CIAA FUN // Basketball fans flocked to the CIAA Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., last week to see the fast-paced court action in the men’s and women’s games. Fans also enjoyed parties, musical performances and reuniting with old friends and classmates.

Daffodils in South Side

CIAA FUN // Basketball fans flocked to the CIAA Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., last week to see the fast-paced court action in the men’s and women’s games. Fans also enjoyed parties, musical performances and reuniting with old friends and classmates.

CIAA FUN // The tournament spotlight also shone brightly on Suffolk native Abraham “Ham” Mitchell, aka “Mr. CIAA,” right, who was among 10 people inducted into the CIAA’s John B. McLendon Jr. Hall of Fame.

CIAA FUN // R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn

CIAA FUN // Lyfe Jennings, performing for appreciative fans.

CIAA FUN // The well-known Virginia State University Woo Woos cheerleading squad, below, rocked the house, as always.

CIAA FUN // Several luminaries were in the arena, below left, including former CIAA and NBA basketball greats Earl “The Pearl” Monroe of Winston-Salem State University and Richmond native Bobby Dandridge of Norfolk State University with CIAA Commissioner Jacquie McWilliams.

CIAA FUN // Other celebrity sightings included R&B singer Tank, with former University of Richmond basketball star and pro player Johnny Newman.

CIAA FUN // Those celebrating the VSU men’s basketball championship Saturday night included, from left, Mr. VSU Donald Lesley, VSU Athletic Director Peggy Davis, Vice Rector Willie C. Randall, new VSU President Makola Abdullah, Miss VSU Lauren Papillion and Coach Lonnie Blow.

CIAA FUN // The championship teams then were feted after they returned to their respective campuses. The Virginia Union University Lady Panthers, above, enjoy a ceremony at the school Tuesday, while the VSU men’s team, below, was celebrated at a rally at the new VSU Multipurpose Center.

Zestful celebration // Dora Ellis, controller at the Richmond-based hunger relief organization FeedMore, beams as she puts a ticket in a raffle basket at Saturday night’s 16th Annual Zest Fest at the Greater Richmond Conven- tion Center. The fundraising event featured dishes by the region’s top chefs and silent and live auctions. Proceeds from the event, including raffle tickets sold by volunteers Kari Fecht, center, and Rob Giddens, will benefit FeedMore’s programs such as Meals on Wheels, Mobile Pantry and the weekend BackPack program for youngsters.

Zestful celebration // FeedMore CEO Doug Pick talks with key- note speaker Cheryl Maroney, director of A Child Is Born Learning Center in Henrico County.

‘Evening with an Icon’ Renowned poet Sonia Sanchez, right, addresses the audience last Saturday night at the Grace Street Theatre as moderator Dr. Kimberly Brown, chair of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, listens. Ms. Sanchez spoke at the Afrikana Independent Film Festival’s “Evening with an Icon,” following the screening of a documentary about her life, “BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez.”