‘Waverly Two’ celebrate freedom after decades behind bars
By George Copeland Jr.
Cheers and embraces swept through Richmond’s Copper Hall on Saturday as Terence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne, known as the “Waverly Two,” celebrated their release from prison with family, friends and supporters after more than two decades behind bars. Richardson and Claiborne were convicted in connection with the 1998 death of Waverly Police Officer Allen Gibson. Although a jury acquitted them of murder, a federal judge sentenced them to life in prison based on related drug charges.
The two men have maintained their innocence for decades, navigating a long and winding legal fight. Their efforts saw a breakthrough in January, when President Joe Biden commuted their sentences in the final days of his term.
Richardson learned of Biden’s decision at FCI Petersburg Medium when a news story aired on his unit’s TV.
“I just hollered out loudly in the pod,” he said. “All 130 people came up, hugged me, shook my hand and I broke down crying.”
The decision was just as meaningful for Claiborne, who was in a separate unit and was told about the pardon by Richardson later.
“I thought something bad
Tripp
JaPharii Jones, president of BLM 757, leads chants with a megaphone on the median of Monument Avenue during the “Good Trouble Lives On” protest Thursday, July 17. Organized by 50501 Virginia, RVA Indivisible, BLM RVA and other groups, the demonstration stretched three miles from Lombardy Street to Willow Lawn. The event marked the anniversary of civil rights leader John Lewis’ death and his call to get into “good trouble” to protect American democracy.
By Graham Moomaw
By George Copeland Jr.
More than 1,000 people gathered on Monument Avenue on Thursday to honor the legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis and to protest the Trump administration, part of the nationwide Good Trouble Lives On Day of Action.
The event, organized by RVA Indivisible and the Virginia 50501 Movement as part of a nationwide coalition, stretched from Lombardy Street to Willow Lawn, drawing protesters who waved signs, chanted and advocated for a range of causes.
“I like it because it’s across the ages, not just young people, not just older people, it’s everybody, it’s not just African American, it’s not just white,” said Kenneth Brown, a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond.
and
By George Copeland Jr.
As he settles into his new role as the top unelected official at City Hall, Richmond’s new Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II says he’s gotten the message that residents want “top notch service” from City Hall.
“I think that’s number one for me,” Donald said Monday as he and Mayor Danny Avula held an introductory news conference. “You’ll get more than tired of hearing me say people first and people always.”
Donald, who started his work in Richmond on July 7 after Avula hired him away from his former job serving as chief of staff to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, said he’s been on a “full-blown listening tour” to understand what people want from the city and how that compares to what they’re currently getting.
Asked when residents can expect to see tangible results, Donald said he expects the city government to “get on
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
After spending more than two decades behind bars for a crime they did not commit, Terence Richardson, left, and Ferrone Claiborne, right, celebrate their freedom with loved ones and community members during a brunch event Saturday, July 19, at Copper Hall in Richmond. The event was hosted by the national nonprofit Life After Justice.
Julianne
Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula and Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald speak with members of the press Monday, July 21, following Donald’s first weeks in the role.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press Charles Willis leaves court.
City installs harm reduction vending machines to prevent overdoses
Free Press staff report
The City of Richmond has launched a new harm reduction initiative to support residents living with substance use disorders and prevent drug overdoses.
The city’s Office of Opioid and Substance Use Response (OOSUR) is installing free, 24-hour harm reduction vending machines at sites across the city. The machines offer naloxone (Narcan), fentanyl test strips, hygiene items and other supplies, all available anonymously.
“This life-saving program is about meeting people where they are, with compassion and dignity,” Mayor Danny Avula said in a statement. “Harm reduction vending machines are a proven tool to prevent overdose deaths and connect individuals with the support they need. Richmond is proud to be among the cities leading with science, safety and humanity.”
The machines also feature QR codes linking users to treatment, recovery and support services. Officials said locations were chosen based on data and neighborhood needs, with the goal of increasing health equity and reducing barriers to care.
The first machines have been installed at Marshall Plaza, 900 E. Marshall St., and Southside Plaza, 4100 Hull St. Another unit is scheduled to open later this month at East End Library, 1200 N. 25th St., with more planned later this year.
Anna Jones, OOSUR’s newly hired opioid response strategist, said the project is also about reducing stigma.
“People deserve to be safe and supported, no matter where they are in their journey,” Jones said. “These vending machines are not just about supplies; they’re a bridge to care, to hope and to healing.” For more information, visit rva.gov.
Leadership Metro Richmond announces new board officers
Free Press staff report
Leadership Metro Richmond has announced its board officers and new members for fiscal year 2026. The slate was approved during the organization’s annual meeting in June.
Jeff Conley, a 2020 graduate of the LMR program and system supplier diversity program advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, will serve as board chair. Gabriella Caldwell-Miller, a 2013 alumna and division director for behavioral health and wellness at the Hanover County Community Services Board, was named chair-elect. Ryan Rinn, a 2016 graduate and economic development business services manager with the City of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, will serve as secretary. Lisa Ramirez, a 2018 alumna and chief impact and advocacy officer at the YMCA of Greater Richmond, will serve as treasurer.
New members joining the board include Lisa Winn Bryan, a 2004 graduate and assistant professor and assistant chair of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University; Magnus Johnsson, a 2015 graduate and senior associate vice president for presidential and university philanthropy at VCU; Lucy Joseph, a 2020 graduate and senior manager at Altria; Marlena Kennedy, a 2025 graduate and financial planning and analysis manager at Hourigan; and Lyons Sanchezconcha, a 2025 graduate and educator with Richmond Public Schools.
Leadership Metro Richmond is a regional leadership development and civic engagement organization that connects diverse leaders, broadens their understanding of regional issues and equips them to create community impact. More information is available at LMRonline.org.
Cityscape
Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
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participants
New work groups aim to restore confidence in Richmond’s water system
By Markus Schmidt
Facing renewed scrutiny after back-toback water crises, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula has announced the creation of two new water-focused work groups aimed at building a more resilient regional system and restoring public trust.
“These two work groups mark a critical step forward in building a stronger, more resilient water system for the region,” Avula said in a statement. “Just today, we saw that spirit of collaboration in action as Richmond provided additional water to our neighboring locality during their planned maintenance. That’s what partnership looks like: clear communication, shared problem-solving, and mutual support.”
The announcement comes just weeks after a second major boil water advisory in less than six months rattled large portions of the city and surrounding counties. Though other Central Virginia localities including Hopewell and Petersburg most recently experienced water-related emergencies, Richmond’s earlier water crises — and its recovery and resilience efforts — remain a top focus of public concern.
In January, a cascade of failures at Richmond’s aging Water Treatment Plant left thousands without safe water for nearly a week. And in late May, another operational issue forced the city to issue an emergency alert affecting dozens of neighborhoods across Richmond’s North Side, South Side and central districts.
Of the newly founded groups, one will focus internally on scenario planning and long-term financial strategy. Led by Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald and Public Utilities Director Scott Morris, the team will evaluate capital investment needs, debt management strategies and ratepayer impacts. They will consult with external financial experts, including Davenport Financial Advisors and Raftelis.
The second group will be a regional collaboration, including water utility leaders and technical experts from Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties, whose water systems connect to Richmond’s. That team will coordinate operations, capital improvement plans, rate models and joint funding requests. It will also formalize a routine communication structure to keep all partners updated.
“These work groups and real-time collaborations are exactly what it takes to meet the challenges of modern infrastructure,” Morris said. “The ability to
assist Henrico in this way underscores our capacity, but more importantly, it shows how jurisdictional coordination helps us all move forward with confidence.”
But the mayor’s announcement lands in the shadow of Richmond’s troubled recent track record. On May 27, just as the system was recovering from early-morning repairs, filters at the water plant re-clogged after running at full capacity. Pressure dropped in the Ginter Park tank, and by mid-morning, officials had issued a boil water advisory that later expanded across the city, covering areas from Carytown to Manchester and VCU to Ancarrow’s Landing.
Avula acknowledged that the city’s messaging to residents changed throughout the day, with the first public notice assuring the public that drinking water was unaffected, followed by a citywide boilalert a few hours later. He said the delay was due to the city’s efforts to first alert neighboring localities and reduce demand before informing the broader public.
