Dominion to start employee resource group

Dominion

Employees at several Dominion locations are working together to start an Employee Resource Group for members of the LGBTQ community and our allies.

Management is enthusiastically behind this effort. One office out of state has the required numbers of people interested to start the ERG process. So there will be an LGBTQ ERG at Dominion soon. Now it is time for Dominion employees in Virginia to join in this effort and help form the ERG here at our corporate headquarters. The employee resource group can have many benefits, a few of which include:

* The ability to network and mentor for members of the community
* Provide a voice to management concerning LGBTQ+ issues
* A platform to demonstrate leadership abilities in a professional environment
* Provide a positive influence on the continued development of Dominion as an open and supportive company for all employees.

The ERG is open to all Dominion employees, including members of the LGBTQ community and our allies, who are such a critical support for the community. People are working to get this going. All that is needed now to make this a reality are people who would like to join and participate in this new employee resource group. We have started the list of people interested but we need more.

If you are a Dominion employee, and are LGBTQ or an ally, or if you know any Dominion employee who would be interested, email Floyd Taylor for more information.

Your dinner May 31 benefits Diversity Richmond, thanks to Chipotle

Cause an EffectMake dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support Diversity Richmond.

The Carytown Chipotle at 10 N Nansemond St will donate 50% of their proceeds from 5 to 9 PM to Diversity Richmond.  Be sure to tell the cashier you're supporting the cause to make sure your order counts!

Applies to eat in or take out orders.

Note: If placing an order online, choose the pay in-store option and tell the cashier you are participating before paying. Gift card purchases during fundraisers do not count towards total donated sales, but purchases made with an existing gift card will count.

Diversity Thrift donors touch the human soul

DT donors

Donors to Diversity Thrift do more than help us make money to put back into the community. They also enable us to share donated items with other nonprofits that are in need of goods such as furniture.

One such organization that benefitted recently is the Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP.) The organization works to address and prevent violence in diverse LGBTQ communities across Virginia. Thanks to a new grant, VAVP now includes therapy for LGBTQ+ identified people that have been impacted by intimate partner/dating/sexual violence and/or hate/bias motivated harassment. These mental health services will be offered free of charge by Chevelle Moss Savage, LPC. Such services are a deeply felt need and VAVP is now addressing the lack of help by providing in-person and video conference therapy.

Diversity Richmond is proud to support the good work of VAVP and was delighted to recently deliver chairs, tables and lamps that will be used in the counseling offices.

For more information about VAVP, email or call (804) 925-9242.

Pictured: VAVP staff (L-R) Nakita Mayfield, Ha Tran, Chevelle Moss Savage, Stacie Vecchietti and Flor Lo'pez Trejo. (Not pictured, Zakia McKensey)

Glen Allen High School students are role models for the rest of us

GlenAllenHS studentsFor the second consecutive year, the Glen Allen High School LGBTQ+ Alliance donated several prom dresses to our recent efforts to reach students who may need outfits for the dress-up affairs. The idea came about last year when transgender students had difficulty locating appropriate clothing. Pictured is Glen Allen student Paxton O'Bryen with a sampling of the dresses that the club collected.

We made history last month

Dr. Rav iPerry and Terrie Pendleton

In celebrating our past, Diversity Richmond made history during the month of February. In partnership with The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, we formally recognized Black LGBTQ History, something that has never been done in Richmond before.

Kicking off the month-long celebration with the Black and Bold Awards on February 3, we hosted a number of workshops and activities, celebrating the lives of the Black LGBTQ Community. The workshops ranged from Dr. Ravi Perry's discussion on Black Queer Politics to Powerful S.I.S.T.A: Celebrating LGBTQ Women of Color.

In addition to The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia,
we acknowledge the following community partners for
making the recognitions so successful:

Mrs. Tasha Chambers, Dr. Ravi Perry, "Miss Community" Clovia Lawrence, Desiree Roots, Rev. Rueben Boyd, Jr., Rev. Lacette Cross, Rev. Kenny Callaghan, Rev. E. Taylor Doctor, Faith Restoration Church, Third St. Bethel A.M.E., Metropolitan Community Church, Nationz Foundation, T Gurlz Rock, UGRC - Us Giving RVA Connection, Chevelle Moss-Savage, Christina Hairston and Angelique Scott.

Pictured: Diversity Richmond board member Dr. Ravi Perry and Terrie Pendleton

Black LGBT award medallions are true works of art

Black LGBT award medallions

For Black LGBTQ History month, two incredibly talented women left a lasting impression on the 17 honorees for Black LGBTQ History Month with their design and metal work for a one-of-a-kind works of art celebrating this year's recipients. Virginia Commonwealth University students Christina Hairston and Angelique Scott lent their talents and the results were beautiful.

Angelique shared, "I was honored to be able to create the hand-made medals to celebrate Diversity's Black & Bold LGBTQ Honorees. I wanted to create something that was special and represents the meaningful work they do in their communities daily. It was important to me to put care and quality into each hand-made medal in the same way the honorees hold such passion and fearlessness in all that they do."

Christina added, "It was a pleasure to create the designs for the marketing materials for Diversity Richmond's Black & Bold events. I wanted the designs to be of an elegant yet powerful nature to reflect the variety of thoughtful and meaningful events planned."

