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Personality: John S. Finn Jr.
John Finn is the first African-American to hold the association’s top volunteer post and brings leadership diversity to an organization with a diverse membership.
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Personality: Sandee Smith
Spotlight on chair of 9th Annual Unity Ride for Sickle Cell
On a day like any other, Sandee Smith sat at her desk when her friend and soror in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority came by with news that deeply affected Ms. Smith.
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Personality: David O. Harris Jr.
Spotlight on advocate who spearheaded effort to honor Arthur Ashe Jr.
David O. Harris Jr. is the driving force behind renaming the Boulevard in Richmond for Arthur Ashe Jr., the late Richmond native who made his mark on the tennis court and on the world stage as a civil and human rights advocate and philanthropist.
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Personality: Jake Rowell
Spotlight on LiftPD’s board president
In 2020, Jake Rowell found inspiration to help an underserved part of the Richmond community.
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Personality: Kathey B. Stone
As parents around Richmond prepare for the holidays by purchasing gifts, scheduling mall visits, tapping into savings and sharing holiday cheer, Henrico County resident Kathey Bacon Stone will be in Whitehouse, Jamaica, giving the best gifts of all — time, opportunity and love.
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Personality: Daryl V. Fraser
Spotlight on president of the Richmond Association of Black Social Workers
The National Association of Black Social Workers was started 50 years ago because a group of African-American social workers didn’t feel the needs of black families were being adequately addressed by the field’s largest professional organization that was largely white.
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Gerrymandering is a ‘political fix’
Gerrymandering in Virginia has taken away any value my congressional vote may have had otherwise. This is because election districts have been redrawn by political design by one party or the other to create an overwhelming number of voters of that same party.
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Help available for stutterers
For the student who stutters, the beginning of the school year is a time fraught with anxiety and doubt.
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Coach Willard Bailey reaches mountaintop – Black College Football Hall of Fame
An old sports writer phoned Coach Willard Bailey last week to interview the winningest football coach in the CIAA about being selected for the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
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Personality: Christie W. Rasberry
Spotlight on Richmond Public Schools 2016 Teacher of the Year
Christie W. Rasberry comes from a family of educators
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Personality: James H. Lewis Jr.
Spotlight on 2014 Astorian of the Year
The Henrico County resident was recognized for his service to the community and within the 113-year-old Richmond men’s club, whose mission is to promote “higher moral, intellectual, civic and social standing.”
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Personality: Jeree M. Thomas
Spotlight on inaugural winner of the youth justice Emerging Leader Award
Jeree Thomas believes in doing whatever she can to help her clients live more successful lives. The attorney with the JustChildren program of the Legal Aid Justice Center in Richmond provides counsel for children and represents them at special education and public benefits hearings.
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Personality: Melissa Hagerman
Spotlight on volunteer Richmond chair of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s
In 2002, Melissa Hagerman found herself at a crossroads following the death of her mother, whose experience with Alzheimer’s disease, in her words, slowly took her away from her family.
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Why Morrissey has black community support
RE “Morrissey should ‘stay out of the public eye” letter to the editor, June 4-6 edition: A Richmond newcomer questioned black political support for Joe Morrissey. The gentleman asked, “Why does Joe Morrissey seem to have such support in the black community?”
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Kudos to The Comfort Movement
Re “Collecting comfort items for children separated from parents,” Free Press Nov. 22-25 edition: I saw the article posted recently about The Comfort Movement project led by the Free Press’ Cynthia Downing, who is collecting stuffed animals and donations to give to families who have a loved one who is incarcerated through the Assisting Families of Inmates program.
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Marcus Lewis of Henrico: “I would continue to give my mother the same love she has always given me. She has been there for me …
Published on May 8, 2015
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Taylor Ellis, 10, author of “Hair in My Brush” reviews a copy of her book about a young African-American girl who is diagnosed with alopecia.
Published on July 6, 2018
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Taylor Ellis, 10, author of “Hair in My Brush” reviews a copy of her book about a young African-American girl who is diagnosed with alopecia.
Published on July 9, 2018
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‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste’, by Venson Jordan
As a boy growing up Black in America, I remember that there were a few TV advertisements that spoke directly to me. The most memorable was the United Negro College Fund. The words rang in my head like the bells of truth. The heavy, articulate voice would say, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
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‘Don’t believe everything you read ... in the Richmond Free Press’
Re “Jury still out: After a year on the job, Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith has not won over many officers or residents either through style or substance,” Free Press Aug. 12-14 edition, and “Vacancies hurting Richmond’s emergency operations,” Free Press Aug. 26-28 edition:
