Women candidates pack Virginia’s
House of Delegates elections
By Charlotte Rene Woods
With Virginia poised to elect its first woman governor later this year, the future of its state legislature is also female.
About 80 House of Delegates candidates are women, representing Democrats, Republicans and third party contenders. They are incumbents and challengers in primary or general elections vying for a role in the House, where all 100 seats are up for election. Of the 86 non-incumbents running statewide, 41 of those are women, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Those numbers could fluctuate over the next month or so
as several districts have multi-person primaries and additional independent candidates have until June 17 to get on the ballot for November’s general elections.
With Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears and former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger battling for the governor’s mansion, the women seeking seats in the House can help boost their gubernatorial campaigns, too.
The top of the ticket Virginia elections draw national scrutiny and lots of attention from political pundits, since its state elections follow close on the heels of presidential contests.
Local anti-violence activist accused of assault and battery, suffocation
By Brodie Greene
Charles D. Willis, a well known Richmond-based activist and anti-violence advocate, was arrested April 15 after a Richmond Police officer investigated a call for a
Voices rise for freedom, justice during Capitol Square rally
By George Copeland Jr.
“It means everyday actions, it means standing up.”
That was one of the takeaways for Church Hill resident Christiane Riederer after attending the “Freedom Rising rally” hosted by 50501 Virginia last Saturday afternoon at the State Capitol.
More than a thousand people attended the group’s latest rally, carrying signs and posters and filling much of Capitol Square as speakers from local and state organizations addressed the crowd and chants rang out. Drivers could be heard honking their horns in approval of the gathering.
Speakers celebrated the number of attendees and continued enthusiasm. However, they stressed the need to turn anger and worry about the de-
A year after President Trump’s first election, Virginia’s 2017 House races ushered in a “Blue Wave” and laid the groundwork for a Democratic trifecta. Similarly, Virginia’s 2021 elections — a year after Democrat Joe Biden was sent to the White House — ignited a red takeover with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s election and Republicans winning control in the House of Delegates for a term.
While presidential or congressional midterm elections nationwide typically see higher turnouts than other election years,
City Council disagrees over proposed raises for high-paid city staff
By George Copeland Jr.
The development of a proposed $3 billion budget for Richmond’s 2026 fiscal year continued this week with disagreements between Richmond City Council and Mayor Danny Avula’s administration over amendments to the proposal.
A major point of discussion during a budget work session Monday afternoon that stretched on for hours was an amendment to remove non-union staffers who earn $150,000 or more from a proposed 3.25% raise for all City employees.
The amendment, along with several proposed personnel cuts for mostly vacant positions, was deemed “Not Recommended for Reduction” by mayoral officials.
“Approach to financial compensation increases should be based in equitable practices and merit,” administration officials wrote in a response to the amendment. “The proposal to prohibit raises for employees earning over $150,000 — regardless of their role, responsibilities or performance — creates significant equity, operational and fiscal concerns.”
For Sarah Abubaker, 4th District, and Kenya Gibson, 3rd District, raises for already high-paying jobs were an obvious issue given other concerns such as collective bargaining for employees, community needs and council priorities like the People’s Budget missing from the initial proposal.
The raises also conflicted, in Abubaker’s view, with warnings from Avula’s administration about the city’s economic prospects in 2026 and 2027, and the need for caution and care in amending the proposed budget.
Photos courtesy of campaigns
Lily Franklin, 41st House District Democratic candidate, left, 82nd District Democratic candidate Kimberly Pope Adams,
Delegate Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg, and 71st District Democratic candidate Jessica Anderson. These are four of the roughly 80 women running for Virginia’s House of Delegates in the November election.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press Charles Willis, right, founder of United Communities Against Crime, arrives at the Oliver Hill Courts Building April 22 for his arraignment on charges related to a domestic incident involving his fiancée.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press Diversity Richmond Program Director Quing Imzadi spoke to a crowd of demonstrators Saturday, April 19, at Capitol Square during the “Freedom Rising” rally.
Julianne Tripp Hillian Richmond Free Press Easter floats Ailani Irizarry, 2, delights in a flurry of bubbles along Monument Avenue during the Easter on Parade celebration Sunday, April 20. More photos on
Reva Trammell
RRHA board votes against lease transfer for Gilpin Court
By George Copeland Jr.
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners voted 5-4 Wednesday to reject a proposed transfer of Gilpin Court, the city’s oldest public housing development, during a meeting at Virginia Union University.
The proposal named the Richmond Development Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary of RRHA, as the entity that would receive the lease transfers in phases. RRHA officials said the plan would support redevelopment efforts and benefit the neighborhood’s 781 housing units and their residents.
Gilpin Court residents and housing advocates, both in person and online, criticized the lack of outreach before the vote, raised concerns about the proposal’s impact on the neighborhood, questioned RRHA’s intentions and called for a delay.
Concerns over the proposal also were shared by members of the board, who questioned why they didn’t have the related documents, in particular voucher applications, to review ahead of the vote.
“It wasn’t for the people and we did not know the people we were about to conduct business with,” Gilpin resident and Gilpin Informed Residents member Stephanie Robertson said after the vote. “We spoke up for ourselves and the people and we actually won this one.”
RRHA officials who supported the transfer said they would address concerns raised by the board and expressed hope the proposal would be approved at a future meeting.
“I respect the voices of my Board members and their vote today,” RRHA CEO Steven Nesmith said. “But there’s always tomorrow.”
Early voting
New legal fund launches to aid Richmond residents in crisis
support and legal need’,” Schidmt said.
By George Copeland Jr.
As fears of deportation and eviction grow in Richmond, a new fund has launched to provide legal aid to workingclass individuals and families facing legal threats.
The Richmond Community Legal Fund (RCLF) was announced Monday with a mission to fill gaps in legal aid services.
The fund began raising money in April, but its roots can be traced back to the first Trump administration, according to lawyer and RCLF Board President Charlie Schmidt. For years, he worked as part of a loose coalition of legal experts, activists and others to address crises that emerged during that period, uniting and disbanding as needs were addressed.
After the coalition provided legal support to protesters arrested during the demonstrations following George Floyd’s death in the summer of 2020, Schmidt began considering a more permanent organization.
“In the back of my mind, I was like, ‘We need to have an organization that will have a little bit more structure and continuity, because there’s a lot of legal
The re-election of Donald Trump last fall was a critical point in RCLF’s creation, and led Schimdt and others to formalize the initiative in January. The fund has been recruiting volunteers, early donors and board members in the months since.
Alongside Schmidt, RCLF’s board includes leadership and members from Richmond For All, Virginia Commonwealth University’s chapter of United Campus Workers of Virginia and other legal experts. All bring their own experience, resources and community connections to the initiative.
Schmidt
Though still in its early stages, RCLF already has taken action, recently committing $1,000 to an emergency defense fund for two Richmond fathers arrested and detained by ICE.
Schmidt said duplicating this kind of support in other ways is a short-term goal for the organization. Long-term goals are
aimed at building a structure for various aid programs, pro-bono attorney services and training, and supporting attorneys, activists and others working to “bridge the justice gap.”
RCLF’s creation comes at a time of increased surveillance of immigrant communities nationally, and its announcement was followed hours later by news from Gov. Glenn Youngkin of over 500 arrests as part of efforts by the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force.
Evictions and other challenges also remain pressing issues in Richmond. Schmidt hopes RCLF can rise to the occasion and serve as a model for communities elsewhere exploring similar efforts.
Gooden 1st Black recipient of prestigious Dwight Waldo Award in public administration
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Friday, May 2. The Varina Library at 1875 New Market Road will open a voting location starting Monday, June 2, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All locations also will be open on Saturday, June 7, and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Five mail drop boxes will be accessible at the Administration Annex building at the Henrico Western Government Center, the Eastern Government Center, Deep Run Park Recreation Center at 9900 Ridgefield Pkwy., the Varina Library and the Tuckahoe Area Library at 1901 Starling Drive. Chesterfield County will host early voting at the Central Library at 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd. starting Friday, May 2 until Saturday, June 14, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 7, and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A drop box for mail-in ballots and curbside voting for those with disabilities or those age 65 and older also will be available. Another drop box will be available at the Office of the General Registrar at 9848 Lori Road from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday, May 2, to Friday, June 13 and Saturdays, June 7 and 14, and Monday, June 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
These options won’t be available Monday, May 26, as the Office of the General Registrar will be closed for Memorial Day. Early voting in Hanover County will begin Friday, May 2, in the Wickham Building at the Hanover Courthouse Government Complex at 7497 County Complex Road from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, June 7, and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Curbside voting options available for handicapped and voters over the age of 65 will be available.
A ballot drop off station will be on site at the Wickham Building from Friday, May 2, until Tuesday, June 17, at 7 p.m. No excuse is needed to vote early in Virginia. Bring an acceptable form of ID or be prepared to sign an ID confirmation statement.
For more information, visit elections.virginia.gov.
Free Press staff report
Susan T. Gooden, a leader in public administration and social equity, was awarded the prestigious 2025 Dwight Waldo Award from the American Society for Public Administration, this month. The award, given for sustained and impactful scholarship, recognizes Gooden’s decades of work advancing equity in government. She is the first Black recipient in the award’s 45-year history, joining previous honorees such as Nobel laureate Herbert Simon and former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker.
“When you consider that a Black woman from Martinsville, Virginia, received this award, the first Black person in its 45-year span, it is recognition of what historical change is all about,” said L. Douglas Wilder, a professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Gooden, a dean and professor at the school, has spent over 30 years in the field of public administration. She has authored six books and nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles. Her 2014 book, “Race and Social Equity: A Nervous Area of Government,” won the Herbert A. Simon Best Book Award. Her recent works include “Teaching Social Equity in Public Administration” and “Racial
Equity, COVID, and Public Policy.”
In addition, Gooden has secured more than $2.4 million in research funding, covering topics like racial disparities, welfare reform, and vaccine equity. She has also worked internationally, earning a Fulbright Specialist Award in 2014.
“As a proud alum of the Maxwell
Richmond juvenile court to host annual Oliver Hill Day
The Atrium of the
will
and
School at Syracuse University, where I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Waldo, this recognition holds special meaning for me,” Gooden said. “I am grateful to the many institutions that have shaped my career and to the colleagues and co-authors whose collaboration and support have been essential to my scholarship.”
“I think this moment in time demonstrates the need for us to do what we can for our Richmond community and help be a conduit for that legal support, when things get bad or get worse than they are now,” Schmidt said. RCLF will celebrate its official launch with a fundraiser and party on Friday, April 25, at Studio Two Three, 109 W. 15th St. More information is available at richmondlegalfund.com. Free Press staff report
recognition in close proximity to Hill’s birthday and the American Bar Association’s National Law Day.
