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EGACY Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

WEDNESDAYS • April 8, 2015

INSIDE Privatization for Chesterfield schools?- 4 Commentary: I had a heart attack - 6 ‘Face Forward’ after juvenile crimes-13 Your chances of surviving cancer - 14

Richmond & Hampton Roads

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Ex-aide who admitted assaults avoids jail after he becomes a victim KEITH ALEXANDER

She sat in the back of the courtroom, wearing oversize black sunglasses, watching as the former Democratic congressional aide was sentenced for slipping a sedative into her drink and then raping her. It was the summer of 2010, and she had just arrived in Washington as a student intern. When they met, she believed Donny Ray Williams Jr., the longtime aide and former staff director for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee, could help her find a job with Congress. But instead, she later told authorities, Williams drugged and assaulted her. “He gave me a random dose of drugs and risked my life,” the woman wrote in a letter read during the D.C. Superior Court hearing last week. “After the assault, I moved away, and he continued to harass me and threatened me to drop the charges. This crime has caused me fear, pain and a financial burden.” In the letter, the woman asked that Williams, who pleaded guilty to assaulting her and another woman and threatening a third person, be given “some jail time.” The other two people were not present in court. But as part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to ask the judge to suspend a 4 1/2-year prison term, meaning Williams will remain free as long as he stays out of trouble. Though the man before them had committed serious offenses, a prosecutor said, he had also suffered as a victim of an unrelated crime. About a year after his arrest on the sex-assault charges, Williams was severely disfigured and badly injured after acid was thrown on his face. Authorities are still investigating the attack, and no arrests have been made. During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Marcus-Kurn said Williams used his position to prey on his victims. “It was done with foresight, intentionally and deliberately,” MarcusKurn said. “The impact on these women is life-

Donny Ray Williams Jr., a former Democratic congressional aide, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two women. His face was disfigured by an unrelated acid attack a year after his arrest. The protrusion on Williams’ head is the result of a rod surgically implanted to stretch the skin and promote healing. PHOTO: Ricky Carioti/WP changing.” But the prosecutor said the defendant’s life also was dramatically changed when he became a victim. She noted that Williams has had more than 20 surgeries, his vision is impaired and he faces additional “life-threatening” surgeries. Judge Robert E. Morin said in court that he reluctantly agreed to suspend the prison term, noting he ultimately concluded the government’s reasoning was “practical and reasonable.”

“He was a victim of an independent crime and has serious medical issues,” Morin said. In addition to the suspended term, he sentenced Williams to five years of supervised probation and ordered him to register as a sex offender for 10 years and undergo counseling. On July 3, 2013, Williams was walking down a Northwest Washington street when a man walked (continued on page 4)

2 • April 8, 2015

The LEGACY

News Virginia ‘Bans The Box’ WIRE REPORTS

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order Friday to remove all questions regarding criminal history from applications for state government jobs. Agencies can still conduct a criminal background check on a job candidate, but only after finding him or her otherwise qualified for the position. Speaking at a local Goodwill store in Richmond, McAuliffe tied his action to the Easter holiday and its focus on turning over a new leaf.

“We should not seal the fate of every man and woman with a criminal record based on a hasty verdict,” he said. “If they are eager to make a clean start and build new lives in their communities, they deserve a fair chance at employment.” Though the Department Of Labor doesn’t track the unemployment rate among those returning from jail or prison, studies have found that it’s about 60 to 75 percent for individuals a year after their incarceration. Difficulty securing a job is a major reason so many returned citizens

commit another crime and return to prison. Before signing the order, McAuliffe also expressed concern that consequences of “checking the box” on a job application and disclosing a past criminal conviction has a disproportionate impact on the state’s workers of color. “We all know that this box has an unequal impact on our minority families,” he said. “One study found that 34 percent of white job applicants without a record received a callback, while only 17 percent of those with a criminal record did. Among African Americans, 14 percent without a criminal record received a callback while only 5

percent of those with a record heard back from a potential employer.” The order encourages, but doesn’t require, Virginia’s private employers to ‘ban the box’ as well — and praises those like Target, WalMart and Home Depot that have already done so. Virginia’s move follows similar laws passed in Georgia, Nebraska and a handful of others states as well as the District of Columbia to combat hiring discrimination against workers with criminal records. The National Employment Law Project estimates 70 million American adults have arrests or convictions in their past that can make it difficult for them to obtain employment.

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April 8, 2015 • 3

McAuliffe against making contracts with outside law firms public KATHRYN WATSON Virginia taxpayers may never know why the Virginia Retirement System needed $322,000 worth of outside legal aid last year for investments alone. Even as he touts attempts to strengthen state ethics legislation, Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed a bill that would have made all legal contracts the state makes with outside special counsel available online for the public and capped payments to outside lawyers, saying that would “needlessly impose harmful restrictions on the ability of the commonwealth to secure specialized legal services and prosecute its cases.” Virginia’s Office of Attorney

General employs about 200 full-time lawyers, but state agencies still spent about $16 million on outside counsel in fiscal year 2013, and $10.6 million the following year, according to an OAG report to leading lawmakers. Republican state Sen. Mark Obenshain, who lost the AG race to current Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring in 2013, filed the legislation to make sure the attorney general accompanies each outside contract with a written statement justifying how the agreement is “both cost effective and in the public interest.” The bill also ensures outside law firms don’t collect more in payments than they win in damages. But McAuliffe rejected the bill, even though it made temporary provisions for cases where posting

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a contract would violate attorneyclient privilege, or interfere with an ongoing state investigation. “This bill would unnecessarily hamstring the Attorney General from securing the quality of legal assistance he may, on occasion, need to advance those rights and interests,” McAuliffe added in his veto explanation, without specifically explaining why making contracts public or scrutinizing costs prohibits the AG’s office from hiring outside legal help as needed for the state’s cases. Hiring outside legal counsel is a common practice in Virginia and other states. Many states are adding laws similar to the one Virginia’s House and Senate tried to pass. In December, a New York Times series evidenced how law firms can take advantage of state coffers, if state officials let them. As the law stands, the attorney general only has to release a report documenting how much each agency spent on outside counsel in a given year, with the sweeping claim the

outside help was needed because it was “impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General’s office to render such a service.” In Virginia, law firms generally offer bids for their services to the state, creating a slate of pre-approved firms from which the OAG can pick when cases arise. The executive branch can hire outside legal help for everything from pharmaceutical settlements to medical malpractice suits. One of Herring’s first acts in office was to terminate a cloudy contract the Bob McDonnell administration had with two outside law firms to help the former governor with his legal and public relations problems over the Jonnie Williams fiasco. During the legislative session, Michael Kelly, communications director for Herring, said Obenshain’s legislation is unnecessary because the attorney general is already trying to make the process more transparent and accountable with similar measures. © WATCHDOG

