Meet Michelle Mercurio, our guest editor this week! Michelle is passionate about helping people be more of who they really are and less of who the world conditions them to be. She helps her clients evolve their identities so they can create aligned and successful businesses and lives. She is also the Host of CreativeMornings/Richmond, a monthly free breakfast lecture series highlighting local creatives and fostering community, that takes place on the third Friday of every month. She loves spending time in the community working on social justice and creative causes, evolving her boxing and fitness pursuits, and connecting with her family and friends in Church Hill and around Richmond.
Take it away, Michelle...
CreativeMornings/Richmond
Everyone is creative, and everyone is welcome! Yes, especially YOU! CreativeMornings/Richmond is a monthly free breakfast lecture series highlighting local creatives and fostering community. This month we are celebrating our 8th birthday on Friday morning, November 17th at the Brandcenter! Come find your “Rhythm” with us – that’s the theme this month – and hear Rachel Everett’s take on how she harnesses the power of creativity to do good work and to do good in the world.
Vitals:
CreativeMornings/Richmond / Friday, November 17th, 8:30 AM / Brandcenter: 103 S Jefferson St. Richmond, VA
Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Night Out in Wonderland Gala
Come have a creative night out for a great cause! Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Central and Eastern Virginia is the oldest one-on-one mentoring agency in Virginia, and mentorship makes a difference. Last year, BBBS served 282 youth in our community with mentor matches that increased academic achievements, fostered connectivity while reducing risky behaviors, and improved socio-emotional competencies for kids in our region. Join the Big Night Out Gala to raise money and awareness to support local youth and make a big impact in a child’s life.
Check out the incredible community work of our sponsored partner, The Read Center.
Craft + Design Show
Some of my favorite local artists, as well as national ones, can be discovered this month at the Craft + Design Show produced by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Held in the historic Main Street Station’s train shed and drawing more than 10,000 people to shop the work of over 150 artists from all over the country, Craft + Design is the unofficial kickoff event for holiday art shopping here locally. (Insider tip: Attendees of this month’s CreativeMornings/Richmond *may* be getting a surprise from VisArts related to this show)!
Vitals:
Craft + Design Show / November 17 - 19th / Main Street Station: 1500 E Main St, Richmond, VA
More about Michelle...
In her words, "The longest relationship we’ll have in this lifetime is the one we have with ourselves, and it impacts our day-to-day work, our relationships, and humanity as a whole. And while I know that undoing our own conditioning is the most important work we'll do, I also know that we can't do it alone if we want to make societal progress."
Whether it’s with brand and marketing storytelling work, or through one of her mindfully focused retreats, Michelle helps humans gain clarity to understand themselves and amplify the words and strategy to voice their visions to make the impact their work deserves.
Find details about her brand & business work at michellemercurio.com and connect directly with Michelle on IG @michmerc.
Meet this week's guest editor, Ron Stokes, a true creative with a story that weaves through the tapestry of various cities. Born in the heart of Washington, D.C., he moved to the sunny Bay Area of California during his formative years. For the past decade, he's called Richmond, Virginia, his home.
What sets Ron apart is his remarkable journey as a self-taught street artist who has blended his unique vision with abstract art. He's not just a painter; he's a storyteller of colors and patterns. With every brushstroke, he channels his emotions, thoughts, and the sparks of inspiration in the moment, transcending the need for words. He's left his mark on both grand cityscapes and intimate corners, all while giving back to charities and foundations. To Ron, his art is a bridge connecting the urban landscape to the world of creativity.
Now, Ron is here to share his passion projects and the hidden gems of Richmond that have captured his heart.
Take it away, Ron...
Race in Richmond
Race in Richmond is a compelling interactive exhibit that delves into race and identity through the power of photography, videography, art, and storytelling. Our exhibit offers a fresh perspective on Richmond, shedding light on the intersections of racial, ethnic, sexual, and generational identities, which shape our individual and collective experiences.
Our aim is to foster awareness, ignite meaningful dialogue, and promote understanding as we strive for a community defined by love and inclusivity.
Presented by Ron Stokes in collaboration with Ashley Williams of The Well Collective and Saira Rao of Race2Dinner, this captivating exhibit opens its doors to the public on Friday, November 3rd, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at The Well Collective. Join us on this transformative journey.
