Between 2011 and 2023, many of my days were spent driving up and down the East Coast.
Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Lexington, Va., Myrtle Beach, Norfolk, Raleigh, Richmond and Washington, D.C.
My driving companions? Biographies and works of fiction, courtesy of Audible, that included best sellers by Barack and Michelle Obama, Heather McGee, Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Maggie Haberman, Clint Smith, Steven A. Smith, Will Smith, Sadeqa Johnson, Tabitha Brown, Isabel Wilkerson and more.
Covid-19, my own book project and a full-time job limited some of my highway travel in the past couple of years. I sighed as I ignored reminders that my Audible credits were piling up. I vowed to escape a world of meaningless chatter in favor of voices guaranteed to feed my mind and soul.
Now that it’s summer and my main commitments involve laundry, the dishwasher and lunch or dinner with friends, my Audible selections once more will keep me company in my car and also in my home. Below are a few titles I recently downloaded to enjoy during the remains of summer.
BND Media Camp intern Mikayla Compere gives students some news writing tips on Day 2 of the summer camp at Second Baptist Church in Richmond’s West End.
First week highlights:
Andrea Long, a Second Baptist church member who was one of Richmond’s first Black TV reporters before becoming an attorney, provided media camp students a searing lecture about the upcoming presidential election and other vital issues. This after she worked long hours in Second Baptist Church’s (Idlewood) food pantry.
Andrea Long
Second Baptist Church members have been exceedingly kind in accommodating our students and answering their questions about food insecurity. Another church member sent funds to support a child whose family is experiencing hardships.
A jovial, Will Smith-like father who admits that his son spends too much time playing video games, treated my campers to two huge pizzas and soft drinks today.
Students also heard from Monica Esparza, a Hemp farmer and ecologist, who explained the benefits and politics of hemp’s roots and political terrain.
Monica EsparzaMonica Esparza’s farm and garden include basil, rosemary and hemp seeds.
Two amazing college students/interns from Christopher Newport University and North Carolina A&T State University are masters in relating to our middle school campers. Thank you Mikayla Compere and Kamryn Jackson!!
It’s been a long, hot and humid week, with spotty Internet and no fancy tech apparatus or presentations. Yet, the first week of the BND Summer Media Camp has been filled with incredible and impactful learning done the old-fashioned way with paper, pens and brain power!
Bonnie Newman Davis (green top) with some of the BND Media Camp students and members of Second Baptist Church’s Food Pantry squad.
The BND 2024 Summer Media Camp returns for its fifth year
RICHMOND, Va.
The BND 2024 Summer Media Camp combines journalism and multi-platform news media technology for Richmond-area middle and high school students. Now in its fifth year, the camp inspires students to create and display individual work online.
Led by veteran journalist and college educator Bonnie Newman Davis, this year’s camp will take place July 8-19, 2024. The location is Second Baptist Church, West End, 1400 Idlewood Ave., Richmond, Va. 23220.
Why a news media camp?
In an interactive environment, students will build confidence as they learn the craft of journalism. The overall goal is to explore students’ creativity, writing, editing and photographic/video skills.
Besides learning media literacy and developing technical skills, other activities will include visits to local media outlets. At the end of the camp, students’ work will be showcased in a collaborative project.
Fees and application:
The fee is $300 for the two-week camp. Scholarships are available.
Application Link (please click and indicate whether a scholarship is requested).
bonnienewmandavis@gmail.com, call 804 683-7203, or visit bndimc.org.
To become a media camp sponsor, please email bonnienewmandavis@gmail.com or make a donation via PayPal at bonnienewmandavis@gmail.com
2024 SPONSORS
The BND Institute of Media and Culture, Inc.
Linnie Carter and Associates
NBC12-Richmond
MLH Assets ManagementPC
Mike’s Jazz Café, LLC
Nikki Nicholau
Jay Sharpe
The BND Institute of Media and Culture Inc., a 501 (c) (3) charitable and nonprofit organization, was founded in 2016 by Bonnie Newman Davis, a journalist and award-winning educator and media consultant. Located in Richmond,Va., the Institute provides programs, services and training dedicated to educating and engaging diverse audiences about contemporary news media and its impact on African-American life and culture.
