What: The Valentine’s Controversy/History Series

When: Various Dates/Times

Where: The Valentine Museum

A couple of the CHPN staff attended some of this series last year and it was both educational, fun, and eye-opening. I highly encourage you to check out these events if you have any interest in the subjects being presented. For me personally, all of the subjects sound fascinating and I’m looking forward to attending.

Valentine Press Release:

RICHMOND – Today, the Valentine announced their innovative Controversy/History series will return on November 6, co-hosted by Valentine Director Bill Martin and Coffee with Strangers host Kelli Lemon.

Launched last year, Controversy/History explores present-day issues facing the Richmond community by pairing historic debates with modern data, encouraging important discussions that inspire action and promote progress.

“We’re excited to bring this conversation series back for a second year,” Martin said. “Last year, we were overwhelmed by the community’s interest in these discussions, and we’re excited to offer the Richmond Region the opportunity to engage in further conversations on relevant topics.”

At each of these events, Martin and Lemon will present a back-and-forth focused on an historical debate from Richmond’s past. Expert speakers will then present data and analysis about what that same debate looks like today.

“After taking part in this series last year, I saw just how important it is to engage in honest conversations about our past as a way to move our region forward,” said Lemon. “I’m looking forward to being a part of Controversy/History again and continue encouraging the community to use the debates of the past to inform the conversations we have today.”

The Valentine has partnered with the Capital Region Collaborative to align discussion topics with their regional priorities and Dialectix Founder Matthew Freeman will facilitate group discussion.

Here is a complete list of dates and topics:

November 6, 2018, 6-8 p.m.

Education: Segregation Then & Now

December 4, 2018, 6-8 p.m.

James River: Commerce or Recreation?

January 8, 2019, 6-8 p.m.

Workforce Preparation: Race & Labor

February 5, 2019, 6-8 p.m.

Healthy Community: Disease & Disparity

April 2, 2019, 6-8 p.m.

A Tale of Two Cities: Richmond or RVA?

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About the Valentine

The Valentine has been collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond stories for more than a century. Through collections, exhibitions and programs, the Valentine provides residents and tourists the opportunity to discover the diverse stories that tell the broader history of this important region. The Valentine offers major changing exhibitions, which focus on American urban and social history, costumes, decorative arts and architecture. https://thevalentine.org/

About Kelli Lemon

Kelli Lemon is an on-air personality for Radio One Richmond’s Kiss FM and iPower and hosts a weekly podcast called Coffee with Strangers. Kelli hosts various social events and has assisted in creating unique urban events in Richmond including RVA Pop Up Parties, HeART & Soul Brew Fest, Richmond Black Restaurant Experience and The Art of Noise. Kelli recently opened her social cafe “The Urban Hang Suite” in Jackson Ward.

About the Capital Region Collaborative

The Capital Region Collaborative brings together local government, business, and community stakeholders to achieve a shared vision for the Richmond Region. CRC partners recognize that the most pressing challenges extend across jurisdictional boundaries and that a cross-sector, cross-jurisdictional approach is needed to reach the region’s full potential. https://www.capitalregioncollaborative.com/