Urban Hang Suite (UHS) is one of Richmond’s ultimate coffee havens, lovingly owned by the inimitable Kelli Lemon. This is more than just a coffee shop; it's a hub for the best local brews, teas, and culinary delights.
Step inside and savor the rich flavors while making connections with fellow professionals, both fresh faces and seasoned experts. The Urban Hang Suite stands tall as a community cornerstone, pulsating with creativity and culture. Kelli proudly showcases local artists every other month, curated by The Art Seen.
Urban Hang Suite is a pillar in the community, intentional about creating a space for minority artists in a city where spaces for minority art is limited. Join us, revel in the flavors, embrace the creativity, and be part of the mission to celebrate the vibrant and diverse voices of our community.
Vitals:
Urban Hang Suite / 304 E Broad St. Richmond, Virginia 23219 / Open Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
We're proud to debut our newest sponsored partner, The Read Center...
THE ART SEEN
The Art Seen is your passport to a world of creative experiences in both traditional and non-traditional settings. From art walks to pop-up exhibits, live paintings, and more, we offer a diverse array of events throughout the year. Our primary focus is to spotlight the talents of minority artists in the Richmond community.
As an established minority artist myself, The Art Seen was born out of a personal struggle to find spaces to showcase my own art. I created The Art Seen to address this challenge, to offer a platform for fellow minority artists to share their truths and stories. Additionally, we provide a residency program for emerging artists, offering a unique opportunity to learn and grow alongside established artists, culminating in the chance to showcase their work at various Art Seen events throughout the city.
Meet Heather Crislip, this week’s guest editor. Heather is a Virginia native who relocated to the Fan District from Honolulu in 2008. She has two teenagers, two Great Pyrenees, and an elderly chicken who all sometimes roam the city looking for fun. After leading Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia for almost a decade, she was selected to lead The Richmond Forum in 2021 as they began to return to an in-person audience. Her favorite Forum moment so far was sitting on stage with Michelle Obama in front of thousands of Richmonders to fundraise for The Richmond Forum’s Speech and Debate Initiative for middle and high school students in the region.
Heather is here to give a few recommendations for her favorite things in Richmond, an event, some music, and a special treat.
Take it away, Heather…
The Richmond Forum
It’s almost time! I honestly think that The Richmond Forum is the best event produced in Richmond. I am completely in love with our lineup this season, beginning with Isabel Wilkerson in November. In 2024, we will host Joel Sartore, Liz Cheney, Anthony Fauci, and Nina Totenberg with Kimberley Strassel. It is always delightful to see Richmonders bond with and connect to the national treasures we bring to town. Many people don’t realize that an online subscription gives them the option to upgrade to be in-person at the theater when we open the Ticket Marketplace the Monday before the program.
I’m a die-hard Drive-By Truckers fan. I love their distinctive sound and lyrical content. There’s a Richmond band that is also a part of the newest revival of country music in Virginia. Woody Woodworth & The Piners are named for the bygone expression “to pine” – a deep longing for something or someone. Influenced by Virginia’s deep musical history and Appalachian culture, Woody Woodworth & The Piners fuse storytelling with country, bluegrass, and rock and roll to create a sound that can be described as Appalachian alt-country with a steady shot of southern rock. I love their down-home stage presence and honest vocals, which remind me of the Drive-By Truckers. Their new album, Outlaws and Saints, was released this summer.
This month, a new bakery opened near our office in Shockoe Bottom that offers a delectable array of oatmeal cream pies. We have gone to get them to brighten up a day of tedious work (like when it was all-hands-on-deck for our small staff to mail tickets out to our thousands of subscribers) and plan to hit them up when we host meetings. The shop is fun and I love an unexpected treat, especially when it makes me remember Little Debbie’s in a lunch box. They feel like a hug.
Every year, the world’s most powerful voices come to Richmond, Virginia to share their ideas, stories, and perspectives regarding today’s important issues and to answer your hard-hitting questions.
This season, we will welcome:
• November: Author Isabel Wilkerson with “The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration”
• January: National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore with “Boarding the Photo Ark”
• February: Former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney with “Principles Over Politics”
• March: Dr. Anthony Fauci with “For the Greater Good”
• April: Journalists Nina Totenberg & Kimberley Strassel with “On the Docket”
The first program of the season is just a few weeks away but there is still time to become a subscriber and attend these exciting intellectual evenings. More information about subscription options is available on our website.
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