Earlier this month, Gate B2 at the Richmond International Airport became one of Martin’s latest learning launch pads as VSU students Cierra Wilson and Valarie Simpson departed for China.

Wilson and Simpson are spending a semester at Shanghai University as part of VSU’s Caterpillar Global Citizen’s program. Two other VSU students, Nakeya Johnston-Peterson and Ulysses Knight, also are studying at the Chinese college.

“This is the very first time that Virginia State and the Reginald F. Lewis School of Business have sent any students overseas to China,” Martin said. “For these students, it’s a remarkable opportunity because not only are they making history, but also they get to experience a way of life that is quite different from here in the United States.”

Martin said the international experience will help prepare the students for careers in a global economy.
The life-changing adventure for the students started when Caterpillar Foundation invited VSU to apply for a grant through the U.S. State Department’s “100,000 Strong Initiative.”

President Obama launched the initiative in 2010 in an effort to increase the number and diversity of U.S. students who travel to China to study.

“This initiative seeks to prepare the next generation of American experts on China who will be charged with managing the growing political, economic and cultural ties between the United States and China,” according to the State Department’s website.

The program is supported financially by private companies and China has committed 10,000 scholarships for American students to study there.
Maxine Sample, director of VSU’s George Bennett International Studies Institute, learned about Caterpillar’s invitation in September 2011.
She submitted a grant application and by October, VSU learned that it would receive $84,000 for the business school’s semester-long program and a second summer study program.

Sample was thrilled to learn that VSU students would be going to China in part because of her own experiences.
“[Education abroad] has been my passion since I won a Fulbright award in 1995 to teach in Nairobi,” she said. “I decided I would find ways for students to share that experience.”

Sample was at the airport along with Martin, other VSU staff and proud family members as Wilson, a senior management information systems major, and Simpson, a junior marketing major, started the first leg of their journey.

Flying to China is a big deal. It’s an even bigger deal if you’ve never flown. The flight was expected to take about 17 hours.

“I am 21 years old and I have been here on the ground for 21 years,” said Wilson, a Dinwiddie native. “I’m kind of scared.”

Despite a few pre-flight jitters, Wilson and Simpson, who had flown once before, were eager to get off the ground.

They were already thinking about the challenges and new adventures waiting for them when they got to China.

“It will probably be difficult to learn the [Mandarin] language,” Simpson said. “[Learning] their lifestyle will be fun and exciting because their customs are different from what I experience on a daily basis.”

They also expect the semester abroad to help when they start their careers.

“[This] will look good on my resume.” Wilson said. “Going to another country to experience a different culture, how they live and how they work will make me more prepared for the real world.”

The students had a layover in Newark where they were joined by the two other VSU students. Then it was on to Shanghai to connect with other American students studying there this semester.

The VSU group is due back in the country in mid-May. By then Martin will no doubt already be well on her way to developing the next opportunity for another group of VSU students to take flight and learn.

A Childhood Dream Realized

Ulysses Knight, Phoenixville, Pa., is one of the four VSU students studying in Shanghai. Knight did not qualify for the Caterpillar Foundation grant.

However, Merri Incitti of the Reginald F. Lewis School of Business, said Knight is in China as a result of his long-held passion to study there.

“The faculty and staff of the [business college] came together to ensure that [Ulysses] who has had a true desire to go to China for as long as we have known him, would not be left behind,” Incitti said.

Some of his expenses are being covered by a George Bennett International Exchange student scholarship.

Knight, who flew out of Newark, shared his thoughts about the trip by email before he left for Shanghai:

International experience will help prepare the students for careers in a global economy.

Q. Why do you want to study in China? What do you think will be the greatest benefit of a semester in China?
A. I’ve always had a fascination with China’s culture, infrastructural design and business concepts. The greatest benefit would be to get a firsthand look at the business concepts being done and learning them, as well as being immersed into the culture and lifestyle of another country, which in turn will make me a better leader of tomorrow.

Q. What do you think will be the most difficult part of the semester? What do you expect will be the most fun and why?
A. I believe the most difficult part will be the first week. At Virginia State University, I am very active with two jobs and being the senior class president so it will be a time of adjustment to becoming strictly a student. The most fun will be being able to experience one of my lifetime dreams. Most people dream about going to Disney Land as a little kid but my dream has always been to go to China.

Q. How have you prepared for the semester in China?
A. I have purchased the Mandarin Chinese edition from Rosetta Stone and made a blog and Skype account so I still have some type of communication with family and friends in the states.

