Fort Gregg-Adams
New name for Army base honors 2 Black officers
Fort Gregg-Adams replaced Fort Lee as the official name for the U.S. Army Base during a Redesignation Ceremony on April 27. Located in Prince George County, Fort Gregg- Adams recognizes two Black officers, Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams.
Kamala Harris Richmond visit scheduled
On Thursday, May 4, Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Richmond in honor of Small Business Week and to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to uplifting small businesses.
Whitehead named VSU band director
Virginia State University announced this week that Dr. Taylor Whitehead is its new director of Marching and Pep Bands.
Derby Day returns
A Richmond-based foundation once again will be throwing a benefit bash to accompany the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6.
VMHC welcomes students to State History Day competition
Elementary, middle, and high school students from across the Commonwealth will compete this weekend in the Virginia History Day State Contest at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Credit Union tours city
The Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union, the largest Black-owned financial institution in the city, marks its 87th anniversary with a tour of the city to celebrate the expansion of its ATM network, it has been announced.
Holy Rosary celebrates 50th year for Knights of Columbus 6457
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the oldest African-American Catholic congregation in Richmond, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Father Charles G. O’Leary Knights of Columbus Council 6457 on Saturday, April 29, beginning at 4 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by a dinner and program.
Henrico DMV office moves to Ashland
A new, larger DMV office is about to open in Ashland, replacing the service center at 9015 Brook Road in Henrico County, which will shut down on Saturday, April 22, it has been announced.
UR announces commencement speaker
University of Richmond alumnus Greg Morrisett will speak at the school’s commencement ceremonies on May 7. He is currently the Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech and a faculty member in the computer science department at Cornell University.
Federal grant to benefit low-income families
A trio of Richmond-based financial operations have been collectively awarded $10.5 million from the U.S. Treasury to advance their service to low- and moderate-income communities.
Summit to address Black women, birthing and reproductive health
In Virginia, Black women are three times more likely to die than white women during childbirth or due to pregnancy-related causes, according to Birth in Color RVA, a birth, policy and advocacy nonprofit focused on raising awareness surrounding maternal health and reproductive justice.
Restoring votes for returning citizens
Members of the New Virginia Majority, Virginia NAACP, League of Women Voters of Virginia, Virginia Organizing, ACLU of Virginia, and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, along with Del. Don Scott, House Minority Leader, and Sen. Mamie Locke participated in a press conference at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square to speak against the current rights restoration process of the current administration.
Henrico to offer free instruction on CPR, AEDs
Henrico County will hold a series of open houses from April 15 through 26 to teach residents to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to potentially save the life of someone in cardiac arrest. More than 356,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital in the U.S. each year, according to the American Heart Association.
Maymont’s spring break includes baby goats and three little chicks
April in Maymont means loads of activities for Richmonders to enjoy. On Friday, April 7, the Maymont Mansion and The Robins Nature Center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to take in the arrival of five baby goats and three Brahma chicks to the Maymont Farm.
Upcoming exhibits seeks Vietnam War stories
March 29 was National Vietnam War Veterans Day, and this year the day marked the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of the last American troops from South Vietnam. As Americans reflect on the service and sacrifices of Vietnam War veterans, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) is asking Virginians with personal connections to the Vietnam War to share their stories for a new exhibition.
University of Richmond has new provost
Joan Saab will become executive vice president for academic affairs and provost for the University of Richmond effective July 1.
2 Richmond principals recognized for leadership
Richmond Public Schools Principal Ta’Neshia Ford is the recipient of the 2023 R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership.
Youngkin appoints Lisa Coons as superintendent of public instruction
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday announced the appointment of Tennessee Chief Academic Officer Lisa Coons as Virginia’s 27th superintendent of public instruction. Dr. Coons’ appointment as the commonwealth’s chief school officer is effective Monday, April 17.
Bubba’s Block Party returns
NASCAR driver William D. “Bubba” Wallace will again host a block party for the Richmond community as part of the return of racing to the track in Henrico County, it has been announced.
Chesterfield announces housing choice vouchers
The waiting list for Virginia Housing and the Chesterfield- Colonial Heights Department of Social Services’ housing choice vouchers opens Thursday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for anyone who wants to submit an application.
NIH awards $27M to VCU’s Wright Center
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Virginia Commonwealth University a seven-year, $27 million grant to provide new therapy techniques “to the community” and to reduce regional health disparities.
New HIV treatment facility opens in Henrico
CrossOver Healthcare Ministry opened the doors to its new HIV treatment facility Wednesday morning, ringing in the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Leadership summit will amplify student voices
Some 600 Richmond-area high school students will attend Teen Summit RVA at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on March 18.
UR receives $250K NIH grant for redlining research
Rob Nelson will explore racially motivated housing and health inequities
Robert K. Nelson, director of the Digital Scholarship Lab at the University of Richmond, has been awarded nearly $250,000 from the National Institutes of Health to study the impact of redlining — racially-motivated lending discrimination — on health inequalities.
Henrico County breaks ground for first large community park since 1982
A ground-breaking ceremony for the 99-acre Taylor Farm Park in Henrico County’s Sandston district took place Feb. 27 at 200 Whiteside Road, off East Williamsburg Road.
