Story
Personality: Antonio ‘Toby’ Mendez
Spotlight on sculptor of the Maggie L. Walker statue
Antonio “Toby” Mendez did not know much about Maggie L. Walker when he first began working on the statue that now stands at Adams and Broad streets in Downtown Richmond. But as the process of making the statue progressed, he learned more about her life and works.
Story
Personality: Meldon Jenkins-Jones
Spotlight on founder of Black Male Emergent Readers Program
Meldon Deloris Jenkins-Jones has witnessed the difficulties some African-American children have learning to read. She explains how she watched her grandson struggle “despite the fact that his parents and I are educated. I wondered who would help children learn to read if they did not have a strong family background,” she recalls thinking. The Richmond resident, who is a law librarian for the Richmond Public Law Library in Downtown, says she began researching the subject and came across the work of Dr. Alfred Tatum, a reading specialist at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
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
Personality: Kevin Watson
“A lot of high school and college athletes see themselves as the next LeBron James-level professional athlete. But many falling short of that dream have to learn who they are and their skills and passions.”
Story
Personality: Hassan Fountain Sr.
Spotlight on founder of Fountain for Youth Foundation
Hassan Fountain Sr. has a vision of placing children’s libraries in every subsidized housing community across Virginia, especially in Richmond, to increase literacy and help youths see a brighter future.
Photo
Me and my shadow-Daphne Lions, 6, mirrors dance techniques taught last Saturday by her instructor, Cynthia Thomas Rustin, owner and operator of World Fitness Dance …
Published on May 13, 2021
Photo
“Wakanda Weekend” organizers include, from left, standing: Left to right, Connie McGowan, owner/ photographer, House of Photography by Connie & Co.; Toni Blue Washington, owner, …
Published on November 10, 2022
Story
Personality: E. Martin ‘Marty’ Jewell
Spotlight on board chairman of Cannabis Equity Coalition of Virginia
In a time of growing econom- ic instability for marginalized communities, E. Martin “Mar- ty” Jewell sees an opportunity in a new industry for Virginia’s minority population and he is determined to seize it.
Story
Personality: Sean David O’Brien
Spotlight on ART 180’s board president
Sean David O’Brien loved Richmond from the time he came to the city as a University of Richmond undergraduate student.
Story
Personality: Clary W. Carleton
Spotlight on Richmond’s 2017 Teacher of the Year
Clary W. Carleton, Richmond Public Schools 2017 Teacher of the Year, could be a prototype for encouraging students to use their spirit of protest productively.
Story
Personality: Christopher Tate Gabbert
Spotlight on Richmond Public Schools’ highest achieving student
Chris Gabbert doesn’t consider himself a bookworm. “I need to read more on my own,” explains Chris, an 18-year-old senior at Richmond Community High School. But Chris has been hitting the books — and hard.
Story
Personality: Michelle Evans-Oliver
Spotlight on AARP Virginia’s 2018 Rookie of the Year Award winner
“I was shocked. I was humbled. I said, ‘Wow! I didn’t think I had done anything out of the ordinary.” That was the reaction of Michelle Evans-Oliver, a volunteer AARP community ambassador, when she learned she had been selected as AARP Virginia’s 2018 Rookie of the Year.
Story
Personality: LaFarn L. Burton
Spotlight on president of nonprofit LB Beauty Education Foundation
If you want to make the beauty industry your livelihood, you want to be the best there is.
Story
Richmond, not Petersburg, should have new ONE Casino + Resort
My family has built a successful multimillion-dollar business empire over 70 years, starting in 1963 with Jet Bargain Stores (six locations), Hawk’s BBQ & Seafood (five locations), Indian Head Hair Grease 1965, Mascot Gas & Oil (six locations) and Crawley’s Nursing Home and Crawley’s Funeral Home. In my business and professional opinion, I was impressed after reading the proposal for ONE Casino + Resort.
Story
Singer Bobby Brown’s son found dead at L.A. home
Bobby Brown Jr., the son of singer Bobby Brown, was found dead at a Los Angeles home Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. He was 28.
Story
Gun violence and the disease behind it, by Ben Jealous
We’ve had more mass shootings this year than we’ve had days this year.
Story
Conversations to repurpose the old Richmond Community Hospital building ‘did not bear fruit’
My name is Mary DePillars and I am an alumna of Virginia Union University concerned about recent comments attributed to VUU personnel regarding the old Richmond Community Hospital building. I shared my Feb, 15, 2024, letter to the Richmond Free Press with VUU’s alumni relations manager that same day. However, for context, I am expanding those comments as follows:
Story
Personality: Harold S. Lilly Sr.
Spotlight on Richmond music great to be honored
Harold S. Lilly Sr. has stirred Richmond audiences with his organ playing for more than six decades. His ability to flawlessly execute the most difficult of sacred, secular, traditional and contemporary gospel music on the pipe and Hammond organs wows listeners.
Story
Personality: Julian M. Day
Spotlight on 2021 Henrico County Firefighter of the Year
After nearly a decade of service in multiple localities, Julian M. Day received a new kind of spotlight last month.
Story
Personality: Tracey Hardney-Scott
Spotlight on board chair of Help Me Help You Foundation
Tracey Hardney-Scott is a tireless force for underserved Virginians, the result of her many years of advocacy work with several organizations.