Q. What do your parents think about the trip?
A. My parents are my biggest supporters and are very excited for the trip. Both my mother and father are always telling me, ‘You can do anything you put your mind to so if you’re going to dream, dream big!!’
Watch a video about the students’ adventure “Shanghai via Virginia State University” by going to our website.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

WE SHALL OVERCOME BECAUSE THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE.
– DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1968

DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS, ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT. HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE, ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.
– 1963

I BELIEVE THAT UNARMED TRUTH AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD IN REALITY. THIS IS WHY RIGHT, TEMPORARILY DEFEATED, IS STRONGER THAN EVIL TRIUMPHANT. – NORWAY 1964

MAKE A CAREER OF HUMANITY. COMMIT YOURSELF TO THE NOBLE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS. YOU WILL MAKE A GREATER PERSON OF YOURSELF, A GREATER NATION OF YOUR COUNTRY, AND A FINER WORLD TO LIVE IN.
– DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1959

I OPPOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM BECAUSE I LOVE AMERICA. I SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT NOT IN ANGER BUT WITH ANXIETY AND SORROW IN MY HEART, AND ABOVE ALL WITH A PASSIONATE DESIRE TO SEE OUR BELOVED COUNTRY STAND AS A MORAL EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD.
– CALIFORNIA 1967

IF WE ARE TO HAVE PEACE ON EARTH, OUR LOYALTIES MUST BECOME ECUMENICAL RATHER THAN SECTIONAL. OUR LOYALTIES MUST TRANSCEND OUR RACE, OUR TRIBE, OUR CLASS, AND OUR NATION; AND THIS MEANS WE MUST DEVELOP A WORLD PERSPECTIVE.
- GEORGIA 1967

INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY, TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY. WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY, AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY.
– 1963

I HAVE THE AUDACITY TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLES EVERYWHERE CAN HAVE THREE
MEALS A DAY FOR THEIR BODIES, EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOR THEIR MINDS, AND DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND FREEDOM FOR THEIR SPIRITS.
– NORWAY 1964

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY “WE MUST NOT WAGE WAR.” IT IS NECESSARY TO LOVE
PEACE AND SACRIFICE FOR IT. WE MUST CONCENTRATE NOT MERELY ON THE NEGATIVE EXPULSION OF WAR, BUT ON THE POSITIVE AFFIRMATION OF PEACE. – CALIFORNIA 1967

THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.
– 1963

EVERY NATION MUST NOW DEVELOP AN OVERRIDING LOYALTY TO MANKIND AS A WHOLE IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE BEST IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL SOCIETIES.
– NEW YORK 1967

WE ARE DETERMINED HERE IN MONTGOMERY TO WORK AND FIGHT UNTIL JUSTICE RUNS “DOWN LIKE WATER, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREAM.”
– ALABAMA 1955

WE MUST COME TO SEE THAT THE END WE SEEK IS A SOCIETY AT PEACE WITH ITSELF, A SOCIETY THAT CAN LIVE WITH ITS CONSCIENCE.
– ALABAMA 1965

TRUE PEACE IS NOT MERELY THE ABSENCE OF TENSION: IT IS THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE.
– 1958

The airport, operated by the Capital Region Airport Commission, has completed what Jon E. Mathiasen, CEO and President, calls “an historic infrastructural expansion and modernization program.”

Plenty of parking and a bigger terminal are great additions to RIC, but the Commission also knew that taking care of people’s appetites was an important part of the upgrade.

“The Commission wanted travelers to have a range of attractive options from known brands with an emphasis on customer service,” Mathiasen said. So part of the airport’s multimillion dollar transformation called for a huge culinary change. You can’t help but notice it. Whether you’re looking for a cold brew, a hot cup of coffee or the ever-popular cheeseburger, you now have more choices along the airport’s concourses.

The Commission teamed with Delaware North Companies (DNC), a hospitality management business that operates concessions at airports and sports and entertainment venues around the world.
DNC’s food and beverage operations at RIC are run by Cain Bassett, a native of New Orleans. Bassett, 56, ended up in Virginia in 2005 as a result of what some would consider bad luck.

“When Hurricane Katrina hit, it basically eliminated my job [at New Orleans International Airport.] We lost everything. Katrina is the reason why we’re here,” Bassett said. “What was important was that my family was intact. I never looked at us as being victims.”

DNC offered Bassett and his wife, Alesia, three relocation choices: Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles or Richmond.

“Richmond has been an excellent move,” Bassett said.

Bassett’s nearly four decades of business experience started at a New Orleans restaurant that his parents owned. He started helping out there as soon as he was old enough to reach the table tops.
He admits he didn’t always love working at his parent’s place. As a teenager, he envied other teens who didn’t have to work over a hot kitchen grill on weekends. It took Bassett years to appreciate that those hours working for his parents helped him develop a strong work ethic.

When his parents passed away, he tried running the restaurant on his own. He soon figured out that he had a lot to learn about being a successful businessman.

In his early career, Bassett learned from a master. He spent many hours alongside Al Copeland, founder of Popeyes Famous Chicken. Bassett moved through the ranks learning the restaurant business (or as he prefers to call it, “the people business”) along the way.

He had just taken a job at the New Orleans airport when Katrina hit. Bassett now lives in western Henrico. He and his wife have become empty nesters as their four children and six grandchildren now live in Maryland and New Orleans.

These days, Bassett manages the 10 food and beverage facilities that DNC owns or operates at RIC.
Applebee’s is the largest. Because it is outside the airport’s security gates, it serves travelers as well as people waiting to pick up family, friends or business associates.

The newest restaurant is the Club Level Grill on Concourse B. Bassett and DNC worked with the Commission to open the restaurant and bar, which has a sports theme, last January.

Bassett supervises about 115 employees, ages 15 to 74. He credits Copeland and Mathiasen, along with his parents, for playing roles in shaping him as a businessman. He’s determined to share that business knowledge with others.

