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Restaurant owner, entrepreneur, media personality, and community cheerleader Kelli Lemon wears many hats in Richmond, Virginia. On this episode of "Eat It, Virginia," Kelli shared why she decided to open Urban Hang Suite in downtown Richmond and what that experience has taught her about life, business, and the city she calls home. "Kendra [Feather] is the reason Hang Suite is open," Lemon said. "Creative Mornings, I think it was January 2017. My topic was a question mark, it was like a mystery. I was like, I'm looking for this thing, that's kind of a hangout, where people could talk to each other, but it's not a restaurant, it could be a cafe. And I think it was Anne Marie that yelled out, "Do it!" It was either Kendra or Anne Marie. And then the next day, Kendra called me. It was like, I want to show you this space." In addition to Urban Hang Suite, Kelli talked about her roles at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Virginia Black Restaurant Experience, the Art of Noise, and the birth of her podcast Coffee with Strangers. Here are some links to other things mentioned in this episode: Learn more about RVA Wing Wars here. Learn more about the Art of Noise here. This episode is sponsored by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and its new exhibit Julia Child: A Recipe For Life. This episode is sponsored by Project Birdie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A former Henrico High School football player who has inspired the community after being paralyzed during a game was among the honorees at the third-annual RVA Sports Awards Feb. 3 in Richmond. The event recognized the region's sports community and key achievements and was hosted by entrepreneur Kelli Lemon and CBS-6 Sports Director Lane Casadonte. Samar Lemons, who suffered a life-threatening injury during his senior football season, received the RVA Sports Courage Award. Lemons recently created a radio show with local radio personality Mike King called “The Lemon Drop” to share his journey of overcoming a spinal cord injury with...Article LinkSupport the show
Kelli and Michael Paul continue their conversation with Allan-Charles Chipman, Executive Director of Initiatives of Change USA. In this portion of the the interview, the three talk about the death of Irvo Otieno, a young man in a mental health crisis who died at the hands of nearly a dozen prison personnel, and why such untimely and misdiagnosed deaths persist and how to prevent them.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul welcome Allan-Charles Chipman to the show. Chipman is the Executive Director of Initiatives of Change USA, a global network of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds committed to healing historical harms, whose mission is to inspire, equip, and accompany changemakers in the pursuit of a just, connected, and peaceful world. In this conversation, the trio talk about Chipman's work in Richmond and beyond to create new mindsets, new cycles and new futures for people of color across the country.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul catch up on the news out of Virginia of the state's chief of diversity, equity and inclusion referring to DEI initiatives as "it's dead." The pair also discuss Governor Glenn Youngkin's ceremonial recognition of Jewish people and that, "hate is wrong. Love is right." and omitting any reference to racism in that ceremony or statement which came a week after his own official had said that DEI is dead.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul catch up on the national mental health conversation and the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train and how race factors into the equation. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli Lemon and Pulitzer Prize winning writer Michael Paul Williams are back with a new episode of After the Monuments where the duo discuss the social and cultural progress, or lack thereof, in the three years since the murder of George Floyd and the protests and cultural-awakening it sparked. Read more from Michael Paul Williams on Richmond.com and in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul are checking in on some of the topics Michael Paul has been writing about including the death of a inmate in mental health crisis at the hands of nearly a dozen law enforcement officials, renaming a Virginia school and the topic of whether Buckhead can secede from Atlanta. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Kelli and Michal Paul talk with The New York Times Magazine and 1619 Project contributor Linda Villarosa about her new book, Under the Skin: Racism, Inequality, and the Health of a Nation. In the conversation and book, Linda shares troubling statistics that college-educated Black mothers are more likely to die, almost die, or lose their babies than white mothers who haven't finished high school. Linda also shares that some of today's medical texts and instruments still carry fallacious slavery-era assumptions that Black bodies are fundamentally different from white bodies, causing disproportionate suffering. After the Monuments is supported by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with urban agriculturalist Duran Chavis to hear about environmental justice and developing community green spaces. As Duron points out, some of the issues that Black communities faced before the monuments came down still persist today. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with urban agriculturalist Duran Chavis to hear about environmental justice and developing community green spaces. As Duron points out, some of the issues that Black communities faced before the monuments came down still persist today. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul welcome Sheri Shannon to studio to talk about her work as the co-founder of Southside ReLeaf, a volunteer-run organization committed to building a healthy, equitable and sustainable environment for all residents in South Richmond. After the Monuments is sponsored by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul continue their conversation with Marland Buckner who shares his first-hand experience with the monument removal and civil unrest in Richmond in 2020 and since. Marland lived across the street from the Jefferson Davis monument, until it's removal, which was ground-zero of 2020 civil protests in Richmond. Additionally, Marland was the interim Executive Director of the Black History Museum which has taken possession of Richmond's confederate monuments since their removal. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michael Paul welcome Marland Buckner to the show to share his first-hand experience with the monument removal and civil unrest in Richmond in 2020 and since. Marland lived across the street from the Jefferson Davis monument, until it's removal, which was ground-zero of 2020 civil protests in Richmond. Additionally, Marland was the interim Executive Director of the Black History Museum which has taken possession of Richmond's confederate monuments since their removal. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michael Paul Williams is joined by Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Lyndon German and photojournalist Eva Russo who share their first-hand experience of covering the removal of the monument and exhuming of the general's body beneath it. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli Lemon and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael Paul Williams are back for a new episode of After the Monuments. In this episode the two are catching up on recent events such us the removal of Richmond's last-standing Confederate monument, the Virginia governor's proposed history standards and the story of the six-year-old in Newport News, Virginia who shot a teacher. More episodes of After the Monuments will follow weekly.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli Lemon and RTD Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist return for a check-in with discussion on the New York Times investigation into Bon Secours and their Richmond Community Hospital. They cover the community organization that had been in charge of the some local predominately Black cemeteries that recently disbanded and the battle over a monument that is still up in Matthews County. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli Lemon and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Michael Paul Williams return for another episode of After the Monuments where this week they're talking about white supremacy in law enforcement, Mississippi's drinking water and more. Presented by Massey Cancer Center and supported by Team Henry Enterprises. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michael Paul Williams and Kelli Lemon are back in the studio talking about some of the recent events in world news. Topics of discussion include the varying response in America to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the recent progression in Richmond of the Confederate monuments. Some monuments will go on loan to a museum in Los Angeles while others will stay in Richmond and continue to be under consideration as to what their future should be. After the Monuments if presented by Massey Cancer Center and supported by Team Henry Enterprises.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
While Kelli and Michael Paul have been doing After the Monuments, Michael Paul has been doing another podcast with a friend of ours, Mallory Noe-Payne. Mallory is a local radio reporter here in Richmond who spent the majority of 2021 researching in Germany for the very podcast she's producing with Michael Paul called Memory Wars. It's a great listen that we think listeners of After the Monuments will really enjoy and they record it in out studio so it all goes together nicely. It's about how Germany has worked since World War II to overcome their history of hate and discrimination and whether or not America ever can overcome ours. It fits well with what we talk about on After the Monuments. We'll be back soon with a new episode of After the Monuments. After the Monuments is presented by Massey Cancer Center and Team Henry Enterprises.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of After the Monuments, Kelli and Michael Paul are reviewing some of the racially sensitive stories in the news including what Richmond, Virginia police originally reported as a thwarted mass shooting plan but may not have actually been, the search and seizure of confidential documents at the former President's private residence in Mar-a-Lago and with the retirement of Serena Williams, Kelli and Michael Paul reminisce on Richmond native Arthur Ashe and others who used their position in sports to promote a social message. After the Monuments is sponsored by Massey Cancer Center and Team Henry Enterprises.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During this special series of After the Monuments, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with folks who were involved and nearby the 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville about the Confederate monuments in that city that ultimately turned violent and led to the death of a young woman. In the finale of the series, Kelli and Michael Paul are recapping what they heard from guests and sharing feelings of their own just a few days before the five year anniversary of the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During this special series of After the Monuments, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with folks who were involved and nearby the 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville about the Confederate monuments in that city that ultimately turned violent and led to the death of a young woman. In this episode, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with Kristin Szakos. During the time of the rally, and before, Kristin was a member of the Charlottesville City Council. She perhaps the first council member to recommend the removal of the Confederate monuments which she did during her campaign for council in 2013. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During this special series of After the Monuments, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with folks who were involved and nearby the 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville about the Confederate monuments in that city that ultimately turned violent and led to the death of a young woman. In this episode, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with Dr. Wes Bellamy again. Dr. Bellamy recalls the events in Charlottesville immediately before, during and after the deadly Unite the Right Rally in 2017. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During this special series of After the Monuments, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with folks who were involved and nearby the 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville about the Confederate monuments in that city that ultimately turned violent and led to the death of a young woman. In this episode, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with Dr. Wes Bellamy. Dr. Bellamy was a central figure during the Unite the Right Rally and to the removal of the Confederate monuments as having been a city council member and vice mayor of Charlottesville. Dr. Bellamy recalls the taunts and acts of intimidation the rally's organizers showed towards him leading up to the rally. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During this special series of After the Monuments, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with folks who were involved and nearby the 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville about the Confederate monuments in that city that ultimately turned violent and led to the death of a young woman. In this episode, Kelli and Michael Paul are talking with Devon Henry. Devon is the owner of a Team Henry Enterprises, a Black-owned contracting firm, that was contracted to take down the Confederate monument in Charlottesville, Richmond and several other cities. In this conversation, Devon shares stories of the journey from being awarded the contract to removing the monuments, his safety, to fulfilling the prophecy that the monuments that were once put up by Black men would one day be taken down by a Black man.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After a brief hiatus, Kelli and Michael Paul catch up on the news of the past couple weeks. During that time, the Jefferson Davis statue was unveiled in Richmond at the Valentine Museum in its 2020 state, complete with pink paint and a toilet paper noose, Roe vs. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court and the Juneteenth holiday was celebrated.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Kelli and Michal Paul talk with The New York Times Magazine and 1619 Project contributor Linda Villarosa about her new book, Under the Skin: Racism, Inequality, and the Health of a Nation. In the conversation and book, Linda shares troubling statistics that college-educated Black mothers are more likely to die, almost die, or lose their babies than white mothers who haven’t finished high school.Linda also shares that some of today’s medical texts and instruments still carry fallacious slavery-era assumptions that Black bodies are fundamentally different from white bodies, causing disproportionate suffering. After the Monuments is supported by VCU Massey Cancer Center and Team Henry Enterprises.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the two year anniversary of George Floyd's murder, Kelli and Michael Paul catch up to talk about the civil unrest that took place in Richmond and across the country but also how so much of the world changed from that point. Since 2020, Confederate monuments have come down, conservatives have come to power in Virginia leading to things like critical race theory, banning divisive books and initiating teacher snitch lines. Kelli and Michael Paul cover it all in this episode of After the Monuments presented by Massey Cancer Center and supported by Team Henry Enterprises.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
While the proposed legislation and upcoming laws for cannabis and marijuana will be applicable for everyone, the justice carried out is too often different. In this episode of After the Monuments, Kelli talks with Sheba Williams, founder and executive director of No Left Turns, a re-entry organization for individuals being released from the department of corrections on marijuana related charges and otherwise.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michal Paul and producer Matt Pochily drop in to discuss the May 14 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York that killed 10 and wounded three. Reports on the shooter show a theme of the shooting having been racially motivated and incited by internet forums of "replacement theory" and other ideas aligned with white supremacy. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Recent legislation put forth by Virginia's Governor Glenn Youngkin, to many, represents a re-criminalization of marijuana within less than a year of Virginia having legalized up to an ounce of marijuana to adults. In this episode, Michael Paul Williams is joined by Marijuana Justice Executive Director Chelsea Higgs Wise who shares her perspective on how the recent legislation will affect the community, entrepreneurs and Black entrepreneurs in the cannabis space especially.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pharrell Williams is taking his Something in the Water festival away from Virginia Beach and headed north to Washington, D.C. on Juneteenth weekend. The Foundation Board of Directors at James Madison's Montpelier reverse and edit a previous decision to admit descendants of the enslaved from the property onto the board. A small redemption of some of the broken promises is the approach St. Paul's Church in downtown Richmond is taking. The church was once the home of worship for the Confederacy and known as "the church of the Confederacy." This year, however, the church commissioned an artist to install 14 pieces across the church, similar to a church's stations of the cross, that depict the evolution of the church from that history to its present place in the community. Kelli and Michael Paul offer insight and background on all of these in this week's episode. After the Monuments if presented by VCU Massey Cancer and supported by Team Henry Enterprises.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When looking at public health and health outcomes, there are few better sources to consult than data. Data that can show life expediencies and allow public health practitioners to determine what is driving those outcomes. Dr. Danny Avula, Commissioner of Virginia's Department of Social Services, joins Kelli and Michael Paul to share what he's learning and sees in Richmond, Virginia, and across the country as being contributors to health outcomes, health practices, and contributors in communities of color.