The city had reached out to Chesterfield and Henrico counties to “try to figure out, ‘hey, what can we do to reduce demand on the system?’” Avula said at the time.
“That allowed us to have more time to recover the facility and then make a plan of action to move forward.”
The flip-flop in messaging only added to public frustration following the January disaster, which state health officials have called “completely avoidable.”
In an April report, the Virginia Department of Health blamed the January failure
on “a long chain of preventable failures,” including untested backup batteries, broken valves, and a failure to follow emergency protocols. The water plant flooded after a winter storm knocked out power and backup systems failed.
“The crisis could have been prevented with better operational decisions,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton upon the report’s release. “Our goal now is to ensure corrective actions are taken swiftly and effectively, so Richmondarea families can trust their water supply.”
In response to the January incident, the city received a second formal violation notice and is now under state mandate to develop a corrective action plan. An independent engineering probe identified more than $63 million in urgent infrastructure upgrades on top of the $60 million already proposed in Richmond’s capital plan. Those include automating emergency systems, modernizing electrical infrastructure, and redesigning critical flood-prone elements of the treatment plant.
While Avula praised the Department of Public Utilities’ recent work, the VDH report described a “culture of complacency” where makeshift fixes became standard and systemic risks went unaddressed. Now, as summer heats up, the mayor hopes that formalizing collaboration and financial planning will signal a turning point. Both newly created work groups have already begun meeting to chart next steps, the city said in a statement. This story originally appeared on VirginiaMercury.com
Give 804 campaign encourages support for early reading programs
Free Press staff report
The Richmond Education Foundation is launching an initiative aimed at improving childhood literacy and rallying community support for public education. The “Give 804” campaign kicks off Aug. 4 and will run through Sept. 30, with a goal of raising $50,000 and collecting 10,000 children’s books to benefit Richmond Public Schools students in pre-K through third grade. “Knowing how to read fundamentally changes the trajectory of a child’s life,” Superintendent Jason Kamras said in a statement. “Over the past several years, we have led the state in implementing rich and rigorous literacy instruction for our students. That instruction relies on access to books. That’s where the community comes in.”
The campaign encourages donations in amounts tied to the 804 area code — such as $8.04, $80.40 or $804 — and offers several ways to participate. Supporters can donate new or gently used children’s books, with drop-off locations to be announced across the city. They can fund the future by contributing money to help purchase books and support reading programs. They can also become a reading buddy by volunteering to read with a student at least twice a month.
Local businesses will take part in “roundup for reading” promotions, and some corporate donors will offer gift matches.
Mayor Danny Avula cited its potential impact of the campaign on the city’s long-term success.
“As a practicing pediatrician, I know firsthand that the investments we make in our kids’ well-being reap lifelong benefits,” Avula said. “Few things are as important to me as making sure all our children are prepared to succeed. It all starts with reading.”
The Richmond Ed Fund’s CEO, Taikein Cooper, highlighted the purpose of the initiative.
“Give 804 is our moment to turn the page,” Cooper said. “We’re calling on families, alumni, businesses and neighbors to invest in a future where every child reads on grade level by third grade.”
For more information, visit rps.fund.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Liza Mickens, great-great-granddaughter of Maggie L. Walker, joins local volunteers, Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation
Community Facilities and the National Park Service
community service event July 19 at Abner Clay Park in honor of Walker’s birthday. Other
included Mayor Danny Avula, Richmond City Council Vice President Katherine Jordan, Maggie L. Walker High School alumni and community leaders.
Taikein Cooper
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
One of the harm reduction vending machines installed by the City of Richmond’s Office of Opioid and Substance Use Response at Marshall Plaza, 900 East Marshall Street. The machines provide free, anonymous access to naloxone, fentanyl test strips and other supplies to help prevent overdoses and connect residents to support services.
Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
The creation of two water-focused work groups aim to restore public trust in the city’s drinking water.
Jeff Conley
Veteran finance leader Shelton returns to Richmond
Free Press staff report
Letitia Shelton, who spent nearly two decades in Richmond city government earlier in her career, has been appointed director of finance for the City of Richmond. She is set to begin her new role on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
Shelton most recently served as finance director for the City of Virginia Beach, which holds a Triple-A bond rating from all three major credit agencies. There, she oversaw accounting, purchasing, risk management, debt management, payroll, and financial system services.
“Ms. Shelton is a powerhouse in municipal finance and operations, and we are incredibly blessed to have her return to
Letitia Shelton
Richmond for this critical leadership role,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald. “She brings a much-needed combination of technical expertise, executive leadership, and deep roots in Richmond.”
A Richmond native, Shelton began her career with the city and served for 19 years in several key roles, including interim director of public works and deputy director of finance and administration. During her tenure, she oversaw financial operations, implemented automation initiatives, managed the city’s annual operating and Capital Improvement Planning budgets, and collaborated with external
consultants.
“Richmond is home and where I started my career. It’s where I learned the power of public service,” Shelton said. “Together with a strong team, I look forward to building systems that support efficiency, accountability and long-term sustainability. Residents deserve nothing less.”
Shelton also held senior roles in Charlottesville and DeSoto, Texas, including deputy city manager and chief operating officer.
“Ms. Shelton brings exactly the right experience and leadership to this role,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “She knows Richmond, understands the work, and has the commitment we need to build a thriving City Hall.”
‘Waverly Two’ celebrate freedom after decades behind bars
had happened because he was crying,” Claiborne said, “and he ran up to me and he hugged me, and he said, ‘Man, we’re free.’”
“At that moment, I caught a chill. It must have been the chill of freedom because I was so excited and just ready to get to this moment, because I knew it was long overdue.”
Tears of joy continued throughout the three-hour brunch hosted by Life After Justice, a legal nonprofit focused on wrongful convictions that played a key role in their release.
Richardson and Claiborne shared the meal with family members, including children who had grown up without them, and
honored supporters who helped lead, fund and raise awareness for their case.
Richardson and Claiborne were released in April and, after three months of home confinement that ended last Wednesday, are already rebuilding their lives. They have launched a clothing line, are working on a book and have made progress finding jobs.
Life After Justice presented the two with a financial assistance check during the brunch.
While their federal sentences were commuted, efforts continue to clear their names of guilty pleas they said they were pressured to enter decades ago in state court to avoid harsher sentences.
“Having this moment to celebrate their freedom is nice and
special, but it’s not just for them not to have a clear vindication in their innocence,” said attorney and Life After Justice co-founder Jarrett Adams, who represents the two. “It’s just not right.”
The Court of Appeals has rejected their actual innocence claim, while Attorney General Jason Miyares and his office have repeatedly opposed their filings. Both Miyares and Gov. Glenn Youngkin have condemned the commutations.
Despite the ongoing legal hurdles, Richardson and Claiborne are positive about their futures and shared words of encouragement for others seeking justice in similar cases.
“Don’t give up,” Richardson said.
Protesters join national call to carry on John Lewis’ legacy
Continued from A1
“Everybody’s starting to realize that we got to do something.”
Participants joined out of concern for the country’s future, to show support for churches advocating democracy and human rights, and to oppose efforts pressuring schools and colleges as well as policies affecting immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities.
Attendees said they were drawing inspiration from the mission of leaders like Lewis. That focus on past civil rights work helped create an enthusiastic atmosphere despite the sweltering heat, with cars honking in support and protesters driving up and down the avenue for hours.
“Those freedom fighters strategized, organized and mobilized and, in so doing, made this country better,” activist Nicole Subryan Bailey said, addressing protesters outside the Church of the Holy Comforter and via a WRIR-FM 97.3 broadcast. “We too have an obligation, a duty to fight the injustices, inequality and cruelty of the Trump administration — to win, and then to build something other and better than we’ve had before.” More than 40 organizing partners took part, according to
50501 Virginia, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation Virginia, Black Lives Matter chapters, Neighbors for Change, and the ACLU of Virginia. The groups provided water, medical support and information about their efforts.
Demonstrators said they planned to continue their efforts, from participating in upcoming elections to ongoing community initiatives, with some connecting their actions to the civil rights
history behind the event. Lewis’ legacy was evident in their words encouraging others to join the fight.