John Ball, a 1997 Highland Springs High School graduate, has worked for DNC for 15 years. He started as a dishwasher and has moved up to his current position as food and beverage manager. He and Bassett have developed a strong relationship.

“He’s more like a father figure and a boss for me,” Ball said. “If I’m wrong, he’s says, ‘Hey, John you’re wrong,’ and if I’m right, he let’s me know I’m right. I get both sides.” Ball and Pamela Hamby , a former waitress who now manages Applebee’s while attending J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, agree that Bassett can be a tough boss.

How tough is he? He once fired one of his sons for underperforming on the job.

“[Cain] is strong when he needs to be and he gets his point across, but he’s also compassionate about your needs as an employee,” said Hamby, a Tappahannock native.

Bassett will tell you that this business is not for everyone. However, for some it can be a great career and a source for important life lessons. Bassett often teaches those lessons to young people in the Richmond area.

He speaks at Henrico County high schools and volunteers with Junior Achievement of Central Virginia, teaching first graders as well as high school students.

“By sharing his personal and professional experiences and skills with students, Cain [Bassett] is helping students see the connection between what they are learning in school and what they will need to succeed in work and life,” said Daphne Swanson, president, of Junior Achievement of Central Virginia.

Bassett jokes that he teaches young people so they’ll know how to earn money and be able to pay into the Social Security fund to cover the cost of his eventual retirement. But as you watch him interact with his young employees, you can see that he relishes his mentoring role.

When you ask him what he enjoys the most about his job, he says it’s helping people.

“[I enjoy] taking an individual with minimum skills and developing those skills, helping them become a productive part of society. I can tell you stories of people who started out as hourly cashiers and are now running million dollar restaurants. I take pride in playing a small part of that development,” he said.

Then Bassett adds that he’s simply completing the circle that started when his parents taught him “the people business.”

Mountain resorts aren’t just for snow and ski enthusiasts.

A visit to Wintergreen, Massanutten, or the Homestead offers much more than just skiing. Each of these locations offers lodging, dining, and entertainment all in one place.

Just ninety minutes from Richmond, Wintergreen is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to various snow sports, the resort offers paintball, a climbing tower, golf, tennis, a spa, an indoor pool, a therapeutic soak pool, outdoor hot tubs, steam rooms, a sauna. There is also a fitness center, kinect systems, xbox stations, Nintendo Wii stations, a mechanical bull, foosball, a pool table, air hockey, skee ball, a toddler inflatable and a theater airing sporting events and videos. Weather permitting, thrill seekers can take advantage of The Zip and glide down 900 feet at speeds up to 40 m.p.h. Rigley’s Fun Park is available for kids ages 2 and up and allows fun snow activities for them.

Located two hours from Richmond, Massanutten has not only snow activities but also a waterpark, weekly activities, health classes and a spa. The indoor activities at the water park include video games, a frog pond for the kids, tubing, a hot tub, waterfalls and water slides. The resort also has regular activities like bingo, magic shows, comedy nights, karaoke, live music, movies, poker and trivia games. There are classes for those who are health conscience including water aerobics, yoga, zumba and even one to learn the choreography of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. If you’re looking for relaxation, the resort has a spa offering services such as manicures, pedicures, facials, scrubs, wraps and massages. Situated near Harrisonburg, Massanutten is only an hour’s drive from Luray Caverns and several vineyards.

The Homestead is located in Hot Springs. Visitors will enjoy the scenic view of the Allegheny Mountains. In addition to skiing, snow boarding, ice skating, snowmobiling and snow tubing, the Homestead features an indoor pool, golf, fishing, horseback riding, bowling, movie nights, paintball, volleyball, darts, and foosball. The spa offers various services such as massages, body treatments, skin therapies, manicures, and pedicures. Depending on the weather, visitors can enjoy a soak in the mineral-fed hot springs pool which have been said to have restorative powers. If you are traveling with kids, the Homestead Kids Club provides supervised fun for kids ages 3 to 12.

Consider a cozy cabin retreat.

There are many cabins throughout Virginia but particularly in Luray/Page County. Named the “Cabin Capital of Virginia,” the area has nearly 600 cabins. One such cabin community is the Appalachian-Adventures Lodging. Located adjacent to Shenandoah National Park and near Luray Caverns, this community is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. These 3 bedroom cottages come with hot tubs, Jacuzzis, and fireplaces. Special discounts are available on outdoor activities to accompany your visit.

Not into the mountains? You don’t have to go far to enjoy a unique get-away.

Virginia Beach provides many options. The Founders Inn and Spa in Virginia Beach is offering discounted spa treatments on Tuesdays throughout December. For example, a 50-minute Swedish massage is $50 instead of its regular cost of $85. The spa offers massages, facials, wraps, scrubs, nail treatments, waxing and services for men. Purchasing any spa treatment provides you with full access to the gym and indoor pool for the entire day of your appointment. A Jacuzzi is also available on site. While you’re in Virginia Beach, consider taking a boat tour with the Virginia Aquarium. You just might catch the site of whales as they pass through the city following their migratory route. Also, until January 1, visitors can drive along the boardwalk at night to view the “McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach.” Admission to the light show, hot chocolate and cookies for two are complimentary with a travel package at the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront from now until December 31.

