Isabel Wilkerson at The Richmond Forum

NOVEMBER 18, 2023

Isabel Wilkerson THE EPIC STORY OF AMERICA’S GREAT MIGRATION

TONIGHT’S LEAD PATRON

At Dominion Energy, everything starts with our core mission: to safely deliver reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy to our customers. As we do so, we remain committed to serving our communities and operating as an employer of choice.

As we lead the clean-energy transition, we’re investing in solar, nuclear, offshore wind, and storage. We have one of the largest utility solar portfolios in the country, and we’re building the largest offshore wind farm in the nation just off the coast of Virginia Beach.

We’re making the grid stronger, more resilient, and even more reliable.

We couldn’t do any of this without our employees — so we provide generous educational, training, and leadership opportunities so everyone can reach their highest potential. We’re growing in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and for the past two years we’ve broken our own record for spending with diverse suppliers.

Our rates have remained consistently lower than national and regional averages, and we offer more than 40 energy-efficiency programs to help customers save even more.

Through the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed $45 million in 2022 to community causes. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education, and encourage community vitality.

We’re proud to support The Richmond Forum, which serves the Central Virginia community with civil, thought-provoking public discourse about the vital questions of the day. We hope you enjoy the season. To learn more, visit dominionenergy.com.

THIS SEASON IS ALSO MADE POSSIBLE BY THESE LEAD PATRONS

TONIGHT’S HOST PATRON

Navigating complex legal and business challenges in Richmond and around the nation. www.troutman.com

TONIGHT’S PRODUCER PATRONS Atlantic Union Bank, the largest regional bank headquartered in Virginia, offers exceptional personal, business, commercial, and wealth management solutions. Member FDIC. AtlanticUnionBank.com

Preserving and restoring health for all people through innovation in service, research, and education. www.vcuhealth.org

LIVE MUSIC SPONSOR

Offering investment management, financial planning and concierge financial services to simplify your financial life and bring you peace of mind. www.agilipersonalcfo.com

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WELCOME TO THE 2023 - 2024 SEASON! We are excited to be back with a celebrated lineup for The Richmond Forum! This year, we hope that you will be informed, entertained, and challenged. Your devoted support has sold out the theater, but don’t forget that online subscriptions are still available for the season.

The Altria Theater is a Richmond gem and we are delighted to be here. We know that there is a special magic to attending The Forum live and in person, and we want as many people as possible to experience that magic for themselves. Many of you tell us that a full and vibrant theater makes The Forum even more meaningful for you.

To ensure that we fill every seat, we have developed our Ticket Marketplace to support theater upgrades for all subscribers.

If you are unable to attend a program or give your tickets to someone who can, please donate them back to The Forum. You’ll receive a tax-deductible donation receipt at the end of the calendar year. Please remember that if your tickets go unscanned or undonated more than 20% of the time, we reserve the right not to renew your subscription.

Donated tickets are made available in the Ticket Marketplace for other subscribers who would like to upgrade their seats. If you’d like to be in the theater or move closer to the stage, check the Portal beginning 7:00 AM the Monday before each program. Our goal for this system is to utilize all seats in the theater and give access to the theater experience to our Simulcast and online subscribers.

Earlier this fall, we launched a stunning new website with greater functionality, including a searchable catalog of all our past programs. The Forum will review transcripts and boxes of photos so that over time, we can continue to add content to these new pages and document our collective history.

We’d also like your help! That’s why we built in a feature where you can share your stories and help us recount the impact of past Forum programs. Please visit our website to take a look and share your memories with us.

HEATHER MULLINS CRISLIP Executive Director

GIVE THE GIFT OF THE RICHMOND FORUM! As a subscriber, you have the benefit of gifting online subscriptions for the current season to your friends and loved ones at an exclusive discounted price of only $109! Your gift recipients will have live and on-demand access to all remaining 2023-2024 season programs. They will also be able to watch a recording of tonight’s program for an extended period of time.

PURCHASE GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW IN THE PORTAL.

TONIGHT’S PROGRAM Isabel Wilkerson THE EPIC STORY OF AMERICA’S GREAT MIGRATION NOVEMBER 18, 2023

OPENING MUSIC & NATIONAL ANTHEM Mojo Parker Express

OPENING REMARKS Heather Mullins Crislip Executive Director The Richmond Forum WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

PRESENTATION

Regina J. Elbert Senior Vice President —Human Resources Dominion Energy Isabel Wilkerson

Fifteen-minute intermission for collection of audience questions via Slido AUDIENCE QUESTIONS Isabel Wilkerson

with Shakia Gullette Warren

Executive Director, Black History Museum

and Cultural Center of Virginia

Tonight’s presentation may not be recorded or photographed by any means for any purpose.

The Richmond Forum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization.

Growing Stronger Communities.

We’re putting down deep roots and giving back to the communities we serve.

We think it’s only natural to cultivate meaningful relationships in the communities where we live and work. And at Dominion Energy, that means we do more than write checks. So while we’re very proud of contributing nearly $45 million in 2022 to community causes throughout our footprint and beyond, we’re even prouder of Dominion Energy’s

employees for volunteering more than 95,000 hours of their time. From refurbishing homeless shelters to replenishing local food banks to cleaning up parks to helping soldiers and their families, we’re donating the most precious resource of all: our energy. Learn more by visiting DominionEnergy.com/Foundation.

ISABEL WILKERSON TONIGHT’S SPEAKER

ISABEL WILKERSON, WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE AND THE 2015 NATIONAL HUMANITIES MEDAL, is the author of The New York Times bestsellers “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration” and “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.”

She has become an impassioned voice for demonstrating how history can help us understand ourselves, our country, and our current era of upheaval.

Wilkerson spent 15 years working on “The Warmth of Other Suns,” interviewing more than 1,500 people to tell what she calls one of the greatest underreported stories of the 20th century. The National Book Critics Circle Award-winning work, released in 2010, made national news when President Barack Obama chose it for his 2011 summer reading list. The New York Times Magazine named “The Warmth of Other Suns” to its list of the best nonfiction books of all time, and TIME magazine named it one of the “10 Best Non-Fiction Books” of the 2010s.

“

THE GREAT MIGRATION WAS THE FINAL BREAK FROM AN ABUSIVE UNION WITH THE SOUTH. IT WAS A STEP IN FREEING NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO FLED, BUT THE COUNTRY WHOSE MOUNTAINS THEY CROSSED.

In August 2020, Wilkerson published her latest book, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” to widespread critical acclaim. The New York Times named it a 2020 must-read book and labeled it “an instant American classic,” while Oprah Winfrey selected it for her monthly book club. “Caste” examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America’s history and people, and reveals how a hierarchy of social divisions defines our lives to this day.

Wilkerson won the Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for her work as Chicago bureau chief of The New York Times. She is the first Black woman in the history of American journalism to win a Pulitzer and the first African American to win for individual reporting. Wilkerson has lectured on narrative nonfiction at the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University and has taught at Princeton, Emory, and Boston universities.

Making a difference.

We proudly support The Richmond Forum and this evening’s speaker, Isabel Wilkerson, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning stories shed a light on migration and its impact on American society, culture, and politics. troutman.com Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP

SHAKIA GULLETTE WARREN TONIGHT’S MODERATOR

SHAKIA GULLETTE WARREN’S JOURNEY to the role of Executive Director at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia is more than just a career path — it’s an intense calling deeply ingrained in her DNA. Originally from White Plains, New York, Shakia commenced her new role on May 1, 2023. She brings with her a wealth of experience and a profound sense of purpose. Her grandfather, the Reverend Ralph W. Gullette, played a pivotal role in shaping her passion for African American history. He established a school within his New York church to educate young people about their African American heritage, emphasizing the significance of knowing one’s roots.

Shakia has over a decade of experience in the field and has earned recognition as one of the “25 African American Leaders Under 40” by the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Young Leaders. She also holds the distinction of being handpicked as an original cohort member of the Association of African American Museums and the Howard University School of Business Advanced Executive Training Program.

Although her initial aspiration was to become an OB-GYN during her undergraduate years at Fisk University, a life-changing African American history course taught by a dedicated professor redirected her path. It was through this experience that she discovered her true passion and embarked on a career dedicated to preserving and promoting African American history.

As the new Executive Director of the BHMVA, Shakia Warren envisions a future where she builds upon the museum’s remarkable legacy while expanding its reach and impact. Her commitment to enhancing programming and showcasing the museum’s valuable collection ensures that the legacy of African American history — an integral part of American heritage — continues to inspire and educate future generations.

HAVE A QUESTION FOR ISABEL WILKERSON? HEAD TO SLIDO.COM TO SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR THE Q&A. You can also endorse questions submitted by fellow audience members, both in the theater and online, to increase the chance of them being asked. We love it when you include your name and location!

SLIDO.COM

Event code: RVAFORUM

Atlantic Union Bank proudly supports The Richmond Forum.

Trusted advice.

Custom solutions.

Richmond market expertise.

AtlanticUnionBank.com

MEMBER FDIC

EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

MOJO PARKER EXPRESS TONIGHT’S MUSICIAN

MOJO PARKER welcomes you to join him on his musical odyssey.

His voice is recognized from the Blue Ridge Mountains down to the Gulf Coast, and back into the heart and soul of Memphis, Tennessee.

As a two-time semi-finalist, as well as a 2020 finalist of the International Blues Challenge, Mojo is garnering recognition for his raw, intimate, and passionate performance style. His soulful sound embraces a fresh new take on old-time classics. The music will transport you to a time when songs told the real-life tales of the traveling troubadours of the Blues.

Mojo’s talents don’t rest in solo acoustic blues and folk music alone. He recently created the Mojo Parker Express, an eclectic sound with a groovy concoction of funk, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, and Latin flavors. Joining Mojo tonight are: Grady Clark (lead/slide guitar); Matt Gildner (electric and upright bass); Caleb Dance (saxophone and flute); and Manny Rey (drums). Mojo rounds out the band with guitar, keys, and vocals.

PASSIONATELY SHAPING TOMORROW, TODAY. We’re proud to support The Richmond Forum as they bring new thoughts and perspectives that enhance our community and advance our world.

WWW.HOURIGAN.GROUP

World-Class Lending Solutions for Financial Institutions staff@2os.com www.2OS.com

COMMITMENT Kaufman & Canoles is committed to strengthening our community. As part of that commitment, we are proud to support The Richmond Forum and the diverse guests they invite to inspire and inform our community. We CAN. And we will.

the art of

iNspiRAtIOn Cultural institutions From the stage to the make our world screen to exhibition The art of inspiration more fascinating halls and programs in and inviting, and Central Virginia, Altria everyone should have takes pride in our access to cultural longstanding support of experiences that are local arts and all they do relevant to them. to bring people together.

Cultural institutions make our world more fascinating, inviting and should allow its residents to access cultural experiences and expressions that are relevant to them. From the stage to the screen to exhibition halls and education programs citywide, Altria takes pride in our longstanding support of local arts and all they do to bring people together.

Altria is proud to support

The Richmond Forum.

Altria is proud to support The Richmond Forum.

Learn more at www.altria.com.

Learn more at www.altria.com. © Altria Group, Inc. 2023

© Altria Group, Inc. 2023

Altria Richmond Forum ads 2023 BW.indd 3

8/31/2023 3:42:41 PM

WHERE VIRGINIANS WENT

THE GREAT MIGRATION’S IMPACT ON THE COMMONWEALTH FROM 1915 TO 1970, nearly six million Black Americans fled the South for northern and western cities in search of a better life. More than 200,000 Virginians participated in this mass migration, forever altering our state, our culture, and ourselves.

Black Virginians accounted for more than 40% of the state’s population during the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era (1863 - 1877). Afterward, that proportion steadily fell. The sharpest decline occurred between 1920 and 1930 at the start of the Great Migration, and has consistently remained at one in five since 1970.

The Great Migration

Most Black Virginians who left the state during this period traveled up the East Coast and settled in cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Pittsburgh. Some traveled farther to states like Ohio, Michigan, and California.

800 100 400

300 400

200

45,200

100 4,800

700

8,700

500

200

700

5,600

400 100

4,900

71,300

400

1,200

10,500

6,100 36,300

300

100

300

Data from U.S. Census Bureau

Unapologetic disruptoRs Wanted Excelling in a world of constant change demands that we challenge norms, increase the pace of innovation and embrace disruption as a positive change agent. Discover how the VCU School of Business is preparing students to do what others can’t. Or won’t.

Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.

Visit vcu.edu/business.

VCU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

WHY RICHMONDERS STAYED

OUR CITY’S COUNTERNARRATIVE TO THE GREAT MIGRATION WHILE VIRGINIANS LEFT RURAL AREAS ENMASSE throughout the 20th century, Richmond’s Black population grew. At the start of the Great Migration, Black Richmonders made up around one-third of the city’s population. At the movement’s end, the city was majority Black. So, what made Richmond resistant to this national phenomenon?

In the 1920s and 1930s, the large and predominately Black neighborhood of Jackson Ward was a thriving center for African American creativity, community, and commerce, earning itself its reputation as “The Harlem of the South” and “Black Wall Street.” With nearly 300 Black-owned businesses and a vibrant art scene, the neighborhood had a self-sustaining economy. Black artists and entrepreneurs from across the state and beyond came to Richmond to take part in this cultural renaissance.

Beyond Jackson Ward, the city as a whole had a robust economy at the time. The presence of the tobacco industry, including a new cigarette manufacturing plant for Philip Morris & Co., helped the city quickly bounce back from the Great Depression. General manufacturing was on the rise in the region and by the end of World War II, more than 350 million pounds of military supplies were being shipped through Richmond. Rural Black Virginians began migrating to Richmond for its ample job opportunities. Some who had earlier relocated to the north later returned to their home state’s capital.

However, from the late 1940s into the 1950s, Black neighborhoods became the target of a citywide “urban renewal” plan. The plan would chip away at these long-standing communities through the power of eminent domain — forever changing Richmond.

Construction of the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike, which was incorporated into Interstate 95 soon after completion, demolished blocks of historic homes and severed Jackson Ward. Residents fought city council to preserve as much of their neighborhood as possible, and protected Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church from demolition, which diverted the highway’s original intended path.

Churches that were not spared from demolition were rebuilt in other corners of the city, which led to the creation of new Black neighborhoods.

The new interstate fueled suburban growth in Henrico and Chesterfield counties. White residents moved out of the city in droves to communities that welcomed them, and displaced Black residents moved into the vacated neighborhoods. Between 1950 and 1960, Church Hill’s makeup changed from 75% white to 95% Black. The exodus of white residents led to a decline in Richmond’s overall population, but the Black population continued to grow and became the city’s majority by the late 1970s.

The economic and political ramifications of the midcentury “urban renewal” plan persist to this day. Richmond remains one of the 60 most segregated metropolitan areas in the nation but is one of only eight of those areas that have become less segregated in the past two decades.

Residents and community activists, like those before them, continue to advocate to protect and restore Richmond’s historic neighborhoods. In May 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city of Richmond a $1.3 million planning grant for building a cap over Interstate 95 that will reconnect Jackson Ward.

Committed to excellence

in client service and our profession Tireless advocacy, business sense, and working side by side with clients toward the same goals – that is the character of who we are. A full-service law firm with a national footprint, we provide corporate, litigation, intellectual property, and government relations services to clients including Fortune 500 companies, private equity and venture funds, portfolio companies, and emerging growth companies and start-ups. Nelson Mullins is a leader within the profession, and we are committed to serving the public welfare.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE RICHMOND FORUM

Thank you for inspiring our community to learn and empowering our region to lead.

33

100+ Practice Areas

Offices located in 17 states and Washington, D.C.

1000+ Attorneys and Government Relations Professionals

Strong commitment to leadership & service

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Attorneys and Counselors at Law nelsonmullins.com | T: 305.373.9400 Sandy Ezell, Partner 901 East Byrd Street, Suite 1650 Richmond, VA 23219

New places transport us beyond our ordinary lives.

Inviting us to hear and see and taste and smell.

Opening our minds.

Lifting our hearts.

Enriching our souls.

Vacations • Business Travel • Meetings & Events 804-747-7077 • covingtontravel.com

For your dedicated effort to give a voice to all, thank you, Isabel Wilkerson. By sharing the stories of marginalized communities, you demonstrate how a broad view of history can help us to understand and show compassion for others.

www.vacancer.com

Dream bigger Deloitte celebrates the forces in our community who think boldly and dream bigger. By working together and supporting one another, we believe that together we can help change the world for the better. We are proud to work with The Richmond Forum. www.deloitte.com

Redefining cancer treatment through care, innovation and the power of healing.

Copyright © 2023 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved

OUR EPIC STORIES

A RICHMONDER’S JOURNEY FROM THE SOUTH & BACK AGAIN IN HER 2010 BESTSELLER, “THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS,” Isabel Wilkerson tells the epic story of America’s Great Migration through the lives of three unique individuals: Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster. These three people grew up in different states at different times, yet for their own reasons, all left their homes in pursuit of a new and better life. Wilkerson interviewed more than a thousand people for her research but the direct inspiration for “Warmth” came from much closer to home.

Her parents, Alexander and Rubye Wilkerson, both migrated from the South to Washington, D.C. at the end of World War II — her mother from Rome, Georgia, and her father from Petersburg, Virginia — and met at Howard University.

A Hampton University graduate, Alexander Wilkerson served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as part of the Tuskegee Airmen. “These were among the finest pilots our country has ever produced,” Isabel said in a 2023 interview. “Yet, when the war ended … no one would hire them as pilots, so they had to go out and remake themselves.”

Isabel Wilkerson’s father, a Petersburg native, Wilkerson’s father earned a second degree at Howard served as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II. and remade himself as a civil engineer. “I am the daughter of the builder of bridges,” she said. “I take that on as my legacy in everything that I do to connect otherwise disparate things, and to show that which we have in common that we might not otherwise be seeing.”

The Wilkerson family’s story has remarkable ties to that of another Richmond community bridge builder, Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher.

TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA, 1949 Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher was born to Mr. Homer Lewis Neal and Mrs. Rosea Carpenter Neal on November 21, 1949, with Tuskegee, Alabama in her blood. Her father, a native Tuskegeen, and her mother, also born in Alabama, both studied and worked at the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). The historically Black land-grant university was and continues to be the life force of the small town, which had fewer than 7,000 residents at the time of Dr. Crutcher’s birth.

To Dr. Crutcher, growing up in Tuskegee felt exceptional. It was the home of the nationally renowned Tuskegee Airmen, the research laboratory of George Washington Carver, and the birthplace of Rosa Parks. “The Institute and the town seemed to flow together like one seamless entity in my mind,” Crutcher said. “Offering us a special sense of belonging and encouraging us to always hold high standards and expectations for ourselves. So much seemed possible as a child and young adult.”

Although some of her relatives had migrated north to Connecticut and New York for higher wages and better job opportunities, the Neal family loved their hometown and Dr. Crutcher had no aspirations to leave. Instead, she enrolled in the Institute to study sociology and planned to stay — until she was offered to participate in a student exchange at the predominately white University of Michigan for the last semester of her senior year.

“My family and friends saw it as a temporary onesemester trip,” she recalled. “None of us expected that it would be the start of a long life outside of my hometown, Tuskegee, that I really loved.”

Dr. Crutcher in the late 1960s. Taken by renowned photographer Chester Higgins Jr. when both were students in Tuskegee.

Leaving behind her close-knit community and beloved home, Dr. Crutcher boarded a plane for the first time and traveled north to snowy Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Touching down at Detroit Metro Airport, she looked out to see what she described as the shock of her young life: a foot of snow. “As a young Black woman from the South, my mind and body were traumatized with fear.”

Navigating new experiences in the North felt like living on another planet. From the way she talked and dressed to the values she possessed, Dr. Crutcher felt alienated in her new home. “I asked myself the question, how could I trust and understand people who didn’t serve collard greens and cornbread at dinner?”

As the winter snow started to melt, she found classmates, staff, and professors who helped build bridges to an unknown world. These new friends and mentors – including Mr. Karl Klee and Dr. Roslyn McClendon – may not have shared her Southern roots or her racial background, but they gave her the assurance she needed to stand on her own in her new surroundings.

“A few of these folks became important cross-cultural mentors to me,” Crutcher said. “Their wisdom and guidance found a home in my head and in my heart many times. My new white mentors helped me navigate through different cultural situations, which allowed me to grow personally and professionally. My Black mentors equally stretched me to reach new heights.”

One early bridge builder was Mr. Clyde Briggs, a Black educator who encouraged Dr. Crutcher to stick around in Michigan and pursue a master’s degree in public health. His words, “Betty, I see more in you than you see in yourself,” pushed her to excel and would later become part of her own professional toolkit.

Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher with her husband Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher and their daughter, Sara Crutcher Moore.

“My experiences in Michigan led to my seeing the value in cross-cultural mentoring,” Crutcher recalled.

Continued >>

“I had a desire to offer to others the new knowledge and sense of belonging that had been offered to me.”

The treasured friendships and guidance she received in her early days in Ann Arbor were the catalysts for a decades-long academic and professional career in cross-cultural mentorship. She later earned her doctorate from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a thesis that examined the experiences of mentors who have successfully counseled individuals across cultural divides. The foundation of her mentoring work is the “three Vs”: sharing values that show our commonalities, sharing virtues that propel us forward, and holding a vision like Mr. Briggs had done for her.

If Dr. Crutcher could share one piece of advice to her college-aged self, leaving the warmth of the South for the cold of the North for the first time, it would be to always carry her home with her.

“My family and friends continue to watch over me,” she said. “They continue to help guide me along the way. Every experience creates that greater sense of belonging, giving me an innate sense of belonging wherever I am. But, Tuskegee and its gifts will always be my home.”

Through mutual friends in Michigan, Betty met Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher, who would go on to become her husband and the father to their daughter, Sara Crutcher Moore. He later became the first Black president of both Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, and the University of Richmond.

Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher currently serves as Mentor-in-Residence for the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies and on The Richmond Forum’s Board of Directors.

The Epic Story of

America’s Great Migration Isabel Wilkerson

Inspiring, Stimulating, Thought Provoking, Challenging...

The Richmond Forum.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the conversation.

Committed To Caring For Our Community Our doctors and health care providers are committed to helping you stay healthy and strong so you can be there for what matters the most.

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence

Visit bonsecours.com to find a provider.

An Independent Fiduciary and Fee-Only Wealth Management Firm

tcvwealth.com

17226RICPRI (8-23)

Accounting, Tax and Advisory Services

Inspire thought leadership

The Richmond Forum — We’re proud to support you

Empower strategy

Bank of America recognizes The Richmond Forum for their success in bringing some of the biggest and most influential names in the world to the Richmond community. We commend you on creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share this experience.

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.

Achieve excellence

wellscoleman.com

804.358.1150 ©2023 Bank of America Corporation | MAP5482412 | ENT-297-AD

McGUIREWOODS PROUDLY SUPPORTS

THE RICHMOND

FORUM

As an international law firm representing global clients,

v

McGuireWoods embraces The Richmond Forum’s frank discussion of trends and issues affecting our communities on a global scale.

1,100 lawyers | 21 offices | www.mcguirewoods.com

v

EXCEPTIONAL CARE Formerly the Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital, MEDRVA Healthcare has been proudly providing the same excellent care to the Richmond Area for over 70 years.

LEARN MORE BY VISITING medrva.com

Listening. Learning. Leading.

At Genworth, we empower families to navigate the aging journey with confidence, and we care about the wellbeing of each human being.

We value creativity and embrace diverse perspectives as we strive to serve with excellence… our customers, colleagues, and community.

We are proud to support The Richmond Forum in its efforts to challenge us to think, encourage us to engage, and inspire us to listen, learn, and lead.

SPEECH & DEBATE

OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS FOR THE 2023 - 2024 SPEECH & DEBATE SEASON: INDEPENDENT/REGIONAL

Appomattox Regional Governor’s School Collegiate School Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY Clover Hill High School Cosby High School James River High School LC Bird High School Manchester High School Meadowbrook High School Midlothian High School

JUDGES NEEDED! Help our speech & debate community prepare for state and national competitions by signing up to judge at one of our upcoming local tournaments: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 Petersburg High School, Petersburg SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 Cosby High School, Midlothian THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 Richmond School for the Arts, Richmond SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Virginia High School League Speech Regionals Cosby High School, Midlothian FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 National Qualifiers Student Congress James River High School, Midlothian SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 National Qualifiers Speech & Debate Events James River High School, Midlothian

LEARN MORE!

HANOVER COUNTY Atlee High School Hanover High School Mechanicsville High School Patrick Henry High School

HENRICO COUNTY Deep Run High School Glen Allen High School Godwin High School Hermitage High School Holman Middle School J.R. Tucker High School

PETERSBURG Petersburg High School

RICHMOND Armstrong High School Huguenot High School John Marshall High School Lucille Brown Middle School Open High School Richmond Community High School Richmond School for the Arts

HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS James Madison University Randolph-Macon College University of Mary Washington Virginia State University Virginia Union University

SUPPORT RFSDI When you support the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative, you are supporting more than 500 students and 43 coaches across 28 school teams. With your help, we can make speech & debate programs accessible to all Richmond region schools by 2025. With your generous contribution, we can: Cover tournament entry fees, travel expenses, and meals, allowing all students and teams equitable access to participate in competitive speech & debate programs.

Provide access to National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) membership benefits and sponsor participation in its honor society.

Train coaches and judges to facilitate successful, robust speech & debate programs and competitions.

Award grants for students to attend speech & debate camps and workshops, so they can further develop critical skills.

Build a level playing field for all students by providing them with professional clothing, inclusion advocacy, and other resources.

Foster a spirit for competition and give ample opportunity to practice speech & debate skills by organizing local invitational tournaments.

RICHMOND FORUM SCHOLARS CELEBRATING ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, the Richmond Forum Scholars Program is a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity for five of the region’s highest achieving and most impressive high school juniors to volunteer behind the scenes at America’s largest speaker series. Since 2013, these students have had the rare opportunity to interact directly with national and international speakers by playing essential roles in each Richmond Forum program evening.

Throughout the season, these Scholars will work closely with Forum staff to check in guests at sponsor receptions, escort speakers throughout the evening, work as runners backstage, and introduce speakers in the Student Room. Congratulations to this remarkable group!

THE 2023 - 2024 CLASS OF RICHMOND FORUM SCHOLARS

Eathan Ligon

Manchester High School

Marie Lofty Open High School

Carter Nohl

Glen Allen High School

Maya Shuman Cosby High School

Jai Spicer

Collegiate School

Focused on your success.

Helping organizations overcome challenges— big and small.

Let’s design what success looks like for you:

dlgstrategic.com

YouDecide

Creating vibrant communities When we come together to build stronger communities, we give our time, energy, and ideas to help influence positive change. And as we watch progress take root, we grow as well.

The Richmond Forum, it’s an honor to recognize your commitment and service to the community.

wellsfargo.com/impact © 2023 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. IHA-7619196

Helping clients through every stage of life.

As your Personal CFO, we act in your best interest, simplify your financial life, and bring you peace of mind. Agili is an independent, fee-only firm, offering a full spectrum of financial strategy services: investment management, financial planning, and concierge financial services. We are here for you through every phase of life, understanding your goals, and creating a plan unique to your circumstances.

Agili is a proud sponsor of The Richmond Forum. We are grateful for the outstanding speakers and conversations it brings to our community.

AgiliPersonalCFO.com info@agilipersonalcfo.com (804) 358-2702

2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS

Ellen E. Spong, Chair Atlantic Union Bank*

Kevin D. Best Virginia Commonwealth University*

Rick Palmieri Williams Mullen*

Teresa Downs, Vice Chair Altria*

Kristen Cavallo The Martin Agency*

Jonathan Brabrand, Treasurer Transact Capital*

Jimmy Chou SingleStone*

Rhodes B. Ritenour Bon Secours Virginia Health System*

Regina J. Elbert, Secretary Dominion Energy*

Betty N. Crutcher, PhD Subscriber/Supporter

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Eva Hartmann Luna Innovations

Todd B. Waldo, Program Hugh Helen, LLC

William R.B. Hershey Davenport & Company LLC*

Celia Rafalko, Investment Cary Street Partners

Steve Humble VPM*

Andrea Lynn White, Nominations & Governance Genworth Financial*

Michael Joyce Agili—Your Personal CFO*

P. Anand Rao, PhD, Education University of Mary Washington

A. Brent King Performance Food Group*

*Patron of The Richmond Forum

Kelly O'Keefe Brand Federation* Stephen D. Otero Capital One*

Alison Rogish Deloitte* Linda V. Schreiner Subscriber/Supporter Lisa Sims Venture Richmond Zack Smith PartnerMD* Greg Stivers ProfitOptics* Sally Tate Hourigan* Ashley L. Taylor, Jr. Troutman Pepper* Janet Tope Wells Fargo*

PRODUCTION TEAM & STAFF THE RICHMOND FORUM STAFF

PRODUCTION

ALTRIA THEATER

Heather Mullins Crislip Executive Director, heather@richmondforum.org

Jacquelyn Craig Production Stage Manager

Audrey M. Booth Theater Manager

Dee A. Raubenstine Director of Development & Sponsor Events, dee@richmondforum.org

Ray Bullock Assistant Stage Manager

Steve Sweet Technical Director

Michael Brown Director of Subscriber Services & Operations, michael@richmondforum.org

Boitnott Visual Communications HD Video

Thomas Vecchione Production Manager

Sandra Wheeler Director of Student Programs, sandra@richmondforum.org Lucretia M. Anderson Speech & Debate Initiative Manager, lucretia@richmondforum.org Maggie McVicar Director of Communications, maggie@richmondforum.org

2023–2024 RICHMOND FORUM SCHOLARS Eathan Ligon, Manchester High School Marie Lofty, Open High School Carter Nohl, Glen Allen High School

Ryan Marasco Production Manager Boitnott Visual Communications Cream Studio Opening Video Carlos Chafin Composer In Your Ear Heidi Winton-Stahle Makeup Todd Waldo Online Host

Glenn Major General Manager

SUPPORT Hope Scott VIP Ground Transportation James Limousine Josée Covington Air Travel Covington Travel P. Kevin Morley Photographer

Maya Shuman, Cosby High School Jai Spicer, Collegiate School

The Richmond Forum 110 South 15th Street, Suite B, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 330-3993 | www.richmondforum.org

We are proud to support The Richmond Forum.

Thank you for bringing exceptional programs that enrich and educate our community.

Davenport & Company is an independent, employee-owned firm, founded in Richmond, Virginia in 1863. During our history, we have experienced nearly every kind of financial market and we have learned the importance of balancing stability and innovation in a dynamic environment.

We know there is more to our business than delivering high-quality financial services; it is about building meaningful relationships.

(804) 780-2000 | investdavenport.com One James Center | 901 East Cary Street, Suite 1100 | Richmond, Virginia 23219 Davenport & Company LLC Member: NYSE | FINRA | SIPC

Proud Supporter of The Richmond Forum

Investing in what matters most.

Our communities.

804.565.4422 fultonbank.com Fulton Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Fulton Bank is not affiliated with The Richmond Forum.

Proud Sponsor of The Richmond Forum

®

FROEHLING ROBERTSON

Environmental Consulting Geotechnical Engineering Drilling Services Construction Materials Testing Special Inspections Geostructural Monitoring

BDO is proud to support

The Richmond Forum

FandR.com | 804.264.2701 BDO USA Williams Mullen Center 200 S 10th St., Suite 850 Richmond, VA 23219 Accountants and Advisors www.bdo.com

Enjoy your evening!

© 2023 BDO USA, P.A. All rights reserved.

RICH_Richmond-Forum_ad_8-23.indd 1

8/29/2023 11:45:43 AM

2023-2024 PATRONS LEAD PATRON

Altria Group Davenport & Company LLC Dominion Energy Genworth Financial Wells Fargo

HOST PATRON

Capital One Bank Hourigan Group MEDRVA Healthcare Troutman Pepper LLP YouDecide

PRODUCER PATRON

Atlantic Union Bank Bank of America Boitnott Visual Communications Bon Secours Virginia Health System Covington Travel Cream Studio Deloitte Services LP ProfitOptics, Inc. TCV Trust & Wealth Management Universal Corporation VCU Health Virginia Cancer Institute Virginia Commonwealth University

EDUCATION PATRON

Dr. & Mrs. W. Baxter Perkinson Jr. Trinity Episcopal School

MEDIA PATRON VPM

MUSIC PATRON

Agili—Your Personal CFO

PRESENTER

2nd Order Solutions BDO Brand Federation Buckingham Greenery, Inc. Cobotiq COLAB Digital Video Group DLG Strategic Fahrenheit Advisors Froehling & Robertson Fulton Bank HHHunt Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP James River Carriers Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. Lakewood Marks & Harrison

McGuireWoods LLP MCV Foundation Dr. Andrew J. Michael NBC12 Nelson Mullins PartnerMD Performance Food Group Company PNC Bank Transact Capital University of Richmond Virginia State University Wells Coleman Westminster Canterbury Workshop Digital

CONTRIBUTOR

Actuarial Benefits & Design Company The Dana Foundation EY In Your Ear Studios J.P. Morgan Mary & Ted Linhart Markel Group Westham Partners Williams Mullen Woodfin Oil

FRIEND

Mrs. Ralph L. Anderson B&B Printing Bob & Kate Beckler Anne & Roger Boevé BrownGreer PLC CEBCO The Change Decision Kevin & Dr. Sheila Clasbey Marge Connelly & Julie Christopher Drs. Betty Neal & Ronald A. Crutcher Rick DeJarnette Paige & Philip Goodpasture Thomas A. Grant Paulina Hidalgo & Edwin Huertas Drs. Trisha Krause & Sanjay Bhagchandani Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Mann Mac & Amy Marshall Blair & Bill Martin The Martin Agency Montgomery Compliance Law Mike Mulvihill & Marcy Walsh Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia Judy & Dave Pahren Lisa & Leon Roday Mary Beth & James Shannon Will & Lisa Sims Ellen Spong & Gus Epps Tredway S. Spratley & Janine M. Collins Thought Work, MD

VAMAC, INC. Warren Whitney Adrienne Whitaker Vanessa & James Wigand

SUPPORTER

Nupa Agarwal Agili, Your Personal CFO Sherrie Armstrong Virginia Bacon Melody Barnes & Marland Buckner Dr. KC Blaisdell & Sherryn Stauffer Richard & Sidney Bland Winn & Scott Bleicher Elizabeth Brady Sonia Phipps Brokaw Joe Brower Susan Caley Samantha & Jimmy Chou Bob Cody Angela & Ted Cox Mr. & Mrs. John H. Cronly III Harold M. Cruse Tanya & Brad Cummings Bill & Gale Cushing Beth Daniel Kim & Jim Daniel Marietta Daniel Frank DePew Kenneth M. Dye Jack M. Enoch Laura & Jay Erskin Patricia Fields Whitney K. Forstner Kristen R Fournier Leah Fremouw & Jacob Powell Susan & Steve Gaidos Thomas Gallo Kim & Mike Giancaspro Robert B. Giles Sallie Gilliam Maya & Stu Glaser Ches & Nancy Goodall Gregory & Gloria Gravlin Ruth & Ed Griggs Michael C. Guanzon, Esq. Dr. & Mrs. Thomas P. Harrison Eva Morgan Hartmann Phillip & Ellen Marie Hess Jon & Trish Hill Gregory Hillman John M. Holloway Dennis & Kathleen Maccio Holman Robert & Susan Horne Steve & Wendy Humble Bobbie Hunt Lana Ingram Otis & Machel Jones Kastelberg Family

Linda & Kerry Keenan Bruce & Theresa Kelley Jay Kraft Lisa Halberstadt & Jeffrey Lacker Anne & Preston Lloyd Chris Lumpkin George L. Mahoney John & Rhoda Mahoney Mary Malone Paul Manno Candace & Patrick Martin Elizabeth & Michael Martin The Henry Clay Inn (R) Kevin & Nina McDonough Jerry Miller Michael & Benita Miller Guru Mohanty Charleen B. Moore Lauren Moore Ina Moses & Jeff Smyser Jan Nelson

Peter Nash & Barbara Bosha Nelson Amy & David Nisenson Nyfeler Survey Jeff & Paula OFlaherty River Hills Wealth Management Performance Food Group Company Greta Peters Michael & Laura Phelan W. Paul Pitts Therese Podgorski Mrs. Leslie Pridgen Ellen P. Ray Andi & Brian Redmond Tim Reid & Daphne Maxwell Reid Linda F. Rigsby Ryan & Danielle Ripperton Penn & Laurie Rogers Dr. Vipal & Jeanette Sabharwal Mr. Danny Robinson & Ms. Paula SaylorRobinson Rick & Carly Schofield

Linda Schreiner Jane & Maurice Schwarz Ben & Vivian Sillmon John G. Sims Susan Snyder Sarahbeth & Steve Spasojevich Leila & Kirk Spitzer Leslie Stack & Frank Rizzo Dr. Ken Stoner Dr. Charles & Mrs. Deborah Sutton Leila Taaffe Technology Leasing Concepts, Inc. Marilyn & Bobby Thalhimer Melodie Thigpen & Paulette Moncol Terry & Sherry Troxell Marc & Marnie Warner Kyle & Siri Wiggins Beth Williams Gary Wilson Becky & John Young Robyn Young

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE RICHMOND FORUM!

Proud to support The Richmond Forum

Bringing you The Sound of Richmond, Shockoe Sessions Live!, 804 Day, & RVA Rapper's Delight www.shockoerecords.com

digitalvideogroup.com

Proud supporters of The Richmond Forum

804-282-0999 | 800-283-2202 w w w. mark sandhar r is on.com

TRUST WOODFIN YOUR HOME TEAM FOR...

DELIVERING SUCCESS WITH A FOCUS ON INNOVATION Everything we do is built around ensuring our customers’ businesses thrive. Through our network of distributors, we’ve been delivering food since 1885 and over the years have re-invented ourselves time and again to stay ahead of the industry. That’s why our customers don’t just see us as order takers; they see us as success makers.

www.pfgc.com

(804) 730-5000 ASKWOODFIN.COM

r

Headquartered in Richmond Since 2001

Proud sponsor of The Richmond Forum

Transact Capital Securities

Investment Banking Advisory Services A FINRA and SIPC registered Broker Dealer

Real leaders question our assumptions, engage in challenging conversations, and open our minds to new possibilities.

We’re proud to support The Richmond Forum and to celebrate the How valuesdothat other people think? strengthen our community.

What makes organizations succeed?

Tell Your

How can we help our community thrive?

Richmond Forum asks questions like these and more, because they understand that all progress starts with curiosity.

At Brand Federation, we share that belief.

W th

What can w becau

RICHMOND FORUM SPEAKERS 1987

January Ted Koppel February Hodding Carter and Larry Speakes with Paul Duke March General Brent Scowcroft with Diane Sawyer April Charles Kuralt

1988

January Oprah Winfrey February Jeane Kirkpatrick and Vladimir Pozner with Marvin Kalb March George Will April Art Buchwald

1989

January Sam Donaldson February Henry Kissinger with John Chancellor March William Buckley and Charles Rangel April Dr. Carl Sagan

1990

January Paul Duke, Howard Fineman and Charles McDowell February Frank Carlucci, George McGovern, William Proxmire

and William Rusher with Bettina Gregory March Mike Wallace April Alistair Cooke

1990–1991

October Chancellor Helmut Schmidt January Admiral William Crowe, General Alexander Haig and Robert McFarlane with Edwin Newman February H. Ross Perot March Art Buchwald and Andy Rooney April Captain James Lovell and Dr. Frank Drake

with James Burke

1991–1992

October Barbara Walters January PM Margaret Thatcher February General H. Norman Schwarzkopf with Larry King March Dr. Marc Micozzi and Dr. Victor McKusick with Patricia Cornwell April Mark Russell

1992–1993

October Terry Anderson January Hiroki Kato and T. Boone Pickens February Dr. Joyce Brothers March Dr. Bill Cosby April President Mikhail Gorbachev with Cokie Roberts

1993–1994

November Senator Warren Rudman, Lamar Alexander

and Dr. Marvin Cetron with Chris Wallace January Frank Capiello and Michael Holland with Louis Rukeyser February President George H. W. Bush March Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross April Bob Newhart

1994–1995

November General Colin Powell January Walter Cronkite February Dave Barry March Tom Clancy April Jack Kemp and George Mitchell

1995–1996

November PM Brian Mulroney and Ambassador Carla Hills January Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan and Dick Rutan with David Hartman February Calvin Trillin March Charles Kuralt April David Gergen, Pierre Salinger, Sheila Tate and Bob Woodward with Ed Bradley

1996–1997

November Carl Reiner with Dick Cavett January Paul Volcker with Ray Brady February Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough March Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with Sir David Frost April Marcia Clark, Philip K. Howard, Dr. Rodney Smolla

and Kym Worthy with Prof. Arthur Miller

1997–1998

November Bill Moyers January Wynton Marsalis February PM Shimon Peres March Mary Tyler Moore April Peter Lynch

1998–1999

November PM John Major January Robert Bennett and Dr. William Bennett with Tim Russert February Harry S. Dent, Jr. and Lou Dobbs March Lily Tomlin April Dr. Robert Ballard and Jean-Michel Cousteau

1999–2000

November Julie Andrews January Todd Brewster and Peter Jennings February John Krubski and Michael Connors with Ray Brady March Archbishop Desmond Tutu April James Carville and Newt Gingrich with Tim Russert

2000–2001

November Senator John Glenn January Tom Brokaw February PM Benjamin Netanyahu March Frank McCourt April Dr. William Kelso

2001–2002

November Hal Holbrook January Rabbi Marc Gellman and Msgr. Thomas Hartman February Dick Clark March Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough April Madeleine Albright and James Baker with Gwen Ifill

2002–2003

November Ken Burns January Rudolph Giuliani February PM Benazir Bhutto and Queen Noor with Gwen Ifill March Louis Freeh April Senator Fred Thompson

2003–2004

November Cal Ripken, Jr. January Robert Shiller and Jeremy Siegel February Candice Bergen March President Mary Robinson April Thomas L. Friedman

2004–2005

November General Tommy Franks January Michael Beschloss and Walter Isaacson February Tim Russert March Dr. Fareed Zakaria April Frank Gehry

2005–2006

November Robert Redford with Pat Mitchell January Sherry Lansing February General Colin Powell (Ret.) March Tom Wolfe April Rick Wagoner

2006–2007

November Burt Rutan January Malcolm Gladwell and Alvin Toffler February B.B. King March Jim Lehrer April Dr. Jared Diamond

2007–2008

November President Vicente Fox January Carly Fiorina February Michael Douglas March Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. April David Brooks

2008–2009

November PM Tony Blair January Reza Aslan and Jon Meacham February Smokey Robinson with Daphne Maxwell Reid March Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long April Marion Nestle and Michael Pollan

2009–2010

November Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson January Greg Mortenson March Steve Forbes April Condoleezza Rice May David Plouffe

2010–2011

November President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf January Laura Bush February Anderson Cooper March Dr. George Church April David Blaine

2014–2015

November Diana Nyad January Garry Trudeau March Ben Bernanke with Paul Solman April Dr. Daniel Levitin and Rosanne Cash May General Keith Alexander and Robert Mueller with John Donvan

2015–2016

November Michael Sandel January Alan Alda February James Balog March PM Julia Gillard April Russell Wilson and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

2016–2017

November Nate Parker January Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham with Steve Inskeep February Krista Tippett March PM Ehud Barak and Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei

with Robin Wright April Ron Howard with Linda Holmes

2017–2018

November President Barack Obama January Glenn Close February Peter Diamandis March Ambassador Samantha Power April Joe Scarborough and Newt Gingrich with Mara Liasson

2018–2019

November Captain Scott Kelly January Tina Fey with Linda Holmes February Dr. Sanjay Gupta March Ian Bremmer April Dr. Temple Grandin with John Donvan

2019–2020

November Bob Costas January Dave Isay, Catherine Burns and Brandon Stanton with John Donvan February Peggy Noonan

2020–2021

2011–2012

November José Andrés January Theresa May February Esther Perel March Bryan Stevenson April Vijay Gupta

2012–2013

January Bob Iger with Kara Swisher February Gloria Steinem with Zainab Salbi March Erik Weihenmayer April Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates May Rhiannon Giddens June Michelle Obama

November Dr. Robert Ballard January Robert Gates February Quincy Jones with Tim Reid March Charles Krauthammer and Robert Reich with John Donvan April Sir Ken Robinson and Rafe Esquith November Platon January Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner and Doris Kearns Goodwin with Tim Reid February President Bill Clinton March Captain Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords April Dr. Jane Goodall

2013–2014

November Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

and Maajid Nawaz with John Donvan January Dan Buettner February President George W. Bush March PM Gordon Brown April Steve Martin and Martin Short

2022

2022– 2023

November Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster (USA, Ret.) January Maria Ressa February Ella Al-Shamahi March John Lithgow April Dr. Cornel West and Thomas Chatterton Williams

2023– 2024

November Isabel Wilkerson January Joel Sartore February Liz Cheney March Dr. Anthony Fauci April Nina Totenberg and Kimberley Strassel

PROUD SPONSOR The Richmond Forum

of

Better healthcare for an even better you.

Only PartnerMD provides the dedicated, one-on-one time you need with your doctor – plus amazing benefits like around-the-clock physician access, same- or next-day appointments, and little to no wait times. Discover the new standard in primary care at PartnerMD.com.

PartnerMD is a proud sponsor of The Richmond Forum.

