Podcasts about greater richmond

Plus: A look at economic impacts in Southwest Virginia; school zone speed cameras are now active in Charlottesville; and other stories.    In the podcast: Graduation season has commenced, with traffic impacts expected in and around the Greater Richmond area. 

In this episode of The Volunteer Nation Podcast, host Tobi Johnson sits down with Diana Villarreal and Gail Cavallaro from the Community Foundation for greater Richmond to explore how strategic volunteer engagement is shaping the future of nonprofits. Diana and Gail share the foundation's mission and walk us through its inspiring history, along with the wide range of programs designed to support nonprofit growth at every level—from individuals to entire networks. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, volunteer manager, or simply passionate about community building, this episode offers valuable insights into what's possible when philanthropy and volunteerism work hand in hand! Full show notes: 158. Nonprofit Capacity Building with the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond  Nonprofit Capacity Building - Episode Highlights [00:32] - Introduction to Today's Topic: Nonprofit Capacity Building [03:12] - Meet the Guests: Community Foundation for Greater Richmond [04:51] - The Importance of Volunteerism [13:00] - About the Community Foundation for Greater Richmond [21:07] - Programs and Strategies for Volunteer Engagement [29:10] - Educating Volunteers for Maximum Impact [32:30] - The Give Back Guide and Civic Circle [36:17] - Organic Program Development [37:51] - Community Foundation's Impact and Collaboration [40:18] - Hybrid Model for Volunteer Management [44:03] - Course Design and Implementation [55:26] - Tips for Implementing Volunteer Programs Helpful Links Volunteer Management Progress Report VolunteerPro Impact Lab Volunteer Nation Episode #071: Partnering with Funders to Support Volunteer Engagement with Jane Justis & Betsy McFarland Community Foundation for a greater Richmond Website Community Foundation for a greater Richmond Volunteer Center CFengage Community Foundation for a greater Richmond LinkedIn Community Foundation for a greater Richmond Facebook Community Foundation for a greater Richmond Instagram CFengage Facebook CFengage Instagram  Final Gail on LinkedIn  Find Diana on LinkedIn Email - civic@cfrichmond.org  Thanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause. For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at WeCare@VolPro.net.

The 9th annual Richmond Black Restaurant Experience (RBRE), scheduled from March 9 to 16, 2025, is a citywide celebration that highlights Black-owned restaurants, food businesses, and culinary talent in Richmond, Virginia. This event not only boosts visibility and economic support for Black-owned eateries but also fosters a sense of community through food, culture, and entertainment. The festivities commence with Mobile Soul Sunday on March 9, 2025, featuring over 30 Black-owned food vendors offering a diverse array of cuisines influenced by African and Caribbean diasporas, as well as traditional soul food and American classics. The event also includes an Art Walk & Marketplace, music, dancing with Kemel (the line dance king), and "Trap Cardio" sessions. Shemicia Bowen, affectionately known as Mimi and Kelli often refers to as "Ma", serves as the co-founder and executive partner of RBRE. She is also the chairwoman of the Urban League of Greater Richmond, demonstrating her commitment to supporting minority communities. In addition to the culinary events, the community celebrates local leaders like Shemicia Bowen, who was recently inducted into the Class of 2025 Women Who Drive Richmond. This recognition honors 13 remarkable women making significant impacts in the Richmond region. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit the official RBRE website at rbre365.com.

Plus: News from Albemarle County, including State Sen. Creigh Deeds on Monday's Crozet shooting; UVA's Board of Visitors to meet Friday to talk gender-affirming care for minors; and other stories.

After several days in recess due to the water woes in Greater Richmond, Virginia's state lawmakers are fully in session at the state capitol.    In other news: Three Chesterfield residents are suing the county and Dominion Energy, Fox Elementary School has a new cupola – and more Central Virginia news.    Visit vpm.org/generalassembly for all our coverage of the Legislature. 

***Special Episode***Happy New Year! Team Embrace is back to discuss the recent unpleasantries impacting the Greater Richmond area. After a winter storm exposes Richmond's inadequate water maintenance...The city and surrounding counties are left without water. ShoutOut goes to Taylor Scott and RVA Community Fridges for their service during the water outage and More... www.embracerva.com - Join the Conversation!

Leadership on the Henrico County School Board and a Unite the Right sentence.    Today's top audio stories include pieces on familiar leadership on the Henrico County School Board and Unite the Right sentence.    PLUS: The week before a college semester begins is typically a busy one for in-person advising appointments, class changes, registration and more.    But schools like J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College had to make a few changes to the schedule due to the dayslong water outage and various boil notices in Greater Richmond.

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula says January's water bill is going to account for the water outage; small businessowners and workers impacted by the lack of water speak out; and more Central Virginia news.    Keep up with the latest information on Greater Richmond's outages at vpm.org/richmond.  Do you have questions or updates? Get in touch with us at tips@vpm.org, @vpm.org on Bluesky or u/vpmnews on Reddit. 

Plus: The boil water advisory for Hanover and Henrico counties are on track to be lifted on Saturday; How did Greater Richmond-area colleges respond to this week's snow and water outage?

Today's top audio stories are mostly about the continuing water outages and boil advisories in Central Virginia. Keep up with the latest information on Greater Richmond's outages at vpm.org/richmond. Do you have questions or updates? Get in touch with us at tips@vpm.org, @vpm.org on Bluesky or u/vpmnews on Reddit.

Older adults age 55 and up accounted for 44% of the homeless population in the Greater Richmond region, according to a recent annual count. Homelessness in the region increased 20% from 2023, while older adult homelessness rose two percentage points, based on recent data collected by the Homeward VA point-in-time count. Older adults have vulnerabilities that don't exist for other renters or homeowners, according to Benjamin Teresa, the director of RVA Eviction Lab. Limited income, medical costs, rising housing costs, evictions and more can all factor into the displacement of older adults. Like others in the region, older adults face...Article LinkSupport the show

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced this week that 21 projects focused on creating workforce pipelines for specific industries and helping attract and expand Virginia-based businesses in critical industries have been awarded a total of more than .5 million in grant funding from the Growth and Opportunity for Virginia initiative. Among the planning grants awarded was one for ,500 for a Greater Richmond cluster analysis involving Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield counties and the city of Richmond, approvals. The Greater Richmond Partnership will analyze the Richmond subregion and make recommendations on strategies for growing clusters specific to the area. The foundational research...Article LinkSupport the show

The nomination process for the 2024-25 REB Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards has opened, and Henrico Public Schools officials are inviting the public to nominate a principal deserving of the honor. The awards are presented annually to one principal from each of the four major public school systems in the Richmond region who have gone above and beyond to create "exceptional" educational environments. The REB Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond sponsor the awards. Winners earn ,000 to be used for school initiatives and unrestricted 410,000 cash grants. Runners up receive ,000 to use for school projects. Principals...Article LinkSupport the show

Are you a working single parent?Forward Foundation is a is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting working, single parents and their children in the Greater Richmond area who are in the midst of a financial crisis. Forward Foundation works with single parents who have encountered a life-altering event resulting in financial crisis. Many parents fear they will be unable to work because they can't afford the astronomical cost of childcare, but Forward Foundation can help.Its program requirements include completion of educational workshops led by its community partners. These consist of leading professionals in the financial, legal, career advancement, and family counseling fields. The foundation provides its families...Article LinkSupport the Show.

It's that time of year! Temps are already slightly cooler and kids are going back to school. Nan & Kam chat with Leigh Busby of Greater Richmond Fit4Kids about how best to transition kids back to a schedule and all the great programming they have throughout Richmond schools. Hear about how they're making healthy habits accessible for all and their upcoming Fun Fest!

This week on the show the guys sit down with Jamie Radtke, from Global Media Outreach, on how to everyone can be a missionary in the digital world. Jamie Radtke is currently serving as Chief Growth Officer of Global Media Outreach .Jamie previously served as the President of Explore God for seven years, which merged with Global Media Outreach in 2021. Prior to her time in the nonprofit sector, Jamie spent 20 years in the public policy and political space, which culminated in her campaign for United States Senate in 2012.Jamie has worked in various roles for nonprofits, as an adjunct professor in higher education, as a consultant in corporate America, and in all levels of government. In 2010, she was selected to be one of Style Weekly's “Top 40 Under 40” for the Greater Richmond area. In 2012, she was selected to participate in the American Swiss Young Leaders Conference. Jamie is a frequent commentator and speaker.Jamie received her undergraduate degree from Liberty University and holds a master of public policy from the College of William & Mary. Jamie and her husband have been married for 24 years. They live on a farm in Virginia and have four children.Check out Global Media Outreach

Among the volunteers and corporate partners honored at the Sixth Annual Steps to Success Awards was Karen Whelan, who received the Leadership Champion Award. Hosted by the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, the June 5 event was held  at the John Marshall Hotel in Richmond. Whelan, a long-time Henrico resident until her recent move to Goochland County, has supported United Way as a volunteer and donor for more than 50 years.  She is also a Henrico County Master Gardener and a volunteer with the Master Gardeners' community education programs.Article LinkSupport the Show.

For the latest installment of "Giving Tuesday," John talks to Barrett Hubbard of DLA Promotions, regarding the charitable work that that organization is doing in the Greater Richmond community here.

A grant from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation will help Commonwealth Catholic Charities' Dibert Food Pantry continue its work to combat hunger in the Greater Richmond community. The ,200 grant will support the pantry's mission of providing food for people and families in need. It is part of the foundation's mission to alleviate food insecurity across 10 states. “We are seeing more and more working families in need of extra support, and we are grateful to the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation for helping us meet this increasing need,” said Jennifer Cunningham, CCC's vice president of Mission Advancement. CCC's...Article LinkSupport the show

The Greater Richmond Community Mediation Center, a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, recently opened. The virtual center has a roster of mediators with a variety of expertise, and offers alternative dispute resolution services such as mediation, facilitation, negotiation, arbitration, conciliation, community dialogues, judicial/court mediation, conflict coaching and difficult family conversations.  Meetings can take place on Zoom or in person at a variety of public sites with private spaces, and can focus on employer/employee issues, building group consensus, consumer disputes, homeowners' associations, neighbor disputes and more. GRCMC also provides education and training for judicial court certification mediation, community mediation, facilitation, non-violent communication, leading...Article LinkSupport the show

United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg is looking for volunteers to participate in its annual tax assistance program that helps families work toward financial stability by providing free assistance through select in-person tax sites as well as a virtual tax assistance service. Powered by VITA, the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, the United Way service offers free tax preparation for families and individuals with income of ,000 or less. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary to become an IRS-certified volunteer with United Way.  There are several roles available to match a variety of skills and interests. Bilingual volunteers are encouraged to volunteer. Continuing education hours...Article LinkSupport the show

The Greater Richmond region is one of 31 communities recently named a national Tech Hub by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Of the 31 designated communities, Greater Richmond is one of just 13 that were also named Build Back Better Regional Challenge awardees – and the only one for pharmaceutical manufacturing. According to analysis by a Greater Richmond Partnership research team, the Richmond metro area offers significant cost savings for both employees and employers – an estimated 5,500 in annual savings compared to the U.S. average. GRP also highlighted the region's abundant tech talent as a factor in Richmond's designation,...Article LinkSupport the show

With 30 years of fundraising experience, Magnus Johnsson has led fundraising in large non-profits and presently works at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He was appointed in 2015 as senior associate vice president of presidential and university philanthropy. In this role he strategically leads the university's development efforts in principal giving, presidential engagement, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and regional major gifts.Serving on the senior leadership team of VCU's $841M Make It Real Campaign the effort achieved more than 112% of its $750M goal when it concluded in 2020 with 113,000 donors participating, including 73,000 first time donors. Previously he served as the executive director of external relations and development for the university's school of education. During Magnus's tenure at VCU he has notably seen the development program evolve from decentralized to hybrid and just recently to one that is now fully centralized.As an undergrad student at James Madison University pursuing a degree in public administration and nonprofit management he received his first exposure to fundraising during a summer internship preceding his senior year. An early mentor urged Magnus to apply for his first fundraising job shortly after graduation. Prior to joining VCU in 2007 spent the early part of his career building fundraising programs and gaining early leadership and managerial experience at United Methodist Family Services and the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg. In 2010 he completed a Master in Public Administration from VCU.Magnus is engaged in his community serving on the board of Home Again, a homeless services agency in the Richmond area focused on rapid rehousing. Living in Richmond's historic Fan District in walking distance from the VCU campus, Magnus enjoys tennis, building his ever-growing vinyl music collection, and any and all travel, including annual visits to his family in Finland.