Williamsburg is another place to consider. Great Wolf Lodge is 67,000 square feet of indoor entertainment. Staying in one of its suites gives you access to a spa, a waterpark, an arcade and several dining options. While in Williamsburg, consider a visit to “Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration.” Continuing until December 31st, the amusement park will feature special shows, light displays, gift ideas, Santa’s workshop, and a 50 foot tall, light-animated Christmas tree. The park will be closed on December 25th.

To keep your getaway cost-effective, be sure to keep an eye on Living Social and Groupon deals. Subscribing to either will give you access to daily deals on not just getaways but also other discounts from local businesses. Upcoming deals from Living Social on trips in Virginia include a one or two night stay for two people at A Williamsburg White House Bed and Breakfast, a two night stay at the Blackthorne Inn in Upperville and a 1 night weekday stay at L’Auberge Provencale in Boyce.

“Winter is a beautiful season to travel in Virginia – there is so much to do,” says Tamra Talmadge-Anderson, Director of Public Relations at the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

For information about any of these locations and special deals on getaways, visit the Virginia tourism website (www.virginia.org) or subscribe to Living Social at www.livingsocial.com.

Photo by Ben Fink

Fancy dips, savory soups, tempting hors d’oeuvres, delightful desserts, and fried chicken— indeed, the holidays are filled with scrumptious culinary delights.

Urban Views Weekly has teamed up with Gina Neely from The Food Network and Chef DéAndre Johnson from O.M.G. Cafe in Richmond to provide you with holiday treats and tips to help bring holiday cheer and full stomachs to your dinner table. Enjoy!

Gina Neely’s Hoppin’ John Soup

Ever since Gina was a little girl, her mom has been telling her that “if you don’t eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day you’ll have a bad year ahead of you.” Now, when Gina was younger she didn’t care a bit. Gina was going through that awkward stage anyway— how much worse could it be?

But as Gina got older, she soon learned to love that black- eyed pea tradition, convinced that the year ahead was going to be fantastic!

And you know what’s funny? I tell my girls the same thing. Who says traditions and superstitions aren’t effective? Not to mention that black- eyed peas are rich in calcium and vitamin A. What could be bad about that? Gina even added in her collard greens to bring money and good luck to the New Year.

1 small bunch (about 1 pound)
collard greens
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces smoked ham steak,cut into 1?4-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1?4 teaspoon crushed red- pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground
black pepper
6 cups low- sodium chicken broth
One 15.5- ounce can black- eyed
peas, drained and rinsed
One 15- ounce can diced tomatoes, with juices
1 cup cooked long- grain white rice
1 dried bay leaf
Dash of hot sauce, preferably Tabasco
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Parmesan cheese, grated for Topping

Remove the stems and center ribs from the collard greens.
Stack about six leaves on top of each other, roll into a cigar shape, and slice into thin ribbons.
Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium- high heat.
When the oil is hot, toss in the ham, onion, garlic, carrot, and celery, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, roughly 4 minutes.
Sprinkle in the red- pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper.
Add the collard greens, and saute until they begin to soften.
Pour in the chicken broth, the black- eyed peas, and the can of tomatoes with their juices.
Bring to a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes.
Stir the rice into the soup to warm.
Taste for seasoning, and add more salt and pepper, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
Spoon into bowls, and sprinkle each bowl with Parmesan cheese.

Corn Bread and Collard Dressing

GINA: This dish is the “queen of dressing,” because dressing and collards are two favorites of mine. I add bacon, ’cause you gotta have some pig, and the carrots give it a different spin from your traditional dish. You’ll want to think ahead with this recipe and make that corn bread the day before. It needs to be dry enough to soak up all the good fl avors. SERVES 10 TO 12

6 slices bacon, chopped
1 small bunch collard greens, ribs removed, sliced into very thin ribbons
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1?4 teaspoon crushed red- pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 cups cubed day- old yellow cornbread
4 cups chicken broth
2 eggs, beaten
1?4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F, and butter a 4- quart casserole. Cook the bacon in a large, heavy skillet set over medium heat until the bacon is crisp and the fat has rendered. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, and discard all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Saute the vegetables and thyme in the hot bacon fat until tender, about 8 minutes. Season with the red- pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, and set aside to cool slightly.

While the vegetables are cooking, spread the corn- bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast in the hot oven for 5 to 6 minutes, until they brown slightly on the edges.

Put the cubed corn bread in a very large mixing bowl. Pour in the broth and beaten eggs over the corn bread. Add the vegetable mixture, bacon, and parsley, and toss all together. Spoon the dressing into the prepared casserole dish, and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes; then uncover and continue baking for 15 minutes more, to give it a nice
crust.

Excerpted from THE NEELYS’ CELEBRATION COOKBOOK by Pat and Gina Neely. Copyright © 2011 by Pat Neely and Gina Neely. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House. All rights reserved.


O.M.G Café
412 North 25th Street

Who doesn’t love fried chicken? Chef DéAndre Johnson from O.M.G. Café gets us full off his finger lickin’ good classic Southern Fried Chicken. Or come enjoy the Bourbon Steak & Shrimp at his new restaurant opening up January 2012 (Johnson’s Southern Comfort, 2306 Jefferson Avenue).

