Urban Views Weekly July 20, 2016

July 20, 2016

Scholar of the Week - Skyler Dewitt

Shaping a Clean Legacy from a Muddy Past: Tonya Thompson’s Success Story

Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times Intersection Improvements at Route 1 and Woods Edge Road & Route 1 and Happy Hill Road Chesterfield County Design Public Hearing

Monday, August 22, 2016 5:30 – 7 p.m.

VDOT Richmond District Office - Auditorium 2430 Pine Forest Drive, South Chesterfield, VA 23834 Find out about proposed intersection improvements at Jefferson Davis Hwy. (Rt. 1) and Woods Edge Rd. (Rt. 620) and Jefferson Davis Hwy. (Rt. 1) and Happy Hill Rd. For the intersection of Jefferson Davis Hwy. (Rt. 1) and Woods Edge Rd. (Rt. 620), the proposed improvements include adding turn lanes, upgrading existing traffic signals and adding pedestrian accommodations. For the intersection Jefferson Davis Hwy. (Rt. 1) and Happy Hill Rd., the proposed improvements include adding turn lanes, traffic signals, pedestrian accommodations and realigning Happy Hill Rd. at the intersection.

Review project information and the National Environmental Policy Act documentation in the form of a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion at the public hearing or at VDOT’s Richmond District Office located at 2430 Pine Forest Drive, South Chesterfield, VA, 804-524-6000, 800-3677623, TTY/TDD 711. Please call ahead to assure the appropriate personnel are available to answer your questions. Property impact information, relocation assistance policies and tentative construction schedules are available for your review at the above address and will be available at the public hearing.

Give your written or oral comments at the hearing or submit them by September 1, 2016 to Jason Zhang, PE, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, South Chesterfield, VA 23834-9002. You may also e-mail your comments to Jason.Zhang@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference “Route 1 intersection improvements comment” in the subject line.

In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places is provided in the environmental documentation.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at (804) 524-6091 or TDD/TTY 711. * In the event of inclement weather on August 22, this meeting will be held August 29 at the same time and location above.

State Project: 0001-020-S82,P101, R201, C501 Federal Project: HSIP-020-4(029)

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Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

Nonprofits can help America heal We are no different from you our inviting diverse groups to hear our case readers. We have been grappling with and offer solutions? Are we open to emotions, engaged in conversations, diverse leadership on our boards and and reflecting on our role – and the management teams? Are we serving the role of the nonprofit sector – during total community, or a segment of the these times of protest and grief. With community? this column we share a Are we taking optimum few of the questions on advantage of our resources our mind. We don’t have ....“nonprofits can and those we have the answers, but we know access to? If increased the answers lie within serve as the sanity resources are directed to our hearts and minds, our nonprofits, how are and the bridge to and within the work we we prepared to use these? engaged in over the years bring together all Do we have plans that to help create justice and effectively speak to the equity. As a sector we have segments...” needs of our young people? been engaged in advocacy, Do we have projected research, and direct outcomes and measurements?

Do we service. We have proposals for how to know how to ask for help to build our move forward, and are ready to partner infrastructure so we can truly make an with city, state and federal leaders to impact? address policies and biases.

At the same time, we know that all of us are part of this American conversation.

No answers are written in stone. We must proceed with open minds and hearts, putting forth our solutions, and simultaneously questioning ourselves.

Here are a few things we have been questioning.

Do we need to examine our mission, goals and priorities? What are we doing to educate others about the needs within our community? How are we

Can we stand up to scrutiny and transparency as we build trust and support? Are we open to collaboration and partnerships to best serve the total community by sharing resources and skills with others?

History has shown that when America faces these types of crises, the nonprofit sector has been a platform for making the case and finding solutions. Because of our history, commitment and compassion, continues to page 11

Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com VOL. 9, ISSUE 29 Urban Views Weekly, LLC 6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410 Richmond, VA 23230 Office: (804) 441-6255 Fax: (888) 439-2534

Flora C. Clarke, Administrative Assistant flora@urbanviewsweekly.com Shelia O. Spurlock-Shaw, Advertising shelia@urbanviewsweekly.com Nickkol Lewis, Art Director Visual Appeal, LLC | visualappealstudio.com www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Health News

sponsored by VCU Health

Summer Hydration Summertime is always the best time of the year to enjoy being outdoors; whether it is going to the beach, sitting poolside, exercising, ball games and parks, cookouts or just being outdoors. However, before we start enjoying summer, keep in mind the importance of staying properly hydrated, especially during physical activity.