Christina and Angelique are two wonderful examples of what good hands the future of our civil rights movement is in.

Pictured: Christina Hairston and Angelique Scott and the medallion Scott created

Richmond chapter of Alpha Psi Kappa celebrates 15th anniversary by feeding homeless

Alpha Psi KappaA social service organization, Alpha Psi Kappa is an LGBTQ Greek nonprofit organization. Along with members from Baltimore and Hampton Roads, the group gathered at Diversity Richmond and prepared 250 lunches and delivered them to homeless shelters and areas of the city where displaced people tend to gather.

"We prepared nutritionally-balanced lunches and delivered them throughout the Richmond area," shared member and Diversity Richmond board Treasure Crystal Suber.  Alpha Psi Kappa is a wonderful example of the best of our community and Diversity Richmond was very proud to help support this effort. 

Pictured: Alpha Psi Kappa members serve homeless at Diversity Richmond

Genworth Financial employees lend hands to Diversity

Genworth Financial

"We are Passionate about giving back to the community."
~ Victoria Redd, Genworth Employee


Several Genworth Financial employees recently volunteered at Diversity Thrift, helping organize the hundreds of donated books for sale. "Genworth is passionate about giving back to the community," stated Victoria Redd. "Our LGBT Forum focuses directly on assisting our LGBTQ+ affiliates within the community. We love the mission and drive of Diversity Richmond. We were thrilled at the opportunity to provide what we hope will help better serve the supporters of Diversity Thrift."

Victoria also serves on our Special Events and Fundraising Committee. We could never make the difference we do in the community if not for the support of folks such as our friends at Genworth Financial. Thank you!

Pictured (L-R) Genworth's Susan McGavey, Victoria Redd, LaToya Hubbard and Joy Spain.

Richmond Is Top Finalist in British LGBT Award!

British LGBT Award

We Need Your Vote!
 
VOTE HERE NOW!

Yes, our own Richmond, Virginia is a Top Ten Destination Finalist in the British LGBT Awards and we need your vote. The competition is stiff as we are up against Amsterdam, Barcelona, Miami, New York, Orlando, Vancouver, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Stockholm.

Voting is easy and only takes a minute. Voting ends March 22. What a tribute this is to all the good work by the OutRVA team. Once again, we are making history!

Black and Bold: RVA's Unsung Black LGBTQ Gala a huge success

Black and Bold Gala

History was made on Feb. 3 as Diversity Richmond recognized 17 local African American activists for their outstanding work in the community. This was the first event of its type in Central Virginia, according to Diversity Board member Dr. Ravi Perry. "We wanted to raise the awareness of the many influences of our Black LGBTQ leadership. The community's responses have actually been a bit overwhelming."

Over 200 people crowded into the Diversity Richmond Event Hall and celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of the African American community. Receiving the Black and Bold Awards were Anderson Bertrand, Jenise "Justice" Brown, CasSandra Calin, Patricia Corbett, The Rev. E. Taylor Doctor, Austin Higgs, Michael O. Holman, Micky Alexander Jordan, Eric S. King, Marquis D. Mapp, Zakia McKensey, Chevelle Moss-Savage,  Sean M. Smith, Terrie Pendleton and Paris Fitzgerald Prince. Ryland Roane, Jr. and Jacqui B. Singleton were posthumously recognized.

Pictured: Diversity Richmond Board Member Dr. Ravi Perry, Paris Prince, Austin Higgs, and Eric King

More Black and Bold Events in February:

Black Trans 101 Discussion
Tue., Feb. 21 * 7 PM
Diversity Richmond, 1407 Sherwood Avenue, Richmond, VA

Powerful S.I.S.T.A.: Celebrating LGBTQ Women of Color
Tue., Feb. 28 * 7PM
Diversity Richmond, 1407 Sherwood Avenue, Richmond, VA

Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Rodney Lofton, Program Coordinator at Diversity Richmond.

Strangeways Brewing salutes Diversity Richmond!

Thank you to Strangeways Brewing

Strangeways Brewing

Strangeways Brewing recently celebrated Diversity Richmond by donating a percentage of their nightly sales to our good cause. Not only did they raise much needed funds to support our programs, the crowd had a great time in the process. Check them out here.

Pictured: Strangeways Hospitality and Events Manager, Erin Brunner presents a $400 check to Diversity Richmond board member Robyn Bentley. Joining in are (from left, back row) Diversity volunteer, Romilda Smith; volunteer Karla Bray; Strangeways employees Melissa Randolph and Holly Sowers. (front left) Strangeways employee Tonie Stephens, Diversity Richmond board member Brian Harrison, and volunteers Lisa Cumbey and Victoria Redd.

SunTrust once again helps Diversity Richmond

SunTrust volunteers

SunTrust is a good friend of Diversity Richmond. Among other things, the bank sponsored our huge party, The Big OH! last year. Five SunTrust employees lent us twelve helping hands recently by volunteering in Diversity Thrift.

Pictured are (L to R) Diversity Board Member Brian Harrison, and fellow SunTrust employees Heather Christenson, Priscilla Fredlund, Rebecca Flowers and Lucy Hentges. Thanks everybody. Much appreciated!

Subcategories