Richmond Family Magazine will host its 2023 RFM Education Expo, sponsored by Virginia529, Sunday, Oct. 8, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2301 West Leigh Street in Richmond. Preschools, private schools, college savings and financial aid planners, extracurricular activities businesses, and other family resources from across Greater Richmond area and beyond will provide area families with information and planning tools related to education at this free family-friendly event. “Parents have been asking for this kind of education event, where they could tour the tables and meet school and business representatives...Article LinkSupport the show

Nominations of deserving principals are now being accepted through the REB Awards, a program established by the REB Foundation and Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond. The awards honor outstanding principals throughout the Richmond area every year. Eligible are principals from Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover and the city of Richmond, and one nominee from each school division will be honored. Students, parents and any other impacted member of the school community are invited to nominate a principal who has gone above and beyond to create an exceptional educational environment. The honorees will receive ,000 to be used for school initiatives as...Article LinkSupport the show

The members of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, the cross-jurisdictional authority that finances transportation projects throughout the Greater Richmond region, has named Chet Parsons as its first-ever executive director. The CVTA was established by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020 to provide and direct new funding opportunities for the region's major transportation investments. Parsons has acted as the CVTA's administrator since its inception in his capacity of director of transportation at PlanRVA. The CVTA has supported more than 0 million in regional transportation projects, in addition to more than million in funding to the Greater Richmond Transit Company. “The...Article LinkSupport the show

In an effort to decrease unrestrained traffic injuries and fatalities, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has launched its 2023 Local Heroes campaign, encouraging drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts. In 2022, 375 people who weren't wearing their seat belts were killed in crashes in Virginia. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, proper seat belt use reduces the chance of suffering a fatal injury in a crash by nearly half. Virginia's seat belt use rate is 75.6%, according to a 2022 survey. This year's multimedia campaign features local first responders from the Greater Richmond area, including...Article LinkSupport the show

For the second time in a month, Richmond City Council has delayed voting on an exotic animal ban within the city; New financial disclosures released earlier this week show that Virginia Democrats are outraising Republicans ahead of the June 20th primary; On Tuesday, the Greater Richmond region became the first in Virginia to establish a Tourism Improvement District. 

Podcast guests -- they're just like us! This week, we sat down with Sara Rennie, massage therapist, massage therapy educator, and thoughtful human. We talked about being a massage therapist, and preparing new massage therapists -- getting all the way real about the challenges. ********** The Accidental Business Owner book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43069541-the-accidental-business-owner *********** Let us know what you think! Send us an email: podcast@healwell.org *********** Support the podcast (and see the video of podcast episodes along with extra conversation) on Patreon: patreon.com/interdisciplinary ********** Continue the conversation with us in the Healwell Community: community.healwell.org ********** Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/healwell *********** Thank you to ABMP for sponsoring this season of Interdisciplinary! www.abmp.com About Our Guest: Sara Rennie has been in the healthcare field for over 35 years, and specifically in the massage therapy aspect of healthcare for 20 years. She is both an active, licensed massage therapist and massage educator in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area.

Good morning, RVA! It's 30 °F, and today looks warmer and, thankfully, less windy than yesterday. You can expect highs in the mid 50s and the start of a nice little warm streak—temperatures tomorrow and Friday will end up in the mid 60s! Water cooler OK! I got Council's budget work session from this past Monday up on the Boring Show and you can listen here. I think if you're only planning on listening to one single budget session (gasp! scoff!), this is the one I would pick for you. CAO Lincoln Saunders put together a really nice presentation overviewing both the operating and capital budgets and did a great job of explaining the Mayor's priority investments. One graphic which caught the praise of several councilmembers was this one breaking the operating budget down into percentages and representing it as “cents out of every dollar.” So, for example, out of every dollar in the City's budget, $0.23 goes towards education, $0.20 goes towards public safety, $.04 towards recreation and culture, and so on. I also heard tell of a “Budget in Brief” document that I want to get my hands on and add to my PDF library. As for notable topics, I think the discussions on assessments, gun violence, and housing are worth a listen. Especially the latter, as the CAO explains why the Mayor decided to fund affordable housing outside of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (mostly due to restrictions on how ARPA dollars can be spent). I'd love some smart housing person to dig into this new funding plan from the City and let us all know their thoughts and feelings. Jahd Khalil at VPM details a few of the open questions. Anyway, the budget is important stuff and listening to this work session while you do the dishes or fold the laundry will make you a better citizen—plus, at 2x speed it'll only take you about an hour to get through! Richmond BizSense's Mike Platania reports that City Council has given final final for real approval to a new restaurant in Byrd Park on the corner of Idlewood and Stafford. This is great news, because the folks behind the new spot (who also run New York Deli) have worked to bring a restaurant to that location for literal years! Because a restaurant is not an allowed use under the building's current zoning, City Council had to pass an entire ordinance just for this one single property via its Special Use Permit process. That process gives incredible power to, as Platania puts it, a “handful of local residents opposed to the project”, who, with a little organizing, can completely derail or delay something that probably should be allowed by right. The amount of SUPs on Council's agenda each and every week is why zoning is so important and why the City's rewrite of its zoning ordinance is such a huge deal. With the rewrite, we've got the opportunity to start mixing our neighborhood uses together—residential right next to retail! It's how the rest of the world does it, and I bet if folks take a second to think of their favorite places, they are almost certainly neighborhoods where you can walk across the street to something cool—something like a chill corner cafe! Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael Paul Williams writes about a school-name switcheroo pulled by the Hanover County School Board. That County will soon consolidate Henry Clay and John M. Gandy elementary schools, and, back in 2018, the plan was to consolidate the name, too, to just “John M. Gandy.” It was an important decision, because, as MPW writes, the original Gandy “opened in 1950 to accommodate Black Hanover County students during a school segregation era that was long on ‘separate' but short on ‘equal'...The school — named for a longtime Virginia State University president — was the first in Hanover to provide Black students with central heating and indoor plumbing.” Now Hanover's School Board will backtrack on their decision and establish a committee to make naming recommendations for the new consolidated school. To quote MPW again: “Hanover has become the place where consensus goes to die.” Tonight, at 6:00 PM, the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond and the University of Richmond are hosting a virtual panel exploring “important insights and possible action steps around regional planning for our port and highways, as well as local projects to improve bus routes and bike lanes.” Of course, my actions steps for highways would be “spend less money on highways,” but the other stuff sounds interesting. Panelists include folks from the City, Henrico County, GRTC, Bike Walk RVA, and a reporter—I think you'll recognize a lot of the names! The event is free, but you should register online to get the Zoom link. This morning's longread Miscellany № 99: minting the dollar I found a blog about punctuation, and it is lovely. Like most towns that host a cen­tur­ies-old uni­versity, St An­drews boasts and/or suf­fers eye-wa­ter­ing hous­ing costs, sticky-floored bars be­loved by stu­dents and loathed by loc­als, and at least one quirky, age­less book­shop that looks like it has es­caped from a Terry Pratch­ett novel. Cam­bridge has The Haunted Book­shop; Ox­ford has St Philip's Books; Ed­in­burgh has Arm­chair Books. We came across a fant­astic ex­ample in St An­drews in the form of J&G Innes on South Street, one of the town's main shop­ping streets...But at least as in­ter­est­ing as the shop's com­mer­cial and ar­chi­tec­tural his­tory is this sign above the door: “Here stood the house of BAILIE BELL, who, be­fore 1744, was an eager co-worker with Al­ex­an­der Wilson, the father of Scot­tish type-found­ing, and JOHN BAINE in whose type-foundry in Phil­adelphia the first $ sign was cast in 1797.” If you'd like to suggest a longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol' Patreon. Picture of the Day I'm mad about how the State ruined an entire block of Broad Street and doesn't even really care.

This coming Monday, let's build our online platform ! Another great discussion on Marketing with Russ…aka #RussSelfie 9 January, Monday, 8am PST Featuring Sharvette Mitchell Sharvette is a Marketing Consultant from Greater Richmond. Known as The Platform Builder, provides consulting services for service-based women entrepreneurs so that they generate more revenue with an amazing online brand and platform. Sharvette hosts the llivestream The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show. Watch Here: LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gkTCe8bv Facebook: https://lnkd.in/gCiK5JRX YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gNPUrQdQ Connect with Sharvette: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharvette Website: mitchell-productions.com ; sharvette.com Email: info@mitchell-productions.com Connect with Russ: Website: www.russhedge.com Or schedule on calendar: russhedge.com/contact #platform #contentmarketing #theplatformbuilder #marketing #insporation #InspirationSpecialist

In this special episode of The Home Health Care Today Show, we honor the life, legacy, and memory of the late, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Sheryl Garland, MHA, FACHE, Chief of Health Impact for Virginia Commonwealth University's Health System and Executive Director of VCU Office of Health Equity joins us in this tribute episode to address hopes, challenges, and realities of today's level of access to quality health care for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations. The show revisits Dr. King's vision while articulating clear steps and calls to action to realize health care equity for all, while mitigating various social determinants of health (SDOH).Sheryl is a native of Richmond, Virginia who received an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in 1982 and a Masters in Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1988.  Since joining the VCU Health System in 1987 as an administrative resident, she has served in various leadership roles including Vice President for Health Policy and Community Relations, Vice President for Community Outreach, Director of Ambulatory Care Services, and Director of Planning.  In her current role as Chief of Health Impact, Sheryl is responsible for building programs and partnerships to improve the health of populations and communities served by VCU Health System.  In this position, she provides leadership for the health system's Division of Community Health that focuses on advancing health equity and addressing health disparities for patients. Projects to date have included initiatives to identify and address social determinants of health such as housing instability, food insecurity, employment, and transportation needs. Sheryl is the recipient of several awards including the American College of Health Care Executives Regent's Early Career Healthcare Executive Award, the VCU Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment (Administrator Award), VCU/MCV School of Medicine Dean's Award for Community Service, YWCA of Richmond Outstanding Woman of the Year Award in the field of Health/Science, the VCU Department of Health Administration Alumni of the Year  and Lifetime Achievement Awards, the First African Baptist Church Community Leader's Award, and the MCV Foundation's Jerome F. Strauss III Award.Sheryl is a fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives and a member of SisterFund, an African American Women's Giving Circle.  She currently serves on the Virginia Board of Social Services as well as the boards of the MCV Foundation, Virginia Center for Health Innovation, American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, and the Institute for Public Health Innovation (Board Chair).  Sheryl is also a Trustee Emeritus of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation.   The show's goal ultimate goal is to inform, inspire, influence, and educate the homebound communities around the nation about the importance of home health care services for themselves, their families, caregivers, communities, and the greater society at large. However, this episode is special in it's intent to honor the late, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and address the glaring need to enable equitable pathways to health care, access, and favorable outcomes for all.Hosted by Dr. Cleamon MoorerSponsored by: American Advantage Home Care, Inc.

Virginia State Police have begun using a new service that allows them to access cellphone location data without a warrant; The YMCA of Greater Richmond president and CEO will soon be part of the organization's national leadership; Governor Glenn Youngkin wants to ban Chinese companies connected to the Communist Party from purchasing farmland in Virginia; and other local news stories.