Hydration is always important, but especially in hot and humid weather, as we tend to lose a lot of our body fluids through sweat. The reason dehydration becomes a threat to our bodies is due to the fact that the body is made up of more than 60 percent water. When the levels of body fluids decrease, our body is in great harm. It is best to maintain your hydration level throughout the day.

Drink enough water so your urine is consistently pale.

When there is an increase in color, make a corresponding increase in drinking water. Also, drink when you are thirsty. Continue to drink a cup or so before and after.

The following tips can help you avoid serious problems while running or doing any physical activity in hot weather.

1. Run before the sun gets above the horizon. Get up early during the warm months to avoid most of the dramatic stress from the sun and to enjoy the coolest time of day.

2. If you must run when the sun is up, pick a shady course. Shade provides a significant relief in areas of low humidity and some relief in humid environments.

G

V

J. Chevonte’ Alexander

This means that you won't receive as much of a cooling effect as that provided by the tech fibers.

7. Pour water over your head. Evaporation not only helps the cooling process, it makes you feel cooler. Bring along some ice water and squirt it regularly over the top of your head to cool down mid-run.

8. Take a pool break or a shower chill-down. During a run, it really helps to take a two- to four-minute dip in a pool or shower. Some runners in hot areas run loops around their neighborhoods and let the hose run over the head each lap. The pool is especially helpful in soaking out excess body temperature.

3. Run during the evening and night. In areas of low humidity, it's usually cool later in the day. When it's humid, the coolest time of the day is just before dawn.

4. Have an indoor facility available. With treadmills, you can exercise in air conditioning. If a treadmill bores you, alternate segments of five to 10 minutes – one segment outdoors, and the next indoors.

5. Wear a breathable hat! You lose most of your body heat through the top of your head.

6. Wear light clothing, but not cotton. Many of the new, technical fibers will move moisture away from your skin, producing a cooling effect. Cotton soaks up the sweat, making the garment heavier as it sticks to your skin.

9. Sun screen – Anytime you are outside, you need to protect your skin. Some products, however, produce a coating on the skin that slows down perspiration and produces an increase in body-temperature buildup.

10. Drink six to eight ounces of a sports drink or water, at least every two hours or when thirsty, throughout the day during hot weather.

Hydration is key during the hot summer months.

Hydrating before and after a run - drinking plenty of water will keep your body healthy and ready for any physical activity. We encourage you to get outside and break a sweat, but do so smartly! Cheers to the summer and having a healthy summer!

LIVING

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WITH

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Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

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ViewPoints

The Immutable Reality of Blackness When people say, “I don’t see color,” the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. It’s clear that they are speaking metaphorically because unless they are visually impaired or blind, it is obvious that they can see what color the flowers are on the table, or the strawberries in the bowl or the little Black girl in the magazine advertisement. The extent to which recent political discourse has devolved into a binary debate with so much misinformation and misinterpretation that is firmly rooted in the echo chamber of false equivalencies is outrageous. The most recent police slayings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile caught on tape and disseminated widely via social media, and the subsequent targeted killing of 5 Dallas police officers, apparently in response, has ignited a new debate and resurgence of the call for #BlueLivesMatter as a retort to the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Again, it is understandable as a symbolic gesture or metaphoric comparison but the contrast on its face is the definition of a false equivalency. People are not blue or green or purple with pink polka dots. Race and racial identity is real and it is unchangeable. There is immutability to blackness that there is not when compared to the occupation of being a police officer. A police officer wears a uniform. A police officer chooses to become a police officer. When a police officer takes off their uniform, who they are and what they do is no longer immediately visible to the general population. In fact, without their uniform, their weapon and their badge, they are just regular people like anyone else.

of the intersectionality of being BOTH Black and a police officer. To co-opt the meaning and message of Black Lives Matter is to create a false narrative of misunderstanding and misinterpretation that only causes confusion and ignites passions that increase the social and political disenfranchisement between law enforcement and the communities of color they serve, and widens the chasm between the two.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an activist movement, originating in the African American community, that campaigns against the historic and continuing violence toward black people. It is a movement that recognizes that we have a crime problem within the USA, but that the Black community is not inherently more prone to this phenomenon than other communities. The continued focus on blackon-black crime is a diversionary tactic, whose goal is to suggest that black people don’t have the right to be outraged about police violence in vulnerable communities, merely because those communities have a crime problem. The Black Lives Matter movement acknowledges crime is a problem, but rejects that it is a problem of black pathology.

