July 14 Newsletter: A new normal for nonprofits
Weather: More of the same: High of 85 with a chance for storms.
On this date in 1995, Virginia adds the 540 telephone area code in the western portion of the state. One year later, Tidewater customers see their area code switch from 804 to 757.
‘A new normal’: Federal cuts to nonprofits leave Richmond based organizations facing uncertainty, looking inward
In the wake of large-scale federal funding cuts, Richmond nonprofits and foundations are rethinking how they do business.
Reggie Gordon, at the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, said like-minded nonprofits should look to pool resources.
"This is the moment where we really put a mirror up to ourselves as the nonprofit sector," he said. "There should be no pride in individual accomplishments. We should think of this as: What do we need to accomplish for the sake of the people in the region?"
RPS Roundup: Suggested salary increases total $8.7 mil, early literacy achievement, REA contract
Victoria A. Ifatusin has the latest from the School Board, which received a report last week on its pay relative to competing districts.
This year's budget cycle was a tight one, and Superintendent Jason Kamras said the decisions are likely to be tough again next spring.
Also, RPS reported a 14% increase in literacy scores over the course of the last year for its young elementary students. Read more here.
Today marks the first installment in our 25 in '25 series. In each newsletter, we'll profile an unsung hero who is working in our communities. These are the people who make us proud to be Richmonders.
Igmara Sanchez Prunier provides Latinos a space to grieve
Sanchez Prunier, a Cuban immigrant, founded Duelo Latino, a free grief support organization for Richmond's Latino population.
“We have traumatic, generational pain and loss, and we're so busy trying to make sure that we can put food on the table, or a roof over our head, keep a job, send money home, because people in our country are even worse off,” she said.
The organization's services include in-person and virtual support groups. There are also groups for specific tragedies, like homicide, perinatal loss, and cancer. Read more here.
In other news
- Chesterfield planning commission to consider zoning overhaul Tuesday (VPM)
- Shuttered Dogtown Brewing space in Manchester to be reborn as Bolo’s Eatery (BizSense)
- Project aims to honor 22,000 buried at forgotten Richmond burial site: 'Nothing is erased' (CBS 6)
The editor's desk
I did not know the 757 area code was less than 30 years old. Area codes, for the younger readers, used to be a major deal — long-distance calling is a relic I'll happily leave in the past.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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