Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K Pre Event Meet Up

By Chevont’e Alexander

Well, Richmond has scored ‘BIG’ as the second fattest city in the United States, coming right behind Memphis, Tennessee. According to Newsweek’s TheDailyBeast.com, 29.4 percent of Richmond’s population is weighing in as obese. The study also says that 12.4 percent of Richmond’s population has diabetes. Last year, another study showed that Richmond had the third highest ratio of fast food places. Could that be a direct correlation?

But, how is this possible when Richmond is home to great athletic events, races, festivals, and has great parks, and bicycle and pedestrian trails? When did Richmond become fat?

Unfortunately, the Richmond community is blighted by the lack of fresh produce and availability of grocery stores in certain parts of the area. The city of Richmond has even started to focus on areas of the city where residents are without access to healthy, nutritional, fresh food; located in the more low-income neighborhoods across the city. With more convenience stores and access to unhealthy foods, those numbers can add up with national studies, and on the scale too! But, can we blame it all on our environments?

“The Black community always promotes soul food, but nutrition and exercise is never a priority,” says Jeremy Patterson.

Just released this week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the obesity rate will increase to 42% by 2030. The African American community has indeed been plagued by these statistics. According to a 2010 report by the CDC, 78 percent of black women ages 20 and older are overweight or obese (compared with 60 percent of white women). And, as your health risks increase with being obese, so does the amount it costs for treating obesity-related illnesses. Those costs are approaching $200 billion a year.

Among African Americans 20 years and older, more than two-thirds are overweight or obese, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 pounds or more. Teenagers, particularly black youths are increasingly developing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and early signs of heart disease. All these are due to poor diets, lack of exercise and inadequate medical guidance. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and death rates. Having excess weight or being physically inactive can both lead to high blood pressure.

SISTAS DO RUN 10K Training Team

But, there is hope, the environment in our schools and communities is changing. However, education, awareness, policy and environmental change are not overnight fixes, so people have to realize that systemic and real sustainable change must take planning, time, people and money. And, the people have to want to change. Just because you build it doesn’t mean people will change.

Bringing Awareness to the Community

Along with obesity, comes the risk for other chronic diseases. The month of May is National Stroke Awareness. National Stroke Awareness Month has been recognized since 1989. Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. According to the American Heart Association, “every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. It’s the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability.” The 2006 stroke death rates per 100,000 population for specific groups were 41.7 for white males, 41.1 for white females, 67.7 for black males and 57.0 for black females.

But, 80% of all strokes are preventable. The American Stroke Association recommends the following to lessen your risk for stroke:

Eat a healthy diet.
Know your numbers, especially your blood pressure.
Exercise every day.
Walk or do other forms of physical activity for at least 30 minutes.
Stop smoking.
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
Stop any illegal drug use.
Make sure you receive quality care.

Educate, participate, and advocate for stroke awareness. National Stroke Association offers free tools and resources for raising awareness at www.stroke.org.

It is time to get healthy and active!

All it takes is 30 minutes a day to improve health conditions. And, as the saying goes “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, and it really does! It is all about portion control, eating healthy, and being active. Obesity is a growing epidemic in this country, and it starts with awareness and education in our schools and communities.

“There are so many free options for Richmond residents and surrounding counties to become active; we have really nice parks throughout the city that can be utilized to walk, jog or run.” says Delicia Clements, cofounder of SISTAS DO RUN!

SISTAS DO RUN!… W.E. R.O.C.(k)! (Women Elevating Runners of Color) is a female beginner running group started in Richmond in January 2012 by founders, Delicia Clements and Yolanda Newbille. The organization’s mission is to encourage and motivate women runners of color to embrace recreational running and start making healthy lifestyle choices.

SISTAS DO RUN! had their inaugural run in January 2012 in Byrd Park, and attracted over 90+ black women of all different shapes, sizes, heights, shades, and ages to start getting active. The group meets every day during the week at different locations around the Richmond region, and their main group run is on Saturdays. They have an average of 35 women come out on a weekly basis. And, the great thing about the group is that it is FREE. This gives members in Chesterfield or West End Henrico the opportunity to participate on this journey to a healthier lifestyle. Each day members post resources, group runs, and motivational messages to encourage members and family and friends to become more active.

“It’s all about being motivated, involved, and engaged. We want our children, mothers, and grandmothers to eventually adopt a healthy lifestyle and change their habits.” Says Yolanda Newbille, cofounder of SISTAS DO RUN!

All fitness levels are invited to come and join. It begins with the first step to start a new healthy lifestyle. The group encourages the black community to get involved in physical activities and take ownership of their health. The way the obesity rates are rising and this epidemic is becoming more disheartening, it will truly take community advocates like Yolanda and Delicia, the local, state, and federal governments, and school officials to get people moving and proactive about their health.

If you are interested in becoming a Sistas Do Run! member, please email sistasdorun2012@gmail.com or “Like” the page on Facebook.

“We want our SISTAS to be the motivation and the movement in motion,” says Newbille.

