hometown debut in a 7 p.m. concert Tuesday, May 10, at Capital Ale House Downtown, 623 E. Main St.
WNBA overlooks VUU champ
Virginia Union University’s Kiana Johnson impressed just about everyone during basketball season — everyone, that is, but the WNBA scouts.
English, Johnson grab attention at Portsmouth Invitational Tourney
Before Dennis Rodman became a household name among basketball fans, he was a relative unknown at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Former Martinsville 7-foot-1 giant may be top pick for NBA draft
It appears Thon Maker will be playing in the NBA sooner rather than later. The 7-foot-1 native of South Sudan has been cleared for the June NBA draft, where he is a possible lottery pick. Maker and his advisers discovered a possible loophole in NBA rules allowing him to sidestep the “one and done” college process that most elite prospects have gone through. To be eligible for the NBA draft, a player must be at least 19 and one year removed from high school. Maker, having turned 19 in February, qualifies on both counts, although he is essentially still in high school in Ontario, Canada.
Tubby Smith hired to coach at Memphis
Tubby Smith, whose coaching roots can be traced to Virginia Commonwealth University, is on pace to become the most successful African-American basketball coach in NCAA Division I annals. Smith, 64, was hired last week at the University of Memphis after spending the past three years at Texas Tech University. In coaching stops at Tulsa (1991-95), Georgia (1995-97), Kentucky (1998-2007), Minnesota (2007-13) and Texas Tech, he has amassed a record of 557-276 (67 percent).
Answer to church feeding program’s prayers was down the street
When leaders at Centenary United Methodist Church in Downtown were searching for a temporary site for their Friday feeding program for the homeless and working poor, little did they know the answer to their prayers was only a few yards away.
Westwood Baptist, other groups host park cleanup
The Enrichmond Foundation is partnering with a historic West End church, a community bank and the City of Richmond to organize the cleanup of a park they call a “hidden gem” in the West End.
Stop the Violence Parade coming to Mosby Court
The Ephesus Pathfinder Club at Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Side is organizing the first Richmond Stop the Violence Parade, it has announced.
Harlem churches see gospel tourist boom
The stern warning issued from the pulpit was directed at the tourists — most of whom had arrived late — a sea of white faces with guidebooks in hand. They outnumbered the congregation itself: A handful of elderly black men and women wearing suits and dresses and old-fashioned pillbox hats.
Funeral Monday for Wendell F. Davis
Wendell F. Davis traveled by bicycle and GRTC bus from his North Side residence to Western Henrico County on Thursday, April 14, to visit his daughter, stepdaughter and the love of his life, his 2-year-old granddaughter, Caleá.
