Month: September 2026

Award-Winning Authors Marita Golden and Tracy Chiles McGhee to Host Free Virtual Seminar on Building a Thriving Writing Community

/ Bonnie Newman Davis
Marita Golden
Tracy Chiles McGhee

WASHINGTON, DC — Renowned author, educator, and literary activist Marita Golden, alongside award-winning biographer and cultural curator Tracy Chiles McGhee, will host a special virtual edition of “Ask Marita” titled “Community Is the Key to a Productive and Creative Writing Life” on Tuesday, September 24, 2026.

The free online event, taking place from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST, will explore the vital role community plays in sustaining creative output, building writer confidence, and elevating craft. Attendees will learn actionable strategies for finding and fostering meaningful networks with fellow writers, editors, readers, and creative professionals.

“Community expands your vision and your sense of what is possible for your story,” said Marita Golden, co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation and author of 23 works of fiction and nonfiction. “In community, we are inspired by the power of other writers, and we learn that others share the same doubts and uncertainties we feel.”

Research consistently shows that writers supported by formal or informal peer groups display higher confidence and honed writing skills. During the interactive hour, Golden and McGhee will share insights drawn from their extensive collaborative history bringing writers together and will open the floor for audience questions, suggestions, and stories.

Event Summary:

  • Title: Ask Marita: Community Is the Key to a Productive and Creative Writing Life
  • Hosts: Marita Golden featuring guest co-host Tracy Chiles McGhee
  • Date & Time: Tuesday, September 24, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
  • Format: Free Virtual Workshop / Live Q&A
  • Admission: Free (Registration required)

Registration is currently open to the public. For more information or to reserve a spot for this virtual literary presentation, please visit the official event registration page.

About the Featured Hosts

Marita Golden is the award-winning author of 23 books, including How to Become A Black Writer, Long Distance Life, and The Wide Circumference of Love. A veteran professor of creative writing who has served on the graduate faculties of George Mason University, VCU, and Johns Hopkins University, Golden co-founded the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation in 1990 to empower the global community of Black writers. She is a recipient of the Barnes & Noble / Poets & Writers “Writers for Writers Award” and the Authors Guild Award.

Tracy Chiles McGhee is an award-winning author, biographer, and cultural curator residing in Washington, DC. She serves as Project Director of Power Read 25, a national civic engagement initiative honoring Black women’s lives through biography, and is the author of the historical novel Melting the Blues. McGhee is currently working on a biography exploring Zora Neale Hurston’s formative years.

Registration Link & Inquiries: [Event Registration Website]

Maxamus Insurance Services Hosts Grandparents Day Celebration and Community Resource Event

/ Bonnie Newman Davis

RICHMOND, VA — Maxamus Insurance Services, an elite Medicare specialist agency led by CEO Vinara Mosby, invites the local community to celebrate Grandparents Day on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The event will take place from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Peter Paul Development Center, located at 1708 N. 22nd Street in Richmond, Virginia.

Designed around the theme “Honoring the past. Supporting the future,” the special afternoon brings together grandparents, grandchildren, and families to celebrate family legacy while connecting older adults and caregivers with essential local resources.

Vinara Mosby

“We are eager to welcome families from across the Richmond area to celebrate the love, wisdom, and enduring legacy of our grandparents,” said Vinara Mosby, CEO of Maxamus Insurance Services. “Our goal is not only to create a joyful afternoon of togetherness, but also to ensure our seniors and caregivers have direct access to valuable tools, guidance, and community support.”

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.”
— Alex Haley, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Roots

Event Details:

  • What: Grandparents Day Community Celebration & Resource Fair
  • When: Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Where: Peter Paul Development Center, 1708 N. 22nd St., Richmond, VA 23223
  • Highlights: Community networking, educational resources for seniors and caregivers, vendor displays, and light refreshments.
  • Admission: Free and open to the public.

Maxamus Insurance Services is also actively seeking local organizations and vendor partners interested in connecting with Richmond seniors and families during the event.

For more information about community resources, vendor opportunities, or event details, please visit the Maxamus Insurance Services website or scan the official event QR code featured on event promotional materials.

About Maxamus Insurance Services

Maxamus Insurance Services is an elite Medicare specialist agency dedicated to guiding seniors and families through personalized healthcare coverage solutions, advocacy, and community engagement.

Contact:

Maxamus Insurance Services

1708 N. 22nd St., Richmond, VA 23223

Info@MaxamusInsurance.com

Happy Healthy Aging Month!

/ Bonnie Newman Davis

Leigh Battle’s September Updates, Exciting News & Medicare Prep

Hi, friends!

