Richmond magazine - September 2022

BEST SELFPUBLISHED NOVEL

Read the first chapter from “Better Left Unsaid” by Anne McAneny, winner of James River Writers’ and Richmond magazine’s fourth annual Best Self-Published Novel Contest.

By Anne McAneny

AGING OUT OF PLACE

A dwindling supply of a ordable housing, coupled with a changing economy, has led to a rise in older adults experiencing homelessness. We investigate some of the factors contributing to the surge and explore some possible solutions. By Sco Bass

FALL ARTS PREVIEW

After two years of pandemic uncertainty, the fall arts season is back in full force. We present some of the hottest tickets in town and look at what’s new, from a record label highlighting homegrown talent to the lowdown on festival season, the Modlin Center’s slate of events, art happenings and more. By Craig Belcher, Emily Carter and Harry Kollatz Jr.

Biringer Builders

Pagehurst Manor at Salisbury 2506 Pagehurst Drive

Midlothian, VA 23113

$756,000

3,231 sq. feet

Biringer Builders 804-464-3863 biringerbuilders.com

Boone Homes Reed Marsh 3085 Reed Marsh Goochland, VA 23063

$799,200

3,488 sq. feet

Jackie McGurl 804-376-9599 boonehomes.net

Clay Street Builders

The Masters at Chesdin Landing 13406 Drake Mallard Court Chesterfield, VA 23838

$800,000

2,719 sq. feet

Matt Shrader 804-897-0143 claystreetbuilders.com

Clay Street Builders Summer Lake 4672 Lake Summer Loop Moseley, VA 23120

$925,000

3,623 sq. feet

Matt Shrader 804-897-0143 claystreetbuilders.com

Cornerstone Homes Chickahominy Falls 10485 Chickahominy Falls Lane Richmond, VA 23226 $814,400

3,460 sq. feet

Ina Hill 804-256-8360 cornerstonehomes.net

CraftMaster Homes

The Cottages at Viniterra 8543 Terroir Lane New Kent, VA 23124

$568,340

2,193 sq. feet

Carolyn Rogers 804-409-3862 craftmasterhomes.com

Eagle Construction of VA Readers Branch

12168 Readers Pointe Drive Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103

$809,950

3,385 sq. feet

Bo Shelton 804-221-1310 eagleofva.com

Eagle Construction of VA Parkside Village 7452 Park Village Blvd Glen Allen VA 23059

$675,527

2,814 sq. feet

Jon Philipp 804-404-9845 eagleofva.com

Eagle Construction of VA GreenGate 3340 Haydenpark Lane Henrico, VA 23233 $817,797

3,033 sq. feet

Ti anie Lohr 804-404-9841 eagleofva.com

Eagle Construction of VA West Broad Village 127-B Wellie Hill Place Glen Allen, VA 23060 $712,605 2,487 sq. feet

Ti anie Lohr 804-404-9841 eagleofva.com

Eagle Construction of VA Lauradell 711 W. Vaughan Road Ashland, VA 23005 $633,065 2,233 sq. feet

Bruce James 804-404-9525 eagleofva.com

Eagle Construction of VA Kenbrook at Harpers Mill 15860 Blooming Rd Chesterfield, VA 23838

$624,060 2,739 sq. feet

Jessie May 804-223-3196 eagleofva.com

Eastwood Homes Honey Meadows 10100 Peach Blossom Road Mechanicsville, VA 23116 $599,990 2,925 sq. feet Chris Blantan 804-551-3629 eastwoodhomes.com

Eastwood Homes Twin Rivers at Meadows Landing 1925 Galley Place Chester, VA 23238

$499,900

2,700 sq. feet

John Howsmon 804-437-4414 eastwoodhomes.com

Eastwood Homes Sunset Hills 2238 Nightfall Drive Richmond, VA 23236

$499,990

1,678 sq. feet

Cathy Newton 804-426-5375 eastwoodhomes.com

Finer Homes, Inc. Reedy Springs 8278 Reedy Knoll Drive Chesterfield, VA 23237 $439,950

2,174 sq. feet

Kyle Yeatman 804-639-4663 finerhomesinc.net

HHHunt Homes Mosaic at West Creek 14019 Mosaic Nook Richmond, VA 23238 $589,245

2,239 sq. feet

Laura Ellis 804-294-3064 hhhunthomes.com

HHHunt Homes Twin Rivers at Meadowville Landing 1900 Gallery Place Chester, VA 23836 $495,950

2,157 sq. feet

Laura Ellis 804-294-3064 hhhunthomes.com

HHHunt Homes Wescott 4244 Lind Lane MIdlothian, VA 23112 $456,165

2,351 sq. feet

Laura Ellis 804-294-3064 hhhunthomes.com

KLM Building Corp. Summer Lake 17325 Otter Drive Moseley, VA 23120 $925,000

3,945 sq. feet

Sarah Kellam 804-400-5484 klmbuild.com

LifeStyle Home Builders Hickory Hill 9492 Andrew Wickham Lane Hanover, VA 23005 $739,950

3,761 sq. feet

Devin Jones 804-409-2069 lifestylehomebuilders.com

LifeStyle Home Builders Harpers Mill 9107 Copplestone Road Chesterfield, VA 23838 $694,950

3,266 sq. feet

Devin Jones 804-409-2069 lifestylehomebuilders.com

LifeStyle Home Builders

Magnolia Green 18055 Cove Creek Drive Moseley, VA 23120 $849,950

5,078 sq. feet

Devin Jones 804-409-2069 lifestylehomebuilders.com

Main Street Homes

Tuckahoe Bridge 2114 Tuckahoe Bridge Drive

Manakin Sabot, VA 23103 $1,181,618

7,353 sq. feet

Kat Flaherty 913-231-3938 GoMSH.com

Main Street Homes

IronBridge Townhomes

11305 Magill Terrace Drive Chesterfield, VA 23831

$385,445

1,513 sq. feet

Kayla Archuleta 915-373-2296 GoMSH.com

Main Street Homes

IronBridge Townhomes 11304 Benton Pointe Way Chesterfield, VA 23831 $352,715

2,024 sq. feet

Kayla Archuleta 915-373-2296 GoMSH.com

Main Street Homes

Cypress Glen at The Highlands 11101 Cypress Branch Lance Chesterfield, VA 23838 $762,389

2,868 sq. feet

Kristina Martin 804-938-3631 GoMSH.com

Main Street Homes

Collington East 13819 Tyberton Dr Midlothian, VA 23112 $647,962

2,793 sq. feet GoMSH.com

Main Street Homes

Glen Royal at Harpers Mill 8504 Glen Royal Drive Chesterfield, VA 23832 $758,593

3,060 sq. feet Sean Tierney 804-350-6109 GoMSH.com

Main Street Homes Cosby Village Townhomes 15220 Dunton Ave. Chesterfield, VA 23832 $474,300

2,059 sq. feet

Charis Nordberg 804-332-2486 GoMSH.com

Main Street Homes Tilmans Farm 3761 Tilman’s Farm Drive Powhatan, VA 23139 $929,340

3,084 sq. feet Ti any Rowe 804-754-5908 GoMSH.com

NK Homes McCauley Park 87 Estelle Terrace Aylett, VA 23009 $499,950

2,672 sq. feet Brandon Jenkins 804-929-3459 nkhomesofva.com

RCI Builders

Lankford’s Crossing 12001 Kenton Ridge Road Ashland, VA 23005 $715,900

2,297 sq. feet Dane Gibson 804-229-2259 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

RCI Builders Luck Farm 13157 Luck Brothers Drive Ashland, VA 23005 $920,900 3,819 sq. feet Matt Rutledge 804-971-0555 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

RCI Builders Hickory Hill 9440 Wickham Crossing Way Ashland, VA 23005 $1,128,900 4,266 sq. feet Sara Crum 804-564-4840 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

RCI Builders Stags Leap 8051 Cabernet Way Mechanicsville, VA 23116 $922,900 3,118 sq. feet Sarah Wall 804-690-4473 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

RCI Builders Summer Hill Grove 5081 Napa Grove Court Mechanicsville, VA 23116 $1,089,900 4,069 sq. feet Andrea Haas 910-638-8202 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

RCI Builders Rock Creek 7301 Bailie Drive Mechanicsville, VA 23116 $814,900 2,757 sq. feet Ian DiSesa 804-836-6227 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

RCI Builders Kennington 2153 Kennington Parkway North Aylett, VA 23009 $449,900 1,466 sq. feet Keith Harding 804-205-6285 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

RCI Builders Kennington Meadows 302 Wendenburg Terrace Aylett, VA 23009 $314,810 2,031 sq. feet Jason Collier 804-762-8063 rcibuildersnewhomes.com

