Story
Area events to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luher King Jr.
The life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the “Drum Major for Justice,” will be celebrated across the Metro Richmond area. While the national holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader is Monday, Jan. 20, area events will be held on several days surrounding the official holiday.
Story
Personality: Bernice E. Travers
Spotlight on president of Richmond Crusade for Voters
When Bernice E. Travers joined the Richmond Crusade for Voters in 1977, the election of a majority African-American Richmond City Council disrupted a centuries old, white-majority power structure.
Story
Personality: Shelia S. Fitzgerald
Spotlight on board president of Big Brothers Big Sisters
Shelia Scott Fitzgerald is president of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters, which serves Greater Richmond, the Tri-Cities, the Peninsula and Hampton Roads. The Richmond native became involved with BBBS nine years ago because its mission resonated with her.
Story
One woman's crusade brings attention to long-forgotten black cemetery
A long closed mechanic’s shop sits on a hilltop at 5th and Hospital streets north of Downtown — just a stone’s thrown from the handsome, historic and well-tended private Hebrew and public Shockoe Hill cemeteries.
Story
Personality: Angela Cimmino
Spotlight on board president of Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond
Angela Cimmino found out three days after her son’s birth that he had Down syndrome. “We were a bit shell-shocked,” she recalls.
Story
Judge Damon J. Keith, civil rights and judicial icon, dies at 96
U.S. Appeals Court Judge Damon J. Keith, who decided many of the nation’s most important school desegregation, employment discrimination and government surveillance cases during his more than 50 years on the federal bench, died Sunday, April 28, 2019, at his home in Detroit surrounded by family.
Story
Personality: Stacey Squire
Spotlight on founder and president of Christina’s Love Foundation
Stacey Squire, founder and president of Christina’s Love Foundation, is dedicated to the simple mission of getting help to all victims of domestic violence who are in need.
Story
Personality: Sarah Brockwell
Spotlight on board president for Housing Families First
“Every family is precious. They should be nurtured and supported. We address not only homelessness but address the family holistically.”
Story
Personality: Wendi White
Spotlight on co-chair of AKA’s ‘Sauté & Sizzle: Richmond Men Are Cooking’ fundraiser
Wendi White wears many different hats.
Story
Personality: Free F. Egunfemi
Spotlight on founder of Untold RVA
Free Folasade Egunfemi is seeking to spread history throughout the Richmond community like seeds in a garden. Born in Englewood, N.J., and raised in Richmond, Ms. Egunfemi wants to offer residents, newcomers and tourists an opportunity to educate themselves about people and places of impact from bygone eras.
Story
Personality: Dr. Luisa A. Igloria
It was in early May when Dr. Luisa A. Igloria learned she was on the short list for consideration to be named poet laureate of Virginia.
Story
Personality: Dr. Kristin E. Reed
Spotlight on chair of the interim governing board of Richmond For All
The first week under Virginia’s stay-at-home order was a time of preparation and isolation for many Richmond residents. For Dr. Kristin E. Reed, it was made up of efforts to educate the public, ensure political transparency and accessibility and build a fairer, more equitable Richmond – and she wasn’t alone in that work.
Story
Personality: Lynda Sharp Anderson
Spotlight on the president and CEO of The DBALSA Foundation
Three decades ago, when Lynda Sharp went to a magazine marketing event with friends, she didn’t know the young man named Dolson Barnett Anderson Jr. who was there with friends of his own. They both volunteered to help the magazine, became better acquainted and later became a married couple. The rest, Mrs. Anderson said, is history.
Story
Personality: Deborah D. Jackson
Spotlight on treasurer of Sisters Network Central Virginia
In 2008, Deborah D. Jackson was part of a door-to-door campaign to help educate women in the city’s underserved neighborhoods about breast health. That was part of the annual Gift for Life Block Walk conducted by the Sisters Network Central Virginia, a breast cancer survivorship organization of African-American women.
Story
Personality: Dr. Audra Yuki-Wright Jones
Spotlight on board president of the Virginia Dental Association Foundation
Dr. Audra Yuki-Wright Jones is helping put a bright smile on the faces of Virginians.
Story
Personality: Beatrice Squire
Spotlight on Virginia State Association of Parliamentarians president
As a retired federal worker, Beatrice Squire currently volunteers for several organizations in which a guiding hand is needed to handle deliberations for assemblies throughout the state.
Story
Personality: John S. ‘Johnny’ Newman Jr.
Spotlight on recipient of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s Elder Watson Diggs Award
A storied pro basketball career, educational and entrepreneurial success and helping to better the lives of African-American youths.
Story
Love Stories 2022
The Richmond Free Press proudly presents its annual Valentine’s Day feature sharing the love stories of four Richmond area couples.
From blind date to years of wedded bliss...
Story
Personality: Charlene J. Whitfield
Spotlight on Greater Richmond Partnership board chair
In 2017 Charlene Whitfield became part of a group that brings business to the Richmond area in an effort to ensure economic opportunity for workers. Ms. Whitfield, who then was employed at Dominion Energy, was selected to represent the company at the Greater Richmond Partnership, which provides resources for new businesses in the region, creates quality jobs and increases the tax base for community services.
Story
Personality: Alexander L. Taylor Jr.
Spotlight on Military Retirees Club fundraising chair
In 2022, retired Army Col. Alexander L. Taylor Jr. committed himself to a different kind of military service. A trial attorney, Mr. Taylor joined Richmond’s Military Retirees Club during its 50th anniversary celebration in June.