With over 10 years in the education field, Kai Butler holds a B.A. in English from Old Dominion University. She taught as an English teacher, but after three years, she saw the need to deepen her theory and practice for helping inner city youth in the areas of social-emotional and academic support, as well as career exploration. She obtained her Master's in School Counseling from Howard University in 2011.She has served as a school counselor in the middle and high school sector in New York and Richmond, VA, including Henrico County Public Schools as Director of School Counseling at The Academy at Virginia Randolph and currently at Varina High School. Serving the underdog and those forgotten is her true passion and she relishes the opportunity to connect real-life practicality with her approach. She is certified in trauma-informed care and restorative practices, with which she will infuse the program.Today, she is the Executive and Founder of Work of Art, a local nonprofit designed to empower girls 13-18 from underserved communities, focusing specifically on Black youth. The mission of the program is built on three beliefs: lead by example, inspire others, and connect the world through volunteerism and other enriching experiences. She also serves as a trainer for United Way of Greater Richmond, where she trains other organizations using The Weikart Center's Youth for Program Quality. What she enjoys most about her current positions is the ability to assist youth in reaching their unique potential and seeing the determined spark in their eyes. In her spare time, Kai enjoys dancing, hot yoga, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog Paris Rose.Instagram: @kai_thecounselor and @workofartrvaWebsite: www.workofartrva.org

There cannot be agriculture without culture. Duron Chavis executive director of Happily Natural Day shares his passion for soil health and cultural activism as a means to address systemic issues and transform the built environment. Duron is a thought leader, educator, activist, and changemaker in the Greater Richmond region. He integrates music, art, and cultural identity in his work in urban agriculture, gardening, farming, and orchards as a tool for social change, public health promotion, and community transformation. Duron emphasizes that healthy, fertile soil is an imperative and the crux of landscape resilience, food security, and environmental justice. To learn more about Happily Natural Day's mission and dedication to holistic health, cultural awareness, and social change, please visit https://thenaturalfestival.com/. For additional soil health resources, please visit the Virginia Soil Health Coalition's website at https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/resources-1.We also welcome you to show your support 4 The Soil by taking the pledge to build healthy, fertile soil at https://www.4thesoil.org/take-the-pledge.html

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond is holding their 16th annual Step UP for Down syndrome event on Saturday, October 15, 2022 which includes a 5k, Family Walk, Festival and more! Executive Director Jennifer Case joined Jeff to talk about it. 

Fans of longer days in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States of America have three weeks to go until the world begins turning back to the other way. The solstice will mark the official start of summer, but many would argue it is already here. I’m not here to argue, and neither is Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and podcast that seeks to document as much as it can. The I mentioned above is me, Sean Tubbs. Sign up for free to make sure you get every installment. But if you do pay to support the work, Ting will match your initial payment! On today’s program:Details on what’s in the compromise budget that the General Assembly will vote on todayAlbemarle Supervisors have a full meeting including a vote for a new Planning CommissionerTwo plans for a future Regional Transit Authority are presented to area leaders and both have hefty price tags First shout-out is for LEAP’s new Thermalize Virginia program In today’s first Patreon-fueled shout-out: Have you been thinking of converting your fossil-fuel appliances and furnaces into something that will help the community reduce its greenhouse gas emissions? Your local energy nonprofit, LEAP,  has launched a new program to guide you through the steps toward electrifying your home. Thermalize Virginia will help you understand electrification and connect you with vetted contractors to get the work done and help you find any rebates or discounts. Visit thermalizeva.org to learn more and to sign up!  General Assembly returns today to consider conference reportBoth chambers of the Virginia General Assembly will convene at 10 a.m. to finish work on several bills left over the regular session. The major item left waiting to be finalized is the state budget and conference reports were made public over the weekend. There are 370 pages in the conference report for HB30, the technical name for the bill that carries the two year state budget that begins on July 1. A team of six Delegates and eight Senators were appointed to come up with compromises. One running theme is the reduction of funding that is now required because of elimination of the sales tax on foods for human consumption and personal hygiene products. The standard deduction for Virginia income taxes has also been increased from $4,500 to $8,000 for single filers and $9,000 to $16,000 for married couples. There’s a lot in it, and here are some highlights. Let’s start with education. A $400 million competitive fund will be set up for local school boards to apply for funding for “construction, expansion, or modernization, of public school buildings.” The grants would cover up to 30 percent of the project cost. There is a separate $400 million for the School Construction Grant program “for debt service payments on school projects that have been completed or initiated during the last ten years.” School systems across Virginia will get $104.1 million in FY23 and $257.2 million in FY24 in “hold harmless” payments to represent the loss of revenue from the suspension of the grocery A hundred million dollars will go into a College Partnership Laboratory Schools Fund which would be for the creation of “public, nonsectarian, nonreligious schools in the Commonwealth established by a baccalaureate public institution of higher education.”The Secretary of Education is directed to study the practice of collecting student debts for public institutions of higher education. The RISE Foundation of Waynesboro is allocated $250,000 for preventive services for at-risk youth. Around $9.5 million over two years will go to support the implementation of the Virginia Literacy ActChesterfield County Public Schools would get $1.364 million over two years to help establish a recovery high school for students in “early stages of recovery from substance use disorder or dependency.”Here are some economic development and tourism items:There’s $66.7 million in funding over two years to support biotechnology in Virginia, including up to $18 million for the University of Virginia Institute of Biotechnology “to accelerate biotechnology commercialization, genomics and gene therapies, drug delivery technologies and biomanufacturing facilities in the Commonwealth over the next five fiscal years through incentives designed to attract 150 research scientists.”The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be allocated $125,000 to the Virginia Wine Board to breeding vinifera-style wine groups “with a specified focus on combining vinifera fruit quality with downy mildew resistance, with an objective of commercializing the resulting variety within 10 to 15 years.”There’s $700,000 to hire seven inspectors for regulating hemp products and investigating possible violations. This is related to changes in the already adopted rules for hemp and marijuana.Nine million would be spent over the next two years for the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund.The Frederick County Economic Development Authority will get $5 million to help develop sites that can “support the growth of small aerospace, avionics, and unmanned systems companies in Planning District 7.”  Matching funds would need to be provided within a year. Virginia Tech would receive $2.5 million to “create a unique, world-class future truck research and development center in Southwest Virginia.”Nelson County would get $250,000 to support the planning of a Vietnam War and Foreign Conflicts Museum. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton would get a $250,000 grant for renovations. Thirty million in funding for a new Solar Loan and Rebate program has been eliminated. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority would get $2.5 million in FY24 for a grant program to spur development in the offshore wind industry. There’s $200,000 for a feasibility study whether a new inland port should be built in either southwest Virginia or the Lynchburg area. There’s $2 million for an international sailing event called OpSail250. Environmental items:There’s $575,000 in new funding for an invasive species detection program.The Department of Conservation and Recreation would get $350,000 for creation of an environmental literacy plan. The Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund would get an additional $10 million, matching a $10 million appropriation from the state’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act. DCR would also get $1 million to study of harmful algae blooms on Lake Anna. The phased ban on polystyrene containers would be delayed five years until July 1, 2028Another $320,000 would go to monitor groundwater for the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).The Department of Wildlife Resources gets $400,000 over two years for a program to restore freshwater mussels across Virginia.Here are some land use items:The Department of Housing and Community Development is directed to develop a model lease for manufactured home parks in collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders, and to conduct a feasibility study of these parks as a “source of affordable housing for Virginians.” Just over $11 million for planning for a Center for the Arts at the University of Virginia has been deferred. For more on how we got to here, some other articles: After months of wrangling, Virginia has a budget deal. What’s in it?, Virginia MercuryLawmakers to vote on budget, won’t take up stadium bill, Associated PressVirginia budget proposal includes new marijuana crime, WUSA 9Supervisors to appoint Planning Commissioner for White Hall DistrictThree candidates are awaiting to see if they will be the one selected to represent the White Hall District on the Albemarle Planning Commission. Jennie More resigned in April before the end of her second term.Supervisors will meet today at 1 p.m. and will make their appointments at 6 p.m. after a closed session. They will also select a new non-voting member to represent the University of Virginia. The previous holder of that position, Luis Carazana, was elevated to be the at-large commissioner. Unlike the Board of the Supervisors, there are seven members of the Planning Commission. The applicants for the White Hall seat are Marc McKenney, Lonnie Murray, and Elizabeth Wachtneister. Murray is an elected member of the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation Board.Second shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign It’s getting close to the end of springtime, and one Patreon subscriber wants you to know the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign is a grassroots initiative of motivated citizens, volunteers, partner organizations, and local governments who want to promote the use of native plants. Did you know that National Pollinator Week is June 20th-26th this year? There are many ways to celebrate and learn more about our native pollinators, and here's a great one to start with: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is hosting an in-person/virtual Pollinator Power Symposium on June 23rd, and there is an excellent line up of speakers scheduled for the day! There are plenty of resources on the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page, so sign up to be notified of lectures, plant sales, and more! Partnership briefed on potential vision for regional transitWork is nearing completion on a conceptual study for how public transport  might work better across the entirety of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. Today the Board of Supervisors will get an up close look at the $350,000 Regional Transit Vision.Last week, an appointed body consisting of elected officials and transit officials got an update on the Regional Transit Vision. “The project is a collaborative effort to evaluate and establish a clear long term vision for transit service in the region, and not just the urbanized area but also the rural areas surrounding Charlottesville and Albemarle County,”  said Tim Brulle of AECOM is the project manager for the vision plan. If you’re unfamiliar with planning, you should know that any plan needs a vision statement to provide an overarching purpose. “To develop, design, and provide transit in the Charlottesville area in a manner that reflects a collaborative, inclusive, and equitable process representing needs in both rural and urban areas,” Brulle said. The purpose is to reduce reliance on personal vehicles for multiple reasons and outcomes, and to provide a way to get around for people without access to one. But how to make that work? Scudder Wagg with Jarrett Walker + Associates presented one vision concept that assumed the region had access to new revenues from a transportation authority similar to one in the Richmond area. This is known the “constrained “ vision. “So basically if you applied a similar funding structure there to your region, how many dollars and if you put most of those dollars to transit, what could it produce?” Wagg asked. “It’s about $26 million a year.”Such an authority would take enabling authority from the General Assembly and would build off of existing services. Wagg also presented a vision that assumed no limits on transit funding. For instance, that would allow for expansion of demand responsive service to seven days a week, as well as fixed-route transit to places that currently don’t have it such as Scottsville, Ruckersville, Lovingston, and Palmyra. This “unconstrained” vision would come with a hefty price tag. “So there’s no defined limit when we were designing a network that we collectively with staff and others at the table felt would help you achieve those goals and the total annual estimate of that network is about $70 million a year to give you some sense of scale,” Wagg said. Most of that cost is in personnel with drivers and mechanics, as well as a additional vehicles. It takes people to run a transit system, and another way to measure one is through service hours. Wag said Charlottesville Area Transit has about 94,000 service hours a year, Jaunt operates 37,000 for a total of 131,000 service hours for the general public. The unconstrained vision includes potential collaboration with the University of Virginia whereas the constrained vision does not their role into account. The partnership isn’t in charge of the purse strings, so today’s conversation before the Board of Supervisors will yield more of a sense of whether there’s an appetite to pursue additional funding and if so, where to direct it. Jarrett Walker + Associates helped redraw the bus system in the Greater Richmond area, and CAT Director Garland Williams was there at the time.“The majority of the emphasis was actually put on frequency and our ridership jumped 22 percent,” Williams said. “Then the second piece was to look at once the frequent service is in, how can you readjust networks to adjust travel times.” Williams said that the same model could be applied here. A microtransit pilot in Albemarle is a year away from happening and depends on award of funding from the Commonwealth Transportation Board.“It will be awarded and the starting of it will be acquisition, development of the program, software acquisition, things that have to happen before the actual buses are on the ground,” said Trevor Henry, the assistant county executive. The regional transit study is separate from a $150,000 governance study about that will suggest how to actually move forward with setting up new structures to actually run the enhanced service, be they constrained or unconstrained visions.Watch the Regional Transit Vision presentation here: This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

A major emergency at Richmond International Airport – but not really; the Lebanese Food Festival returns today; Henrico Police arrested two 24-year-old men in connection with the March murder of a 22-year-old man; police seek a missing 15-year-old girl; the Richmond Ismaili Jamatkhana opens officially; JA of Greater Richmond inducts four into its hall of fame; the Citizen announces its new "Live@Lunch" webinar series.Support the show