“Sometimes I get tired of the normal fried chicken during the holidays, so it’s good to add a little variety to a holiday meal”, comments Chef Johnson.

Chef DéAndre Johnson also gives us five holiday cooking tips to help us get around the kitchen like the pros!

1. Prep food ahead of time to allow yourself cooking time.
2. Properly store food.
3. Clean your surroundings as you cook.
4. Marinate foods at least 24 hours in advance.
5. Get proper rest before cooking large meals.
Chef Dre Classic Southern Fried Chicken?
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 cup hot red pepper sauce
2 cups self-rising flour
2 1/2 pound chicken, cut into pieces

Directions
House Seasoning, recipe follows

• Oil, for frying, preferably peanut oil
Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a deep pot. Do not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil.

In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs. Add enough hot sauce so the egg mixture is bright orange (about 1 cup). Season the chicken with the House Seasoning. Dip the seasoned chicken in the egg, and then coat well in the flour. Place the chicken in the preheated oil and fry the chicken in the oil until brown and crisp. Dark meat takes longer than white meat. Approximate cooking time is 13 to 14 minutes for dark meat and 8 to 10 minutes for white meat. Allow Chicken to sit at least 3 to 4 min before serving.

Seasonings:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
1/2 cup thyme
1/2 cup coarse crushed red pepper
1/2 cup adabo

To make the House Seasoning, mix the ingredients together and store in an air-tight container for up to 6 months.

Voilà! Are you hungry yet? Pat and Gina Neely, and Chef Dre have given you tips and treats for the holidays. From Urban Views Weekly, Happy Cooking and Happy Holidays!

“Experiencing grief during the holiday season can be more difficult than experiencing grief during any other time of the year,” says Rev. Dr. Felicia T. Green, director of the Barnabas Counseling Ministry at St. Paul’s Baptist Church. “Typically during the holiday season,” says Green, “most people are filled with happiness, joy and family unity. In the midst of holiday cheer, the grieving individual may often be experiencing sadness or depression, as they are reminded of their loss. The grieving individual may often feel “forced” to be happy and sociable when in all actuality they may feel emotionally detached and disconnected from the holiday festivities.”

A little over a year ago, Juletta Tyson’s fiancé, Tony McKoy, died of a heart attack. “I felt like I lost a limb, like part of me was gone and I was waiting for it to come back,” says Tyson. “I got through the holidays by talking about him; retelling his jokes; and talking about …experiences with him.” Similarly, when Lauren G. Parker lost her grandfather, Kermit Gwathmey, in October 2010, she says it helped to talk about him, especially with people who showed sincere interest in her stories. Writing about his father, Tony Amos, who died in December 2006 was a source of comfort for Anthony Amos in his grieving process.

“Expressing one’s grief is one way to heal from it,” says Green. She suggests that those who have lost loved ones give themselves permission to mourn in whatever way helps them – whether that is spending time alone, talking about their loved one, or excusing themselves from holiday festivities.

Several organizations in Richmond offer opportunities for people to express their grief this holiday season by gathering with others in memory of loved ones.

March Funeral Homes sponsors an annual Candle Light Service of Remembrance. The event is scheduled for December 11, from 3pm to 5pm, at the March Funeral Homes Laburnum Chapel at 2110 East Laburnum Avenue. It will provide an opportunity for people to light a candle in memory of a loved one and feature worship, song, dance and an inspirational message.

At St. Paul’s Baptist Church, the Barnabas Counseling Ministry offers an annual Celebration of Life Worship Service. This year’s event will include a gospel ensemble, liturgical dancers, a special candle lighting service and a message and words of encouragement from Rev. Dr. Howard D. Harris who heads up St. Paul’s “Unload It All” Grief Group. The event happens Sunday, December 18th at 12:30 pm in the Chapel of St. Paul’s Creighton Road campus, located at 4247 Creighton Road.

Full Circle, Richmond’s Family Grief Center, provides a variety of creative ways to express grief to children and families, such as through art, writing, play, crafting, photography, and music. Two free Creative Connections Remembrance workshops are being held this month, allowing participants to create holiday ornaments in memory of their loved ones. The workshops are scheduled for December 14th at the Northside Family Learning Center and December 20th at the Full Circle office, both from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Prior registration is required. Among the many other resources available through Full Circle, is a Memory Wall available on their website (http://fullcirclegc.org/grief-resources/) where people can create an online page in tribute to their loved one.

The Barnabas Counseling Ministry has a grief support group named the “Unload It All Grief Recovery Group.” Led by pastoral counselors, the group provides 8 week sessions that are free and open to the community. The next session begins January 2012. Individual counseling sessions are also available by appointment.

Allyson Drake, Executive Director of Full Circle, stresses the importance of families deciding together how to incorporate remembrance activities into their holiday season. She says children should have a voice in that planning process and people should not be afraid of changing their holiday traditions as a way of coping. She offers these examples of ways to keep a loved one’s memory alive this season:

• Light a candle in honor of the person who died
• Make a toast to your loved one during the holiday meal
• Make a donation to a charity in memory of your loved one
• Create a special CD of music that reminds you of your loved one
• Do a favorite activity of your loved one or cook their favorite meal during the holidays
• Create an area with photos, special items, candles, etc. in your home or garden to help remember special memories of the loved one

“The only important aspect of remembering is to not force yourself into something you are not comfortable with — that defeats the whole purpose of participating in a remembrance activity. Find a ritual or experience that feels special to you and go with it.”