Black people are not inherently more violent or more prone to crime than other groups of people. Additionally, BLM challenges the belief in “respectability politics.” This is a significant point of tension within the Black community at-large. Some hold on to the idea that a good job, being “well-behaved,” and having “proper” dress and demeanor will protect you from the evils of racism. They cling to the hope that there’s something you can do to protect yourself against being a target of racism. The BLM movement rejects these contentions in the face of the massive evidence of police mistreatment of black people of all classes and backgrounds and the overwhelming data supporting both institutional and systemic bias within the criminal justice system.

Blackness is not something that we can change into and out of like a uniform. Blackness is not a profession that we have chosen or a skill set that we learn and are paid to perform. Blackness is our heritage and our birthright.

It is passed from generation to generation from the Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. parent to the child. It is not a choice; it is the reality Founder and Artistic Director of our lives. There can be no comparison to being a Black person and being a police officer. They are two The Conciliation Project and Associate Professor distinctly different things with two distinctly different Virginia Commonwealth University realities and, therefore, to attempt to compare the DrT@Margins2theCenter.com | www.theconciliationproject.org two is completely inaccurate and false, to say nothing

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When all is said and done #BlueLivesMatter is just as offensive and diminutive of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement as the reflexive response of #AllLivesMatter. Being Black is an immutable reality, being a police officer is not.

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Apartment values are up more than 120 percent since the end of 2009, according to Moody’s. Experts say that offers a great opportunity for owners of small apartment communities.

“Now is a great time to refinance, especially if your loan originated in more difficult economic times,” says David Brickman, Freddie Mac Multifamily executive vice president. “Multifamily market growth is ongoing and rates are still near historic lows. Without the right preparation, though, you could find yourself shortchanged.”

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lenders to accurately size a loan, which could reduce the cash you take away from the deal. To get the most bang for your buck, make sure you have at least three years of historical annual operating financial statements and monthly rent rolls.

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• Strive for stability: Volatility in expenses, income or occupancy makes it difficult for lenders to project underwritten income.

Strive for consistent operations. If you do have an isolated spike in expenses or a dip in occupancy, be sure you can provide a justification.

Continues to Page 11 Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

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Shaping a Clean Legacy from a Muddy When you think of your traditional “success story,” you might envision a college dropout who put his genius to use, and turned a small start-up into a billion-dollar technology company that transformed phones and computers as we know them today. Or perhaps you think of a man who went from being a homeless comedian who lived out of his car to a TV host, author, and radio personality with the flashiest suit collection known to man. Or maybe you think of a playwright who moved to Atlanta, spent his all to produce a play that flopped, but persevered until he conquered movie theaters across the country, earning the top spot on the Forbes’ Highest Paid Man in Entertainment list.

Steve Jobs, Steve Harvey, and Tyler Perry’s “rags to riches” stories have empowered high-school dropouts, starving artists, and the poor as they pray for a bright future. If we work hard enough, we’re told, we, too, can achieve success. We can achieve that success.

Such aspirations are quite dangerous to the young mind. We think a story of triumph isn’t a true “success story” unless we’re on billboards and making more money than we can count. Truth is, though, that success stories come in all forms, from all types of 6

Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

people who’ve beat the odds and turned their life around. And true success is in the eye of the beholder. It’s about setting small goals and possessing a sense of pride when you accomplish them, and then setting even loftier goals and making them a reality. The stories we have to inspire us daily shouldn’t just come from celebrities we’ll likely never meet, nor figures of the past. Those heroes are right in our communities, touching lives on a local level every day.

Tonya Thompson is one of those local heroes. A once convicted felon, she’s taken control of her narrative and ensures her legacy is one that’s she’s built and written for herself, not one that resembles the unfortunate reality of many African Americans who have committed crimes and paid their debt to society. Now, as the Founder and CEO of Quality Cleaning Service, Thompson recalls her journey and is proud of the direction her life has taken despite some missteps along the way.

