VUU Alumni Football Foundation to host Celebrity Golf Classic
Virginia Union University’s annual golf fundraiser will take place July 23 at The Crossings in Glen Allen, 800 Virginia Center Parkway.
Emmett Till’s house, Black sites to get landmark funds
Emmett Till left his mother’s house on Chicago’s South Side in 1955 to visit relatives in Mississippi, where the Black teenager was abducted and brutally slain for reportedly whistling at a white woman. A cultural preservation organization announced Tuesday that the house will receive a share of $3 million in grants being distributed to 33 sites and organizations nationwide that are important pieces of African-American history.
NIH awards $3M to VCU to develop researchers in women’s health
The Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health has awarded a $3.2 million grant to Vir- ginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women’s Health. The grant supports VCU’s junior faculty who will develop as researchers in women’s health.
RPS names several interim school principals
Interim principals have been tapped by Richmond Public Schools for the 2022-2023 school year. They will serve at Chim- borazo Elementary School, J.B. Fisher Elementary School, Mary Scott Preschool, Oak Grove-Bellmeade Elementary School, and Summer Hill Preschool. “In each one of these candidates we saw great leaders who we know will lead with love and inspire our students to great- ness,” said RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. It has not been stated how long the administrators will serve as interims. The new interim principals are: Cordell Watkins, who was assistant principal at J.L. Fran- cis Elementary for five years, will become interim principal of Chimborazo Elementary. Mr. Watkins also taught at eight schools within the division since he joined Richmond Public Schools in 2001. He earned a master’s in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech University and a bachelor’s of science in education from Old Dominion University. Lee A. Doxey will become the interim principal of Summer Hill Preschool, after spending numerous years with RPS as Early Head — Head Start coordinator of Student Support and Intervention. Previously, Ms. Doxey taught for PACT Head Start in Honolulu, was a private preschool director and teacher in Virginia Beach, and taught grades 1 through 3 for RPS. Ms. Doxey earned her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, and a master’s in Educational Administra- tion from Grand Canyon University. Mark Davis II is the interim principal of J.B. Fisher Elemen- tary School. He previously worked for the Knowledge Is Power Program and the Oklahoma Public Charter School System as a manager and network administrator. Dr. Davis has more than 15 years of experience working with young people, including tenure as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and division administrator. He earned a bachelor’s in agricultural sciences from Langston University, a master’s of business administration in finance from Webster University, and a doctor of education degree in educational leadership from Saint Louis University. Fatima Smith will serve as the interim principal of Oak Grove-Bellemeade. She previously was principal at Patrick Henry School of Science & Arts and in the New York City Public Schools. Under her leadership, PHSSA was recognized as a 2022 National Green Ribbon School, and PHSSA fourth graders won the White House Historical Association Prize at the 2022 Virginia History Day competition. Ms. Smith earned a bachelor’s in English, journalism and communication from Old Dominion University, and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from St. John’s University. Lisa Johnson-Hicks, a longtime RPS employee who has served in numerous roles, including Head Start teacher and Virginia Preschool Initiative Plus coach, will lead Mary Scott Preschool as interim principal. Ms. Johnson-Hicks earned a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Norfolk State University, and a master’s from Central Michigan University.
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/
Monroe Park’s board still stands
The Monroe Park Conservancy is alive and well, according to attorney Thomas A. Lisk, the interim chair of the organization that governs the city’s oldest park. Mr. Lisk stated in a Tuesday email to the Richmond Free Press that the board has continued to meet and plans to hold elections for officers in September. Questions arose about the conservancy’s existence after the group’s website was removed from the internet and it was found that the group’s Facebook page had not had any new posts since March 2020.
Richmond blood pressure center closes
The pandemic has claimed another victim – a Richmond-based clinic that treated low-income residents without health insurance for high blood pressure and related health conditions. After nearly 40 years of operation, the Richmond Area High Blood Pressure Center has closed its operation at 1200 W. Cary St. According to the former office manager, Pamela Moore-Barr, donations that kept the low-budget operation afloat dried up after COVID-19 hit in 2020. The clinic, which provided medication, heart tests and other services, was unable to find replacement dollars, Ms. Moore- Barr said, and quietly closed May 30 after referring patients to other health centers. “It was a sad day,” said Ms. Moore-Barr, who had been with the center since it opened in the spring of 1983. She was among the three remaining employees who were laid off. The center saw about 2,500 people a year and essentially was free. Patients were asked for a $10 donation but were treated anyway if they didn’t have it. Operating on less than $400,000 a year, the center relied heavily on volunteer physicians and nurses from VCU Health and other large health care operations. People who came to the center received checkups, heart tests, medication to control their blood pressure and referrals to specialists, if needed.
Several organizations to receive child care assistance grants
City Hall plans to award grants to six organizations to help them shore up and expand day care operations for pre-school children to provide families with more options.
VCU to study Covid’s long-term effects in children
Researchers and clinicians at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing will study the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the lives and health of infants, youths and young adults.
City’s plan leaves fewer people with shelter this winter
City Hall is ending its decades-old effort to prevent homeless people from freezing to death when temperatures plunge.
Crusade for Voters supports November referendum for casino revenue use
If a casino is ever built in Richmond, should all the tax dollars generated from the gambling center go to modernizing Richmond’s decrepit school buildings?
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
Real estate developer Capital City Partners, LLC purchased the City’s 71-year-old former Public Safety Building at 500 N. 10th St., 9th Street entrance shown above, for $3.5 million in 2021. Capital City officials said the building would be demolished on the 3-acre property to make room for a $325 million, 500,000-square-foot tower development that will be anchored by VCU Health.
RPS approves stipends and hiring bonuses to attract new teachers
Richmond Public Schools is taking big steps to find new teachers for the upcoming school year.
NPS grant to help preserve historic elementary school
'This will allow us to dream ... it will allow restoration and interpretation’
A Cumberland County school that was part of a vibrant African-American community for nearly 50 years is getting help from the National Park Service to preserve its location.
Q&A: Jordan Peele on the dreams and nightmares of ‘Nope’
There’s little in contemporary movies quite like the arrival of a new Jordan Peele film. They tend to descend ominously and mysteriously, a little like an unknown object from above that casts an expanding, darkening shadow the closer it comes.
3 for 3
Americans sweep top 3 places at the World championships for 3rd time
Men wearing the red, white and blue have harvested gold, silver and bronze at the World Athletics Championships.
Construction leader Langston R. Davis Sr. dies
Langston Randolph Davis Sr., president and chief executive officer of Richmond-based Davis Brothers Construction Co. Inc., has died.
