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Best Of VA Missed Connections January 22 – January 28

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Welcome to this week’s Missed Connections, where the kind of sensible dating advice you’d expect to be a no-brainer (“pee first”) turns out to be a strike against you. Of course, this is why dating over the internet turned out to be such a great idea — because we’re all total weirdos, and it’s much easier to admit that from the other side of a computer screen.

This week’s MC installment also includes some truly great ones: Texas Beach cruisers who can’t get decade-old encounters out of their heads, street photographers falling in love with passing joggers, and some flirtation between UberEats and GrubHub drivers… does that sound like the beginning of a 21st-century version of West Side Story to anyone else?

One quick word of advice for y’all — never try to get somewhere with a woman by telling her she needs to smile more. No one wants to date someone who says the same annoying shit their boss from the McDonalds they worked at in high school used to say all the time.

On a more positive note, shouts out to the anime nerds flirting over Evangelion. Y’all sound like my kind of people.

Get weird, Virginia.

Seeking…

…a mature woman with a full bladder. In Richmond at the end of March.

Plus Sized Women Are Beautiful

I am an established man who has an opinion tonight. I think plus sized women, or women who have a little extra are beautiful. I have absolutely nothing against women who are on the smaller size. I just think it’s something so awesome about a beautiful plus sized woman. Especially one who is sweet on the inside as well. Just showing you women with a little extra some love tonight.

No toes in sight (Surrounding Area)

The dog days of Winter have all the cute toes bundled up in boots and shoes. I long to see the warm days of Spring as the warm air has the sight of sweet feet for guys like me to enjoy. Care to share yours Ladies ? A warm set of hands await. Mature male with gentle touch. Shoe size in subject line will get my attention.

Tuesdays At Texas Beach 10 yrs. ago

Tuesdays were your days off and you would come to Texas Beach to sunbathe. This was about 10 yrs. ago – long shot – I know. You were always ‘suits required’ & I was always ‘optional’ We ran into eachother lolling on the rocks maybe 4 times, nods and hellos, never did any fooling around though – drat it! There was strong attraction btw us. In parting I always exclaimed the same thing to you and you grinned like the sun. Maybe you’re still around town. If this seems familiar, what did I say about you? M4M just so ya know…

You waved (Goochland)

Bear daddy at Food Lion we flirted in store the ended up we parked beside each other. I came out after you and you waved at me. Grrr. I got in car with my significant other but you sat there staring over. Interested?

My breath was taken away on 1st street (Roanoke)

I was at the top of the pedestrian bridge by 1st street taking pictures. You walked past me after what seemed like a jogging session. We greeted each other and made eye contact. We shared a moment but I was too taken back by your beauty and glow to muster up the courage to stop you and chat you up. I feel like such a dork doing this lol, but I can’t help it as I’m a hopeless romantic. It’s funny how a brief moment of nervousness and inaction, can lead to hours or even days worth of regret. At the very least it was a great lesson to stay present and live in the moment.

So I leave this here in case you one day come across it, and our chance to connect gets a second chance. You would remember me by my unique ride. 

A connection that’s missing (Chesapeake)

There’s never a more isolated feeling in a relationship , than being alone. It’s a situation that seems to only worsen , no communication , no connection , your voice and opinions go unnoticed and the physical chemistry doesn’t exist. The arguments escalate and the emotional gap widens. The question remains , am I the only one who feels this way ?

Hiro Sushi – GrubHub guy (Midlothian)

Can’t remember your name, but I was the guy waiting for food to deliver for Uber Eats. You were delivering for GrubHub. You commented on my Chelsea jacket and started a conversation with me. You asked if I was a coach. I had to get the staffs attention so I could deliver the food, but I wanted to chat more with you. Sorry I walked away without finishing our conversation, but I felt awkward waiting for you. If you want to hang out sometime, let me know.

Younger WM for cougar (Richmond)

28. White male. Fit, good looking and know how to please.
5’11, 180, muscular build, tattoos, and plenty to work with.
I’m Richmond local, live downtown and can host.
Flexible schedule and can play during the day or night, weekday or weekend.