River City Custom Homes

RounTrey 3618 Graythorne Drive Midlothian, VA 23112 $905,000 3,569 sq. feet Michelle Altman 804-405-8731 rvacustomhomes.com

Ryan Homes Giles Farms 9322 Willies Way Trail Mechanicsville, VA 23116 $560,000 3,306 sq. feet Teresa 804-258-4155 ryanhomes.com

Ryan Homes The Groves at New Kent 7716 Southhamptonshire Way

New Kent, VA 23124 $404,990 1,338 sq. feet Teresa 804-258-4155 ryanhomes.com

Ryan Homes Charleston Club at Magnolia Green 17754 Twin Falls Ln Moseley, VA 23120 $629,540 2,696 sq. feet Teresa 804-258-4155 ryanhomes.com

Ryan Homes CenterPointe Townes 14357 Colonyhouse Blvd Midlothian, VA 23114 $516,875 2,269 sq. feet Teresa 804-258-4155 ryanhomes.com

Ryan Homes Winterfield Townes 1681 Ewing Park Loop Midlothian, VA 23114 $371,965 1,691 sq. feet Teresa 804-258-4155 ryanhomes.com

Shurm Homes Riva Ridge 13350 Riva Ct Ashland, VA 23005 $849,950 3,464 sq. feet Jill Matthews 804-380-5476 shurmhomes.com

Shurm Homes Dispatch Station 1491 Dispatch Station Rd New Kent, VA 23124 $499,950 2,624 sq. feet Melanie Herring 804-218-5253 shurmhomes.com

Stanley Martin Homes Gateway Square 4413 Greybull Drive Unit B Richmond, VA 23233 $590,875 2,451 sq. feet Dan Ho man 804-792-3611 stanleymartin.com

Stanley Martin Homes West Broad Landing 2636 Lassen Walk Unit A Henrico, VA 23294 $386,933 1,609 sq. feet Twyla Butler 804-390-3180 stanleymartin.com

Stanley Martin Homes Retreat at One 9221 Magellan Parkway Unit A Glen Allen, VA 23060 $363,608

2,190 sq. feet Bree Black 804-485-2622 stanleymartin.com

Stanley Martin Homes Retreat at One 690 McCormick Farm Drive

Glen Allen, VA 23060 $404,837

1,573 sq. feet Bree Black 804-485-2622 stanleymartin.com

StyleCraft Homes The Outpost at Brewers Row 1477 Overbrook Road Richmond City, VA 23220 $505,200

1,570 sq. feet Lindsey Jenkins 804-480-1117 stylecrafthomes.com

JAMES RIVER WRITERS / RICHMOND MAGAZINE

Better Left Unsaid

BY ANNE MCANENY ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRIANA HERTZOG

Bethany Phillipps Fi een Years Ago

Grandma Liv would be proud that Bethany had acted upon her oft-repeated advice: Never keep a valuable with its proof of ownership. Bethany had gone one be er. She’d tucked the appraisal into her bra and the bill of sale into her shoe. Couldn’t take chances in the Wave, a er all, the nine-block area of Gaston, Virgin ia, named for the crime wave that had washed over it years ago and never returned to sea.

S he wiped the last bits of chicken grease from her hands and turned her red Hyundai onto the dirt alley that ran behind her crumbling brick building. Glancing toward the third-floor window above her apartment, she sighed. Her upstairs neighbor’s bronze lamp emi ed its familiar anemic glow, but at least Finn Astley, the elderly occupant, was absent from her usual chair. As long as Finn didn’t return in the next 60 seconds, Beth any could avoid a late-night chat and gain precious minutes to process her new found stroke of luck.

As she turned into the gravel parking

area, she recalled that she needed to pick up groceries for Finn tomorrow. Shopping for the agoraphobic widow comprised the one charitable thing she did in life. But given Bethany’s sudden change in for tune, she’d be saying farewell to Finn before long. Should she hire someone to help the old woman out? Yes, she would. That would be the decent thing to do.

She steered into her designated spot, the middle one that Drunk Al usually crowded with his ancient Caddy, but at this hour, Al was likely throwing back his fi h shot of whiskey at Flaky’s, his favor ite watering hole. Later tonight, he’d stag ger home, and in the morning, he’d shuf fle back to pick up his car. Just another Tuesday for Drunk Al.

As Bethany killed the ignition, a dull clank rang out. With her paranoia soaring, she froze, her hand practically fusing with the key. Had someone followed her? Had her brother discovered her secret? Had the leering messenger boy returned?

She listened as if her life depended on it. Then, growing chilly in the crisp March air, she yanked out the key and reached

Outof Room

BY SCOTT BASS PHOTOS BY JAY PAUL

SUPPLY OF

HOUSING, COUPLED WITH A CHANGING ECONOMY, HAS LED TO A RISE IN OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

Barbara Barbour Whittaker, who spent last year living out of motels and her car, now lives at the Church Hill House.

Barbara Barbour Whi aker has managed to navigate a lifetime of job losses, drug addiction, broken families and even the tragic loss of her oldest daughter, Neisha, three years ago. But things really started to spiral in February of 2020 when she lost her job as a cook and then, in short order, her apartment in Church Hill.

Then the pandemic hit. A few months later, she and her husband, James, found themselves homeless. Alternating between motels and the front seat of their 2003 Lincoln Continental, they lived day to day. Sometimes they were able to get emergency help to pay for a motel room, other times they slept in her car. James, 61, suffers from rheumatoid arthri tis and has days when he simply can’t get out of bed, much less work. Things got so bad that Barbara, who is also 61, had to give up her loyal black Lab of 10 years, Precious, and her 16-year-old tabby, KatKat. The additional pet fees at the motel were too much. James “let them go,” Bar bara says, but he refused to tell her where. Distraught, she spent weeks looking for them on the streets, to no avail.

A life of hard knocks, however, breeds resilience. Barbara managed to scrounge up $250 to enroll in patient care training, earning her certificate in April to work as an in-home, nonmedical senior caretaker. She now works 20-30 hours a week, bring ing home just enough to pay rent at the Church Hill House on Burton Street, which offers affordable, subsidized hous ing for seniors and those with disabilities. Barbara and James moved into their oneroom first-floor apartment in March.

Aside from the drug dealing and gen eral mayhem along Burton and Venable streets — a few weeks ago, she and James awakened to the sounds of a man and woman having sex outside her window — she considers herself one of the lucky ones, save for the loss of her pride and joy, Precious. She still finds herself look ing down alleys and around corners when driving to and from work, hoping to find

her lost companion.

“I’m just hoping and praying some body picked her up and is taking care of her,” she says, breaking into tears. “But other than that, I’m doing OK. It’s just been a struggle.”

After a decade of steady progress, Richmond’s homeless population is surg ing again. A lack of affordable housing and growing economic disparity have stretched local resources and safety net programs. The region’s growing senior population, many of whom live month to month on Social Security and fixed incomes that haven’t kept up with infla tion, has been hit particularly hard. Coupled with the pandemic, when retail and service jobs dried up and govern ment assistance was harder to access, many older adults who were already living on the margins were literally le out in the cold.

‘A Very Difficult Winter’

An infusion of federal funding and emer gency eviction moratoriums over the past two years have helped, serving as a tem porary stopgap. But now the money is running out, and the last of the eviction moratoriums put in place during the pan demic expired in June. With dwindling housing inventory driving up rents across the region — metro Richmond’s rental vacancy rate stood at 1.9% in the second quarter of this year, the lowest in the state, according to census data — local shelters are struggling to keep up.

“It’s going to be a very difficult winter,” says Kelly King Horne, executive director of the nonprofit Homeward, which coor dinates homeless services in the region. A er reaching a 10-year low of 497 people experiencing homelessness in 2019, according to data compiled by Homeward, the number jumped 68% to 834 in 2021. While the numbers dropped 16% to 697 people in 2022 (the data comes from the annual “point-in-time” count that takes place in January), much of the decrease can be attributed to increased federal

funding for local shelters and emergency housing intended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The number of older homeless adults, which the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, Central Virginia’s umbrella orga nization for homeless services, identifies as those 55 and older, is increasing. Last year, 642 older adults stayed in area emer gency shelters, according to Homeward, and the percentage of older adults served by regional homeless providers increased from 29% in 2018 to 36.7% in 2021.

“We did a lot of work as a community from 2007 to 2012,” Horne says of region al nonprofits, 14 to 15 of which work directly with Homeward on a weekly basis. “We created efficiencies, coordinat ed services — but we already realized those gains.”

During that period, Homeward and homeless service providers shi ed prior ities, pu ing more resources into helping people find permanent housing — assist ing with lease applications, reading credit reports and reaching out to landlords. The idea was to get people housed first and then provide resources and job training

Daily Planet’s medical respite facility for a few weeks. In early August, he found his way to CARITAS’ emergency shelter for men on Dinwiddie Avenue.