This year’s theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One,” will be highlighted during a program with remarks from Richmond Mayor Danny Avula. The event also will include the presentation of the Oliver Hill Day Art and Media contest winners, showcasing the talents of local middle and high
school students.
Judge Marilynn C. Goss, a member of the Oliver Hill Day Planning Committee, said the event not only celebrates Hill’s legacy but also “honors those who, in the spirit of Oliver Hill, make significant contributions to the law and for the Commonwealth of Virginia.” A reception will follow the program. For more information, visit vacourts.gov.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
RRHA’s Chief Executive Officer Steven Nesmith speaks with members of the media after a proposal to transfer Gilpin Court — RRHA’s largest public housing community — to the Richmond Development Corporation was voted down on April 16.
Courtesy Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Susan Gooden, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor, recently received a career achievement award from the American Society for Public Administration.
Oliver Hill Sr.
Charles
Report finds staff complacency behind Richmond water outage
By George Copeland Jr.
A recent report from the Virginia Department of Health highlights long-term staff complacency as a factor in the January water treatment plant failure that left much of the Richmond region without running water for days.
The report, published last week, is the result of an independent investigation by VDH and engineering firm Short Elliott Henderson to evaluate the plant and its operations.
Like previous independent reports, the timeline of events in VDH’s report points to a power outage as the critical point of the crisis, leading to flooding and mechanical failures.
SBA opens business recovery centers in Richmond, Henrico to aid storm-affected businesses
Free Press staff report
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened two Business Recovery Centers in Richmond and Henrico to assist businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by severe storms that occurred Jan. 5 through 11. The centers aim to provide support with disaster loan applications and other recovery resources.
“SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. “Business owners can visit these centers to
meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”
Customer service representatives are available at the centers to answer questions, explain the disaster loan application process, and assist with completing applications.
Walk-ins are welcome and appointments can be scheduled at appointment.sba.gov.
The Richmond BRC operates at the Rich-
mond Public Library, 101 E. Franklin St., with regular hours from Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center will be closed Sundays and will close permanently on May 6, operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its final day.
The Henrico BRC is located at North Park Library, 8508 Franconia Road, with regular hours on Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It will be closed Sundays and permanently close on May 3, operating from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on its final day.
However, the new report goes further, citing mechanical, systemic and personnel issues that it attributes to a culture of institutional complacency. The report states that culture allowed inadequate operations and unresolved problems to become normalized. Examples include poor housekeeping that led to plant overflow during the crisis, failure to maintain critical systems and oversights in the chlorine contact basins and alarm system. These failures were compounded by previously identified issues such as insufficient staff training, unaddressed improvement plans and deteriorating equipment.
“The city’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) leadership, in our view, allowed a complacent and reactive culture whereby problems and known risks were not addressed,” said Dwayne Roadcap, director of VDH’s Office of Drinking Water, during a briefing on the report last week. “That added additional risk for a water crisis to occur.”
The release of the VDH report came with multiple recommendations, including improvements totaling almost $35 million for the plant and almost $32 million for pump stations and tanks. Roadcap also said a cultural shift is needed at DPU to prevent future crises and improve operations. He expressed confidence in the ongoing efforts of DPU Director Scott Morris and other department leaders.
Following the report’s release, a notice of alleged violation will be issued to the City of Richmond in the coming weeks. The department also will request a corrective action plan and timeline to address 12 significant deficiencies identified in the investigation.
The City of Richmond will have 45 days to respond once the notice is issued.
“VDH’s report overlaps with the independent investigation conducted by HNTB for the City of Richmond,” Mayor Danny Avula said in a statement after the report’s release. “We’ll of course review it and think through the best ways to integrate its recommendations into our work moving forward.”
Earle-Sears, Spanberger split on cannabis as Youngkin vetoes retail sales
By Marlin Adams VCU Capital News Service
Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation to legalize retail marijuana for the second year in a row, reaffirming his opposition as the state heads into a pivotal election season.
“Anybody who thinks I’m gonna sign that legislation must be smoking something,” Youngkin said in 2024.
General Assembly lawmakers in both chambers have attempted unsuccessfully to create the retail market since 2021. Different measures have been delayed, blocked or vetoed.
As Youngkin nears the end of
his term, Virginia voters will have the opportunity to decide the direction of marijuana policy in the state. The outcome of this year’s gubernatorial race, between Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, could determine if marijuana retail sales are implemented.
JM Pedini, executive director of the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, worked with lawmakers to help move the bills through the General Assembly. Pedini pointed out the stakes of electing a governor who would sign an adult-use retail measure
into law. Essentially, any bill could continue to get vetoed and the next gubernatorial election would be four years away.
“Then the next opportunity to enact such a measure will not be until 2030,” Pedini said.
A Governor’s Exit, And A Key Choice For Voters
Earle-Sears echoed Youngkin’s views on recreational marijuana sales when he campaigned in 2021, saying “there’s no hope in that.” She said marijuana is a gateway drug, and also that she had fired a previous employee for their use of it.
Spanberger, meanwhile, has voiced support for a regulated retail market.
“We also need to make sure that [tax] revenues flow into Virginia and are used to strengthen our communities and public schools,” Spanberger told RVA Mag. “We need a formalized, legal, emerging cannabis market.”
Neither Earle-Sears nor Spanberger responded to two email requests for an interview about marijuana policy and financial impact.
What The Bill Proposed
The proposed bill placed a 1.125% sales tax and a 8% excise tax on any retail marijuana, marijuana-related products and paraphernalia sold. The bill would have also allowed locali-
ties the option to add up to a 2.5% excise tax. The tax structure would have generated around $1.5 million in revenue in fiscal year 2026, but would have grown to $74 million over five years, according to the state fiscal impact statement.
Delegate Paul Krizek, DFairfax, who sponsored House Bill 2485, is running for reelection and has said he plans to reintroduce the bill if Democrats regain power in the House. His counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, carried the companion bill. Rouse is one of 6 candidates vying for lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary.
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Why Youngkin Vetoed The Bill In his recent veto message, Youngkin cited concerns about the illicit market, harm to children and potential increases in crime and psychiatric disorders. “Attempting to rectify the error of decriminalizing marijuana by establishing a safe and regulated marketplace is an unachievable goal,” Youngkin wrote. “The more prudent approach would be to revisit the issue of discrepancies in enforcement. Krizek disagreed and said limiting a retail market allows criminals to benefit.
Chris Stallings
Julianne Tripp Hillman/Richmond Free Press
Empty shelves in the water bottle aisle at Carytown Kroger on Jan. 7, two hours after the boil water advisory following a failure at the city water treatment facility.
Women candidates pack Virginia’s House of Delegates elections
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Virginia’s unique timing of its state elections offers insight to pundits. But it also showcases which issues motivate Virginians specifically.
“These off-off year elections have lower turnout so it matters which side is motivated,” said political analyst Jessica Taylor with Cook Political Report.
Though most of the past two decades have seen Virginia elect a governor of the opposite party that won the White House the year before — and thus also benefit that party in House races — both Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates have top-down benefits to draw from.
“Earle-Sears’ biggest asset has been that Youngkin has remained popular and that the Virginia economy is doing well,” Taylor said.
She cautioned, however, that Trump’s policies could hurt her down the line while benefiting Spanberger. Sweeping federal job cuts stemming from the president and adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have made a big impact in Virginia and could have lingering effects, she said.
A government shutdown in Washington D.C. in 2013 shortly before that year’s statehouse elections may have played a role in Democratic former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s win, despite former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, winning the year before.
Although the DOGE cuts are unfolding earlier in the year, Taylor suspects they could still influence voters by November.
“Losing your job is more permanent than a furlough and a shutdown,” she said.
Another factor, particularly as so many women are running up and down the ticket this year, could be reproductive laws.
Women “need to be in the room” Virginia’s status as the least restrictive Southern state when it comes to abortion access is one that Democrats are working to keep — and permanently protect.
The amendment needed to enshrine abortion access in the state constitution has only advanced on partisan lines, with Republican women lawmakers opposing it. Following the outcome of this year’s House elections, it will need to pass
again before it can appear on statewide ballots for voters to weigh in.
“These are things that directly impact us, our daughters and our granddaughters,” said 71st House District Democratic nominee Jessica Anderson. “I think (women) absolutely need to be in the room when these decisions are being made.”
All Republican delegates and senators opposed the amendment, but their party first tried to tweak it. They’d sought to insert existing state code requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions.
While Republican women incumbents opposed the measure, they said they had their reasons.
Delegate Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, grew tearful while describing the Democratic version of the bill as “extreme” and said that it would “strip away” parental rights.
“How can we place such a heavy burden on young women across the commonwealth?” she asked her colleagues in January. “I cannot imagine my 15-year-old daughter having to face this decision without me.”
Republicans had sought to insert existing state and federal protections for newborns into the abortion amendment, as well. Democrats rejected the insertions and advanced the proposed constitutional amendment as they’d written it.
Coyner has sided with Democrats on some issues — like their constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to ex-felons who’ve served their time — but aligned with her party on the reproductive rights amendment. Three Democratic challengers — two men and a woman — will face off in a primary this June, and the victor will challenge Coyner in November.
Delegate Kim Taylor clinched her last reelection by just 53 votes; her rematch with challenger Kimberly Pope Adams is among the most competitive districts for both parties this year.
Taylor attempted to stake out a nuanced stance on reproductive health this year. Her House Bill 2562 would have shored up protections for abortions or abortion-like procedures as treatment for “nonviable” pregnancies, which lack a standard definition and are handled on a case-by-case basis by physicians.
A nonviable pregnancy is one that “cannot result in a live-born infant, including an ectopic
pregnancy or failed intrauterine pregnancy,” as defined in Taylor’s bill.
“We hear so often from the other side that this is a health care crisis, and that women are dying because there is an unclear standard of care,” she said at the time. “Miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies are nonviable pregnancies, and therefore cannot be confused with elective abortion procedures. This would have put any doubt about the law to rest.”
But the bill was never brought up for a vote, so it failed this legislative session by default.
Democrats, on the other hand, argue their amendment will best protect people’s reproductive needs and choices. Each Democratic woman challenger spoken with for this story stressed their desire to help it advance. Surge of Democrats
From red to blue to purple, Democrats are running candidates in nearly all 100 House of Delegates districts this year compared to Republicans, who are pitching candidates across 66 districts. Each challenger has their own reasons to take on the incumbents they’re hoping to unseat, but they’re also hoping to drive party turnout to the polls.
“One of my jobs is to be a point guard to up-ballot candidates,” said 48th House District Democratic candidate Melody Ann Cartwright.
She’s “not delusional” about how hard she will have to work campaigning in the Martinsvilleanchored district that the Virginia Public Access Project labels “Strong Republican,” but she knows her campaign can help keep her party inspired.