Vote June 9, 2015 My name is Larry D. Brown, Sr. and I am seeking to be your next Delegate for the 63rd District. I have been a business owner and Pastor in the Petersburg, Dinwiddie and Southside community for over 25 years. As a former Adjunct Professor at Bryant & Stratton College, I understand the needs of students and schools. As a business owner I realize that small businesses are essential to economic development. As a Pastor, I realize that people need to work together to solve Virginia problems. I will advocate for:

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I am Senior Pastor of Gravel Run Baptist Church in Dinwiddie and I hold a B.S. Degree in Business from Virginia State University, Master of Divinity Degree from Richmond Virginia Seminary, and an earned Doctorate Degree from United Theological Seminary with a concentration in the Education of African American Youth.

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The LEGACY

4 • April 8, 2015

Can privatization clean up Chesterfield schools? KENRIC WARD CHESTERFIELD — After allegedly “sandbagging the budget,” a Richmond area school district is under pressure to hire a private overseer for future construction projects. An audit flunked Chesterfield school administrators for their handling of four recent campus renovations. Auditors said their review was limited because project files were misfiled, original documents were missing and key correspondence with contractors was not maintained. State law requires that such documentation be preserved for four

years. Additionally, the audit found employees in the construction division allowed contractors to perform work without written approval and authorized change orders without supporting documentation. Changes orders on one project added $1.5 million to the final cost. A $55 million bond initially floated for a new high school technology center ballooned to $72 million, said Rodney Martin, a county activist. When the price tag came in at $68 million, the school district kept the $4 million difference. “The school was built on sandbagging the budget. This is

clearly unethical.” Martin said in an interview. School Board Chairwoman Carrie Coyner and County Supervisor Dan Gecker have suggested outsourcing construction management of schools. James Marconi, a local member of Americans for Prosperity, believes “schools have too much control over capital projects and operations.” Taxpayer Chris Eliot adds that too many district operations are antiquated and inefficient. “They pay employees $22.50 an hour, plus mileage, to drive around collecting time sheets. With 21st century technology, why doesn’t Chesterfield have electronic time sheets?” Eliot asks.

(from page 1) up and asked, “Hey, how are you man?” Williams, not recognizing the man, said “hey.” The man then threw liquid in Williams’s face, and it ran down his body. Williams said he initially thought it was coffee. But then he felt pain as if his body were on fire. “I thought I was going to die,” he said in an interview earlier this year. He suffered second- and thirddegree burns and spent nearly two months in the hospital. He is blind in one eye, and his vision in the other is greatly diminished. Williams said he thinks his attacker was the jealous ex-boyfriend of a woman he was dating. Now, unemployed and living off his savings and help from his parents, he has amassed more than $1 million in medical bills. The political life he has aspired to live and has worked in since college is over. It was a stunning fall for a young man who once had a promising future. Williams was a member of the staff of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs disaster recovery subcommittee from 2002 to 2007 and staff director for a subcommittee from April 2010 to July 2011. He began his Capitol Hill career in 1999

Donny Ray Williams Jr. in 2012 when he went to work for Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.). Williams said he grew up wanting to be a teacher, but while working for Cummings, he fell in love with politics. He went on to work for panels chaired by former senators Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.). He also said he worked for former senator Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Williams was tapped to work

on the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which created the Homeland Security Department. In 2005, he worked on Landrieu’s committee in an effort to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In 2009, Williams spent a year in the White House working for the Obama administration as a congressional liaison for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “We were helping making changes in lives,” Williams said in the interview. “We were doing real

Amid taxpayer complaints, Chesterfield’s Board of Supervisors, which annually allocates half of its $800 million operating budget to public schools, is looking at more outsourcing to cut costs and enhance accountability. Privatization benefits have been mixed, so far. Critics complain that a private contract for janitorial services is leaving school facilities filthy. “Custodians spend five to eight minutes per classroom,” Eliot wrote in the Chesterfield Observer. “Floors are mopped and waxed once a year, desks are never disinfected. No wonder our children are ill during the winter months.” ©WATCHDOG

work changing laws to help people immediately.” In his earlier interview, Williams denied that he sexually assaulted the women, saying the relationships were consensual. “I have slept with a lot of women. But I have never consciously thought about giving anybody a drug who didn’t know they were getting the drug,” Williams said then. Instead, Williams said he decided to plead guilty because, since the attack, he wants to focus on his health, not a trial. And he wants to spend time with his 10-year-old son from his previous marriage. But in court Friday, Williams sounded more remorseful. Standing before the judge, Williams apologized to his victims. He cited feminist author Bell Hooks, quoting from an essay she wrote on black male sexuality in American society. He quoted former senator Robert F. Kennedy speaking about using intimacy to build families. Then he offered his own words. “How easy it is for men to use power to abuse,” Williams said. “Rape is cowardly, shameful and downright evil. I promise, I will protect a woman’s right to her own body.” The woman he assaulted, and her lawyer, declined to comment as they left court. ©Wa.Po

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April 8, 2015 • 5

Va. AG office helps celebrate 20 years of helping seniors

law enforcement. In the last year, Herring’s office said that he has worked to reenergize the Triad program, helping to add additional programs throughout the state, visiting regularly with existing programs, and providing support and coordination. His network of community outreach coordinators can assist in organizing a new Triad, or provide existing chapters with a wealth of information,

resources and support, including presentations on important topics like identity theft, fraud, and scams, or training opportunities for law enforcement, senior volunteers, and community groups. Communities interested in starting a Triad program, or in receiving additional information, resources or support for an existing program, should send an email to seniors@oag.state.va.us or call 804786-2071.