At age 60, finding a new job won’t be easy, especially with a bum knee. But Decker, a longtime transgender rights advocate, is keeping up hope. He can stay at the CARITAS shelter for two months — federal funding typically requires emergency shelter beds turn over every 30-60 days — but a er that he’s on his own. With help from CARITAS, he’s work ing on ge ing Social Security Disability coverage and is pu ing together a resume with the goal of finding a job in the arts, media relations or something related to social justice.

Despite all that he’s been through — in the late 1970s, he lost his first partner, who was beaten to death in Washington, D.C., barely a week after turning 17 — Decker has somehow avoided substance abuse. Not having any money, he jokes, has its perks.

“If I could afford it, I’d plow through a dozen Black Russians a night,” he says.

Searching for Answers

The region’s dearth of new housing inven tory, which grew worse during the pan demic as remote work and historically low interest rates spurred demand, isn’t expected to abate anytime soon. The downward pressure has le more people in apartments for longer, which has driven up rents. Even facilities that accommodate housing vouchers and other government subsidies for low-in come families are turning away renters.

“Even now they don’t have any avail ability because individuals who have steady income and have had to move out of their current placements because [rents] are too high are moving into the apartment complexes that we were actively working with,” says Jenn Pa er son, director of emergency shelter at CARITAS. “Finding an apartment to rent

is a jewel in the rough.”

Meanwhile, the city’s efforts to increase available shelter beds have yet to pan out. All of the emergency shelters that operate year-round (roughly 300 beds total) are run by nonprofits. With federal funding made available during the pandemic, the city implemented inclement weather and winter shelter programs at local hotels to add addition al capacity, but those programs expired in April. A plan to expand Commonwealth Catholic Charities’ housing resource hub on Oliver Hill Way to include at least 75 winter shelter beds also fell apart earlier this summer. The city is now seeking bid ders for a new winter shelter, or multiple shelters, with up to 150 beds that would operate from November to April using $3 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and other sources.

Regardless of what happens to the proposed winter shelter, none of it matters much if those facilities don’t include case management workers and other wraparound services, says City Coun cilmember Stephanie Lynch, a social worker who’s become a vocal advocate for the homeless. The city’s previous winter shelter program didn’t include case management workers on-site, she says. For much of the last year, she’s been pushing for additional city funding for homeless services (Richmond typically spends between $500,000 and $1 million annually). Ultimately, Lynch envisions a permanent city shelter run by nonprofits, with accompanying services similar to those of the Housing Resource Center in Virginia Beach, a $25 million facility that opened in 2018. The Virginia Beach facility includes 89 temporary shelter beds and 29 permanent housing units, along with a health clinic, showers, laun dry services, cafeteria and a multitude of services to help the homeless get back on their feet.

“I don’t know how to get people to care about this enough to invest the resourc

es we need,” says Lynch, adding that it o en comes down to loca tion. It seems nobody wants a homeless shelter, especially a large-scale intake facility, to open in their neighborhood. And time is running out. While Homeward’s July point-in-time count, a supplement to the federally man dated January count, found 447 people experiencing homelessness, a 36% drop from the year before, it also found 204 individuals were unsheltered (living out doors), the highest number ever recorded by the nonprofit. “We’ve got to stop play ing human shuffleboard with the home less population,” she says.

There are other options, including tiny home villages, which are popular in places such as California, which has long had the nation’s largest homeless population, but Richmond officials have struggled to find available land that is close to public transit and isn’t contaminated or located on a former landfill. Tiny houses (between 100-400 square feet) can be problematic for other reasons, especially if the villag es don’t include on-site health and sub stance abuse services.

Cathy Ri er, a Midlothian woman who regularly delivered food and clothing to residents of the temporary tent city that

popped up on Oliver Hill Way a couple of years ago, decided she had to do something a er city officials shu ered the encamp ment in March of 2020. Known as “Camp Cathy” (it was named a er Cathy Davis, the late co-founder of Blessing Warriors RVA, a nonprofit homeless services pro vider), the tent community regularly housed more than 100 people who were homeless. A er the city shut it down, the residents sca ered.

“It was devastating. I couldn’t get it off my mind,” Ri er says. “I thought, ‘Some body’s got to do something about this.’ ”

An active volunteer at her church in Chesterfield, she started researching tiny home villages and landed on an organi zation in Missouri known as Eden Village, which offered programming and licensing akin to a franchise. She met with the pro prietors over Zoom and reached an agree ment in December 2021. Ri er’s daughter, who’s an a orney, helped her fill out the paperwork and gain nonprofit status earlier this year. A village consisting of up to 30 homes, each typically about 400 square feet, Ri er’s Eden Village will be gated with a community center, requiring tenants to pay $350 a month, Ri er says, including utilities.

She needs 3-5 acres to build the first one, but so far finding the property has been a challenge. “It’s hard to find that much land,” Ri er says, adding that she’s looked in surrounding counties and has been in contact with city officials. The first village is expected to cost roughly $4 million, which Ri er hopes to finance through grants and private fundraising.

“This is the missing piece of the puzzle,” she says. Still, it’s not a quick solu tion. If all goes according to plan, Ri er expects the first village to be completed by early 2025.

For Barbara Barbour Whi aker, things seem to be looking up. Her husband has felt be er of late and has been able to pick up a few odd jobs, and she’s hoping to get more hours at her job. Her goal is to find a larger apartment in one of the city’s public housing complexes, but there’s a lengthy waiting list (in early August, there were 189 people ahead of her).

She dreams of the day when she can finally relax a bit and act like the grand mother she is.

“I’d love to have all five of my grand kids around me just kickin’ it,” she says. “Right now, I’m just living one day at a time.” R

Richmond Food Not Bombs delivers meals to the homeless population at Monroe Park in early August.

Mental Health Matters

Colleges and universities answer the call for increased mental health services for students

by PAULA PETERS CHAMBERS

Just as leaves begin falling from the trees, a fresh crop of students arrives on col lege campuses. Along with excitement and anticipation — and lots of stu for their dorm rooms — they bring with them questions relating to their new lives: What if I don’t like the food? What happens if my roommate is a jerk? Will my professors be nice?

Here’s another question that both students and parents should ask: What support for mental health does the col lege provide?

A Growing Need

e Center for Collegiate Mental Health, located at The Pennsylvania State University, works with more than 700 college and university counseling centers and supportive organizations to provide

accurate information about the mental health of college students across the nation. CCMH has found that between fall 2009 and spring 2015, visits to college counseling centers increased 30% to 40%. Additionally, from 2012 to 2019, student self-reported anxiety and depression had been rising steadily.

en came the pandemic.

Data gathered by CCMH during the fall semesters of 2020 and 2021 shows increases in virtually every category the organization tracks: depression, generalized anxiety, academic distress, eating issues, family distress and overall distress. Social anxiety rates dipped in fall 2020 — perhaps because many stu dents were not a ending classes or were doing so from home — only to increase in fall 2021.

JAY PAUL

TO BE CONTINUED...

ADULT EDUCATION

Avere University Bachelor’s, $480 per credit hour. Master’s, $530 to $695 per credit hour. Evening classes for accelerated undergraduate or graduate degrees in business, education and criminal justice. Online classes available. 420 W. Main St., Danville, 434-791-5600 or averett.edu

Bluefield University $395 per online undergraduate credit hour; eight majors available. $475 per graduate credit hour for licensed teachers currently employed. 800-8720175 or bluefield.edu

Brightpoint Community College $160 per credit hour in-state; call for program details. Online associate’s degrees in a variety of disciplines. Teacher recertification courses available. Charter Colony Parkway, Midlothian, 804796-4000; 13101 Route 1 (Formerly Je erson Davis Highway), Chester, 804-594-1544 or brightpoint.edu.

Catholic Distance University $89 per course for noncredit courses; $320 per credit hour for undergraduates; $475 per credit for graduate level. Distance-learning courses for AA in Catholic studies, BA in theology and graduate degrees in theology. 300 S. George St., Charles Town, West Virginia, 304-724-5000 or cdu.edu

Community College Workforce Alliance Workplace training courses in the greater Richmond region as a partnership between Brightpoint Community College and Reynolds Community College. Multiple training and meeting facilities, 804-5232292 or ccwatraining.org

Lifelong Learning Institute Academic and fitness classes for ages 50 and older. $150 membership per year. 13801 Westfield Road, 804-378-2527 or llichesterfield.org

Mary Baldwin University Online, MBU Online

Mary Baldwin University o ers online undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates in more than 30 majors and programs. These include business, business administration, health care administration, nursing to registered nurse, criminal justice, education, psychology, social work, sustainable business management and more. 800-4682262; marybaldwin.edu/admissions/online Old Dominion University, ODUOnline $374 per undergraduate credit hour; $571 per graduate credit hour. More than 120 online degrees and certificates in business, education, engineering, health/social sciences, nursing and technology. Transfer agreements with Reynolds and Brightpoint. 800-968-2638 or online.odu.edu.