“Don’t just stay home. Come out, be on the streets,” said Ramtin Godminuez, a 38-year-old California native who moved to Richmond at age 7 and attended out of concern for immigrants facing arrest and detainment. “Fight for your rights while you still can.”
New CAO promises focus on ‘nuts and bolts’ of city government
Amazon items and travel —
Donald said. As he’s been out in the community, he added, he’s also heard a desire for more streamlined permitting and business license services.
“We want to make sure that not only the big issues that you guys are going to be covering get the attention that they need, but also the nuts and bolts of government get the attention they need as well,” Donald said.
Monday’s event was the mayor’s first news conference with the newly hired CAO, whose appointment was announced and confirmed by the City Council in early June.
Donald’s arrival in Richmond is a key step for the Avula admin-
Donald said his definition of “nuts and bolts” means access to services and “understanding how to access something, how to pay for things, how to receive your service in a very quick and easy way.”
Prosecutor withdraws case against Richmond anti-violence advocate
decades, was arrested in April after Richmond police answered a call for a domestic dispute at his home.
Willis was charged with assault and battery on a family member and suffocation. The criminal complaint filed in the District Court Clerk’s Office alleges he struck his fiancée multiple times and choked her.
Jucksch requested the dismissal because prosecutors believed there was not enough evidence to continue the case. When asked after the hearing what evidence was lacking or
how long it might take to reopen the case, she declined to comment.
Willis’ attorney Alex Taylor sought a dismissal of the case, citing a signed witness affidavit from Brinnay C. Bell that disputed the earlier allegations against his client.
“He did not choke her, he did not assault her,” Taylor said. “We don’t believe the Commonwealth would prevail.”
Taylor expressed no concern about the case being reopened, citing the absence of video evidence of the alleged crimes.
Willis declined to comment on the hearing’s outcome, referring questions to his attorney.
istration, which took the reins of city government at the start of the year but inherited several top administrators from former Mayor Levar Stoney’s era.
“Obviously, it took a little longer than we were hoping,” the mayor said. “I wanted to have somebody in the seat by April or so. But Odie being an incredibly loyal person, there were some important things in Atlanta that they had to get through, including their budget in May. But we found our person, and we knew they were worth waiting for.”
Donald has already gotten involved in some key Avula initiatives, such as the planned overhaul of the city’s purchasing card system after an internal audit found overly lax controls over how city officials make small purchases.
In a memo released Monday outlining steps to tighten control of purchasing cards — such as suspending purchases in “high-risk” categories like food,
Donald said the changes “signal a shift in the city of Richmond’s governance culture.”
“While immediate controls and process improvements are critical, the focus of the administration is to build a foundation of positive stewardship across all departments,” Donald wrote in the memo.
When asked at the news conference for his initial impressions of the city government that’s now under his day-today control, Donald said, “No government is perfect.” But he said his prior experiences in Georgia — such as helping build out the newly created city of South Fulton and holding a high-ranking position in a big city like Atlanta — make him a good fit for a city like Richmond.
“I’m aware of the problems,” he said. “Don’t ever think that I’m not.”
This story originally appeared on The Richmonder.org.
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Joi Adams, executive director of Life After Justice, Terence Richardson, Ferrone Claiborne and Life After Justice Co-Founder Jarrett Adams celebrate during a “Celebration of Freedom” brunch Saturday, July 19, when the organization presented the two men with a check. At right, Richardson’s daughter, Iquisha Wyatt-Richardson, performs a song she wrote titled “Two Innocent Men.”
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press
Siblings Destiny Moore, 10, and Antonio Silas, 8, chant into megaphones on the median of Monument Avenue as drivers pass by waving flags and signs, honking horns and greeting fellow protesters during the “Good Trouble Lives On” demonstration.
July storms are done, but heat and humidity return this weekend
By Sean Sublette
The rain has stopped, and the high humidity has backed away — at least temporarily.
During the first three weeks of this month, Richmond had 10.37 inches of rain, the fourthmost on record for this period (15.04 inches fell during the
Bryan Park. Just outside the city limits, totals include 11.60 inches in Ettrick, 11.26 inches in Varina, and 10.27 inches in Rockwood Park.
Yes, the humidity is worse Not coincidentally, this has been the most humid July on record so far in Richmond. Higher humidity is an -
first three weeks of July 1945). Even if no more rain falls this month, it would still finish as the eighth-wettest July on record.
Big rainfall ranges Thunderstorms come in very different sizes and intensities. During the summer, they also tend to move more slowly than in the spring. The jet stream winds are lighter in the summer, allowing storms to meander without any consistent direction.
While all of RVA has been wet, the individual nature of thunderstorms has led to some large discrepancies across the metro area.
So far this month, some specific rainfall totals in Richmond include 9.40 inches in Church Hill, 7.53 inches in The Fan, and 7.22 inches in
other symptom of Richmond’s warming climate, as higher humidity also keeps low temperatures from falling as much at night.
None of the last 16 nights has fallen below 70 degrees in Richmond, the 13th-longest such stretch on record (we had 31 in a row in 2013).
The higher humidity yields more water for rainfall, which is seen in both short-term rainfall intensity and total rainfall over the year.
During the entire 20th century, the average rain each year in Richmond was 42.85 inches. So far in the 21st century, that average has climbed by 9% (now 46.57 inches). It is not your imagination. It is hotter, more humid, and the rain is getting heavier in Richmond as the climate
warms.
Hurricanes? Not really
However, the weather of the past three weeks does not have any direct relation to hurricane season in Richmond. There is no physical evidence that heavy rain in July correlates with hurricanes arriving later in the year.
Although we are deep into July, there is no way to know with any scientific confidence whether Virginia will get a hurricane this year. It may seem like it has been a slow season so far (3 named storms), but it is fairly typical to this point.
The core of the hurricane season is from mid-August to mid-October, so prime hurricane season is still a few weeks away.
Heat and humidity will come back
The current respite from high heat and humidity will be short-lived, as they both return for Friday and this weekend. Those three days will bring afternoons well into the 90s, with Saturday expected to be the hottest of the bunch, near 100.
With the higher humidity also returning, remember to hydrate and take breaks when outside this weekend, as the heat index will be up around 110 — a quick path to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Over the summer hump
A final statistic for those looking forward to fall: we have passed the climatologically hottest few days of the year, as normal high and low temperatures for each day are beginning to inch downward. Plus, there are encouraging signs of another break in heat and humidity for the first weekend of August.
But afternoons averaging in the 70s will not return until the latter third of September.
This story originally appeared on Virginiamercury.com
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A tree fell between houses crushing a vehicle during a July storm in the Bryan Park neighborhood.
Richmond Free Press
Sportsmanlike conduct
Something happened in the world of sports this week that was a bit unusual, based on the standards for public behavior that we’ve become accustomed to. No, I’m not talking about the problematic suggestion to return the Washington football team’s moniker back into a racial slur. But it did happen in the world of football.
On July 17, Lloyd Howell Jr., who was executive director of the NFL Players Association since late June 2023, resigned from his position. For those who don’t follow the game’s off-the-field activities, the players association is a labor union that represents NFL players. The association is charged with negotiating collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with the NFL on behalf of the players and looking out for players’ benefits, career development and support post-retirement.
Howell, who has an MBA from Harvard, stated that he wasn’t the man for the job anymore: “It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day. For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players Inc., effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.”
The distraction that Howell is referring to may be his part-time gig with a private equity firm called The Carlyle Group, which holds financial stakes in companies that hold media and marketing rights connected to the league. It also might be his failure to fully disclose arbitration decisions and business dealings to the players he was representing. Or it could be the visits to Atlanta strip clubs that were paid for with union funds.
We’ve become accustomed to embattled leaders and politicians denying and deflecting responsibility when confronted with their behavior. The playbook seems to be deny, attack, deny and claim victory. It’s worked for some people. Howell could’ve run that route. Instead, he surprised the NFL world when he resigned from his job at the NFL and took accountability for his actions. He also resigned from his other job, the one that appeared to create a conflict of interest, at The Carlyle Group, this week.
It’s unfortunate that owning mistakes, rather than doubling down or hiding behind excuses, is almost unheard of in today’s landscape. Howell’s resignation is a reminder that integrity still matters, even when the stakes are high and the spotlight is unforgiving.