Interstate 64 Capacity Improvements – Segment II City of Newport News, York County and James City County

Design Public Hearing Attorney General Mark R. Herring recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Triad in Virginia with more than 250 Virginia seniors. SUBMITTED PHOTO Twenty years ago the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) coordinated a program to help empower Virginia seniors and encourage safety. Attorney General Mark Herring recently acknowledged this effort by celebrating the 20th anniversary of Triad in Virginia with more than 250 Virginia seniors. Since 1995, the OAG has coordinated the Triad program to reduce the fear of crime and victimization among seniors by increasing awareness of scams and frauds targeting them, strengthening communication between law enforcement and senior communities, and educating seniors on local and state resources that are available in their community. Speaking in Williamsburg, Herring reaffirmed his commitment to keeping older Virginians safe from crime, including financial scams and exploitation, through the Triad program. “Things like identity theft, cyber crime, and financial crimes can affect Virginians of all ages and older

Virginians are often specifically targeted because of their age,” said Herring. “Far too often, seniors are seen as vulnerable targets for wouldbe scammers and criminals. Through the Triad program, we’re working to help restore a sense of safety and confidence to older Virginians. It’s been a joy to work with and visit local chapters, and I look forward to many more years of this productive partnership.” Triad is a cooperative effort of law enforcement agencies, seniors, and senior organizations, focused on reducing crimes against older Americans. In the last 20 years, Triad in Virginia has grown to include more than 225 participating cities, counties, and towns. Virginia remains the only state that has an executive branch agency—the OAG—supporting and coordinating statewide efforts. Regular meetings feature presentations from Herring’s office and others, in addition to community collaborations and targeted trainings for seniors and

Thursday, April 30, 2015, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Double Tree Hotel Williamsburg 50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Come and see the proposed project plans for capacity improvements on I-64 Segment II in the City of Newport News, James City County and York County. The purpose of this project is to extend the three-lane section of I-64 approximately 7.08 miles west, with widening occurring in the existing median of the interstate from 1.05 miles west of Route 199 (Humelsine Parkway/Marquis Center Parkway) to 0.54 miles east of Route 238 (Yorktown Road). Proposed improvements include the pavement reconstruction of existing lanes, additional 12-foot wide travel and shoulder lanes, and the repair and widening of existing bridges and culverts within the project corridor. Review the proposed project plans and the environmental documentation at the public hearing or at the VDOT Interstate Maintenance Office, 757-494-5478 or 1-888-723-8400, TTY/TDD 711, or at the VDOT Williamsburg Residency Office, 4451 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188, 757-253-4869. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions. Property impact information, relocation assistance policies and tentative construction schedules are available for your review at the above addresses and will be available at the public hearing. Give your written or oral comments at the hearing or submit them by May 10, 2015, to Ms. Janet Hedrick, P.E., Project Manager, VDOT, 1992 South Military Highway, Chesapeake, VA 23320. You may also email your comments to Janet.Hedrick@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference “I-64 Segment II Capacity Improvements Comment” in the subject line. In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places is provided in the environmental documentation. VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at 757-925-2500 or TTY/TDD 711. State Project: 0064-965-264, P101, R201, C501, B627, B628, B629, B630, B631, B632, B633, B634, B635, D603, D604, D605, D606, D607, D608 Federal Project: IM-965-5(086) UPC: 106665

6 • April 8, 2015

The LEGACY

Op/Ed ‘I had a heart attack’ GEORGE E. CURRY Nothing was more startling than when a cardiologist looked me directly in the eyes and said matterof-factly: “It looks like you had a heart attack.” I was dumbfounded. When? Where? How much damage was done? Why didn’t I know it? It certainly didn’t feel like I had suffered a heart attack. I had just covered and participated in the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Ala. The ceremonies had special significance to me because as a senior at Druid High School in Tuscaloosa, I had participated in the last day of the march in Montgomery, where I saw James Baldwin and Harry Belafonte for the first time. Ann and I arrived a day early, had dinner with Susan Gandy, the youngest of my three sisters, who had driven over to Montgomery from Tuskegee with her husband, Iverson, Jr., and my neice, Rachel. In addition to covering the president’s speech Saturday, I had received a Freedom Flame Award that night and on Sunday morning was one of the speakers at the Martin and Coretta King Unity Breakfast. I walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday and completed my writing and editing for the NNPA News Service on Monday. We stopped in Buford, Ga. Tuesday The LEGACY NEWSPAPER Vol. 1 No. 10 Mailing Address 409 E. Main Street 4 Office Address 105 E. Clay St. Richmond, VA 23219 Call 804-644-9060 • 757-244-5654 Online www.legacynewspaper.com

en route back to Washington, D.C. to visit Ann’s son, Derek Ragland; his wife, April, and our grandkids, Austin, 5, and Autumn 1. On Wednesday night, I felt a slight pain in my chest, but dismissed it as indigestion. It continued Thursday night. When the pain persisted Friday night, Ann insisted on taking me to the hospital and I acquiesced. We ended up at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. To Ann’s disbelief, I grabbed my iPad mini, a book, my charger, and a notebook as we headed out of the door. I know how long the wait can be in emergency rooms and did not want to be without reading material if I became trapped in the waiting lounge. But once my symptoms were shared with the intake nurses, I was whizzed through the paperwork and placed in a room to wait for a doctor, to be administered an EKG and, of The LEGACY welcomes all signed letters and all respectful opinions. Letter writers and columnists opinions are their own and endorsements of their views by The LEGACY should be inferred. The LEGACY assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Annual Subscription Rates Virginia - $50 U.S. states - $75 Outside U.S.- $100 The Virginia Legacy © 2015

course, give blood. “We’re going to keep you overnight to see what’s happening,” the attending physician told me. From the way he said “keep me,” I deduced that they were not keeping me around just to get to know me better. Something was amiss and I wasn’t sure what it was. I was wheeled into a private room in the Intensive Care Unit, where I was closely monitored around the clock, had blood extracted – usually at ungodly hours – and hooked up to a series of instruments. A hospital is not place to get sleep; it’s the only place in the world where they wake you up to give you a sleeping pill. I was told around midnight that at 7 a.m. Saturday, a stent would be inserted into my heart to unblock a clogged artery. At the age of 50, I had a triple bypass. I had played quarterback at Druid High and Knoxville College and neither drank – not even wine – smoked nor used illicit drugs. Yet, an athletic past and clean living were not sufficient. I was the son of the South and I had grown up in a family where our grease was cooked in grease. Now, 18 years later, I was told that of the three bypassed arteries, one was completely blocked, one was 97 percent blocked, and one was functioning fine. The surgery itself was not as dramatic as the bypass, which required the heart to be stopped temporarily. This time, the cardiologist made an incision in my groin, placed a stent over a balloon catheter and slid it into the heart muscle to improve blood flow. I was

