Letter from the Editor, July 2023

Dear Readers:

Greetings anew. It’s Katrina again, writing to say that it is always our pleasure to be in your company. Thank you for joining us on our shared journey. This summer 2023 issue of Vinegar Hill Magazine celebrates initiative. Black joy and Black excellence, too, remain some of our favorites, central to our ethos, and deserving of our time, attention, and, care. At this moment, we make space especially for innovators and risk takers: folks who weren’t so sure they’d have a “return on investment” when picking up something new, but remained steadfast, watering their visions and doing things out of the ordinary in anticipation of growth, meaning, and sustainability.

Katrina Spencer Editor & Content Manager

More than 10 years ago, the founder of this periodical, Eddie Harris, featured on the cover, put his foot to the pavement in creating a source of media to represent the local Black community. Educator Ms. Maxine Holland dedicated her life’s work to expanding the minds of youth in the classroom and through the group she founded, Men On A Mission. Business owners Sober and Zakiah Pierre launched a Pan-Caribbean, culinary oasis on historic ground. Activist Zyahna Bryant’s critical engagement changed the literal landscape of Charlottesville, which has long been haunted by its Confederate past. And entrepreneur Matt Harmon decided that Cville’s most popular libation, wine, would be his domain, too. These initiators nursed seeds of ideas, hovered as they sprouted, and watched them bloom, and for this they win our applause.

If you or someone you know is showing Black initiative with an aim to build, protect, or sustain local community, send us a message at vinegarhillmag@gmail.com and let us know about the good work being done. We’d love to learn more about the efforts aimed to enrich Central Virginia. Remember that you can access more stories, free of charge, from Vinegar Hill Magazine at vinegarhillmagazine.com. To learn more about our latest national collaboration, visit blackfuturenewsstand.com, and to see more initiators from our local community, scan the QR code below to have a look at the documentary short developed by Life View Marketing & Visuals.