Stephan Hicks is a prime example of a man allowing God to use his scars to empower other men in overcoming their wounds. Stephan was in his 40s when he founded My Brother's Keeper, an organization born out of his own healing.     It started with just six guys, then multiplied. “Little did I know inviting six guys into my home would turn into a non-profit organization.”    My Brother's Keeper is a group dedicated to mentoring men from 18 years old to well into their 60s. They help men handle problems across the board, such as education, employment, finances, and trauma, many resulting from a lack of fathers in the home. It is a safe place for men to talk about what they deal with, learn about their needs, and attain resources and counselors.    When Stephan was introduced to Mike Young and Noble Warriors, he went through The Quest for Authentic Manhood with those first six guys. In Episode 76 of The Noble Man Podcast, hear how God has multiplied their ministry with men across the city. He continues to provide unique ways for them to meet men where they are and show Christ's faithfulness by living out the Gospel with them daily.    “Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32    Resources:    My Brother's Keeper of Greater Richmond    Quest for Authentic Manhood    24/7 Dad® Program Info Sheet (fatherhood.org)    Safe Harbor   MENTOR Virginia    Suits for Success    My Brother's Keeper of Greater Richmond on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter    Phone: (804)422-4060    Email: mbkgrva@gmail.com    View Show Notes: NobleWarriors.org/episode76 Leave a Review: If you like what you've been hearing, we invite you to leave us a review. Tell us what you love about this episode!  More Resources and Encouragement: NobleWarriors.org  © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved  

It's Monday and that means it's time for a new episode of YB's Collaboration Corner! If you desire to share your story with the world, want to advance  in your career, create conversations and connections, and don't want to take years to do it  then this is for you. This week join President of Sales Rob "YB" Youngblood for conversation & connection with Principal Broker of Ransome Realty Group Rob Ransome.Rob is the Principal Broker of Ransome Realty Group currently located in Richmond's Northside neighborhood. Rob has worked as a REALTOR® in the Greater Richmond market for more than 15 years and is still passionate about the driving factors that first led him to this profession: true joy in helping others, an understanding of the value of client service, and genuine love for the city of Richmond where he lives. He prides himself on being well versed in negotiating both sides of a deal, the intricacies of managing a transaction and helping to develop these skills in his agents. Rob does not believe in "Standard Service" and recognizes that each of his clients and agents are unique and original, as is their home, their needs and their requirements. He believes in tailoring his services to each individual and providing them with the information they need, when they need it.Tune in for a new episode every Monday night at 7:30 pm (CST). www.selfpublishn30days.comYou can also watch this episode on our YouTube channel!https://youtu.be/72BkcPjS1nADon't miss another episode… Subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes, Spotify or Stitcher.If you have been thinking about how to publish a book but you're not sure how, Self Publish -N- 30 Days is the company for you! As the #1 Self Publishing Company in the world we are able to publish your book faster and with less stress than other services. We offer the same services as KDP Amazon  but with a personalized approach. We know that to publish on Amazon, there are several steps that seem intimidating if you don't know what to do. At Self Publish -N- 30 Days our skilled team will walk you through the whole process of how to write a book step by step.  Contact Us Today! This Is The Year For Your New Book!

Themes: Mindfulness, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Anti-racism, Diversity Summary: John is a Teacher of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and is an active member of the Greater Richmond community, the primary focus of his work has been on racial equity and reconciliation initiatives, as well as facilitating community dialogues, board service, and teaching mindfulness. He has also been a food security activist who initiated urban farming programs in Newark, New Jersey. He currently serves as Associate Director of Side by Side, an organization that provides supportive communities for Virginia's LGBTQ+ youth as well as training, education, and awareness programs for adults. John's entire life has been an exploration of the relationship between community activism and intrapersonal mindfulness. In this episode, John shares and explores that story with us. Links: The Innerwork Center: https://innerworkcenter.org/ Matt's IG: @mindfulnesscounselor Matt's website: www.themindfulnesscounselor.com

“It was a tough decision to move; in Phoenix I was able to drive around  and see the impact of my years invested first-hand. But I was ready for a new challenge.” –Mitchel Allen With a huge move under his belt in 2021, Mitchel Allen is ready for 2022 and all it has in store. […]

This week we're sharing a conversation focused on our veterans, their service to our country and involvement with golf. That led us to Mark Lynch the PGA professional and Vice President of Golf Operations for the First Tee of Greater Richmond and US Army veteran. Mark shares how he enlisted shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001 and through his deployments in Africa began to find golf as a great way to support his mental health. We also get into how he came to Richmond and hear updates on Belmont now that it's been reopened for almost six months. Oh, and shameless plug that Belmont is now a participating Youth on Course Club. Meaning that Youth on Course members can play Belmont or Little Bell, the six-hole short course, for $5 or less during the designated playing window. Visit VSGA.org/YouthOnCourse to see more.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. April Titler interviews podcast guest, Lauren Robinson, mother of an amazing 5 year old with Down Syndrome. Lauren is passionate about advocating for inclusion for people with disabilities of all types. #WelcometoHolland Welcome to Holland Poem: https://www.stepsautismtreehouse.org.au/blogs/2019/6/2/welcome-to-holland-an-inspirational-poem Resources: Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond https://dsagr.org/ National Down Syndrome Society https://www.ndss.org/ National Down Syndrome Society's

DBD Group's Jon Simons interviews two leaders about building partnerships with local government and elected officials; Abby Farris Rogers, CEO and President of the YMCA of Greater Richmond and Eva Colen, Manager, Office of Children and Families for the city of Richmond, VA.

Fore! Belmont’s back with exciting new challenges for golfers of all ages. In the June episode of Henrico Happenings, find out how First Tee of Greater Richmond is working to make the course a place for the community to golf, gather and enjoy. Kristin and Victoria talk with Mark Lynch, Vice President of Golf for First Tee of Greater Richmond.

This week we're sharing what it sort of behind the scenes footage from the grand re-opening of Belmont Golf Course in Henrico under the management of the First Tee of Greater Richmond. We'll use these interviews for a video which you’ll be able to find on our YouTube channel but in the meantime we wanted to share them here in their entirety.  The event took place on May 24 and included speeches from the First Tee’s Board Chair, Ben Pace, and comments from county officials recognizing the journey the course took from hosting the 1949 PGA Championship won by Virginia’s own Sam Snead to then a point of disrepair and near closure. Guests heard from the First Tee’s CEO Brent Schneider and then Davis Love III who spoke on Love Golf Design’s work with the course before Davis then coached a group of First Tee participants down the first whole of the short course where one young lady almost made a hole-in-one, another chipped in for birdie and others made great putts to cap off a special event. After all that was said and done, we had the opportunity to interview Brent Schneider and get his take on the project and celebration as well as Scot Sherman who was the lead architect for Love Golf Design on-site frequently working on the renovation and remaining mindful of the A.W. Tillinghast legacy and finally Davis Love III who talked about the creation of the First Tee from his time on the PGA Tour Board of Directors through today where his company had the opportunity to create an innovative and accessible golf course which is under the management of the First Tee.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation announced the award recently of more than 0,000 in literacy grants to Virginia nonprofit organizations, part of the Foundation’s .5 million donation to support summer, family and adult literacy programs nationwide.  Among the recipients with Henrico ties were Down's Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond, which received ,000, and Reading and Education for Adult Development, which was awarded ,000. Grant recipients use the awarded funds to promote literacy and learning through programs that promote childhood summer reading, help adults learn to read and prepare for the high school equivalency exam, and help individuals learn English. For...Article LinkSupport the show (http://henricocitizen.com/contribute)

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts launched a fund in March to provide free access to doula care for pregnant Black women living in Henrico. A doula is trained in labor support and provides expectant mothers with emotional and physical support during pregnancy, childbirth and in the postpartum period. Birth in Color RVA and Urban Baby Beginnings are partnering with the RHHD to provide the doula care. The program will provide free doula care to 133 pregnant women in Henrico, while funding the work of the doulas, said Kenda Sutton-El, executive director of Birth in Color RVA. The Greater Richmond...Article LinkSupport the show (http://henricocitizen.com/contribute)

In 2019, Henrico County issued an RFP to operate Belmont Golf Course, which was purchased by the county back in 1977. The historic A.W. Tillinghast design played host to the only major in the history of the state of Virginia, the 1949 PGA Championship won by native son Sam Snead. The contract was awarded to the First Tee of Greater Richmond, who’s unique proposal included restoring 12 original holes as well as adding a six-hole par-3 course, putting course and expanded practice facility. Leading these efforts is Brent Schneider, the chapter’s CEO, who joined the podcast to discuss the plan, the reopening in May, what the future holds for Belmont and the role this project plays in municipal golf going forward. Listen below or click here to watch!

Good morning, RVA! It’s 52 °F, and you can expect another wonderful day ahead of us with temperatures in the mid 80s—another wonderful day to get out there and enjoy!Water coolerThe Richmond Police Department and VCU are both reporting that the person shot to death on the 400 block of Gilmer Street was 20-year-old student Cody Woodson. Woodson was murdered around 8:00 PM on Monday night. Ali Rockett and Reed Williams in the Richmond Times-Dispatch report that this is the second deadly shooting on the same block of Gilmer in as many days.As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 1,434 new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealthand 41 new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 155 new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 81, Henrico: 43, and Richmond: 31). Since this pandemic began, 1,238 people have died in the Richmond region. Locally, we’ve seen reported case counts fluctuate over the past month or so, but, looking at Richmond City’s numbers specifically, I think you can spot a trend. One month ago, on March 7th, the seven-day average of new cases in Richmond sat at 27.4. Today, that number has increased to 42.1. Across the region we’ve seen about a 19% increase in new reported cases over the last month, almost entirely driven by the numbers in Richmond. I don’t know what the deal is, but it’s just another reminder to continue treating this disease seriously. It’s also another reminder to go pre-register for the vaccine at vaccinate.virginia.gov if you haven’t already. Everyone can pre-register, and it takes five minutes! Just go do it!Sabrina Moreno at the RTD reports that the Centers for Disease Control will award Virginia a $77.1 million grant “to help remove accessibility barriers limiting vaccine uptake and equitable distribution among the state’s most-affected populations.” Sounds like most of this money will flow back out to local health districts to support their work in Black and Brown communities and their vaccine hesitancy work (which can, but do not necessarily, overlap). That’s a lot of cash to dump into outreach programs! I’m really interested in what happens once the entire state is eligible for vaccination. Do we see a huge crush of folks queueing up at the Raceway? Has everyone who’s stoked to get vaccinated already done so? I just don’t think we know yet. With only a little over 30% of Virginians with at least one dose, we’ve got a lonnnnng way to go before we reach our herd immunity target of 75%. I imagine connecting with the huge and remaining chunk of folks not yet or not interested in getting vaccinated will be a lot of ongoing, hard work.Two boring updates! First, I’ve got the audio from Council’s third budget work session up on The Boring Show, which you are free to listen to while you enjoy today’s wonderful weather. I only recently got around to listening to last week’s second work session, and I really recommend that you try to find the time to do so. There’s a good back-and-forth between Councilmember Larson and CAO Lincoln Saunders about funding CIP projects in councilmembers' districts, and Councilmember Trammell delivers one of her classic monologues. I am sympathetic to some of the councilmembers' concerns, but, also, they have the full authority to amend the Mayor’s budget! I like to listen to these work sessions, hear the complaints from Council, and then compare/contrast to the budget amendments they ultimately submit. Second, that Planning Commission resolution to declare a citywide rezoning to allow ADUs passed. Onward and upward!VPM’s Whittney Evans recaps yesterday’s Commonwealth’s Attorney forum, if you missed it. And, over on the Virginia Mercury, Graham Moomaw reports from last night’s Democratic gubernatorial debate. I watched the latter, and for me the headlining moment came when Lt. Gov. Fairfax compared himself to George Floyd. Here’s Kenneth Gilliam, Jr., policy director for New Virginia Majority, on the comments: “There is so much to unpack about Fairfax’s comments this evening. but, without question, they were traumatizing for many and an insult to the lives lost due to white supremacist violence.” Here’s Jamil Smith, writer at Rolling Stone, “Justin Fairfax, who is credibly accused of sexual violence by two black women, joined the likes of Bill Cosby, R. Kelly, and Clarence Thomas by likening such allegations to a lynching. And he actually did it in Virginia, while talking about real lynchings.”The City installed these “stop for pedestrians” signs in the middle of Brookland Park Boulevard at its intersection with the Cannon Creek Greenway, and, seven days in, this one has seen better days. I guess it’s either “hilarious” to hit a sign protecting pedestrians with your car or that intersection is dangerous enough that it needs real improvements to slow traffic and make crossing there safer on foot or on bike.I don’t know if this is useful, but Venture Richmond posted some downtown-related numbers as part of their Annual Community Update. For example, did you know that downtown accounts for 53% of the city’s jobs? Or that downtown holds a quarter of the retail businesses and a third of the restaurants and bars? Here’s the full study from where these numbers come if you’d like to stash it away in your PDF library.Will Virginia legalize possession of marijuana on July 1st? Find out (maybe) today at 12:00 PM as both chambers of the General Assembly return for a reconvened session. You can stream both meetings using the previous link!This morning’s longreadMaking Sense of Greater Richmond’s Transit GovernanceOK, you’re going to tap on this link, see the flow chart, freak out, and then close the tab. However, before you do! I found this visual description of the region’s transit governance system(s) and the accompanying narrative really helpful. Maybe even enjoyable!First and foremost — what is transit governance? Think of it as Government+, like how Disney+ is Disney plus a few other networks. So for governance, in addition to elected officials, laws and ordinances, and other formal institutions of the state, governance also can include “elected and non-elected government officers, nongovernmental organizations, political, parties, interest groups, …and other relevant actors in the decision-making processes that produce government action”. For example, bus riders, political parties, RVA Rapid Transit, and city officials all fall into the umbrella of transit governance. In regards to Richmond’s transit governance, there are 4 main bodies that comprise most of the decision-making, funding, and operation of transit here in Richmond. They all have different roles. Different localities, agencies, and groups all have varying levels of influence for each body listed below.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.Picture of the DayRedbuds!

