Archives

James House | Preventing Abuse Starts Early

On a cold winter day in March, Terence Barber is sitting in the community center at Thomas Rolfe Court in Hopewell awaiting the arrival of a bus full of kids.  Once a week, Terence leads an after-school program here for 28 children from the neighborhood.  He teaches them about healthy relationships, how to deal with… View Article

Boys to Men: Young men find support in mentoring program

Aho I learned a new word this week: ‘Aho’. Aho is an ancient Lakota word that, roughly translated means, “I hear you”. You might compare it to the familiar ‘amen’ often uttered in a church service. However, its meaning is particularly significant among the youth in the Boys to Men mentoring program in Prince George… View Article

Mr. Jones Smiles Back | Virginia Dental Association Foundation

Laughter drifts out the front of the dental office as I step inside. Rounding the corner, I can see the source of all the hilarity, Reginald C. Jones, seated in the dental chair. He’s smiling ear-to-ear though he’s missing several bottom teeth. It’s his second appointment to have dentures fitted, the last time he had… View Article

Weston Manor: A History of Educating Our Youth

It’s hot out here.  A warm breeze is slowly wandering off the Appomattox River giving me some relief.  Still, all in all, it’s a sultry late summer evening.  I’ve been here before to walk around and photograph Weston Manor’s lovely surroundings but right now I’m standing where a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse once stood next to the… View Article

At Hopewell Recreation & Parks, Summer Days are for Summer Camps

A tennis ball flies across the court in front of me. Taking turns, a line of kids swings away at the balls tossed by their counselor.  “Set your feet! Swing parallel to the ground! GREAT SHOT!” The constant coaching, smiles, high-fives, and positive vibes ripple across the tennis court confirming for me that this summer… View Article

Easier Access to a Healthy Lifestyle | New Fitness Room at Central Wellness Center

Tijuana Gist is busily completing a registration form when I walk into the room.  She’s a Prince George County resident who lives just minutes from the Central Wellness Center in Disputanta.  She tells me, “I had some injuries and I just got released by my doctor.  I’m here to lose some weight so I can… View Article

Weekend Backpacking | FeedMore Leads the Way

“I’m just a solution-oriented person. If there’s a problem, let’s solve it.” Simple enough, right? That’s Annessa Jones, the Guidance Counselor at Harry E. James Elementary School in Hopewell. Annessa Jones helps children at Harry E. James Elementary School receive nutritious meals for their weekends at home. Her job as a Guidance Counselor is to care… View Article

Go Play Outside: FOLAR Fuels a Love of the Outdoors

As I pull into Appomattox River Regional Park, two women are raking the trail. “Has anyone seen Ken?” I ask. One woman lifts her head, “I have!” It’s Debbie Newman, Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) Treasurer and Ken’s wife. Debbie leads me to a nearby spot where students and families are picking up… View Article

Life Threw Her a Curve, JRF Grantee Had Her Back

Hannah stands in her kitchen, mixing juice and water for her toddler’s bottle. After working with Flagler Housing & Homeless Services, Hannah has lived in this home for nearly a year. Hannah* is standing at her kitchen sink. It might not seem like anything special, but the care she takes as she loads the dishwasher and… View Article

Better Vision, Better Future: Conexus Helps Kids See

Young children may not be aware that their vision is a problem. Those vision problems can turn into learning problems. We feel it’s critical to our mission of creating healthy communities and bright futures that we remove vision challenges and make way for improved education. Conexus was an obvious choice when we looked for a… View Article