Though 2024 was a tough year for Democrats as Trump won the presidency, former Vice President Kamala Harris carried 59 of Virginia’s 100 House districts and secured the state’s 13 Electoral College votes.
While Democrats have a 51-49 majority, they hope to hold and expand it. Taking back the House could help Republicans balance the Democrats’ control of the Senate, which is not up for election this year.
Some districts are highly competitive and offer each party a unique chance to claw back power around the state.
In the New River Valley within Southwest Virginia, Democrat Lily Franklin nearly defeated
Delegate Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery, in 2023 and she’s hoping for victory in their rematch this year. Taylor and Pope Adams will go head-tohead again to represent their Petersburg-anchored district. First-time candidate May Nivar — who still must win a Democratic primary — hopes to take on Delegate David Owen, R-Henrico. Anderson, from the 71st District, hopes that this time she can topple Delegate Amanda Batten, R-James City County.
Anderson lost by one percentage point in 2023, and this time has more investment from party organizers, she said.
Countering this, Batten helped form an informal “purple caucus” to support fellow GOP candidates in competitive districts.
“If any of us find some best practices or have some good ideas that we think would be useful, then we try to share those and collaborate with each other,” she recently told The Mercury.
Republican groups also are boosting their male and female candidates in competitive districts where Democrats are vulnerable. A new series of advertisements from the Republican State Leadership Committee and Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee target Delegates Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, Josh Cole, D- Fredericksburg, Nadarius Clark, D-Suffolk, and Josh Thomas, D-Prince William.
Across all of 2023’s elections, just 975 votes ultimately determined which party landed the majority in the House — underscoring how each ballot cast could prove decisive this year.
As excitement builds within Virginia, Jessica Taylor with Cook Political Report said she’s watching how national groups pour money into the gubernatorial election, which can help down-ballot candidates.
Anderson said she thinks it’s “really cool” that there are so many women stepping up to lead Virginia’s government, especially the gubernatorial candidates, whom she acknowledged both have a momentous role to play, whatever the election’s outcome.
“I want Spanberger to be our history-maker,” she said. “But, no matter where this goes, we’re making history.”
This story originally appeared on VirgniaMercury.com
Voices rise for freedom, justice during Capitol Square rally
Continued from A1
portations, arrests and other actions of the federal government into material acts of community, support and action against systemic injustice.
“Continue to be disobedient, continue to be defiant,” Diversity
Local anti-violence activist accused of assault and battery,
suffocation
Continued from A1
bleeding lip. He was charged with assault and battery on a family member and suffocation.
During his arraignment Tuesday, Willis’ fiancée requested the protective order against him be dismissed, and the judge granted the request. She declined to comment while leaving the courthouse.
After the hearing, Willis initially told reporters all charges had been dismissed following a conversation that he and his fiancée had with the judge, and that there had been a misunderstanding. He later clarified that he still has a court date scheduled for May 6.
“I know this seems like a big story for y’all because I’m supposed to be the guy that stops crime,” Willis told reporters outside the courthouse.
The clerk’s office confirmed Willis’ charges have not been dismissed. Willis was contacted for comment but had not responded as of press time.
Willis is the executive director of United Communities Against Crime, a local nonprofit that organizes community events and advocates against violence. He is a frequent presence at vigils and rallies following shootings and has worked with residents and city leaders on public safety initiatives.
Richmond Program Director Qing Imzadi said as she addressed the crowd. “Without the people, there is no power.”
Similar goals shaped 12 other events aligned with the rally that occurred across Virginia last Saturday, including a resource fair in Chesterfield County, a march and food drive in Farmville and an anti-bullying walk in Newport News.
More protests were held by other 50501 chapters nationwide during the Easter weekend.
Rally attendees in Richmond wouldn’t have to go far to turn their presence into action, as partner organizations set up informational blankets and moved throughout Capitol Square distributing resources.
The war in Gaza, transgender rights and the arrests and deportations occurring nationally were among the many issues highlighted by these groups, and the value of people using their privileges to aid those without was repeated during the rally.
“If we have the ability to put our lives on the line,” ACLUVA Executive Director Mary Bauer said, “we have an obligation to do that.”
Richmond resident Tara Morand said she was happy with the turnout for the rally and hoped it continued to grow. Like Riederer, she had prior experience with activism and Morand was already brainstorming ways to use her advantages to aid the less fortunate, and encouraged others to do the same.
“Get people out and get people active,” Morand said. “Find something that is important to you in this struggle, whether it’s immigrants, whether it’s LGBTQ, whether it’s Palestine — it’s all the same thing. Find it.”
“Find people that are like-minded and move forward. That’s how we get out of this.”
50501 Virginia is planning another day of action Thursday, May 1, beginning at Monroe Park at 5 p.m., with a march to Capitol Square set to start at 6 p.m.
City Council disagrees over proposed raises for high-paid city staff
Continued from A1
“The question I continue to raise with this administration is whether or not we are in a budget crisis or we are not,” Abubaker said. “Are we in a hiring freeze or are we not?”
“It’s unconscionable to me that we continue as a city with a population of 240,000 people to say that we need this glut of upper management making these massive dollar amounts.”
Reva Trammell, 8th District, and Coun-
cil President Cynthia Newbile,7th District, stressed the importance of attracting talent, retaining employees and ensuring quality city services for Richmond’s growing population through competitive salaries.
“We don’t want to lose these people,” Trammell said. “You get what you pay for.”
This argument and others made by mayoral officials would be echoed by leaders for several departments inside and outside City Hall during the work session and a public hearing on the budget and amendments that followed soon after.
“I know what you all are up against, but this is not the way for us to attempt to balance our budget to get more things done,” Department of Public Works Director Bobby Vincent Jr. said. “The best way for us to do that is to treat our current employees as a team, and we’re not a team if we’re divided.”
Another work session is being considered for Monday, April 28, with amendments to be introduced during the City Council meeting later that day, followed by the budget’s approval on May 12.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian Richmond Free Press
On parade
The crowd that filled Monument Avenue on April 20 wasn’t there to protest, but to celebrate the return of Easter on Parade. Erin Klich, left, participates in the longtime bonnet contest tradition, and Jonathan Austin, top right, brings back his juggling act with flaming torches on a unicycle. From left, Lexi, 3, Mia, 4 and Liam, 5 together enjoy all the kid-friendly fun.
Ex-NFL player Shannon Sharpe accused of rape in $50M civil lawsuit
The Associated Press
A young woman who says she was raped and threatened by retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe during a “rocky consensual relationship” has filed a civil lawsuit against him seeking $50 million in damages.
Attorneys filed the lawsuit Sunday in Clark County, Nev., for a woman listed in court documents as Jane Doe. The lawsuit also accuses Sharpe of using physical force on her and inflicting emotional distress.
The woman first met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023 when she was 20 and a nearly two-year relationship followed, according to court documents. Sharpe, 56, is accused of raping the woman in
October 2024 and again in January, court documents said.
Sharpe on Monday posted a statement from his lawyer on X stating the relationship was consensual and calling the lawsuit a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” Sharpe for millions of dollars.
“It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations — and it will not succeed,” Lanny J. Davis said in the statement posted by Sharpe. Sharpe is accused of becoming increasingly verbally abusive, controlling and violent over time, once threatening to kill her and recording their sexual encounters without consent, according to the complaint.
“Sharpe flew into fits of anger when Plaintiff noted his infidelity to their re-
lationship, or called him out about his extraneous activities,” the lawsuit said.
“Sharpe even figured out how to get into Doe’s apartment complex without her permission.”
Sharpe was a four-time All-Pro tight end who played on two Super Bowl champions with Denver and another with Baltimore over 14 seasons from 1990 to 2003. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
Sharpe retired as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (815), yards receiving (10,060) and touchdowns (62). Those records have since been broken.
Sharpe has been a staple on TV and social media since retiring. He left FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” in 2023 and joined ESPN soon afterward.
Black Men Vote names Michael Bland as executive
Sharpton calls meeting with Target’s CEO ‘constructive and candid’
director
Free Press staff report
Black Men Vote has appointed Michael Bland as its new executive director, the organization announced last week.
Bland brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and political strategy, with a focus on equitycentered policy, coalition-building and advocacy.
“We are confident that under his direction, Black Men Vote will reach new heights in empowering Black men to exercise their political power,” said Frank White, BMV co-founder and board chair
Bland most recently served as southern regional director and senior adviser for faith engagement for the Harris for President campaign. He also served as national director of Leaders of Color at Education Reform Now. His career in political organizing includes managing Congresswoman Jahana Hayes’ historic campaign, making her the first African American woman to represent New England.
“We are at a critical inflection point when it comes to the role of Black men in American politics. For far too long, Black men have been left out of polling, focus groups and electoral mobilization efforts,” Bland said. “I’m beyond excited to help guide the direction of Black male voter engagement in a way that truly reaches and resonates with all Black men, both civically and electorally. There’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m ready to get it done.”
Bland, a University of Rhode Island graduate, will be based in Washington. He also serves on several nonprofit boards and is a member of the Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons.
By Anne D’Innocenzio The Associated Press
Target’s chief executive officer met last Thursday with the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization has encouraged consumers to avoid U.S. retailers that scaled backed their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Sharpton called the meeting with Target CEO Brian Cornell “very constructive and candid,” according to an update from his National Action Network. Two other NAN representatives, National Board Chair Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and Senior Adviser Carra Wallace, also attended the meeting at the organization’s New York headquarters.
meet Cornell in New York. The news was first reported by CNBC.
Founders of Black-owned brands adapt their hopes and business plans for a postDEI era
“I am going to inform our allies, including Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, of our discussion, what my feelings are, and we will go from there,” Sharpton said in a statement.
Bryant, an Atlanta area pastor, organized a website called targetfast.org to recruit Christians for a 40-day Target boycott. Other faith leaders endorsed the protest, which started with the beginning of Lent on March 5.
A National Action Network spokesperson confirmed last week that Sharpton, the group’s founder and president, planned to
A Target spokesperson couldn’t imme-
diately be reached for comment.
Target is among a slew of companies, including Walmart, Amazon and PepsiCo, that have eliminated policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity among their employees and reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
After returning to the White House in January, President Trump moved to end DEI programs within the federal government. He has warned schools to do the same or risk losing federal money.
The National Action Network said Sharpton met on Tuesday with PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta and Steven Williams, the CEO of PepsiCo North America, to “get clarity on its stance on
DEI, whether they were shutting down their commitments due to pressure from Trump and right-wing activists, and the path moving forward.”
Earlier this month, Sharpton gave PepsiCo three weeks to meet with him — or suffer a boycott — to discuss reversing the company’s recent move to do away with its DEI initiatives.