As a single parent, Thompson always maintained employment and a wage that allowed her to provide for her family. But as her children continued to grow and she remained the sole provider in the household, money became tight. “I never had enough money,” she recalls. “I’ll admit that I

“... success is in the eye o setting small goals and pride when you a started making some bad decisions. I started shoplifting, selling drugs, and basically just tried to give my children the life that I felt they should have.” Although she had good intentions, pursuing that life created a mark on her criminal record that was hard to erase.

Fortunately for her, she never had to serve hardcore jail time—the extent of her time was served in the form of a six-month work-release sentence, so she was able to maintain some semblance of a normal life.

After paying her debt to society, Tonya struggled to land jobs she knew she was qualified for. She was a competitive force in the workplace, and was well equipped for well-paying office jobs. Unfortunately, the felony on her record created a hard-stop with employers. Employment in a position she was well-qualified for growing increasingly tough, Thompson knew it was time for some major changes in her life.

She resisted temptation to return to her life of shoplifting, and kept her eye on the prize.

Her children—and grandchildren—deserved

Past: Tonya Thompson’s Success Story

By Janna M. Hall

of the beholder. It’s about d possessing a sense of accomplish them” to see a woman who had made mistakes and overcame them, and that’s exactly what Tonya set out to do with her life.

“The first changes started with my health,” Thompson says. “I told myself ‘you need to lose weight.’ I set specific goals for myself and monitored my progress every step of the way. I’d set a goal to lose 10 pounds this month, to exercise three times a week, and then I incorporated other goals. I told myself I wanted to get certain jobs. Very soon, my biggest goal was to get my rights restored.”

While dedicated to getting her rights restored, Thompson worked for a cleaning company. She worked tirelessly, Monday through Friday, earning countless amounts of money for the company while bringing home a tiny fraction of the profits.

Though a means to an end, Tonya knew there were problems with the way it was set up. Very soon, the owners of the businesses she cleaned questioned why she didn’t take her talents and open her own cleaning company. They’d ask,

“Why don’t you open your own business?” and she’d respond with fear and doubt. Truth is, she always had the ability to run her own business, but the intricacies about how to start and what to do intimidated her.

But one day, she faced her fears, went back to her goal-setting ritual, and decided that this would be her next big accomplishment.

“I sat and wrote my goals,” Thompson remembers. “I said ‘by this time, I want to have my own business.’

And I stuck to that. I created a name, got the name registered, and got my business license.

Once I had my license, I started going to different places of business and promoting my services.”

And that’s how Quality Cleaning Service has grown to be the successful business it is today—the power of word of mouth is truly immeasurable.

Today, Tonya’s business services commercial clients exclusively, particularly daycare centers in Richmond, VA such as the nationally accredited Primrose Schools, and continues to grow thanks to the owners of those schools singing her praises to other business owners.

“So many great things have happened within

the past two and a half years. I’ve grown so much as a person. My credit score is up, I’m able to purchase things (including the car I just purchased today!). I’ve lost 83 pounds, I’m working out, eating right, and living right. There just became a point in my life where I knew I couldn’t live the way I used to live.”

With her children grown and out of the house, and three grandchildren looking up to her, she knew she had to think long-term and not in the moment.

She focuses on building a solid future, independent of social services and getting what she could out of the government. She wanted to have something to fall back on, a legacy to leave, and values she can pass along to her children and grandchildren.

Her legacy grows stronger every day. Through her cleaning business, she’s impacting the lives of other black women who are also convicted felons. “It’s harder for women to come out of the system with felonies to find jobs versus men,” Tonya explains. “In the prison system, there are all types of programs and training for men, but there’s very little training for women. Just because you’ve been in trouble doesn’t mean you’re destined to work fast food for the rest of your life.” continues on page 11

Photos submitted by Tonya Thompson

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By Olivia Carey

Happenings The Happenings is a compilation of things to do in the cultural hub of RVA. Some events will be traditional urban offerings, and some more eclectic. All of them give us the opportunity to broaden the horizons of entertainment with art, music, and history.

Olivia Carey is a rising senior at Mills E. Godwin High School.

nominated C.J. Chenier will deliver soulful, Creole-influenced vocals and accordion tunes. After performing at festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival, Chenier brings his award-winning creativity to Richmond’s music scene.

