For almost four decades, Paulette Walker Johnson has been a defining force in HBCU cheerleading and an esteemed figure at Virginia State University.

When Monica Manns first learned about SisterFund, a local Black philanthropic organization, she was a nonprofit professional seeking funding rather than providing it.

Growing up in Blackwell on South Side, Anthony Clary rarely saw Black people running or exercising. Now, as founder of WeOffTheCouch, he’s working to change that reality.

With a passion for youth development and a love for the arts, Tanesha Powell has stepped into the role of executive director at ART 180, the Richmond nonprofit that has empowered young creators for nearly 30 years.

Before his role in “Amistad,” the 1997 film about a 19th-century revolt by enslaved Africans on a Spanish ship, Djimon Hounsou, a native of Benin in West Africa, had limited knowledge of slavery — including his own country’s involvement. This …

From the age of 4, visiting her cancer-stricken mother in the hospital, to becoming a caregiver and later facing her own cancer diagnosis, Kristin Harris’ life has been woven with the pink ribbons of breast cancer.

Spotlight on the new executive director at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies

Spotlight on lead organizer at the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison

Spotlight on the board chair for the Amandla Fund for Economic & Racial Justice

Spotlight on the president of the board of The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond

Spotlight on the founder of Nolef Turns Inc.

Kevin Smith’s career experience guiding organizational growth informs his work on the board of NextUp RVA, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to out-of-school time programs. He also serves as the organization’s finance chair, helping to safeguard its financial health.

Growing up in Richmond felt magical for Lexi Cleveland, surrounded by a tight-knit extended family and the city’s deep historical roots. She remembers a childhood shaped by the presence of her great-grandmother and all of her grandparents, who shared stories …

Atul Patel, a founding member of Richmond’s Heartfulness Institute, has become a steady and uplifting presence in the community — balancing a long career at Dominion Energy with a deep commitment to meditation, mindfulness and inner peace.

Anissa Turner-Randolph first discovered BLK RVA while scrolling through Instagram. After learning about the organization’s mission at the Second Street Festival, she began following its account. So when a call for advisory committee members appeared in her feed, she didn’t …