Rebecca Keel: bringing unique vantage points to the 2nd District
Rebecca Keel is 24 years old, native to Richmond, a self-proclaimed policy nerd and just completed her master’s degree in social work at VCU earlier this month. Keel is also using her savings as a research assistant at VCU to run for the hotly contested 2nd district city council seat. “My policy platform is based […]
Ending the Pipeline: Community members merge to end school-to-prison pipeline
Mesh signs decorated the basement of the Richmond Public Library Friday night. Standing approximately five feet tall and three feet wide, the posters portrayed black and white photos of teenagers’ hands, reading powerful statements such as “Educate our youth,” “Give us opportunities before you give us a cell” and “Don’t separate us from our community.” […]
Levar Stoney: the 35-year-old mayoral hopeful who says he’s ready to get to work
Richmond mayoral candidate Levar Stoney is no stranger to politics, nor those who are disenfranchised from it. As the first in his family to graduate high school, and then attend and graduate college, Stoney began his political career after graduating from James Madison University. “I grew up on free and reduced lunch,” Stoney said. “I […]
Free Slurpees ring in renovated 7-Eleven on Grace St.
The 45-year-old 7-Eleven on W Grace St. held its grand re-opening this week after months of renovations. The 7-Eleven, which is located next to the Village Café, underwent a scrape and rebuild project. After the 102-day summer project was complete, the store’s grand opening was held Aug. 26. According to store owner Julia Maupin, the […]
ACLU files federal complaint against Richmond Public Schools
The Legal Aid Justice Center and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia filed an administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on behalf of two Richmond Public School middlers with disabilities on Aug. 24. As a public school division, RPS receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education and […]
The Camel celebrates one year of employee-ownership
In conjunction with The Camel’s one-year celebration of being employee owned-and-operated, the venue, restaurant and bar rolled out a revitalized menu. The new items aim to cater to a wider variety of patrons and while increasing The Camel’s notoriety as a place for good eats. “We bought the place last July and have been talking […]
Richmond Mural Project hits 100-mural goal
The walls in Richmond’s Arts District were pretty bare when the River City was designated the launch-site of the Richmond Mural Project in 2012. For the project’s visionaries, Shane Pomajambo, executive director of the Art Whino gallery in Washington, D.C., and RVA Magazine founder R. Anthony Harris, the goal was to paint 100 murals throughout […]
Cary Street Gym unveils renovations, new equipment
The Cary Street Gym underwent major renovations this August as part of a campaign by VCU Recreational Sports staff to provide a more functional and safe facility for students. On average, the gym receives almost 4,000 visitors a day, with more than 24,000 unique users each year, said Derek Hottell, Director of Recreational Sports at […]
Swamp Fest takes RVA: music festival returns for second year
Twenty-six local and touring bands gathered in Richmond for Swamp Fest 2016, a two-day heavy music festival. The festival was hosted by Strange Matter, a concert venue on W. Grace known for its banging set lists and vegetarian and vegan cuisine, and Great Dismal, a group which works to organize shows at both DIY and […]
Why we stand with Black lives
If America’s violent summer should have reminded us of anything, it’s that the struggle for Black justice and dignity and fundamental fairness under the law is ongoing. This is not new. This began long before George Zimmerman’s gunfire pierced Trayvon Martin’s being and it will continue long after Frank Ocean’s lyric honoring Martin’s life on his […]