Reynolds Community College $166.60 per credit hour; visit website for details. Parham Road Campus, 1651 E. Parham Road; Downtown Campus, 700 E. Jackson St.; Goochland campus, 1851 Dickinson Road; The Kitchens at Reynolds, 2500 Nine Mile Road; or reynolds.edu

Union Presbyterian Seminary $500 per semester hour. Graduate programs in biblical and theological studies, ministry and Christian

education. 3401 Brook Road, 800-229-2990 or upsem.edu

University of Richmond, Robins School of Business Executive education and noncredit professional development programs to nurture leadership talent. MBA program, part-time, fully accredited graduate program for working professionals. 804-289-8550 or robins.richmond.edu

University of Richmond, School of Professional and Continuing Studies Degree program tuition starts at $550 per semester hour. Other course fees vary by program. Evening undergraduate and master’s degrees in education, liberal arts, information systems, HRM and more. Plus a variety of professional development and training programs, including a coding boot camp. Also o ers the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. 804-289-8133 or spcs.richmond.edu

University of Virginia Richmond Center $488 per undergraduate credit hour. $611 per graduate credit hour. Bachelor’s degree completion programs, graduate certificate programs, custom education programs. 2810 N. Parham Road, Suite 300, 804-662-7464 or scps.virginia.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University Cost varies by program. More than 160 graduate and professional degree and certificate programs o ered on campus and online; call 804-8286916 or visit graduate.admissions.vcu.edu for a full list and application information. VCU

Continuing and Professional Education o ers noncredit, credit and CEU opportunities. 804-828-1322 or ocpe.vcu.edu

Virginia State University $405 per undergraduate credit hour. $577 per graduate credit hour. The Bachelor of Individualized Studies degree draws on a range of disciplines. Master of Interdisciplinary Studies also o ered. 1 Hayden Drive, Petersburg, 804-524-5000 or vsu.edu

Virginia Tech Richmond Center Graduate degrees, professional development programs, and continuing education and certificate programs, including leadership management development, education and public administration. 2810 N. Parham Road, Suite 300, 804-662-7288 or richmond.vt.edu

Virginia Union University Evening business courses, theology courses and weekend teacher licensure programs. 1500 N. Lombardy St., 804-257-5600 or vuu.edu

Visual Arts Center of Richmond A long-standing community arts center that o ers more than 1,000 youth and adult art classes in 12 mediums, including drawing, painting, creative writing, clay, photography, digital arts, glass, fiber, metals and jewelry, and more. 804-353-0094 or visarts.org.

VMFA Studio School Classes for ages 16 and older in creative writing, drawing, printmaking, painting, pottery, design, photography and yoga. 2915 Grove Ave., 804-367-0816 or vmfa.museum.

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

Bryant & Stra on College Degree programs in business, health care, hospitality, legal services and technology. 8141 Hull Street Road, 804-7452444 or bryantstratton.edu

South University Programs in health care, criminal justice, business, public administration, psychology, theology, pharmacy and more. 2151 Old Brick Road, Glen Allen, 804-727-6800 or southuniversity.edu.

Last updated August 2022. To suggest an update to this listing, please contact Special Projects Editor Nicole Cohen at 804-355-0111 or nicolec@richmag.com.

Putting Innovation and Safety First

ALISON HOLT-FULLER, HEAD OF PRODUCT AND ENTERPRISE FIRST LINE RISK MANAGEMENT, ATLANTIC UNION BANK

ALISONHOLT FULLERBEGANHER

undergraduate years at The University of Texas at Arlington as an art major, b t she e i e to p rs e finan e. n one professor referred Holt-Fuller for her first ob o t of ollege at iserv a global technology provider serving the finan ial servi es in stry. knew that this fiel was where wante to be she says. vent ally left the ons lting worl an move to the other si e of the esk into banking.

fter si years at egions ank in Birmingham, Alabama, and nearly three years at antan er ank in oston olt ller was referre by a frien for her rrent position at tlanti nion ank. learne that ohn sb ry was the an be ame really intereste be a se worke with ohn previo sly at egions an love his lea ership style she says.

As head of product management, Holt-Fuller oversees a group of managers and administrators to ensure the delivery of top ality banking pro ts an servi es. n her risk management role she

manages a group of teammates aligned to the different business areas to build efenses against risks that an negatively impa t stomers an sharehol ers. verything we o to hes the stomers helping to make their lives better olt ller says. e re not st giving a home e ity loan. e re giving them the means to create their dream home. e re not st a savings a o nt we re a me hanism to pay for that big va ation. That s what rives me. er team st release a new bank pro t he king that offers the option of a low ost he king a o nt — and companion savings account — with no over raft fees an easy to se igital servi es. The i ea is to benefit in ivi als who are new to banking or aren t in nee of rob st servi es olt ller says. o think of minors an ollege st ents or ol er lientele who st nee a base pro t. will help them b il on their finan ial health.

Holt-Fuller is committed to engaging with the lo al omm nity.

She is on the board of directors at Thrive Birth to Five, and she is an advisory committee member for the niversity of i hmon s stomer perien e ertifi ate rogram. he also volunteers at Hire Heroes USA, a national organization that supports veterans thro gh areer hange.

hen she s not working olt ller an be fo n o t oors kayaking or pa le boar ing the ames iver playing golf or r nning. tarting ring the pan emi began r nning virt al runs for charities such as Girls on the n an the . n the artsy si e is still there. love to paint an knit.

Atlantic Union Bank 1051 E. Cary St., Suite 1200 800-990-4828 atlanticunionbank.com

Bolstering Community Development

JANE FERRARA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LISC VIRGINIA

LISC.ORG/VIRGINIA

AFTERGRADUATINGFROMOLD

Dominion University, Jane Ferrara worked for a nonprofit in the Hampton Roads area and often interacted with local business leaders. One of them gave her the idea to enter commercial real estate. “I was young and eager, so I ended up taking a job with one of those business leaders at a real estate company,” she says.

“It became the start of a 20-year career, and it was actually that career that led me to Richmond.”

Ferrara served as managing director and partner for Richmond’s Advantis Real Estate Services Co. for more than 12 years when, in 2005, she received an offer to join the administration of Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. She spent the next 14 years leading the city’s real estate, economic development and business attraction activities.

“The city was on the cusp of real change and growth,” she says. “I

viewed it as an opportunity to shape the community that I had chosen as my home. After many years of working for the city, I knew it was time for my next big adventure, so I got back into the nonprofit world.”

In 2020, Ferrara became the executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Virginia, which is part of a national nonprofit organization fostering community development in cities and rural areas. “We provide financial resources to underserved communities to stimulate investment and economic opportunity,” she says. “This is especially important given the devastating impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our local economy.”

This year, LISC Virginia plans to launch a new program aimed at increasing homeownership within the BIPOC community in the greater Richmond region. “We have a comprehensive plan geared

towards dismantling barriers to homeownership for BIPOC individuals over the next three and a half years,” Ferrara says. “We’re hoping this will lead to long-term generational wealth building.”

Serving with a number of professional organizations, Ferrara also was selected by Mayor Levar Stoney to serve as a fellow for the Daniel Rose Fellowship for Public Leaders, a partnership of the Urban Land Institute and the National League of Cities. In addition, she was a gubernatorial appointee to the business development and marketing advisory committee for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

In her free time, Ferrara enjoys traveling, and she is an avid walker. Recently, she’s taken up biking, and her goal is to bike a one-way trip on the Virginia Capital Trail. “I’m training to do the whole 52 miles to Williamsburg by the fall,” she says.

SPONSORED BY

A Home Away From Home

KERRY BLUMBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF RICHMOND

RMHC-RICHMOND.ORG

KERRYBLUMBERGFIRST

witnessed inequity as she was growing up and knew she had to do something about it. “I grew up with every opportunity, but when traveling to other places with my family, I saw those opportunities weren’t available to everyone,” she says.

Throughout her career, she’s tried to level the playing fiel whether working in education, for the YMCA or in health care, serving people with more needs than resources. When the position for executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Richmond became available nine years ago, Blumberg knew she had to apply.

Families with children in area hospitals can be referred to stay at the RMHC Monument Avenue home or may be eligible to access special family room spaces at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond

at VCU and St. Mary’s Hospital.