Representatives from the Asian American Society of Central Virginia, Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, Organization of Chinese Americans - Central Virginia Chapter and Korean-American Society of Greater Richmond joined county, state and federal officials in addressing a crowd at the “Stop the Hate Rally” March 23 at Short Pump Park. The event was designed to mourn the victims of a mass shooting in Atlanta last week, most of whom were Asian, and to reinforce the message that Asian hate crime will not be tolerated in the county. “Today we come together as one voice – one Henrico. . . to...Article LinkSupport the show (http://henricocitizen.com/contribute)

Good morning, RVA! It’s 38 °F, but this afternoon’s temperatures look extremely pleasant. Expect highs in the 60s and sunshine. I think we’ve got at least one more day of dry weather before some rain moves in later this week.Water coolerAs of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 1,159 new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealthand 13 new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 116 new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 43, Henrico: 54, and Richmond: 19). Since this pandemic began, 1,185 people have died in the Richmond region. Michael Martz at the Richmond Times-Dispatch has a one-year-later look back at the early and deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. Over 50 people died, which is shocking—a little less than 10% of Henrico’s total deaths to date. It’s interesting/bizarre/sad to read about how little we knew about this disease back then and how much we learned from this particular outbreak.Over in the vaccine side of the house, for the third week in a row the region vaccinated more than 37,000 people—easily defeating my (and the Governor’s) vaccination goals. You can see a satisfying graph of Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield’s steadily increasing vaccination work here. At this point, over 2 million Virginians have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine—almost 25% of the Commonwealth’s population! With supply of the vaccine less of an issue these days, that number should just continue to creep upwards. Speaking of supply, I’d never scrolled all the way down to the bottom of VDH’s vaccination data dashboard, where you’ll find this fun graph of types of vaccine received by the state over time. Looks like those of you hoping to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will have to wait a minute.Good news! City Council will host their first budget work session today at 1:00 PM, and you can stream it live here. In years past, they’ve posted a list of which departments were scheduled to come present to Council when, but I haven’t found such a list for this year yet—I’ll keep looking. On today’s agenda for sure, though, is a presentation by RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. Looking at the RPS (PDF) and the City(PDF) budget documents, the Mayor has fully funded RPS’s operating budget request, which I doubt City Council with futz around with. Might could be a short work session! Once the video of today’s meeting gets posted on the City’s website, I’ll get it added to The Boring Show.Mark Robinson at the RTD has an update on the proposed redevelopment of Creighton Court that you should read. Specifically: “The housing authority asked the city for $6.8 million in capital funding for infrastructure improvements at the Creighton site. RRHA officials said the work is a precursor to building new homes, but also crucial to securing coveted low-income housing tax credits that the project’s financing will rely on. The five-year capital improvement plan Stoney pitched to the council earlier this month directs no money to the effort this year, or in any of the next five years.” I don’t know why the Mayor didn’t include money for this project in his CIP—maybe he’s unwilling to commit significant new funding until the agency gets their constant leadership turnover sorted out? Regardless, I do know, that even with the limited coronabudget we’re working with, a couple million dollars could be pulled from other projects. Or, I dunno, we could stop operating with such a scarcity mindset, raise the property tax, and fund basic services like public housing. Several members of City Council have made statements in the past about how strongly they believe in funding public housing, so we’ll see if any of them submit budget amendments to reflect that belief.The Governor went ahead and signed HB 2208, which will remove the statue of Harry F. Byrd Sr. from the Capitol grounds. I’m pretty stoked on this and feel like it’s a significant and important step for the General Assembly to continue acknowledging that racism didn’t end after the early 1900s. Plus, that statue’s proximity to the Barbra Johns statue is just gross.In a related but opposite update, the University of Richmond Board of Trustees issued a statement about removing the names of racists from their buildings, saying in part: “This work has revealed the University’s complicity in slavery in the Ryland era and the advocacy of past-Rector Douglas Southall Freeman for segregation, disenfranchisement, racial purity measures, and eugenics — advocacy arising from false, racist, and abhorrent beliefs. Many of the actions and views brought to light by the research are wholly inconsistent with the institution we are today….We believe, however, that removing building names is inconsistent with the pursuit of our educational mission, which informs all of our actions.” OK. Sounds like, for now, the names are sticking around.I didn’t know this was happening, but the Asian American Society of Central Virginia, the Organization of Chinese Americans’ Central Virginia Chapter, and the Korean American Society of Greater Richmond sponsored a vigil this past Saturday in memory of the people killed in Atlanta last week. If folks know about future events like this, please drop me an email.Today at 2:00 PM, the VCU women’s basketball team takes the court in their first NCAA tournament since 2009! Tune in on ESPNU. The VCU men’s basketball team, though, had to forfeit their opening game against Oregon due to COVID-19, which is a huge bummer. Again, why are we doing these large sporting events?This morning’s longreadThe Pandemic for PedestriansHere’s a good but depressing longread from the folks over at Sports Backers.If you don’t read anything else in this blog post, you should know that in the year of our pandemic 2020, driving in Virginia dropped significantly (16.6%) but traffic fatalities actually increased (2.4%). Speeding-related fatalities increased (16.3%), but overall speeding crashes and injuries decreased (20% each). What this means is that crashes got deadlier – in large part because of speeding and the increased impact energy. Virginia pedestrian fatalities, which hit a record high in 2019 at 126, dropped modestly by 2.4% to 123. However, when compared to the unprecedented drop in driving, pedestrian fatalities actually increased a whopping 17%. That is not a typo – it is a very big increase in pedestrian fatalities relative to their exposure to driving rates.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.Picture of the Day

The University of Richmond, in partnership with the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, is offering free tax preparation for qualified individuals for the 10th consecutive tax season. This year’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will offer virtual tax services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 30 UR students, most of whom are studying in the Robins School of Business, have joined other community volunteers to receive training to become IRS-certified so they can help prepare tax returns for those in the Richmond community who need assistance filing their 2020 taxes. “Students are providing a critical service...Article LinkSupport the show (http://henricocitizen.com/contribute)

Brantley Tyndall is Director of Outreach for Bike Walk RVA, a program of Sports Backers that advocates for comfortable and connected places to bike and walk for people of all ages and abilities. Sports Backers created Bike Walk RVA to advocate for protected bike lanes, paved shared-use paths, safe intersections, and calm neighborhood streets and to and help normalize biking and walking throughout the Greater Richmond region.

The James River Association recently opened registration for the 2021 season of its “Connect with the James” guided river trips. The programs are open to the public and provide an opportunity to enjoy the water while learning about the wildlife, history and natural resources of the James River and its tributaries. Opportunities include canoeing, kayaking, and pontoon boat tours in the Greater Richmond and Williamsburg areas. When COVID-19 restrictions cancelled the majority of group events during 2020, JRA increased the number of “Connect with the James” trips it offered to provide the public a chance to safely be on a...Article LinkSupport the show (http://henricocitizen.com/contribute)

With the April 15 tax-filing deadline 10 weeks away, United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program officially begins this week. The free tax preparation service is offered to area families with household incomes of less than ,000. In its 18th year of operation, United Way’s VITA program will utilize a combination of tax sites across the region, as well as online tax preparation services. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person tax sites will operate by appointment only, and spaces may be limited. Sites will follow social distancing guidelines and require masks, and hours...Article LinkSupport the show (http://henricocitizen.com/contribute)

On today's episode the team starts the show with a Shout Out to all of the Greater Richmond area for making the cover of National Geographic. Dom has a nagging question about Diversity and Equity teams, and his concerns. The four dive into the topic of Appropriation and how we can appreciate each others culture instead. Jay has a Hitpick and More...

Good morning, RVA! It’s 50 °F, and today—and the rest of the week—looks cooler and sunnier than last week. Expect highs right around 60 °F and lots of sunshine. Get out those flannels, I say!Water coolerAs of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 1,161↗️ new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth and 1↗️ new death as a result of the virus. VDH reports 86↘️ new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 36, Henrico: 34, and Richmond: 16). Since this pandemic began, 442 people have died in the Richmond region. VDH has updated their K–12 Schools Reporting Outbreaks of COVID-19 dashboard, and there is still just the one outbreak in progress at Chesterfield’s Bon Air Elementary. That outbreak, at the moment, has fewer than five associated cases. The big coronanews, though, was the Governor’s rocky rollout of new statewide restrictions in the face of rising case counts across the Commonwealth. You can read his sixth amended version of Executive Order 67 (PDF), but here’s the gist: children five and up must wear masks in indoor public spaces, restaurants must stop serving alcohol after 10:00 PM and close at 12:00 AM, a few types of businesses now have lower occupancy caps, the Virginia Department of Health will start enforcing compliance with the Governor’s restrictions for all types of business, and private/public gatherings are limited to 25 people. Mel Leonor and Karri Peifer at the Richmond Times-Dispatch have some choice words about how the sudden, Friday-afternoon rollout—plus just plain unclear guidance—caused a bit of a panic. Other than having no idea when “Sunday at midnight” actually is (12:01 AM on Monday, turns out), the biggest question was around the 25-person limit on gatherings. Unfortunately, this limit does not apply generally, but only to public and private “gatherings”—parties, cookouts, big family Thanksgiving get-togethers, those types of things. It does not apply to “religious services, employment settings, retail stores, or school classrooms.” While the new restrictions don’t go as far as I’d like, I do think a lot of good can come from simply announcing new restrictions, reminding folks that there’s still a pandemic on, and that we all have to do our part. I don’t know what kind of impact the new guidelines will have, but that’s what the spreadsheet is for! Stay tuned.The City’s Planning Commission will meet today to discuss ORD. 2020–217, the ordinance that would turn a couple of the medians around Marcus-David Peters Circle into city parks, bringing an entire parks-related set of rules and restrictions to what now is public right-of-way. I’ve written about this a ton previously, but I still really dislike using park-creation—without a single bit of planing or community engagement—as a means to control where people can and cannot access. If folks really want medians-as-parks in a reimagined Monument Avenue, let’s have that discussion as part of an actual public planning process—not a one-off ordinance designed to keep people out of the area.Mark Robinson at the RTD says a new cold weather overflow shelter will open up in a hotel on Midlothian Turnpike out near the City line. A hotel room sounds way, way better than the mats-on-the-floor situation at the Annie Giles Center, the previous cold weather shelter location. The new location is on a bus line, which is good, but that’s a heck of a haul to get out there. I think we’ve made progress over the last couple of years in that folks now realize that everything needs to be accessible by public transit. The next step will be getting people to think about the usefulness of that nearby public transit. For a great counter example see: the location of the new Registrar’s office in Richmond and its proximity to an hourly bus designed to mostly serve Henrico.Every year since 2000, Historic Richmond has hosted the Golden Hammer Awards “with the goal of honoring excellence in neighborhood revitalization projects throughout Greater Richmond.” You can read through the list of this year’s nominees, and I just absolutely love that, according to the RTD, the guerrilla signage project that popped up around Marcus-David Peters Circle this summer (and was then promptly removed by the City) won the Best Placemaking category.The Richmond City and Henrico Health Districts will host a free COVID-19 community testing event today at Parham Road Baptist Church (2101 N. Parham Road) from 2:00–4:00 PM. Did you read all that stuff up in the first paragraph?? If you think you may be sick or may have been exposed to the virus, go get tested! If today’s community testing event doesn’t work for you, look through this massive list of spots around the region at which you can get tested. No excuses!.I feel like the coolest thing about SpaceX’s successful launch of humans into space—other than the whole “successful launch of humans into space” thing—is these cool new astronaut suits!This morning’s longreadThe Great 21st-Century Treasure HuntGoonies, but real life!Years later, in 2012, when Posey was 29, his wife, Jennie, emailed him a Newsweek article about a different treasure. Hidden in “the mountains north of Santa Fe,” the treasure sounded almost fantastical — diamonds, rubies, and sapphires; gold coins, gold nuggets, a 17th-century Spanish ring. The key to finding the treasure lay in a 24-line poem in a self-published memoir, The Thrill of the Chase, by Forrest Fenn, the wealthy 82-year-old eccentric who had hidden it. Fenn, who estimated the treasure to be worth more than $1 million, said he hid it to motivate people to put down their digital devices and get out into nature. He was still alive and willing to engage with searchers. The hunt was free; the purse was big. The poem’s puzzle could theoretically be solved by anyone.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.