Photo by Connie McGowan

If your mom is an art enthusiast, a visit to the Virginia Museum of Fine Art’s exhibit “Making History: 20th Century African American Art” may be a treat for her. With over 50 works by 23 African American artists, this free exhibit includes paintings, sculptures and works on paper that were once a part of the pioneering Barnett Aden Gallery (1943 – 1969). There is a special emphasis on the art of internationally acclaimed Elizabeth Catlett. The museum is open from 10 am until 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. You can also have lunch with mom at Amuse Restaurant or Best Café while you are there.

Does your mom enjoy nature? The Mother’s Day Tea at Maymont Park may put a smile on her face. Enjoy a cup of tea and delicious treats surrounded by the beauty of Maymont’s Japanese Garden. The afternoon will include a demonstration of Japanese tea customs and a tour of the Maymont Mansion. The event is Sunday from 2 pm until 4 pm and costs $25 ($20 for Maymont members). To participate, register by May 11th by calling 804-358-7166 ext. 329.

Elizabeth Catlett, Untitled, 1947, oil on canvas Art © Elizabeth Catlett/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY; Collection of Margaret and John Gottwald Copyright 2012

If mom likes to stop to smell the roses, visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden where she will be surrounded by “A Million Blooms” of orchids and other flower exhibits. The gardens are open from 9 am until 5 pm and food will be available at the Garden Café and the Bloemendaal House. From 1 pm until 4 pm, there will be a free jazz concert by Glennroy and Company at the Bloemendaal House. Seats and tables will be limited but guests are welcome to bring chairs and blankets. Admission is $11 for adults, $10 for seniors age 55 and over, $7 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids under 3.

Does your mother like the theatre? Take her to see “Dessa Rose” presented by CenterStage and Firehouse Theatre Project. This play is the imagined story of two real women whose unlikely friendship and pursuit of freedom for themselves and their children illustrates the power of transcending racial barriers. You can catch the show at 8 pm any day during Mother’s Day weekend. Tickets are $26 for adults, $23 for seniors ages 65 and older, and $12 for students. If you make a 6 pm dinner reservation at The Empress and tell your server you’re attending “Dessa Rose,” you’ll receive a 10% discount on your meal. To reserve your ticket to the play, visit http://www.firehousetheatre.org/.

If your mom is a performer or enjoys talent shows, Current Restaurant hosts a weekly open mic called “Sunday Expressions.” Held from 6 pm until 9 pm, the show features poets, singers, lyricists and whatever other talented folks show up to perform. The cost is $8. The restaurant is situated near the scenic canal at 140 Virginia Street and also offers a menu specializing in burgers and other American fare.

If mom likes to travel, there are many day trip options to consider. For instance, you could take a trip to Sugarleaf Vineyards. Just south of Charlottesville, this Black-owned vineyard will host a Mother’s Day Weekend Chocolate and Wine Pairing. Enjoy the peaceful setting while savoring delicious hors d’oeuvres, wine and a personal box of wine infused chocolate truffles for $20 per person. Learn more by visiting www.SugarleafVineyards.com.

You might also stop in Charlottesville for the Tom Tom Founders’ Festival Closing Gala. The Gala includes a full schedule of various music, public art, children’s games, field day activities and food supplied by street vendors. The free musical offerings will include original hip hop by youth, gospel, jazz, rock and bluegrass. The Gala will be held from 1 pm until 8 pm at The IX Project located at 955 2nd Street Southeast. For more information, visit: http://www.tomtomfest.com/events/evententry/closing-gala-field-day-at-the-ix.

“Dessa Rose” presented by CenterStage and Firehouse Theatre Project

Head east if mom likes the water. You could enjoy the ocean at Virginia Beach or take a cruise aboard the Spirit of Norfolk. The cruise will include an all-you-can-eat buffet, a DJ, dancing, a complimentary corsage for mom, and the scenic views of the Hampton Roads harbor. There are two cruises to choose from. The brunch cruise costs $49.90, boards at 11 am and returns at 1:30 pm. The dinner cruise costs $57.90, boards at 4:30 pm and returns at 8 pm. Read more at http://www.spiritofnorfolk.com/Norfolk/mothersday.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden “A Million Blooms”

A trip to Washington, DC offers options for socially conscious mothers. Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall to reflect on the contributions of one of our country’s most influential civil rights leaders. While there you can grab a meal and continue to focus on the themes of justice, peace and community by stopping by Busboys and Poets at 24th & V Streets for their free monthly “Focus In!” film series. Beginning at 8 pm, the film for the evening will be “Harvest of Empire,” a documentary focused on U.S. intervention in Latin America and the modern day immigration crisis. For more information, visit http://www.busboysandpoets.com/.

If mom enjoys neo-soul , jazz or other live music, consider starting your celebration of mom on Friday, May 11th when local favorite Nickey McMullen will host Music Fusion at the Canal Club. The show will feature jazz keyboardist Bee Boisseau and The Bee Boisseau Project, reggae artist Meagan Simone and lyricist Tamir Rock. Songtress Nickey McMullen will also add her own powerful vocal stylings. The show is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For tickets or to reserve tickets, email nickeymcmullen@gmail.com. Tickets can also be ordered online with an additional $3 service charge at http://www.thecanalclub.com/.