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Teacher snitch lines, mask mandates, banned books and LGBTQ+ rights in public education are all under attack from the right, seemingly, so White kids aren't uncomfortable. Kelli and Michael Paul continue the conversation on public education and the cyclical nature of issues coming up today the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, Mary Bauer. Mary shares insight on the ACLU's present-day work on mask mandates, LGBTQ+ rights and how those areas in particular are under attack in public education from the right.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Across the country and in Virginia in particular, there has been an assault on public education. From banned books, school-policing, and parent tip lines what’s taught, discussed and shared in public schools feels under the microscope. Kelli and Michael Paul visit with the Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools, Jason Kamras, to hear his experience as the leader of a largelay Black school system in the states capital city. Kamras notes of a sense of White fragility that seems to be so dominating everything that is discussed today.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli and Michal Paul drop in to offer insight through their lens on the Will Smith/Chris Rock slap at the Oscars, a proposed increase on police funding in the City of Richmond and the University of Richmond announcing they'll be changing the names of six campus buildings that had Confederate ties. They be back with regularly scheduled episodes on Tuesday, April 5.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What was meant to begin as a simple Google search to learn the history of a historically black neighborhood, led sisters Enjoli and Dr. Seisha Moon down a rabbit hole that included The Richmond Times-Dispatch and Valentine Museum to open their archives for continual research that ultimately lead to the re-framing and updates to the history of the Jackson Ward neighborhood. The project sheds light on how the true history of a place is too often painted over and how reparative historic preservation can restore pride and appreciation for the past and outlook for the future. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
History is on the ropes due to government, right-wing censures, claiming race-neutral policies yet, with a look at our past, we can see how these types of legislation have gone before us and resulted in racial divides and inequity. Kelli and Michael Paul then get into topics to expect throughout the season including how children experience a public education, public health, legalization of marijuana, the future of policing, and more. Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelli Lemon and Pulitzer-Prize winning columnist Michael Paul Williams retrace Richmond, Virginia’s history with Confederate monuments from the monuments being erected, starting in 1890, to their removal in 2022. Lemon and Williams talk about progress made by Black Americans in Richmond in the early 20th century only for it to be thwarted and dismissed with the rise of the monuments. Throughout the 20th century and through today America has seen a backlash and rise between black and white.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Co-hosted by Pulitzer-Prize winning columnist Michael Paul Williams and Kelli Lemon, After the Monuments captures the zeitgeist of a nation struggling to move from symbolic to substantive change on racial issues. The podcast will analyze current events about race through a historical context, examining the ideas of leading black thinkers over time, and encouraging broader and deeper insights into racial tensions, divisions and reconciliation. Williams and Lemon, both with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, engage with a wide range of guests to bring context, relevance and resonance to events, going well beyond breaking-news headlines.Support the show: https://richmond.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When one thinks of the 804, there are a few names that come to mind. But there is one name, regardless of topic, that can be brought up in almost any 804 conversation. Wanna find something to do in the city? ✔️ Looking for those weekend lottery numbers? ✔️ Need a spot to chill downtown? ✔️ Trying to figure out who that woman is hyping up the Art of Noise crowd? ✔️ Heard of the Jackson Ward Collective? ✔️ Waiting for the next Richmond Black Restaurant Experience event? ✔️ And the list goes on and on. We talked about: -how she made her way from the 757 to the 804 -her connection to UVA and VCU -being a social entrepreneur -her top 5 musical artists -…and much more. Welcome to the stage, today's company… Ms. Dope and Different herself, Kelli Lemon @likethefruit -Source
Good morning, RVA! It’s 31 °F, and today you can expect colder temperatures. Still no rain though, but looks like we should plan on highs in the mid 40s until about Tuesday. Cozy up and have a great weekend—much warmer temperatures in store for next week, though.Water coolerThe Richmond Police Department reports that Grayson Babbs, a man in his 20s, was found shot to death on the 900 block of St. Paul Street this past Saturday.As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 1,300 new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealthand 31 new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 40 new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 30, Henrico: -14, and Richmond: 24). Since this pandemic began, 1,098 people have died in the Richmond region. Negative numbers in Henrico aside, I think we’re through the winter death certificates data reporting issue. 