The National Action Network said Thursday that Sharpton planned to consult the organization’s board members over the Easter holiday “to determine any next steps with Target, PepsiCo, and other companies that have scaled back their DEI programs or pledges.”
Target announced on Jan. 24 that it would conclude the DEI goals it had set to increase Black employees’ representation and advancement, improve Black shoppers’ experiences and promote Blackowned businesses. The company also said it planned to stop submitting reports for external diversity surveys.
It is also “further evaluating our corporate partnerships to ensure they are directly connected to our roadmap for growth,” according to a memo posted on its website.
A number of other boycotts were launched of retailers that have pulled back on DEI.
Richmond Utilities Commission: Propose Shutting Off Natural Gas Sales? Homeowners Forced To Buy Heat Pumps?
A misguided 13 member Utilities Commission (appointed by City Council) is looking into to finding a way to shut down or sell Richmond's Gas Utility. This utility has served Richmonders since 1850.
If chairman Kevin Cianfarini and other members have their way, 121,000 gas customers may be at risk.
We generally support climate change measures and other green initiatives, but Richmond citizens need to know... What typically occurs when a municipal gas utility is closed or sold?
- Customers are forced to remove gas furnaces and install heat pumps costing up to $10,000 each. (Some need two)
- The municipality can lose many $ millions in gas profits that help run government and lower taxes.
- When natural gas utilities are sold to a firm like Columbia Gas, gas prices go up 20% on average within 5 years.
About one in five Richmond residents live on incomes below the federal poverty line. This means that the poor among us may be forced to pay far higher gas prices, or up to $10,000 per household for heat pumps.
Besides real estate tax, Gas Utility profits are a top revenue source for our city, and no thoughtful person gives away or sells the "goose that lays golden eggs." Richmond revenue and expenses are a major budget concern in 2025 and beyond.
Our sources tell us that Mayor Danny Avula and his staff rightly oppose this anti-black and anti-poor initiative. A proposal like this might work in Seattle, Wa. or Malibu, Ca. where the standard of living is much higher, but not in Richmond, Virginia.
City Council leads this, so we suggest you contact your City Council person and let them know if you are opposed to selling or closing our gas utility.
Marty Jewell
Chairman, Richmond Civic League
Former Member Richmond City Council RichmondCivicLeague@gmail.com
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File
Former NFL football player and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe poses at a film screening in September 2022 at Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles.
Michael Bland
Rev. Al Sharpton
Brian Cornell
Richmond Free Press
Good trouble gets results in Hanover
Let’s take a moment to applaud the good work of the Hanover Branch NAACP. In a county that’s more that 80% white, you might think highlighting the concerns of African Americans is one of those jobs that isn’t worth the trouble. Fortunately, leaders of the local chapter of the civil rights organization know it’s a fight worth having.
Last week and this week, the organization, in partnership with the Hanover County School Board, arranged two ceremonies commemorating the courage of the eight students who “led the effort to integrate the county’s public schools sixty years ago.” Yes, this was a long time coming and quite an achievement, considering the current political climate, which trends toward whitewashing American history.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Hanover County School Board for their support and recognition of the monumental steps taken by these students towards racial equality,” said Patricia Hunter-Jordan, president of the Hanover NAACP. “These plaques serve as a permanent tribute to their bravery and the significant strides they made in transforming our educational system.”
The plaques will hang at the two schools they attended, Patrick Henry High School and the recently renamed Mechanicsville High School.
We do remember the former name of Mechanicsville High School. While many Confederate apologists said we would forget immediately and that part of history would be lost forever, they were wrong about that also. It is important to remember the name of the school was chosen in 1959, during the era of Massive Resistance, which saw Virginia actively oppose the desegregation mandates of the Supreme Court. The continued advocacy of the Hanover NAACP is part of the reason the school on Mechanicsville Turnpike no longer bears the names of a Confederate military leader and his commander-in-chief, who would be indicted for treason.
The Hanover County NAACP filed a federal lawsuit against the School Board in 2019. They argued the Confederate-themed names and mascots at Lee-Davis High School created a hostile environment for students and violated their constitutional rights. (As a former student of that school, I can testify to that.) While the lawsuit was dismissed in May 2020, the NAACP was planning to appeal. Their persistent efforts, combined with a national reckoning on racial issues following the murder of George Floyd, intensified calls for change.
In 2020, the Hanover County School Board narrowly voted to change the name of the high school and nearby Stonewall Jackson Middle School. The high school is now Mechanicsville High School and the middle school became Bell Creek Middle School.
The work of the Hanover NAACP, which was established in 1946, at First Union Baptist Church continues. Recently they have brought attention to the county’s search for a Pamunkey Regional Library director. The group expressed concerns about comments by members of the trustee board tasked with filling the position, which “suggest a departure from the principles of inclusivity and educational merit,” according to a press release from the group.
“The library is a cornerstone of democracy, providing access to information and opportunities for all,” Hunter-Jordan states in the release. “It is imperative that the board recognizes the need for experienced and credentialed professionals who can preserve and enhance the integrity of our library services.”
We’re reminded of the phrase “good trouble,” when we think of the efforts of this branch of the NAACP. For those who aren’t familiar with the phrase, we urge you to seek out the meaning and go find some to get into. In Hanover, like many other places around the country, it’s not that hard to find, once you start looking.
Roses in bloom on South Side
proud
James Brown had a way of reminding us to take pride in our Blackness. That reminder is needed now more than ever. As an international music icon, Brown emerged as one of the founding fathers of funk, with a musical style that profoundly influenced R&B, jazz and rock. He also became a leading voice in the Black community during turbulent racial times and was affectionately known as the “Godfather of Soul.” He used his platform to promote social change and political activism.
As the Black community faced internal and external challenges, his messages of pride and hope addressed self-doubt, inequality, fear and intimidation. “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” became a rallying cry for the Black Power movement. Brown wrote the song after sensing the Black community was losing its sense of pride.
When we think of Brown, we don’t typically associate him with being a lifelong Republican — a fact that outraged many Black Americans, especially when he endorsed Richard Nixon for reelection. Brown supported Nixon based on their shared belief in
individualist policies and the idea that hard work alone would be the key to Black success. A self-taught musician, Brown was a staunch Black Republican who embraced the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” philosophy. He used his relationship with Nixon to advocate for the Black community and help the president understand its struggles.
Today, we find ourselves in another turbulent era that echoes
the past. President Trump is often compared with Nixon as a leader who governed through fear and intimidation. Fear is complex— particularly when it fuels silence.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is one of the few Senate Republicans who has consistently stood up to Trump’s bullying tactics. During Trump’s second term, she has publicly criticized his policies, opposed some Cabinet nominees and voted to overturn his tariffs on Canada. She has also spoken openly about the climate of fear surrounding the former president. Recently, she acknowledged the anxiety that comes with pushing back against Trump, saying, “We are all afraid,” during a summit of nonprofit and tribal leaders in Alaska.
Trump has fostered an environment of control and manipulation
in Washington. Those who oppose him politically often pay a price. Most Republican lawmakers remain silent, choosing political safety over accountability and failing to uphold their constitutional duties. As Trump uses fear to consolidate power, the executive branch begins to resemble an organized crime syndicate. With a felony conviction and a thirst for control, Trump has become a different kind of “godfather” — a crime boss exploiting the authority of his office.
But fear works both ways.
While Trump causes others to operate in fear, he, too, is afraid. He fears the Black vote when it is mobilized. He fears Black Power because he cannot control it. He fears the heritage and legacy of the Black community—its resilience, pride and ability to overcome. He resents Barack Obama because Obama’s rise represents a roadmap for people of color to follow when fully empowered.
He fears educated Black women, who refuse to bow to a so-called “godfather.” He fears Black history, because when young Black people embrace their legacy, they become unstoppable.
A revived “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” message could energize a new generation to get involved and push back against systems of oppression.
Above all, white supremacists fear the legacy of Blanche Bruce—
Immigration crackdown enters Twilight Zone
Kafkaesque.
One hears that word a lot in discussions of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Or, for lowbrows like me, “The Twilight Zone” might be the pertinent reference.
Abrego Garcia is the Maryland man who was wrongly de ported and has been detained without trial in a grim prison in El Salvador.
In March, U.S. Immigration and Customs En forcement agents stopped Abrego Garcia while he was out with his young son. Within days, he was on a plane to the notorious terrorist confinement center called CECOT in El Salvador, where it is clear that U.S. officials were content to leave him to an uncertain fate.
his agenda, curiously deferred to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has rebuffed calls for Abrego Garcia to be returned to U.S. custody.
And Trump and his minions continue to accuse Abrego Garcia, without credible evidence, of being a member of the notorious international gang MS-13, whereas
in fact he had escaped to the U.S. and was granted “withholding of removal” status in 2019, on the strength of his testimony that the gang had threatened his family in his native El Salvador.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said Thursday night that he had an unexpected meeting at a hotel in San Salvador with Abrego Garcia, hours after he had been denied a meeting. But Bukele insisted Abrego Garcia would remain in El Salvador.
His wife sued the United States over the deportation in a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The process revealed a sordid reality in the administration of President Trump that brings to mind the scene in Lewis Carroll’s children’s tale “Alice’sAdventures in Wonderland,” when the Queen of Hearts impatiently declares during the trial of the Knave of Hearts: “Sentence first — verdict afterwards.”
In essence, that’s the shaky case againstAbrego Garcia. The Trump administration no longer disputes that he was mistakenly deported. And, indeed, the Supreme Court ruled the government must obey a lower court’s direction to “facilitate” the prisoner’s return to the United States. However, Trump, who shows little patience for anyone or anything that gets in the way of
For Democrats like Van Hollen, the issue has been a defense of fundamental principles of human rights, legal access and equal protection under the Constitution.
For Republicans like Team Trump, equal rights for Abrego Garcia is a misguided gesture of sympathy for a man who, as the White House notes repeatedly, entered the U.S. illegally.
“It’s appalling and sad that Sen. Van Hollen and the Democrats applauding his trip to El Salvador today are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said at a Wednesday afternoon briefing, displaying her rather typical role as a gruff, judgmental megaphone for the president’s views and prejudgments.
Due process, all the formalities that ensure individuals are treated equally under the law, has been called the fundamental right on which all other rights are grounded. It guarantees that individuals have a fair opportunity to be heard before their life, liberty or property is taken away.
The Trump administration has admitted to an “administrative error” in Abrego Garcia’s case, yet it also says it does not have the authority to secure his return.
Instead, as Abrego García’s lawyers have said, he “sits in a foreign prison solely at the behest of the United States, as the product of a Kafkaesque mistake.”
There’s old Kafka again. I’m not alone in noting the similarity.
Interestingly, a deeper look into the case against Abrego Garcia reveals some loose ends. One arresting officer, for example, linked his Chicago Bulls baseball cap to the MS-13 gang, which sounds pretty thin.