awake, but did not feel any pain. From there, the ICU nurses — especially Glenn, Rene, KayLee and Shig — took fantastic care of me. They could not have provided better care, even if that meant waking me constantly. I had a follow-up visit and a stress test with Dr. Jigishu Dhabuwala at the North Atlanta Heart and Vascular Clinic before being released to the care of Dr. Boisey O. Barnes, my regular cardiologist in Washington. I spoke with Dr. Barnes during this period and before I returned home, he had already discussed getting me into a heart rehabilitation program and enrolling me in a Harvard study to prevent second heart attacks. After writing about my bypass 18 years ago, Bill Pickard, a Detroit businessman, said I had probably saved his life because he took some immediate steps to improve his health after reading about my challenge in Emerge magazine. At the urging of “Uncle Mike” Fauvelle of Setauket, N.Y., I am writing about my second close call with death, hoping that it, too, will prompt you to not only pay closer attention to your health, but be aware of the small signs of trouble and do something about it immediately if you sense something is awry. George E. Curry, former editor-inchief of Emerge magazine, is editorin-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA) and BlackPressUSA.com.

Win a FREE CRUISE for 2 to the Bahamas Enter by subscribing to our E-edition at LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM

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April 8, 2015 • 7

P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.

Remembering Brady

Word to the wise

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

All of us at the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence are heartbroken over the passing of Sarah Brady. Together with her husband Jim ‘Bear’ Brady, Sarah was the heart and soul of this organization and the successful movement it has become today. In the history of our nation, there are few people, if any, who are directly responsible for saving as many lives as Sarah and Jim. There are countless people walking around today who would not be were it not for Sarah Brady’s remarkable resilience, compassion and – what she always said she enjoyed the most – her hard work in the trenches with this organization, which she continued right up to the very end. Sarah and Jim are responsible for the passage of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (the ‘Brady Law’) which has prevented more than 2.4 million sales of firearms to criminals and other dangerous people and remains, by far, the most significant achievement in the history of the gun violence prevention movement. Our nation has lost a great hero, and I have lost a dear friend. I am certain that she would want nothing more than to know we are carrying on her and Jim’s legacy with the same fiery compassion and dedication that made her so remarkable. Dan Gross Washington, D.C.

If you're renting an apartment, condo, hotel room, trailer, or house in Virginia there are two things you absolutely need. First, you need to have a clear understanding of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. And second, you need Renters insurance to protect your possessions from burglary, fire, and other perils. As a renter, you simply must obtain a copy of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act or VRLTA. It will explain your rights and responsibilities, as well as the remedies available to you when things go wrong - such as the landlord's failure to make certain repairs, neighbors making too much noise, damage to the property, eviction procedures, etc. Renters insurance covers all the property in your home, including -- but not limited to -- clothing, furniture, computers, electronics, jewelry, art, and appliances. The value of all of those possessions adds up quickly. Losing them all when you don't have insurance can be devastating. So, get a quote and get covered. If you’re not a renter, please share this information with someone who is. You may be doing them a really big favor, and we certainly appreciate your help keeping our citizens safe in their homes. James R Taylor www.vhcdc.org

With the recent political, racial, and social events happening across the United States, Americans are asking are we reliving the 1960s? This is a battle for people of color. This is a battle for RESPECT; This is a battle for the right to the pursuit of happiness. This is a battle to be HUMAN. It has not been going well since President Barack Obama stepped into the White House in 2008. The election of our 44th President opened the doors for racism to stream across our land. Americans were allowed to speak their minds when it came to race and they have done so. Native American activist Amanda Blackhorse, a plaintiff in the litigation against the Washington Football Club’s “Redskin” mascot, makes a powerful argument about why the mascot litigation is important given all the other problems facing Native Americans. Writing for Indian Country Today Media Network, Blackhorse stated that the overarching battle is against dehumanization. Blackhorse is from the Navajo Nation in Arizona. She has been waging a legal battle against the Washington Football Club and The National Football League for over eight years, she states that:If we are not respected as human beings how can we be respected when dealing with politics and/ or economics? It makes it harder to be seen as leaders, advocates,

and people who want real change to happen in our communities if you are seen as just a person who dances at pow wows and viewed as a mere relic of old cowboy and Indian movies. Of course this is not the case in every situation when dealing with non-Natives and government, but it seems to be a common misconception of Native people, which transcends into politics and government. Gary Gray Oakland

Two-way street Christians never go wrong by loving and embracing others. On the same token people should respect others’ beliefs. If one does not want to eat pork then we should respect that. If someone prefers the Catholic Church over the Baptist Church then let it be. Since America is being tolerant and recognizing LGBT people, they need to be tolerant in return. Life is a two-way street. It's not all for one. I am totally opposed to discrimination and believe in equal rights for all. However, no one is going to ask a Muslim tee shirt designer to design a tee shirt that depicts Mohammed in a negative way. A priest should never be asked to perform a wedding ceremony of two men or two women, as I believe most priests would object. A photographer is placed into a somewhat intimate position with his or her subject and should not be expected to take pictures if the photographer opposes. Simply understand and go somewhere else. Glenn Mollett

The LEGACY

8 • April 8, 2015

Keeping the Faith Now that’s a different story The Hasidic philosopher Martin Buber told the tale of a Jewish grandfather who was a master storyteller. Though limited physically, confined to his wheelchair, this did not constrict his mind or his imagination. One day the old man’s grandchildren gathered eagerly around his chair and asked him to tell a story about his life. Happy to oblige, the grandfather began telling a story from his childhood, how his rabbi would leap and dance during his recitation of the Psalms at the synagogue. The more into it the old man got, the more he seemed to incarnate his rabbi, until unexpectedly the grandfather jumped from his wheelchair! In telling the story - and acting it out - it gave new life to the old man, and his grandchildren needed no further explanation. Martin Buber concludes his tale by saying: “Now, that’s the way to tell a story!” And, I would add, that’s how to live a life, particularly a life of faith. People of faith, and I include myself in this assessment, often fall back on hardened dogma or cascading Scripture references to explain our way of life. This is fine for as far as it goes, but it doesn’t go far enough. Frozen facts and biblical sound bites do very little to inspire life or to invite others to explore faith. These do even less to heal a fractured world. But if we become so immersed in the story of a gracious God, so connected to his powerful narrative of redemption, so skilled in incarnating Christ that we are animated and enlivened by it, then others just might be attracted to it. It just might do some good in the world. Faith just might become a story worth telling; a story worth believing; and a story worth living. The Apostle Paul said it like this in 2 Corinthians: “Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it - not

with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives!” This is what the famed British evangelist Gipsy Smith meant when he spoke of “A Fifth Gospel.” He said, “There are five Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian - but most people never read the first four.” It’s also what Malcolm Muggeridge was saying with the use of the phrase, “A Third Testament.” There is the Old, the New, and you. As is often said, “The only Bible some people will read is you.” See, we don’t need more Bible thumping, or the hurling of theological conclusions at all people who disagree with us, or using our faith as a weapon against our opponents. And no, we don’t need to quote words about Jesus as much as we need surrender to the way of Jesus, following his trajectory, becoming more like him, by properly telling and living his story. What does his story look and sound like? Like him. He was meek and lowly, humble and compassionate; full of grace and truth; the epitome of sacrificial love; forgiving toward all, welcoming to the most repugnant among us; filled with the Spirit that gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If our reading and living of the Bible isn’t making us more like that - more like Jesus - then, simply, we are doing something wrong. If, in reciting our favorite verses, and memorizing the text, and proclaiming the truth, we only get more angry; more suspicious of others; more judgmental and fixed in our selfrighteousness; more indifferent and apathetic toward the world; more greedy and egocentric - then we might know some religious quotes, but we haven’t yet learned to tell the story. Thus, the real challenge for people of faith is not defending a holy book or a “biblical worldview” against those who don’t believe it. The challenge is to become like Christ and live his story. When we become what Christ was saying, rather than offer trite, formulaic answers, then no further explanation is required. And that, friends, is another story altogether.

McBrayer is a syndicated columnist, pastor, and author/ronniemcbrayer.me.

RONNIE McBRAYER & MORE

End death penalty, say top faith leaders Moderate and progressive Baptists joined nearly 400 Catholic and evangelical leaders issuing a Holy Week call to end the use of the death penalty in the United States. “We urge governors, prosecutors, judges and anyone entrusted with power to do all that they can to end a practice that diminishes our humanity and contributes to a culture of violence and retribution without restoration,” the group said in a statement released last week when Christians around the world commemorated the suffering and execution of Jesus leading up to Easter. “We especially ask public officials who are Christian to join us in the solidarity of prayer as we meditate on the wounds of injustice that sicken our society,” the statement said.

Signers included Sister Helen Prejean, an anti-death penalty advocate portrayed by actress Susan Sarandon in the 1995 film “Dead Man Walking”. Baptist signers include Suzii Paynter, executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; Mercer University ethicist and Baptist News Global columnist David Gushee; and Julie Pennington-Russell, pastor of the flagship CBF First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. “It remains a shameful reality that the United States is one of the few developed nations in the world that still executes its citizens,” the statement said. “In this sacred season of suffering, death and new life, we pray that our simple Christian witness is received with open hearts.”

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April 8, 2015 • 9

Annual art competition open Richmond and Newport News Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott’s 22nd Annual Third Congressional District High School Art Competition is open for entries through April 22. The competition is open to all high school students (grades 9-12) residing in the 3rd Congressional District. This year acceptable entries may include, but are not limited to, paintings, drawings, and photography. The first place winner will receive a scholarship and travel to Washington, D.C. to attend a

reception in honor of all the winners from around the nation. The first place entry for each congressional district will also be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol Building for an entire year, where it will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people who visit the Capitol. The guidelines and other information about this year’s competition are available at bobbyscott.house.gov/artcontest. The nationwide competition involves more than 50,000 high school students.

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The LEGACY

Yorktown Victory Center is midway in transformation into American Revolution Museum YORKTOWN – With the completion of an 80,000-square-foot building – a distinctive new Yorktown landmark – the Yorktown Victory Center has reached a midpoint milestone in its transformation into the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The Yorktown Victory Center and the museum replacement project are managed by the JamestownYorktown Foundation, a Virginia state agency that also operates Jamestown Settlement history museum. Museum operations transitioned from the existing facility to the new building this week. Visitors are welcomed in an expansive twostory entrance lobby, with access to a museum gift shop and a café. Before entering the ticketed area, visitors can watch a new Yorktown Victory Center orientation video and find information about other area

attractions. In the 170-seat museum theater, until the premiere of new introductory film in 2016, three films will be shown on a rotating basis, each prefaced by a 60-second preview of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. “The Road to Yorktown,” which debuted with the opening of the Yorktown Victory Center in 1976 during the national

Spectrum showing at Meredith Art Gallery, VSU The Virginia State University Department of Art and Design presents the Senior Thesis exhibition Spectrum; consisting of graphic design work by nine of the senior class artists through April 14 in the Meredith Art Gallery. The Senior Class of VSU’s Department of Art and Design consists of artists from the graphic design concentration, and includes the following artists: Deante Brown, LaQuita Cary, Marvin Higginbotham, Theo Johnson, Alexis Newbill, DeVon Randall, Ana Rice, Mycah Richardson, and Cherrell Williams. Each student is presenting a minimum of six pieces

in the area of their study centered on the theme ‘Spectrum.’ An opening reception for the exhibition was held on Saturday in Colson Auditorium, with the Meredith Art Gallery open for viewing. Colson Auditorium and the Meredith Art Gallery are located on the second floor of Harris Hall on the campus of Virginia State University in Petersburg. Gallery hours are Monday and Wednesday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 1 - 5 p.m. Call 804- 524-5944 for directions and details.