I’m single, no kids, employed, educated and drug & disease free.
If you are married/taken, I can keep a secret and I’ve been in the swinging lifestyle for years.
Open to all races and body types, prefer women 35-50 but open to all.

If interested, shoot me an email and tell me a little bit about yourself and your situation.

In search of a beautiful cougar

I’m a bm that’s hunting for a majestic cougar be real because I am and it’s freezing outside

Dawnstar VHS girl (Scott’s Addition)

you were browsing the vhs at dawnstar last week and we talked about evangelion. You were wearing a grey hoodie. id love to get coffee with you and talk more. hope this finds you.

wawa (forest hills)

You were behind me in line this morning absolutely Beautiful but you need to smile 🙂

Nice looking woman walking Frenchie Saturday (Deep Run Park)

You are the nice looking middle aged brunette in a blue tight sweater walking her Frenchie with her girlfriend on Saturday early afternoon.

I am middle aged bald man with gray beard. Our smiles got warmer and our eyes connected longer each time we passed.

I would love to see you smile some more….

St. Chris Happy Hour (Scott’s Addition)

I didn’t know anyone else at the HH. You caught my eye, and I think you noticed me noticing. Just as I was about to come over and say hi when I got railroaded by another alum. I would love to introduce myself properly!

Yvonne at Kroger (Midlothian)

I know you will never read this, but I just have to say I always love it when you’re working……I have been smitten the very first time I saw you! You dressed up one time for a wine promotion and you’re outfit was such a turn on!……just sayin! I wanted to come through your line last night (Friday, 1/24), but I was pressed for time and it was too long to wait. Until next time I get to see that beautiful read hair and shapely body, I will have to just rely on my own devices…….

wolf pack bro at Kroger (Richmond)

What’s up bro. You were walking around today sporting at nice bulge in your shorts. I couldn’t stop watching. Let me know if you want to meet up somewhere to show off again.

Dollar General

You were in front of me in dollar general up 301 yesterday. You were an older black male..fine as WINE! If you see this (which I’m sure you won’t) tell me what my coat looked like

My favorite blood taker (Goochland)

Long blond hair works at commonwealth physicians west end to bad I only get to see you only every couple months 🙂

Total wine on Broad (Richmond)

You came in after me to pickup wine on Saturday around noon. You offered to carry my case but I said this is why I lift. You were hot and nice and I’m kicking myself for not taking you up on that offer.

Thursday at tea house (Downtown mall)

You were reading a book on sofa next to wall. I was across in the corner sofa. I know we saw each other. Something about you.

Brunette Beauty at Starbucks (Glen Allen)

I know this is a long shot but, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I was at the Starbucks on Dominion Boulevard and Broad Street a little after noon on Monday the 21st. You’re a beautiful brunette with amazing eyes and were sitting by the front window with another woman and two men. It looked like you were in some sort of professional meeting otherwise I would have said something. We exchanged several glances and a smile as I left. I would really like to see you again. If you remember this, for lack of a better term, encounter and are interested let me know. 

Lonely person in Walmart (Portsmouth)

We meet at Walmart you were shopping for a dress and I was shopping for a pair of pants

You said you were lonely and feeling alone

Lets meet for coffee and be alone together

Girl Getting Gas at Exon Lake Gaston (Bracey, VA)

You were on the other side of the pump from me. We met eyes several times. You walked into Dunkin after you were done. Had NC plates but UMD parking pass. Thought you were hot but didn’t know what to say.

Ashland Y Sauna this morning (Ashalnd)

We chatted for 10 minutes or so this morning. You are such a kind soul and impressive person, it made my day. Thanks. Hope you have a great day and a great rest of your week.

Silver diner

We exchanged eyes several times on Saturday night. You were busy but I wanted you to know I felt something. Let me know if you did too.

Walking at the research park

We were both out for a walk near the research park on Friday. You’re tall, slender, and beautiful with long dark hair.

I didn’t say a word to you. If I see you again I won’t make that mistake twice.

