As I look around and quietly watch the autumn leaves display their colorful hues of brown, yellow, red, and orange, it reminds me of the wonder of how their collective differences coexist. During this historic turn of events, cloaked in uncertainty, we must give thanks for the resilience of humanity. Our willingness as humans to reach out to help others, whether a single soul, a community, or an organization like ours, is alive and well. Seeing this outpouring of care has empowered us to stay the course, knowing that our mission is timeless.

​The Virginia African American Cultural Center hosted its 1st Community Fall Festival on October 5th 2019 to celebrate on the land which was officially “Gifted” by the City of Virginia Beach to our communities. Even though we have not broken ground  we felt it was important to give back to these historic neighborhoods by hosting a family-friendly outing showcasing talented artists, musician’s storytellers, African arts and crafts, informational and local vendors, food trucks as well as organized children activities, all free and open to the public.  Many of these families are unable to afford the luxury of attending formal concerts, Art exhibits or learning about their culture and history in a safe place. With a small budget of $1000.00, donations from business sponsors, great volunteers and other cultural art partners including the City, we entertained an intergenerational multicultural crowd of over 500 and it was a great success! Everyone had a wonderful time and wished that this will become an annual event!