“Richmond is an epicenter for health care where specialists and subspecialists have the right equipment and operating rooms to give the best care,” Blumberg says. “We host many families traveling from rural areas who don’t need the finan ial b r en or a itional stress of fin ing a pla e to stay. We want to mimic a home-like atmosphere for families going through medical challenges so they can be their best self for their child.”

While guests are encouraged to donate $15 per night, no family is turned away because of inability to pay. If the Monument Avenue house is full, RMHC helps place families hotels and in Airbnbs. In addition, RMHC's "Lunches With Love" program delivers meals to family caregivers at hospitals during the week and weekends.

Since starting at RMHC, Blumberg has grown the organization from two fulltime employees to 13 and has tripled the budget, allowing RMHC to serve more families than ever. Currently, they’re looking for additional space.

Blumberg says the role is a dream come true, allowing her to have a career, help people and be available to her 14-year-old. “My husband and I want to instill the importance of giving back into our son,” she says. “We’re passionate about helping people who don’t have a voice, are working through a challenging situation or feel they have no control.”

She says the mission of RMHC aligns with Richmond’s welcoming nature. “Taking care of our neighbors and showing Southern hospitality is part of our culture.”

SPONSORED BY

Fostering a Culture of Opportunity

ANNAKINGWASAYOUNGLAW

student at William & Mary when she discovered her passion for corporate law. She later taught the corporate counsel clinic at the University of i hmon law s hool for five years. “I just really love the craft of it and everything involved,” she says.

During her job interview at Markel more than 13 years ago, King knew the role was a perfe t fit b t she really fell in love with the company culture.

“Our employees live by the ‘Markel Style,’ the statement of what our values are,” she says. “One of the things I love most about it is that employees are empowere to fin a better way of doing things. We’re encouraged to have ideas and come up with innovative ways to solve problems.”

King now oversees the U.S. and Bermuda legal team for the company’s multibillion-dollar insurance, investments and ventures businesses throughout the United States. She also serves as a

member of Markel’s D&I (diversity and inclusion) global steering committee.

“We’ve been strategic in our efforts to increase the diversity of our workforce and ensure all employees feel included,” she says. “I’m proud to be part of this journey. The committee’s work is another re e tion of o r ompany s culture of openness and its willingness to accept others and hear new, diverse ideas to help propel us forward.”

Markel also offers a 3-to-1 match on charitable donations and encourages employees to volunteer in the community.

“External involvement makes you a better employee because it gives you better ideas for how to do things day-to-day,” says King, who has served meals at Ronald McDonald House and is a new board member at St. Catherine’s School, where her youngest daughter is enrolled.

“This year, Markel rolled out a program where each employee can take a day off to do volunteer work,” she says. “Our legal team had a lot of discussions about

what charities mean the most to us, and the theme of food insecurity kept rising to the top of everyone’s list.”

King’s team volunteers at Feed More and has participated in Feed More’s Legal Food Frenzy, an annual fundraising competition among lawyers across the state.

She looks forward to helping Markel continue to grow. “Our team came up with the tagline ‘navigating challenges and enabling opportunities,’ ” King says. “We are here to help the various businesses within Markel walk the road ahead.”

4521 Highwoods Parkway 800-446-6671

ANNA KING, MANAGING DIRECTOR, U.S. AND BERMUDA LEGAL TEAM, MARKEL

Markel Corp.

Empowering Financial Success

DIANE BEIRNE, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, PRIMIS

DIANEBEIRNEDOESN’TJUSTTALK

the talk. From her former position as executive director at The Woman’s Club to her new role as Primis’s director of corporate social responsibility, she has walked the walk her entire career.

Primis, one of the largest local banks in Virginia, operates 30 plus branches in the commonwealth and Maryland. When Primis created a position dedicated to social and economic support for their employees and communities, they i n t have to look far to fin a great fit one of their banking lients.

“I had a strong banking relationship with Primis for years and was always impressed with the team,” Beirne says. “When it comes to giving back, some companies are just crossing an item off a list, but Primis is different. They understand the long-term impact they can make by doing good and ensuring the bank’s resources are appropriately put to work to enrich the lives of their teammates and those in our community.”

Through her new position at Primis, Beirne is looking to expand the bank’s social and economic outreach, initially

focusing on social and philanthropic support, and eventually, environmental impact. “I’m so excited to work with a team of seasoned leaders to develop our outreach plans,” she says. “I crossed over from the nonprofit worl be a se I was excited to help Primis make a real difference. Their passions dovetail with my own empowering women an girls and promoting literacy, to name two.”

rimis s agship program rimis Works, is one of Beirne’s top priorities.

Last year, Primis launched this paid internship program for single mothers, providing professional and personal development, on-the-job training, and childcare. Primis Works Manager Markeia Johnson and Beirne are actively growing this program semester after semester, giving single mothers an opportunity to work in banking.

The bank’s emphasis on social responsibility is well received in the offi e an in the omm nity eirne says. “Employees today want to work for a company that is making a difference,” she says. “They want to make the world a better place by what

they’re doing, and they want to work for an organization that mirrors their beliefs. The same goes for customers and who they choose to bank with.”

Beirne has two grown children and sees them both aligning their careers with personal passions, which she says is very typical of their generation.

Born and raised in Richmond, Beirne received a degree in economics from the University of Virginia. “I can’t think of a more interesting city,” she says.

“There is always so much to do and lots of ways to get involved. There’s a constant push to keep improving the city and the way of doing things. I’m proud to continue to give back through my new role at Primis.”

PAUL

primisbank.com

Primis Bank

Supporting Black Businesses

RASHEEDA N. CREIGHTON, CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, JWC FOUNDATION

ATTHESTARTOFTHE 20 TH century, Jackson Ward was one of the wealthiest Black business districts in the country. Inspired by early trailblazers like banker Maggie Walker, three Black female entrepreneurs got together in 2019 with a goal of helping Richmond’s Black businesses thrive. Rasheeda Creighton, along with Kelli Lemon and Melody Short, founded the Jackson Ward Collective Foundation. “While our name is an homage to Jackson Ward’s successful history, we serve any Black business in the Richmond region,” Creighton says.

The JWC Foundation provides business coaching to Black entrepreneurs in all stages and also hosts a 12-week community business academy. “All the foundational details to starting a business — like hiring, pricing, b geting an finan ing an

be daunting,” Creighton says.

The Richmond native earned her bachelor’s from Spelman College and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Before launching the nonprofit she worke at apital One for 15 years. “As executive director of the [company’s] 1717 Innovation Center for entrepreneurs in Shockoe Bottom, I saw a lot of people who participated in the programs did not look like me,” she says.

Troubled by this gap in the business ecosystem, Creighton wanted to do something about it. “Opportunities are not equal, and the barriers to access are huge,” she says. “As one example, Black businesses are not funded at the same rate as white, male-run businesses — to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

She and her partners especially want to help Main Street businesses such as retailers, restaurants, and personal and

professional services. “These are the businesses that run our community and help our neighborhoods thrive,” Creighton says. “We want to support the community that supports us.”

So far, they’ve received a tremendous response from the Black community, as well as finan ial ba king from the ity s major employers. Black businesses are not only getting access to reso r es to meet their spe ifi business needs, they’re getting support and encouragement from a like-minded community.

“The work we do has purpose; it’s not just a job,” Creighton says. “It’s my way of using my gifts, talents and connections to pour back into the place that’s given so much to me. A fellow Spelman alumna, Dr. Marian Wright Edelman, says, ‘Service to others is the rent we pay for living.’ That’s something I live by.”

SPONSORED BY

Advancing Young Women

DANIELLE G. KOGER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NETWORK OF ENTERPRISING WOMEN AND A LAWYER

BY

LAWYERDANIELLEKOGERSERVES

as vice president of the Network of Enterprising Women in Richmond a nonprofit organi ation with a strong Facebook following that aims to encourage women in business as well as foster the exchange of knowledge and methods for success in establishing and maintaining a business.

The organi ation s p bli service is granting annual college scholarships to graduating high school senior girls in the Richmond region to help them pursue continuing education.

“We strictly focus on raising funds to help young women,” Koger says. “As vice president, I am able to participate at a different level. t s all abo t being abo t being able to empower someone else.”

NEW also offers professional development programs, and throughout the year, the group fundraises through events

s h as a holi ay ba aar an a spring fashion show supported by Wear RVA. They then host a scholarship winner celebration.

oger s own o rney to be oming a business owner began with serving eight years in the U.S. Navy before attending Temple University to study business law and international business. About 20 years later, which included several years spent working as a legal secretary at Reed Smith LLP in Philadelphia, Koger began law school at Western Michigan University. After a year, she transferred to Michigan State University College of Law, and she graduated a year later in 2015.

“I became interested in law at a yo ng age spe ifi ally to help women she says. t s always been my goal to defend women and children in domestic relations issues. I was always an advocate against domestic violence, and that springboarded into my legal career.”