Earlier in the week, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found probable cause to hold administration officials in criminal contempt for defying an order to halt deportations of people deemed “alien enemies.”
And U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who has described the deportation of Abrego Garcia as “wholly lawless,” castigated administration officials for having done “nothing” to comply with her order to facilitate his release and return.
Well, not quite nothing. They have helped start a debate over the legal meaning of “facilitate.” I imagine Kafka would have some thoughts on the semantics. Meanwhile, I’m wondering if Team Trump knows the legal meaning of “freedom.”
The writer is columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
even though most Americans have never heard of him. Bruce’s story is one of the reasons why Black history is being erased. In an age when white leaders attempt to wield fear while being its own victims, Bruce’s life disproves the myth of white superiority. Born enslaved, Bruce became the first African American elected to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate. In 1874, while Mississippi remained under postwar military control, the state’s progressive, Republican-led legislature elected him to the Senate. A few years earlier, that same body had chosen Hiram Revels to fill an unexpired term—making him the first African American senator. Blanche Bruce embodied the “bootstraps” philosophy—though it was never a conservative invention. Progressives have always believed in self-determination; we just want the barriers removed. The writer is the author of “God Bless Our Divided America.
Clarence Page
David W. Marshall
Cyclist calls for urgent safety fix on Mosby Street
I’m writing to demand urgent action to address the dangerous conditions on Mosby Street. As someone who commutes by bicycle, I’ve experienced firsthand how unsafe this corridor has become, and a recent incident made it painfully clear that if nothing changes, someone is going to get seriously hurt or killed.
On April 18, 2025, around 4:10 p.m., I was biking northbound in the designated bike lane on Mosby Street when a FedEx Express van illegally swerved into the bike lane, cutting me off and nearly causing a crash. I had to brake hard to avoid hitting the van or being thrown into the curb. When I knocked on the window to alert the driver, he got out of the vehicle, screamed at me, and threatened to assault me. I’ve filed a complaint with FedEx and reported the incident to the police department.
This is not an isolated event. Drivers routinely enter the bike lane on Mosby to park illegally without checking for cyclists. I’ve raised this issue before with Council members Ellen Robertson and Cynthia Newbille, but no real changes have been made. The Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper project is a step in the right direction for daylighting intersections, but it is nowhere near enough to prevent these life-threatening situations.
What Mosby Street needs is more physical protection. More bollards and actual hard infrastructure to stop vehicles from entering the bike lane. Paint is not protection, signs are not protection and flimsy plastic poles every 10 feet are not protection. I am tired of near misses, and I’m tired of inaction.
It shouldn’t take a fatal crash to get the City to take bike and pedestrian safety seriously. I urge you, not as a frustrated cyclist, but as a neighbor who wants to stay alive when trying to get around— prioritize safety on Mosby Street now.
Please don’t wait until it’s too late.
JOSEPH CARLISLE
Richmond
Educators find creative
work-arounds
to laws that restrict what they can
An onslaught of executive orders from President Trump aim to restrict how and what educators can teach America’s children.
lenge laws, policies and ways of controlling society that they see as harmful in schools.
In my studies, I’ve encountered some educators who have found clever ways to support their students and have difficult conversations without violating executive orders or the law.
down and listened actively, then began chiming in with their own ideas about solving the problem constructively.
Finally, the teacher asked the class to reflect on how she had handled the situation.
Since taking office in January, Trump has attempted to bar teachers from discussing racism and sexism in K-12 schools and order all schools that receive federal funding to recognize only two gender identities – male and female – potentially barring teachers from acknowledging the existence of nonbinary, gender queer and transgender people, including among their students.
Educators say the orders are having a chilling effect in classrooms, with some teachers censoring themselves by minimizing dialogue about race, gender and other topics. Other educators, however, are finding ways to resist what they see as federal intrusion into the classroom.
In March, Sarah Inama, a sixth grade history teacher in Meridian, Idaho, refused to remove a classroom poster reading “Everyone is Welcome” when school district officials claimed the message was too controversial.
“There are only two opinions on this sign. Everyone is welcome here or not everyone is welcome here,” Inama said in interview with Today.com. I am a scholar and former elementary school counselor. My research explores how educators act alongside young people and community organizers to chal-
Modeling transformative justice
The Trump administration’s restrictive federal orders for schools are new, but some U.S.
states have been limiting what educators can tell their students for several years. And educators in those places have found quiet, creative ways to push back.
In 2022 I led a study of how educators in one Midwestern state were teaching social emotional learning – that is, the attitudes, skills and knowledge to develop healthy relationships and manage their emotions.
The state — research ethics prohibit me from precisely identifying it — had recently passed legislation that prevented teachers from openly discussing the harms of racism, slavery, colonialism and gender violence in the U.S. Critics felt the law not only erased Black and Indigenous history but also banned truth-telling and accountability.
One second grade teacher I observed in my study felt it was essential that her students learn to tell the truth, even in uncomfortable situations, and take accountability for their actions. She partnered with local community organizers to practice transformative justice in her classroom.
Rather than craft a lesson plan that might run up against the state’s restrictive new laws, the teacher in my study demonstrated the values of truthtelling and accountability in her approach to everyday conflicts.
For example, one day after afternoon recess, two students refused to come back inside. The teacher waited patiently, and when eventually they returned to the classroom, she asked them what had been bothering them. The students said they were mad their classmates hadn’t allowed them to play a specific character in a game at recess.
The teacher invited the rest of the class to discuss the incident. They acknowledged that those students had been excluded. Together, the class brainstormed ways to better include everyone next time. The upset students calmed
“What would have happened if I had called the principal on the students who wouldn’t come inside?” she asked.
“They would have gotten in trouble!” the students said.
“Yes, and would that have solved anything?” the teacher responded.
“No, it would have made things worse,” one student remarked.
In her actions and words, this teacher taught her students that punishment isn’t the only or best way to deal with conflict. And she showed them that when people tell the truth and take responsibility for their actions, they have an opportunity to build connections and repair relationships.
My research finds this teacher challenged her state’s policy of silencing certain conversations.
Solidarity with LGBTQ students
I led another study in 2023 and 2024 following legislation in Iowa and other states banning books and restricting classroom discussion about gender identity and sexual orientation. In it, I documented how one middle school counselor supported student activists who’d been retaliated against after leading a school walkout protesting the state’s anti-LGBTQ bill.
The student activists had been taunted by their peers during the walkout. Some had Pride flags torn from their hands and stomped on. Money the students had been collecting to donate to an LGBTQ organization was stolen.
“I wish we didn’t have to be quiet to be safe,” one of the students told the counselor when debriefing after the incident.
The counselor arranged a meeting with the school principal to share how their peers had hurt them and how disconnected it made them feel from their school. When administrators did only minimal follow-up afterward, the counselor partnered with a community arts organization outside school to create LGBTQ-affirming spaces for students to make art together.
In my assessment, her actions demonstrated that people can come together to care for one another and showed that LGBTQ young people matter. First as an educator and then as a community member, she delivered a meaningful message
teachers can say and what topics curricula can address. Educators in the U.S. have long found ways to resist laws they feel are unjust. In the 1940s, a Black teacher named Madeline Morgan fought alongside hundreds of other Black women teachers and parents for Chicago Public Schools to include Black history in its curriculum. The curriculum she created later became a model for districts across the U.S. Septima Clark is another Black educator who fought racism through teaching. After she was fired from her teaching position in South Carolina due to her connections with the NAACP, she dedicated her life to teaching, organizing and training civil rights activists in defiance of laws that attempted to keep her out of the classroom.
Collaborating with others, today’s educators are finding creative ways to ensure their classrooms demonstrate justice,in actions if not in words. The writer is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. This commentary originally appeared at Theconversation.com
Riley Drake
Julianne Tripp Hillman/Richmond Free Press Mosby Street
Women gather at Hilton Short Pump for day of financial empowerment
Free Press staff report
More than 350 women gathered April 15 at the Hilton Short Pump for Virginia Credit Union’s Financial
“Research
tion Cherry Dale.“Women are actively seeking the knowledge and money management skills that will put them on the path toward financial well-being and independence.” Bestselling personal finance author and TV personality Tif-
Carolyn A. Lemon of Gloucester recently received the 19th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.
She was one of more than two dozen individuals, families and organizations honored at a ceremony in Richmond on Tuesday, April 15. Lemon was nominated for the award by Rappahannock Community College.
For the past 20 years, she has served on the board of the RCC Educational Foundation, where she has been an advocate, fundraiser and community connector. She is credited with introducing energetic and impactful new board members.
Lemon also has tutored RCC students and established the CAL scholarship at the college.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Carolyn as a part of our community, and her contributions make her a standout candidate for this prestigious award,” said RCC President Dr. Shannon Kennedy.
Virginia Community College System Chancellor Dr. David Doré commented that a culture of care can have a profound impact on student performance.“When our students realize that someone cares enough to help remove the formidable obstacles standing in their way, it’s life-changing,” he said. “The things they thought impossible suddenly become doable, and their confidence soars as a result.”
Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, this year’s class of honorees has collectively contributed $24 million to Virginia’s Community Colleges.
Free Press staff report
University of Richmond junior Chloe Goode was recently named a 2025 Truman Scholar. The Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the United States.
Goode, a Henrico native, is one of 54 award recipients out of 743 nominations selected for this prestigious, highly competitive scholarship. Only one student per state is selected. She is the University of Richmond’s ninth Truman Scholar since the program’s inception in 1977, with the most recent in 2013.
“I am mind-blown and beyond grateful,” Goode said. “Throughout the process of applying for Truman, I struggled with a lot of self-doubt and fatigue from balancing the application on top of my other commitments, so this news is absolutely amazing.”
Truman Scholars demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Each scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling and internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.
Following her graduation from UR in 2026, Goode, who is double majoring in sociology and Africana studies, will participate in the Truman Scholar Summer Institute and Truman Albright Fellowship.
“I want to keep learning about effective ways to build strong communities and these programs will allow me to have hands-on public service experience at a government agency or nonprofit in D.C.,” Goode said.
Goode plans to pursue a of public administration with a specialization in public and nonprofit management policy with a specific focus on advocacy and political action specialization. Driven by her personal experiences, she intends to focus her career in the U.S. education system.
“When I enter public service, I want to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to thrive,” Goode said.
Goode is the founder and president of R.E.A.C.H., a mentoring program that promotes success for high school students through sessions that connect underserved Richmond-area students with University of Richmond students as mentors. She also is a volunteer with the non-profit Communities in Schools where she distributes weekend meals for students facing food insecurity at a local elementary school.