If comedy is on the brain, the Coalition Theater comes to mind. It offers classes and “other fun stuff” in addition to regular live comedy. Sweatlist marries stand-up and improv by seeing what happens when comedy takes direction from randomized topics.

When: Doors open 7:00 p.m., show 8:00 p.m.

Intended for a mature audience.

Where: 2729 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220

Thursday, July 21

Cost: Advance $12; Day of show $15

American Idiot being performed at the Firehouse Theatre

thebroadberry.com

Richmond’s Firehouse Theatre is currently home to an award-winning Broadway musical based off of the GRAMMY®winning album dubbed by the band as a “punk rock opera”. American Idiot. The album tells the story of “Jesus of Suburbia” and a decrepit American dream. The musical follows characters Johnny, Tunny, and Will – all struggling to find meaning in the city, the armed forces, and the stifling suburbs respectively. Relive Green Day’s chart-topping album with a ten-member cast.

The show will be available through Saturday.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: 1609 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220 Cost: General admission $25; Students, military, and RVATA card carriers $15 804.355.2001 firehousetheatre.org C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band with the Hazletones at the Broadberry He was raised by “The King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier, the first Creole artist to win a GRAMMY®. He played with Paul Simon, Ringo Starr, and the Gin Blossoms.

He used his music to uplift hurricanebattered areas. On July 21, GRAMMY®-

804.353.1888 Great Prints opening at Reynolds Gallery

When: 10:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Where: 8 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220 Cost: $5 804.332.5857 rvacomedy.com

Etchings, woodcuts, and silkscreen prints alike can all be found in Great Prints.

Contemporary artists Polly Apfelbaum, Richmond Burton, Leonardo Drew, April Gornik, Daniel Heidkampy, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Mangold, Kenzo Okada, Richard Serra, Joel Shapiro, James Siena, and Kiki Smith are united in one gallery celebrating wildly different artistic movements that share common mediums.

Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Pop, and Contemporary Art are all represented.

VisArts on the Half Shell

Enjoy pieces created from paper pulp, contemporary lithographs, and large metalturned-art, among other alternative works.

When: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The exhibition will open with a reception.

Great Prints will leave Reynolds Gallery September 2, 2016.

When: Opening reception 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.; regular hours 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Where: 1514 W Main St., Richmond, VA 23220

The Visual Arts Center’s new event has something for everyone. The outdoor summer celebration has plenty of oysters, barbeque, and even s’mores. In addition to food, adults are welcome to enjoy white wine, Bloody Marys, and a selection of craft beer while kids make art with oysters and bluegrass music keeps spirits high.

Oysters, barbeque, and one drink ticket come with admission. Additional drink tickets can be purchased.

Where: 1812 W Main St., Richmond, VA 23220 Cost: General admission $20; VisArts members $15; Children (3-12 years old) eat for $5; Children (under 3 years old) free 804.353.0094 visarts.org

Cost: free

Saturday, July 23

804.355.6553

Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

reynoldsgallery.com

Friday, July 22 Sweatlist: Improvised Stand-Up Comedy at the Coalition Theater

Kehinde Wiley uses a very traditional European style and format – typically reserved for the wealthy and white – to portray contemporary African-American subjects and call attention to the lack of

Black in history. Why does society expect to see white faces in the midst of ornate flowers, gilded frames, panes of stained glass, and bronze busts? Wiley’s art opens a dialogue and demands an answer.

A New Republic will leave the VMFA September 5, 2016.

When: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Where: 200 N Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220 Cost: Adults $12; Members (member guests, member children) free; Senior (65+) $10; College students $10; Youth (7-17 years old) $10; Children (6 and under) free 804.340.1405 vmfa.museum Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts His mother had passed away. He was the youngest of fifteen siblings. The grip of racism and the ensuing discrimination was tight around America’s throat. However, Gordon Parks was the first full-time, black photographer for Life magazine. The project that brought him back to Fort Scott, Kansas to document memories of a segregated hometown and the figures of his childhood is now on display for all to see starting on Saturday.

Back to Fort Scott will leave the VMFA October 30, 2016.

