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Playwright aims to open hearts and minds with premiere production
Brittany Fisher left her native Virginia for New York in 2021 to attend Juilliard’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program. Now graduated, she is still based in New York, but she never stays away for long. Her family won’t let her.
Virginians lend helping hand after Mississippi storms
When storms tore through Mississippi and the surrounding states of Texas and Alabama last month, the devastation made national news. At least 25 people were killed, and hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed.
Researchers uncover their tangled roots
Lemon Project symposium to help connect the past
Virginia lawyer and retired public official Viola Baskerville has been intrigued by her family’s roots for more than 35 years.
Richmond gets Sassy
Richmond’s global connections: Blending culture and fashion to fight famine, menstrual poverty
When Sassy Jones opened a flagship location in Short Pump Town Center last October, it gave the brand’s loyal online community a home they could come to and enjoy shopping the products they loved in a new way — in person.
Cicilia Koisenke visits Richmond to nurture her Maasai home
Nearly 14 years ago, Richmonder Suzanne Hall traveled to Southern Sudan as part of a St. James’s Episcopal Church medical mission to administer meningitis vaccinations to children in that region.
Art meets dance in Carpenter Theatre ballet
Expect to see art in a whole new way when the James River Valley Chapter of The Links brings Columbia City Ballet’s “Off the Wall and Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green” to Richmond’s Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center on March 10.
Proposed GreenCity arena aims to be ‘greenest in America’
GreenCity Partners and ASM Global announced on Monday an agreement to develop and operate a proposed 17,000-seat GreenCity Arena in Henrico County.
Blood drive for firefighter’s cancer fight
When Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke went for a routine visit to his primary care doctor last year, he left with a referral to see a hematologist.
Morrissey banned from Henrico jail
Henrico County Sheriff Alisa A. Gregory released a statement Tuesday confirming a Jan. 28 incident that led to the revocation of Sen. Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey’s, D-Richmond, visiting privileges to Henrico’s Jail West and Jail East for 90 days.
Population growth continues to widen affordability gap in Richmond
The need for more and varied affordable housing continues to grow in the Richmond region.
Good medicine
New VCU pharmacy dean prepares students for a changing health care landscape
Now in its 125th year, the Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Pharmacy has seen countless number of graduates enter pharmacy careers and practices.
Morrissey saga continues
Private rift plays out in public over weekend
In an emotional interview with the Richmond Free Press on Wednesday night, Myrna Morrissey shared her fears following a weekend in which allegations of child abuse and infidelity exploded into the public view.
Orange County celebrates culinary icon Edna Lewis
Virginia approves marker honoring former New York chef
For some, the name Edna Lewis is synonymous with Southern food. The chef and cookbook author often is referred to as “Grand Dame of Southern cooking.”
Accrediting body imposes warning on VUU
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) placed Virginia Union University on warning last month.
Tre. Charles brings his gospel, neo-soul sound to RVA East End Festival
Tre. Charles considers music as an emotional outlet — almost a cathartic release. His recently released debut single “Stressin” evokes the isolation many have felt during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the album he is working on has male vulnerability, especially Black male vulnerability, as one of its themes.
How Richmond Ballet’s Garret McNally found his footing
Garret McNally has been dancing since age 3 when his mother put him into dance as an outlet for his energy.
No longer spinning their wheels
Richmond nonprofit uses circles to break cycles of poverty
For millions of Americans, living at or near the federal poverty line means barely getting by is a constant struggle. Census Bureau estimates show more than 20 percent of Richmond’s residents are living in poverty — a figure nearly 50 percent higher than the national average. Many of these residents work, and many feel as though they’ll never get ahead. Such was the case for Sherrell Thompson, 43, a resident of Churc Hill and Richmond native. Two years ago, the single mother and grandmother worked as a certified community health Wworker for Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Everyday she helped others in her job, but she also knew she needed help herself. “I really felt stuck where I was financially and I just didn’t know what steps to take next,” Ms. Thompson said by phone recently. One day, she took a deeper look at Circles RVA — a lo- cal organization she’d referred clients looking to better their financial circumstances to before. Ms. Thompson decided to put in her own application and was accepted to the program in August 2020. In that same cohort was Barbara Yates, 67, a mother, grand- mother and great-grandmother, who was born in Baltimore but moved to Richmond as a child. Both were drawn by Circles RVA’s vision “that everyone has enough money, meaning and friends to thrive.” In a recent phone interview, Circles RVA co-president Valena Dixon and coach Debbie Williams highlighted how the organiza- tion works alongside program participants — known as leaders — to help them realize that vision of financial stability, purpose and support in their lives. “Allies and volunteers create a circle of support around lead- ers and intentionally create relationships,” Ms. Dixon explained. “These relationships expand their networks and introduce them to resources that can reduce the barriers that hinder their rising out of poverty.” “You’re building communities by building intentional rela- tionships,” Ms. Williams added. “These relationships make all the difference and give leaders the support they need to move from surviving to thriving.” Circles RVA began with volunteers who were looking for ways to address Richmond’s poverty issue at the community level. It became a registered nonprofit in June 2017, modeled after Circles USA which sees circles, or the personal and professional networks each person has, as resources that can be shared. With Circles RVA, leaders undertake a 12-week educational program during which they are matched with allies and work to create SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals for themselves. Over the next 18 months, leaders and allies meet weekly to ensure that leaders continue to progress toward their goals. As Ms. Dixon puts is, “Plan the work, work the plan.” And plans are working. Circles RVA graduated its fourth cohort in June, and its latest newsletter highlights the achievements of its 15 leaders who so far have completed the program. Many show average increases of about $1,200 in monthly income and $2,000 in total assets. Ms. Thompson and Mrs. Yates graduated in the June 2022 cohort and have seen the benefits. With her allies’ help, Miss Thompson revamped her résumé and secured a new, higher paying job with her employer as a resident services coordinator. She has used the extra income to reduce her debt and boost her credit score by more than 100 points. “I never thought I’d be able to do that,” Ms. Thompson said. “Circles RVA helped me so much. I was so happy I just cried through my whole graduation.” Learning to better manage her budget also helped Mrs. Yates. “Before I was an Amazon addict, but not anymore,” Mrs. Yates said, noting that she frequently made purchases from the online retailer. “Writing (down) where all of (my) money was going made it easy to see where you could bring your expenses down.” Mrs. Yates has started saving some of what she used to spend. She has a “rainy day fund” and is continuing to save toward another goal — travel. “I really enjoyed the program. You are constantly learning something every week,” Mrs. Yates said. “My allies were very supportive and encouraging. Whenever I was struggling, they helped me think like that little train, ‘I think I can. I think I can.’” Mrs. Yates and Ms. Thompson plan to stay connected with the friends they made through Circles RVA. Ms. Thompson even wants to apply to rejoin the program — this time as an ally. “I have benefitted so much that I need to pass that on.” To learn more about Circles RVA and its next cohort of lead- ers, visit https://circlesrva.org/
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