​This Thursday through Saturday, the Boulevard officially will be rechristened Arthur Ashe Boulevard in honor of the Richmond tennis star and my late uncle.

​I can’t tell you what this means for my family, but I also think it means a great deal for Richmond as a progressive community looking forward. This project shows what our city can do when we come together.

To me, Arthur Ashe is first and foremost just a man who was exceptionally good at what he did. I remember my uncle Arthur coming home for holidays or between tournaments, and we’d go play golf, or go to the movies, or just hang out.

As a kid, I loved tennis, but I was only vaguely aware of the broader story he was participating in: his promotion of social justice around the world, his visit to Nelson Mandela in South Africa to fight against apartheid, his fight against AIDS.

Why we give..........

If a philanthropist is a person who donates time, money, experience, skills, or talents to help create a better community, then Rob and Donna Turner are proud philanthropists.  Both are long-term entrepreneurs -- he's a tax accountant and she's a management consultant -- and believe that a vibrant and healthy community is built on the modest, consistent, and positive actions of people who build on the achievements of others.  They know that the AACC will serve as a focal point for “telling the stories” that trace the positive accomplishments of African-Americans in our city and region.  Like Rev. McCollum, both Rob and Donna believe that the AACC is an important and necessary resource for educating and inspiring the next generations of our community. 

​Local artists Jessica C. Szymanski, Rick Nickel and Chris Revels led students from Enoch and Ebenezer Baptist Churches, Men of Faith organization, Cox HS National Art Honors Society, and Teens with a Purpose to collaborate together to create portraits of influential past and present Virginia Beach African American community members. They learned about the lives and contribution of local figures, such as Civil War Hero Corporal Miles James, the first African American to serve on City Council John Perry, and Olympian Gabby Douglas. Working in pairs, the teens created linocut prints and wrote bios about their chosen heroes.

​A move to the center was the focal point of a celebration April 26 at the Westin Town Center. An “Evening with our Friends” brought together area leaders and members of the community to kick off the capital campaign for the African American Cultural Center in Virginia Beach.

Keynote speaker Dean Risë Nelson of Yale University, encouraged making the center a reality.

The African American Cultural Center, Inc. Founder and Executive Board members proudly announce the results of Gary’s Challenge grant. Our sincere appreciation is extended to Rev. Gary McCollum and all who accepted his challenge.

When he was asked what inspired him to make this pledge, he commented:

“It was my honor to attend the recent capital campaign kickoff event for the Virginia Beach African American Cultural Center (AACC) and to issue a $12,000 matching challenge grant to those in attendance. As I said to the audience that evening, the number 12 has significance because historically there were 12 African American neighborhoods in Virginia Beach. My wife Cookie and I are delighted that our challenge helped bring in additional donors who contributed an additional $14,979 for this very worthy cause!

​On Feb. 6, Mayor Will Sessoms presented a proclamation for African American Heritage Month to community leaders who are helping plan the African American Cultural Center, which will be next to Lake Edward Park at the corner of Newtown and Diamond Springs roads. The center’s executive board attended the ceremony.