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Richmond Public Schools’ Chosen Name Practice to Take Effect This Fall

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As part of Richmond Public Schools’ effort to make schools a more inclusive space for the LGBTQ community, starting this fall, it will have an option for students to display their chosen name on virtual platforms.

Richmond Public Schools has introduced the option for transgender and non-binary students to display their chosen name on online platforms for the upcoming virtual school year.

Students who need to change their name on virtual platforms, such as Google Classroom, should contact RPS Chief of Staff Michelle Hudacsko, according to Superintendent Jason Kamras’ Aug. 20 newsletter. While this option does not currently exist due to official policy, Kamras said RPS is working on making it official.

With the assistance of Side By Side, a local advocacy organization dedicated to LGBTQ youth, RPS has been making important changes to its policies over the past year in order to be more inclusive toward LGBTQ students and staff. According to Side By Side, the implementation of a chosen name practice is an important component of that effort.

“It’s such a little thing to be able to consistently use the name [a student goes by],” said Ted Lewis, executive director of Side by Side, “but it goes a long way to the mental health of transgender youth.”

Not only has the organization been working with the school district to update their policies and students’ code of conduct, Lewis said Side by Side has been providing training for counselors and teachers as well as resources such as support groups and mental counseling for RPS staff, students, and their families.

Kamras said RPS revised the Student Code of Responsible Ethics (SCORE) to remove gender-specific guidelines, has removed gender-based color graduation gowns, and is looking to revise bathroom policy to “promote equity.”

“Our motto at RPS is to teach with love, lead with love, and serve with love,” said Kamras. “It’s really hard to live that if we’re not making sure that all of our students and staff feel welcomed or love for who they are.”

RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. (Photo via rvaschools.net)

According to a University of Texas study, there is a 65 percent decrease in suicide attempt among trans youths who are able to use their chosen names at school in addition to home, work, and with friends; there is also a 71 percent reduction in depression symptoms.

RPS’ example of trans inclusivity may help influence other local school districts to do the same. Lewis said that families in surrounding counties have sent RPS’ practice to their school districts as an example for LGBTQ-inclusive policies.

RPS is not the only institution in the area to offer such service or policies. The Henrico School Board had recently adopted new non-discriminatory policies that extend nondiscrimination to programs, services, and activities on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Virginia Commonwealth University has a program called “Call Me By My Name,” which allows students and employees to update the name, pronoun, and gender identity they associate with on various platforms. The University of Richmond has similar non-discriminatory policies towards their trans students and employees.

Currently, the Virginia Department of Education is developing model policies in regards to treatment of trans students in public schools, ranging from bullying and dress codes to students’ privacy and records maintenance. School boards are required to adopt these guidelines by the 2021-2022 school year. 

While Kamras does not know what the model policies will entail, he said it will support and “give further credibility” to RPS’ inclusivity efforts.

Side by Side also has been involved in conversation with RPS in regards to law enforcement and school resource officers in schools. The organization sent out a letter to the school district calling for the removal of School Resource Officers (SROs) from all Richmond Public Schools, citing that LGBTQ students are more likely to be mistreated by law enforcement.

“This mistreatment and harassment by law enforcement combined with increased surveillance in school leads to more LGBTQ+ youth being incarcerated,” the letter stated.

Superintendent Kamras announced in a “Civic Voice Town Hall” meeting with students in July that he;s recommending to the school board the removal of SROs from schools and reallocating funding for mental health counseling. Kamras said the RPS is still in the review phase, and the school board will consider the hearing testimonies and data to make a decision on removing SROs this fall.

RPS plans to carry their chosen name practice to in-person learning once schools physically reopen, with a similar approach.

“We’ve created a mechanism for students to share their chosen names,” Kamras said, “so we can carry that forward now, once we do return in person.”

Top Photo via rvaschools.net

Landon Elliott’s “Rainbow”: More Than Just A Song

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You can own a piece of art from Landon Elliott’s music video. The cover of Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow” creates a fundraiser for Side By Side, allowing listeners to donate $5 and receive a piece of rainbow art featured in the video. 

Another fine Richmond artist has put out a charity project in the midst of the chaos that is 2020. This time, Richmond musician Landon Elliott’s cover of “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves recontextualizes the original as an optimistic ode to the LGBTQ community. Appropriately, part of this project also helps fund LGBTQ charities through a charity art auction. 

