Meet Vincent Ellis White, this week's guest editor. Vincent has impacted the Richmond community as a human services worker, child welfare advocate, and as a mentor. He is the initiator and moderator of the impactful panel series, Difficult Conversations/Stronger Communities, addressing crucial community and cultural issues. Vincent is also the author of the best-seller “Finding Chris, My Father,” and a traveling stage play. His heartfelt life story and journey has been featured on ABC in New York, CBS, NBC, and featured in numerous lectures at universities across the country. He has been recognized as one of Style-Weekly's Top 40 under 40 recipients, Richmond’s Hometown Heroes, and a recipient of countless honors for his work in foster care and fatherhood initiatives. His greatest achievement remains raising his son, Jordan Ellis White, who's embarking on a pre-med journey at Kent State University.
Take it away, Vincent!
The Well Collective
One of my all-time favorite places to go for therapeutic services and to get centered, is The Well Collective. Located in the heart of Shockoe Bottom, Well Collective is a space for conscious community offering multicultural, intergenerational wellness, equitable healing modalities, educational workshops and an apothecary for individual and collective well-being. Recently, owner Ashley Williams purchased the six-story, 158 year old Branch Building on Main St. to make it the headquarters and hub for education and retreat.
As a community partner with The Well Collective since 2023, I'm thrilled about the upcoming event, "Difficult Conversations: Co-Parenting and Custody: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." This topic is a community request and part of the 'Difficult Conversations, Stronger Communities' series. These panel events encourage candid discussions on current issues affecting our community. Each event features experts, fostering healthy, respectful dialogue in an open forum. Unexpected moments of laughter, tears, and revelations create an atmosphere of healing. Join us at The Well on May 14th for an enriching experience.
Common House Richmond bravely opened in the fall of 2020, right in the heart of RVA's Arts District. I became a member in December 2020 and have been adoring the space since then. It's a social club equipped with all the amenities you could think of -- a podcast room, screening room, open co-working floor, wine cellar, in-house restaurant, open courtyard, rooftop pool, and more. It truly feels like my home away from home. The food is top-notch and there are always live bands playing. And you never know who you might bump into! I've made new friends, sealed business deals, learned about wine pairing, and experienced so much more at the Common House. I've also been a programming partner with Common House since 2022, and thoroughly enjoy collaborating with their staffing team. Their next event is a Mother's Day Brunch, taking place on Sunday, May 12th at 10:00 am, which will serve as a toast to all the Moms across the city.
Oh, now one thing I love to do is EAT. I actually have a running list in the notes section of my iPhone of restaurants that I'd like to visit. But I always go back to The Lilly Pad, Richmond's only waterfront bar and restaurant! It's a bit of a drive from the city center, but well worth it. As you arrive, you instantly feel like you've found an escape from the hustle and bustle, a little slice of paradise. On a sunny day, you can sit by the water, rent boats, listen to a live band, mingle with friendly strangers, and savor some of the best food you've ever tasted. Don't miss their weekend brunch on May 11th & 12th from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Vitals:
Brunch at The Lilly Pad / Saturday & Sunday, May 11 & 12 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm / 9680 Osborne Turnpike
More About Difficult Conversations.
In early 2022, Vincent formed a partnership with Common House which allowed him to create a quarterly series focused on facilitating difficult conversations. Understanding the significance of these types of discussions, he established a safe space where people could be vulnerable, transparent, and openly engage in challenging dialogues without fear of judgment. The inaugural event, held on March 9, 2022, was an immediate success. It organically gained momentum with each subsequent event, drawing attention to the significant impact it was having on attendees. Now in its third year, Vincent has secured new partnerships with The SPOT Event Center in Petersburg and The Well Collective. He is set to return to Common House on July 25th and plans to expand the series to various other locations in 2024.
Meet this week's guest editor, Mavis Wynn! Mavis is a staple at Venture Richmond, bringing passion, dedication, and a wealth of expertise to her work each day. Starting as a volunteer 30 years ago, she celebrated her 25th anniversary as Events Operations Manager in 2023. Her knack for working seamlessly with vendors, volunteers, security, and government agencies showcases her top-notch organizational skills and leadership prowess.
But Mavis isn't all work and no play! She's deeply involved in her community, church, and family life. She strikes the perfect work-life balance through her love for college and professional sports, live music, travel, and quality time spent with loved ones.
Take it away, Mavis!
Friday Cheers
Friday Cheers is our weekly summer concert series that brings some of the biggest up-and-coming artists to Brown’s Island along Downtown Richmond's riverfront every Friday in May and June! Presented by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Friday Cheers returns for its 39th season as Richmond’s longest running concert series showcasing some of the nation’s hottest touring bands and all-time regional favorites.
The longest-standing summer concert series held along the James River, Friday Cheers draws popular groups such as the Zac Brown Band, Tyler Childers, Snarky Puppy, The Head & the Heart and hundreds of others. The series showcases emerging headliners - some of the best bands that you may not have heard of yet, and attracts a wide-ranging audience from the very young to the young at heart. Twenty-something’s looking to mingle, young families and older adults all find common ground at Friday Cheers. See you on the island!
