Racial Equity in Richmond

Dr. Chaz Barracks speaks with Ebony from multiple perspectives and through many lenses but weaves together a dynamic history, expertise and vision for a creative, intersectional approach to advancing racial equity in Richmond. 

They met doing neighborhood work, and they want to disrupt the status quo of gentrification and the school to prison pipeline. Neighborhood resident Latasha James and community organizer Christopher Rashad Green speak truthfully about where we need to go and what we need to do to re-imagine our community. 

Historians Free Bangura of Untold RVA and The Valentine's Bill Martin, discuss how telling the story of history truthfully can spark innovation and long-term change. For them, advancing equity involves truth telling, knowing our own story and broadening the voices that highlight our past and share our future.

From the impacts of redlining to combatting the eviction crisis, affordable housing advocates Stephen Wade of Partnership for Smarter Growth and Virginia Poverty Law Center's Laura Wright make their case for policy changes and greater resource allocation to move towards housing equity.

The Bridge Park Foundation's Ted Elmore and Southside ReLeaf's Sheri Shannon discuss barriers and solutions to greenspace and environmental equity in Richmond. 

Ebony talks with affordable housing leaders Greta Harris of Better Housing Coalition and Richmond Association of Realtor's Laura Lafayette and they cast a vision for removing barriers so that everyone can thrive in Richmond. 

Patrice Shelton and Sherrell Thompson converse with Ebony about their personal and professional experiences with public housing and as community health workers. From their perspective, racial equity requires better access to health resources and affordable housing for low to moderate income Richmonders.  

Ebony talks with Richmond Night Market and The Artisan Café co-creators Melody Short and Adrienne Cole Johsnon about how Richmond can advance racial equity by supporting Black entrepreneurship and improving community engagement.