Gourd Flute

I asked about the object in the case, and it was a gourd flute. So . . . would you like to make a new friend?

Saw you again today – did you find a place? (Roanoke (market area))

We met in city center market place. talked. BOTH agreed to try something new as bros with no hoes.

I tried what you had on you – and didnt get a chance for you to try what I wanted. message me

Bowling Office (Mechanicsville)

Doubt if you see this but if you do this may could be start to something fun. Your short white bbw female beautiful rosey smile I’m tall black muscular guy. We both work for the largest bowling company in the world. Our cubicles are not far from one another if we both were to stand up in our cubicles we would be right across from each other. I think you’re very cute but wouldn’t want to cause any disruption of any kind in the office. If you happen to read this leave a note on my desk saying yes, or set up a 30 minute meeting invite in the interview room, or say I think so in passing.

American flight 1882 from clt to ric

American flight 1882 from clt to ric , last night about 1130pm you were in first class as so was on both in the first row i was on the right side near the aisle and you were next to the window i was on the right side u on the left of the plane , you had shorts and flip flops on and took them off and you kept putting your feet up on the wall in front of you, you have the most sexy feet on a guy iv ever seen

Female Billiards Player (Newport News)

Female Billiards Player!!

You were in Buddy’s about a year ago, you had very short blonde hair, and you and a lady friend were shooting pool, and I was in the band playing that night. We were gonna hook up later, but a friend of mine wouldn’t quit yakking, so I missed you!! PLEASE contact me, I’ve thought about you a great deal since!! Also, at the time, you had a nutso stalker ex-boyfriend/goon, threatening anyone even LOOKING at you!! Hopefully you had the courage to ditch that psycho!! Hope to hear from you!!

Hey You.. (R Ville Walmart)

You left a bag in your cart this morning after talking to me but I couldn’t catch you.

I was as you said sexy AA male lol

You were a shy mature Caucasian heavy woman.

If you see this I have your bag dear!

You were in front of me at the wawa in newmarket (Newport News)

I am a older guy and you were a little thick not fat white guy. we were waiting on our orders you had on a dark blue hoody that had a company’s name on it. I don’t know if you will see this but if you do let me know what the name was on the back of the hoody if your open minded let me know and any one else interested is welcomed to email also

Dark Haired 2 year veteran Of Sub Shop (Fredericksburg Va)

You were the Rembrandt that Oiled and soaked me in Vinegar . Cute, Smart and someone I could Banter with. I was the older gentleman whom enjoyed your vigor, and charm.

Please contact me and receive your free painting.

Michael

The Hustle Season Podcast: Ep. 116 Save Your Predictions !!

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RVA Magazine is proud to showcase The Hustle Season Podcast every weekend. Produced at La Cocina Studio in Richmond, VA; homegrown musicians Kelli Strawbridge, Reggie Pace, James Seretis (La Cocina’s engineer) & Gabriel Santamaria bring their irreverent, outspoken and at times thoughtful opinions to the masses. Focusing on pop culture and politics both locally, nationally, sometimes otherworldly – join in as the guys try to figure out what’s going on this week. 

Episode 116 of #thehustleseason is LIVE!!! All kinds of funny funny is happening on this one including big ups to Monty Python, Ozzy, Joey Kramer of Aerosmith, Aaron Hernandez, Kelli has had enough, new music & Super Bowl talk !!!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @thehustleseason

GRTC Connects: Route 78 – Randolph to Jackson Ward

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The tenth installment in a monthly series in which a hometown Richmonder who has spent over a decade abroad explores the many different neighborhoods accessible by GRTC bus lines to discover the ways transit connects us all.

Jackson Ward:

From the wrought iron railings to the red brick rowhouses’ done up in the Greek Revival, Italianate, and Late Victorian styles popular after the Civil War, the architecture of Jackson Ward exudes a confidence and a class few Richmond neighborhoods can rival. Much of that beauty and charm also feels interrupted. The vacant parcels, surface parking lots, and — of late — modernist infill developments are the scars of a war the city waged against this ward.