Koger moved to Abingdon, Virginia, in 2016 to work for the Virginia Education Association (VEA), and she transferred to Richmond several months later. After passing the bar exam in Virginia in 2017, she left the VEA to form Koger Law Group PLLC, offering legal representation in family law, estate planning, criminal defense, employment law and civil litigation.

“I wanted to be able to give back to the community more,” she says. “I wanted to educate more people about legal law. My slogan is egal knowle ge is power. t s important to me that people understand the legal process and everything that s involve .

Koger derives satisfaction away from work and volunteering by spending quality time with her family. “We go to festivals, we travel, we watch movies — that s my f n st ff she says.

Caring for the Community

JANINE RANDAZZO, OWNER, RANDAZZO DENTISTRY

WHILESTUDYINGBIOLOGYAT

Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, Janine Randazzo knew she wante to go into the me i al fiel but she wasn’t sure what direction to take. Working as a dental assistant during college inspired her to pursue entistry as her hosen fiel . he went on to attend dental school at Tufts University in Boston, and after graduating in 1998, she joined the Army.

“I did a military residency that was invaluable to my education,” says Randazzo, who was named the Honor Resident during the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Fort Benning, Georgia. “We did rotation work with different specialists, honing our skills and learning from them. I got to travel to different parts of the country, and when I left active duty, I kept working as a contractor for the military and traveled internationally as well.”

After traveling for eight years while her husband was on active duty, the couple decided to settle in Richmond.

In 2008, Randazzo bought a dentistry practice in Midlothian from a retiring dentist and opened Randazzo Dentistry. was working in a ontra t ental offi e before I opened my practice, and I was fortunate to have met some people in that job that eventually came and helped me with the new business,” she says.

Randazzo enjoys her career because it gives her the ability to directly impact the health and well-being of all types of people. “Over the past few years, I’ve really found joy in helping older adults and senior citizens,” she says. “I love hearing about their grandchildren and their lives overall. They’re just a great population to work with.”

Having well-trained staff is key to a positive patient experience, Randazzo says, so she makes sure to provide ongoing professional development and education opportunities for her team an herself. he is rrently training to become an executive dental coach for Fortune Management, a national healthcare practice-management company.

“I’m halfway through the ninemonth program,” she says. “I hope to branch out into coaching and mentoring so I can help young dentists become s essf l. he also previo sly serve as president of Network of Enterprising omen a i hmon nonprofit organization aimed at supporting and encouraging young women in b siness. he is still involve to ay.

Traveling continues to be one of Randazzo’s greatest passions; she hopes to visit Argentina next year for her 50th birthday. “I tell my patients that I work to travel,” she says. “They always ask, ‘When’s your next trip?’ I love to see new places and visit favorite places.”

Randazzo Dentistry

Robious Station Cir. 804-897-2900

Engaging With the Richmond Region

ROHANA MEADE, FOUNDER AND CEO, SYNERGY TECHNICAL

WHENROHANAMEADESTARTEDOFF

in tech 30 years ago, she wasn’t just the only woman in the room at times. She was one of the few females in the entire industry.

In 2011, after seven years as the hief information offi er for a global company in Richmond, she got the i ea for her own ons lting b siness.

“I had a really great support system, not only in my h sban b t within the industry,” she says. “There’s a really strong network of tech professionals in Richmond. When I told them this is what want to o they were in re ibly supportive. It takes a village, and we’re fortunate to have that here.”

Meade is the founder and CEO of Synergy Technical, where she manages employees. er firm has provi e technology solutions for clients in all 50 states and 70 countries.

“I wanted to create a company people would want to work for, with

a strong focus on community,” she says. “Our employees like working here be a se we are a tive an involve .

With the company’s community engagement program, Synergy Technical guides employees toward helping organizations that aid underserved populations, including people with isabilities or hil ren who are economically challenged. They currently partner with Soar 365 and the Boys and irls l b provi e pro bono an is o nt work an p r hase basketball tickets for underprivileged kids.

While more women are in the industry today than when she started, Meade says she’d like to see more female CEOs. “The tech industry has gotten much better b t we re efinitely not where we nee to be from a lea ership position.

She says changing the career trajectory for young girls starts at home. e tea h boys to be bol an have o rage an we tell girls to be

careful,” she says. “Females don’t nee to be s are of having a areer in technology or get discouraged if people tell them they can’t do something be a se they ertainly an.

Meade’s daughter is pursuing a career in tech, with a major in digital design and a minor in computer science at Virginia Tech. “She has this rare ombination of being a s per talente artist while being te h min e ea e says. “But doing something she’s passionate abo t is most important.

Synergy Technical 2201 W. Broad St. 804-302-4943

synergy-technical.com

PAUL

ELIZABETHREDFORDHAS

worked in special education for 13 years. Her childhood best friend was born deaf and inspired her to get into the profession.

“I saw her struggle in a learning environment that wasn’t designed to support her and saw how much she had to advocate for herself,” Redford recalls.

Before starting The Next Move, Redford taught special education in the school system and managed a program for employees with disabilities at a biotech company. “I’ve seen so many members of this community graduate high school and then just sit at home,” she says. “They haven’t had the opportunity to get meaningful work experience and job training skills.”

According to Redford, 22,000 students with disabilities graduate high school in Virginia every year, and the unemployment rate among

Readying Students for Jobs

ELIZABETH REDFORD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, THE NEXT MOVE

THENEXTMOVEPROGRAM.ORG

SPONSORED BY

that population is a staggering 70%.

Working to reverse that trend since 2015, The Next Move has provided on-the-job training, externships and partnerships with prominent Richmond companies. Redford’s latest initiative is Tablespoons Bakery, a business run by students and young adults. Tablespoons Bakery began as a popup at the South of the James Farmers Market and with corporate support has moved into its own brick-andmortar store in Westover Hills.

“Being close to where we started is a dream come true, and I’m fortunate to live and work in the same area,” Redford says. “It’s a really inclusive neighborhood.”

Each year, 50 student interns receive high school credit for working at the bakery. The shop also employs five young adults. Tablespoons Bakery is open to the public and provides catering and a monthly cookie club.

“They’re learning so much,

from inventory, packaging, e-commerce and customer service to important social and life skills, all while baking treats that make people happy,” Redford says. “It’s a joyful place to be.”

She adds that the Richmond community has been very supportive. “Businesses are becoming more aware of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities,” Redford says. “This population adds so much to the culture and is embraced by fellow employees. Customers are also aware of companies that are inclusive and want to spend their money supporting them.”

Nothing makes Redford happier than getting a text or a phone call from a past student or employee sharing news that they’ve gotten a job. “It’s hugely meaningful,” she says. “We’re changing the trajectory of what their life could be.”

KATESCOTTBEGANHERCAREERIN health care administration, with a bachelor's degree in business administration and her MBA. But an unexpected loss caused her to reexamine her career choice and pursue her desire to give back to the community.

In 2012, Scott’s 17-year-old cousin, Cassidy, a senior at Scott’s former high school, was killed in a car accident on herway to school. As the community responded to Cassidy’s sudden loss in the wake of the accident, Scott felt compelled to come home to her alma mater and invest in the lives of the students there as an educator.

“I saw that the quality of student preparedness for life after high school had deteriorated since I graduated,” she says. “For educational opportunities to improve in my community, I knew that I must get into the trenches and teach. I had so many outstanding teachers during my time in high school, and I wanted to pay forward

the dividends of the investment that my teachers had made in me so thatfuture generations of students could reap theirreward."

Scott served as an instructor of business management and administration at her former high school for six years, during which time she obtained a master’s in education from William Carey University. In 2018, she became associate director of the George Mason University Center for Economic Education, a role in which Scott planned and implemented professional development programming for K-12 educators in the areas of economics, personal

the Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE), and this year, Scott came on as VCEE’s vice president of programs. “When the position became open, I was eager to impact not just the students and

Preparing the Next Generation

KATE SCOTT, VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS, VIRGINIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION

VCEE.ORG

teachers of Northern Virginia but work together so that all students across the commonwealth have highquality, well-trained and empowered teachers of economics,” she says.

This academic year, VCEE is piloting a new professional development program, the Virginia Personal Finance Teacher Fellowship, that will develop a cohort of teachers from around Virginia to become change-makers and thought leaders in their schools. “Teaching is a form of human capital development,” Scott says. “When you have unique knowledge, skills and abilities, and you’re able to impart that on students, you are going to change communities.”

The program is part of VCEE’s vision of ensuring that every Virginia

and reimagining what this looks like in a post-pandemic world and how we can better educate our community for the future,” Scott says.