Another show on Friday is RVA Grooves presents Maestro J at the Hippodrome Theatre. A talented violinist who has performed with the likes of Marsha Ambrosius, George Duke, Ledisi and Lalah Hathaway, Maestro J recently released a neo-soul jazz album titled “So Far.” The show starts at 7 pm and costs $20. You can make a night of it by enjoying a delicious meal right next door at Mansion Five26. To order show tickets, visit http://www.rvagrooves.com/.

For Mayor Jones, an important strategy for alleviating poverty is increasing the number of successful minority businesses in the city. He has focused much of the work of his administration since taking office in January 2009 on providing support systems and opportunities to make that happen. In his words, small and minority businesses are a “part of the engine that revives the economy while providing uplift for many people in the community who need to build wealth.”

One of the ways that Mayor Jones has sought to improve the support system available to small and minority businesses is by strengthening the Office of Minority Business Development. Early in his term, he elevated the position of leading that office to a director’s level. His administration also developed two new loan programs housed there. The Citywide Revolving Loan Program is available to small businesses, entrepreneurs, developers and non-profits desiring to help revive Richmond neighborhoods and promote permanent job creation for low to moderate income citizens. The Contractor Assistance Loan Program provides Richmond-based contractors with financing to which they would otherwise not have access. The office also provides resources such as technical assistance and counseling.

“I… went out each week and visited Black businesses or ate at Black restaurants to be an example of how we have to be proactive in supporting that business base,” the Mayor explains.

Buildings matter in the Mayor’s efforts to offer opportunities to small and minority businesses. With approximately $300 million worth of capital projects on the horizon including 4 new schools and a new justice center, there have been lots of opportunities to create jobs for individuals and businesses. “(We’ve) made it known that we want to have minority participation in these deals,” states Mayor Jones. Since 2009, the city has increased its spending with small and minority contractors and vendors by 59%. A majority of the funds (92%) spent with minority firms in 2011 went to African-American owned businesses and was largely spent on construction services.

Another building project that illustrates the Mayor’s desire to support minority businesses as well as to preserving our city’s rich African American history is the Hippodrome. The theater which initially opened in 1914 and had been mostly shuttered since 1982, attracted stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles and James Brown during its heyday in the 1930s and 40s. Renovated by a Black developer named Ron Stallings, the city provided the gap funding that helped bring the venue back to life. “I had dinner there last night. It’s really just thriving…It’s really going to be the anchor to bring back 2nd Street. Now Calvin Hanson (another Black developer) is doing a project right across the street…Those two venues are really going to bring some life back to Jackson Ward.”

Mayor Jones believes it is not only important for the city to invest in minority owned businesses but for individuals to do so as well. To make that point, this past February in honor of Black History Month, his administration highlighted Black-owned businesses through various communication vehicles. Mayor Jones also demonstrated his personal commitment to investing in minority businesses by patronizing Black businesses. “I… went out each week and visited Black businesses or ate at Black restaurants to be an example of how we have to be proactive in supporting that business base,” the Mayor explains. He believes the success of minority owned businesses can play a vital role in turning the tide of the recession, stating, “We just can’t have some businesses revived. We have to have all businesses revived and that includes Black businesses.”

Additionally, the Mayor asserts that alleviating poverty in the city requires not only programs and business development but also strategies related to affordable housing. Mayor Jones is dedicated to pursuing, in his words, “a radical transformation of public housing as we know it” which he believes will then bring even more opportunities for capital projects and job creation.

His aspirations come largely from exposure to the work of Maynard Jackson, former mayor and the first African American mayor of Atlanta. “Atlanta is a city that had notorious problems with their public housing and as we speak today they no longer have public housing. They have senior citizen’s housing, some specialty housing but public housing as we know it in Richmond no longer exists in Atlanta. It’s a wonderful model,” states Mayor Jones. He describes the idea of bringing the kind of improvements he’s seen in Atlanta into the lives of the 19,000 public housing residents in Richmond as “absolutely electrifying.”

Mayor Jones believes it is not only important for the city to invest in minority owned businesses but for individuals to do so as well.

The Mayor believes Richmond can be a model that inspires more win-win partnerships between minority and majority businesses. He will be honorary chair of the Virginia Business Opportunity Fair to be held this May. Sponsored by the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, the fair is described on its website as “the Commonwealth’s largest conference that connects minority-owned businesses with some of the nation’s premiere corporations.” The Mayor says, “I’m hoping to be able to take the template of what we’re doing in Richmond and utilize that as a platform for advocacy on a broader scale throughout the state.”

“It’s important for us to support minority businesses and that’s what we’re trying to do in the city,” asserts Mayor Jones. “I think that the city has a wonderful opportunity to be a leader and to be a role model in that regard and to change some of the old traditional habits that we have and to make opportunities available to people who might not otherwise have that opportunity…”

April is National Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). The other pervasive developmental disorders are PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified), Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently estimates that there are about 1 in 88 children in the United States that have been identified with an ASD (autism spectrum disorder), and 1 in 54 boys identified. The CDC released its latest report last month, showing autism rates increasing rapidly and reconfirming that autism spectrum disorders are more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer and pediatric AIDS combined. The largest increases nationwide were among Hispanic and African American children. Most say autism in our children has become an epidemic, but could it be something that was there before, we just did not know what it was?

