Arlette J. Teele founded the Purple Pumps Chapter of the Red Hat Society with the goal of bringing women in the Richmond area together “to greet middle age with verve, humor and élan.” At chapter gatherings, members are colorfully attired …

Gov. Terry McAuliffe and other elected officials are scheduled to join Virginia Union University faculty, staff, students and community members on Thursday, April 9, at a series of rededication ceremonies at sites significant to the historically black institution’s history, university …

In the midst of the city that once served as a merciless marketplace for hundreds of thousands of enslaved black people, a diverse audience of thousands gathered Saturday at the State Capitol to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the liberation …

Christian P. Dundas says he came up with the idea for a 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in Church Hill three years ago when he was playing recreational basketball. It was about the …

Kimberley L. Martin recalls how difficult it was for her to pay for textbooks when she attended college more than two decades ago. “I got student loans. And after I had finished paying for my room, board and tuition, I …

Reality TV is a breeding ground for drama and squabbles. But one star, Lisa Nicole Cloud of Bravo’s “Married to Medicine,” is focused on being positive. “I wanted to see a different portrayal of African-American women on TV,” said Ms. …

Two national women’s organizations chartered local chapters in luncheon ceremonies last weekend. Above, 40 women were installed into the Richmond Metropolitan Area Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. The 33-year-old organization’s mission is to develop leaders …

Software developer Keshau Rogers is the Metropolitan Business League’s Entrepreneur of the Year. The founder and CEO of Richmond-based Websmith Group, Ms. Rogers received the MBL’s top award March 26 at the group’s 24th annual awards dinner and reception at …

James Johnson was aboard a plane last spring bound for a recording session with the Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir when inspiration struck. “I was looking out at the clouds, at his creation, and I was thinking about just how great …

The Rev. Clifton Whitaker Jr. says he is eternally grateful to the members of Grayland Baptist Church for allowing him to be their pastor. “They took a chance when they hired me,” he told the Free Press. “I was still …

A four-day commemoration in Richmond organized by a coalition of organizations called The Future of Richmond’s Past will mark the 150th anniversary of the liberation of Richmond, ending its role as the epicenter of the slave trade. A major highlight …

As a basketball player at Virginia Union University, R. Vance Harmon drew attention for his shooting, his passing, his passion for the sport … and, oh yes, for the color of his skin. One of only two Caucasians ever to …

Dr. Ruth Coles Harris was the first African-American woman in Virginia to be certified as a public accountant. The great-granddaughter of slaves, she passed the two-day CPA examination in 1962, when fewer than 100 African-Americans across the nation were CPAs. …

When people get slapped down, they have two basic options. They can accept their sad fate, throw a pity party, curse at the world and stay on their backsides. Or they can bounce back. George Wythe High School Coach Willard …

Twenty-one people will be honored this weekend for their impact on the Richmond community. The honorees will be presented with the first “Do Something” awards from two nonprofits, The Disciples Journey and The Dream Makers Academy. The goal of the …