Green advises those who are missing loved ones this winter to allow themselves not only to feel sadness but to also enjoy the season. She says, “Although you may feel guilty having joy in the midst of mourning, remembering the joyous times shared with your loved one is one of the most therapeutic ways in which you can honor their life and memory.”

For more information or to register for the Barnabas Counseling Ministry’s grief group: barnabas@myspbc.org . To register for either of the Full Circle Creative Connections workshops: jen@fullcirclegc.org or 912-2947.

Photos by Hal Tyler

by Camisha Jones

9 minutes and 30 seconds. That’s how often people in America are being infected by HIV.

It’s not just a statistic. These numbers are about people. People like gospel artist James Cleveland, dance legend Alvin Ailey, rapper Easy-E and Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Glenn Burke. These are just four of over 230,000 African Americans who have died of AIDS-related complications since the first official diagnosis of HIV in 1981.

In this 30th year since that first diagnosis, the 2011 World AIDS Day on December 1st offers an opportunity to reflect on the impact of AIDS on the African American community.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), AIDS is the third leading cause of death for African American women, aged 25 – 44, and for African American men, aged 35–44. While blacks are only 14 percent of the U.S. population, the CDC reports that they account for almost half of the people living with HIV in the U.S. (46 percent, or an estimated 510,100 persons), as well as nearly half of new infections each year (45 percent, or an estimated 24,900 infections).

As the first organization to establish a community-based HIV/AIDS outreach program in Virginia and a leader among HIV/AIDS service organizations, the Fan Free Clinic (FFC) sees these national statistics playing out locally. Rodney Loften, FFC Community Case Manager, shares that 68% of the FFC clients are African-Americans. He further states that among the African Americans they serve, they are seeing an increase in HIV infections among young women of color, young men who have sex with men and those 50 years old and older.

Community Case Managers Rodney Lofton and Charlene Brown

“One of the main myths related to HIV disease in the African-American community is HIV is a gay disease,” says Loften. “HIV is a disease of behavior. Anyone who engages in high-risk behavior can place themselves at risk for HIV disease. HIV does not discriminate based on race, gender or sexual orientation.

In a fact sheet titled “HIV and AIDS among African Americans,” the Center for Disease Control says the stigma associated with HIV and homosexuality is one of many factors that may increase African Americans’ risk of contracting HIV. The CDC states, “Fear of disclosing risk behavior or sexual orientation may prevent African Americans from seeking testing, prevention and treatment services, and support from friends and family. As a result, too many African Americans lack critical information about how to prevent infection.”

So why should African Americans (and heterosexual African Americans in particular) care about AIDS awareness? Many of the CDC’s statistics offer good reasons to care. If you’re a man and have sixteen or more friends or family members, the statistical likelihood that AIDS is personally affecting someone you love is almost certain. Also, if you are a heterosexual woman, you are among the predominant group of Black women who are 15 times more likely than white women to be infected by HIV. While the majority of Black men who are infected by HIV have sex with men; statistically, Black men – whether they have sex with men or women – are six times more likely than white men to be infected by HIV.

Given these alarming statistics, it is important to know the facts about HIV/AIDS. Greater than AIDS (http://www.greaterthan.org/), a national media and community outreach campaign responding to the impact of AIDS in the African American community, offers a helpful list of things we should know. First, we should know what HIV and AIDS are. HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus weakens the immune system by attacking the cells that defend the body from illness. The virus is spread through infected body fluids such as semen, pre-cum, vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk. The virus is most frequently spread through unprotected sex but can also be spread through the sharing of needles. There has never been a case of the infection being spread by saliva, tears or sweat. Hand-holding, hugs, sharing drinks, and toilet seats do not spread the virus. The most advanced stage of HIV is AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Getting treatment early helps to keep HIV from progressing into AIDS.

The CDC offers three options to protect yourself from HIV: 1) not having sex; 2) having sex only within a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who is not infected; and 3) using a latex condom every time you have sex. These rules apply whether you are having anal, vaginal or oral sex. Getting tested and knowing your status is important as it prevents those you have sex with from being infected and ensures that if you are infected you receive treatment as soon as possible. The CDC also recommends that people talk about HIV and risk behaviors as a way to remove the stigma attached to the disease.

The Fan Free Clinic’s World AIDS Day event, RVA Remembers 2011, is likely to get people talking. At exactly 12 o’clock on December 1, 400 red umbrellas will be lifted into the air on Brown’s Island in the formation of a HIV/AIDS memorial ribbon. People will hold the umbrellas up for 9 minutes and 30 seconds, representing the amount of time it takes for yet another American to become newly-infected with HIV.

This display and World AIDS Day is about remembering – not just those we have lost but also the power we have to prevent ourselves and others from being infected with HIV. On December 1st and every day thereafter, may we not forget to use all the life-saving information available to us.