Goode is a Presidential Scholar and Oliver Hill Scholar, both of which provide merit-based scholarships to support tuition costs. In addition to her academic, campus and community involvement, she works to supplement all financial support she receives.
Korir brothers make marathon history, Lokedi claims record-setting win
By Jimmy Golen Associated Press
Sharon Lokedi broke the Boston Marathon course record, and fellow Kenyan John Korir joined his brother as a race champion on Monday as the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.
Lokedi outran two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final mile a year after losing a sprint down Boylston Street to her in one of the closest finishes in race history. Lokedi finished in an unofficial 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds — 19 seconds ahead of Obiri and more than 21/2 minutes faster than the previous Boston best.
Six months after winning Chicago, Korir finished in 2:04:45 — the second-fastest winning time in race history as the runners took advantage of perfect marathon weather to conquer the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square.
After crossing the line, Korir was greeted by his older brother, 2012 Boston winner Wesley Korir. Although the race has been won by a pair of unrelated John Kelleys and two different Robert Cheruiyots, the Korirs are the first brothers — or relatives of any kind — to win the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.
Conner Mantz of Provo, Utah, finished fourth after losing a three-way sprint to the finish with Alphonce
Vick makes debut as Norfolk State football coach at spring game
Free Press staff report
Norfolk State fans got their first look at Coach Michael Vick in action Saturday as he led the Spartans through their annual spring football game at William “Dick” Price Stadium.
The event marked the first time Vick, a former NFL star and Newport News native, took the field as the leader of a college football program. Spartan fans turned out in large numbers to watch the team’s 2025 roster, with a crowd that included several high-profile guests from the Hampton Roads area.
NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, NFL quarterback Tyrod Taylor, WBO lightweight boxing champion Keyshawn Davis, Virginia state Sen. Aaron Rouse and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott were among those in attendance.
“It was good to see,” Vick said. “Those
guys have been telling me they are going to come out and support, and I expect to see that all season. It’s good to have the local hometown heroes come out. Guys who our players can look at as role models, great citizens of the Hampton Roads and just good people.”
Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage gave Spartan Nation a look at both sides of the ball, with the team facing off against itself in a variety of situations. Players rotated through position drills, seven-on-seven action, one-onone battles and full-team periods that featured live contact.
Wide receiver Dresean Kendrick, a transfer from William & Mary, turned heads with a one-handed catch in traffic before pulling in a goal-line touchdown pass from quarterback Israel Carter to open the scoring.
“Everything was just one step at a time
this spring,” Carter said. “He wanted us to just focus on one play, one install, one rep at a time. That’s all that we can do, control what we can control, and we’ll be just fine.”
All-MEAC running back Kevon King followed with a short-yardage touchdown, and wide receiver Kam’Ryn Thomas made a leaping catch across the middle for a big gain.
Defensively, the Spartans showed off the toughness Vick and his staff have been emphasizing. Delaware State transfer Khaleef Jimmison broke up a pass in the end zone and helped set the tone for a physical effort from the secondary.
“We just wanted to compete,” Jimmison said. “Compete, compete, compete. Be physical, intentional detailed and just compete.”
Norfolk State opens its 2025 season at home against Towson on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Richmond students compete in inclusive Big Feet Meet at Huguenot High
Free Press staff report
Students from across Richmond gathered April 16 at Huguenot High School for the annual Big Feet Meet, a day of track and field events celebrating inclusion and athleticism for Unified Athletes and partners.
Hosted by Richmond Public Schools and Special Olympics Virginia, the event began with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. before students participated in a full schedule of competitions on the football field at 7945 Forest Hill Ave. Now in its fourth year, the Big Feet Meet has grown each year, with this year’s event welcoming students from 13 middle and high schools. In addition to the athletic events, the day featured support from several community organizations, including the Virginia Down Syndrome Association, the Autism Society of Central Virginia, MindPlay and the EPIC Project.
festivities and add a bit of levity when Paul Revere’s horse was spooked by the finish line decal on the street and stopped. The actor portraying the colonial silversmith and patriot had to hop off and walk the last few steps himself as the small early crowd laughed and clapped.
After reading a proclamation, Revere gently tugged the horse the rest of the way before riding off to more ceremonies commemorating the midnight ride onApril 19, 1775, that warned the colonists in Lexington and Concord that the British were on the march. Marcel Hug of Switzerland had no such trouble completing the course, zooming into Copley Square in 1:21:34 for his eighth Boston wheelchair title. He beat two-time winner Daniel Romanchuk by more than four minutes in the 50th anniversary of Bob Hall’s pioneering push to add a wheelchair division to the race.
“It means a lot to win this year, 50 years of wheelchairs in Boston,” Hug said. “For me, it will take some time to realize what it means, eight times wins. It’s such an incredible number.” Susannah Scaroni of the United States won the women’s
Virginia State taps Millette Green as women’s basketball coach
Free Press report
When Millette Green steps onto the court as Virginia State University’s new head women’s basketball coach, she’ll bring more than just a wealth of experience — she’ll bring a philosophy rooted in grit, leadership and a track record of turning programs into contenders. She becomes the seventh head coach in VSU history.
“In VSU Athletics, we’re committed to aligning with both departmental and institutional priorities, and that starts with putting students at the center of everything we do,” said Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tiffani-Dawn B. Sykes at a press conference last week. “We were intentional about identifying a leader who prioritizes the student experience above all else, and Coach Millette Green understands that responsibility.”
Green, who most recently served as an assistant coach at Wake Forest University, helped the Demon Deacons land one of their most impressive recruiting classes in recent memory. Under her guidance, Wake Forest signed a top-25 class according to ESPNW, the first time since 2014 that the program secured
multiple top-100 recruits in the same cycle. Prior to her time at Wake Forest, Green’s coaching journey took her from Augusta University, where she transformed a four-win team into a 15-win contender, to William & Mary, where she helped guide The Tribe to their best season in recent history. Her leadership at both institutions was marked by a mix of on-court success and player development, with numerous All-Conference honors and postseason appearances along the way.
“With great honor and gratitude, I am excited to lead the women’s basketball program at Virginia State University,” Green said. “This program has a winning tradition with five CIAA conference championships. I strive to build upon the foundation laid here and compete for championships at every level.”
At William & Mary, she helped lead The Tribe to a school-record 20 wins in the 2016-17 season, advancing to the CAA semifinals for the first time since 2001. Under her guidance, 27 players earned All-Conference honors, and two were named Player of the Year. Her ability to develop talent extended beyond the court as well, with 32 players earning spots on their conference’s All-Academic Team.
Flying Squirrels blank Baysox, 10-0, for first home win of season
Free Press Staff report
The Richmond Flying Squirrels broke out of a slump in dominant fashion Friday night, shutting out the Bowie Baysox 10-0 at The Diamond to earn their first home win of the 2025 season.
Manuel Mercedes and Nick Sinacola combined on a five-hit shutout as Richmond (3-10) snapped a five-game losing streak and picked up its first victory in the current six-game series against Bowie (8-5). Mercedes (1-2), making just his third start at the Double-A level, delivered 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Sinacola entered in the sixth and finished the game, earning
his first save of the season with 3.1 innings of two-hit relief and three strikeouts. The Squirrels wasted no time getting on the board. Jairo Pomares opened the scoring with an RBI double off Baysox starter Trace Bright (1-2) in the bottom of the first. Two wild pitches from Bright allowed Diego Velasquez and Pomares to score before Adrián Sugastey capped the inning with an RBI single to give Richmond a 4-0 lead. Richmond added three more runs in the
fifth inning against reliever Gerald Ogando. Victor Bericoto and Justin Wishkoski each delivered RBI singles, and Sugastey plated another run on a groundout. The Squirrels tacked on two more in the seventh with sacrifice flies from Rodolfo Nolasco and Aeverson Arteaga. Bericoto added a solo home run in the eighth, his third of the season and 25th of his Richmond career, tying him for eighth on the franchise’s all-time list with Frankie Tostado. Bericoto has 10 hits over his last six games, including three home runs and three doubles. The Flying Squirrels return to action April 30 at 6:35 p.m. as they continue a home series against the Somerset Patriots.
Felix Simbu of Tanzania and Cybrian Kotut of Kenya. Simbu was second and Kotut was third.
Re-enactors on horseback, accompanied by a fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle,” helped start the
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
John Korir of Kenya breaks the tape to win the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, in Boston.
Photo courtesy Norfolk State University
Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick looks on during the Spartans’ spring football game Saturday at William “Dick” Price Stadium. The scrimmage marked Vick’s debut leading the program.
Boushall Middle School students Cali (right), a seventh-grader, and Dy’lon (left), a sixth-grader, face off in a game of Jenga.
Thomas H. Henderson Middle School seventhand eighth-graders Tyion (front left), Aiden (front right), Karell, Judah and Micah (back left to right) compete in the 50-meter race. Left, with focus and power, Kamar — a sixth grader at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School — launches the javelin during competition.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/ Richmond Free Press
Coach Green
Manuel Mercedes
Personality: Meg Garner
Spotlight on incoming board president for ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation
Meg Garner’s journey with the ASK (Assistance, Support and Kindness) Childhood Cancer Foundation began nearly three decades ago during a college internship at the Medical College of Virginia —now Virginia Commonwealth University. This experience led to her first job as a child life specialist there and sparked her commitment to supporting children and their families through the challenges of pediatric cancer.
ASK’s assistance and support are lifelines for children with cancer and their families.
The nonprofit organization, a beacon of hope for families in Central Virginia for almost 50 years, has made a significant difference in the lives of these families. Garner has been a donor, volunteer, and consultant and will soon serve as the board chair for the organization.
“I learned a lot working with ASK early on in my career. I knew I wanted to be on the people side of things,” Garner said. Although pediatric cancer is rare compared to adult cancer rates, it is the leading cause of disease-related death among children after infancy, according to the Children’s Cancer Cause, a national advocacy organization for children with cancer and their families. The organization says there are about one in 260 children in the U.S. who will develop cancer before age 20. In Central Virginia, the Children’s Cancer Cause estimates there are 40 to 50 new pediatric cancer cases per year.
Garner’s professional journey, including roles at the American Cancer Society and her current position as chief operating officer at VPM Media Corporation, has been both diverse and rewarding. She believes these experiences have uniquely prepared her to lead the ASK board in advancing
its mission. Garner, who has been married for 30 years, met her husband in college and never dated anyone else. She credits their lasting happiness to a mix of humor, patience and a shared commitment to never give up. The couple still honors an unconventional tradition they started when they wed—renewing their verbal “marriage contract” each year.
“We jokingly said we’d take it one year at a time,” Garner said. “It’s kept us present and accountable throughout the years, so we check in once a year to see what’s working or not working.”
