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Personality: Lamar Antoine Greene
Spotlight on Richmond Public Schools’ highest achieving student
Lamar Antoine Greene draws his inspiration to be a classroom standout from his mother, Kimberly Greene, who is a dental assistant. “I am motivated to study because I have seen how hard my mother works to provide for me and it has made me so humble and independent,” he says. “I want to make a decent living for myself while utilizing my skills and talents to help others.” The goal-driven young man says he set his focus on being the top student in his class academically at Richmond Community High School on North Side “since my freshman year.”
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Personality: DaNika Neblett Robinson
Spotlight on the board chair of the James River Writers
In 2015, DaNika Neblett Robinson found a new path to literary success. At the suggestion of her writing mentor, Stacy Hawkins Adams, she attended the annual James River Writers conference, in hopes of finding the inspiration she needed for her work.
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Giancarlo Esposito always had leading man credentials, ‘Parish’ just makes it official
Giancarlo Esposito has long been lauded as a charismatic, scene-stealing thespian and commander of roles who’s worthy of leading man stature. But it might be surprising that for first the time, it’s actually official.
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Personality: Tiffany S. Mickel
Spotlight on first African-American editor-in-chief of the Virginia Law Review
Tiffany S. Mickel is blazing new paths as the first African-American editor-in-chief of the Virginia Law Review, and she hopes to ensure an accessible, equitable and informative resource for others.
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Cherished Holiday Memories 2021
Holiday memories are created by family — whether it is the family we’re born into or the family we create through church, work or social interactions.
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Celebrating Indigenous People
Dr. Walter Plecker, a physician, was the first registrar of Virginia’s Bureau of Vital Statistics, serving from 1912 to 1946. As a leader of the Anglo-Saxon Clubs of America, a white supremacist organization founded in Richmond, Dr. Plecker was a staunch promoter of eugenics. He commissioned Virginia’s “Act to Preserve Integrity” (1924 to 1967), which separated Virginia’s citizens into two simplified racial categories: White and Colored.
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Personality: Dr. Rodney P. Gaines
Most college professors start their spring semesters re-energized from the holiday break with memories of family gatherings and stories of whirlwind vacations. Dr. Rodney Perry Gaines is heading back to Hampton University with something quite unique under his belt: The titles of Mr. Universe won in December during the American Natural Bodybuilding Federation’s Natural Universe Championship in Key West, Fla.
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Supermodel Naomi Campbell becomes mother at 50
Supermodel Naomi Campbell has become the mother of a baby girl.
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Personality: Allen S. Lee
Spotlight on winner of LEO Award for lifetime achievement in IT
“I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it,” Allen S. Lee, a professor of information systems at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business, says was his reaction to learning he was the recipient of the LEO Award for Lifetime Exceptional Achievement in Information Systems.
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The DNA of a Black woman, by Chuck Richardson
There is something magical about a fearless, intelligent, incorruptible Black woman — a woman willing to sacrifice and face any obstacle she must for a greater cause than herself. Black women have been, and continue to be, the crucible of fortitude. Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, Fannie Lou Hamer and thousands of others have been the bedrock of African-American progress.
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Personality: Ricky Martin
Spotlight on Fit2Give founder’s goal to reduce health risks in underserved areas
With COVID-19 resulting in more sedentary lifestyles for many Richmond area residents, Fit2Give founder Ricky Martin believes that his nonprofit organization can help offset some of the health disparities likely to have increased in underserved communities during the ongoing pandemic.
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Act to fix broken immigration system
Thank you for your coverage of the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. I was particularly moved by the inclusive nature of the inauguration and the immediate steps to make sure our government values all members of our community.
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Unveil the camouflage to combat bullying
Bullying is plantational authoritarianism. Someone posted on social media an adolescent male sobbing because of bullying incidents. Bullies are not those actually committing the conflicts, but those who have the authority to resolve the discords and don’t — or won’t — because of the camaraderie affiliation, causing continuing hostilities.
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Personality: Robert Dunham
Spotlight on Richmond teacher and founder of ‘Be the Change RVA’
Robert Dunham proves that when it comes to teachers, he’s a cut above the rest.
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Personality: Tani Washington
After four years of researching, writing and making oral presentations in high school forensics and debate competitions, Tani Washington has made history.
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Personality: Amia Aaryn Graham
Amia A. Graham, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, has the distinction of graduating as the top student in Richmond Public Schools with a 4.9677 GPA.
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HBCUs have long had a major impact
Letters to the editor
Historically Black Colleges and Universities have impacted my life and who I am and created so many defining moments for me that I have lost count. I laud them because they deserve it.
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A note from Mother Nature
It’s me, Mother Nature. Sorry about all of my nasty weather. I know it really interferes with your human lives here on planet Earth. But it’s your fault that you have this climate change.
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Thomas Jefferson High School valedictorian Amia Graham, who graduated with a 4.9677 GPA, poses outside her home for a Free Press series of “Front Porch …
Published on January 7, 2021
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Personality: Teresa Cole
Spotlight on Fonticello Park Friends board president
As a child growing up in the 1980s, Teresa Cole was a “latchkey kid” who played outside a lot.