After the Union conquered the Confederacy, prominent cities across the South were divided into wards. Although Richmond eventually shifted to our current district system of representation, a couple of the city’s six wards — Clay, Madison, Marshall, Monroe, Jefferson, and Jackson — cling on in common parlance.

Photo via TripAdvisor

From its inception, Jackson Ward was a haven for freed Blacks who had bought their way out of bondage. Released into the hostile world of the postbellum South, many former slaves congregated in such preexisting Black communities to find safety, livelihoods, and community. 

The confluence of these two distinct groups of Americans triggered a renaissance embodied by the neighborhood’s dual nicknames: “Black Wall Street” and the “Harlem of the South.” Everyone knows the names Maggie Walker and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, but few ask why little more than a pair of statues are left to remind us of their rich legacy.

In 1940, the General Assembly established the Richmond Housing Authority, which had the power to condemn any property within the city. The plans drafted by an all-White firm and approved by an all-White City Council targeted Jackson Ward — a prosperous Black community in no need of “redevelopment.” As if the message to Richmond’s Black population couldn’t have been made any clearer, the first area to be razed was Apostle Town, a sub-neighborhood immediately adjacent to Maggie Walker’s historic Penny Savings Bank.

Photo via The Valentine

RHA condemned middle class Black families’ homes en masse to build the broad urban boulevards, office buildings, freeways, and megaprojects symbolic of this era of racist “urban renewal,” like the Richmond Coliseum and the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The destruction of Black wealth and displacement of Black communities was intentional. Over the course of the 1950s alone, RHA condemned and demolished 4,700 homes and replaced them with just 1,736 units of public housing.

City voters twice rejected the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (today’s I-95) only to have the General Assembly overrule them and lay out the highway’s path straight through the heart of Jackson Ward. In Richmond’s Unhealed History, local pastor Ben Campbell recounts how the new interstate “destroyed 1,000 homes, cut a block-wide barrier canyon through what had been the neighborhood’s historic center, blocked 31 streets, and eliminated pedestrian pathways between the newly created halves.” If you can imagine state lawmakers demolishing Carytown to build a new highway through Richmond, then you can begin to understand how powerless and devastated locals must have felt.

Photo by Wyatt Gordon

This calculated pattern of tearing apart Black, urban communities was repeated again and again to construct the Downtown Expressway and wipe the neighborhood of Fulton Bottom off the map — all to ease the commute of suburban Whites fleeing their Black neighbors. Only once Black people controlled five of Richmond’s nine City Council seats did the all-out war on their communities taper off. 

By this time the damage was done and Richmond had achieved the dubious superlative of having the sixth highest concentration of public housing in the nation, thanks to five “courts” clustered in the East End. Concentrated poverty and absentee landlords left the area to deteriorate for decades, until Jackson Ward’s designation as a historic district in 1978 laid the foundation for its turnaround.

Beginning in the late 80s, historic tax credits powered home renovations. The First Fridays Art Walks revived the neighborhood’s reputation as a cultural center. Unfortunately, money flowed into the area but not into long-term residents’ pockets. What began the new millennium as a majority-Black neighborhood had already become two-thirds White by 2010. 

As Jackson Ward regains its status as a coveted downtown neighborhood filled with lively bars, engaging theaters, and delicious restaurants, it enters into a new crisis, one of identity: what does it mean to be a Black neighborhood without Black people?

The Ride:

Few things are easier than catching the bus from Jackson Ward to Randolph. It’s impossible to miss it, since 3rd Street is the start of the route. The bus shows up early and idles, allowing passengers plenty of time to board before its punctual departure. Taking transit from Randolph to Jackson Ward presents an entirely different experience.

Standing with my friend V on South Lombardy — bellies rumbling with hunger — it felt like the 78 was never going to come. That feeling of waiting forever was partly due to the stop’s lack of a bench or shelter. Studies show that people perceive wait times to be a third shorter when stops have such necessities, or even a tree. A couple blocks away we could see a concrete pad, bench, and trash can left over from a stop abandoned in the great route redesign.