Marketing & Media – Bonnie Newman Davis has worked as a journalist for more than 40 years, receiving numerous awards for her work. In addition to her most recent role as managing editor for the Richmond Free Press, she has trained hundreds of journalism students at several universities in Virginia and North Carolina. Bonnie is the author of “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960”, sharing the stories of 24 Black women whose journalism careers spanned the last 40 years of the 20th century.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2024 YWCA Richmond Celebrates 44 years of Women’s Leadership, Announces 2024 Class of Outstanding Women Awards Honorees
RICHMOND, VA – As the Richmond Region continues to recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic, the ability to successfully lead an organization through adversity has become a highly sought after trait. Yet women, especially women of color, would contend that they have been operating and leading through adversity for years in the both the public and private sector, navigating their way through a system that may not recognize them for their many contributions, and, most importantly, their ability as leaders. For over 40 years, YWCA Richmond has recognized accomplished women leaders in our community that one July 2023, LinkedIn article described as ‘modeling resilience, empowering their teams to embrace change, learning from failures and persisting in the face of adversity.’ Today, YWCA Richmond announces the women who have been selected as the 44th Outstanding Women Awards honorees in eight different categories.
Business – Maria Tedesco: Maria was named President of Atlantic Union Bank (AUB) in 2018, and, in 2022, she took on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). She is the Bank’s first female president and COO in its over 120-year history. Maria has received numerous accolades and has served as a mentor to other women throughout her career. Most recently, she was named Virginia’s Leading Women in 2021, and in 2022, she was named the winner of the RVA Power Women. Maria founded the Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN) Employee Resource Group in 2020, actively supporting hundreds since its inception. WIN’s mission is to foster a culture ofinclusivity, visibility and empowerment in which all women can achieve their professional goals.
Education – Sandra Gioia Treadway: Sandy recently retired as the Librarian of Virginia following 45 years with the agency. Under Sandy’s leadership, the Library has become a trusted and essential resource to a large and complex constituency of elected leaders, public librarians, authors and researchers alike. Sandy’s career has focused on increasing access to the Library’s vast collections and highlighting the contributions of the often overlooked in our history, particularly the experiences of Virginia women. She has served on the Virginia Women’s Monument Commission and is the co-editor of Virginia Women: Their Lives and Times.
Human Relations & Faith in Action – Amy Strite: Amy is the current Executive Director at Senior Connections and has served as CEO of Voices for Virginia’s Children and Family Lifeline. A licensed clinical social worker, Amy’s work in service to Richmond’s underresourced communities and deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion spans 34 years. Amy has served on numerous boards and commissions, including Smart Beginnings RVA, the NAMES Project of Central Virginia, and Richmond Memorial Health Foundation.YWCA Richmond is a 134-year-strong nonprofit organization committed to empowering women, children and their families to live their best lives. YWCA strengthens our community through early childhood education programming, free emergency and ongoing services for survivors of violence, violence prevention education and leadership opportunities for women. If you or a loved one has experienced domestic, intimate partner violence or sexual violence, you may call the Greater Richmond Regional Hotline at 804-612-6126.
Health & Science – Amy Popovich: Amy is the Nurse Manager of the Richmond/Henrico Health District (RHHD) and serves as a go-to public health leader in the Richmond Region, ensuring the efforts of RHHD are equity-driven. She has spent her career inspiring public and private partners to join with RHHD in developing innovative solutions to our Region’s issues while driving community engagement and education in Richmond and Henrico’s most vulnerable populations.
Law & Government – Lori Hanky Haas: In 2007, Lori’s daughter was shot and survived what was at the time, America’s deadliest mass shooting at Virginia Tech. In the almost 17 years following the tragedy, Lori served as the State Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and its sister organization, the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence which provided evidence- based research on gun violence efforts nationally, working to drive discussions around gun control legislation at the state level. After a merger, Lori currently serves as Advocacy Manager at the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She has also served on the Virginia State Crime Commission following appointments by two Virginia governors.