For more information about RVA Remembers 2011, visit www.rvaremembers.com.

RICHMOND EVENTS

The Giving Heart Community Thanksgiving Feast
The Giving Heart Community Thanksgiving Feast is a free event for those in the Greater Richmond Metropolitan Area. Giving Heart is an all-volunteer; nonprofit organization founded in 2003, and has made this community thanksgiving feast a Richmond area tradition. A special invitation is extended to the less fortunate and elderly, and for those who would normally spend Thanksgiving alone.
Thursday, November 24: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Greater Richmond Convention Center
Free Admission
Free Parking at 3rd and Marshall St. Parking Deck

ArtWorks Day After Thanksgiving Art Affair
The ArtWorks Day After Thanksgiving Art Affair is a Black Friday shopping event with local artisans selling handmade gifts. Customers are able to enjoy cookies and cider while browsing and shopping. There will also be free children’s gift-making activities. At 7 p.m., enjoy live music, refreshments, and meet the local artists.
320 Hull Street
Friday, November 25: Noon to 10 p.m.

34th Annual Model Railroad Show
Bring the family to visit this Richmond tradition. You are able to watch model trains travel through miniature cities, towns, and detailed landscapes. The Science Museum will explore the science behind model railroading.
Science Museum of Virginia
2500 West Broad Street
Friday, November 25- Saturday, November 26: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 27: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Legendary Santa
The author of Legendary Santa’s 75th anniversary book, Leeanne Ladin, will be coming for a book signing. Children will also be able to visit Santa Claus and see Genworth Financial’s Holiday Village, which explores international traditions.
Children’s Museum of Virginia
2626 West Broad Street
Friday, November 25: 10 a.m. to noon

MALLS

• Regency Square Mall
Black Friday: 7am to 10pm
Saturday, November 26: 9am to 10pm
Sunday, November 27: 11am-6pm

• Chesterfield Towne Center
Black Friday: Midnight to 10pm
Saturday, November 26: 10am to 10pm
Sunday, November 27: Noon to 7pm

• Short Pump Towne Center
Black Friday: 8am to 10pm
Saturday, November 26: 8am to 10pm
Sunday, November 27: 10am to 7pm

• Stony Point Fashion Park
Black Friday: 8am to 9pm
Saturday, November 26: 10am to 9pm
Sunday, November 27: Noon to 6pm

Major retailers’ Black Friday hours may vary, so give your favorites a call or visit their website. Happy shopping.

RVA On Ice is Richmond’s first and only outdoor ice rink located between 6th and 7th Streets on East Broad Street behind the Carpenter Theatre. The rink offers family fun at an affordable rate, providing ice-skating and skate rentals for all ages.

You do not have to be a Kristi Yamaguchi to come out and enjoy RVA On Ice. Just come, let loose, and enjoy the bumps and falls of the skating rink. Most people that attended last year say it is definitely on the list for this year as well. “I think it is a wonderful winter activity for community building and family fun,” says Richmond resident, Albert Walker, III.

The 8,400-square-foot rink first opened December 22 in 2010 and stayed open until early March. The first year was definitely a hit with attendance of about 15,000 to 20,000 skaters. There is no doubt the ice rink had positive economic impact on local businesses and increased tourism downtown.

“Richmond is forward in its thinking by bringing us back downtown for fun. I am going to be there,” continues Walker.

RVA On Ice is open Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ice rink will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Dates and times are subject to change based on weather and special activities. Children under age 10 skate free but require adult supervision. Ages 11 and up are $5 per person. Skate rental is available at $3 for a child and $4 for an adult. You are welcome to bring your own skates as well.

RVA On Ice season runs from December 1 to January 2. Tickets for RVA On Ice are available on ETIX online, charge-by-phone 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) and Richmond CenterStage Box Office.

Zion Baptist Church 225 Byme St. Petersburg, VA

The month of November is well underway, which means that the holiday season has begun in our nation’s stores and retail outlets. It also marks the beginning of a season filled with a slew of holidays and religious observances. Urban Views Weekly takes a look into the various celebrations taking place this winter, from the most prominent to some that do not receive as much press or airtime.

CHRISTMAS: Clearly the most prominent of all celebrations during the holiday season, Christmas is the celebration of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the Christian Lord and Savior. Celebrated every December 25, Christmas is observed by all denominations of Christianity, ranging from Roman Catholics, to Protestants, to Mormons. It is also celebrated thoroughly in Richmond, with events such as the Dominion Christmas Parade, which is taking place on December 3.

Christmas is not the only event these denominations are celebrating. On December 8, Catholics will be pausing to meditate on the Immaculate Conception, or the impregnation of the Virgin Mary by God. Later on December 23, Mormons will celebrate the birthday of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. There inlies the variety that exists within just this one religion. However, there are many other faiths celebrating during the season.

Temple Beth-El 3330 Crove Ave, Richmond, VA

HANUKKAH: Perhaps the most widely known religious holiday of the season outside of Christmas, Hanukkah is the “Festival of Lights”, an eight-day Jewish celebration of the commemoration of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean revolt of the 2nd century B.C.E. This year, Hanukkah will take place from sundown of December 20 to December 28. To mark each day of Hanukkah, a candle is lit in a Menorah, the iconic symbol of Hanukkah.