31 total deaths across the state is a lot, but, compared to the seven-day average (99), it at least seems plausible. Here’s this week stacked chart of new reported cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Ignoring that the deaths chart is utterly broken, I think we can finally see all three of these indicators trending in the right direction. The case counts show the same thing on the local level, too. I keep saying it, but, whew/big sigh of relief/light at the end of the tunnel.By now, everyone should have filled out either a vaccine interest form with their local health district or the newish statewide vaccine pre-registration form (if not, tap the link and do so immediately—even if you’re not yet eligible for vaccination). Those two databases have been mushed together, and you can now look yourself up on the statewide pre-registration site to verify that you’re in there. Not only that, but you can now edit your information! Everyone should also probably go ahead and do that immediately, too, to make sure they’ve got the most accurate information.Just another quick reminder to encourage all the seniors out there (or the seniors in your lives) to check their email if they’ve pre-registered for a COVID-19 vaccine but haven’t yet gotten vaccinated. The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts and Henrico County are holding mass vaccination events over the next couple of days, and seniors can make appointments now. Also, if they sign up for the event on the 8th they’ll get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine—one and done!The Mayor will present his FY22 budget to City Council today at 3:00 PM. I think you’ll be able to find a link to tune in on the City’s legislative website. Budgets reflect your priorities in a real and concrete way, and it’ll be interesting to check in on what the Mayor wants to get done in the middle of…all of this. Given his past priorities, I think we will see a focus on RPS and educational programs, something about affordable housing, a continued commitment to street paving, maybe a interesting new position or two, and a general goal to maintain until the pandemic ends (whatever that means). I’ll also be looking for how the Mayor’s recently released equity agenda pairs with his budget. Budget season!Do you remember Abbie Arevalo? She sought asylum in First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond and had been living there for the last three years. Ali Rocket at the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that on February 25th, she was “granted a one-year stay of removal from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” I appreciate this quote from First Unitarian’s minister, “During the past 32 months, I was impressed with the way Abbie handled her ordeal with grace, dignity, courage and faith…We all could learn a lesson on how to deal with adversity from Abbie, as I most certainly did.”Folks interested in learning more / weighing in on RPS’s proposed year-round school calendar have four opportunities to do so next week via some virtual town halls. Last we spoke, the RPS School Board wanted to make their calendar decision on Monday, March 15th, so get your thoughts and opinions in front of the decisions makers before then!Wyatt Gordon, writing for Style Weekly, reminds me that the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience kicks off today and runs through March 14th. This is the fifth year that the organizers—Kelli Lemon, Amy Wentz, and Shemicia Bown—have put on this week of delicious food. That’s incredible. Check out the list of special events and the list of participating restaurants. I know you’re planning on ordering food this coming week, why not make it from one of these Black-owned restaurants?This morning’s longreadNo I’m Not ReadyWe’re on a cusp! The smart and lovely writing has started to pivot away from AUGHHH THINGS ARE HORRIBLE REMEMBER THE BEFORE TIMES to WHAT HOW ARE WE EXPECTED TO BE PEOPLE IN THE AFTER TIMES?You’re probably going to feel exhausted when you want to feel exhilarated, panicked when you thought you’d feel safe, combative when all you want is to feel soothed. Your social skills have atrophied and you’re probably going to get in some big fights that will seem like they’re about nothing but are actually about everything. You’re going to crave some of the parts of quarantine life you swore you never would. You’re probably going to over-plan and over-schedule and feel an alarming and unexpected need for solitude and have to pull back and re-evaluate.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.
Kelli should have been my first episode but I had somethings to figure out first so here we are. She is a staple of Richmond Va. She owns Urban Hang Suite RVA. Shes involved with so many different projects its unreal. You may also notice her from the Va Lottery. She draws the numbers on the weekend. We have been friends for so long I am scared to count. It is my distinct pleasure to get to talk to her. We talk race, her life, business, vision, and honestly almost everything! Please visit Urban Hang Suite RVA and get some coffee and food. They are located at 304 East Broad St, Richmond, Virginia. Check out their website www.urbandhangsuiterva.com I hope you enjoy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thetruthasiknowit/message
In this podcast, I sat down with Kelli Lemon to discuss the current climate of Richmond, VA. Kelli Lemon has created a name for herself in Richmond, Virginia (RVA) as a self-proclaimed “social entrepreneur.” Her passion to create opportunities for people to interact through food, sports, education, or the arts energizes and drives her. A woman of many talents, she is well known as the Owner of the Urban Hang Suite, Annual Hardy Wood Craft Beer Festival, Virginia Lottery, , Host of Coffee with Strangers webcasts, as well as the on-air personality for radio shows “The Weekend” on 99.3/105.7 Kiss FM, and “Sunday School” on iPower 92.1/104.1.
We ride the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience brunch trolley and talk to Unlocking RVA's Faith Wilkerson. Then, Elijah from the VUU Radio Production class interviews Kelli Lemon.
It is a question often asked every night around Richmond. "Where should we eat tonight?" Now imagine trying to choose 20 places to eat. Such is the tough [read: fabulous] life of David Hagedorn. Hagedorn, a chef and restaurant owner turned food critic and writer for publications like the Washington Post, Bethesda Magazine, and Arlington Magazine, visited Richmond last fall for a piece he wrote titled Where to Eat and Drink in Richmond. Before writing the piece, Hagedorn visited nearly two dozen Richmond restaurants and ate, and ate, and ate. Hear all about which restaurants he loved and why he thinks they make Richmond such a special place to dine. Did you enjoy Robey's conversation with Kelli Lemon about the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience? Learn more about it here. At the end of the podcast, Robey also talked about the Autumn Olive Farms “On The Fly” Dodgeball Tournament. Click here for additional information about the tournament and The Holli Fund.