PHOTO: Landon Elliott, “Rainbow”

The art in question comes from a unique source. In addition to recording his cover of “Rainbow” and releasing it for his charity event, The Rainbow Project, Elliott also recorded a full music video depicting dozens of pieces of handmade rainbow artworks. Each piece of art was created by one of Elliott’s fans after he announced this project via social media. 

“I was a little nervous that people weren’t going to respond to that call to action,” said Elliott. “But people really showed up.” 

In total, there are 50 pieces included that cover a variety of different artistic genres, from simple crayon drawings to mosaic and threadwork. These pieces make up the pool of artworks from the video that will be randomly selected for donors in exchange for their donation. 

Elliott was originally inspired to do this project after seeing rainbow art pieces displayed around his neighborhood. As far as Elliott knew, the pieces were unrelated to specific LGBTQ issues, and were simply meant as a gesture of kindness and optimism towards others in the community. 

“This year has become progressively heavier with COVID-19, and being an election year [with] all the social injustices which have been happening… the heightened atmosphere around that,” said Elliott. “I noticed a bunch of these pieces of rainbow artwork hung up in windows. I came to find out people were doing that since we can’t be in close proximity, as a really nice way to share just a little moment of hope.” 

Instantly, Elliott’s mind went to Musgraves’ “Rainbow,” a song that he became fond of during a tour-related road trip through Ohio last year. The imagery and message of the song’s hopeful lyrics could not have been more appropriate. 

“[The art] brought back the memories of driving through Ohio, hearing that song for the first time and feeling that hope,” said Elliott. 

Soon after that trip, Eliott began recording his cover of the song, which eventually developed into a full-blown charity project. 

“In tandem with all of the rainbow artwork we have been seeing,” Elliott said, “we decided to create a giving aspect to [the project] where the rainbows would be sold to benefit LGBTQ youth and family organizations.” 

PHOTO: Via Landon Elliott’s Fundraiser

Elliott chose the longstanding Richmond-based LGBTQ youth support group, Side by Side, to receive the proceeds from this project. 

“[The LGBTQ community] is a community that deserves support. It needs support,” Elliott said. “There’s a lot of uphill battles they have to fight, which I think are really unjust and unfair… I want community partners that support them to be well-funded.” 

Donations can be made via Elliott’s Bandcamp page. There is no maximum donation amount, but there is a required $5 minimum to receive a piece of art. 100 percent of the proceeds go to Side by Side, so donating more than the minimum is heavily encouraged.

PHOTO: Via Landon Elliott’s Fundraiser

Find the project here on Elliott’s Bandcamp, and check out more from Elliott via website, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Top Photo via Landon Elliott’s “Rainbow” video

Pride Of Place

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Virginia nonprofits Side By Side and Virginia Home for Boys and Girls team up to tackle LGBTQ youth homelessness with Pride Place.

Virginia nonprofit organizations Side By Side and the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls have teamed up to create new housing spaces for LGBTQ youth facing homelessness. These new spaces are called Pride Place; they are two homes on the VHBG campus that will house up to four LGBTQ youth between the ages of 18 and 25. 

“We were seeing time and time again LGBTQ young folks sort of left out of the system,” said Ted Lewis, the Executive Director of Side By Side.

In a press release, Lewis and Claiborne Mason Warner, the president of VHBG, said that homelessness disproportionately affects LGBTQ youth, as 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ despite only making up 9 percent of the total population.

“In 2019, Side By Side launched the Host Home program, which places a young person who is experiencing homelessness in a person’s home until they reached a place of stability. Think of it as ‘AirBnB without a fee,’” said Lewis, “We realized pretty quickly that we needed more diverse options, and we were fortunate enough to be connected with VHBG, who had homes on their campus that they were looking to better utilize. So we formed the partnership for Pride Place.”

Ted Lewis and Claiborne Mason Warner mount a rainbow flag at Pride Place

Side By Side is a Virginian nonprofit organization that focuses on supporting LGBTQ youth through resources like counseling, support groups, therapy, and parent/guardian relations. The Virginia Home for Boys and Girls is a nonprofit that focuses on tackling traumatic and abusive home situations young people may face.

“The plight of youth who have suffered from trauma and abuse is really the common thread among the children and young adults we serve,” said Mason Warner. Youth homelessness is not the main issue that VHBG tackles, but is part of their mission to help youth. 