Jepson School of Leadership Studies 2020-21 Leader-in-Residence Rodney Robinson presents "From Racism to Justice: What Our Children Deserve." Robinson, a 20-year teaching veteran and passionate advocate of underprivileged and underrepresented students, was named the 2019 National Teacher of the Year. In his current role as senior advisor for Richmond Public Schools, he creates programming to recruit and retain male teachers of color and coordinates anti-racism programs for the school district and Greater Richmond community. Dr. Tom Shields, Associate Professor of Education and Leadership Studies, moderated the webinar. October 15, 2020

Good morning, RVA! It’s 53 °F, and, whoa, look out! Expect highs in the mid 70s after some morning fog. You should expect some pretty great weather over the course of this new week.Water coolerRichmond Police have identified the victim of a murder two Sundays ago. Late morning on October 11th, officers responded to the 100 block of Erich Road and found Ricky G. Seldon, a man in his 30s, shot to death. You can see the police department’s full list of murder victims over on the major crimes section of their website.As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 900↗️ new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealthand 11↘️ new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 84↗️ new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 17, Henrico: 24, and Richmond: 43). Since this pandemic began, 385 people have died in the Richmond region. We’re more than seven days out from VDH’s reporting backlog situation, and the state’s seven-day average of daily new cases has hit four digits for the last seven days. We’re also seeing hospitalizations tick back up towards 50 per day. Locally, the rise in cases matches the statewide rise. We are not over and through this pandemic yet, folks! If you, your business, or your organization relaxed your coronaprocedures over the summer, it might be worth putting some time into thinking about how you’d tighten things up again as winter approaches. Better to have a plan and not need it than to have no plan at all, right?The Richmond Times-Dispatch dropped both their 8th District questionnaires, and you can read the City Council version hereand the School Board version here. I’ve added both of these—and a few others—to my Big List of 2020 Candidates Trello board. This is by far the best set of resources I’ve ever had before a local election, and I’m kind of stoked on it. Just a couple weeks left, y’all!Richmond’s Planning Commission meets today and will consider ORD. 2020–222, which would have the City accept $60,000 from St. Catherine’s School to install a pedestrian hybrid beacon (aka a HAWK) at the intersection of Grove and Somerset Avenues. Sounds great, and a real HAWK (rather than a flashing yellow light like we’ve got on Dangerous Dock Street) would show an actual red light to drivers so pedestrians could safely cross. That $60k from St. Catherine’s only covers half the cost, by the way. These things are expensive! Also of interest, ORD. 2020–217, Councilmember Gray’s ordinance to convert Monument Avenue medians into official city parks. I am still ultra skeptical of this ordinance, and these brief, one-line letters of support from the Historic West Grace Association and the Monument Avenue Preservation Societydon’t do anything to assuage that skepticism. My main concern with this ordinance is that parks close from sunset to sunrise, and this ordinance sounds like an easy way to give police selective control over who has access to this public right-of-way. I see no letters of support from any of the people involved in making Marcus David-Peters circle an actually hospitable place for people to spend time, nor from any of the people involved in the advocacy for getting rid of the Confederate monuments. I don’t see any plans or vision for these spaces in the staff report (PDF), and it’s kind of shocking that MDP Circle isn’t even mentioned in how these parks will work, considering, according to the New York Times, it is the most influential work of American protest art since World War II. Where was the community engagement—something that keeps coming up in public comment when we talk about rezoning portions of Broad Street—for this idea?The Central Virginia Transportation Authority and its committees, the regional body that will figure out how to spend all that new sales and wholesale fuel tax money on transportation, have started meeting. Thrilling, I know! Honestly, it’s all a little too much for even me to follow, and I’m nervous about whatever governance structure pops out at the end of the process. However, something easy to understand: Page 18 of their Finance Committee agenda has a draft budget which includes newly-updated anticipated tax revenues. The CVTA now expects to bring in $84.3 million in sales tax and $52.6 million in fuel tax for a total of almost $137 million. In the Before Times, I’d seen anywhere between $152 million to $166 million tossed around as the amount of new cash the region would have to spend on transportation projects. So, after about a 10% reduction in total funds (which, honestly, could be way, way worse), that gives the region around $20 million to work with for public transportation specifically. How to spend that money on bus system that needs an influx of probably ten times will, I’m sure, be a delightful conversation to have.Richmond’s School Board meets tonight and the RPS Chief of Staff, Michelle Hudacsko, will give a presentation on a few of the District’s Health and Safety Enhancements (PDF). I thought this was an interesting PDF to show you what kind of practical changes a school district can make in their facilities to reduce the risk of spreading virus, and I wonder how much of this stuff will just stick around after COVID-19. It’s not like we’re getting rid of viruses anytime soon. I’m sure a slightly more interesting version of this PDF exists for both Henrico and Chesterfield County public schools since the latter already has a group of kids back for in-person instruction and the former has a pretty short timeline for making that decision. I’d love to read those PDFs if you’ve got 'em!Books: Check 'em out. Or, in this case, Books: donate a couple bucks to this virtual book drive to get reading material into the hands of kids ages birth to five in Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield. There are lots of good partners involved in this effort put together by Smart Beginnings of Greater Richmond, so take some of that money you’d buy garbage candy with and put it toward books instead.Via /r/rva an enormous post full of the particulars for voting in-person or by dropping off your absentee ballot in the Richmond region. This post is worth bookmarking.This morning’s longreadInside the Fall of the CDCAs coronavirus case counts rise across the country, this is an absolutely brutal longread to start your week with.When the next history of the CDC is written, 2020 will emerge as perhaps the darkest chapter in its 74 years, rivaled only by its involvement in the infamous Tuskegee experiment, in which federal doctors withheld medicine from poor Black men with syphilis, then tracked their descent into blindness, insanity and death. With more than 216,000 people dead this year, most Americans know the low points of the current chapter already. A vaunted agency that was once the global gold standard of public health has, with breathtaking speed, become a target of anger, scorn and even pity.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.

Drawing inspiration from her indigenous culture, Artist Meme and David Marion talk with Host Hamilton Glass about the importance of recognizing water rights for all people on their Mending Wall.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: AARNxBRWNPatience SalgadoAutumn PettlerFlint, MI water crisisMore information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassMeMeDavid MarionInstagram: @memersweets@davidmariong @mendingwallsrva @19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Artist Ed Trask and Jason Ford talk with Host Hamilton Glass about their "new monument" honoring the citizens of the past, present and future who fight for racial equality in America.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: (barrier breakers in their mural)John LewisElla FitzgeraldDorothy HeightMuhammad AliJesse OwensShirley ChisholmMore information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassJason Ford / Nosaj AuthenticsEd TraskInstagram: @edtrask@nosajauthentics @mendingwallsrva @19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Artists Nico Cathcart and Auz Miles' talk with Host Hamilton Glass about how their wall became a place of inspiration and peace, and where local activists could gather and speak their truth.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: Alice Walker- In Search of my mothers garden / Protestor's demandsAudre Lourde- The transformation of Silence into Language and Action from the book Sister Outsider.Angela Davis-Speech from the 2016 Women's MarchMaya Angelou-Our Grandmothers (a poem)Assata Shakur autobiographyHis Eye is on the Sparrow- Lauren Hill/Tanya Blount More information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassAuz MilesNico CathcartInstagram: @auz_can@nicocathcart@mendingwallsrva@19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studio

Good morning, RVA! It’s 66 °F, and today looks a little warmer than most of last week. Expect highs in the 80s and a decent chance of rain this afternoon. More potential rain tomorrow, but the back half of this week looks lovely.Water coolerThe Richmond Police Department is reporting two murders from last week. Early Wednesday morning, officers found Rosalind P. Gibson, a woman in her 40s, shot to death on the sidewalk of the 1100 block of N. 25th Street. Then, early Friday morning, police were called to the 1700 block of Clarkson Road where they found Rolando Maldonado-Ortega, a man in his 40s, fatally shot. He would later die at a local hospital.As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 736↘️ new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealthand 15↘️ new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 71↘️ new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 40, Henrico: 19, and Richmond: 12). Since this pandemic began, 366 people have died in the Richmond region. The big coronanews around Virginia this past weekend was that the Governor and First Lady tested positive for COVID-19 late last week. I imagine the Gov has a ton of potential exposures doing his day-to-day, but this should serve to remind you that anyone, anywhere can catch this virus! Wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance, and take preventative public health measures seriously!Chesterfield County released their hybrid reopening plan, and I find it complex and fascinating. The gist, as I read it, is that students will go back to in-person instruction in phases, with younger students heading back first. The County will split each class by last name with the first half of the alphabet attending in-person instruction on Mondays and Tuesdays and the second half of the alphabet attending in-person instruction Thursdays and Fridays. The wild thing to me is that students will basically do asynchronous learning for the entire three days they are not in schools. For younger kids, like K–3, that seems like it’ll require a lot of management from parents. I’m really interested to see how it all works and the parent/teacher reactions. The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Jessica Nocera and Kenya Hunter say those K–3 students, dubbed Cohort No. 2, could return as soon as October 12th. They also say that “611 Chesterfield teachers have either resigned or retired as of September 21.” I don’t know how much turnover the County experiences in a “normal” year, but 611 sounds like a lot (insert my constant pleas for a denominator here)!Over the weekend, the RTD dropped their 5th District questionnaires for City Counciland for School Board. That Council race has winnowed to just three—Stephanie Lynch, Jer’Mykeal McCoy, and Mamie Taylor, with Taylor not responding to the RTD’s questions. Also of interest to election watchers (and voters, so, like, that should be pretty much everyone), Richmond Magazine has released their Q&A with all of the mayoral candidates. I’ll continue to add this sort of info to the Big List of Richmond’s 2020 Candidates so folks have a single spot to soak up as much candidate info as possible.Speaking of, City Council will meet today at 6:00 PM for their regularly scheduled meeting. You can find the full agenda, as it stands at this moment, right here. Of note, ORD. 2020–153, which would rename the portion of Jefferson Davis Highway in the city, has been continued until December (this was on the recommendation of the Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee, something I missed earlier). I’m not sure why this paper needed continuing, and the cynical part of me says the impending election has something to do with it (most of Route 1 in the City sits in the 8th District). Also, ORD. 2018–236, Council’s longest-running agenda item now having spent 749 days floating around various dockets, has again been continued until October 12th. It’s been almost a year since this paper even went to a committee! Can we get an agenda item mercy rule or something? You can check a couple of other ordinances and resolutions I’m watching on this Trello board, but I imagine tonight’s big discussion will center around rezoning the area adjacent to the Science Museum, Allison Street, and VCU & VUU Pulse stations. Council should most definitely approve the collections of papers that make this happen, but I’d guess some councilmembers will hear the inevitable complaints from NIMBYs and neighborhood associations and ask for More Community Engagement In These Troubling Times. I hope to be proven wrong, though!Big bike lane news! Starting today and continuing through January, the Department of Public Works will begin installing the 1st and 3rd Street bike lanes. Expect off-and-on lane closures on 1st from Duval to Franklin and on 3rd from Franklin to Broad. I think this is just the first half of this particular set of bike lanes, which will eventually connect Duval Street (just south across the highway from Gilpin Court) all the way to Spring Street (over the other highway and down by the Virginia War Memorial). We lack real north-south connective bike infrastructure downtown, so I’m stoked on this! And, residents and businesses owners who are not stoked, please don’t freak out: “Residential and emergency access along both 1st and 3rd streets will be maintained at all times. The city will work diligently to minimize adverse impacts on businesses and residents.”Michael Paul Williams wrote about annexation over the weekend. Along with zoning, I’ve got to link you to each piece of annexation content. This is one of them!Leadership Metro Richmond has announced their Laura Robins Speaker Series, which, this year, focuses on equity. Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the The 1619 Project, will headline (!) on November 17th, but you can register now ($25 for full-time students, $50 for the rest of us). I imagine they’ll sell out and sell out quickly, so if that sounds like something you’re interested in, get to clicking!The United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg has a fun volunteer opportunity for a couple of folks: Installing Little Free Libraries around the region. They’re still looking for a few handy hands Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Maybe that’s you? We’ve got three LFLs in our neighborhood, and, while in no way meant to replace the actual library down the street, they add a nice booky texture to the area. I highly recommend!This morning’s longreadWe now know what Trump was trying to hide by holding back his tax returnsHere’s the quick Vox summary of the New York Times’s huge Trump Tax Returns story. The original—which is probably important to read—is long, and you’ll need to set aside a good chunk of time to both read it and process your anger afterwards.After more than four years, Buettner, Craig, and McIntire of the Times got the goods. Their story reveals the following: Trump did indeed pay zero in income taxes from 2011–2014, and the paltry amount of $750 in 2016 and 2017. He pulled this off by claiming that his businesses lost massive amounts of money. He has $421 million in debt coming due in the next few years, and he could owe $100 million more to the US government if he loses his audit battle with the IRS. There are ample political reasons in here for Trump to have been so reluctant to release these tax returns.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.