Marketing & Media – Bonnie Newman Davis: Bonnie has worked as a journalist for more than 40 years, receiving numerous awards for her work. In addition to her current role as managing editor for the Richmond Free Press, she has trained hundreds of journalism students at several universities in Virginia and North Carolina. Bonnie recently published “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960”, sharing the stories of 24 Black women whose journalism careers spanned the last 40 years of the 20th century.
Nonprofit Management – Kelly King Horne: Kelly has been the Executive Director of Homeward, the coordinating and planning agency for the Richmond Region’s collaborative networks of homeless service providers for the last 15 years. She is recognized as a national leader in the homeless services sector. Under her leadership, Homeward was one of the first in the country to adopt the Housing First model of resource coordination, now the gold standard in homeless services.
Volunteerism – Eucharia Jackson: “Ukay” is a community leader, advocate, and professional who is devoted to tackling social issues ranging from education, the arts, diversity, and women’s empowerment. She has left a lasting impact within her community by utilizing the extraordinary skills gained through her 20+ years of experience in Sales and Marketing with Eli Lilly and Company. She is a gubernatorial appointee on the Board of Trustees for the Science Museum of Virginia and on the Citizens’ Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion. Ukay also serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, the Advisory Board of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, and various other organizations. She previously served on boards for the Collegiate School and the AmericanYWCA Richmond is a 134-year-strong nonprofit organization committed to empowering women, children and their families to live their best lives. YWCA strengthens our community through early childhood education programming, free emergency and ongoing services for survivors of violence, violence prevention education and leadership opportunities for women. If you or a loved one has experienced domestic, intimate partner violence or sexual violence, you may call the Greater Richmond Regional Hotline at 804-612-6126.
Heart Association of Richmond. She is an advocate committed to many worthy causes within her Richmond community.
CEO of YWCA Richmond, Rupa Murthy is honored to celebrate this year’s class of leaders. She believes our region can “Join YWCA Richmond as we stand together in recognition of the incredible strength and wisdom that women bring to leadership as we work to unlock the full potential of our societies. The leadership these eight women exemplify goes far beyond the matter of parity; they are catalysts for progress, innovation, and positive change.”
The honorees were ormally recognized at the Outstanding Women Awards Luncheon, at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and is presented by Dominion Energy and Altria.
For more information about the events, contact YWCA Richmond at owa@ywcarichmond.org. For more information about YWCA Richmond and our mission to empower women and eliminate racism, visit http://www.ywcarichmond.org.
Sites linked to Black history are emerging as hotspots for a new wave of “heritage tourism”
Photo Courtesy National Park Service
Plazas where enslaved people were once bought and sold and spots where civil rights marchers were beaten have become sought-out destinations for visitors amid a rise in Black heritage tourism, Axios’ Steph Solis and Russell Contreras report.
Why it matters: Following the murder of George Floyd four years ago, advocates have been transforming abandoned sites of racial pain into places of pilgrimages to pay homage to those who fought for social justice.
The big picture: Cultural heritage tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments in travel.It involves “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present,” according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
State of play: For years, many sites linked to crucial moments in Black history sat forgotten, abandoned or visited by just a few diehard history buffs.Recently, once-overlooked places like the community of Africatown in Mobile, Alabama, have become a must-visit for Black heritage tourists.Descendants of the Clotilda — the last known U.S. slave ship to bring captives from Africa — now offer “The Africatown Experience Boat Tour” every month.Florida has located civil rights sites in the state for visitors, Mississippi has mapped the Blues Trail (to be explored with a Spotify playlist) and advocates in Texas are working to locate sites linked to the Underground Railroad to Mexico.
Zoom in: Boston is among the many cities now honoring previously ignored historic sites. Clennon King, whose father was an attorney for Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists, has compiled a list of at least 21 sites related to the Kings’ early life in Boston.At his urging, city officials recently approved a resolution to establish the King’s Heritage Trail.Plaques have gone up highlighting the former Twelfth Baptist Church site and the Lincoln Apartments, where the Kings lived as newlyweds.