America’s brother
The namesake of the 1980s sitcom “The Cosby Show” was known as America’s father for dispensing advice, humor and occasional zerberts to his beloved family. The popular show owed a lot to the comedian’s creativity, timing and perspective. It also was indebted to the members of the ensemble who portrayed the characters loosely based on his own family. One of those actors, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, died at the age of 54 this week while on a family vacation at a resort in Costa Rica.
Warner, if you missed the 1980s or don’t remember them, played the character of Theo, the teenage son of an obstetrician and a lawyer. His youthful ambitions and behavior were often comic fodder for the show, from his plan to become a “regular person” to his love of name-brand clothing and his questionable study habits. Theo was never a nerd, but he certainly wasn’t as cool as he thought he was. As a young man of the same age, I saw Theo as a sobering reflection of the realities of growing up.
After the show ended, Warner proved that there was life after “Cosby,” as he would go on to play in numerous television shows and films. He also won a Grammy for a collaboration with the Robert Glasper Experiment in 2015 and built a following as a spoken word artist. He had left the young Huxtable behind and made it clear on the website for his podcast “Not All Hood,” which is described as “Malcolm at his most transparent and vulnerable … not Theo!”
Yet, for millions of viewers, the shadow of Theo Huxtable lingered. Warner carried it with grace — never disowning the role, but never letting it define him either. He knew he was a kind of older sibling to fans who watched him stumble, learn and grow up in our living rooms.
Rest well, big brother.
Food aid cuts fuel growing hunger, hardship
When Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, the change in administration provided the nation with a four-year reprieve from much of the misery now emerging during the early months of Trump’s second term.
food, which eventually expired and was no longer considered safe to send to potential recipients. The high-energy biscuits that were destroyed are typically used to meet the immediate nutritional needs of children in crisis situations.
Multiple times during Trump’s first administration (20172021), the United States objected to U.N. resolutions that asserted the right to food as a legal and enforceable human right.
Officials under the Trump administration made it clear: While recognizing the importance of fighting hunger, they were unwilling to endorse the concept of a “right to food” as an obligation under international law. The votes reflect a consistent strategy of opposing the recognition of food as a binding human right. This pattern of inhumanity has continued into the second Trump term, producing needless suffering that affects U.S. foreign and domestic policies.
With 319 million people on the brink of starvation in places such as Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Haiti, the State Department was recently forced to destroy 500 metric tons of warehoused
Was this a situation that could have been avoided? If the Trump administration had not been reckless in dismantling the U.S.Agency for International Development
David W. Marshall
and suspending most foreign assistance, what are the chances that the destroyed emergency food could have been properly distributed?
Can humanitarian needs of any scale be handled with a sense of urgency and compassion when there is a political mindset that does not view the “right to food” as a binding human right? Is the “right to food” also ignored when the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is suffering deep cuts from the so-called “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act”?
For many, this program is truly a legitimate lifeline, saving individuals from hunger. It is not just impacting the urban poor. The repercussions will be felt in rural communities and food deserts — areas where people overwhelmingly voted for Trump.
SNAP benefits are not just a humanitarian effort; they play a critical part in small-town grocery stores and rural economies that rely income those benefits provide. When a local store loses a critical number of SNAP shoppers to government cuts, many stores will have no choice but to shut their doors for good. When the only grocer in a town shuts down, it can automatically create a food desert.
St. Johns, Arizona, is a community that overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2024 election. Sitting halfway between Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico, it has one grocery store and one local food bank that serve more than 3,500 people. If the one grocery store closes due to the food aid cuts, the next closest option for groceries is approximately 30 miles away.
“I lean pretty heavily right most of the time, but one of the things that I do lean to the left on is we’re a pretty wealthy country, we can help people out,” said St. Johns Mayor Spence Udall.
According to a study from the Commonwealth Fund, Republicans’ cuts to the nation’s anti-hunger program will lead to thousands of job losses and a drop in revenue across the agriculture, retail grocery and food processing industries.
Hunger relief organizations are also bracing for the ripple effect.
Churches risk their witness when they chase power
According to a joint court filing in a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service by the National Religious Broadcasters Association, pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit shouldn’t have to risk putting their churches’ taxexempt status in jeopardy.
The “Christian” media group sued the IRS in August 2024, alleging violation of its First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion.
An article by David Fahrenthold, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, noted that experts in nonprofit law said the IRS’ statement could lead to a big increase in politics being espoused in churches. The piece quoted Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame. The professor, who has studied regulation of church political activity, said, “It basically tells churches of all denominations and sects that you’re free to support candidates from the pulpit. It also says to all candidates and parties, ‘Hey, time to recruit some churches.’”
The article went on to cite the National Council of Nonprofits, which warned that allowing taxexempt groups to endorse candidates could lead to a future where political groups use nonprofits as a kind of legal disguise.
Diane Yentel, the group’s president, said the IRS’ statement was “not about religion or free speech, but about radically altering campaign finance laws. The decree could open the floodgates for political operatives to funnel money to their preferred candi-
dates while receiving generous tax breaks at the expense of taxpayers who may not share those views.”
Christian history indicates that neither Jesus nor any of his disciples ever endorsed political candidates. But most of what’s labeled as “Christianity” in America does not even remotely reflect the teachings of Jesus. Over the last
few decades, the Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and evangelicals have largely devolved into little more than lobbying arms of the Republican Party, thanks in large part to the pro-birth movement.
Chalk this up as reason No. 4,547 why I will never darken the doorstep of a church again.
If I wanted to hear some talking head ramble on ad nauseam about politics, I could just as easily stay home on a Sunday morning and watch any number of programs offered by the mainstream media.
Granted, opportunities often arise to leverage current events as examples aimed at reinforcing the lessons of the gospel. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the clergy lack the prudence to make such a determination without venturing into the weeds of transforming a sermon into a soapbox. For a pastor to endorse a political candidate is the antithesis of the gospel. It’s a heretical abuse of position to utilize the pastoral pulpit as a bully pulpit.
Endorsing candidates, fueling extremist rhetoric, engaging in divisive politics, and inciting hatred should have no place in Christianity. In the United States, however, the church has become so immersed in the temporary things of this world that the faithful become offended when you try to
bring them out of it. Hence, many pastors lower themselves to being political pundits. Nevertheless, the fact remains: Christians are called to live in this world, but not of it.
If you find yourself proudly holding up a Bible or carrying a sign with a scripture quotation while participating in a protest rally or violent insurrection, yet you neglect to practice the authentic message of the gospel, then you’ve missed the point of Christianity entirely — and somebody needs to correct you, not enable you. Unfortunately, the type of clergy who would endorse a political candidate during a Sunday sermon aren’t qualified to offer such a correction.
Only a pastor who has completely lost touch with the gospel would be content with offering a political endorsement, thereby potentially fostering division from their pulpit. It’s a good way to spot the wolves wearing sheep’s clothing. Personally, I consider such individuals to be narcissistic, wannabe gurus who masquerade as clergy. Jesus simply referred to them as “vipers.” Often labeled as “Christian deconstructionists,” lost sheep who grow tired of the political infiltration of the church eventually make their way to other faith communities or leave organized religion entirely (like yours truly). Having grown sufficiently weary from the noise, and with a fervent longing for a more authentic encounter with the sacred, they search for God elsewhere.
Now that the IRS has opened the floodgates, permitting more vipers to inject venom into religion, it’s reasonable to assume more wandering souls will make their way to greener pastures.
The writer is a speaker, consultant and former Kansas legislator.
Food banks are likely to bear the brunt of the cuts because they are often the last resort in the fight against hunger. Cuts to food assistance programs and other benefits could force millions of people to seek help from charitable organizations that currently lack the infrastructure to handle a surge of vulnerable individuals seeking assistance.
All the pending human misery comes from shortsighted lawmakers who are afraid and intimidated by President Donald Trump. They gave the dictator his megabill, even though it means people are going to encounter more stress from not knowing where their next meal is coming from — forcing them to rely on overwhelmed charities that will be faced with more people seeking help and less food to meet the need — and the continued destruction of the social safety net. The writer is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and the author of “God Bless Our Divided America.”
