It was 72 and breezy. Unseasonably pleasant, almost chilly. VCU students were splayed out on picnic blankets in Monroe Park enjoying soft serve and the sunshine. Citronella and the smell of hot dogs wafted through the air from some folks having a cookout. “High...
Disclaimer: The following is a letter to the editor. It represents their personal views on this issue. RVA Magazine is committed to providing a platform for community voices on important local matters. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of RVA Magazine, its staff, or affiliates. Written and image by Ian C. Hess In a political...
The United States' relationship with diversity, equity, and inclusion is not anomalous but rather as American as discrimination itself. Since Donald Trump’s second term began in 2025, DEI has become a premier political target of his administration—matching past eras in principle and exceeding them in aggression. However, Trump is not the first to...
The water crisis on January 6th immediately and obviously grabbed everyone’s attention because it left city residents without safe water for six days and came on suddenly; people were scrambling for water long before the city even notified the public that afternoon. The city’s Finance department has had challenges for years, but lately, it better...
Local community arts organization Studio Two Three has had a previously approved federal grant rescinded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), according to an email received this week. The grant, totaling $30,000, had been awarded for programming planned for the 2025 calendar year. In the email addressed to Kate Elizabeth Fowler, the NEA...
Protesting for your rights works—and it always has. Since the Industrial Revolution reshaped the economy in the late 19th century, workers have been forced to organize and mobilize in response to increasingly exploitative labor practices. The system was designed to prioritize production and profit, and it didn’t take long for business owners to...
“There’s a real question about whether our 250th anniversary as a country will be a celebration… or a wake.” Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan spoke straight, framing this moment in American history in two ways: A reckoning with our nation’s founding ideals of liberty and equality and a warning that the current political climate is...
What a difference a week makes! On Tuesday morning April 22, Youngkin aide Matthew Moran wrote on X, the everything app, about the Virginia Republican Party fielding the most diverse ticket in their history. Moran was referring to Winsome Sears, Jason Miyares, and John Reid being named the party nominees. Sears is a Jamaican-born...
We’re probably past the point of sugarcoating where we are in America. The fear of authoritarian creep isn’t a fear anymore. Checks and balances, once the pride of our democracy, are failing. Congress has either abdicated its responsibilities or stood by in polite horror as the walls come crashing down. People are being disappeared into an El...
ed. note: The following is a Letter to the Editor from a community organization that we believe is worth sharing with our readers. What happens when people come together on our own terms? On January 18, 2025, the first city-wide Richmond People's Assembly brought together over 500 people to connect, share a meal, and grow capacity for...
