Image of the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center scheduled to open in 2026 in Chicago.Bonnie Newman Davis, Dr. Chrystal Moten, Vinara Mosby and Erin Stanley.
What an honor for my BND Institute of Media and Culture Inc. to be a Community Partner with VCU Libraries last evening where Dr. Crystal M. Moten spoke about the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center! Dr. Moten, the Center’s Curator of Collection and Exhibitions, walked us through the facility set to open next year. “Building a Home for Change: The Obama Presidential Center,” was last night’s theme. Dr. Moten explained how the center is rooted in a larger, complex discussion about democracy, and the historical predecessors who made President and Mrs. Obama’s stories possible. She also shared the center’s storytelling goals as they relate to the events, policies, challenges and accomplishments of the Obama Presidency. Other aspects of the center, to be housed on the windy city’s south side, will include a basketball court/athletic facility, a community fruit and veggie garden, and a BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY!! How cool is that? We had a lovely time and I thank Dr. Irene M.H. Herold, Sue Robinson, Dr. Carmen Foster, Antonia Vassar and the super staff at VCU Libraries for making this event so special for me, several of my dear friends and for my daughter, Erin Stanley, who earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago. I told Dr. Moten that Michelle Obama and Valerie Jarrett probably were instrumental in making sure that students such as my Erin were able to further their education at UofC. I can’t wait to attend next year’s Obama Presidential Center opening!! Go online and read more about this monumental project that will honor America’s first Black president!
Michele Norris will deliver the 2025 Community MLK Celebration keynote address on January 30, 2025. An on-stage discussion with Melody Barnes, executive director of UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, will follow.
January 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The Paramount Theater
This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available via the Paramount Theater website here.
Michele Norris, MSNBC Senior Contributing Editor, former Washington Post columnist, former NPR “All Things Considered” host, Peabody Award-winner An award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most recognized voices in radio, Michele Norris engages audiences in candid discussion about current events, social issues, and bridging the divide in America.
From the radio airwaves of NPR to The Washington Post to her current role as MSNBC Senior Contributor, Michele Norris is one of the most trusted voices in American journalism.
For a decade, as host of National Public Radio’s longest-running program, “All Things Considered,” she captivated audiences nationwide while earning some of journalism’s highest honors. As a Washington Post Opinions Columnist, Norris sparked important dialogue on current events, social issues and the power to make change. At MSNBC she brings her compelling insights to cover current events as a Senior Contributing Editor.
Norris is also host of “Your Mama’s Kitchen,” an acclaimed podcast produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s media company. With an incredible range of guests including actors, authors, chefs, and musicians, she explores family histories, memories, and cultures through rich conversations flowing from the simple prompt: “Tell me about your mama’s kitchen.”
On stage, Norris inspires open and honest dialogue, with memorable stories and fascinating perspectives drawn from her personal journey, investigative research, and interviews with world leaders, Nobel Laureates and influential newsmakers. She makes complex and taboo issues remarkably accessible. Audiences walk away empowered to stimulate discussion around challenging topics within their communities.
Melody Barnes, Executive Director, UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy As the founding executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, Melody Barnes guides the organization on an action-oriented path to realizing democracy in both principle and practice.
Barnes is a dedicated public servant with more than 25 years of experience crafting public policy. She served in the administration of President Barack Obama as assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. Earlier in her career, Barnes was executive vice president for policy at the Center for American Progress and chief counsel to the late Senator Ted Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Barnes started her career in New York as an associate at Shearman & Sterling.
Barnes earned her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with honors in history, and her JD from the University of Michigan. In addition to her role at the Karsh Institute, Barnes is the J. Wilson Newman Professor of Governance at UVA’s Miller Center of Public Affairs, a distinguished fellow at UVA’s School of Law, and co-founder of the domestic-policy strategy firm MB2 Solutions. She is an inaugural recipient of the 2024-25 Chautauqua Perry Fellowship in Democracy, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the boards of directors of several corporate, non-profit, and philanthropic organizations.
Presented by the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in partnership with the School of Data Science and the Karsh Institute of Democracy.
The University of Virginia is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. Please contact Shai Sawyer at skb2gj@virginia.edu to request disability-related accommodations. Examples of accommodations may include real-time captioning, ASL-English interpreting services, accessible digital copies of programs, accessible seating, and accessible parking. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accommodations. Please contact us at least seven days prior to the start of this event.
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.
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.
BND Institute of Media & Culture 