Kevin Smith’s career experience guiding organizational growth informs his work on the board of NextUp RVA, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to out-of-school time programs. He also serves as the organization’s finance chair, helping to safeguard its financial health.

Growing up in Richmond felt magical for Lexi Cleveland, surrounded by a tight-knit extended family and the city’s deep historical roots. She remembers a childhood shaped by the presence of her great-grandmother and all of her grandparents, who shared stories …

Atul Patel, a founding member of Richmond’s Heartfulness Institute, has become a steady and uplifting presence in the community — balancing a long career at Dominion Energy with a deep commitment to meditation, mindfulness and inner peace.

Anissa Turner-Randolph first discovered BLK RVA while scrolling through Instagram. After learning about the organization’s mission at the Second Street Festival, she began following its account. So when a call for advisory committee members appeared in her feed, she didn’t …

Will Melton carries with him the memory of the housing insecurity his family faced growing up in Lansing, Mich. That experience, along with the loss of his father at age 12, shaped his resilience. As his mother worked multiple jobs …

When Richmond’s predominantly white tattoo industry didn’t provide an opportunity for Sherod Davis to learn the craft, he taught himself. Now, as the owner of one of Rich- mond’s Black-owned tattoo shops, Misfit Tattoo Society, he offers a safe space …

A lifelong Scout and now Scoutmaster of Troop 432 at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Alan Meekins recently received Scouting America’s Silver Beaver Award, honoring his decades of dedication to the Scout Oath and Law. The award is the highest honor …

Rag & Bones, Richmond’s volunteer-run bicycle co-op has become a vital hub for the city’s bicycle community. Dedicated to making biking affordable and accessible, the non-profit offers low cost refurbished bicycles and parts and a welcoming space where anyone can …

Armstrong and John Marshall high school’s choral director James Johnson is among 200 quarterfinalists for the Grammy Music Educator Award. The award, presented by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum, recognizes educators who have made a significant and lasting …

When parents learn their child has Down syndrome, they often go through a spectrum of emotions—from shock and disbelief to fear and guilt. For some, the diagnosis comes during prenatal testing; for others, it may arrive weeks after the baby …

Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer fun, with City-operated pool openings offering extended holiday hours. SwimRVA, a nonprofit known as the community hub for aquatics in the Richmond region, aims to keep kids safe throughout pool season and “drown-proof” …

This year’s Richmond Public Schools top 2025 valedictorian, Marylord Dansou, is a first-generation American who achieved a 5.3 GPA, reflecting her academic excellence.

Youth enrichment and college-prep programs for underserved students helped shape Joe Massie, who was raised in Church Hill by a single mother. As a first-generation college graduate, he knows firsthand the impact such programs can have.

Janine Y. Bell’s embrace of Afrocentricity began during her college years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Though Howard University was her first choice, she ultimately found herself at Chapel Hill, where a growing community of African …

When Jaeda Perry’s mother faced limited daycare options, she turned to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond.