Folk Festival B2
Richmond Free Press © 2023 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 32 NO. 41
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
richmondfreepress.com
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Meet this week’s Personality B1
OCTOBER 12-14, 2023
A year after scathing New York Times article, Bon Secours’ prescription for East End community includes jobs, training, upgraded facilities
Annual checkup By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Richmond Community Hospital continues to buzz with construction as its owner, Bon Secours, builds up operations at the East End health care center. The hospital system also is undertaking a major employee recruitment effort with the city’s Office of Community Wealth Building to fulfill its promise to diversify its work force and provide job opportunities for people living near the hospital. All of the projects are part of Bon Secours’ efforts to carry out a three-year plan to upgrade health offerings and services at the 104-bed hospital that it purchased in 1995 from a group of Black doctors. The projects also are intended to end criticism that Bon Secours used Richmond Community as a cash machine for the rest of its Richmond-area operations. A year ago, the New York Times alleged Bon Secours ofPlease turn to A4
Bon Secours Medical Center
File photo
Va. Dems call on Justice Department to investigate removals from voter rolls Kaine and Reps. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Jennifer McClellan, Abigail Virginia’s Democratic CongresSpanberger, Donald Beyer, Jennifer sional delegation has asked the U.S. Wexton and Gerry Connolly. Department of Justice to investigate The letter quoted an Oct. 3 statereports that eligible Virginia voters ment by the Virginia Department of were removed from the voter rolls by Elections that acknowledged more Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s adthan 10,000 individuals whose voting ministration, and to determine whether rights had been restored were removed Gov. Youngkin any violations of the Voting Rights Act from voter rolls over the past nine or other federal laws were committed. months. Some of those removals were caused by The request was made in a letter sent to At- a systems error that recorded technical probation torney General Merrick Garland on Oct. 6, and was signed by U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Please turn to A4 By Debora Timms
Private school’s closure leaves students without a classroom By Jeremy M. Lazarus
George Copeland Jr./Richmond Free Press
Perry Whitaker, a Drive to Work client, recently spoke during the Second Chance luncheon at the Jefferson Hotel about how the organization helped him obtain his driver’s license and employment after he was no longer incarcerated. Standing to his left is Drive to Work’s CEO Sara R. Wilson.
The sudden closure of Richmond-based Metropolitan Day School has left some disabled public schools students in a lurch. Driven In operation for more than two decades, the private school in North Side abruptly shut down Sept. 6 after a damaging rainstorm exposed serious problems with the building that made it unusable without major renovation. The 13 students who were enrolled at Metropolitan were assigned there to gain access to Mr. Whitaker was among several Drive to By George Copeland Jr. its specialized services for students with severe Work clients who recently gathered at The emotional and behavioral problems. Perry Whitaker is on the road to rebuild- Jefferson Hotel for the group’s annual Second At least 10 of the students were from Richmond ing his life. Chance luncheon. Politicians and judges also Public Schools. The founder and owner of A Step Above attended the event that celebrated Drive to The Free Press has been told that most of the LLC, Mr. Whitaker’s life took a turn after Work’s success in aiding their clients. students have not seen the inside of a classroom he was incarcerated from 2015 to 2022 for For Mr. Whitaker, staying focused was since Metropolitan shut down, an apparent violapossession of controlled substances. He key. tion of federal and state laws requiring local school lost his driver’s license in the process and “I just continued to push and push and systems to provide a free and appropriate education, endured an uphill battle to get it back and push,” Mr. Whitaker said, as he shared his or FAPE, to students with disabilities. find employment. journey. “Working is therapy for me — I’m The Free Press has sent a request for a response Today, a year after his release in June at peace and I just love it.” from RPS officials and members of the School 2022, Mr. Whitaker has found a new future Jeremy Lazarus/Richmond Free Press The luncheon was just one of many initiaBoard. Most appear to have been unaware of the Dr. Donna Robinson’s son, Shamar through faith, community and the aid of tives provided by Drive to Work, which since private school’s closing and indicated a response L. Muhammadali, 12, has been an organization that helped him regain his would be forthcoming after the situation was accompanying her to work since his Please turn to A4 driver’s license. investigated. private school closed last month. One example of the students who are out of school is seventh-grader Shamar L. Muhammadali, the adopted son of Dr. Donna M. Robinson, who has been raising him since his parents died. Now 12, Shamar was sent to Metropolitan two years ago after being diagnosed with ADD and ADHD, she said. Those initials are acronyms for children who cannot sit still in a classroom and have major difficulty staying focused. “He needs to go to school, but he hasn’t had anywhere to go,” said Dr. Robinson, a Fulton-area resident. She said she notified Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press Shamar’s home school, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle, after being told that Metropolitan Hundreds of people from Richmond and other parts of the region attended the 35th Annual 2nd Street Festival Oct. 7-8 in Historic Jackson Ward. The popular festival celebrates the history and culture of Jackson Ward with dancing, music, refreshments and more. Festival goers also couldn’t resist taking a peek — up would not reopen.
Program helps residents regain driver’s licenses, better quality of life
It’s a classic
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close or not — at the lineup of classic cars. Caleb Wilson, 3, and Caiden Wilson, 7, smile for the camera while their mother, Simone Wilson, keeps a watchful eye on them. Please see more photos on B2.