How two decades of community organizing grew into a vision for land ownership, education, and self-determination. The first time I met Duron Chavis, he wasn't talking about farmland. He was talking about culture. It was the early 2000s, and Happily Natural Day was...
Editor's Note: This is a companion piece to our preview of Songs of Truth, the new musical inspired by the life of Sojourner Truth. This essay from Christian Detres takes a closer look at the woman behind the legend and the enduring relevance of her story. Sojourner Truth is an integral personality to the concept of “American spirit.” She is more...
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 62 into law late Thursday night, creating a pathway for courts to revisit certain marijuana-related convictions handed down before legalization. The bill, officially titled “Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses,” establishes a resentencing process for people still incarcerated or...
Virginia grassroots organizations are working to sustain and grow a movement following the nationwide No Kings protests on March 28. Dozens of organizations were involved in the demonstrations, including COVA Coalition, Indivisible, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Virginia Grassroots Coalition, We of Action, 50501 Virginia, League of Women...
Virginia’s effort to revisit outdated cannabis convictions is moving forward again, though in a revised form that shifts how people access relief. Governor Abigail Spanberger’s amendments to SB 62 / HB 26 replace the bill’s original automatic resentencing framework with a petition-based process. The legislation is intended to give courts the...
A political mailer referencing Jim Crow and the Ku Klux Klan is circulating in Virginia ahead of the April 21 redistricting referendum, prompting criticism from state lawmakers and members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. The mailer urges voters to oppose the referendum and return their ballots immediately. One side reads, “Our ancestors...
A mural in Richmond’s Northside has sparked a complex debate about public art, race, and neighborhood change, with artists, community leaders, and residents weighing in on how public art intersects with neighborhood history. The mural, painted by artist Lauren YS, depicts a woman holding a slice of watermelon with seeds spelling out “Free...
Editor’s Note: This article is based on reporting by Julianna Brown of Capital News Service, a student-powered newsroom at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robertson School of Communication. RVA Magazine has edited and expanded the reporting for our audience. For years, Virginia has allowed community service to count toward court fines and...
Finally some good news in this hellscape, Virginia is making huge, massive moves when it comes to abortion access! The Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment is a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot November 3rd. This means you, the voters, get to decide if the Virginia constitution will be amended to establish the right...
Renee Nicole Good, a graduate of Old Dominion University, was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a federal enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday. The shooting has drawn national attention as questions continue to emerge about the circumstances surrounding the use of lethal force by federal...