Meet the decades-long proponent for pediatric cancer patients and their families and this week’s Personality, Meg Garner:
Occupation: Chief operating officer at VPM Media Corporation. Place of birth: Norfolk. Where I live now: Henrico.
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Randolph Macon College; MBA, Strayer University; executive leadership coaching, Georgetown University.
Family: Husband, Chris Garner; son, Benjamin; daughter, Everett Elizabeth.
What ASK is: An organization with boots on the ground to provide family support, educational support and community and connection for kids diagnosed with cancer and their families.
ASK’s mission: Making life better for children with cancer and their families.
Location: While ASK serves children and their families all across Virginia, our headquarters are in Richmond, where we started with the Children’s Hospital of Richmond.
A brief history: ASK was incorporated in 1975 as the
Association for the Study of Childhood Cancer. A group of parents whose kids were in treatment for cancer got to know each other’s stories while sitting together in the hospital waiting room. Recognizing the need for support, they wanted to continue to support kids and families with cancer diagnoses. They joined with members of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology team at MCV Hospital, now the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, to found ASK. It would remain an all-volunteer organization for the next 30 years. We opened the ASK Clinic in 2003, followed by the opening of the Moving Forward & First STEP Preschool in 2007. We’ve added many programs over the years to support and advocate for patients, survivors and siblings. Why the name: ASK stands for assistance, support and kindness to represent everything we try to do for our kids and families. When and why I got involved: I did an internship in child
life at MCV Hospitals during my senior year at Randolph-Macon College. When I graduated, I was hired as a child life specialist working with ASK families from 1993 to 1998. I learned so much about the pediatric cancer journey and what the kids and families go through. A child life specialist helps children and their families cope with the emotional and developmental challenges associated with hospitalization and medical procedures, using play, education, and support to normalize the experience. It was amazing to be a small part of their journey.
Experience with the ASK board: I joined the board during the pandemic. I have been vice president for the last two years, leading the work of our Governance and Nominations Committee. I’ll begin my term as board president on July 1.
Why I accepted board positions: It’s my way of giving back, especially to an organization that’s been near and dear to my heart for such a long time. ASK directly impacts the lives of kids and families with cancer every day. They make a challenging journey easier through their deep support.
No. 1 goal as incoming chair: Continuing to help the organization amplify its work statewide. Strategy for achieving the goal: Continue to develop relationships, create awareness and cultivate support for ASK in the other five key geographic areas where there are pediatric cancer centers.
Our biggest challenge: Continuing to build ASK awareness, support and programs across the state.
Financial support: ASK relies on the generous support of our local community to power our programs.
Our partners: We partner with all five pediatric oncology facilities in Virginia to ensure we are providing support to all pediatric cancer patients. Here in the Richmond region, we have community partnerships with the YMCA, First Baptist Preschool and the Home Building Association of Richmond.
How many children are served by ASK: Between six and seven children are diagnosed each week in Virginia. We have over 500 families on active treatment because ASK serves the whole family, including parent and sibling support, from diagnosis and into survivorship.
How I’ve seen ASK make a difference: I’ve seen how ASK’s financial assistance helps families by easing the burden a cancer diagnosis can inflict on an otherwise financially secure family. We provide gas cards, grocery gift cards or utility assistance that allow families to stay in their homes. I’ve seen the care and concern ASK extends to families to help them cope, whether through information. ASK services for children and their families: There are too many services to list here. You can learn more by visiting, askccf.org
How to access ASK’s services: We work closely with the medical teams at the hospitals to connect with newly diagnosed patients and families. You can also connect with ASK and our services through our website, askccf.org.
How I start my day: I’m wired to be positive so each day is a new day to start fresh and do better than the day before.
Three words that best describe me: Empathetic, truthful and resilient.
Dream dinner party guest: I’d love to share a good bottle of wine with Maya Angelou to listen to her stories about her creative writing and activism!
Top three on my music playlist: Foo Fighters, Carbon Leaf and Motley Cruë.
Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I LOVE live music, of all kinds of genres, and go to concerts whenever I can. I’ve been known to plan trips around a specific date and concert venue.
Most inspirational quote: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Inspirational person: Definitely my mom! She raised two children by herself while going to grad school and working a full-time job. She spent her entire career in elementary education, first as a teacher and then as a principal. She showed us every day that hard work and perseverance pay off. I admire how she stared adversity down and carved out a life for herself despite the obstacles.
Influential book: “ReCulturing: Design Your Company Culture to Connect with Strategy and Purpose for Lasting Success” by Melissa Daimler. It reminded me of the tactical elements of culture and how to create a strategy that sustains a process of revisiting and retooling it over time as needed.
Volunteer opportunities with ASK: The ASK 5K and Fun Walk is May 3 and it’s a great way to get involved. You can help raise vital funds for our programs and meet some of our amazing ASK families. More information can be found at the ASK website.
Next goal: Retirement!
By Jennifer Robinson
The Richmond Dance Festival returns after a three-year hiatus, with a diverse lineup of performances, from contemporary and hip-hop to modern and cultural dance styles. Dogtown Dance will present three shows across two venues, the Grace Street Theatre and the Henrico Center for the Arts, on Saturday, April. 26, offering a showcase of the area’s vibrant dance community and talent.
The annual one-day event hosted by Dogtown Dance since 2014 halted in 2022 when the theater closed its doors. However, after three years of focusing on funding and restructuring the board members have revived the festival. T,he revived festival marks a fresh chapter for Dogtown, aiming to reconnect with audiences and reaffirm its role in Richmond’s dance landscape.
“We’re thrilled to … provide a platform for creative expression that inspires and captivates,” said Deandra Clarke, vice president of Dogtown Dance.
At Grace Street Theatre, matinee and evening performances at 2 and 6 p.m. will showcase 11 works by professional choreographers, including Olivia Gotsch of Conflux Dance Theater, Eric Rivera, associate professor of dance at VCU, and the visiting company Ash and Elm. The dance film “Refinement” by filmmaker and choreographer Chloe Abrams also will be screened..
The Henrico Center for the Arts will host the Next Generation performance at 2 p.m., spotlighting emerging artists ages 13 to 18. Dancers
from Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in Petersburg and The Rahk Dance Academy in Georgia will join local youths for the event. “Black Kings Dance Too,” a film by choreographer Kelly Hamlin that reinforces positive images of Black men, will be featured during the show.
Tickets range from $15 to $25 and are available at dogtowndance.com. Proceeds will support the Dogtown Dance Festival, a day of free community dance classes planned for the fall.
Free Press staff report
Award-winning author and literary activist Marita Golden will visit Richmond on Friday, May 2, for a reading and book signing of her latest work, “How to Become a Black Writer: Creating and Honoring Black Stories That Matter.” The program is scheduled for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch.
Golden will be joined by literary scholar Daryl Cumber Dance, professor emerita at the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University, who will interview the author following the reading.
Part literary memoir, part cultural history and part guide for aspiring writers, “How to Become a Black Writer” reflects on Golden’s four-decade career as a writer, teacher and co-founder of the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard
Free Press staff report
The ¿Qué Pasa? Festival returns to Brown’s Island in Downtown Richmond on May 3, for a day of cultural celebration and community connection.
Hosted by the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the festival highlighs the rich heritage of Virginia’s Hispanic and Latin American communities. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, the event draws thousands each year to experience music, dance, food and art from Latino cultures.
This year’s festival will feature performances by local and international artists, showcasing a wide range of musical genres, from traditional Latin beats to contemporary sounds. Attendees also can explore a variety of food vendors offering authentic Latin American dishes and
Wright Foundation. The book offers insight into the experiences and influences that have shaped her work and her commitment to elevating Black voices in literature.
A graduate of American University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Golden has taught creative writing at several institutions including George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University and Virginia Commonwealth University. She has lectured internationally and authored more than 20 works of fiction and nonfiction. Her accolades include the Barnes and Noble Writers for Writers Award from Poets & Writers, the Distinguished Service Award from the Authors Guild and induction into the International Literary Hall of Fame of Writers of African Descent. Dance, known for her contributions to folklore and Caribbean literature studies, is the author of numerous works including “Honey, Hush!,” “Shuckin’ and Jivin’” and “In Search of Annie Drew.” In recent years, she also has turned to fiction and memoir, with her latest work, “Remembering Paule: A Photo Memoir of Her Richmond Years,” published in 2023.
sample flavors from different regions. Local Latino-owned businesses will have booths at the festival, along with artisan vendors selling handmade goods. In addition to cultural performances and culinary experiences, the festival includes familyfriendly activities such as dance workshops, games and interactive exhibits that highlight the diverse traditions of the Latino community. The festival has grown in size over the years, setting a world record for the most piñatas displayed in one location in 2018. Proceeds from the ¿Qué Pasa? Festival support the Virginia Hispanic Chamber and the Virginia Hispanic Foundation’s educational programs and community initiatives, reinforcing the event’s commitment to both cultural celebration and social impact. For more information visit www.quepasafestival.com
Marita Golden
Courtesy PG Parks Arts and Cultural Heritage Division, Maryland
Dancers from the Nrityaniketan School of Bharatanatyam are among the performers at the Richmond Dance Festival.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
During the Science Museum of Virginia’s Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 19, Vivi, 10, and her sister Nalani, 7, learned how
— caused by
Right, Jasmine Johnson of
emissions by 2050.
Local Mass honors Pope Francis’ contributions to church, social justice
Free Press staff report
Bishop Barry C. Knestout led Mass at noon on Monday at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, honoring the memory of Pope Francis, who died Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88. The service gathered members of the local Catholic community to pray for the repose of the Holy Father’s soul, reflecting on his contributions to the church and the world.
Francis, who became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, was known for his focus on humility, social justice and outreach to underserved communities. His death follows a period of declining health in recent months. His papacy was defined by efforts to promote interfaith dialogue, address climate change and extend mercy to the poor and vulnerable.
In a statement released Monday, Knestout expressed his sorrow over Francis’ death and reflected on the pontiff’s impact. He also praised the pope for his unique style and his efforts to engage with the marginalized.
The Rev. Sylvester T. Smith, Ph.D., Pastor “There’s A Place for You”
“Pope Francis’ charisms were his simple, conversational style, and his charitable efforts in reaching out to those on the peripheries – the poor, vulnerable, and alienated,” he said. Knestout reflected on his personal experiences with the pope, recalling their time during a pilgrimage to Rome last October.
“During each of our encounters, the pope greeted me with a gentle, friendly smile, and just a few words in English: ‘Pray for me!’” Bishop Knestout stated. “I assured him then of our prayers, and we continue to pray now for this devoted shepherd of the church.”
Francis’ funeral is set for Saturday outside St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Vatican announced Tuesday. The ceremony will feature simpler rituals, reflecting the humble, approachable style that defined his
Cardinal Giovanni
Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the ceremony, which will adhere to guidelines set by the Vatican last year under Francis’ direction.
papacy.
