Sculpture park aims to look honestly at slavery, honoring those who endured it
Visitors to the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park wind a serpentine path past art pieces depicting the lives of enslaved people in America and historic exhibits, including two cabins where the enslaved lived, before arriving at a towering monument.
ICA exhibit explores race, class and gender
Artist Patrice Renee Washington isn’t interested in mainstreaming her creative talents to fit into the white-dominated spaces of the commercial art world. Instead, she focuses on exploring the roots behind racial identity. She’s the artist behind “Tendril,” a solo exhibition of her works at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU (ICA at VCU).
Still no clear answers about the fate of Richmond Community Hospital
After weeks of questions and uncertainty, plans for the possible demolition of the former Richmond Community Hospital remain unresolved.
Richmond Continentals host free financial workshop
The Richmond Continental Societies will host a free financial literacy workshop for high school students and parents Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to noon at Armstrong High School, 2300 Cool Lane.
Gov. Youngkin vetoes bills to rejoin voter-sharing organization
Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently vetoed two bills that would have allowed Virginia to rejoin a national organization that helps maintain voter rolls.
Elegba Folklore Society welcomes Kenyan delegation
The public is invited to Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center on Tuesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. to “Meet the Maasai.” Chief Joseph Ole Tipanko, Cicilia Seleyian and Kilenyi John Parsitau are visiting Richmond from Maasailand in Kenya, and they will share with attendees the indigenous history of the Maasai along with their evolving stories split between Kenya and Tanzania as a result of both British and German colonization.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations:
Va. court says lease agreements can’t override landlord’s duty to keep property ‘habitable’
In a case involving a flea infestation of an Alexandria rental, the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, March 12, that lease agreements can’t override state law requiring that landlords keep their properties “in a fit and habitable condition.”
RPS principals receive R.E.B. Awards
John Marshall High School Principal Monica Murray is a recipient of the 2024 R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership, according to an announcement by Richmond Public Schools. William Fox Elementary School Prinicipal Daniela Jacobs was named a finalist for the award.
All Henrico Reads features for ‘Wild’ memoir discussion
All Henrico Reads, Henrico County’s long-running literary event, will return Thursday, March 28, with bestselling and award-winning author Cheryl Strayed discussing her 2012 memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.”
Registration opens for HCPS Summer Academy
Registration opens this month for Henrico County Public Schools’ Summer Academy. According to HCPS, the program gives elementary, middle and high school students opportunities for enrichment, remediation and career exploration.
Maymont welcomes all for 2024 Dominion Energy Family Easter events
Maymont invites local families to celebrate spring at Dominion Energy Family Easter on Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Harding named to All- American team
Tahj Harding has followed up his All-CIAA honors with All-American honors.
AMMD Pine Grove prepares to stabilize building, debut film ‘More than a School'
The past and future of the historic Pine Grove School will be the focus of two events hosted by the AMMD Pine Grove Project during the last week of March and the first week of April.
Healing in the Black community focus of spring symposium
Healing in the context of community will be the central theme of this year’s 14th Annual Lemon Project symposium taking place March 22-23 at the William & Mary School of Education.
Richmond favorites to return for 2024
Riverfront Canal Cruises will kick off their 24th season on Friday, April 5, offering historically narrated tours of the James River and Kanawha Canal. Traveling along Downtown Richmond’s historic Canal Walk, passengers will learn about Richmond’s history and see sights such as the Virginia Capital Trail, the Low Line gardens and James River wildlife. Tours depart on the hour from the canal’s Turning Basin at 139 Virginia St. and will operate between April and November. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis at the Turning Basin’s ticket kiosk, and online up to 18 hours in advance. Private charters also are available. Venture Richmond Events also has announced save the dates for two popular fall festivals. The Richmond Folk Festival, in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts and the City of Richmond, will happen along Downtown Richmond’s riverfront a little early this year. By celebrating its 20th anniversary Sep. 27-29, the festival will avoid falling on the Jewish High Holiday of Yom Kippur. It will return to its annual October weekend next year. This year, the 2nd Street Festival, in partnership with the City of Richmond, will mark its 36th year. The free annual festival celebrating the rich culture of Downtown Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward neighborhood, once known as “the Harlem of the South,” will take place Oct. 5-6. The two-day event features three stages of live music and entertainment, a kids area, food vendors, shopping and the Richmond Metropolitan Antique Car Club. Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group Arrested Development will headline the festival on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Richmond vocalist and festival veteran Desiree Roots will close out the festival as the headliner on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Safe and secure
New safety nets are crucial in ensuring the well-being and success of students in Richmond Public Schools. Recent discussions by the RPS School Board regarding homebound and home-based instruction protocols, as well as revised procedures for certifying graduating seniors, highlight the importance of providing support and guidance to students who already face myriad pressures and mental health challenges.
Taking a RISC
It is gratifying to read Free Press reporter George Copeland Jr.’s article about the commit- ment shown by Richmond’s current and potential political leaders who attended a forum focused on affordable housing, mobile home repair and replacement, and gun violence prevention. Tuesday night’s forum, which drew hundreds of parishioners from more than 20 member congregations to St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Henrico County, was organized by Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities, also known as RISC. Such a turnout is incredible and worthy of several rounds of “Amazing Grace” performed by our Forever President Obama! During the RISC meeting, pledges from city Councilmembers Stephanie A. Lynch, Andreas D. Addison and Ann-Frances Lambert for an additional $2 million in mobile home funding in next year’s budget and a resolution guaranteeing money owed from the 2022-23 fiscal year would be added to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Ms. Lynch agreed to patron the Trust Fund resolution and to ensure a mobile home fund amendment would be in the budget if it wasn’t already there. She also charged the RISC members pres- ent to bring this same energy and collective organizing to other political offices outside the City of Richmond. “It is not in any way equitable, just or Christ- like that we live in a country with so much and yet so many suffering with so little,” Ms. Lynch said. “If you live in Henrico, you live in Chesterfield, you live in other localities, I want you to push your electorate and challenge your elected leaders to do the same.” Councilmembers Addison and Lambert agreed to co-patron the resolutions. Coun- cilmember Ellen F. Robertson also agreed to support efforts in improving affordable hous- ing and supporting mobile home repair and replacement, though she said additional budget amendments might not be necessary. The additional funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Mobile Home Re- pair Program will help address critical needs in the city. The focus on gun violence prevention through the Group Violence Intervention solu- tion also is commendable, as it has garnered success in other areas. Say “Amen,” somebody.