This question alone leads to African American children frequently being confronted with late diagnosis or misdiagnosis. It has also been reported that black children have significantly higher rates of mild mental retardation than white children. Although early intervention is key, African American children with autism are one to two years older than white children before they are even diagnosed. Sadly, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed children can often end up as statistics in the criminal justice system, because behaviors are shrugged off as being bad children.

Founder of The Color of Autism Foundation in Atlanta, Camille Proctor’s second child was diagnosed with autism in 2008 when his development in basic words became hard to comprehend. She struggled to get the correct services for him. Support groups talked in their “inside voice” like she did not understand. “We can start to overturn these disparities by helping African Americans with autism reach their full potential and empowering families with information on autism that they can use to advocate services for their child” says Proctor.

So often the Black community refers to family members on what to do, or brush it off as something they may outgrow. The Black community excuses a lot of things, which cause them not to seek out professionals. Proctor encourages all parents to be proactive about seeking help. Individualized education programs (IEP) in the public school systems are not a medical diagnosis. You have to seek professional help.

What to Look For
As a parent, it is hard to accept that your child may have a problem, but when it comes to autism, catching it early makes all the difference. If autism is diagnosed in its early stages, ideally by the age of eighteen months, this can interrupt the development and minimize problems associated with autism. The signs and symptoms of autism vary widely. However, every child on the autism spectrum has problems in communicating verbally and nonverbally, relating to others, and thinking and behaving flexibly. Some children with autism spectrum disorders start to develop communication skills and then regress, usually between 12 and 24 months. Similar to Proctor’s son, a child who was clearly pronouncing “Mommy” may stop using language entirely.

And, as a parent you are in the best position to spot the earliest warning signs of autism, better than any licensed pediatrician. Tips for parents:

• Monitor your child’s development
• Take action if you are concerned
• Do not accept a ‘wait and see’ approach
• Trust your instincts

Questions to Ask the Doctor
• Is my child’s development on target for his or her age?
• Are my child’s social skills developing normally?
• What further evaluation and testing are necessary to evaluate my child for possible autism?
• What resources are available to support our child and family?

Treatment
Each autism intervention plan should be tailored to address specific needs. Intervention can involve behavioral and management treatments, medicines, or a combination of both. Behavioral training and management treatments use positive reinforcement, self-help, and social skills training to improve behavior and communication. Many types of treatments have been developed including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), and sensory integration.

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is designed to both correct behavior and teach skills for dealing with specific situations. It is based on the principle of reinforcement; that behavior can be changed by rewarding desired behavior and removing reinforcement for unwanted behavior.

Developmental pediatricians are key. They help children set milestones, and then compare these milestones a year later, to see improvements in their development. Specialized therapies for speech, occupational, and physical therapy are important for managing autism. Medicines are most commonly used to treat related conditions and possibly problem behaviors, including depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

Be aware that every child is different. So, whatever approach is used for the child, an individualized treatment plan designed to meet his or her unique needs is essential. The benefits of early detection are so monumental. Usually by seven and eight years old, if autism goes undetected, a child is written off as mentally retarded with no hope. So, it is important to do your research and increase your awareness with the right information.

Defining the Disparities and Finding the Solutions
Awareness is key. Several resources have highlighted medical, educational, and cultural issues as the basis for the causes of the disparities. According to the CDC, 95.9% of Black children do have medical insurance; however, many of these children are poor and receive health care via Medicaid, limiting their options for care.

Many parents in the African American community do not have or maintain a “family doctor” they see regularly. Due to the lack of private practice doctors in the Black community, and the growth of public clinics, many African American children may see different physicians throughout their childhood.

A social stigma attached to mental health issues within the Black community may add to the problem of late diagnosis. Some Black parents find it hard to accept their child has autism, so even when the disorder is diagnosed, there may be a reluctance to use autism treatment services. The Black community tends to shy away from anything that may resemble psychosis, but autism is treatable and able to be controlled if detected early on.

Marlena Kirkwood is a mother of a beautiful seven-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with autism four years ago. “Many people are actually afraid to have their child diagnosed with a disorder. But, seeing Kayla do so much more than doctors said she couldn’t do has taught me strength and patience. I look at the diagnosis as being a blessing. It explained so much,” comments Kirkwood.

Intervention for any autistic child needs to start around age three, so the child can begin to learn how to eat right and develop normal, healthy routines, which will result in a better developmental outcome. There are services and organizations that aid in early detection, finding resources, receiving support, and just increasing the general awareness. Marlena took her daughter to the doctor at three years old, after noticing she was not as active or sociable. Basic activities confused her and she would just shut down. But, Kayla has beaten the odds, and at seven years old she is lively, intelligent, bright, and just a true joy.

This is a call to action for us all, directly affected by autism or not. We have to help spread the right information, increase awareness, and help to put the demand of initiatives and services in the areas that really need it.