Taking inspiration from the shocking history of Shockoe Bottom as the center of Richmond's slave trade, Artists Amiri Richardson-Keys and Emily Herr talk with Host Hamilton Glass about their "beautiful experience" working together and how the shooting of Jacob Blake in real-time played into their final design.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: Jacob BlakeShockoe Bottom, Richmond, VAArtists Revealed Through Service (ARTS)More information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassEmily HerrAmiri Richardson-KeysInstagram: @herrsuite @mendingwallsrva @19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Artists S. Ross Browne and Amy Smith talk with Host Hamilton Glass about their collaboration for their mural in the Manchester area of Richmond, VA. -The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: Adinkra - West African SymbolsMaggie L. WalkerMore information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassS. Ross BrowneAmy Marie SmithInstagram: @srossbrowne@amymariesmithmarie@mendingwallsrva@19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Think about the toys you played with as a child and the tv shows that you watched. How did they shape your future views on race and the differences between us? Host Hamilton Glass and Artist Matt Lively talk about their collaboration for their whimsical mural filled with childhood memories and the deep conversations about their childhood they had along the way.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-More information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassMatt LivelyInstagram: @mendingwallsrva @19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Victoria and Kristin speak with a representative from the YMCA of Greater Richmond about the new Frank J. Thornton Aquatic Center. From its features to free swim, you'll learn everything you need to know to enjoy this beautiful facility.

Lou and Teresa talk with Tina Thomas, Senior Director of Programs and Services of the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Richmond and Central & Western Virginia. Tina shares great information on Alzheimers including valuable tips for caregivers and anyone else who may be concerned about ways to better assess and manage this sometimes taboo topic. Please visit the Alzheimer's website for more information at www.alz.org. However, for today, all you need to do is...Listen In!

A lot of things in America need to be destroyed in order for a new one, a real one, to grow and prosper. Host Hamilton Glass talks with artists Charles Berger and PT Carroll about creating balance in their art, and in the universe, with their colorful and meaningful collaboration inspired by deities of Hinduism.The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-More information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassCharles BergerPT CarrollInstagram: @mendingwallsrva@19red.fuel@charlesbergertattoos@_ptcarrollProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Host Hamilton Glass talks with artists Noah Scalin and Alfonso Perez about their instant artistic connection while creating a powerful mural across from a police station in Richmond, VA.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: Skull-A-Day projectSacred Heart Center of Richmond-More information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassNoah ScalinAlfonso PerezInstagram: @noahscalin@adrawingtable@mendingwallsrva@19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

On August 22 as we mark the second International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Sabrina Dent, Richard T. Foltin, Kristen Lavery, and The Rev. William H. Lamar IV shared their insights on religious freedom. Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is the protection of the conscience and the free exercise of people’s understanding of the ultimate truth. It is not only a fundamental right but also an individual, institutional, private and public right as well. As enshrined in the First Amendment, the Articles 18,19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also protect the rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and association. However, not every region is always a stronghold of allowing people to live by their core values and beliefs. The rate of ill-treatment against religious institutions, people, objects, or events is increasing significantly. On August 22, 2019, UN General Assembly recognized this by adopting a resolution declaring “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”. Upholding these rights and responding to the alarming increase in persecutions of religious people and communities around the world, we believe within the scope of open, constructive, and respectful exchanges at various platforms across local, national, and international levels will be invaluable assets in confronting these ongoing acts of intolerance. To that end, Rumi Forum has invited distinguished speakers to address various dimensions of the topic. On August 20th, our moderator Sabrina Dent and speakers Richard T. Foltin, Kirsten Lavery, and Rev. William H. Lamar IV, will share their insights on highlight mechanisms to prevent unfair treatments towards individuals, communities, and minorities. Moderator: Sabrina Dent, Senior Faith Adviser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Sabrina is a life-long advocate for human rights and social justice. Throughout her career, she has worked with vulnerable populations including women and children impacted by domestic violence and abuse, youth with mental health and behavioral challenges, and racial and religious minorities. However, she developed a passion as a religious freedom advocate in 2015 when she became a Fellow with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom. Before joining the AU team, Sabrina worked as director of recruitment and admissions at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Prior to her time at the Religious Freedom Center, Sabrina served as program coordinator for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (STVU). Sabrina is the past president of the Interfaith Community of Greater Richmond. Sabrina earned her master of divinity degree and doctor of ministry degree from STVU. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech. Speakers: Richard T. Foltin, Fellow, Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Richard T. Foltin is a fellow at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. He served in a number of positions at the American Jewish Committee, most recently as director of national and legislative affairs in the AJC’s Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C., from 2009 to 2018. Prior to coming to AJC, he was an associate with the litigation department of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, a New York law firm. Mr. Foltin serves on the governing council of the American Bar Association’s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and as co-chair of the section’s Religious Freedom Committee; he previously served as chair and co-chair of the section’s First Amendment Rights Committee. Mr. Foltin is a member of the Committee on Religious Liberty, founded by the National Council of Churches and today convened by the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Mr. Foltin received his B.A. in Political Science from New York University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a member of the bars of New York State, Washington DC, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Kirsten Lavery is Supervisory Policy Analyst and Team Lead for International Law, Africa, and Latin America for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Prior to joining USCIRF, Ms. Lavery worked at the Public International Law & Policy Group and provided legal and policy assistance to civil society representatives in conflict and post-conflict states. Her work focused on transitional justice and human rights documentation, as well as legal and policy reforms to advance human rights protections. Ms. Lavery has also worked on a range of international legal issues at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the UN Office of Human Resources Management, and the International Narcotics Control Board. Ms. Lavery previously practiced law in the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where she focused on international criminal investigations. Through her pro bono practice and prior clinic work, she has experience representing clients in immigration proceedings, including in asylum cases based on religious persecution. She holds a B.A. in Government and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. with a specialization in International & Comparative Law from Tulane University Law School. Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church The Rev. William H. Lamar IV is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida: Monticello, Orlando and Jacksonville. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. While he continues to advocate for his community of Washington, D.C., you can find Rev. Lamar fueling his faith by proudly supporting the Poor People’s Campaign, the Washington Interfaith Network or every Sunday at pulpit of AME Church. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," the Faith & Leadership podcast.

Host Hamilton Glass talks with Nils Westergard and Silly Genius about their powerful collaboration and their personal struggles over painting the names of victims of police brutality on their wall.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: PichiAvoRadio BMore information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassNils WestergardSilly Genius and the All City Art ClubInstagram: @sillygenius@mendingwallsrva@19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

The Sankofa bird, a symbol used by the Akan people of Ghana, expresses the importance of looking to the lessons of the past to create a positive future. Host Hamilton Glass chats with Artists Ian C. Hess and Jowarnise about the many symbolic meanings in their mural painted inside the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.-Who is Marcus David Peters?http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/jul/23/city-prosecutor-review-marcus-david-peters-case/https://heavy.com/news/2018/05/marcus-david-peters/_The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!--More information on the project and artists:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassIan C. Hess & Endeavor StudiosJowarniseInstagram:@mendingwallsrva@endeavor.rva@jowarnise@19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Host Hamilton Glass talks with his friend Vanessa Diamond of The Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond about plans to use the murals created for Mending Walls to spark conversation and healing through civic talks.--More information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassHands on Greater RichmondThe Community Foundation for a Greater RichmondInstagram: @mendingwallsrva @19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ Fuel

A conversation with Marie Kolendo of the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Richmond about how the organization assists local residents.

Welcome to another episode of Let’s Hear It. We hope you are staying as physically distanced and emotionally connected as you can! This week, we had the honor of speaking with Dominique Derbigny, the Deputy Director of the Closing the Women’s Wealth Gap initiative and author of an extraordinary piece on the inequity of aid policy in the time of COVID. Dominique has previously worked with Prosperity Now and United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, and contributes regularly to the publication #BlackHer on issues facing Black women. Dominique’s report, On the Margins: Economic Security for Women of Color through the Coronavirus and Beyond, was released only a few weeks after the lockdown began. It is a careful examination of the recent coronavirus relief packages and assesses the benefits, shortcomings, and implications for women of color. This is a terrific conversation with a woman who is helping to shine a light on racial equity and economic inclusion.

Welcome to another episode of Let’s Hear It. We hope you are staying as physically distanced and emotionally connected as you can! This week, we had the honor of speaking with Dominique Derbigny, the Deputy Director of the Closing the Women’s Wealth Gap initiative and author of an extraordinary piece on the inequity of aid policy in the time of COVID. Dominique has previously worked with Prosperity Now and United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, and contributes regularly to the publication #BlackHer on issues facing Black women. Dominique’s report, On the Margins: Economic Security for Women of Color through the Coronavirus and Beyond, was released only a few weeks after the lockdown began. It is a careful examination of the recent coronavirus relief packages and assesses the benefits, shortcomings, and implications for women of color. This is a terrific conversation with a woman who is helping to shine a light on racial equity and economic inclusion.