Transit app showed our bus would arrive in seven minutes. Thanks to the app’s live tracking updates every 20 seconds, we could see the bus was indeed seven minutes up the route from us. The problem was that the bus sat in that exact spot for thirteen minutes. I almost asked the driver what the hold up had been, but since the 78 only runs once per hour I was just happy that we caught it at all.

Mama J’s. Photo by Wyatt Gordon.

Due to the 78’s lack of frequency, the bus was nearly full.  This route is the only hope for residents of Byrd Park, Randolph, and Maymont to get out of their neighborhoods via transit. Cycling between Carytown and Broad Street, the 78 serves mostly as a shuttle to get riders to the far more frequent routes of the 5 and the Pulse. 

As the bus left Randolph and zipped across the city, we picked up time fast. Most passengers left us at the inaccurately named VCU/VUU Pulse station. Once we arrived at Mama J’s, all tardiness was forgiven.

Randolph:

Walking through Randolph, it’s hard not to feel like this neighborhood has been misplaced. The area reeks of the 1980s: light colored brick, plastic siding, soulless architecture all around. Its streets have more in common with a subdivision in Henrico or Chesterfield than neighboring Byrd Park and Oregon Hill. It’s clear that suburbia colonized this corner of the city, begging the question of what it used to be.

Dense blocks of charming rowhouses once stretched south from Broad Street through the Fan and all the way to the James. Consult any map from a century ago, and Richmond’s grid reveals itself to be a contiguous layout of natural urban growth. Many of the Fan’s streets like Colonial Avenue used to be grand North-South promenades people clamored to live on. Today, many of them dead-end at the Downtown Expressway.

Before Blacks could take the majority on City Council, urban renewal claimed one last victim: Randolph. Middle-class Black families began moving in to the southern half of the Fan in the 1950s and 60s as White families fled school integration in favor of Richmond’s economically (and de facto racially) segregated suburbs.

The Downtown Expressway killed multiple birds with one expensive stone.  It eased the commute of said fleeing Whites. It plowed through a Black neighborhood, forcing the eviction and removal of hundreds of families from the area without just compensation. Lastly, it set up a clear dividing line between the affluent communities of today’s Fan and Museum District and the undesirable communities of Maymont, Oregon Hill, and Randolph.

As if plowing a massive interstate through the middle of the city wasn’t bad enough, RHA, led by White officials, began razing what remained of Randolph. Families were displaced with nowhere to go, and the land sat vacant and unused for years. Only thanks to the lobbying of former residents did the then-majority-Black City Council direct Richmond’s housing authority (renamed RRHA to include “redevelopment”) to rebuild the area.

Photo by Wyatt Gordon

Under the motto “Build a neighborhood, not a project,” RRHA laid out a pattern-book of new housing, including duplexes, single family homes, and townhouses. Surrounding three community parks, entirely new streetscapes were designed to give the area a suburban feel. Over the course of the 1980s, a mix of public housing and Section-8 subsidized rentals began to spring up.

Private development initially stayed away for fear that no one would want to buy homes near public housing. Over the past thirty years, Randolph has finally filled out with every variation of a suburban looking abode possible. The result has become one of Richmond’s most racially and socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods. Today, older Black homeowners mix with young multiracial renters rather seamlessly.

Betsy Jones, a Randolph native involved in the area’s redevelopment, sums up many residents’ feelings rather succinctly: “I’m proud of what we accomplished. However, we lost a lot of older residents through the original renewal efforts, and that was very painful.”

Photo by Wyatt Gordon

As Richmond’s housing shortage intensifies, Randolph’s affordable homes and prime location between the Fan, the James River, Maymont, and Byrd Park has not gone unnoticed. The neighborhood’s renewed desirability is triggering a “metamorphosis,” according to one developer.

What that means for Black homeowners and renters is displacement. Just 21 percent of Randolph residents were White in 2012. Since then 68 percent of the neighborhood’s home loans have gone to White buyers. Within a decade, a neighborhood named after the Commonwealth’s most famous Black educator — Virginia Randolph — could have very few Black residents outside its public and Section-8 housing. 