UPAL hosts dinner and gala
United Parents Against Lead will host a “Black Excellence Dinner and Gala” at its Peters- burg Community Resiliency Hub on March 4, from 5 to 9 p.m., 464 Byrne St.
UR’s Philip S. ‘Sam’ Deloria to discuss indigenous views of institutional racism
Sam Deloria, a 2022-23 Jepson Leader-in-Residence at the University of Richmond, is a Yankton Dakota descendant, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of Fort Yates, N.D., and a lifetime advocate for Native American peoples and politics.
Encore puts Henrico government retirees back to work
Henrico is launching a program to entice dozens of its retired county government employees to return to temporary, part-time positions to address critical staffing needs in public safety and mental health.
Warner, Kaine announce $9.7M to expand broadband at Va. HBCUs
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner and Sen. Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $9,685,734 in federal funding to support the expansion of broadband at three Virginia Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
DHR to administer preservation easement over Drexel-Morrell Center property
A permanent preservation and open-space easement has been established for the Drexel- Morrell Center, a historic property in Powhatan County that highlights the role of African-Americans in that area, and the life and contributions of American Catholic St. Katharine Drexel, founder of two now defunct African-American academies that were located nearby.
VSU hosts HBCU speech and debate championship
Four historically black colleges in Virginia will join HBCUs from throughout the nation for the fifth National HBCU Speech & Debate Championship Feb. 24 through 26 at Virginia State University.
VCU, Oakes family present hazing workshop and video
Two years after Adam Oakes died due to alcohol poisoning following a fraternity event as a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University, his family and VCU will host several workshops and discussions Monday, Feb. 27, to remember his life and educate students and staff about hazing.
YWCA’s 2023 Outstanding Women Awards
Since 1980, YWCA Richmond has honored more than 300 women leaders for their achievements and contributions in the Greater Richmond area.
Arts funding to support opera about Loving court case
The Virginia Commission for the Arts has announced a special recognition grant of $15,000 per year for three consecutive years that will support Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony’s newly commissioned opera, “Loving v. Virginia.”
CrossOver clinics offer saliva COVID-19 tests
CrossOver Healthcare Ministry is now offering a saliva-based COVID-19 test at its locations in Richmond and Henrico County to low-income, uninsured and underserved residents.
VCU’s Wilder School announces annual awards program
Seven individuals and organizations will be recognized for their work during Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs’ 16th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards. Recipients will be honored at a luncheon Tuesday, April 11, at the Richmond Marriott Hotel, 500 E. Broad St.
Elegba Folklore Society offers film screening and book expo
The Elegba Folklore Society’s 3rd Saturday Documentaries will screen “James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket” on Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. at Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E. Broad St.
Black History Museum launches event management arm
The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia is expanding from curating exhibits to curating and hosting events.
Free tax services available
Need help with filing taxes? United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg once again is offering free tax preparation services in partnership with a variety of organizations and volunteers.
VMHC to spotlight civil rights hero Curtis Harris and Great Dismal Swamp
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture will feature the following films at part of its Black History Month programming:
Pioneering Harvard entrepreneur to be honored by Howard University
Lillian L. Lambert is being recognized by Howard University with its Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement.
Virginia Union University announces Founder’s Day Convocation
Dr. Darran T. Brandon Sr., pastor of the historic First Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk and president of the Virginia Baptist State Convention, will be the keynote speaker during Virginia Union University’s Founder’s Day Convocation at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3.
‘It’s not really over. It’s ongoing’
D.C., Capitol police officers recount horror, tragedy of Jan. 6, 2021
Two years ago, D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Danny Hodges was nearly crushed to death after being attacked during a riot by election deniers at the U.S. Capitol building.
UR awards Paragon Medal to Marcus Weinstein
The Paragon Medal, the University of Richmond’s highest honor, has been awarded to University of Richmond alumnus Marcus Weinstein, a, well-known philanthropist, and chairman of Weinstein Properties. Weinstein is only the second person in history to receive the medal. The first was E. Claiborne Robins in 1986.
Richmond area will host numerous events for Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African-Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African-Americans.
Webinar previews Petersburg’s future insulin facility
Petersburg’s role in producing more affordable insulin in the United States will be highlighted during RVA757 Connects’ Virtual Innovation Spotlight webinar Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Celebrating ‘200 Years, 200 stories’ at Library of Virginia
Ethel Bailey Furman, one of the first Black female architects in Virginia; David Martin, founder of the Martin Agency and creator of the famed tagline “Virginia is for Lovers”; and Chinese immigrant Ow Chuck Sam, who became a naturalized citizen and served in the armed forces during World War II.
Thornton, Nelson to lead Henrico Board of Supervisors in 2023
The Henrico County Board of Supervisors last week voted unanimously to elect Fairfield District Supervisor Frank J. Thornton chairman and Varina District Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson vice chairman for 2023.
Community Leaders Celebration honors memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
More than 800 people, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Virginia Union President Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, Mayor Levar M. Stoney, members of the Virginia General Assembly, Richmond City Council, educators, corporate and nonprofit leaders and community advocates, joined a joyous 45th Annual Community Leaders Celebration on Jan. 13 at the Richmond Marriott.
Desirée Roots, Weldon Hill to perform at VMHC
Desirée Roots and the Weldon Hill Ensemble will headline the 7th Annual National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture at 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