“We have a 30 acre campus that provides kids a place to live, learn, and receive the therapeutic support they need,” said Mason Warner. “Children who turn 18 can opt into a program like ours and continue to receive some support. Their part of the bargain is that they either continue their education or get a job, and we provide support services, therapy, or just teaching the everyday basics of living independently — how to get on the bus system and access public transportation, how to make a grocery list, how to make a budget, that type of thing.”

Similarly, Side By Side offers resources for LGBTQ youth facing similar situations.

“We work to create supportive spaces for youth,” said Lewis. “That could be in our support groups, counseling services, the Host Home program, etc.”

Like VHBG, homelessness is not the main issue that Side By Side tackles, but it is still part of their mission with LGBTQ youth, said Lewis. 

“Our support groups have always been a preventative effort. If we can give young people space to come out in an affirming and safe way, and we can also provide support to their parents and caregivers, they’re less likely to be disowned and disconnected to family. We are still seeing folks who are disconnected from their family for any number of reasons, often because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity,” they said. “We kept seeing young adults — over 18 but under 25 — who would come to our center seeking support and looking for a place to stay, and while the Homelessness Services System in Richmond is there, it’s not really affirming for LGBTQ+ people and young people.”

Ted Lewis, Pride Place Director Karen Swansey, and Claiborne Mason Warner practice social distancing at Pride Place

Similar to Side By Side’s Host Home program, Pride Place at VHBG will offer transitional housing for youth facing homelessness. At no cost to the participant, they will be able to receive the support they may need and learn the lessons and skills they will need to start a new chapter of their life and thrive in the adult world.

“I’m a member of the LGBTQ community myself, and I wanted to ensure that the young people in our community were able to not just survive but thrive,” said Lewis.

All Photos courtesy Virginia Home For Boys & Girls and Side By Side

How Central VA’s LGBTQ Community Is Responding To Coronavirus

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Plans are changing. Alternate arrangements are being made. Around Richmond and central Virginia, LGBTQ organizations are adjusting to the restrictions required by coronavirus. Here’s what you need to know.

From the tediousness of sheltering in place to the terrifying implications of lost income to the frustrating experience that shopping for basic necessities has become, COVID-19, aka the novel coronavirus, is messing all of us up. Not only are members of the LGBTQ community at higher risk for infection by COVID-19, LGBTQ people are more likely to be on the lower end of the economic spectrum, and therefore to face unpleasant consequences of the current economic slowdown more quickly than most.

With all of this going on, we felt it was important to let everyone know what’s happening with the many LGBTQ advocacy and support organizations around Richmond, as well as all of our favorite LGBTQ-centered night spots and entertainment venues. Here’s what we know right now.

Richmond LGBTQ Chamber

In light of the need for social distancing, the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber (formerly known as Richmond Business Alliance) has cancelled all scheduled events for at least eight weeks. The upcoming volunteer meeting has been moved to a conference call. “In these difficult times it is imperative that we support one another,” said Richmond LGBTQ Chamber President Natasha Crosby in a statement. “We pride ourselves on the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber being YOUR chamber of commerce and want you to know that we are here to support you during this time.” The Chamber has created a relief fund for members of the Chamber experiencing financial hardship, and will be giving micro-grants starting mid-April. To apply for assistance, email [email protected] The relief fund is also currently accepting donations at Richmond LGBTQ Chamber’s website.

Diversity Richmond

All aspects of Diversity Richmond, including Diversity Thrift and Iridian Gallery, are closed for the next two weeks. Scheduled events are on hold, and Diversity will be monitoring the situation between now and the end of the month in order to decide on any further action. “Stay safe and help take care of your friends,” the organization said in a statement.

Richmond Triangle Players

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, Richmond Triangle Players have postponed the opening of their next production, Sugar In Our Wounds, until mid-May. However, gift certificates are available for purchase at RTP’s website, and are a great way to support the theater as it gets back on its feet. “As always, we are grateful for your ongoing support and hope to see you at the Theatre soon,” said RTP Executive Director Philip Crosby in a statement. “Stay safe. Stay home as much as possible. And wash those hands!