When: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Where: 200 N Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220 Cost: free 804.340.1405 vmfa.museum

Sunday, July 24 Nature Connects: Art with LEGO® Bricks at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Nature-made meets man-made in Sean Kenney’s LEGO® installation at Lewis Continues to Page 11

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Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

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SAVOR

Family Features

courtesy MilkPEP

Beat the Heat and Stay Hydrated this Summer Why milk is a great hydration option

It’s summertime, which means it’s time to get out and enjoy the sunshine. But be warned, with the sun comes the heat. Whether you’re enjoying the park with your family or exercising outdoors, it’s important to stay hydrated, especially during the hot summer months.

Staying properly hydrated can keep the heat from ruining your outdoor fun. Dehydration can be a serious bummer. Luckily, it’s easily preventable, and you don’t have to stick to just water. You may be surprised to learn that both white milk and chocolate milk are great hydration options, too.

Lowfat chocolate milk has the right carb-toprotein ratio to help recover after a tough outdoor (or indoor) workout. Plus, fat free milk and full fat milk rank higher for hydration than other beverages like water and

sports drinks, according to a study. Both types of milk improved hydration status and kept study participants hydrated longer compared to other beverages, which researchers attributed to the electrolytes sodium and potassium – both naturally found in milk.

your breakfast. Not only does milk help you stay hydrated, you’ll enjoy other benefits like nine essential nutrients including 8 grams of high-quality, natural protein in every 8-ounce glass.

Super Food Smoothie

Here are three simple tips to stay hydrated all summer long: Watch your thirst: this is usually the first sign of dehydration. Sip on a variety of hydrating beverages throughout the day, instead of waiting until you’re thirsty.

If you’re a parent, keep an eye on the intensity of your kids’ activities and always have hydrating drinks on hand. Grabbing a cup of cold milk on the way to the park is a great on-the-go option.

Begin your day by pairing a glass of milk with

Staying properly hydrated doesn’t have to be difficult. Try this Super Food Smoothie for a refreshing and delicious way to hydrate.

For more information and recipe ideas, visit milklife.com.

Servings: 2

1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries 1 cup lowfat or fat free milk 1 banana, sliced 2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 cup ice

In blender, blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into two glasses and serve.

0 mg cholesterol; 6 g protein; 50 g carbohydrates; 5 g fiber; 0 mg sodium; 150 mg calcium (15% of daily value).

Nutrition figures based on using fat free milk.

Nutrition information per serving: 230 calories; 1 g fat; 0 g saturated fat;

Expand your network and Grow your business.

Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce

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www.CVAACC.org

Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

9

Scholar Highlight

By Janeal Downs

When she was 7 years old, Skyler Dewitt chipped one of her front teeth. When she went to the dentist, after seeing how they made her teeth look brand new, she knew she wanted to be a dentist. Later, she looked into other options in the dental field and she decided to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. To see what it would be like, she often informally shadows one of her own dental hygienists when they are working on her siblings’ teeth.

Skyler Dewitt

of Richmond Community

High School

GPA: 3.97 College of Interest: Virginia Commonwealth University Major Community Service: Children’s Museum of Richmond Student Leadership Admission Strong Interests: Dental Hygiene Favorite Activities: Writing, cooking and spending time with friends

The next step in Skyler’s path to becoming a dental hygienist is to continue her education at Virginia Commonwealth University. One lesson Skyler will take with her to college is “if something gets hard, then don’t give up. Just find a different way around it.” While this is not always the easiest thing to do, Skyler’s creative mind helps her figure out alternative of the ways to get through a challenge.

Other than the school’s dental program, another reason Skyler chose VCU is because of the school’s partnership and proximity to the Children’s Museum of Richmond, where she currently volunteers. “I put all my time and effort into there because I just really enjoy being around children,” Skyler said. “The kids are throwing temper tantrums, trying to get what they want, and so you find different ways to calm them down.” Skyler has an interest in being a pediatric dental hygienist. Working at the museum offers her a chance to see the different sides of children and learn different techniques of working with them. Skyler’s main goal is to make sure children are not scared when it comes to taking care of their

hygiene. Many of her own friends are scared to go to the dentist because of what happened when they were younger. Skyler wants to change this.