Bicentennial, and “A Time of Revolution,” shown daily since 1995, focus on the 1781 Siege of Yorktown and events that led up to it, with emphasis on the perspectives and personal stories of those involved. “Liberty’s Call,” a new film produced by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s video production team to be added to the rotation this spring, combines period images with present-day interviews to explore the American ideal of liberty from its inception to the establishment of a national government, and across time to today. Next to the theater is a 5,000 square-foot space for future special exhibitions. A timeline corridor leading to the museum’s outdoor living-history areas borders a 22,000 square-foot space where construction of permanent gallery exhibits, planned to open by late 2016, is underway. The corridor provides a visual journey from the 13 British colonies in the 1750s to westward expansion of the new United States in the 1790s. A short video at the end of the corridor introduces visitors to the museum’s outdoor re-created Continental Army encampment and Revolution-era farm. While work continues on the new galleries, special visitor participatory

experiences will be offered in the corridor and nearby classrooms and on an outdoor event lawn. Periodic topics include military tactics, nationalities represented at the Siege of Yorktown, espionage, choosing sides during the Revolution, enlistment in the Continental Army, and military medicine. A section of the new museum building serves as a venue for learning experiences for student groups as well as the general public. A separate entrance to the education center provides direct access to group check-in and five classrooms that support segments of curriculumbased structured educational programming and other museum special programs. In addition to public spaces, the new building houses support functions – a meeting and special event space with a panoramic view of the York River, staff offices, library, historical clothing workshop, exhibit preparation and collection storage, and building and grounds maintenance. The 1976 museum building will be demolished this spring after the transition to the new building is complete, making way for construction of new outdoor interpretive areas and amenities.

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April 8, 2015, • 11

‘Sanctuary’ on RVA Broad Street to provide creative outlet for the formerly incarcerated

Liz Canfield BRIAN McNEIL A new workshop space on Richmond’s Broad Street, sponsored by Open Minds — a program of Virginia Commonwealth University and the Richmond City Sheriff's Office — will provide formerly incarcerated Richmond-area residents and their families a place to continue to learn and create together. The space, called Sanctuary, is located at 101 W. Broad St., and will provide GED tutoring and workshops on web design, writing, monologues, screen printing, yoga, art therapy, job preparation and more. “We are geared toward the arts and creative expression, so we see ourselves as filling that hole among re-entry programs in Richmond, which often focus more on things like getting bus passes and getting housing and things like that,” said Sanctuary founder Liz Canfield, an assistant professor in the College of Humanities and Sciences’ Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies. “We’re hoping to supplement those programs.” Sanctuary is open seven days a week, from noon to 5 p.m., as well as at other times for certain workshops

and special events. Canfield, who is co-director of Open Minds, which provides dual enrollment classes for VCU students and incarcerated people at the Richmond City Jail, said Sanctuary will be something of an extension of the courses taught in the jail. “It’ll be kind of like what we do in the jail, but this will be more open,” she said. Last year, Canfield was awarded a $25,000 grant from VCU’s Quest Innovation Fund, which provides seed funding to support innovative pilot initiatives at the university that advance its strategic plan, Quest for Distinction. A portion of the grant was spent to provide startup funds for Sanctuary. Sanctuary will serve as a sober place in which formerly incarcerated people can gather in a way geared toward education, mutual support and aid, and recovery. Workshops will be taught by VCU faculty members and graduate students, as well as members of the community. All of Sanctuary’s classes will be free and open to the public, though they will emphasize supporting people who were formerly

Ask Alma

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My husband procrastinates too much Dera Alma, I need advice. I have been married to my husband for over year. I love him dearly but he constantly likes to wait until the last minute to take care of business. This really upsets and bothers me. When I was younger and in elementary school, I used to procrastinate on my school work because I was lazy. But now that I am older, I try to make sure that everything I need to do is done immediately. My husband is 20 something years older than me. You would think that he would try to be more responsible than me. I love my husband but I need him to help take care of business and not wait until the last minute. He gets mad when I act responsibly and do things on time. Can you please give me some advice? Stressed wife Why are you trying to jumping double-dutch with a single rope? I could be wrong and if I am, write me back and clarify. Let’s start with your elementary school experience with procrastination. That has nothing whatsoever to do with your husband and his timing. This was your stumbling block to overcome, not his. Congrats to you for conquering that challenge. Now, why have you made it a requirement for everyone

incarcerated and their families. “We understand that the prison pipeline is a pretty serious thing, so we want to invite people from the neighborhoods and we want to really stop this movement of people from our neighborhoods into prisons,” Canfield said. “People who are in the community who have not been incarcerated, we want them to come too.”

in your inner circle? “Do You” quick, fast, in a hurry, with a few hours to spare, and let your husband and others, pick their own path to righteousness. You said he gets it done, just at the last minute. It’s done, right? Stop stepping on his toes for no good reason. He has an internal alarm clock just like you. In my mind’s eye, yours may be Cartier and his may be Timex, guess what, they both tell the same time. It doesn’t matter if you decide to run or crawl, as long as the deadline met. Stop adding this marital stress of timing to your solid sweetheart, it’s isn't necessary. You didn’t marry yourself. Accept, compromise and respect your husband’s ways; he has a 20-year jump on you. Get over the fact that he may not follow your stopwatch and shout a “Thank you, Boo” when he delivers and handles your business, right in the nick of time! ***** Want advice? E-mail questions to alwaysaskalma@yahoo.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and twitter @almaaskalma ***** While many of Sanctuary’s workshops will involve creativity, some of them will seek to help formerly incarcerated people transition back into society, Canfield said. “Some of what we’ll be offering will be more nuts and bolts, teaching you things like: How do you write a resume? How do apply for jobs? How do you talk about your felony status in interviews?”

12 • April 8, 2015

The LEGACY

Free to Breathe Run/Walk to raise awareness, vital research funding for lung cancer Register, raise funds, and run – that’s all it takes to be a hero in the eyes of a person facing lung cancer. Hundreds of local residents will join the nationwide movement to double lung cancer survival by participating in the fifth annual Richmond Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 25 at the Innsbrook North Shore Commons. All proceeds from the event support Free to

Breathe, a lung cancer research and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring surviving lung cancer is the expectation, not the exception. “It only takes one day of action to make a lifetime of impact,” said Free to Breathe Regional Events Manager Morgan Kuhn. “By joining the Free to Breathe movement and fundraising, you help fund research that may unlock a new treatment

that can save the life of someone in our community.” The Free to Breathe events community, united in the belief that every person with lung cancer deserves a cure, has helped raise more than $10 million to fund crucial research and provide comprehensive resources to help people living with lung cancer make decisions about their care. In support of the 2014 Richmond Free to Breathe Run/ Walk, community members, teams and local businesses championed the cause by raising more than $29,000 in 2014 to help those facing lung cancer and their families.