Our city and the residents who dwell within it are ever-changing. Many of the areas we today consider Black neighborhoods, such as Highland Park, began their lives as immigrant communities mixing Catholic Europeans from a variety of countries. The question that stands before Richmond today is not if we will change as a city, but how.

We have the power to choose density over displacement. We can cap our downtown highways with green space, creating the infra-sutures needed to heal the rifts in our urban landscape. If we choose to do nothing, or fight adding housing, then we can’t be surprised a decade from now when those we call our neighbors today have nowhere left to live.

Top Photo by Wyatt Gordon

The Hustle Season Podcast: Ep. 115 Getting The Sauce By Any Means Necessary

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RVA Magazine is proud to showcase The Hustle Season Podcast every weekend. Produced at La Cocina Studio in Richmond, VA; homegrown musicians Kelli Strawbridge, Reggie Pace, James Seretis (La Cocina’s engineer) & Gabriel Santamaria bring their irreverent, outspoken and at times thoughtful opinions to the masses. Focusing on pop culture and politics both locally, nationally, sometimes otherworldly – join in as the guys try to figure out what’s going on this week. 

Episode 115 of #thehustleseason is LIVE!! This one is packed FULL of topics including podcast apps (we ARE on Pocket Casts), gigs, RRHOF2020, RIP Neil Peart, the legendary drummer from Rush, RVA seems to have a shit bosses problem, Ja Rule wants you to do your taxes by following his twitter, & MORE!!! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @thehustleseason. New Palm Palm video, Heavy Chops


Not In My Backyard: Weekend Playlist by 3:33

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Every Friday night, RVA Mag brings you a playlist curated by Virginia’s most influential artists, musicians, and institutions.

This week’s comes to us from Richmond metallic punk band 3:33, who are releasing their new EP, Jaws Of A Wolf, this weekend with a killer release party on Saturday night at Wonderland. The EP is their first new material in almost two years, and the first release to feature “Swamp Thing” on vocals (these guys use some pretty amazing pseudonyms). You can see them rock it out in fine fashion tomorrow night, accompanied by Philadelphia blackened thrashers Traitor and Richmond’s own Voarm and MSD.

But before you do that, you should really give 3:33’s weekend playlist a listen. Not only does it contain a two-song preview of the brand new EP (check out the whole thing on Bandcamp here), it also contains a mega dose of heavyosity from all sorts of metal, hardcore, and punk bands, many of whom hail from Richmond and the nearby region. There are also detours into hip hop, post-rock, soul, and more. It all adds up to a great soundtrack for a cold winter’s weekend — one you can easily liven up by spending your Saturday night with 3:33 at Wonderland.

Rage hard, Virginia.

Open this playlist from mobile in your Spotify app HERE.

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

Roscoe Burnems’ Traumedy Brings Uplifting Humor To Difficult Subjects

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Prepare to laugh, cry, and laugh again — spoken-word artist Roscoe Burnems will premiere his first stand-up special, Traumedy, at The HEALing Hub this Sunday.

“Laugh till you cry, cry till you laugh.” As award-winning spoken word artist and RVA local Roscoe Burnems brings together comedy and spoken word for his first film special, Traumedy — premiering at The HEALing Hub on Sunday, January 26 — be prepared to do more than just sit back and enjoy. This healing presentation will start conversations on hard topics even as it brings some light-hearted humor to each.

“If you can’t laugh at the pain, what can you do with it?” said Burnems. “You can’t let it make you bitter, but you can let it make you better.”

Living up to its amalgamated title, Traumedy blends comedy with the traumatic realities of life, which for Burnems particularly focuses on the experiences of men in the black community. By discussing fatherhood, addiction, relationships, and mental health care acceptance, Burnems opens the dialogue for men to grow and open up from their past traumas in personable ways. 