Equality Virginia

The first year of Democratic control in the General Assembly brought a slew of legislative victories for Virginia’s LGBTQ community, but unfortunately, coronavirus has prevented Equality Virginia’s celebration. The annual Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28, has been cancelled. If you bought a ticket, information on obtaining a refund is available at EV’s website. “We deeply empathize and share the disappointment our community will feel regarding this decision, especially our OUTstanding Virginians whose unique contributions to LGBTQ equality would have been celebrated at the Commonwealth Dinner,” the group said in a statement. “We honor their passion, dedication, and accomplishments which together help to build a stronger, more vibrant LGBTQ community in the Commonwealth.”

Side By Side

Virginia’s advocates for LGBTQ youth have made extensive changes in order to accomodate the ongoing situation where coronavirus is concerned. The organization’s office is closed for the foreseeable future, and all drop-in hours have been cancelled. All support groups for Richmond and Charlottesville have moved to online virtual groups using Zoom. New youth can still join — more information on joining support groups and on additional support available, including G-chat, individual counseling, youth support lines, and much more is available at sidebysideva.org/covid19.

Additionally, Side By Side is looking for volunteers to help show LGBTQ youth stuck at home with potentially unsupportive families some online love. “

“We are calling on our LGBTQ+ community and amazing allies to post a video showing your pride or your love for LGBTQ+ youth with #PrideAtHome and tag Side by Side to show your support,” the group said in a statement. “Let’s remind our youth that they are fabulous and loved and that being proud of who you are can happen anywhere!”

Health Brigade

Health Brigade has moved to remote operations. All events on-site have been cancelled until further notice. If you have an appointment for the medical clinic, staff will be in touch with you about alternate arrangements. New patients are not being accepted at this time. Individual therapy sessions are being held by phone; all groups have been suspended until further notice. Transgender Health Services is operating remotely, and is not accepting new clients, but is available for contact 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday. STI/HIV testing, comprehensive harm reduction/needle exchange, starting new patients on PrEP, Transgender Health Services intakes, and Ryan White Part B Intakes have all been suspended until further notice. More information on Health Brigade services during this time can be found at healthbrigade.org/covid19update/.

“We have been receiving heart-warming inquires from our funders and the community at large. In a time of such uncertainty, people want to help their neighbors most in need,” Health Brigade Executive Director Karen A. Legato said in a statement. “The best way to help us is to DONATE. As a private, non-profit clinic, we do NOT receive federal funding. If you can give, we promise, we will put your gift into providing patient/client/community care.” That link to donate is here; many of the most vulnerable members of our community rely on Health Brigade for health care; if you’re in a position to help, we highly recommend that you do so.

Planned Parenthood

As of right now, Planned Parenthood is remaining open. They ask that if you have a fever, are experiencing symptoms that might be connected to COVID-19, or have traveled recently, that you call before any appointment and consult with staff on next steps. They also ask that clients come alone to appointments, in order to minimize risk to staff and other patients. But they are making a point to be as available as possible.

“One of the reasons you have chosen Planned Parenthood as your health care provider is because of one simple standard: our doors stay open,” said Virginia League for Planned Parenthood Medical Director Dr. Shanthi Ramesh in a statement. “We care. No matter what. We are open. We are here for you. We know that health care is a critical piece of your life and your community and that there are many things that are uncertain about the days and weeks ahead. We are open for services such as abortion care, urinary tract infections, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and urgent primary care concerns.”

“Just know that we are doing everything we can to make your life easier and get you the information and care you need. Whether we provide services online, by phone, in person or chat/text, we’re here with you.”

Nationz Foundation

Nationz Foundation’s current office hours are 10am – 5pm, by appointment only. They are continuing to provide HIV and STI testing during these hours, but are not accepting walk-ins in order to protect staff and clients. Appointments can be made by calling (804)716-7597. “We will continue to Aim to Inspire during these difficult times and encourage our community to as well!” Nationz said in a statement.

Babes of Carytown

Babes remained open for carryout and delivery throughout March, but as of April 1, have decided to close until further notice.

Godfrey’s

Godfrey’s has been doing Virtual Drag Brunches from 11am-2pm on Sundays, so you’re not entirely deprived of your drag brunch goodness — it just comes through Facebook and Instagram now. They’ve also been hosting Virtual Drag Shows on Wednesday evenings at 8pm; tonight’s will feature raffles for gift certificates to drag brunch when all this mess is over. So tune in and get your Paypal or CashApp ready to send in those tips!