1900 Lauderdale Drive

Henrico, Virginia

804-521-9100 www.lakewoodwestend.org

PartnerMD.com

The Richmond Forum_FINAL.indd 1

8/16/23 3:43 PM

Admissible: Shreds of Evidence

Presented in partnership with iHeartMedia and Story Mechanics, “Admissible: Shreds of Evidence” is a VPM original podcast examining how a key building block of our justice system – evidence itself – is often flawed, disputed, or even manipulated.

Photos courtesy of Story Mechanics

CONNECTED TO WHAT CHALLENGES THE STATUS QUO. CONNECTED TO WHAT MATTERS. As Virginia’s home for public media, we bring you relevant news and local storytelling to foster a greater understanding of our state, our neighbors and our world.

VPM.org

We are proud to support The Richmond Forum At Hunton Andrews Kurth, we value ideas and innovation.

We applaud The Richmond Forum for its dedication to bringing together leaders from around the world to inspire the Richmond community. ©2023 Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP | HuntonAK.com

growing businesses improving communities

DR. CORNEL WEST & THOMAS CHATTERTON WILLIAMS AT THE RICHMOND FORUM APRIL 29, 2023 TWO OF THE MOST ORIGINAL AND IMPORTANT AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL MINDS OF OUR TIME – Dr. Cornel West and Thomas Chatterton Williams – do not agree on everything but are both committed to the absolute condemnation of no one.

In a conversation moderated by Virginia State University’s president, Dr. Makola M. Abdullah, Dr. West and Mr. Williams came together at The Richmond Forum on April 29, 2023, to explore pervasive topics in today’s social discourse.

The discussion centered around cultivating a redemptive society and building tolerant and open cultural spaces within institutions, while being less captive to fleeting outbursts over transgressions.

“A redemptive society has to allow us to see each other as whole people,” Williams opened the discussion. He asserted that people are encountering one another today as fragmented selves. “I see what you do on social media and I only see an aspect of you. I see what type of ethnic or identity group you belong to and I reduce you to that thing. I’m not seeing the whole person.”

Dr. West believes that in order to achieve a truly redemptive society, a deeper issue needs to be addressed. He called for a “moral renaissance in which integrity and honesty, decency, and courage become appealing to people.”

“Cancel culture is predicated on pervasive distrust,” Dr. West added. “If I do not believe that you respect me, I must police you, and I don’t even trust that what you say [is] what you mean.”

The conversation traveled through personal anecdotes as well as broader ideas. This included Dr. West’s counter-protest at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville in 2017, Williams’ publishing of the “Harper’s Letter” in 2020, academic freedom and intellectual diversity, and the possibility of a post-racial future. Throughout, the two men demonstrated a deep respect for one another’s point of view and a willingness to engage with differing perspectives.

THE DISCUSSION AMONG AND BETWEEN OTHER AUDIENCE MEMBERS DURING THE INTERMISSION WAS SOMETHING I HAD NOT WITNESSED IN THIS WAY BEFORE. THEY PROVOKED CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION AMONG FRIENDS AND STRANGERS. - Forum Subscriber Despite the amount of work that Dr. West and Mr. Williams agree needs to take place — both individually and institutionally — in order for American culture to transcend polarization, there is hope to be found.

For Dr. West, it is in the “folk who love and laugh and think for themselves critically, free in their spirit.” It is the people who are the personification and manifestation of hope.

For Williams, it is in his time at The Forum.

“Seeing a packed auditorium like this with so many people here to talk about how to have a redemptive society — the absolute condemnation of no one — today gives me an extraordinary amount of hope.”

2

1

3

4

5

6

7 1) Thomas Chatterton Williams on stage with Dr. Cornel West. 2) Teresa Downs of Altria, the evening’s Lead Patron, introduced the speakers.

3) Guests of YouDecide, the Host Patron for the evening. 4) The speakers visited the Student Room to talk with local high school and college students. 5) The conversation on the stage sparked discourse among audience members. 6) Dr. Makola Abdullah, President of Virginia State University, moderated the conversation and asked questions from the audience. 7) Rodney Stith provided musical entertainment.

8) Dr. West and Mr. Williams paid a lively visit to the Simulcast Room during intermission.

8

ON SALE IN THE LOBBY

w

nr

or n.

g

Listener-Supported Independent Music Radio

91.9 Charlottesville • 94.7 Nelson County • 95.3 Lexington • 98.9 Harrisonburg • 101.1 Waynesboro • 89.9 Lynchburg • 88.5 Richmond • 101.1 Staunton

T

hanks to the generous support of Dr. & Mrs. Baxter W. Perkinson, Jr., students and faculty

from Trinity Episcopal School have the opportunity to attend The Richmond Forum in a special program designed to connect the classroom, the community and current events.

Trinity and The Forum are grateful to the Perkinsons for their continued support.

Coeducational • College Preparatory Grades 8-12 • Average Class Size: 14 Richmond’s First International Baccalaureate World School

3850 Pittaway Drive | Richmond, Virginia 23235 | (804) 272-5864 | www.trinityes.org |

@Trinity_RVA |

TrinityEpiscopalSchoolRVA

Data-driven marketing,

powered by passionate people.

A complete SEO, paid media, and analytics resource to put your business in front of the right customers.

Show up in more searches Create more leads and sales Make decisions backed by data

Go to WorkshopDigital.com/GrowMyBusiness

UP NEXT AT THE FORUM JANUARY 13, 2024

JOEL SARTORE BOARDING THE PHOTO ARK

National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore is the founder of The Photo Ark, a multi-year documentary project aimed at saving animal species from extinction and protecting their habitats from destruction. The Photo Ark has documented more than 14,000 species to date. With his hallmark sense of humor, Sartore will share notable endeavors from his portfolio of stunning photographs to showcase the incredible diversity of life on our planet, while inspiring us to take action to protect it. In his words, “It is folly to think that we can destroy one species and ecosystem after another and not affect humanity. When we save species, we’re actually saving ourselves.”

(Format: Speech with Q&A)

FEBRUARY 17, 2024

MARCH 16, 2024

APRIL 20, 2024

LIZ CHENEY

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI

Principles Over Politics

For the Greater Good

NINA TOTENBERG & KIMBERLEY STRASSEL On the Docket

Tonight, THE RICHMOND FORUM is brought to you in high definition by

Providing all of your audio-visual rental, staging, and support needs in one place since 1969.

boitnottvisual.com

Un

stop

Pable New York Times journalist.

Pulitzer Prize winner.

Champion of untold stories.

What we have in common is uncommon.

Like Isabel Wilkerson, we value different perspectives and realize that when everyone’s story is heard, it provides greater

understanding for all. At VCU, excellence happens because everyone in our inclusive community has the freedom to write their own story.

That makes us unstoppable.

Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.

V I RG IN I A C O M M O N W E A LT H UN I V ER S I T Y VCU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.