SPONSORED BY

Enchancing the Client Investment Experience

OSCARLYN ELDER, CFA, CAIA, CO-CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, TRUIST WEALTH

DURINGFINANCIALMARKET

turbulence, Oscarlyn Elder and her team serve as a steadying presence for Truist’s clients and advisors.

“It’s during challenging markets that clients need us most. And we have a heightened responsibility as a trusted advisor,” she says.

Following the merger that created Truist, Elder envisioned the future of client investment experiences. She was

in 2021 and started implementing impactful strategies. “In addition to selecting investment strategies for client portfolios, my team is intensely focused on the industry-leading diverse asset manager practice we’ve created, sustainability and ESG, as well as digital assets,” she says.

Elder reveals, “We know that clients

through their investment portfolio.” Looking to 2023, she says her team is developing the framework to effectively identify a client’s sustainability goals

and corresponding investments. “Our priority remains to give clients the highquality advice and investment solutions they need to achieve their wealth goals.”

She describes her style as “purpose-

role in my life.” Elder earned a doctorate of education in leadership from the University of Lynchburg, in addition to her MBA from Duke and investment-focused professional designations. Her team describes her as an authentic and caring leader. For her part, Elder says she feels aligned with Truist’s purpose to “inspire and build better lives and communities”.

her local community in Richmond, where she applies her leadership skills

Elder was previously on the board of directors at The Doorways, she currently serves as board treasurer for the MCV Foundation, and she’s also on the board and executive committee for the Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE). “Truist has been a longtime supporter

of VCEE,” she says. “The board is doing lots of deeply strategic work to shape where we’re going in the future. We’re excited to have Kate Scott as VCEE’s vice president of programs — she has the right vision and skillset to take what we’re doing for Virginia’s students and teachers to the next level.”

In her free time, Elder enjoys vacationing at the John H. Kerr Reservoir/ Buggs Island Lake with her husband and teenage daughter. “We spend a lot of time there in the summer and early fall,” she says. “It’s a place where I can take a deep breath, relax and disconnect.”

919 E. Main St., 7th Floor 804-787-1004 truist.com

Rise, Reposition and Rebuild

LEAH COLEMAN, BOSS BABES RVA

LEAHCOLEMANWEARSMANYHATS , but one she especially loves is serving as leader of Boss Babes RVA, a prominent Facebook group for women in business.

“One of our founding team moderators, Brandi Bovell, says this group is where some of the best, most brilliant business minds in Richmond gather online,” Coleman says. “And Anne Biedryki was also just reminding me that she has been able to provide employee benefit pa kages streamline HR, and make payroll simple, too.”

Boss Babes RVA was founded in 2014 by Christine Haines-Greenburg, and Coleman took over just before the pandemic, helping area business leaders navigate uncharted waters, share best practices and offer encouragement. The highly engaged group has grown to more than 10,200 representing a diverse cross-section of the city, from executives to those who are selfemployed, or starting a business.

“ We have an incredible team of eight business owners in the role of moderators and administrators who volunteer their time to make us a 24x7 brain trust,” says Coleman. “Coming out of everything

in the past few years, we want to build our people back up. Our current theme is rise, reposition and rebuild.”

Besides offering a safe space online, Boss Babes RVA hosts in-person events like a new sponsored monthly series by Richmond City Parks & Recreation called Sunset Soirees. “It’s put on by women for women but anyone is welcome,” she says.One focus of this programming is on well-being. “[We call] the wellness babes to the forefront to arry s thro gh me itation re e tion journaling, and sharing how they are making moves in a challenging climate.” oss abes is also planning its first Glamping Retreat for CEOs in October.

Originally from Hanover, Coleman has lived and worked in the Richmond area for the past 20 years. With a background in retail management and banking, she got into real estate in 2008 and represents residential and small commercial clients. Her business acumen an air for esign has also ma e her successful in creating short-term rental or executive stay properties for her clients.

“We help individuals and small companies leverage real estate to invest

in their business, renovate properties for strong returns and create a suite of rental properties,” says Coleman. “I work with a great team of minorityowned contractors, vendors and artists. … I get to livea life of supporting lo al. t s been very f lfilling.

Through Coleman’s work at Boss Babes RVA, she’s investing in the future of Richmond. A strong, supportive business climate is paying dividends to thousands of women now, and for the next generation. “Moderator Dakia Knight told me how amazing it is to see how at some junction many of our businesses have intertwined or aligned and the support system is beautiful.”

leahcoleman.co bossbabesrva.com

WHENSHANTELLCHAMBLISS

was working in corporate HR, she wanted to follow up and assist candidates who had gotten everything wrong.

“I found myself reaching out to them and counseling them on why they didn’t get the job,” Chambliss says. “At job fairs, I’d see the same thing — women completely unprepared for the workplace, either wearing inappropriate attire or handing in a poorly written resume.”

hile trying to fin a reso r e for these job applicants, she discovered Dress for Success, a nonprofit organi ation with offi es worl wi e that helps women achieve economic independence. But the Richmond franchise had closed several years before.

o alle the orporate offi e and after a long conversation, they ended up offering me a job,” she

Encouraging Economic Independence

SHANTELL CHAMBLISS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DRESS FOR SUCCESS CENTRAL VIRGINIA

CENTRALVIRGINIA.DRESSFORSUCCESS.ORG

recalls. “I hadn’t anticipated leaving my corporate job, but these women just weighed heavily on my heart. So I started the Central Virginia chapter of Dress for Success.”

n the past years the lo al affiliate has assiste women, not just with professional attire, but with interview readiness, resume building, negotiation skills, leadership advice, etiquette and more.

According to Chambliss, the majority of women they serve are single moms with at least two children and very low incomes.

t it takes finan ial reso r es to get a job. In order to interview for a job, a mother needs reliable day care. In addition, many employers, from retailers to restaurant chains to hospitals, require a uniform yet don’t provide one. Chambliss says Dress for Success

is always in need of basic black pants, black shoes and scrubs. The livable wage is an ho r to support a three-person family,” Chambliss says. “Not only is there a wage gap between men and women, there’s a gap in the societal norms. Young men are taught to follow their dreams, while single mothers take jobs for necessity to support their family. They rarely get to p t their own nee s first. When small children are around, it s iffi lt even to take a shower.

While she’s helped thousands of women in the Richmond area, Chambliss also wants to inspire her daughter, who’s almost 2. “My goal is to teach her the value of creating her own economy and supporting the lifestyle she wants to have,” she says. “I want her to be passionate, but she needs to learn how to make her passions profitable.

SPONSORED BY

Raising Funds to Save Lives

DANETTE HODGES, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY VIRGINIA

CANCER.ORG

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Virginia Commonwealth University, Danette Hodges began working for a mortgage company. She quickly learned that her desire was not to “climb the corporate ladder,” she says. A job recruiter advised Hodges that she would be better s ite working in the nonprofit industry. Soon after, she accepted a job at Parents Anonymous (which has since merged with Stop Child Abuse Now), and she’s worke for nonprofits ever sin e.

After 30 years working in fundraising and community relations (including serving as executive director of the Children’s Miracle Network), in 2016, Hodges began her current position as associate director of development for the American Cancer Society-Virginia (ACS). She says she is proud to work for an organization with a mission she is deeply passionate

about, especially because her father is a bladder cancer survivor.

“This is by far the most meaningful part of my career,” she says. “My father is living a full life at 82, and I know it’s possible because of the work ACS is doing.”

In her role, Hodges oversees the planning and execution of ACS’ annual Cattle Baron’s Ball, a signature fundraising event that was founded by ACS Dallas. Today, 40 balls take place across the country each year. Hodges and her team brought the event to Richmond in 2016 and transitioned it from a black-tie affair to a more casual, estern theme gala. n its first year, 720 people attended, and more than $500,000 was raised.

“Fast-forward to the pandemic in 2020: We could not have an in-person event, so we had to shift gears,” Hodges says. “We decided to take the Cattle Baron’s

Ball fully virtual. We called it a ‘Hoedown at Home’ and did an hourlong TV broadcast on NBC12. We did a mini-telethon in which we highlighted our sponsors, and we ended up raising $650,000.”

While planning the 2021 ball, Hodges and her team set an ambitious goal of raising more than $1 million. The event sold out and raised $1.2 million, establishing it as the second most successful Cattle Baron’s Ball in the country that year. The 2022 event, taking place Oct.15 at Keystone Acres, is projected to exceed $1 million again.

Outside of ASC, Hodges serves on the board of directors for the RFD Foundation and the Hanover CREW Foundation, both of which support emergency responders. “If I can make an impact on one person through the work I do, it’s all worth it,” she says.