According to the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, there are nine different synagogues and religious schools in the Greater Richmond area. In addition, there are a variety of Jewish agencies in the area, making it clear that the Jewish community in Richmond is a sizable one.
The Jewish community is pretty massive,” says Josh Phillips, Counselor at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center, “I didn’t realize it until I started working at the JCC. It’s pretty far-reaching.”

According to Phillips, the Jewish community in Richmond is a mix of various strains of the faith, from conservative Orthodox Jews to the more liberal Reformed Jews. The Weinstein JCC represents the more liberal approach, which Phillips reflects in his view on what Hanukkah means to the Jewish community.

“In terms of the holidays that Jews celebrate, Hanukkah is not one of the more major holidays. It’s been made to be big to compete with Christmas, but in terms of [synagogue] attendance for Hanukkah versus Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, the high holy days, it’s not quite that big,” he says. However, he notes that the existence of schools such as the Rudlin Torah Academy in Richmond shows that the city boasts an established Jewish community, one that is clearly active and vibrant in our city.

Islamic Center of VA 1241 Buford Rd. Richmond, VA

FEAST OF SACRIFICE, ISLAMIC NEW YEAR, ASHURA: While these three days do not loom particularly large in the Islamic tradition, they do coincide with the holiday season and are important to the Muslim faith. Muslims just celebrated the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) from November 6 to 9. Eid al-Adha commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael on God’s command, as a test of his devotion. Muslims use these days to fuel their desire to follow in Abraham’s example. This year, the Islamic New Year will mark the year 1433 AH on the Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar. This event will take place on November 26, after other Americans have celebrated Thanksgiving. Much like New Years Day for followers of the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic New Year is not an official religious holiday, but a time for reflection on the past year and the upcoming new year. Lastly, Ashura takes place on December 5, which is a day of fasting for Muslims. Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad.

Ammar Amonette, Imam of the Islamic Center of Virginia, points out that while Muslims have a variety of important days taking place during the holiday season, they are not offended by the amount of Christmas-related advertising surrounding them.

“Muslims are not offended by seeing Christian symbols and decorations. They wish well for everybody, and they hope everybody enjoys themselves,” says Amonette, also pointing out that much of the celebration is simply a commercial commodity anyway.

According to Amonette, the Islamic Center draws crowds of thousands for prayer gatherings on major holidays. For regular religious services, Amonette estimates about 700 attendees per week. There are currently eight mosques scattered around the Greater Richmond area, with about 15,000-20,000 members. According to Amonette, the Islamic Center draws Muslims from all over the state, making the organization’s place in the community an important one. However, he stresses that Muslims have an attitude of peace and acceptance for those of other faiths.

“We want to wish everyone a peaceful and joyous time of the year. We hope that all our neighbors enjoy their holidays and find fulfillment in their religious observances.”

KWANZAA: Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States to honor African-American heritage. While not attached to any one religion, Kwanzaa has been a movement since its creation in 1966 by African-American professor Maulana Karenga as the first specifically African-American holiday. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, or “first fruits of the harvest.” It is held every year from December 26 to January 1.

There are seven principles of Kwanzaa, called Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles of blackness. According to Karenga, these principles represent “the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world.” Candles are ceremoniously lit to symbolize each of these principles, and much of Kwanzaa’s imagery is representative of these principles.

Today, many estimates are available as to how many Americans observe Kwanzaa. According to the National Retail Federation, which only counts the holidays ofThanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa in its research, 1.6 percent of those surveyed planned to celebrate Kwanzaa. However, Karenga asserts that 28 million Americans celebrate Kwanzaa per year.

In Richmond, The RKK (Richmond Kwanzaa Kollective) is active in organizing Kwanzaa celebrations. Members of this group include various organizations all over the city (an up-to-date list is currently unavailable on the group’s website). While Kwanzaa may be a holiday observed by a relatively small number of people, the evidence is there to show that these same people are keeping the tradition alive.

Grand Palace, Thailand

BODHI DAY: In the Buddhist tradition, Bodhi Day, celebrated on December 8, commemorates the day that Siddhartha Gautauma, the first Buddha, experienced enlightenment. As the story goes, Gautauma meditated under a Pipul tree until he found the answer to the cause of human suffering. After maintaining his meditation and withstanding temptation from the god Mara, he discovered the answers he sought, finding that man goes through a cycle of countless lives and rebirths. By discovering this and the concept of karma, among other things, Gautauma was able to achieve the enlightened state of Nirvana and was reborn as the first Buddha.

Traditionally, Bodhi Day is commemorated by services from Buddhist places of worship. In our city, this includes the Ekoji Buddhist Sangha, which houses a wide variety of Buddhist-related groups in the area. Outside of services, the observance of this day is rather open-ended. Buddhists are allowed to supplement it with meditation, engaging in Buddhist texts and study, or just performing acts of kindness unto others. Certainly the least organized of the religious days occurring during the holiday season, but no doubt just as holy and important, to its believers, as any of the other holidays the season bears.

This article does not include all religious holidays or celebrations, but there is one point that is certain. Our community is home to people of all types and all backgrounds. This holiday season is arguably universally important, but clearly not experienced the same way universally.