This year’s inspirational event will feature a 5K run/walk and 1-mile walk with awards for top fundraisers. The day will also include music, speakers, entertainment and fun for the whole family. Help double lung cancer survival by 2022. Those who can’t take part in the Richmond Free to Breathe Run/ Walk can bring their individual determination and creativity to the movement by organizing a community fundraising event of their own. Visit www.freetobreathe.org/ community-fundraising for details.

Storytelling project to support HIV response Personal stories encourage HIV awareness, more Positive Spin, defined as a comprehensive digital educational tool that uses personal storytelling to promote the importance of getting people with HIV into treatment. The project, which was developed by AIDS.gov with input from federal agencies, health care professionals, those living with HIV and community-based HIV organizations, is available at positivespin.hiv.gov. Positive Spin features the personal experiences of five HIV-positive, gay black men who have successfully navigated the HIV care continuum, from diagnosis to treatment and, ultimately, to viral suppression, which helps those with HIV stay healthy, live longer and dramatically reduce their chances of passing the virus to others. Black gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by the domestic HIV epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black men account for almost one-third (31 percent) of all new HIV infections in the United States, and young black gay and bisexual men now account for more new infections than any other subgroup of gay and bisexual men by race, ethnicity and age.

individuals in the United States were diagnosed, but only 40 percent were retained in care, and only 30 percent achieved the ultimate goal of viral suppression. Positive Spin is part of a comprehensive federal effort to increase the proportion of HIV-positive individuals who are diagnosed, treated and virally suppressed. “I had to stand in my truth” -Uriah

The CDC estimates that, in 2011, 86 percent of HIV-infected

Federal, state and local agencies use data on the HIV care continuum to identify gaps in HIV services, develop strategies to improve engagement in care, determine how best to prioritize and target available resources, and monitor progress in their response to HIV. HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said that a key goal of the project is to promote and demonstrate digital

storytelling as a tool for HIV outreach. “These compelling and emotionally engaging stories will serve as an important tool in helping to counter the misconceptions, stigma and discrimination that continue to create significant barriers to HIV testing and treatment for all populations,” said Burwell. Miguel Gomez, AIDS.gov director, said the hope is that the personal narratives in Positive Spin will inspire more people who are living with HIV to get tested and treated, so that they can protect their health and the health of their partners. Positive Spin is specifically designed to provide information that is easily readable on a mobile device. The video stories are accompanied by user-friendly information about the care continuum, including easy-tounderstand infographics and links to federal resources.

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April 8, 2015 • 13

‘Face Forward’ grants available to help youth with juvenile records gain job skills and start new careers Is your organization youth oriented? You may qualify for federal grants aimed at youth who have been in the juvenile justice system. These youth often face numerous challenges as they attempt to enter the workforce and become productive citizens. The stigma that a juvenile record carries can close doors before they ever open. All too often, these hurdles continue into adulthood and become overwhelming barriers that sustain a cycle of crime and incarceration. To stop the cycle before it starts, the department launched the “Face Forward” initiative – a program designed to help court-involved youth overcome barriers early on and provide occupational training and credentials that will help them open

the door to career success. According to the Department of Labor, the goal of the Face Forward program aligns closely with President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative which seeks to close opportunity gaps still faced by too many young people and often by boys and young men of color. “We all succeed when we all succeed – and that’s what the Face Forward program is all about,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “With these grants, we can create a brighter future for these youth, build safer communities and strengthen our economy as a whole.” This will be the third round of the Face Forward grant initiative which uses the most promising workforce and juvenile justice strategies

available. The grants also build on the department’s commitment to fund sustainable programs through the career pathways initiative, which better coordinates education and training services to enable workers to attain industry-recognized credentials and find jobs. Grantees are expected to provide a range of services that include case management, mentoring, education and training services. Funded programs will also help to eliminate the stigma of a juvenile record by offering services to seal juvenile records and providing opportunities to handle delinquency complaints outside of the juvenile justice system. The department plans to award four grants of $5 million each to

intermediary organizations who will then work with local service providers in no less than three communities across no less than two states. The remaining funds will be awarded to approximately 10 community organization for up to $1.05 million each. The Department of Labor notes that preference will be given to grantees that target communities with high-poverty and high-crime rates. Grantees will provide services to youth between the ages of 14 to 24 that have been involved in the juvenile justice system, but never convicted in the adult criminal system. Information about how to apply is available at www.grants.gov.

VSU student honored as a University Innovation Fellow

Reginald Burroughs Reginald Burroughs, a Virginia State University (VSU) manufacturing engineering major, recently completed training to join the University Innovation Fellows, a national program that empowers

student leaders to bring more entrepreneurial activity to their campuses. Burroughs is a junior at the university and anticipates graduating in May 2016 and is one

of 123 new fellows to join the current network, for a total number of 291 Fellows from 114 schools across the United States. He is the second VSU student named a fellow, joining Ulysses Knight, who was inducted in 2014. Burroughs, who was born in Bronx, NY before moving to Maryland, is the project manager for VSU’s Society of Automotive Engineering Chapter’s race car project. In the project, student engineers designed and built a fully functioning race car. He holds a number of inventions and hopes to study Intellectual Property Law after graduating from VSU. Under the direction of faculty sponsor Dr. Benedict Uzochukwu, Burroughs will work with students and student organizations to create new experiences for VSU students that foster a spirit of entrepreneurship. Among these are 3 Day Startup Springboard, an interactive workshop focused on the beginning steps of launching a company or a project through

on-campus innovation; establish a student-led innovation and entrepreneurship club; seek ways to infuse entrepreneurship and innovation into introductory and core curricula; and establish innovation and entrepreneurship challenge competitions that will encourage multi-disciplinary collaboration and robust problem solving skills across campus. The University Innovation Fellows program is run by Epicenter, funded by the National Science Foundation and directed by Stanford University and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance. Epicenter’s mission is to empower U.S. undergraduate engineering students to bring their ideas to life for the benefit of the country’s economy and society. Epicenter helps students combine their technical skills and their ability to develop innovative technologies to solve important problems with an entrepreneurial mindset and skillset.