SPONSORED BY

Leading by Example

MELANIE BREWER, FUNCTIONAL MAINTENANCE AREA LEADER, DUPONT

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innovation from her father, who worked as a chemical engineer for Union Carbide Corp. in West Virginia while she was growing up. “When I was in high school, sometimes he would bring projects home, and he’d let me help with simple calculations or paperwork,” she says. “I became really interested in what he did just by watching him.”

She followed in his footsteps by studying chemical engineering at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, which led to a 10-year career in engineering at ARCO Chemical and Bayer (both in Charleston, West Virginia) and Yupo Corp.

In 2005, Brewer and her husband ha their first hil an she en e p taking a 12-year break from engineering to focus on parenting and volunteering. In 2017 — eight years after the family moved to Richmond, Virginia — Brewer decided to pursue her passion once more. “Even though I hadn’t been in the workforce for a while, I still had valuable knowledge and experience,”

she says. fig re that if p t my foot in the door, I could prove myself.”

After a successful interview with global innovation leader DuPont, Brewer was hired as a relief valve engineer. In 2021, she began her current role as functional maintenance area leader, in which she is responsible for managing multiple groups of on-site employees who support DuPont’s business units. “I help facilitate my employees in solving problems and coordinating the support needed to keep our production areas running and making product,” she says.

As a manager, Brewer says she feels strongly about leading with empathy and having a deeper understanding of her employees. “There is importance in knowing who a person is and what’s going on in their lives,” she says. “If you take the extra time to get to know someone, that goes a long way when you are trying to meet a deadline or asking them for help.”

Brewer also leads DuPont’s Spruance Women’s Network, an employee resource group with the mission of cultivating

and driving female leadership and catalyzing culture change. The group frequently engages employees through special events ranging from networking opportunities to sponsoring a Breast Cancer Awareness Month series. “We want to develop our employees while encouraging them to get involved with the community,” she says. “I love getting to meet different women who I wouldn’t normally see on a daily basis.”

Outside of work and volunteering, Brewer enjoys traveling with her family and going to concerts. “My husband and I crossed off a bucket list item last year and saw The Rolling Stones live in Charlotte, N.C.,” she says. “It was such an awesome experience.”

DuPont 5401 Rt. 1

N. Chesterfield, VA 23234 dupont.com

By Eileen Mellon

ost people don’t know that the birthplace of barbecue is right here in Virginia, or that a runaway enslaved Black woman named Patsy Young was one of the best brewers of her time, that yellow cake has origins in Black celebrations, or that Aylene Quin helped feed and support the civil rights movement in Mississippi.

Deb Freeman hopes to change that.

A natural-born storyteller and raconteur, she hosts a podcast, “Se ing the Table,” that topped the Apple charts a er its premiere in February. The series started with a tweet. When Stephen Sa erfield, food writer, pro ducer and host of Netflix's hit docu-series “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America,” announced he would be forming Whetstone Radio Col lective, Freeman shot her shot.

“I said, ‘I’m not sure what you’re looking for, but I have this idea to talk about African American foodways,’ ” says Freeman, an Abingdon native who moved to Richmond from Norfolk last last year.

That idea flourished, and today, her dynamic podcast, a blend of anthropology, history and personal narratives, aims to unearth how African American food is the true foundation of American cuisine. The podcast has just been renewed for a second season.

“My thinking was, how to introduce people who had never necessarily thought of African American food and how it relates to American food overall, and trying to do that all in 10 episodes,” Freeman says.

A er studying journalism and polit ical science at Old Dominion Universi ty, Freeman landed at the Hampton Department of Tourism a er college.

Aware of Freeman's passion for food, one day her boss nonchalantly dropped a copy of Southern Grit magazine onto Freeman’s desk.

She read it cover to cover,

editor’s letter

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here’s something about Richmond that draws us to the city. I’m not sure if it’s the historic architecture, the wealth of beautiful residential neigh borhoods, the vibrant arts scene, the people or its complex history. For me, who moved here from New York City years ago, it’s all of that and more. They say home is where the heart is, and mine is here in the River City.

Although Geoffrey Waugh and Josh Wortham spent their formative years in Chester and Kentucky respectively, today they wouldn’t live anywhere but Carytown. Their dream house became a reality when they purchased one of the last remaining plots of un developed land in the neighborhood and brought in Walter Parks Architects to design a home to fit the wedge-shaped lot. Elizabeth Cogar takes us on a tour of their striking modern home on Page 48.

During the pandemic, designer Kenneth Byrd sought a change of pace. He sold his Fan District row house with the intention of spending more time at his home in Palm Beach. But after a year without roots in Richmond, he realized that the city is where he wants to be. “Home in Richmond is the Fan,” says Byrd, who spoke with Meridith Ingram about design ing his new digs on Page 40.

Richmond roots can be hard to ignore. Jeff and Shelley grew up in Richmond and spent the majority of their adult lives in Texas. But when it came time to

retire, the couple was drawn back to Richmond — home. Paula Peters Chambers spoke with them about their new Richmond perch and its interiors created by M. Carter Design on Page 32.

In addition, Taylor Peterson talks with Patric Rich ardson, host of “The The Laundry Guy,” about his upcoming appearance at the Richmond Home Show on Page 58. Susan Higgins visits an indoor garden in Oregon Hill with more than 200 plants on Page 30. And Evan A. Morgan explores some of the chic home furnish ing shops in the Downtown Arts District on Page 28.

THERE’S

Find us at R•Home

@rhomemag

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CHECK OUT R•HOME ON CBS 6 DURING ‘VIRGINIA THIS MORNING ’!

Tune in for our home and garden tips on the following Wednesdays: Sept. 7, Oct. 5 and Oct. 26.

ONLINE, ALL THE TIME Find beautiful photos of local homes, expert design tips and advice, and much more at rhomemag.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Forge Design Group was incorrectly referred to as Forged Designs in the folio on kitchens in the R•Home May/June issue.

Susan W. Morgan

H O U S E R E

Designer Kenneth Byrd returns to Richmond and a new — to him — home in the Fan

WINE BAR: Byrd makes his own wine and ages most of it in bottles on the rack. To test the flavor, he’s aging some in the French oak cask.

KITCHEN: Byrd designed the wood range hood. The waterfall island top is Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold; the perimeter counters are black soapstone.

FAMILY ROOM: Byrd modernized the sitting area o the kitchen, replacing an ornate fireplace with a simple plaster surround and bringing in the same Kravet wallpaper used in the living room bookcases.

of warm white, with a gray patterned wallcovering by York, as well as a cozy guest room and a den where Byrd works and watches TV, all done in quiet neutrals with lots of texture.

While Byrd says he designs cli ents’ homes with sure and speedy ease, designing his own residence is typically another story. “I tend to overthink things,” he says. In this case, however, he didn’t give himself the luxury of time. He was eager to get back to living, calling on “every trick in the book” to complete the renova tion and fully furnish his home during a continuing supply chain crisis. He moved in December 2021.

Partly because of the project’s urgency and partly because of the designer’s second nature, Byrd is still editing spaces. “Even now I walk around and think, ‘That’s going to get switched out,’ ” he says with a laugh. Though pieces will change, Byrd will tell you one thing’s certain: The neutral palette is here to stay.

what we wanted. They were the perfect match for our job,” Wortham says. Strif fler, who’s often involved with largescale commercial projects, enjoyed the alliance, too. “Josh and Geo rey were so nice to work with … they loved talking about the details and pushing the design forward.” He was aware of Wortham and Waugh’s desire to have a warm and inviting living space con ducive to large gatherings, but he sug gested pulling the primary suite away from that area to give it a calmer vibe.

The result of input from all involved is an L-shaped, 2,679-square-foot home that includes everything Waugh and Wortham hoped for. The floor is solid concrete, but the furnishings are soft, colorful and fun. Sunlight pours into the kitchen and living areas, along with

reflected light from the swimming pool, a sparkly oasis just outside the windows and glass doors. The floor’s wood inlay strips weave around and connect to the patio, tying the interior to the out doors. And the walnut stairs — “Our builder called them ‘the Taj Mahal of steps,’ ” notes Waugh — are welded into a steel beam in the wall, making them look as if they are floating up to the second floor.

Thinking about what they might do di erently if they built again, Wortham says he wishes the bedroom windows opened, but Waugh asserts that he’s happy with the house as is. “It’s a dream come true,” he says. “We feel so fortunate to share this space with friends and family. And it’s been a fun and collaborative process.”

HALLWAY: Geo rey Waugh passes the suspended staircase leading to the guest rooms on the second floor on his way to the primary suite. The mirrors are from Ikea.

BEDROOM: Cambia wood, used on the floating wall behind the bed in the primary bedroom, was also used on the exterior of the house. The bed is from Crate & Barrel.

GREAT ROOM: Wortham’s baby grand piano leads guests into the great room. The couple found the swivel chairs at Crate & Barrel and the rug at ruggable.com.