I hope you have had a great summer as we look ahead to a beautiful fall season in Richmond.

As seniors, it’s important to do what we can to maintain our health as we age. This includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, reducing stress, following a preventive care and screening schedule, and more.

Leigh Battle

I love helping my clients navigate all of their Medicare choices, Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplements, hospital indemnity, and other needs. As always, I’m here for you and am happy to answer any questions you have.

Have a great Healthy Aging Month, friends!

🎉 I’ve Been Recognized as a 2026 Honoree!

100 Women of Color Virginia Gala

I am truly honored and grateful to be recognized as a 2026 100 Women of Color Virginia Honoree!

For more than 40 years, I have had the privilege of serving families as a Realtor throughout the Richmond community—helping my clients find homes, build brighter futures, navigate important decisions, and make connections that can change their lives.

Along the way, I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful things we accomplish aren’t measured by awards or titles, but by the people we encourage, the doors we help open, and the difference we make for the generations coming behind us. That is one of the reasons this recognition means so much to me.

The 100 Women of Color Gala & Awards 2026: Virginia celebrates women from across the state who are making an impact through business, education, entrepreneurship, public service, and their communities. Even more importantly, the event helps support scholarships, leadership opportunities, and mentorship programs for young women of color.

I am so thankful for the family, friends, clients, colleagues, and community members who have supported and encouraged me throughout the years. So many people have been part of my journey, and I share this honor with all of you. May we continue using our experiences, our voices, and our opportunities to help pave the way for the next generation.

  • When: Friday, October 23, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
  • Where: The Hippodrome Theater in Richmond
  • Purchase Gala Tickets Here

🎂 September is My Birthday Month!

As I look forward to celebrating my birthday on September 24, I wanted to share a quick reminder: new Medicare recipients can apply up to 3 months before or 3 months after their 65th birthday.

Anytime in that important 6-month window that you’d like some help navigating your enrollment process, I am here for you! Contact me to schedule an appointment.

📅 Save the Date for Medicare AEP!

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is just around the corner. Between October 15 and December 7, 2026, those eligible for Medicare will be allowed to enroll or make changes to existing coverage.

Start thinking about your healthcare needs for the upcoming year now. When the time comes, I’m happy to review your options with you!

Let’s stay in touch!

I am always here to answer your questions and help you navigate your choices.

Leigh Battle

📞 (804) 516-4822

✉️ leighbattlerva@gmail.com

🌐 Senior-2-Senior.com

Tired of Handling It All?

/ Bonnie Newman Davis

Transformation Expert Rita Ricks Launches a 60-Minute “Breakup” Experience for the Overwhelmed Woman

She remembers the appointments, manages the household, drives the projects at work, and serves as the emotional anchor for everyone around her. But who is carrying her? For the woman who is exhausted from being the one expected to handle everything, the solution isn’t another lecture on stress management. It is time for a breakup.

On Monday, September 21, 2026, Rita Ricks—Transformation Expert, coach, educator, and creator of RAISING CALM™—will host a highly focused, live online experience designed specifically for the woman who is ready to put something down.

Unlike traditional wellness webinars that leave attendees with more information and a longer to-do list, this event is entirely action-oriented. During this 60-minute guided session, participants will step away from the noise to identify one specific source of stress that is draining their energy. From there, Ricks will help them uncover the repeating pattern keeping that stressor active, and empower them to make a definitive choice: to continue it, change it, share it, or release it entirely.

“You will not leave this hour with more statistics or information about stress,” says Ricks. “You will leave with a decision, the exact words to communicate it, and a next step you have already practiced.”

Attendees will leave the experience knowing exactly what they are carrying and why they continue to carry it. The session is designed to be a safe, low-pressure environment; no prior preparation is required, and while personal sharing is invited, it is never required.

To preserve the intimacy and accountability of the space, this is exclusively a live experience. No recordings will be provided.

Event Details:

  • Date: Monday, September 21, 2026
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Live Online
  • Cost: $39 per participant
  • What’s Included: The 60-minute live guided experience, a participant workbook, and a completed Personal Breakup Plan.

Space is strictly limited to ensure a focused environment for all attendees. Women ready to reclaim their energy and draw a line in the sand are encouraged to reserve their place today.

To register for the event, please visit Breakup.

About Rita Ricks:

Rita Ricks is a Transformation Expert, sought-after coach, educator, and the creator of RAISING CALM™. She specializes in helping individuals identify their roadblocks, shift their mindsets, and step into lives of greater peace, purpose, and intentionality.