14 • April 8, 2015

The LEGACY

5 year survival rates for invasive cancers double About 65 percent of U.S. residents who are diagnosed with cancer that has spread to nearby tissue live five years or longer after they have been diagnosed, according to a recently released CDC study. For the study, CDC researchers monitored individuals who were diagnosed with invasive cancer between 2003 and 2010. They found the five-year rate of survival was highest among men with prostate cancer, at 97 percent; women with breast cancer, at 88 percent; and individuals ages 45 and younger, at 81 percent.

Lisa C. Richardson, MD, MPH

Cedar Level Road Roadway Improvements City of Hopewell Community Information Meeting Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 6–8 p.m. Hopewell High School 400 S Mesa Drive Hopewell, VA 23060 Come see and hear about plans to widen Cedar Level Road (Route 9047) from Cobblestone Parkway to Miles Avenue in the City of Hopewell. Construction includes the widening from 2 to 3 lanes with a center lane two-way, turn lane, bike lanes and sidewalks.

Meanwhile, the researchers found that people with invasive lung cancer had the lowest five-year survival rate, at 18 percent. Further, the report found, when assessed by race, the five-year survival rate was 65 percent among white patients and 60 percent among black patients. Lisa Richardson, director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, said the disparity could be linked to the higher rate of chronic illness among black U.S. residents and less access to health care. Overall, Richardson said better diagnostic tools and cancer treatment had improved survival rates, noting, “Four decades ago, survival was about half at five years.” According to published reports, the federal government as part of its Healthy People 2020 goals aims to increase the five-year survival rate to 71.7 percent.

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The meeting will be held in an open house format from 6-8 p.m. This format will provide the flexibility to allow participants to meet and discuss the proposed project directly with project staff members.

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“These data are an important reminder that a key to surviving with cancer is making sure everyone has access to care from early diagnosis to treatment,” said Richardson. “We know, for example, that early detection of colorectal cancer has had the largest impact on long-term survival rates.” Meanwhile, epidemiologists noted that while some cancer therapies have improved, early diagnosis could yield a misleading view about survival rates. They said that while screening might make patients aware of their diagnosis at an earlier time, patients might not necessarily live a greater number of years than they would had the cancer been detected at a later point. Data by state show incidence rates for all cancer sites ranged from 374 cases per 100,000 people in New Mexico to 509 cases per 100,000 people in the District of Columbia.

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16 • April 8, 2015

Calendar 4.9, 6 p.m.

Author and poet Shonda Buchanan will be the featured reader at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center’s Art + Words on April 9. Art + Words is a celebration of poetry and the spoken word, offered for free at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month. Poetry lovers are invited to share original or favorite poems, or just enjoy a chance to hear local talent in the inspiring setting of a gallery filled with art. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore “The Original Art,” an exhibition celebrating the best children’s book illustrations of 2014, and “Genesis,” an annual juried exhibition of artwork by local college students. Author of “Who’s Afraid of Black Indians?” and editor of “Voices from Leimert Park,” Buchanan writes about hybridity, culture, race, human agency and shifting landscapes in our lives. She examines how these elements shape, impact and transform us. Buchanan is the interim chair of the Hampton University Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages, and an assistant professor of English and creative writing. For more information, call 757-5968175 or visit www.pfac-va.org.

4.15, 6 p.m.

NAMI of Central Virginia will sponsor a Free Family-to-Family Education Program specifically for families of individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness. The 12week series of classes takes place on Wednesday of each week starting on April 15, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at John Randolph Medical Center, 411 W. Randolph Rd., Hopewell. The free course will cover information about schizophrenia, the mood disorders (bipolar disorder and major depression), panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder; coping skills; basic information about medications; and more. For more information or to register, call Jeff Conley at 804-285-1749 or email jeff.conley@namicentralvirginia.org.

The LEGACY

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Asset Based Community Development Training 4.15, 5:30 p.m.

Do you see things in your neighborhood that you would like to see changed but don’t know who is a neighborhood leader that can help you? You can be that neighborhood leader. On Tuesday, April 14, from 6 - 8 p.m., attend a workshop that will help you develop the neighborhood leadership skills needed to promote that change. The workshop will be held at Mary Immaculate Hospital Community Education Center, 2 Bernardine Drive, Newport News. Learn how to focus your efforts on discovering and mobilizing the resources that are already present in your community. When people become more productive together - they exercise their power to address problems and realize dreams. • Learn to tap the potential of your neighborhood. • Discover how to build more community engagement and involvement. • Be challenged to be a great neighbor. For more information, contact Traci Snell, Department of Human Services, 7570369-6808 or tsnell@nnva.gov. 16 • April 1, 2015

MOTHER’S DAY STORIES

The LEGACY

SHARE THE STORY OF YOU AND YOUR MOM Submit with photos to:

NEWS@LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM Deadline: April 30, 2015 Publishing date: May 6, 2015

Submit your calendar events to calendar@legacynewspaper.com and include contact infomation that can be published.

VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads will recognize the community’s outstanding volunteers at the 40th Annual Hampton Roads VOLUNTEER Achievement Awards at the Founders Inn & Spa. A reception will begin at at 5:30 p.m. and dinner and awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m.. The dedicated men, women and youth volunteers of the Hampton Roads community will be honored for their service and tireless dedication to volunteerism. The 2015 Lenora Mathews Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to George Y. Birdsong, CEO/general counsel of Birdsong Peanuts. This award is presented each year by VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads to recognize outstanding leadership in community service. Birdsong was born in Suffolk and has been a lifetime resident and supporter of the Suffolk and Hampton Roads Communities. Locally, Birdsong is active in many civic organizations such as the Suffolk Redevelopment Housing Authority, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Obici Healthcare Foundation, Suffolk Foundation, United Way, YMCA, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and Nansemond Suffolk Academy. In addition, he is active in regional and state organizations including, Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia Manufacturers Association, Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Nansemond River Preservation Alliance and Business Consortium for the Arts. The Hampton Roads VOLUNTEER Achievement Awards will also honor numerous individuals and groups that have dedicated their time and talents to the nonprofit organizations of Hampton Roads. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.volunteerhr.org/hrvaa or contact Susan Pleasants at 757-6242400 or office@volunteerhr.org.

April 8, 2015 • 17

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