Battista
Courtesy Vatican Media Bishop Barry C. Knestout meets with Pope Francis during a pilgrimage to Rome.
Courtesy Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Congregation at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart honors Pope Francis’ legacy during a Monday Mass.
DIVORCE VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER CAITLYN ROBINSON, Plaintiff v. JOSHUA LEBLANC, SR., Defendant. Case No.: CL25001235-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The
affiliation; and responsibility for support. It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 08/27/25, at 2:00 P.M., COURTROOM #5.
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re O’VEI O’SHAY BOWMAN, a juvenile RDSS, Plaintiff
v. UNKNOWN FATHER, Defendant File No. JJ101842-07-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
A
Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for
Law
of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804 798-9667 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA CITY OF RICHMOND CIRCUIT COURT JENNIFER ANN (NAPPIER) GONZALEZ v YONI EDGARDO VIVAS GONZALEZ Case No. 25-316 JSM ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: OBTAIN A DIVORCE A VINCULLO MATRIMONII OR FROM THE BONDS OF MATRIMONY ON THE GROUNDS OF A ONE YEAR SEPARATION PURSUANT TO §20-91. It appearing from an affidavit that the defendant is: that diligence has been used including internet and social media searches, inquiries with friends and family, without effect, by or on the behalf of the plaintiff to ascertain in what county or city defendant is. And the last known address of the Defendant is as follows: L/K/A 3708 Stardown Ct. Chester, VA 23831. It is ORDERED that Yoni Edgardo Vivas Gonzalez appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before May 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Divorce Notice to Chealsie Pevia. In the matter of the marriage of Kayla Lewis and Chealsie Pevia case number 25CV000043 filed at Craven County Court House, I Kayla Lewis hereby notify Chealsie Pevia of the divorce filing. I have sent the papers to be signed by certified mail and they were returned, sent them to the court house in the county of your last address and in both cases they were returned due to you no longer living at the address provided. This is my third attempt at serving Chealsie Pevia. You have two weeks to reply, you can call me at 910-515-2354 or Craven County Clerk of Court at 252-639-3000. CUSTODY
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re ANGELES CHAVEZCHILEL, a juvenile RDSS, Plaintiff v. MARIE CHAVEZ-CHILEL, CARLOS SANCHEZ, Defendant File No. JJ102304-06-00, JJ102304-07-00
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Marie ChavezChilel (Mother) and Carlos Sanchez, (Father) of Angeles Chavez-Chilel DOB 5/6/2011, child, “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support. It is ORDERED that the defendants Chilel (Mother) and Carlos Sanchez (Father) at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 9:00 A.M., IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of O’MERE NASHAE BOWMAN, UNKNOWN FATHER, File No. JJ101843-07-00, ORDER OF PUBLICATION The
The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Unknown Father (Father) of O’vei O’shay, child DOB 10/03/2022 . “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.
It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 08/27/25, at 2:00 P.M., COURTROOM #5.
VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re O’MARI DE’MAINE BOWMAN, a juvenile RDSS, Plaintiff v. UNKNOWN FATHER, Defendant File No. JJ101844-07-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of Unknown Father (Father) of O’mari De’maine Bowman, child DOB 10/12/2018 “TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.
It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father (Father) to appear at the above-named Court and protect his/her interest on or before 08/27/25, at 2:00 P.M., COURTROOM #5. PROPERTY
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND BARBARA J. JOHNSON
Plaintiff v. Heirs at Law of SARAH M. BEARD a/k/a SARAH MILLER BEARD GANT a/k/a SARAH MILLER MAYO and JAMES M. LEE and MINGO JUAN LEE and CLAUDINE ROBINSON a/k/a)
and
together with the dwelling thereon, known and designated as 2608 Porter Street (f/k/a 2608 Holland Street) lying and being in the City of Richmond, Virginia, and described as fronting 60 feet on the southern line of Porter Street (formerly known as Holland Street) between Clopton Street and 27th Street, if extended, and returning back between parallel lines 132 feet to an alley 15 feet wide and being Lots 14 & 15, Block No. 1 on the Plan of Hollands Addition. BEING the same real estate conveyed to Henry S. Johnson and Barbara J. Johnson, husband and wife, as tenants by the entirety with the right of survivorship as at common law, by Deed from Estelle V. Miller, now known as Estelle M. Brown, and Magaline M. Miller, dated June 23, 2000, and recorded June 30, 2000, in the Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Virginia, as Instrument Number 000015899. The said Henry Shannon Johnson, Sr. also known as Henry S. Johnson died May 31, 2013 and by operation of law title vested in his wife Barbara J. Johnson. AND BEING the same real estate conveyed to Sarah M. Beard, Norma M. Miller and Estelle V. Miller by deed from Alan N. Pettigrew, dated October 1, 1942 and recorded in the Clerk’s Office Circuit Court, City of Richmond, Virginia, in Deed Book 88A page 226. Sarah M. Beard aka Sara Miller Beard Gand died intestate on November 2, 1959 without children and married to Albert W. Gant. The said Albert W. Gant aka Albert W. Gant Sr. died April 27, 1984 with his Will recorded in Will Book 7 page 183 left everything in equal shares to his two children Albert Wilson Gant Jr. and Bernice Gant Lee. The said Albert Wilson Gant Jr. died intestate on August 2, 1986 with a List of Heirs recorded in Will Book 95 page 611 listing his sister Bernice G. Lee and nieces Juliet Cynthia Gant and Claudine Robinson as his heirs at law. The said Bernice Gant Lee died testate on October 12, 1996 with her Will recorded as Will No. 97757 leaving real property to her husband James Lee for the term of his natural life, with remainder to Mingo Juan Lee. The said Nora Elizabeth Miller aka Nora M. Miller died testate on November 11, 1991 with her Will recorded in Will Book 22 page 897 where she left her estate in equal shares to her sister Magaline M. Miller and nephew Edward Lee Miller, share and share alike. Deed to Estelle V. Miller and Magaline M. Miller from Estelle V. Miller in her own right and as an heir to the estate of Sarah M. Beard and Magaline M. Miller, as heir to the estate of Sarah M. Beard and as Executrix and heir to the estate of Nora E. Miller, and as guardian for Edward Lee Miller, incompetent, dated September 2, 1992 and recorded September 8, 1992 in the Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, City of Richmond, Virginia, in Deed Book 316 page 860. The heirs, descendants, devisees, assigns, and/or successors in title to Sarah M. Beard a/k/a, Sarah Miller; Beard Gant a/k/a Sarah Miller Mayo; James M. lee; Mingo Juan Lee; Claudine Robinson a/k/a Claudine Beane; Juliet C. Gant a/k/a Juliet C. Grant a/k/a Juliet Griffin; Nora E. Miller; Edward Lee Miller; Albert Wilson, Jr.; Magaline M. Miller; Estelle V. Miller; Bernice G. Lee; Junius Gant a/k/a Junius Wilson Gant, and Parties Unknown may have
an interest in the property commonly known as 2608 Porter Street (formerly known as 2608 Holland Street), Richmond, Virginia, 23225, designated as Tax Map Parcel #S0000796009 in the City of Richmond, Virginia, formerly owned by Sarah M. Beard, and Estelle V. Miller and Magaline M. Miller, may have an interest in the property by deed, by inheritance, or by duly recorded liens. Affidavit having been made and filed that due diligence has been used without effect to ascertain the identities and/or locations of certain parties to be served, and that there are or may be persons whose names are unknown, interested in the subject matter of this suit; It is ORDERED that the heirs of Sarah M. Beard a/k/a, Sarah Miller; Beard Gant a/k/a Sarah Miller Mayo; James M. lee; Mingo Juan Lee; Claudine Robinson a/k/a Claudine Beane; Juliet C. Gant a/k/a Juliet C. Grant a/k/a Juliet Griffin; Nora E. Miller; Edward Lee Miller; Albert Wilson, Jr.; Magaline M. Miller; Estelle V. Miller; Bernice G. Lee; Junius Gant a/k/a Junius Wilson Gant, and Parties Unknown, if then living or if dead, their heirs, devisees, assigns, or successors in title, if any there be, and any unknown grantees or successors in interest to 2608 Porter Street (formerly known as 2608 Holland Street), Richmond, Virginia, 23225, designated as Tax Map Parcel #S0000796009 in the City of Richmond, Virginia, and other unknown heirs or parties who have an interest in the subject matter of this suit, who are proceeded against as Unknown Heirs and Parties Unknown, appear before Court on or before the 3rd day of June, 2025 to protect their interests, if any, in this suit. And it is further ORDERED that this Order be published once a week for four consecutive weeks, in the Richmond Free Press, a publication having general circulation in the City of Richmond, Virginia and surrounding areas. Enter: 4/10/2025 A Copy, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk I ask for this: Lynn M. Tucker, Esq., V.S.B. #25384 W. Kyle Roberts, Esq., V.S.B. #95631 DANKOS, GORDON & TUCKER, P.C. 1360 East Parham Road, #200 Richmond, VA 23228
Telephone: (804) 377-7424
Facsimile: (804) 262-8088 Email: ltucker@dankosgordon.com ABC LICENSE Trip Stop, Inc. Trading as: Trip Stop 7020 Staple Mill Road Henrico, VA 23228-4939
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Convenience Grocery Store; beer, wine; off-premises consumption license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or (800) 552-3200.
The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: RFP No. 250010414: Executive Talent Acquisition Services For all information pertaining to this RFP, please logon to the Richmond website (www.RVA.GOV).
Proposal Due Date: May 5, 2025/Time: 2:00 PM
Information or copies of the above solicitations are available by contacting Procurement Services, at the City of Richmond website (www.RVA. GOV) or faxed (804) 646-5989. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process.
WESTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH Music Ministry 2 Openings NEED: Musician (Keyboard/Organ/Piano) and Drummer for 1st and 3rd Sundays (hours: 8:30am – 11:30am); Contact the church office at (804) 288-3224 to apply.
Anord Mardix USA, Inc. in Henrico, VA is seeking Lead Mechanical Engineer: Develop control systems, reports, which accurately measure
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what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com. EOE M/F/D/V
CLAUDINE BEANE and JULIET C. GANT a/k/a JULIET C. GRANT) a/k/a JULIET GRIFFIN and Heirs at Law of NORA E. MILLER and EDWARD LEE MILLER and Heirs at Law of ALBERT WILSON, JR. and MAGALINE M. MILLER and ESTELLE V. MILLER and BERNICE G. LEE and Heirs at Law of JUNIUS GANT a/k/a JUNIUS WILSON GANT and The unknown grantees, heirs, descendants, devisees, assigns, and/or successors in title to the included in the general description of “PARTIES UNKNOWN” Defendants. Case No.: CL25001424-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to
