Category Archives: community

It’s National Preparedness Month

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It’s now September, and with Tropical Storm Hermine coming in this direction, its a good time to remind everyone that September is National Preparedness Month.

“…we all must take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and also where we visit. Due to the success of last year’s theme, “Don’t Wait, Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today,” will be returning for this September with a continuing emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults, and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Thank you for taking time help make America more prepared for emergencies.”

Trail Work on North Bank Trail

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From RVA MORE:

The boardwalk on North Bank trail below Hollywood cemetery is being repaired starting tomorrow (8/30) and the trail will be closed between the first bridge heading west from Tredegar and the spot where the trail crosses the cemetery access road for a couple of days from around 8am-4pm while this work is taking place. Signs will be posted when the trail is closed. This work is being paid forby Groundwork RVA and is being led up by Will McQuate.

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

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

Wednesday Volunteers

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A volunteer cleanup effort took place this Wednesday morning, spreading over parts of Oregon Hill, Monroe Park, and Randolph. Graffiti removal/cover up and litter pick up were part of the tasks.

VCU students made a big part of the volunteer workforce. Here’s a photo of some of them on S. Laurel Street.
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Amy Robins, Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s liaison, helped coordinate some donated gravel that volunteers spread in the 300 block alley between S. Laurel and S. Pine. Much thanks to the Luck Stone corporation‘s Rockville office for their generosity.

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Oregon Hill’s alleys overall are still a mess (could use about 25 more truckloads and a good grader) and, of course, other neighborhoods need attention as well, but with the City strapped for cash, volunteers and donations are very much appreciated.

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Nearby Protest March Saturday

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There is a planned protest in Richmond by Service Employees International Union on Saturday, August 13 (click for Washington Post article).

From Richmond police:

The following locations will be closed for the event planned Saturday between the hours of 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
W. Franklin Street between Belvidere and N. Lombardy St.
Monument Ave between N. Lombardy and S. Meadow Street.
All side streets at these location wil also be closed.
No Parking will be enforced on Franklin St and Monument Ave. N. Allen Ave will also be enforced as well as the 1600-1800 Blk of W.Broad St & 1000 Blk. W. Grace St. Between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please pay close attention to the No Parking Signs during this day. We are trying to prevent vehicles/personal property from possibly be damaged.

Report On Saturday’s Cleanup

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From Cherry Street neighbor Jimmy Blackford:

The Oregon Hill cleanup went quite well – we picked up 4.99 tons – 10,000 pounds!!! Add to that the small litter that was picked up separately. This was the most ever picked up in Oregon Hill, I believe. Seven fellows from a VCU fraternity got the newsletter delivered to their house & came to help quite by surprise I might say! I am so grateful that someone delivered all those newsletters!

With those unexpected volunteers, plus Becky St Clair & Joe Brancoli who come to help even though they don’t live in Oregon Hill, it was for me the easiest cleanup yet! I counted 13 volunteers total. Thanks to Chris Hughes for spearheading this on a 90 degree day.

Jane Hotchkiss wants to do another alley cleanup fairly soon to get the few items that we couldn’t get this time due to a full truck.

Neighborhood Cleanup Reminder, Plus Back To School Rally

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From Pine Street neighbor Chris Hughes:

I will be leading a city trash truck through the neighborhood this Saturday morning picking up bulky items. We have the truck from 8AM until noon. There is a s–t load of furniture and mattresses out there right now so if anybody has a couple hours to pitch in we could definitely use the help. We got to crush a piano last time…..that was fun. We will meet at the corner of Laurel/Albemarle at Pleasants Park across from Bunnyhop bike shop. I usually walk my dogs all through the neighborhood the night before taking notes of the piles, but comment below if you know of any giant piles. I’ll have gloves, trash bags, and some grabbers as well but we will mainly be focusing on the bulky items. Thanks!

Also, for neighbors who have children…

8th Annual Back-to-School Rally set for Aug. 6

WHAT: Sixth District Richmond City School Board Representative Shonda Harris-Muhammed, in partnership with the Northside Coalition for Children, Inc., and Richmond Police Department, will host the 8th Annual Back-to-School Rally for all Richmond Public Schools (RPS) students and teachers.

The event will provide school supplies to students and teachers as well as free health screenings and parent and student workshops. The rally will also feature free food, games and entertainment.

WHO: RPS students and staff, Northside Coalition for Children, Inc., Richmond Police Department and Richmond City School Board members, school administrators and community partners

WHEN: Saturday, August 6, 2016

Teachers: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Students: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Proof of employment (employees) and residency (students) is required.

WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr., Middle School
1000 Mosby Street

Click here for more info on that.

According to Oregon Hill’s Open High website:

*****UPDATED SCHEDULES WILL BE MAILED TO ALL STUDENTS IN MID-AUGUST ALONG WITH OTHER BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION.*****
*****SAVE THE DATE FOR “NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION” SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 31ST– 9 A.M.-1 P.M. NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION IS FOR FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS. UPPERCLASSMEN INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING SHOULD CALL CAROLYN WOODSON AT OPEN HIGH SCHOOL BY AUGUST 11*****