“Autism is a diagnosis, not a brick wall. Kids can still have successful and normal lives. That’s why it is vital to be educated about this matter,” continues Kirkwood.
“Autism does speak!”

For more information on The Color of Autism Foundation or to find out how you can assist in the awareness of autism, please visit www.thecolorofautism.org.

We will transform the inside…..by going outside

From idle…..to active

From a tough exterior…..to a strong interior

From self-centered…..to team oriented

From surviving the system…..to changing the community

From street smart…..to intellectually curious

From reactionary…..to responsible

From isolation…..to unity

From follower…..to trailblazer

From survival of the fittest…..to awe in the Creator

From dim opportunities…..to Blue Skies!

Blue Sky Fund Needs Your Help

“Without help from our community, there would be no Blue Sky Fund, and we value any helping hand”.

Please join the Blue Sky Team by getting involved:

• Volunteering
• Sponsoring a kid to go to summer camp ($250)
• Donating supplies (camping gear)
• Participating in our program (apply for OLI, come play
at Church Hill Games, ask your school to get some
help with hands on learning)
• Support our mission through individual giving
• Blue Sky Fund welcomes your help.

To join our newsletter distribution list, make a donation, volunteer or get more information on Blue Sky, check out www.blueskyfund.org.

Exploring the great outdoors by rock climbing, fishing, or hiking is secretly something every adult wishes they had a chance of doing when they were a child. Blue Sky Fund accomplishes just that, exposing inner-city youth to the great outdoors. Fritz Knapp, the founder of Blue Sky Fund, and Lawson Wijesooriya, its current Executive Director, shared a concern that children do not play in the outdoors like they should. With the influx of video games, television, and the Internet, sad to say, kids forget what it means when a parent says, ‘go play outside’!

So, in 2003 Fritz Knapp began sending kids to summer camp out of a personal passion to connect Richmond students with the summer camp experience. Years later, in 2006 Lawson Wijesooriya joined Fritz’s mission to send kids to camp and expanded the vision for Blue Sky to include year round programming of hiking, backpacking, and team building. Fritz and Wijesooriya continued to send kids to camp each summer, while adding in other programming which led to the founding of Blue Sky Fund in 2007.

The organization really took shape when Oak Grove/Bellemeade Elementary School reached out to Blue Sky Fund for assistance with their third grade failing testing scores. The school was facing losing their accreditation. Soon, the Explorers program was born and Blue Sky Fund began to grow rapidly to include more programs throughout the school year.

How can a child know what a habitat is if they have never seen one? How can a child understand science terms if they do not recognize it in their own community? The questions Oak Grove/Bellemeade posed to Blue Sky Fund is the same need the organization was trying to fulfill.

The non-profit organization, now in its fifth year, helps to provide transformational experiences for urban youth through outdoor education. Their core values focus on discovery, unity, respect, and stewardship. Through discovering nature, working together with our community, respecting others and ourselves we are being a great steward and citizen in our communities.

“Blue Sky’s mission is about using experiences to engage young people in the world around them- expanding their horizons to believe in a better future. “ says Wijesooriya.

Directed by a strategic plan developed in 2008, the number of children served has increased roughly 300% over the last three years. Strong partnerships exist between Blue Sky and organizations such as Communities in Schools of Richmond (CIS), Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT), Peter Paul Development Center, Anna Julia Cooper School, and the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in Church Hill. Along with Blue Sky’s staff, these partners, many dedicated volunteers, and an engaged board make these educational and leadership growth experiences possible for many children, most of whom are near or below the poverty level.

Blue Sky has begun strategic efforts to focus on Richmond’s East End, with a goal of increasing the number and depth of Blue Sky experiences a particular child has.

The BIG Picture
Poverty is defined as earning at or less than $21, 954 for a family of four. Twenty two percent of Richmond City residents fall below the poverty line. Thirty five percent of children under 18 in Richmond City live in households defined as poor. (Data based on 2005 -2009 American Community Survey)

In one study of urban, at-risk children, 56 percent reported never having spent time in a natural setting. Blue Sky Fund wants to change that. The same study also indicated that outdoor education can help urban at-risk children overcome the effects of poverty. There is a 27 percent increase in measured mastery of science concepts, enhanced cooperation and conflict resolution skills, gains in self-esteem, gains in positive environmental behavior, and gains in problem-solving, motivation to learn, and classroom behavior.

Meet Brittany. (Not her real name) She is a graduating senior and heading to a four- year college in the fall. She is beating the odds of her demographic (low-income, African American, single female household). Brittany came from an abusive past and is now thriving with her adoptive mother in Richmond. She has gone to summer camp twice on a Blue Sky scholarship and she participated in the 2008-2009’s Outward Bound Together crew (now Outdoor Leadership Institute).

“I learned how to accept challenges and take risks because that is how you grow in life! I just want to thank Blue Sky Fund for the wonderful opportunity you gave me. I enjoyed watermarks so much. It was like a home away from home. I enjoyed the worship, the people, and the great fellowship. I opened up about things in my life that I wouldn’t usually share with anybody especially strangers. But God placed a spirit of comfort on me that I didn’t even feel like I was among strangers, but family. I really appreciate you allowing me to have this great opportunity. I would really like to attend next year again or even work there,” comments Brittany.

