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A young girl’s hair loss inspires children’s book

Taylor Ellis never missed a day as a student at Carver Elementary School, and when she graduated from the Richmond Public School three weeks ago, she did so with a 3.9 grade point average, the highest in her class.

VSU’s Aaron Harris becoming a heavy hitter

Aaron Harris has compiled some batting statistics even the great Hank Aaron would be proud of. Baseball fans are familiar with Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who set numerous slugging records — most notably with a former record 755 homers — largely with the Atlanta Braves.

The other Ms. Walker

Nine years ago, when she was just 26, Natalie Cofield was looking for a mentor. A young woman with entrepreneurship hard-wired into her spirit, Ms. Cofield was discouraged that people did not take her seriously and was disheartened that she could not make the connections she needed to further her entrepreneurial mission. So she started reading biographies of businesswomen, hoping to find inspiration on the pages that she could not find in real life.

Towering Andre Walker helping VUU push past the competition

Virginia Union University boasts its own version of “Andre the Giant” in 6-foot-11 Andre Walker. After a sputtering start, the senior transfer from Hofstra University is aiding VUU’s push toward a No. 2 seed for the CIAA Tournament that starts Feb. 26 in Charlotte, N.C.

Saving Bennett College

Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C., is an oasis where we educate and celebrate women, and develop them into 21st century leaders and global thinkers.

VUU’s Joe Taylor named to College Football Hall of Fame

Joe Taylor, director of athletics for Virginia Union University, has been selected for the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame.

Bonnie Pointer, who prompted creation of The Pointer Sisters, dies at 69

Bonnie Pointer, who in 1969 convinced three of her church-singing siblings to form The Pointer Sisters, which would become one of the biggest acts of the next two decades, died Monday, June 8, 2020.

QB ‘Taylor made’ for VUU

Darius Taylor was Virginia Union University’s surprise package a year ago. From someone who wasn’t even on the 2017 opening day roster, the Washington native emerged practically out of nowhere as one of the CIAA’s most prolific quarterbacks.

Local student wins national TV contest

Cooking is part of Emmy Sumpter’s DNA. Emmy’s earliest memories of cooking begin at age 6 when she would help her mother, personal chef Erica Sumpter, prepare recipes and meals in their kitchen.

The gift of family

Emanuel “Manny” Browder has a different Christmas song to sing, as joy has been brought into his world. The 11-year-old has the gift of a “forever family,” an adoptive family of two parents and a little sister, and now stability and love.

Infidelity at its worst

Not surprisingly, one of the latest revelations about 45 is the report that, in 2016, his lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid adult film star Stephanie Clifford (aka “Stormy Daniels”) $130,000 to secure an agreement preventing her from disclosing the details of a 2006 sexual liaison with the reality star now politician.

Personality: Ellery D. Lundy

Spotlight on founder and president of Broken Men Foundation and Youth Academy

For the last seven years, Ellery Dean Lundy has strived, in his own words, “to make broken youth better men.”

Personality: Luise ‘Cheezi’ Farmer

Spotlight on board chair of Diversity Richmond

Being elected to lead a group in the midst of a pandemic would be a sizable burden for anyone. But for Luise “Cheezi” Farmer, board chair of Diversity Richmond, it’s a welcome opportunity to show her commitment to the cause and a sign of how much her role is valued.

Personality: Lucia Anna ‘Pia’ Trigiani

Spotlight on the Library of Virginia Foundation’s board president

Lucia Anna “Pia” Trigiani is working to tell the story of an institution built around stories and histories.

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/

’The Secret Lives of Church Ladies’ is finalist for National Book Award

For years, Deesha Philyaw, a Pittsburgh writer, editor and writing coach, has gradually crafted stories about church ladies — but these are not the stories you’d likely hear sitting in the pew of a Black church.

Personality: Ra-Twoine Shameel ‘Rosetta’ Fields

Spotlight on founder and program director of More Than Art: Inner City Mural Project

It’s a time of sweeping artistic development for the city of Rich- mond, with a wide variety of new pieces, programs and exhibits in various districts.

Personality: Monica L. Darden

Spotlight on honorary chair of the AKA Sorority’s 15th Annual Sauté and Sizzle

Things are getting a bit spicy as Monica L. Darden nears the end of the first year of her term as president of the Rho Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Personality: Sylvia Clute

Spotlight on The Alliance for Unitive Justice president

When former trial attorney Sylvia Clute read the book “A Course in Miracles” in 1987, her concept of justice shifted.

Personality: Quanda Lashun Baker

Spotlight on local president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women

Almost five years ago, Quanda Lashun Baker was among the charter members of the Richmond Metropolitan Area Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, establishing a branch of the women’s nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference in the community.