Barcode

Barcode are offering their full menu for takeout orders, and have delivery available through Grubhub. To place an order, call Barcode at (804)648-2040. “We are practicing safety and caution for our staff and clients,” Barcode said in a statement. “Thanks again for your continued support.”

Fallout

Fallout is currently open from 6pm to 12am for takeout. Their full menu is available, and staff can meet you with food curbside by request. To-go orders can be placed by calling (804)343-3688. All events have been cancelled until further notice, including the regular Wicked Wednesday drag night. Fallout merchandise is available online for purchase, as are gift cards, and a portion of the purchase price for both will be reserved for employees.

“We are working out a way to support the staff as much as possible if a mandated shutdown/shift loss becomes a reality,” Fallout management said in a statement. “Please also consider supporting local artists, performers, sex workers. There are several orgs forming to give mutual aid, especially in the queer community, keep an eye out for those and donate where you can.”

VA Pride

While VA Pride hasn’t had to cancel any events as yet, they are currently working with The Holli Fund on a Virtual Happy Hour, to be held Friday, March 20 from noon to 7pm. The goal of the online event is to raise money for those from the food industry whose incomes have taken a hit due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. More information on that event, and how you can donate, can be found here.

“VA Pride is currently reaching out to local and state officials and is working with local relief efforts to see how we can best leverage our resources, networks and connections to help,” said VA Pride President James R. Millner II in a statement. “We will keep you informed of our efforts and will ask you to join us when the time is right. We are also going to be sharing information on relief efforts already underway so you can access them if you need to and support them if you are able. We are committed to do all we can to ensure the safety, health and well-being of not just our LGBTQ family, but of our entire RVA community.”

Would you like your organization included on this list? Does information on this list need to be updated? If so, please send an email to [email protected] We will be updating this list with new information as we receive it.

Top Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Our Attention May Be Elsewhere, But The Transphobes Never Sleep

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In Idaho, two bills attempting to roll back civil rights for the state’s transgender community are headed to the governor’s desk. Advocates urge him to veto both, but with the news consumed by coronavirus, will their pleas be heard?

There’s no denying it: coronavirus has got us all messed up. Whether we’re worried about friends, family, and ourselves coming down with the disease or panicking over the devastating effect social distancing-related closures are having on the economy, it’s hard to shake it from our minds and pay attention to, really, anything else.

But that doesn’t mean that people with anti-LGBTQ agendas are ceasing in their efforts to roll back our rights around the nation. And if you needed proof of that, look no further than what happened in Idaho late last week, as the state’s legislature approved two bills that, if passed, will have a seriously negative effect on transgender people living in that state.

The first bill, the Fairness In Women’s Sports Act, seeks to ensure that high school sports programs for women “shall not be open to students of the male sex.” One would have to assume that this act is intended to bar transgender girls from participating in school sports programs, though this wording is based on a lot of assumptions, if you ask us. However, clearly the legislature knew this, as there is additional language within the bill requiring that any student disputing whether they should be barred from women’s sports activities at the high school level must submit a statement from a doctor that established their sex based on “the student’s internal and external reproductive anatomy; the student’s normal endogenously produced levels of testosterone; and an analysis of the student’s genetic makeup.”

Ah yes, that old “I can misgender you based on your chromosomes” argument so beloved by belligerent conservatives like Ben Shapiro. Of course, gender (and sex) are much more complicated than that, but once such things are written into law, those complications seek to have a legal relevance, regardless of whose rights get taken away.

Boise Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb called the bill “repugnant,” and said, “This bill is rooted in fear and misinformation,” according to East Idaho News, but she ultimately was unable to convince her fellow legislators to vote it down, and the bill passed by significant margins in both houses of the Idaho state legislature.

“Idaho has not seen any issues with trans girls competing in the girls sports,” American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho policy director Kathy Griesmyer told the Washington Blade. “This unconstitutional and mean-spirited bill prevents trans girls from finding community and self-esteem in sports and will certainly result in litigation to defend the civil rights of Idaho’s transgender community.”

Five former Idaho attorneys general actually sent an open letter to Idaho Governor Brad Little urging him to veto the bill, saying that it seems particularly vulnerable to legal challenges. “The Attorney General has opined that the legislation contains a number of legal infirmities, making it subject to invalidation in federal court proceedings,” they wrote in a letter published by the Idaho Statesman. “The more serious concern is apparent conflict with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but other provisions of federal law are implicated.”