Good morning, RVA! It’s 34 °F, and today’s highs are in the 60s. Enjoy it while you can, because it looks like we’ve got some rain and colder temperatures later this week.Water coolerWTVR reports that a driver hit and killed Shelly Johnson, 41, as Johnson walked along Bethlehem Road towards the Wawa on Staples Mill Road. Bethlehem Road is one of the few ways to connect to Libbie Mill while avoiding both Broad Street and Staples Mill, but, unfortunately, the street lacks side walks and the intersection is massive, unsafe, and designed to maximize vehicle speeds. It’s unsurprising that “the preliminary investigation indicates that [neither] speed nor alcohol were factors in this crash” because the area is not designed as a place for people to safely exist. What will Henrico do to make this part of the County—where they plan on adding thousands of people and jobs—safer for folks moving around? Will they respond to Johnson’s death and change how this intersection works?You should read this column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by Ebony Walden, about building a more equitable Richmond. She doesn’t explicitly state it, but this column asks the question that sits on all of our plates after Council rejected the mayor’s proposal to redevelop downtown: How will we move forward and implement—citywide—the community benefits that the mayor’s proposal sought to address? Things like affordable housing, public transit, safe pedestrian and bike infrastructure, jobs, disinvestment in Black communities, school funding, and environmental sustainability. In her words: “We did not get here overnight. Federal, state and local policies and private industry practices like urban renewal, redlining, deed restrictions, exclusionary zoning, highway construction and subprime lending have created a segregated city. In the face of these trends, urgent action is needed to develop a racial equity strategy rooted in equitable development, ensuring that all can thrive.” Remember, City Council could begin passing legislation to address some of these issues immediately, while the Mayor’s upcoming budget could bring much needed funded to equitable solutions. Keep an eye on our elected leaders over the next couple of months to see if they move to, as Walden says, make “a solid and actionable commitment to racial equity rooted in equitable development in 2020.”Related, you should also read this column in the RTD by Corey D.B Walker and Thad Williamson about how Richmond—its citizens and its leaders—should build a new, better, and more democratic economic development process. This is important stuff to think through as a community! Those empty blocks of downtown will not (and should not!) stay empty forever, and as VCU moves forward with building a ballpark the City will suddenly find itself with lots and lots of prime real estate along Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Before we kick off either of those projects, it makes sense to do some introspection, learn from these past two years, and deploy a much-improved economic development process. Right?Kate Masters at the Virginia Mercury has a really great explainer on the General Assembly’s plan for the Commonwealth to create its own health insurance marketplace. Is this a good idea? I would love to know! Health insurance is totally not my jam, but it kinda seems like this would creat a lot of new overhead for not that much benefit—now folks looking for insurance would need to check both the federal and state marketplaces while doing some compare/contrast work. Who’s got the definitive longread about whether or not state-run exchanges work?Also at the Virginia Mercury, Graham Moomaw has the disappointing but not altogether unexpected news that the Virginia Senate pushed the assault weapons ban bill to the 2021 GA session. Great quote from Sen. Louise Lucas: “I didn’t have enough people who had enough backbone to do what two million voters asked us to do…They sent us here to vote for good, common sense gun measures. And they wimped out and were just too afraid to do it.”I enjoyed this Q&A in Richmond Magazine where Kelli Lemon asks a bunch of restaurant people how the scene has changed over the last forever. This picture of Richmond in the 90s makes me feel warm feelings: “In the ’90s, I was at 3rd Street Diner, and out front it was cigarette-smoking waitresses in Suicide Girl outfits and [a member of] Lamb of God working the line in the back…So many were just VCU students. It was the Wild West.”The City’s Planning Commission meets today and will consider a handful of papers to rezone the unnamed area around Hardywood (best suggestion I got on Twitter: Rhoadmiller). Also, on their regular agenda sits ORD. 2020–030, the Special Use Permit for the 12-story residential tower proposed for the northwest corner of Broad & Lombardy. I’m pretty stoked about it and can’t remember the last time I saw a big residential project like this with fewer than .5 parking spaces per unit (79 spaces for 168 units—some of them below ground and none of them visible from the street!).Richmond’s planning folks will present the results from the recent Scott’s Addition survey tonight at Diversity Richmond (1407 Sherwood Ave) from 6:00–7:30 PM. If you show up, I think you’ll get first crack at the Greater Scott’s Addition Conceptual Plan, which is a PDF I look forward to reading—don’t we all!This morning’s patron longreadBuild Build Build Build Build Build Build Build Build Build Build Build Build BuildSubmitted by Patron Lisa. It’s shocking to see such strong support for more and more housing from a local official—of course, it cost him his job, but still.What this suggests is that the real solution will have to be sociological. People have to realize that homelessness is connected to housing prices. They have to accept it’s hypocritical to say that you don’t like density but are worried about climate change. They have to internalize the lesson that if they want their children to have a stable financial future, they have to make space. They are going to have to change. Steve Falk changed. When he first heard about Dennis O’Brien’s project, he thought it was stupid: a case study, in ugly stucco, of runaway development. He believed the Bay Area needed more housing, but he was also a dyed-in-the-wool localist who thought cities should decide where and how it was built. Then that belief started to unravel. Today, after eight years of struggle, his career with the city is over, the Deer Hill Road site is still just a mass of dirt and shrubs, and Mr. Falk has become an outspoken proponent of taking local control away from cities like the one he used to lead.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.