J. Basil Dannebohm
The State of Black America: The call, the crisis, the charge
A war has been declared in this country. The fight isn’t just for diversity, equity and inclusion or for fair economic and criminal justice practices. It’s for the soul of America. It’s to determine which of us will have an opportunity not to prosper, but merely to survive in a future clouded with uncertainty at every turn. It’s for the fundamental right of Americans to protect themselves against predatory corporate practices, destructive environmental policies and state-sanctioned violence by vigilantes and uniformed officers alike. And it’s for the
right etched in the very fabric of what it means to be an American — the right to vote in a fair and free democracy where every vote is counted and every vote matters. That is the war brought to
the feet of every American and the doorstep of the civil rights community at the start of this year. It’s the war being waged in courtrooms across the country, from local jurisdictions to the Supreme Court. It is no secret that we are in a state of emergency. The hardfought victories of the civil rights movement, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, equal employment opportunity
laws and the establishment of the Department of Education, are being systematically dismantled.
But as we stated in our D3 framework, we doubled down on our advocacy on Capitol Hill and at the White House, and moralized in the 49th edition of the State of Black America report, State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights and Progress Under Attack, the National Urban League movement is not backing down.
We are defeating poverty through every program offered by our affiliates. We’re defeating poverty through the work of our Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives division to correct a discriminatory and punitive system that keeps our people economically and civically disadvantaged and
Minimum wage has lost value for 16 years and counting
causes our communities irreparable trauma.
We are defending our democracy through every action taken by our Washington bureau to hold elected officials accountable for their actions and inactions in this moment. We are demanding diversity through the collaborative work of our Demand Diversity Roundtable and by suing this administration for an outright racist executive order that is undermining our democracy, eroding trust in our systems and dismantling our government.
For the Urban League movement, this state of emergency and scourge on our nation and community is a call to action.
Texas. The median wage for child care workers was $10.46 in Mississippi, $10.63 in Louisiana and $10.78 in Alabama. Remember, the median wage is the midpoint, not the bottom.
When the minimum wage does not go up, it goes down in buying power. The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. For full-time workers, that amounts to $15,080 if paid for 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. The minimum wage is falling further and further behind the rising cost of living. The federal minimum wage peaked in buying power in 1968, when it was worth $15.09 in 2025 dollars, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.
Too little, too late minimum wage increases are the next best thing to eliminating it for
minimum wage opponents. The federal minimum wage was established in 1938 through the Fair Labor Standards Act, which aimed to eliminate labor conditions “detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency and general
well-being of workers” and detrimental to fair competition among businesses. We are now 16 years into the longest period in history without a federal minimum wage increase.
Twenty states have minimum wages no higher than the $7.25 federal level: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Da -
kota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Five of those states — Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee — don’t even have a state minimum wage. In Georgia and Wyoming, the state minimum is $5.15, so the federal $7.25 minimum wage applies. When the minimum wage is too low, workers can be making more than the minimum and still struggle to pay for rent, food and other necessities.
In Louisiana, for example, the median hourly wage for home health and personal care aides in 2024 was just $10.18, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means half of those workers earned less than $10.18. The median wage for fast-food cooks was $10.70 in Mississippi and $11.73 in
We invested in our young people at our annual youth summit as a reminder that even in a state of emergency, their dreams and ambitions are worth investing in and fighting for.
We developed civic engagement action plans to prepare
This week at our national conference in Cleveland, we convened affiliate leaders, community advocates and thought leaders from across the country with one mission and a unified message: We are not backing down. We shared economic strategies to equip our communities and partners with the tools needed to help navigate an employment landscape that has become increasingly hostile toward people of color, especially Black women. We provided support and training for entrepreneurs and smallbusiness owners to thrive in the face of changing economic headwinds.
our communities for the 2026 midterm elections and support grassroots and civic engagement groups with the resources they need to fight back against rapidly expanding discriminatory voting laws.
We are taking the time to recognize every single person in this fight, thanking them for their contributions and reminding them why we do this work.
The Urban League movement is banding together to weather the storms to come, fight for our freedoms and democracy in the face of tyranny, and equip our leaders every day to build a nation that reflects its values and its citizens.
The writer is a former mayor of New Orleans and president of the National Urban League.
The federal wage floor matters across the country. In Pennsylvania, for example, the $13.62 median hourly wage for child care workers was much lower than the $17.61 median wage for child care workers in neighboring New York, which has increased the minimum wage multiple times while Pennsylvania has not.
Fortunately, 30 states now have minimum wages higher than $7.25, but many are still below the $15.09 value of the federal minimum wage in 1968, adjusted for the cost of living.
Seventeen states plus D.C. have a minimum wage of $15 or higher or are phasing in scheduled increases to $15 or higher: Alaska, California, Connecticut, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington. The highest now are D.C. at $17.95 and Washington at $16.66.
Nationally, more than 14 million workers are paid less than $15 per hour, including overtime, tips and commissions, according to the Economic Policy Institute’s Low Wage Workforce Tracker. Nearly 27 million make less than $17.
Raising the minimum wage is good for business as well as workers. Workers are also customers, and minimum wage increases boost the consumer spending that businesses depend on. Raising the minimum wage also pays off in less employee turnover, lower hiring and training costs, increased productivity and better customer service, which keeps customers coming back. State and local minimum wage increases are important, where possible. But it’s long past time to raise the federal minimum wage so people can earn decent wages wherever they live.
The writer is the CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a national network of business owners and executives.
Marc M. Morial
Holly Sklar
Future stars unleashed
Rising stars clashed at the ECNL Boys and Girls National Finals last week, showcasing some of the top youth soccer talent in the country.
Founded in 2009, the Elite Clubs National League has become a premier development platform for youth soccer players across the United States. The ECNL postseason brought top-performing clubs from each region to Redmond, Washington, from June 25 to July 1. The remaining eight clubs in each age group then traveled to Richmond for the finals knockout round this past weekend.
“It’s a celebration of the performance throughout the course of the entire season for all these teams,” said Jason Kutney, ECNL boys commissioner. “For all the clubs and the coaches and the parents as well, to be able to rally behind their teams and stay together and fly into a beautiful location like Richmond where the fields are just fantastic, and it’s sunny every single day we were here, I can’t complain about that.”
Cutting edge: Jets unveil a renovated locker room that includes a barbershop
By Dennis Waszak Jr.
The Associated Press
The new-look New York Jets underwent an Extreme Makeover: Locker Room Edition during the offseason.
Players such as star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, cornerback Sauce Gardner and new quarterback Justin Fields reporting for the team’s training camp Tuesday were arriving at the Jets’ facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, to a fully renovated locker room with some state-of-the-art upgrades.
In a release on its website, which also included a drone-footage tour, the team announced it added 92 customized lockers along with several other amenities, including a barbershop, a larger sauna and a brightly lit 2,000-pound 3D Jets ceiling logo in the middle of the locker room.
The upgrades, which the team said had been in the works for a few years, came after a players poll released by the NFL Players Association in February gave the Jets a D-plus for their locker room, ranking 26th in the league. The team moved into its current facility in 2008. Woody Johnson received an F and was the lowest-ranked owner. The team received an overall
Free Press staff report
Virginia Union University has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the CIAA football title, marking the first time in more than 25 years the Panthers have earned the top spot in the league’s predicted order of finish.
The announcement was made last week during CIAA Football Media Day in Durham, North Carolina, where coaches and conference officials gathered ahead of the 2025 season. Virginia Union was followed by Johnson C. Smith at No. 2 and Virginia State University at No. 3.
ranking of 29th.
“We take pride in having a first-class environment for the players,” Robert Mastroddi, the Jets’ senior vice president of security and facility operations, told the team’s website. “These upgrades will certainly provide more comfort, but they also will help with wellness, efficiency and ultimately performance. There is a commitment to winning and that’s where this all derived from.”
The Jets, who have the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons, have a new general manager in Darren Mougey and head coach in Aaron Glenn. The two revamped the roster this offseason by infusing more youth — moves that included releasing veterans such as Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, C.J. Mosley, Greg Zuerlein and Thomas Morstead.
The new lockers, designed by the Texas-based Longhorn Locker Co., have fully automated video screens — the Jets say they’re the first pro or college team to have them — that include the players’ headshots, names, hometowns and colleges.
There are also three separate fans to dry their helmets, shoulder pads and cleats in an effort to reduce moisture and lower risks of staph infections.