Vitals:
Friday Cheers / Every Friday in May & June / Brown's Island: Tredegar St. between 5th and 7th Streets, click here for directions & parking.
¿Qué Pasa? Festival
Produced by the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the ¿Qué Pasa? Festival celebrates the diversity and beauty of the Hispanic & Latin American cultures in the city of Richmond. This event is free to the public and showcases local Hispanic and Latino businesses, artisans, restaurants, entertainers, and more. This festival brings the community together! Stroll through the artisan market, featuring unique vendors, live artist exhibitions, homemade crafts, gifts, and more.
Vitals:
¿Qué Pasa? Festival / Saturday, May 4, 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm / Brown's Island: Tredegar St. between 5th and 7th Streets, click here for directions & parking.
Arts in the Park
Arts in the Park is a nationally-rated, juried art show which offers the opportunity for you to see and purchase fine original work produced by top-quality artists and crafts people from Virginia and throughout the United States. The festival is held in Byrd Park and features over 350 artists and artisans and their fine art, paintings, metal crafts, pottery, and jewelry.
Vitals:
Arts in the Park/ Saturday, May 4, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm & Sunday, May 5, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm / Byrd Park around the Carillon, click here for shuttles, parking, and directions.
More About Venture Richmond.
Venture Richmond has initiated a capital campaign, supported by the City, to raise funds for implementing the Riverfront Plan recommendations for Brown’s Island. These include river and canal terraces, children's play areas, additional trees and landscaping, increased ADA accessibility, and other pedestrian improvements like shade, seating, and permanent restrooms. Additionally, we've recently introduced a new drone-based mapping program on our website that emphasizes downtown economic development and enables virtual tours!
In September, we're set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Richmond Folk Festival, with past audience favorites returning and more surprises to be announced soon. Following the Richmond Folk Festival, we will honor the history of Historic Jackson Ward during the 2nd Street Festival. Thousands visit Jackson Ward annually to experience its vibrance and remember its past as "the Harlem of the South,” the heart of Richmond's African-American community. The 2nd Street Festival, a two-day celebration, showcases three stages of live music featuring acts like Arrested Development and local superstar, Desiree Roots! In addition, there's a Kidz Zone, food vendors, a marketplace, Artists Row, and the Richmond Metropolitan Antique Car Club. Click the button below to learn more!
Meet Chrystal Neal, this week’s guest editor for Here. Chrystal is an avid community and arts supporter. A few years back, Chrystal broke away from an international finance law practice to create a career that ignited her passion and pushed her limits. She stepped into the kaleidoscope of RVA’s creative scene – connecting people and ideas – to nationally brand the region as a creative, innovative powerhouse, first as executive director of C3, the Creative Change Center, then as innovation and creativity director for ChamberRVA, later becoming the Chamber’s Executive Vice President leading the region’s workforce strategy. Today Chrystal serves as Vice President, Internal Communications & Employer Branding at CoStar Group in its downtown Richmond office.
In her spare time, Chrystal and her husband, Daniel Salomonsky, enjoy trying every new restaurant in town, while loyally supporting their many longtime favorites. They are also big fans of local arts and creativity, having recently opened a co-working space for artists in Shockoe Bottom, 17th Street Studios.
Take it away, Chrystal...
A Painter's Paradise Co-working Space
17th Street Studios opened to fill a niche in RVA’s creative ecosystem - a beautiful space to paint and create community with other artists. If you are tired of getting paint on your bedroom sheets or kitchen floor, maybe it’s time to rent access to a collaborative space with plenty of room to create. Designed by New York-based artist, Sarah Salo, a Richmond native, 17th Street Studios opened on April 15. Read more: A Painter's Paradise by RVA Magazine.
As a Richmond native, it makes me proud that our very own museum, The Valentine, originally devoted to telling the history of Richmond, was courageous enough to open the inspiring exhibit, “Sculpting History at the Valentine Studio: Art, Power, and the ‘Lost Cause’ American Myth,” using evidence to show how leaders in Richmond, and others around the country, reframed the reality of the Civil War. Check out this exhibit and multiple intellectually stimulating events at The Valentine.
I recently volunteered with Historic Garden Week as a host in a beautiful garden in Westover Hills. We are halfway through the gorgeous week showcasing the most beautiful gardens across Virginia, but it is not too late for you and your friends and family to enjoy! Buy tickets here.
I love being a native Richmonder. I have had the good fortune to live in several other large cities in the U.S., and those experiences taught me, among other things, how absolutely unique Richmond is. Our thriving artistic community is second to none. Our food scene is amazing, and Daniel and I have so much fun supporting local restaurants.
You would not necessarily know from our beautiful historic architecture how avant garde our thinking can be here. Our complicated history weaves a good, bad and ugly story with so much opportunity to learn and become better. For me, engaging in community building and conversation is a step in that direction.
I love to read, travel, garden and swim. And did I mention, dine in local restaurants?
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