OBT Girls Crew 2 rock climbing on wilderness trip

By Chevont’e Alexander

Blue Sky Fund serves just over 1000 youth in a year. Each child will participate in various programs in the organization. Blue Sky Fund’s programs work in partnership with Richmond Public Schools to help them prepare for their standardized tests. More than 500 children will participate through the Explorers program, which conducts eight science-based outdoor field trips each year for third graders in seven Richmond Public Elementary Schools. Five additional programs provide additional outdoor experiences that range from a few hours to multi-day expeditions. Through these outdoor experiences, students increase their understanding of science through active learning, expand their horizons by visiting new and occasionally challenging environments, and improve their leadership skills by working together.

“Nature holds promise, the outdoors provide challenge and adventure, and education is the key to harnessing that power for the benefit of young people,” says Wijesooriya.

Blue Sky’s goal is to increase the number of children for whom we have a meaningful impact within the scope of our stated strategy. Our 2015 goal is to serve 2100 children in the Explorers program (science field trips for grades three through seven), 200 youth in the Expeditions program, 200 children in sponsored camperships, and 80 youth in an intense multi-day expedition and service project. In addition, our goal includes 150 children exposed to our day-long Church Hill Games and 200 children involved in day camps. The total, including overlap of children between programs, is just over 2900 children.

Program success, however, is more than achieving the numbers. Blue Sky’s two core program goals are to:

• Help children achieve academic success, especially in the sciences, through active outdoor education that is appropriate for their current science curriculum.
• Develop character and leadership through outdoor experiences that expand horizons, increase confidence, and build collaboration skills.

OBT Boys Crew rock climbing on their wilderness trip

Explorers Program
Explorers enjoy the opportunity to learn about nature from being in nature. In 2008, this program began in partnership with Oak Grove/Bellemeade and Chimborazo Elementary Schools. For two years committed volunteers, Blue Sky Fund, teachers, and 3rd grade students met one Saturday a month, traveling outside the students’ urban environments to discover more about themselves and their environment. The schools had identified a need to address low performance on the science SOL tests and Blue Sky joined in to meet the need with creative, hands-on, experiential field trip learning. In 2010, with prompting by Oak Grove, we chose to offer this program as a 3rd grade school day trip, still once a month, and still free to the schools and their students. Beyond any of our expectations, this program was so well embraced by many of the city schools that we now serve 500 students in 8 schools every month.

Outdoor Leadership Institute (OLI)
Blue Sky’s Outdoor Leadership Institute (formerly Outward Bound Together) recruits two crews of ten 9th, 10th and 11th grade youth from a very diverse cross section of Richmond to come together in a 3-week, intensive leadership training opportunity each summer. Separate girls and boys crews will each prepare for and complete a 5 day backpacking trip, as well as meet each month, September thru May, to build a strong sense of teamwork and complete meaningful community service projects. OLI’s purpose is to build teamwork and collaboration skills and increase confidence, leadership potential and community involvement. Blue Sky is currently accepting applications for the 2012-2013 Institute, so if you know any current 8th, 9th, or 10th graders, please encourage them to apply to this truly transformational program. Visit www.bluesky.fund.org for program information and applications.

Church Hill Games- May 12th, 2012
This annual one-day event is one of our most popular. CHG is a sports clinic day at Bill Robinson Park in Church Hill that provides fun, sports instruction, lunch, and a Christian inspirational message to over 130 participants with the help of 120 volunteers who share God’s love with these neighborhood children. We would love for you to come and volunteer, please contact us at info@blueskyfund.org

Camperships
Every summer Blue Sky sends low income kids to various summer camps. Inspired by the legacy of Fresh Air Fund, Blue Sky Fund was founded on the belief in the transforming power of the summer camp experience. Our campers (ages 8-18) are unable to afford camp otherwise, and we believe that every child should have access to summer camp. Blue Sky Fund facilitates the paperwork, funding, and transportation for all camps. Our camp offerings include Summers Best 2 Weeks (SB2W) Citikidz, Watermarks Camp, Riverside Outfitters Outdoor Kamp, and Virginia Outside.

Adventuring
Adventuring is a year-round after school program that uses the hard skills of adventure activities to teach personal and leadership development to low-income youth throughout Richmond. Designed in 6 to 8 week sessions, this program teaches participants basic outdoor skills, such as how to put up a tent, rock climbing technique, or how to start a fire. Each session has a theme such as hiking, biking, rock climbing or exercise/nutrition and is tailored appropriately. Most sessions culminate in an expedition that challenges the youth to use their newfound skills out in the great outdoors. Currently we run this program with CHAT (Church Hill Activities and Tutoring) and Church Hill Academy.

The goal is for every child who experiences a Blue Sky program to have a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the natural world. For those children and youth who experience Blue Sky year after year, the goal is to see character development that includes a sense of respect, learning engagement, responsibility, the ability to work with others, and the courage to try new things.