“‘Children without fathers’ should have been the name of my mixtape. I know it’s a pretty common thing, having to deal with neglect and absence, how traumatic that can be, and how that can affect our mental health. I’m at a point in life where I can joke about it,” said Burnems. “[In the show] I attack what my relationship with my father is like after I got a chance to meet him, and talk briefly about what issues he may have been facing as a youth that maybe contributed to the neglect he gave his kids, or not wanting to be in the lives of his children.”

By opening up about personal struggles and heartaches, Burnems not only continues to work through them himself, but allows other men a space to begin healing and eventually learn to laugh at the pain as well. 

“Comedy was one of my first loves. My mom let me watch a VHS of Def Comedy Jam, which was probably not the most responsible thing,” Burnems said. “But it sparked this passion for telling a story, sharing this difficult content and making it funny. This is me marrying the two to create an experience where people can literally laugh till they cry and cry till they laugh.” 

Originally a live show that Burnems performed in October 2019, Traumedy was filmed and edited to prepare for an online release through Amazon Prime. In the filming process, Burnems received glowing audience feedback and created a trailer that encompassed the heart of the experience. Within the longer trailer, Burnems tells knock-knock jokes based on absent fathers and focuses commentary on how he has hoped to grow beyond that absence within his own family and become a strong father figure for his children. 

“The father is a really important part of my identity as someone who grew up without their father present. And now I am a proud father of two, a 13-year-old and a three-year-old, which makes the house really interesting,” said Burnems. “My kids are with me every day, and I take a lot of pride in that, because I really didn’t see that growing up, and I knew how important having that figure in the household could be.”

The strength of this presentation did not go unnoticed. Beyond audience members who have appreciated Burnems’ work, he has also gained a strong reach within the mental health community in Richmond. After the live show last year, James Harris, a Richmond based mental health professional and owner of The HEALing Hub, approached Burnems to discuss showing the special to more men who need the vocabulary and permission to express themselves and the struggles they have gone through and never been encouraged to talk about. The film’s premiere at The HEALing Hub this Sunday is the fruit of the growing relationship between these men working towards a common goal. 

“I think the environment [Harris has] created with The HEALing Hub, and the energy around that, is very in-tune with what Traumedy stands for,” said Burnems. “It’s entertainment, designed to get a laugh. Some of it gets kinda dark, and the content gets kinda heavy, but you walk away having learned something about yourself — and that’s what therapy is designed to do. It all runs together.” 

Beyond Traumedy and beyond taking his children to school and sports practices, Burnems focuses his time working with Richmond’s middle and high school students, bringing them access to spoken word and other similar art forms to teach them how to express themselves through their own struggles. 

“It’s been so fulfilling, especially as a teaching artist, to gift a love of mine to a generation who didn’t really have access to this art form before. I stumbled across poetry when I was really young because I was fortunate enough to have teachers who also really loved poetry,” said Burnems. “I grew up a regular black kid in a regular black school, where if you liked to write or liked poetry in some way, shape, or form that meant you liked to rap. Everybody I knew was rapping. The stigma was that boys weren’t allowed to be soft, or be storytellers in this way.”

Between Burnems’ platforms of influence, he primarily focuses his energy on gifting and lifting other’s voices. Whether he is working with students or encouraging adults through a shared laugh and tears, there is no leaving his presence without a more open heart.

“The students get a chance to vocalize it and feel empowered by their ability to use their voice in this way,” Burnems said of the goals for the film. “At the end of the day, we’ve all experienced some level of trauma and neglect, these very hard-hitting emotions. Those things aren’t specific to any one type or group of people, so it’s stripping away some of the statistics to focus on how you personally identify with it and stepping away for a moment of self care.” 

For some soul healing and belly laughter, make sure you attend the premiere of Traumedy on Sunday, January 26th at The HEALing Hub, located at 916 N Arthur Ashe Blvd. You can find tickets on Eventbrite for $10, or purchase at the door. And never fear, if you can’t make it, later this month the film will be made available on Amazon Prime.

“I really want people to take this journey with me,” said Burnems, “and find themselves along the way.”