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New book asks: What if Harry Potter attended an HBCU?
It all began with a post on Twitter. It was 2020 during the height of the pandemic and LaDarrion Williams was thinking about the lack of diversity in the fantasy genre. He proposed: “What if Harry Potter went to an HBCU in the South?”
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Personality: Courtland Lambert Jr.
Spotlight on Richmond's Firefighter of the Year
Courtland A. Lambert Jr. faces danger each time he suits up in firefighter gear, climbs aboard a truck at Richmond Fire Station No. 1 in Church Hill and responds to a call.
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Foremost wishes for 2016
With the start of 2016, the Free Press invited select state and city officials to share their foremost wishes for the new year. Here are their responses.
This past year has been one of great accomplishments for our city. We successfully hosted the World Championships of cycling and showcased our city around the world like never before. We completed a deal that makes us the new East Coast home of Stone Brewing Co., the ninth-largest craft brewery in the country, bringing development and jobs to a long-neglected part of town. We are moving forward with establishing an expanded public transportation system with Bus Rapid Transit and we’ve secured Richmond’s place as an inland branch of the Port of Hampton Roads, to name a few achievements.
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Personality: Lakeshia X. Allen
Spotlight on winner of Sports Backers’ first Raymond D. Patterson Award
Empowering students and their families is more than a job for Lakeshia Allen — it’s a life mission.
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Personality: Grindly Johnson
Spotlight on Women Who Move the Nation Award winner
Grindly Johnson is on a mission to increase business and job opportunities for women in the transportation industry. “Women need to be involved in transportation because we are talented and make exceptional leaders,” says Ms. Johnson, who is Virginia’s deputy secretary of transportation.
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Personality: Carolyn Tibbs Hemphill
Spotlight on founder of the Hanover County Black Heritage Society
Black history runs deep in Hanover County, and Carolyn Tibbs Hemphill is on a mission to find it, preserve it and let the world know about it.
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Personality: Amanda Loraine Lynch
Spotlight on board president of Brown Ballerinas for Change
Amanda Loraine Lynch is helping bring change to the stage and the streets through ballet.
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Personality: Lindsey N. Shavers
Spotlight on Jack and Jill Mid-Atlantic Teen President
It’s hard to believe Lindsey N. Shavers finds enough hours in the day to fulfill all her leadership responsibilities. The senior in Henrico High School’s International Baccalaureate program was a human dynamo this summer, wearing many leadership hats.
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Personality: Doris Henderson Causey
Spotlight on the Virginia State Bar’s first African-American president
When Doris Causey was given a class assignment in third grade to create a collage about what she wanted to be when she grew up, her creation pictured the grownup her as a lawyer.
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Personality: Anne Moss Rogers
Spotlight on recipient of 2019 Pat Asch Fellowship for Social Justice
Anne Moss Rogers wants to foster a “culture of connection” to help prevent suicide. Being selected as the 2019 recipient of the YWCA’s Pat Asch Fellowship for Social Justice will help her achieve that goal.
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Personality: Scottessa A. Hurte
Spotlight on Metropolitan Business League board chair
Scottessa A. Hurte has been a source of aid and guidance for Virginia’s small, women and minority-owned businesses during years of struggle.
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Personality: Omari Kijana Al-Qadaffi
Spotlight on recipient of Housing and Racial Justice Commendation from the National Housing Law Project
During a time where millions of people remain at risk of eviction in a pandemic, in a city that gained notice nationally for the second highest eviction rate in the country before COVID-19, Omari Kijana Al-Qadaffi has been a constant presence as a community organizer and housing advocate.
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Personality: Brian Bell
Spotlight on Keep Virginia Cozy founder
Picking up trash and litter while hiking and backpacking trails throughout the United States may sound like a strange hobby. But Brian Bell said he has always felt compelled to do it from the time he was a Boy Scout.
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Personality: Meredith Hertzler
Spotlight on He She Ze and We board president
In 2016, family led Meredith Hertzler to reach out to the nonprofit He She Ze and We. She found a supportive community that she continues to rely on each day.
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Personality: Linwood ‘Shawn’ Nelson
Spotlight on board chairman of Rx Partnership
Linwood “Shawn” Nelson, a product of rural Virginia, was no stranger to poverty while growing up.
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Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon L. Taylor faces challenge by C. Owen Inge Conway
One of the standout local races is the contest for Henrico commonwealth’s attorney, where the winner is certain to be a woman.
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Personality: Wendi White
Spotlight on co-chair of AKA’s ‘Sauté & Sizzle: Richmond Men Are Cooking’ fundraiser
Wendi White wears many different hats.
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Personality: Kristin DuMont
Spotlight on co-leader of Richmond Moms Demand Action
Kristin DuMont became involved with Richmond Moms Demand Action, a local volunteer group committed to ending gun violence in the community, in 2017. She says the work of reaching out to local and state officials did not come naturally to her.
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Personality: Tyrone E. Dickerson
Spotlight on recipient of the Ruth Coles Harris Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Award
In the world of number crunching and accounting, Tyrone E. Dickerson stands out. And he’s working to create a more equitable place for others like him.
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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.
