Embrace Stories and News

Introducing the First Recipient of the Embrace Communities’ Great Neighbor Award* (2020) – Xiomara Vidal

Congratulations to Xiomara Vidal! Xiomara (pronounced Zee-mare-a) Vidal is the community connector at the Southwood Community Resource Center. She is the face of the clinic for the residents of Southwood Apartments. Most of them are Hispanic, coming to the States from a myriad of other countries…

Embrace EDU: A Chesterfield Approach Update #1

In the fall of 2018, with the support provided by The Bob and Anna Lou Schaberg Fund, Embrace launched the Empowered Communities Institute.  From September 2018 to May 2019, over 300 individuals from 47 organizations participated in training sessions offered through the Empowered Communities…

Ladies Take the Lead in Hillside Court

If you think your holidays were busy, wait until you hear about the actions of several young women in Hillside Court on the Southside of RVA. Meet Taliayah and Alonshay, youth apprentice-extraordinaires who always find time – between high school, sports, family, and being teenagers – to serve…

Student-Led Listening: Strengthening our Schools in Partnership with CIS Chesterfield

In December, just before the holidays, I had the pleasure of participating in a “Bus Tour” hosted by (CIS) Communities in Schools Chesterfield. Even with the chilly weather and lingering snow, Chesterfield County and Richmond City nonprofits, parents and government officials were well represented.…