Yes, but: Beyond Boston’s Black Heritage Trail, the region’s history of Black-led abolitionist efforts, jazz musicians and civil rights leaders has all but faded into obscurity.Most of it would remain buried were it not for Black historians’ and other educators’ efforts to unearth the evidence.
What they’re saying: “A lot of our desire as Black folks is to really understand where we come from,” tourism consultant Kelly McCoy tells Axios.Black heritage tourism has become popular as an inexpensive opportunity to “tell our true narrative,” McCoy adds.”You get a better sense of the place, the space and possibility. You can almost imagine going back in time and see what it would have really looked like. You can talk to the ancestors.”
What’s next: The National Monument to Freedom — a new monument honoring 4 million enslaved Black people who were emancipated at the end of the Civil War — is expected to open next year in Alabama.The monument will be part of the planned Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, a 17-acre site of large-scale sculptures that will tell the story of enslaved Black Americans, set to open soon.
News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2024 Contact: Mahogany Waldon, 757/728-5316 mahogany.waldon@hamptoncvb.com
Hampton celebrates Women’s History Month with a series of events
Hampton, VA – In honor of Women’s History Month, the vibrant city of Hampton, Virginia, is set to host a series of empowering, educational, and entertaining events throughout the month of March. These events aim to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women throughout history and inspire present and future generations. Be sure to check out the following things to do as you embrace women empowerment in Hampton!
Port Hampton Culture Series Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter, Conductor, Nurse, Soldier, Spy Monday, March 4, 7-8 pm Museum members free, non-members $5 Harriet Tubman was a soldier, Underground Railroad conductor, nurse, and spy, and staunch advocate for African American rights. Yet, her most important role was that of a fierce advocate, defender, protector, and supporter of African American rights.
In her presentation, Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander will explore the life of this woman whose journeys took her from Maryland to Philadelphia, Auburn, New York, St. Catherines, Canada, and Hampton, Virginia, where Tubman served as the head matron in the Colored Hospital at Fort Monroe.
Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander is the Endowed Professor of Virginia Black History and Culture, Emeritus Director of the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Center for the Study of the African Diaspora, and former Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Norfolk State University.
She’s the author of Virginia Waterways and the Underground Railroad (2017), An African American History of the Civil War in Hampton Roads(2010), co-authored Black America Series: Portsmouth (2003), Hampton Roads: Remembering Our Schools (2009), and co-edited Voices from within the Veil: African Americans and the Experience of Democracy (2008). Dr. Newby-Alexander has appeared on a number of national programs and documentaries including PBS’s Many Rivers to Cross, the History Channel’s Race, Slavery and the Civil War, and C-SPAN’s broadcasts on history.
Impactful Women of Fort Monroe Walking Tour Fort Monroe Authority Wednesdays in March, 1-2 p.m. 30 Ingalls Road Every Wednesday in March at 1 p.m., the Fort Monroe Authority will host a profound walking tour for Women’s History Month. Celebrate the contributions to history, culture and society by the women of Fort Monroe. Explore what it takes to make a lasting change and how these women are an inspiration for future generations. This tour is free and open to the public. It includes moderate activity level, with limited places to sit. Tour starts at the Visitor and Education Center. No registration required.
Women Who Lead with Purpose Bryant & Stratton College- Hampton Thursday, March 21 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. 5030 Kilgore Avenue Registration required In honor of Women’s History Month, BSC-Hampton is hosting the upcoming “Women Who Lead with Purpose” Symposium Thursday, March 21st starting at 5:30pm. This year’s speakers include Captain Janet H. Day, Commanding Officer, Naval Station Norfolk, Michelle Ellis Young, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA-South Hampton Roads, and Mary Bunting, City Manager, City of Hampton, Virginia.
So make plans to attend this event so that you can hear from some amazing leaders in the 757 who can offer fantastic advice on how to enter and remain successful in your business and/or community endeavors. To register, click here.
Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the 70s Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. The American Theatre 125 East Mellen Street Don’t miss the Tony nominated Broadway star and Platinum selling singer/songwriter in “Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the 70’s” for a night of rousing and beautiful classics. Callaway covers hits from the great songwriters of the time-Carole King, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, John Lennon and more. And she puts her own stamp on the unforgettable songs from some of the greatest female performers in history including Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack and other beloved singers of the time. For a feel-good time of holding hands, clapping, singing along and taking a walk down memory lane, this is the show to see!
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Women’s History 1: Flyer provided by Fort Monroe Authority Women’s History 2: Flyer provided by Bryant and Stratton College – Hampton Campus Women’s History 3: Portrait of Harriet Tubman, Library of Congress
Partially bordered by the Hampton Roads harbor and Chesapeake Bay, Hampton, with the 344,000 sq. ft. Hampton Roads Convention Center and the award-winning Hampton Coliseum, is located in the center of Coastal Virginia and the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Hampton is the site of America’s first continuous English-speaking settlement, the site of the first arrival of Africans in English North America, and is home to such visitor attractions as the Virginia Air & Space Science Center, Fort Monroe National Monument, Hampton History Museum, Hampton University Museum, The American Theatre, among others.
Join us for a fun evening at the Wine Tasting After Work Mixer hosted by The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club and The Connect 757. Unwind with friends and enjoy aContinue reading “Wine Tasting Mixer”
March is Women’s History Month. Why not kick it off by reading your copy of my book, “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960”?
The book, $25, is available on Amazon or you can purchase a copy from me by visiting bonnienewmandavis.com. What is the book about?
The first Black woman to run for vice president of the United States was Charlotta Bass—a journalist. That happened 70 years ago. For nearly four decades before her 1952 run for the vice presidency, Bass was the crusading editor and publisher of the California Eagle, the largest Black-owned newspaper on the West Coast. But those who write the history of that time have largely forgotten—or simply ignored—Bass. Bonnie Newman Davis’ book, Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960, tells the stories of 24 Black women whose journalism careers spanned the last forty years of the 20th century. They are print and broadcast journalists and, like Bass, courageously bore the burden of being a Black woman in America’s newsrooms.
I’ll be discussing my book on Zoom on these dates in March: March 14, 7 p.m. Zoom Link: https://lnkd.in/egc-R4hJ
Marita Golden and Itoro Bassey will discuss the often difficult and sometimes taboo topics that can haunt and threaten to derail a writer’s work and life:
How to live with and learn from rejection
How to find your authentic voice
How to define success on your own terms
How not to be derailed by competition.
How to create a supportive community with other writers
The importance of rest and practices that support emotional balance and well-being.
Marita Golden is the award-winning author of over 20 works of fiction and nonfiction, a veteran teacher of writing, and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation.
Itoro Bassey is a Nigerian-American author and journalist based in Washington, D.C. She is an award-winning short story writer, and her debut novel Faith was published in 2022 by Malarkey Books.
FILM
ART
Dawoud Bey: Elegy
Courtesy VMFA
Through Feb. 25 2024
Lower Level: Altria Group Gallery, NewMarket Gallery, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Va.
Mesmerizing and evocative, these 42 photographs and two film installations by contemporary American artist Dawoud Bey contemplate the harrowing journeys and human realities of the Virginia slave trail, Louisiana plantations, and Ohio’s Underground Railroad. Dawoud Bey: Elegy premieres a trilogy that includes Bey’s most recent series of never-before-seen photographs taken in Richmond and commissioned by VMFA. Internationally renowned for his Harlem street scenes and expressive portraits, Bey, in these landscapes, meditates on place as profound repository of memory and witness to American history. In this immersive and transportive exhibition, his works poetically imply a human presence, deepening our understanding of African American experiences rarely represented in collective US history.
Organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and curated by Valerie Cassel Oliver, Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Dawoud Bey: Elegy showcases three photographic series. Visitors will first encounter Stony the Road, commissioned by VMFA, which takes viewers to the historic trail in Richmond, Virginia, where Africans arrived in bondage to an unknown land and were walked into enslavement. The photographs in In This Here Place contemplate the plantations of Louisiana and the toils and horrors of enslavement. Photographed in Ohio, Night Coming Tenderly,Black elucidates our understanding of the Underground Railroad and the perilous flight to self-emancipation.
