Daily Archives: August 22, 2016

Neighborhood Association Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

Hello all

Just a reminder that the August OHNA meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday the 23rd, at 7 pm. We are meeting at the Parish House at St. Andrew’s.

On the agenda:

The newest group of Grace on the Hill interns will be present.

Joyce Livingstone, a biologist, and neighbor Stephenie Harrington will be discussing a native Virginian plant, the cardinal flower. Joyce started growing the plant in her own yard, and with the wet weather we had this year, she has a bumper crop of cardinal flowers. Joyce will be handing out free plants starting at around 6ish at St. Andrew’s. The cardinal plant has bright red flowers and likes shade and a damp environment.

Joyce has started a Facebook page to post information and pictures of the cardinal flower and notifications of events where she will be handing out free flowers. This public group is “Cardinal Flower Fever.”

Neighbor Nolen Blackwood of 349 S. Laurel St (Bunny Hop) will be present.

Thanks
Jennifer
OHNA

Recent Commentary From St. Andrew’s School’s Weldon-Lassiter

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Head of St. Andrew’s School, Cyndy Weldon-Lassiter, recently had a column published in the Times Dispatch on the benefits of an Expanded Learning Time program.

Excerpt:

Much attention has been paid to the phenomenon of summer learning loss, which occurs over the long vacation break and can result in students losing two to three months of academic skills and knowledge. Summer learning loss can impact all students, but it predominantly affects those from low-income circumstances.

Many families don’t have the financial resources necessary to fill their children’s summers with enriching camps and travel experiences that augment lessons learned in school. An extended school year can mitigate summer learning loss and aid in closing the achievement gap for students whose families struggle with poverty.

Try Nisa Thai

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Already mentioned that Nisa Thai restaurant is open now, but wanted to thank them for advertising with Oregon Hill.net. Besides supplying some rockin’ pho and a VERY diverse menu, its great that they want to be part of the neighborhood and give this community news site support.

Their ad is click-through to an online food ordering app that makes it easy to get delivery. Be patient though, I understand their delivery business is extremely busy right now. The first time you order using the app, you get 10% off your order.

ART180 Forum with RPD at Main Street Library This Friday

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From announcement:

Richmond, Virginia- Richmond Police Department will meet with formerly incarcerated youth, artists, and advocates for juvenile justice reform in a community forum designed to create an exchange of perspectives on issues concerning the juvenile justice system. The event will be hosted at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Library (101 E. Franklin St.) on August 26, 2016, from 5:30-8 p.m. The hope for the forum is to spark an honest and heartfelt conversation about the relationship between the needs of young people and law enforcement.

This event will be the culmination of three trainings conducted that week for up to 75 officers of the Richmond Police Department. During the training the officers will create a piece of art that allows them to present themselves not as officers, but as fellow humans. Their artwork will be exhibited alongside various artworks created by young people incarcerated at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center during a program called Performing Statistics offered by the nonprofit ART 180.

Since June, teens from the detention center have been meeting three days a week at ART 180’s teen art center ATLAS. Working on various projects including poetry, video, photography, and stenciling, their work addresses their experiences in the system and the support they wish they had in the community. “If justice was transformed, I would be doing work, not time,” wrote one teen.

Conceptualized in 2014, the Performing Statistics project is now a permanent program of ART 180 in partnership with Legal Aid Justice Center. The unique collaboration connects incarcerated youth to juvenile justice reform advocates in Virginia with the goal to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. The art created by the teens shares a rare perspective of the juvenile justice system from a first-hand experiencer. Ultimately, Performing Statistics looks to the youth most affected as the experts whose voices are important for building a more just, equitable world. As one of the program participants explained, “It’s not where you’re from, but where you want to go.”

Future events to look out for are an October exhibition at ART 180’s ATLAS gallery that will feature the work created this summer by incarcerated teens,, as well as the program’s second annual Justice Parade for Incarcerated Youth.

More on ART 180 at www.art180.org
More on the Performing Statistics project at www.performingstatistics.org

Updated Yet Again: 2nd District Candidates Make Statements on Monroe Park

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After recent events in Monroe Park, I asked candidates running for City Council in the 2nd District for written statements on the future of Monroe Park.

I received the following from Kimberly Gray:

I support the Monroe Park Master Plan that was developed in 2009. As the 2nd District City Council Representative I will advocate for renovations to get started sooner rather than later. I will work to help secure the remaining funds required to complete the plan. I am a strong proponent for keeping the historic integrity of the park and to promote the ideal that our parks are our greatest public treasure and should be open, safe and comfortable for all of us to visit and enjoy.

I have also received this statement from candidate Charlie Diradour:

Thanks to Scott and OregonHill.net for inviting us into the conversation regarding the future of one of Richmond’s most iconic parks. Monroe Park’s history is one of the many reasons that it should be restored to its former glory. The concept of public squares in Richmond dates back to the Eighteen Hundreds, and as we witness a resurgence in the “live, work, play ” manner of living, we need leadership that understands that parks are not amenities, but necessities.

The City of Richmond has not maintained, or improved this gem for decades. In fact, the damage done by installing the wrong sidewalks, including doing extensive damage to the irrigation system, has made the restoration more expensive in the long run.

The lease that was signed, and continues in force by and between Richmond and The Monroe Park Conservancy has been my evening reading for weeks now, and from what I gather that lease gives The Conservancy the right to The Park for Thirty years. That same lease gives The Conservancy the time they need to raise the sufficient monies to improve The Park.

Given the history, the present situation, and the future possibilities, I believe that the current agreement represents the only viable option to address the decades of neglect of this jewel by The City. Monroe Park must be restored so that it may be enjoyed by all, including VCU students and staff and Richmond residents.

Teddy Roosevelt said, “The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.” Through our collective efforts we must find a place of agreement that will facilitate Monroe Park becoming, once again, a place for all to congregate, recreate, and at times find solace. We can only do that with steady leadership from a community committed to repairing structures and relationships.

Thanks to all;

Charlie

And finally, 2nd District Council candidate Rebecca Keel submitted her statement last night (August 21st, this post with Gray’s statement was originally made on July 27th):

Hello, thank ya’ll, and please forgive my delay in replying to your request for a statement. After spending a several weeks researching the history of the park, the current lease held by the Monroe Park Conservancy and VCU, and after hearing from some community members, both off and online, it seems clear that many people do not support the privatization of Monroe Park. Further, it happens to be my personal opinion that the act of privatizing, under the guise of revitalization, is short sighted.

Therefore I do not support the privatization of Monroe Park and would work to terminate the current lease. I hold this position because it is what the people want, and what would help populations who already and regularly inhabit the park.

It is true that Monroe Park is in poor condition, and I agree that this is an issue of Public Health and Well-being. The city must take better care of its historic gems.

It is also true that many unstably housed and homeless people regularly spend time in Monroe Park. Part of caring for a community is caring for the community members. Proposals to revitalize Monroe Park, that do not include services and resources for our homeless community members, are not solutions that work toward community growth and social justice.

Finally, it is necessary that any restoration of the park should respect the city’s history and come from community generated proposals and widespread buy-in.

As a council member, I will ensure that community engagement is thoughtful and inclusive, and together we can form a solution that both beautifies Monroe Park and provides assistance for the folks who already value it.

Thank you for your consideration,

Rebecca K. W. Keel