Free Press staff report
The Richmond Flying Squirrels came back from an early deficit and used a strong bullpen performance to beat the Harrisburg Senators, 8-3, on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond, securing their third straight series victory.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Richmond (34-54-1, 13-8 second half) responded quickly. Bo Davidson launched his first Double-A home run in the bottom half of the inning, a solo shot to right field that cut the deficit in half. Harrisburg (42-47, 8-12) briefly extended its lead on a second-inning RBI single by Cayden Wallace, but Aeverson
Fayetteville State was selected fourth, with WinstonSalem State and Bowie State rounding out the top half of the poll. The rest of the order includes Livingstone, Shaw, Elizabeth City State, Lincoln (Pa.) and Bluefield State.
VUU, the back-to-back CIAA champion, also placed five players on the Preseason All-CIAA Team, including running back Travon Tensley, wide receiver and return specialist Zyaire Tart (selected at both positions), offensive lineman Adrian Crespin and kicker Brady Myers.
“We’re honored to be recognized as the preseason number
Arteaga tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer to left — his fifth of the season.
The Squirrels took the lead for good in the fourth. Scott Bandura led off with a single, advanced to third on a hit by Adrian Sugastey, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Sabin Ceballos. Richmond tacked on another run in the sixth after a Harrisburg error, then broke the game open with a three-run seventh. Sugastey tripled home two runs, and Ce-
one, but we know it’s just a reflection of past efforts — not future results,” said VUU head coach Alvin Parker. “Our focus remains on the work ahead, staying humble, and proving ourselves one game at a time with an extremely challenging schedule.”
Just behind Union, Virginia State made its presence known by leading all CIAA programs with seven Preseason All-CIAA selections. The Trojans return standout offensive linemen Bruno Onwuazor, the 2024 CIAA Offensive Lineman of the Year, and Tyleek McCoy. Defensively, VSU is anchored by Jayshaun Alston,
ballos added his second sacrifice fly of the afternoon to make it 8-3. Manuel Mercedes (5-10) earned the win with 3.2 innings of relief, allowing just one run and striking out three. He entered in the second after starter Seth Lonsway struggled with control, issuing four straight walks as part of a two-run first for the Senators.
Relievers Helcris Olivarez, Cameron Cotter and Tyler Myrick combined for 4.1 scoreless innings to close out the game in front of 5,395 fans. The Flying Squirrels began a six-game homestand against the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, on Tuesday.
Cameron Davis, KJ McNeil, Donavan Howard and Marquis Edmond. Edmond was named CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, and Howard earned All-CIAA First Team honors
Free Press staff report
The Burning Sands Alumni Football Foundation will host its 12th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 26, at Hunting Hawk Golf Club in Glen Allen. Proceeds will support the educational and athletic programs of the Virginia Union University football team. The nonprofit organization hosts the 18hole tournament each year to raise money for student-athlete scholarships. This year’s event will honor E. Lee Coble, Virginia Union’s award-winning golf coach and a longtime emcee for the foundation’s annual tournament.
Check-in and registration begin at 7:30 a.m., with a putting contest starting at 8 a.m., followed by an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Mulligans, raffles, special awards and trophies will be part of the festivities, which conclude with a 1:30 p.m. Awards Luncheon. The cost is $125 per person or $500 for a foursome.
Photo courtesy N.Y. Jets
fades and fresh starts — The Jets’ renovated locker room
Photos by Julianne Tripp Hillian
Concorde Fire of Atlanta, in white, battled Crossfire Academy of Seattle, in black, in the U14 ECNL Boys National Finals on Sunday, July 20. Crossfire edged out Concorde Fire,
Saint Louis Scott Gallagher (blue) took on Crossfire Academy (white) of Seattle, falling 4-0.
Real Colorado of Denver drenched their coach in celebration.
Real Colorado of Denver, in red, edged Sting of Dallas, Texas, in black and pink, 2-1, in the U17 ECNL Girls National Finals on Monday, July 21.
Bo Davidson
E. Lee Coble
Personality: Atul Patel
Spotlight on founding member of Richmond’s
Atul Patel, a founding member of Richmond’s Heartfulness Institute, has become a steady and uplifting presence in the community — balancing a long career at Dominion Energy with a deep commitment to meditation, mindfulness and inner peace.
Patel was born in Pandhurna, India — a small, college-town community rich with education and cultural energy. The environment, full of students and intellectuals, shaped his appreciation for learning and simplicity. Today, he travels back to India annually to visit family and attend meditation seminars, keeping him connected to his roots.
Patel came to the U.S. in 1999, during the height of the dot-com boom. After starting his career in the Washington, D.C., area, he moved to Richmond, where he has worked at Dominion Energy for the past 23 years. Job stability is not just a career choice for Patel — it’s a philosophy.
“Growth and prosperity come when you remain in one place,” he said. “If you’re too focused on your own ambition, it’s hard to be selfless or make sacrifices for others.”
Patel, fluent in Hindi and Gujarati, holds strong cultural ties, and he values deep, sustained relationships. His marriage, which was arranged, has flourished, and he and his wife have raised two children, both graduates of Virginia Tech. He believes the tradition of arranged marriage is often misunderstood.
“It’s always the woman’s choice,” he explains. “It’s about the union of two families, and it builds a strong foundation.”
As a certified Heartfulness trainer and mindfulness coach, Patel says the Heartfulness Institute is more than an organization, it’s a movement. The center, operated entirely by volunteers, offers free, non-religious meditation and yoga sessions that are open
to the public.
“We’re lucky to have this in Richmond,” Patel said. “It’s here for the community.”
Outside his professional and spiritual life, Patel finds joy in simple pleasures. He and his wife cook together, watch movies and unwind with music or cricket matches. Driving through the mountains with music playing is one of his favorite ways to relax — a reminder that peace, like purpose, is often found in the quietest places.
What is your role at the Heartfulness Institute?
I’m a meditation trainer.
Where do you live?
Glen Allen.
Where did you attend college?
I have a bachelor’s degree in engineering in electronics and communication from Sardar Ptel University.
Can you tell us about your family?
My wife, Ritesha, and I have two children, Pranav and Shalini. My parents also live with us.
What is the Heartfulness Institute?
The Heartfulness Institute is a nonprofit organization, with several million practitioners in 160+ countries. Heartfulness relaxation and meditation techniques have been studied and proven to be effective in reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, enhancing emotional intelligence, and exploring the depths and heights of human consciousness.
Heartfulness also offers coaching programs that support personal and professional growth through heart-centered development.
What is the mission of the Heartfulness Institute?
To serve every human being on earth.
How long have you been involved with Heartfulness?
Since 1992.
What’s the history of Heart-
fulness?
Heartfulness was founded in India in 1945 by Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, also known as Babuji. It began as a modern expression of the ancient Raja Yoga tradition, aiming to simplify meditation for daily life. The practice focuses on heartmind synergy, offering a method for inner transformation through meditation, cleansing and reconnection. It was founded to help individuals experience peace, balance and spiritual growth in a natural and accessible way.
Is Heartfulness worldwide? Heartfulness Richmond is a chapter of a worldwide organization in 160+ countries. In the U.S., we have approximately 70 major locations and around 100 smaller locations, with trainers and local groups in almost every major city. You can find the nearest trainer on our website, heartspots. heartfulness.org, or through our mobile app, Heartfulness. How did Heartfulness come to Richmond? Heartfulness has been in
RVA since 1996, offering free meditation training to thousands of individuals annually in Richmond and its surrounding communities. We operated out of trainers’ homes, libraries and a short-term rental for a few years, then transitioned to a 24/7 facility rental in 2012. As we needed more space to serve larger and larger groups and communities, we found a permanent place at 2230 E. Parham Road in Henrico County. Who were the founders of the local institute? I led a core team of 15 to 20 volunteer families who joined our local movement. I believe we are still laying the groundwork for the greater good. Why is Heartfulness meaningful to you?
Our founder, Ram Chandra, whom we called Babuji, said, “The biggest service you can do to anyone is giving them peace of mind.” That touched my heart and has become my purpose in life. It gives me a great sense of fulfillment when someone experiences peace of mind through meditation.
What’s the mission of Heartfulness?
Our mission is to serve.
What are the benefits of meditation?