Sam Brinton, head of the Trevor Project, called the decision to move forward with the bill “shameful,” especially during a global pandemic. “Our elected officials should be expanding opportunities for trans students, not further marginalizing a group already at high risk for bullying and discrimination,” Brinton told the Washington Blade. “At The Trevor Project, we hear from LGBTQ youth in crisis every day and we know that affirming trans youth in their identities is critical to their health and wellbeing. Denying trans youth the ability to participate in school sports, which have shown to have a positive effect on mental health, will increase the kind of social isolation and stigma that contributes to the risk of suicidality.”

Meanwhile, another more wide-ranging anti-trans piece of legislation is also winging its way to Governor Little’s desk. This one is known as the Idaho Vital Statistics Act, and it prohibits the changing of gender markers on birth certificates for any reason besides “fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact.” This would eliminate the ability of transgender people to change the gender markers on their birth certificates as part of their legal transition. At this time, only Ohio and Tennessee have an outright ban on transgender people changing the gender marker on their birth certificates.

Image by Theshibboleth, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia

A variety of other states require proof of a medical procedure (gender confirmation surgery) in order to make this change; Virginia still does at this moment, but a bill currently before Governor Ralph Northam will end that requirement, assuming Northam signs it into law by the action deadline of April 11. Governor, if you’re reading, I trust you to do the right thing for us.

Back in Idaho, Representative Julianne Young, who sponsored the bill, told CNN that “safeguarding the accuracy of our vital records is a vital part of preserving the ability of the state to protect the public health and safety.” One assumes she considers it somehow inaccurate for a birth certificate to reflect a trans person’s actual gender identity.

The legislation follows a 2018 court order requiring Idaho to allow gender marker changes on birth certificates, and seems intended to overrule that order, though it could easily still be found unconstitutional by a future judicial ruling. Lambda Legal counsel Peter Renn, who worked on the 2018 case, was frustrated by the bill’s passage.

“Idaho lawmakers might as well try to tear down the federal courthouse if they have this much contempt for the rule of law,” Renn told the Washington Blade. “They are explicitly defying a court order and exposing Idaho taxpayers to footing the bill for significant financial consequences – all while putting transgender people back in harm’s way for harassment and even violence, and once again making Idaho a national outlier.”

Top Photo: Idaho state Capitol, by Maxbatt at en.wikipedia – Own work, Transferred from en.wikipedia, Public Domain, via Wikimedia

Putting The ‘Sparc’ Into Richmond

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Richmond non-profit organization SPARC uses art, music, and performance to help local youth, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, grow into creative, successful adults.

Every child is different. They have different backgrounds, different family situations, and a different story to tell the world, good or bad. Some are in need of a safe space that school cannot provide for them. This is where Richmond-based organization SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community) makes its mark.

SPARC is a non-profit organization that helps children express their emotions and life challenges in a healthy environment through art programs. What makes SPARC perfect for a city like Richmond is that it gives children an outlet to express their emotions and creativity through art programs, allowing those children the opportunity to grow and add to the artistic community that makes Richmond the creative city it is.

“We really define our purpose as social and emotional learning through the arts,” said Ryan Ripperton, the Executive Director of SPARC. The difficult aspects of being a teenager — overwhelming emotions, not knowing how to explain the things you’re feeling, that persistent fear that no one understands — are what makes SPARC programs so important to these kids. SPARC successfully creates an environment that shows kids and teenagers how to express themselves and handle their emotions through the arts.

Photo via SPARC/Facebook

SPARC offers multiple opportunities for students to get involved, no matter their age or level in school. The “Stages” program, which works with the youngest students, offers kids the opportunity to enhance their language skills — to speak with confidence, pride, and clarity. 

“We send teachers into Richmond City schools, typically in the 2nd or 3rd grade, where we meet with those classes all year long,” says Brendan Kennedy, SPARC’s Program Director and “Captain of Curiosity.” “The idea of this program is to get into schools, again, that don’t typically have access to after-school activities.” With the help of these classes, SPARC says on their website, “program assessments show the average student improves oral language standards of learning by more than 44% within a single school year.”    

While “Stages” is geared toward a younger audience, “New Voices” is an intensive two-week program focused on high school students who want to try their hands at playwriting and having their plays performed.