madison moore is not only the 'haus muva' to all things BlackMatter, they're my good sis! Dr. moore has been a fabulous source of inspiration and motivation to get out and engage wit the gurls. Listen to us black femme academics share ideas experiences about living in community--together and always. We're sipping tea thanks to Kelli Lemon's space at the Urban Hang Suite. STOP what you're doing and GO THERE!!
We turn the tables on online radio personality Kelli Lemon by asking her the questions! Nakita and Kim interview Kelli who has created a name for herself in Richmond, Virginia (RVA) as a self-proclaimed “social entrepreneur.” She's the owner of Hang Suite RVA, originator of the series "Coffee with Strangers," and a storyteller extraordinaire. Join us for this fun and inspiring interview!
Kelli Lemon joins Todd B. Waldo for a conversation about her family, career and her journey to discover how she could weave together all that she is to connect people, create experiences and help shape the world around her. Kelli is socially connecting people through food, sports, arts and education. This week she is celebrating the first year of her social cafe Urban Hang Suite in Richmond’s Historic Jackson Ward community! She is also the host for Coffee With Strangers where each week guests share with Kelli how they live, work, play and support all that Richmond has to offer. Season one included an interview with Kelli and Todd four years ago. Learn more about Kelli and Urban Hang Suite by following @likethefruit and @urbanhangsuiterva on Instagram. The event spotlight for this episode is the Hardywood Gingerbread House Challenge with Better Housing Coalition, Sunday, November 3 Noon – 5:30 p.m. The third annual Hardywood Gingerbread House Challenge dares local businesses, nonprofits and student groups to form teams and display their holiday spirit and creativity by constructing a gingerbread house centered around the 2019 theme: “Holiday Songs” Learn more at betterhousingcoalition.org 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
Kelli Lemon is back for this week’s #ChatwithChelsi. We continue our discussion on branding, entrepreneurship, and life.This week, Kelli answers the hardest question I have ever asked on the show, and shares:what led her to feeling disconnected from family and friends,the biggest mistake she made in building her brand,how she stays motivated, andhow she continues to get her #NipseyHussle on.
Kelli Lemon is the owner of Urban Hang Suite, host of Coffee with Strangers, radio host at Radio One, and a social entrepreneur.Kelli is a Richmond powerhouse!Kelli shares the inside scoop on:* how her parents reacted when she told them she was becoming an entrepreneur,* what it means to be a social entrepreneur,* how she built her brand including working for free for years, and* why protecting her brand is so important.Join us next Sunday, August 11th at 4PM for Part 2 of our chat. You’ll hear the hardest question I have ever asked on #ChatwithChelsi, and Kelli’s answer. #LifewithChelsi
The Collective is back for episode 3 and they've brought Kelli Lemon in tow! Today's show they talk RVA's Heart & Soul Fest, keeping beer from Nazis, the supreme court strikes and Radio B's suprise album drop "Kill the Dreamer"!
Happy Friday! Welcome to episode 10 of the All Things Richmond podcast. Kelli Lemon was kind enough to join us for this episode. Duke and Kelli discuss Kelli's journey from sports marketing to DJ to Mama J's to Coffee With Strangers RVA to the up and coming Urban Hang Suite RVA to her vision for Richmond's future and what is to come. Thanks for joining us, Kelli! Your passion and love for Richmond is truly inspiring and we can't wait to see what's next!
Kelli's at Pop's for episode 100 of Coffee with Strangers to grab coffee with...wait for it...Kelli Lemon. Kelli's a social entrepreneur in town and as of the taping of the episode was voted second in the city to most embody the spirit of RVA.