The Heartfulness Institute has studied the benefits of meditation and found that it offers a wide range of scientifically supported benefits across mental, emotional and physical well-being. You can find the study’s results at heartfulnessinstitute.org.
What are some of the myths surrounding meditation?
Some believe that meditation is a religious or mystical practice, but it is a secular practice. It’s about subtle, grounded inner growth. Many people think
you must stop all thoughts and maintain strict postures for hours, but meditation embraces thoughts and gently redirects attention in comfortable and brief sessions. Also, it’s not escapism. It builds courage to face life clearly. Heartfulness benefits all ages, including youth.
How does meditation improve mental and emotional well-being?
The Heartfulness Institute found an 18% improvement in mental well-being scores among participants, while control groups saw a decline. The studies also show a 29% reduction in generalized anxiety after a 12-week program and a 33% decrease in burnout symptoms, including emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Reduction in perceived stress levels was 27%, compared to a 20% increase in the control group. Consistent practice resulted in a 53% decrease in cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone.
How does meditation improve sleep and relaxation?
The Heartfulness study showed improved sleep quality, quicker onset of sleep, fewer awakenings and a reduction in insomnia severity and increased feelings of zestfulness.
How does meditation improve physical health and longevity?
The study showed an 8% increase in telomere length, a marker of cellular aging, suggesting potential longevity benefits. Also shown was enhanced cardiac health, with improvements in heart rate variability and blood pressure regulation.
Do you have an upcoming event?
Our free wellness extravaganza, HeartFest, is back for 2025 to enrich body, mind and soul. On Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Heartfulness Meditation Center will transform into a
hub of health and happiness. It’s a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor wellness festival that offers a full day of uplifting sessions to relax your mind, move your body and awaken your spirit. We showcase the best of RVA’s wellness community, featuring yoga, speakers, vendors and food trucks. Please check our social media or Eventbrite for more details.
How do you start your day?
I start my miracle morning with meditation and visualization and light exercise.
Who is your dream dinner party guest?
I will invite my role model, Kamlesh Patel, as a gesture of gratitude for all that I am and all that I will be.
What are the top three on your musical playlist?
Bollywood Classics, Bollywood Romantic and Bollywood Yesteryear Melodies.
What is a quote that inspires you?
“Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached,” a slogan popularized by Swami Vivekananda.
Who has had the most influence in your life? My mother in childhood, my guide Parthasarathi in my youth and Kamlesh Patel, my current mentor.
What’s a book that has influenced you?
“Autobiography of Ram Chandra.” It profoundly influenced me by showing how spiritual growth can unfold through a life of simplicity, inner discipline and a deep connection to the Divine.
What are you currently reading?
“As the Man Thinketh,” by James Allen. What’s next for you?
I want to continue to bring moments of meditation into everyone’s life.
‘Generations’ exhibit shares stories of Asian Americans in Richmond
By Rich Griset
With its white wheels, colorful painted flowers and striped frame, the three-wheeled rickshaw of Qazi Aied Iqbal’s youth is certainly one of a kind.
“This is the one that I used to ride for shorter commutes back in my childhood,” says Iqbal of a model replica that he brought with him when he immigrated to America from Bangladesh in his late 20s. “When I look at it, it reminds me of memories from my childhood.”
A portrait of Iqbal holding a replica of his childhood rickshaw will be on display at The Valentine as part of its new exhibit, “Generations: Stories of Asian Americans in Richmond.”
Created in a partnership between the museum, the 1882 Project and the Asian American Society of Central Virginia (AASoCV), the exhibition relates the personal stories of roughly three dozen Asian Americans in the Richmond region. Each portrait, taken by photographer Dave Pearson, highlights a member of the local Asian American community alongside an object that resonates with them. One portrait features a father and son with an orchid; they own one of the largest wholesale orchid retailers on the East Coast. Another portrays a woman holding a cleaver who discusses the cultural importance of food.
Angel Zhu is seen with her pipa, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. Zhu says playing the pipa
makes her feel more connected with her cultural background.
“We have everything from pieces of jewelry to toys to a bike to a hat to pieces of art,” says Meg Hughes, The Valentine’s deputy director of collections. “You can’t necessarily tell from looking at the object what the significance of that object is until you read the text panel.”
Johnny Phan, a first-generation Cambodian American cyclist whose parents fled the Khmer Rouge genocide in the 1970s, is represented by a photo of him riding a bike. Growing up in Richmond, Phan distanced himself from his heritage in an effort to assimilate, but later rode with the Cambodian National Cycling Team and competed in the Southeast Asian Games. Phan’s story is the subject of the recent VPM-presented documentary “Chasing Cambodia” (full disclosure: VPM owns Style).
“The picture [of Phan] is almost just a blur because of his racing bike, but through his racing he reconnects his ties to Cambodia,” says Ting-Yi Oei, education director for the 1882 Project.
To identify potential participants for the exhibition, the AASoCV reached out to local Asian American communities.
“Each individual had to select an object of their choice that reminds them of their homeland,” explains Iqbal, who serves on the board of trustees and is former vice chair of the AASoCV. “We got a huge response.”
P2 Sandhu is photographed at his home in Goochland County alongside a painting he commissioned to honor his parents.
“Generations” was inspired by “Your Story, Our Story,” a similar online exhibition curated by the Tenement Museum in New York City with assistance from the 1882 Project. Unlike most Valentine exhibitions, “Generations” doesn’t have a curator; instead, it was put together collaboratively between the museum, the 1882 Project and the AASoCV.
Based in Washington, D.C., the nonprofit 1882
Project was formed in 2009 with the goal of getting Congress to condemn the Chinese Exclusion Act and pass resolutions upholding civil rights for all inhabitants of America.
Signed into law in 1882 by President Chester A. Arthur, the Chinese Exclusion Act banned all immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States for 10 years, denied Chinese residents in America the ability to become citizens, and required Chinese people traveling into or out of the country to carry a certificate identifying their status. The act is considered the first major restriction on free immigration in U.S. history and shaped what immigration policy would look like in the 20th century.
In 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously condemned the Chinese Exclusion Act; the U.S. House followed suit the next year.
The new exhibition comes at a time when immigrant communities are under fire from the Trump administration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ramped up arrests and deportations, leading to large-scale protests around the country.; the recent passing of Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” will spike ICE’s annual budget from about $8 billion to roughly $28 billion, adding thousands of new deportation agents and making ICE the most highly funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.
During this period of uncertainty, Oei says he’s been heartened by efforts like this collaboration with The Valentine.
“It’s a little bit of a dicier time to be talking about some of these things for sure,” he says. “We’re impacted by current views towards immigrants and all of that, but we are hoping this is a way to bridge some of those gaps of understanding between ourselves as Asians more broadly and the various communities that make up our society.”
“Generations: Stories of Asian Americans in Richmond” is on display through May 25, 2026, at The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St. For more information, visit thevalentine.org. This story originally appeared at styleweekly.com
Concert series brings jazz to bars, museums and theaters
Free Press staff report
Jazz will spill into bars, museums and cultural spaces across downtown Richmond next week as the city kicks off a five-day series of free performances ahead of the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival.
The event, called “Straight No Chaser — A Downtown Jazz Suite,” runs Aug. 6-10 and features straight-ahead jazz sets and late-night jam sessions at venues throughout the city. It’s presented by the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival as a leadin to the festival’s mainstage weekend at Maymont.
The series opens Wednesday, Aug. 6 with “Satellite Jazz Suites” featuring regional musicians in multiple locations: pianist Calvin Brown and Sam Reed at Bar Solita; Weldon Hill on keys at Tarrant’s; the Chet Frierson Trio at Black Olive; the Charles Owens Trio at the Richmond Marriott; and the Dominion Energy Jazz Café at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
On Thursday, Aug. 7, Common House will host “An Evening with John D’earth & Friends,” a signature event that includes music, cocktails by Angel’s Envy and a docu-
Free Press staff report
A lawn chair on the grass. A guitar on stage. Handmade jewelry in one room and a Carpenters tribute echoing from another. That’s a glimpse of what’s in store at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen’s 2025-26 season of performances, exhibits and community events. Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz headlines the new season as part of the FreeHorse Arts Songwriters Series. Other highlights include “Richmond’s Finest” with swing band Good Shot Judy, “The Friendship and Music of Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline,” and a performance by award-winning bluesman Kevin Burt. The 2nd Stage concert series also returns with $25 tickets for all shows. Outdoor “Center Field” performances offer general admission seating, while the indoor “Cardinal Ballroom” series features local and regional acts in a more intimate setting. Performers include jazz-rock band Deputy Dan and a Carpenters tribute by Shannon Gibson Brown.