The first film installation, 350,000, evokes the 350,000+ men, women, and children sold from Richmond’s auction blocks at Manchester Docks between 1830 and 1860. The film’s soundtrack features Dr. E. Gaynell Sherrod, VCU professor of dance. Visitors will also experience Evergreen, a three-channel film installation created in collaboration with composer and experimental ethnographer Imani Uzuri, whose multilayered vocal score adds a haunting soundscape.
MUSEUMS
I Have a Dream
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy with various educational opportunities throughout January. From in-person activities to online offerings, the museum commemorates King and the holiday surrounding his impact on the world. Beginning Jan. 8, 2024, King’s original “I Have a Dream” speech from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, on loan from Villanova University, will be on display through March 4, 2024. For digital visitors looking to learn more about King online, a blog post highlighting surprising facts about King’s life is now available at nmaahc.si.edu/5thingsMLK.
Alongside the “I Have a Dream” speech on view are objects associated with King, including a Congressional Gold Medal awarded posthumously to him and Coretta Scott King in 2014, a laundry pail used by King during the march from Selma to Montgomery and 1956 handbill advertising a prayer meeting with King at a Boston church.
On Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, the museum welcomes author Jonathan Eig for a special event to discuss his biography King: A Life in the Oprah Winfrey Theater and streaming online. The event “The People’s Holiday: The Many Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Monday, Jan. 15, reinterprets the life and work of King through powerful performances by students from Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
From Jan. 12 to Jan. 15, 2024, the museum’s Sweet Home Café will celebrate the holiday with a special menu featuring a selection of King’s most-liked dishes, including ribs, collard greens and a chocolate bourbon pecan pie. For more details, visit the Sweet Home Café website. Entry to the museum includes access to the café, and special Dine and Shop passes are available for access to the café and museum store only.
In observance of the holiday, the museum will remain open during its regular operating hours from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Advanced and same-day free timed-entry passes are available online.
MUSIC & THEATER
Hell’s Kitchen
Courtesy Broadway.com
Kitchen, a new musical with music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and pianist Alicia Keys, is coming to Broadway. The musical, inspired by Keys’ experiences growing up in the New York City neighborhood, will begin performances on March 28, 2024 at the Shubert Theatre, with an official opening set for April 20.
The show, which made its world premiere off-Broadway at the Public Theater this fall—in a run that continues until January 14— features a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, music supervision by Emmy and Grammy Award winner Adam Blackstone, music consulting by two-time Tony and Emmy winner Tom Kitt and choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown. It is directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.
“Good things take time and, for 13 years, I’ve been dreaming, developing and finding inspiration for a musical based on my experience growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC,” said Keys in a statement. “Hell’s Kitchen is inspired by my life, but it’s not a biographical story. It’s a story about family relationships and identity: Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who are we becoming?”
Keys continued, “The score features new songs that I’m really excited to get out into the world alongside many of my album releases that you know but you’ve never heard like this—rearranged and reinterpreted. I’m honored to be a part of this Broadway season with so much incredible talent and great stories. I grew up with musical theater and have so many memories of standing on line at TKTS to see shows like Miss Saigon and Rent. For me, Hell’s Kitchen is also a New York story of finding your dreams and for me, this musical coming to Broadway is the embodiment of that idea. I’ve learned so much from the experience and the collaboration with Michael Greif, Camille A. Brown, Kristoffer Diaz and Adam Blackstone. I love and respect the art form so much and I’m excited to see it come to Broadway.”
Keys was born Alicia Augello Cook in Hell’s Kitchen in 1981. Growing up in the neighborhood, she carried around a homemade knife, but was also immersed in the music of Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong at home. Her Italian-American mother enrolled her in classical piano lessons at the age of seven, and she wrote her first song a few years later.