Outside of maintaining her 3.97 GPA in school and volunteering at the Children’s Museum, Skyler is also busy as a competing member of her school’s Future Business Leaders of America organization and also works. In her free time, some of her favorite things to do include spending time with friends, cooking and writing. Skyler’s passion for writing started when she was little. “I kind of felt like I had a lot of feelings trapped inside me, so sometimes I would just write and make different scenarios to try to express myself without having to talk to other people,” Skyler said. “It made me feel better ™ and it also improved my writing Week skills and helped me out in school.”

Fantasy writers, who incorporate realistic elements in their writing are typically who inspire her own work.

Scholar0

One of her biggest influences is her mother. “She has always kind of shown me, if there’s something you really want, don’t let anything else get in the way,” Skyler said. When her dream of being in the dental field started at 7, Skyler’s mom showed her that financial reasons and what others said about the occupation should not change her mind and to “just keep pushing for what you want.” While things will not always be easy, Skyler’s mother taught her that she will be happy if she just keeps working toward what she wants.

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Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

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"FUNdraising" from page 2

TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll

nonprofits can serve as the sanity and the bridge to bring together all segments to best serve the community. Are we up to the task? Are we ready to offer specific solutions?

The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police is pushing to arm officers with military-style equipment as a matter of officer safety. The fraternal order is asking Congress and President Obama to lift the ban of military equipment to local police departments.

As African Americans we can educate and invite others to join us in the work we have been engaged in for years. We can reach out to those who may be reluctant to use our services or accept our leadership because we are African American. We can let people know we are ready to link arms and to lead.

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What’s your take? Do you support the militarization of local police departments around the country?

Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com. You can now watch us LIVE at TanyaFree.com and ustream.tv

As people who are not African American we can reach out to African American leaders and learn from their experience in the realms of social justice, economic development, education, and job training.

The bottom line: Nonprofit leaders can provide solutions.

Copyright 2016 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are the authors of "Prerequisites for Fundraising Success" available on Amazon.com. For help growing your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

"Tip of the Week" from page 5

• Don’t count out affordable properties: Some lenders might shy away from cash-outs on older properties with lower than market rents. Look for a lender who does not. For example, with Freddie Mac’s Small Balance Loan program, a cash-out refinance is possible as long as the property is safe, provides a stable cash flow, is well-maintained and the owner has sufficient net worth, liquidity and a proven track record. This mortgage offers flexibility, with a choice of fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages available.

• Take a Fresh Look. Even if you already have a go-to source for financing, now is a good time to evaluate alternatives, especially if you have owned your property for at least three years and it has experienced rent growth, or you have made improvements to boost rent potential.

To learn more about growing your rental portfolio, improving returns on existing assets, or meeting other financial goals, visit FreddieMac.com.

Owners of small rental properties should consider taking advantage of the current market. A few smart strategies can mean more cash in one’s pocket.

Photo: Christopher Meder - Fotolia.com www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

"Clean Legacy" from page 7

Thompson takes the time to teach them the able to get out and research information business, and shows them what it takes to vital to advancing her own business and be an entrepreneur. She also works closely establishing solid credit. She’s a living with the younger generation, linking boys example of how such programs can help from ages 13-16 with Black entrepreneurs Virginia women reach goals and become who share their interests. Her goal is to their own success story. show them what’s possible despite any odds.

Thompson hopes her legacy inspires Tonya is now the spokeswoman for Ways generations of women who have taken to Work, an organization that helps single unfortunate turns in life. “No matter what mothers move toward financial stability, your past may have looked like, you can increased self-sufficiency and advanced still make it. Because I only lived in the career opportunities by providing them moment, I never thought these things with reliable transportation. In 2012, Ways would happen for me. I never planned for to Work gave Thompson an $8,000 loan the future. But set goals, dream big and go to purchase her first vehicle. She was for your dreams.”

"Happenings" from page 8

Ginter. Birds, bugs, and flowers; made out of half-a-million plastic brick pieces altogether. 27 sculptures dot 14 displays. Around any corner could be a 60-pound bumblebee, a towering rose, or giant hummingbird that seems to levitate as it sips nectar from a flower. Make use out of all this Richmond sun and visit the garden!

When: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Nature Connects will leave Lewis Ginter September 18, 2016.

lewisginter.org

Where: 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond, VA 23228 Cost: Adults $13; Seniors (55+) $11; Children (3-11 years old) $8; Children (under 3 years old) free; Garden members, free 804.262.9887 Follow us!

Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

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Urban Views Weekly | July 20, 2016

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