Art exhibits will rotate throughout the year in the center’s four galleries, showcasing work by artists including Rosalind Koons, Kelly U. Johnson and members of the Metropolitan Richmond Arts Association. All exhibits are free and family-friendly. Additional events include quarterly Market Days with the RVA Makers Market, set for Aug. 16, Dec. 14, March 14 and June 13. For a full schedule and ticket information, visit artsglenallen.com.
CRYSTAL WILKINSON
Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks
mentary filming on D’earth’s career in jazz. Friday’s highlight is Homegrown at the Hipp, held at the Hippodrome Theatre in Jackson Ward. This year’s performance will feature vocalist Kemi Adegoroye performing jazz standards and original works.
The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival follows on Aug. 9-10 at Maymont, with a lineup that includes T.I., Jodeci, Muni
Long, Masego, CeeLo Green and Aloe Blacc. Late-night sets on both nights will continue the celebration with pop-up shows and jam sessions at venues across the city. New to this year’s programming is Pocket JAMZ, a platform spotlighting emerging talent from around the world and encouraging fans to share local favorites. For more details, visit RichmondJazzAndMusicFestival.com.
Science Museum to host adults-only ‘Dino Night’
Free Press staff report
The Science Museum of Virginia is inviting adults to step back in time — about 65 million years — during its upcoming after-hours event, “Science on Tap: Dino Night,” on Thursday, July 24.
Part of the museum’s ongoing 21-and-up “Science on Tap” series, the event offers guests a chance to explore the traveling “Ultimate Dinosaurs” exhibition and enjoy themed activities inspired by prehistoric creatures. The program runs from 6 to 10 p.m., with staggered entry times at 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m.
In addition to science programming, attendees can purchase food from local food trucks and enjoy alcoholic beverages as they explore the museum without children in tow. Costumes are encouraged, though full-face coverings, including inflatable dinosaur suits, are not allowed.
Admission is $18 for museum members and $25 for nonmembers. Tickets are available online at smv.org, and advance purchase is recommended.
Thurs., Aug. 14 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Library of Virginia Lecture Hall | Free
A book signing will follow the talk. Registration is required: lva.virginia.gov/public/weinstein
This photo of Angel Zhu of Chesterfield County is part of a new exhibit at The Valentine Museum.
Courtesy Kevin Burt
Kevin Burt, an award-winning blues artist, is among the performers set to take the stage during the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen’s 2025-26 season.
Vocalist Sam Reed
Educator, athlete Harold Thomas Green Sr. dies at 96
By George Copeland Jr.
Whether in a classroom or on the track, Harold Thomas Green Sr. pursued excellence throughout his life. The longtime educator and competitive runner, who influenced generations of Richmond students and competed internationally well into his later years, died last week at the age of 96.
“Mr. Green was a good man, he always looked out for me,” said his wife, Lucille Green. “I had a good life, and I’m thankful that I had it.”
A native of Essex County, Green moved to Richmond in 1945 to continue his education. He ran track at Armstrong High School and later at the University of Richmond. He earned degrees from Virginia Union University and Virginia State University, completing a master’s in science at VSU in 1971.
Green began his teaching career at Jackson P. Burley High School in Charlottesville. In 1960, he returned to Richmond, where he taught earth science, biology and chemistry at Maggie Walker and John Marshall high schools. He also taught at John Tyler Community College before retiring from education in the 1980s.
His athletic career paralleled his work as an educator. Green competed as a sprinter and hurdler into his later life. His international meets took him and his family to Germany, Sweden, Alaska, Canada and Australia, where he earned gold and silver medals before an injury led him to retire from competition.
Despite his achievements, Green remained humble.
“As far as he was concerned, he did not want to be boastful and he wasn’t,” said Green, who described her husband as a quiet and reserved man who only discussed his accomplishments when asked.
Faith was also a constant in his life. He was baptized at New Liberty Baptist Church, his mother’s congregation, and remained connected to the church throughout his life. He and his wife were married for more than 70 years and raised three children.
Green was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Green and Eleanor Green Bundy, and his sister, Mary. He is survived by his wife, Lucille; sons, Harold Thomas Green Jr. and Terone; a daughter, Denita; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will not be held, but plans for a memorial are in development.
Free Press staff report
As families prepare for the start of a new school year, Atlee Church and several local partners are teaming up to provide support through a free Back-to-School Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 9. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon at Atlee Church, 7171 Verdi Lane in Mechanicsville. It will include free clothing for children, teens and adults, including winter coats and shoes, as well as access to community resources.
Organizers said the goal is to help area families head into the school year with confidence and dignity. The event is open to the public, and no registration is required.
“We’re here to serve you,” said Grace Young, one of the event coordinators. “We believe supporting our neighbors in practical ways makes a real difference.”
In addition to clothing, families can expect a relaxed, nopressure shopping setup with volunteers available to assist. Local organizations will also host information tables offering resources and support.
Partners include Hanover County Community Services Board, Hanover County Public Schools Family Engagement Team, Hanover Cares, Seva, Life4Real, the YMCA and Hanover Safe Place. The initiative is part of Atlee Church’s broader outreach efforts, which include its weekend food bag program, Atlee Action Packs, and a year-round clothing ministry. For more information, contact Atlee Church at info@atleechurch.org or (804) 730-3676.
Free Press staff report
Richmond residents will have two opportunities to celebrate Muslim American Heritage Month on Saturday, July 26 with events highlighting the culture, history and contributions of Muslim Americans.
The day begins with the American Muslim Heritage Celebration at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, 601 W. Broad St., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature cultural tables, traditional clothing, storytelling and snacks from a variety of countries, offering attendees a chance to connect with members of the local Muslim community and learn about their traditions.
Masjid Bilal, the city’s oldest mosque located in Church Hill, is a partner in the celebration and will also host its own festival later that day. Heritage Fest will run from 2 to 8 p.m. at the mosque, located at Chimborazo and Marshall streets. The event will include live entertainment, food vendors, a back-to-school bookbag giveaway, voter registration and exhibitions focused on wellness, safety and small businesses. Activities for children include a bounce house and basketball games. The recognition of Muslim American Heritage Month in Richmond began last year through a proclamation by the mayor’s office in partnership with community leaders.
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Public Notice
Dominion Energy 2025 Integrated Resource Plan Stakeholder
Process Dominion Energy is preparing an update to its 2024 Virginia and North Carolina Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is a planning document that outlines how the company intends to reliably meet customers’ long-term energy and capacity needs. As part of this effort, Dominion Energy is seeking stakeholder input and will be hosting virtual stakeholder meetings to gather comments from interested parties.
If you are interested in participating, please contact devirp@devirp. dominionenergyinfo.com and include your name, contact number, the organization you represent (if applicable), and a brief description of your interest in the IRP.
New Market Heights Trail County of Henrico, Virginia Public Information Meeting
The Henrico County Department of Public Works has scheduled an in-person, public information meeting for the New Market Heights Trail project. The trail is an approximately 3.2-mile-long paved, shareduse trail from New Market Road to Deep Bottom Park. This project will highlight areas of natural and historical significance, including the US Civil War Battlefield of New Market Heights.
The meeting will be an open-house format and County staff will be available to answer questions. Project plans and schematics will be available to view, and County staff will be available to answer questions. You will also have the opportunity to provide comments. Construction is currently planned for 2027. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 29th, 2025, at the Varina Area Library, 1875 New Market Rd, Richmond, VA 23231, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. If unable to attend in person, project information and comment forms for these projects are available online at our webpage below or the County of Henrico, Department of Public Works, 4305 E. Parham Road, Administration Annex Building, 3rd Floor, Henrico, VA 23228, Telephone: 804-5014244
The County ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Ryan Levering at the above address or phone number or at lev004@henrico.gov.
New Market Heights Trail website: https:// henrico.gov/projects/new-market-heightstrail/
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