Truth Be Told: Virginia

Tyiquan is a skater kid who loses his father to gun violence. After attending culinary school in Virginia Beach, he moves his family back to Portsmouth. He is currently a chef in an upscale restaurant in Virginia Beach. 

When teens are told NOT to do drugs, they should be given something TO DO. Jackie Baker saw that gap and filled it using grant money to create a pizzeria, a cookie company, a candy store, and a performance troupe all run by teenagers. The effect of her work is multiplying across generations as many of those students received scholarships and are now in jobs that uplift many in the same community....

When pizza delivery services won’t deliver into their neighborhood, a boy joins a group of teenagers to form their own pizza delivery service with the slogan, “It’s fresh, it’s good, it’s from the hood!” While outsiders viewed his community as unsafe, he felt safest and the most supported in Robert’s Park. Involvement in this business catapulted young Dr. Goodman to want to continue a life of givi...

 A young boy in Berkeley is forced to reconcile the love that he had from his community vs. the love he could have had from his Mother, if Norfolk could have loved her for who she was. https://lgbtlifecenter.org/ https://www.pilotonline.com/2010/06/28/whats-in-a-name-berkley-section-of-norfolk/

Cyarra and her sisters grew up living in most all of the housing projects in Norfolk. Leaving the loving care of her grandparents, she had to grow up quickly–navigating the difficulties of living with a parent struggling with addiction. Despite the odds, she has managed to carve out a different life than what was forecast for her. https://gearrecovery.org/ https://www.cleanslatecenters.com/norfolk...

Marv is the son of the neighborhood Candy Lady, learning both how to hustle and how to solve disputes in the community from his charismatic Mother who kept more than just her son safe via her connection to the community.  https://wearememphis.com/play/culture/sweet-lady-an-ode-to-the-candy-lady/

Don Juan Bethea is the first Black Male Nurse in Depaul Hospital. He has worked in most hospitals in the region, including Norfolk Community Hospital, where he learned about patient care, and how to overcome his own stigmas.  https://thenewjournalandguide.com/week-four-gone-but-not-forgotten-va-s-black-operated-hospitals/

Historic preservation can be self preservation, but what are we preserving, and for whom? In Newsome Farms–a stone’s throw from the future site of the Virginia African American Cultural Center–an unclaimed cemetery thwarts Mr. Kirkly and his neighbors from the tidiness they aspire to. What is your relationship with your appearance and your personal safety? https://www.vaaccvb.org/  

For more info on early integrators of the Virginia Beach Police Department, check out "Black Law Enforcement Pioneers" by Deputy Chief P{atrick L. Gallagher and Edna Hawkins-Hendrix.  https://www.vaaccvb.org/

Step into Mill Dam–specifically the Haynes family's world, where basketball games with a makeshift hoop and a home that was a haven for kids reveal a profound tale of communal care. When trying to build a village, does nostalgia move us forward or hold us back? https://www.vaaccvb.org/ https://www.ymcashr.org/

From the bus stop to the courthouse–In Gracetown, hard-earned advances came with some unintended impacts. “Old Fashioned Fannie” followed in the footsteps of her grandfather–standing up for herself and her community. Is it possible to preserve community connections in the face of change?  https://www.vbschools.com/departments/office-for-diversity-equity-and-inclusion https://www.vaaccvb.org/

Reverend Jean Thoroughood delves into a bygone era of midwifery, where compassion and community played vital roles. Amidst the struggles and triumphs, her narrative prompts a reflection on the progress — or lack thereof — in Black maternal care. The legacy of midwives raises a poignant question: Have we truly evolved, or do echoes of the past still linger in today's maternal healthcare landscape?...

Hey-We are glad you are here. We hope you are HERE in Virginia Beach to experience the stories where they happened, but we welcome you wherever your heart may be at the present moment.  https://www.vaaccvb.org/