In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Kelli Lemon! She is such a joy and vibrant light in RVA! After indulging in her interview make sure to stay tuned for your word of the week! Check out more details about Kelli down below and follow her everywhere on social media @LikeTheFruit. Become a member of the BGW Family here. Be one of the 20 women at the upcoming Women, Wellness, and Wine Retreat by registering here. Kelli Lemon is a "Social Entrepreneur/Consultant" that is passionate about changing how people "LIVE" Richmond, Virginia. Formerly the Business Manager of Mama J's restaurant, Kelli is now working for herself (Like The Fruit, LLC) to socially connect people through food, sports, arts and education. She is also an on air personality for Radio One Richmond's Kiss FM and iPower and hosts a weekly podcast and web series called "Coffee with Strangers". Kelli hosts various social events including The Richmond Jazz Festival, After Hours at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Family Day at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. She's also assisted in creating unique urban events in RVA including RVA Pop Up Parties, Hip Hop BINGO, Ready 2 Give Charity Events, Dinner and a DJ, HeART & Soul Brew Fest, Virginia (Richmond) Black Restaurant Experience and The Art of Noise. Fall 2018, Kelli blended all of her talents and opened her social cafe, Urban Hang Suite at 3rd and Broad in Jackson Ward in downtown Richmond. Kelli got her Bachelor of Science degree from UVA and Master's in Education from VCU. Want to support this podcast? Click the link below to make a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes! Cheers to Excellence! https://anchor.fm/blackgirlswine/support
This #SweetTalks episode features Kelli Lemon, a phenomenal women and social entrepreneur that is passionate about changing how people "LIVE" Richmond, Virginia! Tune in to hear us chat about a bit of everything from how #RVA is continuously thriving to recognizing your place and “knowing when to make your move” while recognizing the importance of inclusivity throughout it all. Kelli’s track record and impressive career speaks for its self and her spirit and personal passions are what drives her to do exactly what she does…and all with a smile on her face. Why? Because she focuses on what makes her happy! “I think that you will know in your gut when it’s time for you to move on and do something else…”- Kelli Lemon This episode’s dessert in is honor of our guest and is a personal favorite. You’ll have to check out to see exactly what it is. Let’s just say get ready for some southern soul food that’s warm and gooey. Grab your paper and a pen and go listen now!
Kelli Lemon is a social entrepreneur. She does it all: radio DJing, PR/hosting, throwing parties. You name it, she does it. Kelli shares the story of moving to Richmond, what she learned building student culture at VCU, and helping get Mama J's off the ground. She also reflects on the importance of building bridges, what it takes to be a neighbor and what you can expect from her new venture, the Urban Hang Suite. This episode is sponsored by Village Bank.
The journey from shame to pride is remembered as Todd B. Waldo looks back over the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience, created by Amy Wentz, Shemicia Bowen and Kelli Lemon ( vablackrestaurantexperience.com ). The interactions that week affirmed a sense of home and place and resonated with the emotions sparked by the film Black Panther. This Black pride is not a dividing line. It creates space for authentic connection with others. Taking the journey to discover your pride and affirm your connection to your ancestors and heritage helps you affirms others. And this opportunity goes deeper to uncover the impact of previous generations racist practices and policies reinforcing injustice and inequity today. 40 Lessons is a podcast about the lessons we've learned about family, career, community and the lessons we are still learning. Host Todd B. Waldo and his guests share their stories, insight and wisdom to encourage listeners to take care of themselves and each other. Listen to all episodes on iTunes, Soundcloud, Google Play, TuneIn and Stitcher at toddbwaldo.com/podcast. Send your feedback, questions and comments to todd@toddbwaldo.com
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and scored some dope Black Friday deals. Monday is Cyber Monday so you've got more chances to snag some great stuff and Tuesday is Giving Tuesday so we hope you'll save some money to support one of the local non profits we've worked with this year like UnBoundRVA, Girls for a Change, Storefront for Community Design, The Salvation Army, Studio Two Three, Code VA or one of the other great non profits in RVA. We're taking a break through the end of the year but will be back in January with new episodes and may have some exciting news during the holidays so stay tuned on social media. Oh, and we've got mugs...message us through social if you want one. They'll make great Christmas gifts. Okay, see you soon!
This is our 2 year anniversary show and we couldn't ask for a better guest than Kelli Lemon. Richmond's (Not RVA's) girl about town talks about her journey, branding herself, and her new business venture. Also in this episode, Cheats goes one-on-one with Hot 97's own Peter Rosenberg. The co-host of Ebro in the Morning, host of Real Late, and now contributor to both the WWE and ESPN, talks about his career, the legendary Juan Epstein Podcast, and the future of culture. Closing out the podcast, we had a quick visit from AGM's Michael Millions who debuted a brand new track "Water" off his upcoming album Hard to be King. 2 years is a long time - we couldn't do it without you. We love you and #WESEEIT
Kelli Lemon joined us to talk Art Of Noise,Coffee With Strangers,Pop Up Parties and other big happenings in the 804. We also kicked it about the need for a new Richmond Coliseum,The Washington Redskins (Training Camp in Richmond / Kirk Couisins contract situation) and her thoughts on Jay-Z's 4:44 Album.