Norman Company Inc is an amazing commercial construction company in central Virginia…. the model for family business at its best! This family-owned commercial construction company provides clients in Greater Richmond and surrounding areas with general contracting: project management, pre-construction planning, estimating and scheduling; and negotiated Design/Build services. The Normans built their business on shared values, delivery of quality products, and integrity. In the interview, Rob (VP of Business Development) and Will (VP of Construction) Norman discuss the protocols put in place to protect employees, clients, and subcontractors from COVID19 infection. What we didn’t expect was the level of commitment this family business brings to the job. Listen in for a glimpse at family biz best practices at work - on the jobsite and in real time. Two things that didn’t come out during the interview: The Normans had a policy to take everyone’s temperature when they arrived at the jobsite - and, yes, that included the President! Rob modeled one of the 3-D masks after we stopped recording. You have got to see this! Norman Company Inc. | Building Quality, Value and Lasting Relationships. Reach out to Will or Rob Norman by visiting their website. Debra Willis, of PPG Solutions, and Karen Larsen, of HR TABS are my co-hosts. Contact them for a benefits review, or your HR needs. If you need a coach visit my site: www.ascendcoachingsolutions.com. Wishing you all health & well-being, Wendy Dickinson

Marie Kolendo, the CEO of the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Richmond, talks with Jay and Bryan about how the pandemic is affecting individuals battling dementia and Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

The more and more Scott R. Tucker came back to the “why” to building his brand and how it applied to LinkedIn, the more he really started to see change for himself. Special thanks to Synapse Hubs to have Scott speak about the “why” behind LinkedIn at the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Richmond meeting on May 6th, 2020.  Learn more about Synapse and the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Richmond at https://www.facebook.com/events/1055516178164900/ (https://www.facebook.com/events/1055516178164900/) or visit http://synapsehubs.com/ (http://synapsehubs.com/) Spots are still available for Scott's 30-day LinkedIn Challenge! Apply today at: https://usvetwealth.com/linkedin/ (https://usvetwealth.com/linkedin/) Subscribe to Wealth & Liberty: https://bit.ly/wealthandliberty-newsletter (https://bit.ly/wealthandliberty-newsletter) Hosted by Scott R. Tucker | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottrtucker/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottrtucker/) Produced by Jen Amos | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenamos/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenamos/) Sponsored by US VetWealth: https://usvetwealth.com/ (https://usvetwealth.com/) Support this podcast

Good morning, RVA! It’s 62 °F, and temperatures today will end up in the 80s. Expect some clouds and a small chance of rain throughout the day. Cooler weather returns on Friday.Water coolerAs of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 3,333 positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth, and 63 people in Virginia have died as a result of the virus. VDH reports 505 cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 128, Henrico: 267, and Richmond: 110). Yesterday’s data reported more new cases (455) than any previous day. Michael Martz at the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that four more people died at the Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. About half of the COVID-19 deaths in the entire state are in this one facility. Martz also has some more details about other long-term care facilities fighting to control virus outbreaks—but nothing like what’s happening in Henrico. It’s shocking and eye-opening to see how quickly a few infections in a closed environment can quickly ignite into a tragedy.City Council has updated and released their meeting schedule for the FY21 budget season. Beginning with a two hour meeting on April 13th, Council will have two work sessions, three amendment work sessions, two public hearings, and a goal of adopting the budget on May 11th. That seems like a lot of meetings when listed out like that, but it’s four fewer than originally planned, and this year’s schedule already cut a handful from what took place last year. Obviously, I’m bummed about a shorter budget season (the most wonderful time of the year), but I do still plan on tuning in on the 13th—assuming Council staff gets all of the technical difficulties worked out. The biggest question I have at the moment is if the Mayor will submit a new budget (or new budget guidance) to Council, or if Council will just start working on the pre-virus budget they have in hand. The former seems like a significantly better way to move forward to me.Superintendent Kamras has updates on how the School District will calculate grades for students. I appreciate these two goals they had in mind while trying to figure out grades: “1) do no harm to students; and 2) create guidance that is simple to execute and east to understand.” I feel like, applied generally, this is good virustime advice for almost anyone. Elementary school students will not receive final grades, and middle and high school students will receive the “average of the grades for Marking Periods 1, 2, and 3, each making up 33% of the final grade.” If you’ve got a high school student in your life, you probably should read this document that provides guidance on how they can continue to make progress on credit-bearing courses (PDF).Remember all of that cool stuff in the State’s proposed budget? Yeah, well, not so much. Ned Oliver at the Virginia Mercury says the Governor has put a stop to all new spending and that “the state will enter the next fiscal year on July 1 with the same budget it’s currently operating under with the exception of some mandatory spending categories.” Ugh. That’s going to especially hurt locally, where the City planned on taking advantage of millions of new state-level education money. Moving forward, localities are going to need just tons and tons of money from both the federal and state governments to keep people safe and thriving.GRTC has announced their first service cuts due to the coronavirus. Beginning today, most express routes will see reduced trips, and the 28x is suspended until further notice. Note that the 95x Petersburg route will maintain its normal schedule. If service cuts must be made, express routes are the right place to start making them: A lot (but not all) of the folks who ride express buses are stuck at home during This Most Unusual Time.Also bus-related, I talked with the RTD’s Michael Paul Williams about how critical bus operators are during times of crisis and how we need to do everything we can to protect them. What’s a good, easy-to-scale way to show appreciation to bus operators? I’m thinking something simple and visible like the yellow Support Our Troops ribbon? Who’s got good ideas?A couple days ago (I think?), I mentioned the Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund, which the Community Foundation helped put together. Already the fund has raised over $4.1 million from foundations, corporations, and individuals. If you’re looking for a way to get involved, you can donate cash through the aforelinked website (matched by the United Way of Greater Richmond for the moment) or volunteer through HandsOn (they’ve got both in-person and virtual ways to help out).This morning’s longreadThe unlisted: how people without an address are stripped of their basic rightsThis piece is kind of all over the place, but I love the idea that a straightforward thing like giving every place an address can massively improve folks' lives.Street addresses tell a complex story of how the grand Enlightenment project to name and number our streets coincided with a revolution in how we lead our lives and how we shape our societies. And rather than just a mere administrative detail, street names are about identity, wealth and, as in the Sonny Carson street example, race. But most of all they are about power – the power to name, the power to shape history, the power to decide who counts, who doesn’t, and why.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.

Bruce Berglund interviews TJ Joyce (CEO) and Abby Farris-Rogers (CAO) of the YMCA of Greater Richmond on how they pivoted their case for support to focus on the immediate needs brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and how they've shared that case with their organization's supporters. 

On today's episode, Dr. P talks sexual health and the importance of National Condom Day with Ms. Lindsay Bryant, program coordinator for Nia, Inc. of Greater Richmond. Ms. Bryant is a leader and active participant in HIV prevention, education, and treatment activities in the Richmond metropolitan area. She is also a trained facilitator for several HIV prevention and awareness interventions.

Good morning, RVA! It’s 56 °F, and you can expect another warm day with temperatures in the mid 60s. There’s a low-grade chance of rain today which really amps up over the next couple of days. Might be a while before we see another dry, sunny afternoon.Water coolerPolice are reporting that Sharmar Hill, Jr., 3, was shot to death on the 1700 block of Southlawn Avenue this past Saturday afternoon. Police have put together a string of possibly connected events and are looking for people involved in a nearby carjacking of a white, newer-model Kia. You can read the full statement from the Richmond Police Department here, and you can, if you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers (804.780.1000 or 7801000.com).Alright y’all, it feels like we’re in the final hours, maybe the death throes, of NoBro. Yesterday, Roberto Roldan from VPM said the General Assembly for real killed (all dead) Del. Bourne’s bill to have the State pay for a portion of the proposed downtown arena. Then City Council’s Organizational Development committee met to discuss the report Council paid a third-party consultant to put together—which I totally spaced on yesterday and failed to mention in this space for some reason. You can download and read that report here (PDF), its stated focus being to “review and opine on the reasonableness of assumptions presented to Council, the ordinances introduced to implement the Project, and various reports and studies completed to date.” The report feels generally positive towards the project, but I’m not sure I see much new info in here—although I could just have developed a case of NoBro Blindness over the last two years. The Mayor, however, takes the report as a win, saying “This third-party report, requested and funded entirely by City Council, confirms that the proposal is ‘written in the city’s favor,’ and reaffirms our confidence that in the event of a default, ‘the city has no legal or moral obligation’ and ‘retains control if the development does not perform.’” I’m a little confused about what happened next—since I was watching The Witcher instead of listening to a City Council committee—but Roberto Roldan says “A majority of Richmond City Council members voted Monday night to send the project’s full proposal, which includes 10 new ordinances, to the next full council meeting with a recommendation to kill it. Then, a majority also voted in favor of a resolution asking Stoney to pull the current plan.” What this means, I think, is that City Council will vote for real and for a final time on the Mayor’s proposed downtown arena project this coming Monday, February 10th. What happens after that is anybody’s guess.The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond announced that they’re converting the old Eastlawn Shopping Center into “an expansive teen-centric center that will incorporate a variety of programs and activities that help teens effectively transition to continuing their education beyond high school and/or undertaking careers.” Somehow I’d missed that the Boys & Girls Clubs had bought this parcel, which sits out on Nine Mile Road near the city limits. Sounds like a pretty rad use of the property—especially considering that an “adjacent space of similar size will serve as a collaborative venue housing resources (e.g. career training and counseling, mental health services, college prep) from other organizations throughout the Greater Richmond community.” They plan to open the new facility next spring. Samuel Northrop has a bit more over in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.Read this complex story in the RTD by Micheal Martz about a proposed casino resort situation on Richmond’s Southside

Micah “Bam-Bamm” White joins Todd B. Waldo for a conversation about family, fatherhood, faith and how he is still figuring out how to use his passion and gifts to make a difference in his family and community. Micah White has spent over 20 years in the entertainment industry as a stand-up comedian, host, and philanthropist. He has performed in four countries, and in over 80 U.S. cities in 30 states. The go-to guy for corporate comedy and hosting, White’s talents have led him to perform for 40 corporations, 30 non-profit organizations, and 20 colleges doing everything from stand-up to hosting and delivering the commencement address. He’s gone on tour with Gary Owen, has hosted and performed aboard the Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage, and has appeared in Denzel Washington’s “Unstoppable” and the Lifetime network’s “Army Wives.” White is also the Founder of RVA Has Talent, which creates collaborations between local artists and non-profits in the Greater Richmond community. From that, he’s developed an initiative that allows inmates at the Richmond City Jail to hone creative abilities and equips them with tools for gainful employment after incarceration. Through his various efforts, White’s mission is simple: to use comedy and entertainment to find common ground by bridging racial, religious, socioeconomic, and generational gaps. The event spotlight for this episode is artoberVA, a month-long celebration of arts and culture in RVA and the Tri-Cities each October! artoberVA promotes events, pop-ups, exhibits, science, history, collaborations, and any arts or culture experience happening in the Richmond & Tri-Cities area every October. Presented by CultureWorks, artoberVA increases participation in arts and culture events in our region and expands the exposure of organizations, venues, and artists shaping our vibrant and creative scene. Learn more at artoberVA.com. 40 Lessons is a podcast about the lessons we've learned about family, career, community and the lessons we are still learning. Listen to all episodes on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, Google Play, TuneIn and Stitcher at toddbwaldo.com/podcast. Send your feedback, questions and comments to todd@toddbwaldo.com

God has uniquely positioned WEAG to enter a season of expansion. Not unlike the transition in Israel's history between Moses and Joshua. Every transition has its challenges and at the same time, its opportunities. We don't want to be a church that ever gets comfortable. We never want to be stagnant and settled. We will always be moving forward. When we make it about us we are ready to settle. Keep it about others and there will always be work to do, a hill to climb and a battle to face.God is always leading us forward and changing us for the future. However, God doesn't design our future based on the “past us.” He designs our future based on the “future us” and what He can shape us to become. What does the leadership of WEAG see that "future us" looking like and meaning for WEAG, the Greater Richmond area, and beyond? Lead Pastor Shane Schlesman shares the vision of our pastors, elders, and deacons in this first of a three-part series ushering in the era of WEAG 3.0.#sermon #WEAG3.0 #vision #mission #expansion #God #transformation #diversity #love #family #community #expand #courage #future

Filibuster has reached its 300th episode, and we're here to celebrate with you! Jason, Adam, and Ben talk about D.C. United's 1-1 draw against the Montreal Impact, in which we discuss the disaster of the first 8 minutes and what happened after the team showed up. We break down the lineup Ben Olsen chose and the lineups that we thought we would see, and analyze Yamil Asad's goal. Finally, we look at Wayne Rooney's performance and his role in this pressing style. In the second segment we talk about D.C. United's Sunday game against Orlando City SC, who have a new coach from the last time we played them. We talk about James O'Connor and his style for Orlando City, discuss the trade of Justin Meram back to the Columbus Crew, and discuss how we would gameplan the Lions. Give it a listen! If you want to donate to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond, which supports people with Down Syndrome and their families and which Ben talked about early in the episode, you can do so at http://bit.do/filibuster .

Access to Justice and Legal Services Part 1 & 2 Access to Justice and Legal Services is critical to ensure that persons of all economic levels and walks of life get access to the justice system. In this informative show, Marty Wegbreit of Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and Ali Fannon of the Greater Richmond […] The post November 8, 2017: Access to Justice and Free Legal Services appeared first on Locke & Quinn | Attorneys at Law in Richmond, VA.

Abby Farris-Rogers of the YMCA of Greater Richmond talks about the findings from a cohort of three US YMCAs as they look at a new approach to annual campaigning.