VUU elects new board members
Virginia Union University Board of Trustees announced that it has elected new members to serve as trustees of the University:
Maggie Walker site names new superintendent
Scott Teodorski is the new superintendent for Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site.
Hampton University to benefit from new philanthropic initiative
Hampton University was awarded $750,000 as part of an inaugural $10 million plus venture capital fund, The Historic Fund. The new fund aims to bolster the endowments of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), as well as highlight their importance and the role they play in promoting equity and inclusion in higher education, according to a news release issued by the university.
New General Assembly building to open later in 2023
Anticipating a possible special session, the Virginia General Assembly announced it won’t be moving into its new building until later this year.
Jeff Wilson receives local PRSA chapter’s highest honor
VHMC’s Taylor Fuqua receives ‘Rising Star’ award
Jeff Wilson, vice president of Workplace Culture, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and chief of staff at Padilla, recently received the 2023 Excellence in Public Relations Award from the Richmond chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Richmond).
VHMC announces 2024 history fund grant cycle
As the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) prepares for the 2024 Commonwealth History Fund grant cycle, the museum encourages organizations that wish to receive funding to begin planning now.
VMHC honors dads with free admission
Dads may visit the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and receive free admission to the museum galleries, including the museum’s most recent exhibition, “Apollo: When We Went to the Moon,” as part of a special Father’s Day offering.
U.S. Club Lacrosse National Championships taps local region for 2024 event
America’s top youth lacrosse athletes will vie for national titles when the first ever U.S. Club Lacrosse National Championship comes to the Richmond Region next year.
New tool to help Chesterfield residents locate voting precincts
With the June 20 primary one week away, the Chesterfield County Registrar’s Office is making it easy for county residents to locate their respective representatives and voting precinct with the click of button.
Library of Virginia, Virginia Folklife Program hosts ‘Celebration of Virginia Folklife’
The Library of Virginia and the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities will present a free two-day celebration featuring documentary screenings, live music and more to highlight Virginia’s diverse and evolving folklife heritage. “A Celebration of Virginia Folklife” will take place July 7 and 8 at the library as part of its yearlong 200th anniversary celebration.
Sign of a trailblazer
Several family members, neighbors and friends gathered yesterday for an honorary street renaming of the 5300 block of Marian Street in honor of the late Bettie Elizabeth Boyers Cooper. Mrs. Boyers Cooper was best known for being a plaintiff during the Civil Rights Movement whose federal lawsuit led to the integration of Richmond’s schools.
New leader of Richmond Crusade for Voters
Jerome Legions Jr. is now the former president of the Richmond Crusade for Voters.
Elegba Folklore Society presents 27th annual Juneteenth celebration
Elegba Folklore Society’s “Juneteenth 2023, A Freedom Celebration” will take place Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11. Saturday’s program, “Torch Lit Night Walk Along the Trail of Enslaved Africans,” begins at 7 p.m. at the Manchester Dock, 1308 Brander St. It is free to attend, however donations are welcome.
June is Pride month
Richmond once again is raising the Progress Pride flag over City Hall to open Pride Month in the city.
Gov. Youngkin scraps college degrees for most state jobs
Most Virginia government jobs will be open to high school graduates, beginning July 1.
Youngkin hails new digital hub for veterans benefits
Earlier this month Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin announced the rollout of a Gold Standard Digital Hub for Virginia veterans and their families to ensure easier access to information regarding earned benefits and resources tailored to their needs.
Operation Safe Summer gears up
Richmond, state and federal law enforcement will be working closer together than ever as part of a new initiative they say will seek to stop violent crime and protect children, during a season when crimes tend to increase.
RVA Bike Share shuts down
Richmond’s bike share program shut down abruptly Monday after the Canadian operator, Bewegen Technologies, ended service, according to a city statement.
Virginia Career Works hosts job fair May 31
Former Tyson workers, immigrant communities encouraged to attend
Virginia Career Works-Capital Region will host a job and resource fair Wednesday, May 31, that is open to all job seekers, but largely tailored to former employees of the closed Tyson plant in Glen Allen and members of immigrant communities, the organization has announced.
Alphas trailblazers — again
When Tyler Parker, a member of the Henrico County Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was informed by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources on Sept. 15, 2022, that its application for a “Trailblazers of a New Era” highway marker was approved, he knew the organization’s next steps.
Chesterfield’s Memorial Day event to unveil Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica
During a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29, Chesterfield County will include the unveiling of a replica of the iconic Tomb of the Unknown Solider and present a live re-enactment of the changing of the guard by the Chesterfield County Sheriff Honor Guard. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on the Historic 1917 Courthouse Green.
Petersburg city pool opens Memorial Day weekend
Petersburg’s public swimming pool located at 1216 Farmer St. will open for the season on May 27, it has been announced. The pool will remain open through May 29, from 12 to 6 p.m. each day for the holiday weekend.
Virginia Department of Veterans Services to host Memorial Day ceremonies
Memorial Day will be commemorated at four special ceremonies hosted by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) on Monday, May 29. The events are free and open to the public.
UR names new museum director
Issa Lampe is the new executive director of University of Richmond Museums effective June 1.
Erasing redlining
Nearly 100 years since redlining left Richmond’s communities of color marginalized, Coming Together Virginia will host a discussion about how such discriminatory practices caused long-term environmental effects for Richmonders and others.