Hell’s Kitchen features sets by Robert Brill, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound design by Gareth Owen, projection design by Peter Nigrini and hair and wig design by Mia Neal.
The cast of the Broadway production is yet to be announced. The cast of the Public Theater production includes Shoshana Bean, Chad Carstarphen, Brandon Victor Dixon, Vanessa Ferguson, Crystal Monee Hall, Jakeim Hart, Chris Lee, Jackie Leon, Kecia Lewis, Maleah Joi Moon, Mariand Torres and Lamont Walker II.
Darlene M. Johnson, a Richmond Free Press intern, was among the journalism and mass communications graduates during Virginia Commonwealth University’s December 2023 graduation at the Richmond Convention Center.
By Bonnie Newman Davis
December 2023
It has been wonderful to speak with two different groups of University of Richmond journalism students recently at the invitation of my former Richmond Times-Dispatch coworkers/UR professors Tom Kapsidelis and Tom Mullen. Students were surprised when I gave them impromptu news quizzes (remember, I taught J courses for nearly 20 years) but they handled it well and, of course, passed with soaring colors! (George Santos and Henry Kissinger were recurring answers.)
I look forward to reviewing the portfolios of two VCU journalism students tomorrow at the invitation of MY former VCU grad student, Alix Bryan. I’m most pleased to attend the VCU journalism department’s graduation on Friday during which our Richmond Free Press intern Darlene M. Johnson will be celebrated! Darlene is such a joy to work with and ‘NO,’ nosey journalists at other news organizations, don’t try to steal her! 😂
During one speaking engagement that coincided with the UR students’ last day, I was thrilled to yell “L-DOC” and even more thrilled when none of the students knew what I meant…except one young man who is from Chapel Hill. Brought back fond memories of my year spent teaching UNC-CH journalism students. Now who knows what L-DOC means??? 🎥✏️📝📡📻 L-DOC means “last day of class”! At UNC Chapel Hill that means booming rap music from frat houses and nonstop partying. (At least that’s what it meant six years ago).
At UR, it means students showing up for class and sharing what they’ve learned at one of the most beautiful, tranquil campuses in the U.S. At VCU, it’s the loud, hustle, bustle and flow reflective of one of the most diverse urban institutions on the East Coast. At my alma mater, NCA&T where I served as an endowed professor of journalism for four years, my journey continues with many of my former students whom I keep a watchful eye on every single day via social media . Such an honor to have an up close and personal perspective on each!❤️🙏🏾🎄🎄
I love the feedback, speaking engagements and unexpected opportunities I continue to receive one year after the publication of my book, “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960.” It always takes my breath away when I walk into the home of a family member or cherished friend and see my book on full display. Or when a longtime colleague who is an executive at an NPR news station orders nearly 200 copies of my books for a MEDIA LITERACY PROGRAM!
OR when the Dean of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism provided 25 copies of my book to students! OR when the former chairman of the journalism department at my alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University, whipped out a check (or was it cash?? Aggies got money, honey) and purchased a dozen books for students! OR when I am Invited to speak at two national journalism conferences and leave one with a national book award and leave the other with an armful of newfound colleagues and friends! But, GOD! There is no better feeling! 🙏🏾❤️What a ride it has been! J
I just received a text from a friend who is visiting Williamsburg. She said she saw a Black woman journalist named Barbara Ciara being interviewed on the area’s CBS station. “Ummmm, Barbie’s in my book,” I replied. “She is retiring after decades in broadcast television. Can’t wait for her next chapter, which includes a husband! 😂😂❤️🙏🏾!” 🙏🏾❤️🦮🍷hashtag#happyscrappy. hashtag#happywife! I truly thank everyone for your continued support! Buy my book on Amazon (or from me) and help enlighten someone this holiday season!🎄🎄
PS: Thanks also to Padilla and Jeff Wilson, APR and Barbara Hamm Lee Hamm of WHRO and Jason Roop Roop, guest host – WRVA for having me as a guest earlier this year, too! I look forward to speaking to students at the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University in the next several days!
BND Institute of Media & Culture 