Taking A Stand- We Are Trayvon Martin – Rally at the VCU Student Commons Plaza

“This is not only a black issue, but everyone’s issue.” – C. Valdez

“It was really nice to see a mix of both VCU students and community members of all backgrounds coming together to remember Trayvon Martin and stand up against the injustice of his death.” – V. Destroza

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything,” and we all stood tonight for something greater than ourselves. – T. Jarvis

Anjum Ali works with Hope in the Cities to build understanding and trust among people of different races and religions.

by Sundra Hominik

The world marked International Woman’s Day on March 8 by celebrating the economic, political and social accomplishments of women. The special day falls during the month that’s also set aside to honor women in history.

Women continue to make history today often by accepting new challenges and taking on important leadership positions.

Anjum Ali and Jessica Stewart of central Virginia are two minority women who have taken on unique roles in their communities. Both said their faith is what motivates them to work to try to make a difference.

Anjum Ali, born in the U.S., has lived and studied in Saudi Arabia and Canada. She earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and French culture and a master’s in Islamic studies. She moved to Richmond 12 years ago. She is Pakistani-American.

A connection may start as two people in a grocery store’s produce section talk about selecting the best peaches for a cobbler. Or a connection may start when one woman compliments another woman on the scarf she’s wearing.

Anjum Ali, a Muslim, has been part of such conversations that started as polite exchanges and led to a better understanding between two people.

Ali is a board member of Initiatives of Change, which operates Hope in the Cities. That group started in 1990 in response to the need for racial healing in Richmond.

She also founded SpeakingUnites, which provides training and workshops about Muslims and Islam.

Henrico County organizations, including a mental health agency and a domestic violence alliance, have called on her to help with training or to lead conversations about diversity and inclusion.

Her passion is building understanding and trust across cultures, classes, races and especially religions.

“I just feel that maybe I’ve had a little bit of a talent to be able to convey to others what Islam is really about,” she said. “Sometimes I like to say, ‘I would be proud to show the true face of Islam.’ “

Ali, who spent several years in New England, said she is sometimes surprised and appreciative of how polite people are in Virginia. Polite conversations can be excellent starting points for changing hearts and minds.

“I like to be treated with courtesy and politeness. And isn’t that what we should all be trained to do anyway because there is something that … on that initial meeting that can open the doors towards people reconciling their differences,” she said.

Anjum Ali leads discussions with groups in Richmond and other cities as she works to help increase cross cultural understanding.

Ali is part of a growing immigrant and native-born Muslim population in central Virginia and the country.

Pew Research Center demographers estimate there were 2.75 million Muslims living in the U.S. in 2011. The Center estimates that less than .5 percent of people in Virginia are Muslims. Ali estimates about 20,000 Muslims live in the Richmond region.

As the Muslim population grows, people’s curiosity increases. Many wonder what it means to be Muslim. That interest feeds popular culture such as the controversial TLC television show, “All-American Muslim.”

When asked about the TV program and how it relates to her life in the Richmond area, Ali laughed, then she gave the region a good rating as a place to live and practice her faith.

“I have had a relatively positive experience here,” she said. “I have had maybe only two or three, at the most, incidences where I felt that people where acting a little bit hateful or hurtful because of my faith or my identity as a Muslim. But overall I think central Virginia is a very interesting place to live.”

She added that life here is not perfect. “There are doors that are definitely closed to you … but at the same time there’s a lot to be said for the fact that people are trying more and more to slowly move their way into being more open-minded.”

Jessica Stewart, born in Charles City County, earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in English and women’s studies. She will earn her master’s in elementary education from William & Mary in May. She is a Chickahominy Indian.

Charles City County, Henrico County’s closest neighbor to the east, was a secure and comfortable place for Jessica Stewart to grow up. She was surrounded by extended family and many other Chickahominy Indians.

She grew up wanting to become a teacher like her two great aunts. Now, Stewart is a student teacher in New Kent County as she finishes her graduate work in elementary education.

Jessica Stewart, a school teacher, dances with other members of the Chickahominy tribe to help educate people about Virginia Indian history and culture.

Stewart also grew up wanting to be the first female chief of the Chickahominy tribe.
“I’ve always wanted to be on the [Tribal] Council, always wanted a leadership role,” she said. “I want to be the chief. I want to be the first female chief of our tribe and it’s something that I’m definitely going to work towards because I don’t want the fire to be put out. I want to keep it going.”

At 26 years old, Stewart is laying the foundation to reach her second dream.

She is the youngest member of the Chickahominy Tribal Council. She traveled to England as part of a delegation commemorating the 400th anniversary of the settling of Jamestown.

Stewart spends much of her time building awareness of Virginia Indian culture. At a recent multicultural event at the Science Museum of Virginia, Stewart, assistant chief Wayne Adkins and others shared Chickahominy’s history and traditional dances.

Dancing at Pow Wows and other events is one way to teach others about her tribe, but Stewart said dancing also is a way to demonstrate her deep Christian faith.

