More than a dozen Black men gathered at TruFades Haircuts & Beards, 2010 E. Main St. in Shockoe Bottom on Feb. 18 to discuss to civic participation, voting, education and other issues crucial to them and their communities.

During the one-hour session, the men, mostly ranging from 20 to 45 in age, welcomed and endorsed Virginia Sen. Jennifer McClellan in her campaign to become the first Black woman to represent Virginia in the United States Congress. Also on hand were Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, Richmond City Council President Michael Jones, Del. Lamont Bagby, Henrico County Supervisor Tyrone Nelson, and Henrico County School Board member Roscoe Cooper. The gathering also included representatives of the Urban League of Greater Richmond Young Professionals, a high school coach and a Richmond elementary school principal.

Mayor Stoney told the men that they “aren’t always expected to show up at voting polls.” He advised them that not showing up puts them at a disadvantage.

“We can’t take a day off or a year off,” Mayor Stoney said. “There are folks out there counting on us not to show up. They’re counting on Black men not to show up. They’re going off historic trends. We have to turn the tide by showing up at every election. We’ve got to show up every year. Republicans are running more Black Republican candidates. So, the power rests in this room ...to change elections at the local, state and federal levels. It should be Black men showing up every year.”