Rep. McClellan named to Biden-Harris Campaign National Advisory Board
U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan is among the team of Democratic leaders who will help deliver President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ message and engage voters across the country, the Biden-Harris 2024 re-election campaign said yesterday in announcing its National Advisory Board.
Free Press wins 18 awards in annual VPA contest
The Richmond Free Press continues its 30-year tradition of award-winning excellence.
J.C. Poma to lead Chesterfield’s sports tourism expansion efforts
J.C. Poma will become Chesterfield County’s first-ever executive director of sports, visitation and entertainment. His appointment was effective May 1.
Margaret O. Daramola is Virginia’s poet laureate
Margaret O. Daramola has been named the Commonwealth of Virginia’s new poet laureate.
RPD names LGBTQ+ community liaison
The Richmond Police Department has named Capt. Kimberly Mooney as the Department’s LGBTQ+ community liaison (lesbian, gay, transgender and queer/questioning community).
Honorary street signs for Davis, Dennis and Hamilton
Over the coming weeks, three Richmonders will receive posthumous recognition for their contributions to the civic, religious and business life of the city.
Bus transfer center opening soon
The replacement GRTC transfer center in Downtown is projected to open around Thursday, June 15, the transit company has indicated.
Jamestown Settlement to commemorate Jamestown’s founding
Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th century Virginia, will present a full day of programs and live demonstrations Saturday, May 13, to commemorate the 1607 founding of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English settlement, and honor the enduring legacies and traditions of the Virginia Indians who have occupied the land for centuries.
Grey Garrett is Virginia Rep’s Carole King
The Virginia Repertory Theatre has found its Carole King. Richmond theater actress Grey Garrett has been selected to play the award-winning musician in the regional premiere of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the November Theatre beginning Friday, June 23.
Massey vans drive cancer awareness message
The VCU Massey Cancer Center recently announced its collaboration with two Richmond area street artists whose colorful works will wrap two mobile health vans. The customized vehicles will soon bring cancer education, prevention, screening and care coordination directly to underserved communities in central and southern Virginia.
UPAL’s garden
Anew community garden shaped as a labyrinth with circular walking paths will be dedicated at noon Saturday, May 6, on the grounds of 4809 Warwick Road in South Side, it has been announced.
Brotherhood, sisterhood and service
In his 2001 book, “The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and So- rorities,” author Lawrence C. Ross Jr. explains “the vital role of America’s Black fraternities and sororities,” which includes providing young black achievers with opportunities to support each other while they serve their communities and the nation.
Fort Gregg-Adams
New name for Army base honors 2 Black officers
Fort Gregg-Adams replaced Fort Lee as the official name for the U.S. Army Base during a Redesignation Ceremony on April 27. Located in Prince George County, Fort Gregg- Adams recognizes two Black officers, Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams.
Kamala Harris Richmond visit scheduled
On Thursday, May 4, Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Richmond in honor of Small Business Week and to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to uplifting small businesses.
Whitehead named VSU band director
Virginia State University announced this week that Dr. Taylor Whitehead is its new director of Marching and Pep Bands.
Derby Day returns
A Richmond-based foundation once again will be throwing a benefit bash to accompany the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6.
VMHC welcomes students to State History Day competition
Elementary, middle, and high school students from across the Commonwealth will compete this weekend in the Virginia History Day State Contest at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Credit Union tours city
The Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union, the largest Black-owned financial institution in the city, marks its 87th anniversary with a tour of the city to celebrate the expansion of its ATM network, it has been announced.
Holy Rosary celebrates 50th year for Knights of Columbus 6457
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the oldest African-American Catholic congregation in Richmond, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Father Charles G. O’Leary Knights of Columbus Council 6457 on Saturday, April 29, beginning at 4 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by a dinner and program.
Henrico DMV office moves to Ashland
A new, larger DMV office is about to open in Ashland, replacing the service center at 9015 Brook Road in Henrico County, which will shut down on Saturday, April 22, it has been announced.
UR announces commencement speaker
University of Richmond alumnus Greg Morrisett will speak at the school’s commencement ceremonies on May 7. He is currently the Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech and a faculty member in the computer science department at Cornell University.
Federal grant to benefit low-income families
A trio of Richmond-based financial operations have been collectively awarded $10.5 million from the U.S. Treasury to advance their service to low- and moderate-income communities.
Summit to address Black women, birthing and reproductive health
In Virginia, Black women are three times more likely to die than white women during childbirth or due to pregnancy-related causes, according to Birth in Color RVA, a birth, policy and advocacy nonprofit focused on raising awareness surrounding maternal health and reproductive justice.
Restoring votes for returning citizens
Members of the New Virginia Majority, Virginia NAACP, League of Women Voters of Virginia, Virginia Organizing, ACLU of Virginia, and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, along with Del. Don Scott, House Minority Leader, and Sen. Mamie Locke participated in a press conference at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square to speak against the current rights restoration process of the current administration.
Henrico to offer free instruction on CPR, AEDs
Henrico County will hold a series of open houses from April 15 through 26 to teach residents to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to potentially save the life of someone in cardiac arrest. More than 356,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital in the U.S. each year, according to the American Heart Association.