Jessica Stewart, assistant chief Wayne Adkins and other members of the Chickahominy tribe dance as part of the Science Museum of Virginia’s January event, Celebrating Cultural Heritage through Dance.

“It’s connected to my faith. When I dance, it’s a prayer for me. It’s praise for the Creator and very, very spiritual when you enter the dance circle,” she said.

Virginia’s Indian population is .4 percent, according to the U.S. Census. In Charles City, which is the Chickahominy’s home county, the population is .3 percent. It’s the same in Henrico County.

With such a small Indian population, making sure their history is remembered and honored is a challenge Stewart and the Tribal Council must face.

“Virginia has such a rich history … I just don’t want that to be forgotten … that we were very instrumental in the formation of this nation, this great nation, and we did work together to build this. And I don’t want that to be lost in the shuffle of things,” Stewart said.

This story is part of the Virginia Tapestry: Reflecting Our Rich Diversity series produced by In Your Shoes Media.

McClellan uses her gift for advocacy both in her current position at Verizon and within the General Assembly. As Assistant General Counsel Mid-Atlantic South for Verizon Communications, she represents the company before regulatory commissions and offers legal advice on the impact of state laws and regulations on Verizon’s products and policies. Within the General Assembly, she represents the people of the 71st District and speaks out on ways that legislation will impact the citizens of Virginia.

During this year’s General Assembly session, for instance, there were bills related to voting rights that McClellan says would have had a “disproportionate impact on the elderly, people of color, and the poor.” McClellan adds, “Given Virginia’s past of disenfranchising voters based on the color of their skin, these bills were particularly troubling.” One bill would have required that voters present a government issued photo ID at the polls, eliminating the option of signing a sworn statement verifying one’s identity. “As a result of some of the discriminatory laws and practices in Virginia history,” says McClellan, “a number of Virginians born before 1946, particularly those of color, do not have a birth certificate, and could have been disenfranchised by this bill.” A birth certificate is necessary in order to acquire a government-issued photo ID. Another bill would require those without proper ID to vote using a provisional ballot and return to the polls later to prove their identity. For now the photo ID bill has been left in committee for the year. A bill was, however, passed and sent to the Governor for signature that eliminates the option for voters to sign a sworn statement of identity and requires voters without proper ID to vote by provisional ballot. It also expands the list of acceptable forms of ID and allows voters without ID to submit verification of their identity in a variety of ways.

Reproductive rights was another topic of concern for McClellan this session. One of the three bills under consideration – and ultimately, the only one of them signed into law by Governor McDonnell – mandates that women have an abdominal ultrasound prior to getting an abortion. Given that most abortions are performed in the first few weeks of pregnancy, McClellan argued: “For the vast majority of those pregnancies a transabdominal ultrasound is not going to show you anything…So you are forcing a woman to pay up to $1,500 for a picture of muscle.”

McClellan’s opposition to the bill, which originally required a transvaginal ultrasound, extended further than the cost and practicality. People began telling her their stories. She heard about Suzy who had a hole in her heart and despite being on birth control, became pregnant. Suzy would have to make the difficult decision of choosing whose life to spare: her own or that of her unborn child. McClellan considered what it would be like for Suzy to hear the fetal heartbeat during a mandatory ultrasound. She heard about Amy who had an incomplete miscarriage causing her fetus to die while still within the uterus. McClellan wondered if Amy should be made to view the deceased fetus in order to have the medicinal abortion necessary to remove it from her body. McClellan concluded that this was not a black and white issue. “Virginia law does not distinguish between these types of abortions, all abortion laws apply to them…” she wrote in a February 26, 2012 commentary in the Richmond Times Dispatch.
A survey conducted by Christopher Newport University and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, between February 4 and February 13, 2012, revealed that many in our state also objected to this legislation. Of the 1,018 registered Virginia voters polled, 55 percent stated that they opposed the ultrasound requirement and 36 percent supported it.

Virginia’s proposed legislation and the protests it sparked brought McClellan’s voice to the national arena earlier this month. The Rachel Maddow Show aired these impassioned words from McClellan’s March 1st speech to the General Assembly: “We cannot legislate medicine. We cannot legislate morality. We cannot legislate religion and when we try, we make mistakes…We need to be respectful of every Virginian, whether we think they are sinners or not.”

As the 2012 session of the General Assembly concludes, Virginia finds itself in the midst of Women’s History Month and a national conversation suggesting that a political “war on women” is being waged. When asked her opinion about this concept, McClellan replies, “I believe the social conservative movement is attempting to implement public policy in the name of freedom of religion that does not recognize medical fact or the political and social realities of our society today. The debate on birth control appears to have devolved into a debate on whether or not sex for anything other than procreation is moral. That is not the role of Government.”

McClellan will sit on a panel representing the differing sides of the debate on religious freedom and reproductive rights on Tuesday, March 20th at 7pm in the VCU Student Commons Theater. The event is free and open to the public.

Regardless of where you stand on these issues, McClellan’s example is one that illustrates the importance of participating in the political process. “We are a Government by, of, and for the people,” reminds McClellan, encouraging people to express their opinions on this and other issues important to them by contacting their state and federal representatives and by voting in every election.