“It is harnessing new playwrights’ plays and giving them an opportunity to work with a professional playwright and director to then see their work go from just their idea to an [actual] production,” Kennedy says. The students in the New Voices program live in VCU dorms during the two-week program, submitting their pieces and shepherding them through an in-depth process of read-throughs, rewrites, and performances.

“For those two weeks, they are living and breathing their play, and playwriting in general,” says Kennedy. “A play’s whole purpose is to be read in front of an audience, to perform in front of an audience … They get both sides of it… the revision and editing with professional playwrights and their peers, who are also working on their artwork.” 

Photo by Tom Topinka, via SPARC/Facebook

One of the most inclusive programs offered by Sparc is the “Spectrum” program. This program is offered to LGBTQ students to give them a safe and welcoming space to express their life experiences.

“[Spectrum] is completely focused on the LGBTQ student identity, and allies…of LGBTQ youth,” Ripperton explains. “[It] is all about the exploration and creation of identity and story and the acceptance of young people.” With the help of trained teachers, participation in different kinds of classes and exercises help students learn how to express and work through their life’s challenges in a creative and safe space.

To help protect their students, Ripperton says, SPARC follows a nationwide program created for Spectrum. “It’s all about creating that sense of belonging,” he says. “It’s advanced by a like group, like the Pride Youth Theater Alliance.”

Giving these kids a sense of safety and acceptance to express themselves is crucial to this program. Some of them endure bullying, family members not accepting them, or worse. Having the opportunity to participate in Spectrum provides helps make up for the love that they might lack in other parts of their lives.

“Talking about yourself, or talking about observations about the world, through an LGBTQ lens –for teenagers, that can be very vulnerable,” Ripperton explains. “So…we have recognized that everybody is going to have valuable things to say, and we’re going to honor all of it.” This way, SPARC helps to show these kids that they are talented, and that they can live in a world that will accept them for who they are.

Photo via SPARC/Facebook

Even though at this time, SPARC’s programs are mainly available in Richmond and Henrico, children in neighborhoods all over the state can benefit from these programs, which have strong potential to expand outside of these two areas. In fact, SPARC’s activities could be available to children elsewhere in the state as soon as this summer.

“We are very much in Richmond and Henrico primarily right now,” Ripperton says. “We’re planning on announcing a couple of weeks of summer programing that’s gonna be taking place down in Brandermill … and we have definitely been hearing the cry, especially from Chesterfield, so… we are definitely interested in growing.”

The expansion of SPARC to these new areas will open doors to a new generation of SPARC student, reaching students who don’t currently have access to the transportation needed to bring them to SPARC’s current facilities. SPARC also offers scholarships and reduced prices, so families from lower-income areas can afford them, and their kids can take advantage of an opportunity to grow and develop into the best they can be.

While their students may not stick with music or art in the long term, the skills taught by SPARC are skills kids will take with them throughout life. “You know, when I talk to a SPARC alum who is now a teacher — or is a community leader, or a politician, or a doctor, or whatever their chosen career — they’re not saying… I’m so glad that you taught me how to sing an F sharp correctly,” Ripperton says. “What they say is, ‘I’m really glad that you taught me to be confident and comfortable with who I am, how to talk in front of people… and how to be… organized and have compassion and empathy for other people.”

Ripperton points out that the skills kids learn with SPARC stick with them regardless of the path they end up taking. “No matter whether a person decides to pursue the arts as a career or not,” he says, “the difference we feel like we make in the community is around the social emotional learning for young people, that’s going to benefit them forever.” SPARC is not just teaching kids to act; they’re building character and giving kids the tools they need to succeed in life.

Photo via SPARC/Facebook

Regardless of income, social class, or what side of the city someone comes from, they are welcomed at SPARC. “It crosses boundaries,” Ripperton explains. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s an affluent family in the West End [that] is signing up for a class, or if it’s work we’re doing in schools [in the] South Side… No matter what it is, these are skills that every single young person needs. We can use the arts as a tool to help teach it.”      

SPARC is determined to give every child in the Richmond and Henrico area the opportunity to bring their creativity to life and express themselves in a safe environment. SPARC helps kids take the emotions they are feeling and process them through expression. They might not realize it at the time, but these lessons provide kids with tools that help them deal with life’s challenges.

“The tie that binds them all together is the idea that the arts can do more than teach you how to be a good artist,” says Ripperton. “That’s our reason for being here.”

Top Photo: Katrina Boone, Gianna Grace Photography, via SPARC/Facebook