Community Matters plans full March

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Community Matters is thriving in their new home for adult programming at Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway, and enjoying expanded days so the group can offer adults more coordinated opportunities to learn, connect and stay active! March’s calendar is with our people. We have been doing it on Zoom but God wanted us back in the church. That is where the NAACP started – in the church,” she said.

The Rev. Darnell Carruthers, pastor of Greenbrier, was asked to speak about “What is Black History Month,” which to him is a bittersweet topic. He said it is important to celebrate the history and accomplishments of black Americans, but pointed out their history is still American history. Black History Month is a time to affirm one another in a communal and a collective full of good things to take part in.

„ March 1: 10 a.m. Sitcom and Popcorn. A little laughter goes a long way, especially when discussing ageism! Watch Great News episode followed by open forum — dissecting ageism, sharing experiences and ways we can oppose it.

„ March 2, 9, 16 and 30: sense of existence and to take a moment to look back in order to move forward, he said.

“It is a month where we celebrate the shoulders on which we stand, be it Frederick Douglass, be it W.E.B. Du Bois, be it Nat Turner, be it Denmark Vesey, be it Soujourner Truth, be it Harriet Tubman, be it Mary McLeod Bethune, be it Asa Hilliard,” he said. “It is a time where our somebodiness is celebrated.”

It is also a time to look in the mirror and say “you are beautiful and fearfully and wonderfully made and just as good as anybody else,” Carruthers said.

“Many miles we have traveled, but through it all… we remain resurrection people.

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10 a.m. Game Day Thursdays. Many games will be made available (Mahjong, Bingo, cards, Wii, cards, puzzles, Rummikub, Boggle, Would You Rather, Taco/Cat/Goat/Cheese/ Pizza, etc.) and you’re welcome to bring your own. Connect with friends, old and new, over a cup of coffee or tea and a game.

Mah Jong at 1 p.m. Sharpen short term memory, logic and focus. Enjoy a growing community interested in the benefits of this game and meeting new players.

„ March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31: 8 to 10 a.m. Movers and Pacers. Weekly winter walking in the gymnasium rain or shine. You’ll be in good company with others interested in staying active this winter.

„ March 7 (Part 1), 14 (Part 2): 10 a.m. Managing $ — Caregiver’s Guide to Finances (1 of 2). Caregiving of any kind often involves financial management and concerns. This is a great opportunity to educate yourself.

Elder Law (2 of 2): 10 a.m. Elder law attorney Lelia Winget-Hernandez will guide us through the intricate and sensitive landscape of elder law — something multiple generations need more awareness.

„ March 8: 10 a.m. Houseplant and Bulb

Please see MATTERS, Page A7 accomplished “because you don’t want to lose sight of the victories that have already been won.” But although progress has been made, “the difficulty is that we still have a long way to go to achieve equitable treatment and communal affirmation.”

So here we are putting it all in perspective – the tears that have fallen, the pain that has been felt, but also the deliverance from captivity,” he said.

The Rev. Terrell Glenn, pastor-elect of Guildfield Baptist Church, was the guest speaker for the event. His message, titled “It Always Comes Full Circle,” centered around the lessons learned from the biblical story of the Israelites conquering the city of Jericho.

News tip, story idea, community events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80-year-old birthday

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Glenn also said he found himself with two opposing viewpoints regarding Black History Month. He said he believes in celebrating all of the things that have been

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“Although we have made achievements, those achievements don’t negate the fact that we had struggle and claw just for the right to be viewed as equal to our white counterparts,” he said. He went on to say that while everyone has seasons and moments of barriers and barricades that “try to keep us from what God has for

Month program, “Together in Unity.” us,” but “when you march for the Lord, obstacles become bridges for the glory of God.”

Going back to the story of Jericho, Glenn urged those present to “take the presence of the Lord with them” through good times and bad and “praise God for victories in advance.”

News tip, story idea, community events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80-year-old birthday & above announcement submissions can be to Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com or call 804-363-1577 partners, said Susan Winiecki, Habitat’s executive director.

“Every time we go through seasons in our life – anytime we have rough seasons in our life – it always brings us full circle to the glory of God,” he said. A full video of the Black History Month event can be viewed on Greenbrier Baptist Church’s Facebook page.

On Crane Day, as Habitat called it, an obviously thrilled N icole Chrimes alternately watched her home taking shape before her eyes and her over-themoon son, who has been an eager participant in the process. Watching the house come together felt like a dream come true, Chrimes said. “It has been amazing to watch and to see our dream brought to life in front of us.”

News tip, story idea, community events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80-year-old birthday & above announcement submissions can be e-mailed to Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com or call 804-363-1577

Watching the two halves of the modular home meet up for the first time was an indescribable moment for Chrimes.

News tip, story idea, community events, photos, birth announcements, 40th anniversaries & above or 80-year-old birthday & above announcement submissions can be e-mailed to Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com or call 804-363-1577 Join

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“I am a little overwhelmed,” she said, adding her son woke her up at 6 a.m. that morning wanting to get to the build site as soon as possible “so he wouldn’t miss a thing.”

Chrimes expressed gratitude for everyone who made the moment possible, especially the Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan staff and volunteers, who walked her through every step of the process of purchasing the modular home with an affordable mortgage. The Chrimeses have been getting in their “sweat equity” volunteer hours at the Powhatan ReStore.

Using a modular/factory-built home as the initial piece in the Habitat building process is a new twist for the Richmond region. Modular homes have been successfully used already by a handful of Habitats around the country. Modular homes provide improved economies of scale, allow a shorter build timeline and are constructed to meet or exceed site-build standards. The homes are placed on load-bearing masonry foundations and are financed, insured and appraised to the same criteria as stick-built homes.

Taking the local Habitat in this new direction has been an exciting but thoughtful process involving a great deal of research and preparation before taking the plunge, Winiecki said. It has involved a big learning curve and a great deal of meetings to get them to this point, but it was possible because everyone was so excited to make it work.

“While this is something new that we are trying, the process will still involve volunteers and a team of giving local partners, including Benchmark Construction, who will help us oversee the finishing,” Winiecki said. “We will do two houses this way in 2023, after almost a year of research.”

When Habitat first reached out to him, Tyler Hudgins, whose firm Moseley-based Class A Lud Hudgins Inc. has worked with modular housing for more than 30 years, said he was initially resistant. Just like some people have preconceived notions about modular homes being lower quality, he expected the nonprofit was looking for an easier way to get it done for a big price cut.

He found out that while the goal is to provide an affordable home, “they know so much about the building industry that I didn’t even realize. They have taught me things that I didn’t even know since I have met him and they have the ability to pull together the clients who need their services, they are able to bring resources to the financial side of the project, and of course, you put all that together with their expertise and their willingness to help, it is a great partnership,” he said.

Hudgins added he hopes this kind of partnership between builders and Habitats spreads across Virginia.

A $3 million regional grant to address affordable housing needs from Virginia Housing helped to fund a portion of this modular home. In 2021, Virginia Housing awarded the grant to the local planning district commission PlanRVA, which partnered with the Partnership for Housing Affordability to distribute funds to local nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity Powhatan.

Additional supporters for the modular home in Powhatan include Envestnet MoneyGuide, Partnership for Housing Affordability, WellsFargo, Reed and Gail Schweickert, Luck Stone, Yard Works and other donors.