Right Result for the Wrong Reason African Burial Ground Restoration Begins in Richmond

Vol. 25 No. 21 (2029th Edition) PRST STD - U.S. POSTAGE PAID May 25 - 31, 2011 RICHMOND, VA PERMIT NO. 639 FREE Right result for the wrong reason African Burial Ground restoration begins in Richmond Left: Workers ready the site of Richmond’s African Burial Ground for removal of asphalt and gravel for its conversion from a parking lot to a memorial. Right: El-Amin speaks to the media as Khalfani (left) and others listen. A day before city and state officials gathered desecrated our ancestors,” said Khalfani, who we have heard their cries for respect,” he Council. “This is a city council commission.” to mark the beginning of the removal of asphalt called out VCU President Michael Rao and said, adding that their activism produced The city officially took possession of the and gravel from Richmond’s African Burial “cowardly” elected officials, both city and the right result for the wrong reason. El- burial ground site on May 23. The May 24 Ground, two vocal proponents of the burial state. They sought to have Rao disinvited. Amin elaborated that the governor signed event included Richmond Mayor Dwight ground sought to set the record straight Khalfani said that it was the collective over the burial ground to the city because C. Jones; McQuinn, chair of the Richmond about their level of involment. activism of his organization, El-Amin’s, and the long-standing dissention between VCU City Council Slave Trail Commission; King Salim Khalfani, executive director others, that pursuaded Gov. Bob McDonnell and the activists was a “distraction to the Kathy Graziano, president, Richmond City of the Virginia State Conference NAACP to sign a bill allowing the transfer of the 3.4- sesquicentennial” — commemoration of the Council; VCU’s Rao; and Ana Edwards of and Sa’ad El-Amin, founder of the Society acre parcel of land from VCU and the state 150th annivesary of the U.S. Civil War. the Defenders Sacred Ground Historical for the Preservation of African American to the city of Richmond. Khalfani also said Khalfani and El-Amin also made public Reclamation Project. Antiquities, held a press conference and it was their lobbying actions that led three their plans to lobby government officials for J. E. Liesfeld Contractor, Inc., Dwight Snead a brief ceremony honoring those buried local contractors to donate their services — additional changes. Among them, an official Construction Company and Ty’s Hauling underneath the asphalt. Khalfani and valued at $123,000 — for the removal of name change of the burial ground, to either and Paving, Inc. have began removing and El-Amin chose not to participate in the asphalt and gravel from the burial ground. African Burial Ground of Richmond or the hauling off the asphalt and gravel from the “dog and pony” official ceremony held “This was all done at the behest of the Richmond African Burial Ground and to burial ground. According to the city, on Tuesday, May 24, saying they were NAACP,” said Khalfani. find new leadership for the Richmond Slave El-Amin and Khalfani, the asphalt and disappointed in the actions of elected El-Amin, a former lawyer and Richmond Trail Commission, which recently unveiled gravel will be replaced by sod, a sprinkler officials who had the power to convert City Council member, who in recent 17 markers along the Richmond Slave Trail, system and lighting, among other things. the burial ground into a proper memorial months filed two suits in Richmond to stop including at the burial ground. It is unclear when the work will be but chose to let Virginia Commonwealth VCU from using the burial ground as a “The commission needs a new chairman,” completed but Khalfani said there is a five- University (VCU) use it as a parking lot parking lot, also condemned VCU’s Rao, said Khalfani, noting that current and year period to develop the site, located on instead. but indicated that he was looking forward. longtime chair, Del. Delores McQuinn is the 1500 block of East Broad Street, to “We will not stand with those who “We hope our ancestors are pleased that no longer a member of the Richmond City prevent it from reverting back to the state. 2 • May 25 - 31, 2011 LOCAL The Richmond Voice Children donate for playgrounds Children in the Richmond Department have not had the opportunity to experience of Parks, Recreation and Community the spontaneous joy of playing. Building Facilities’ After School Program revealed playgrounds gives these young people the last week that they raised $1,125 to help opportunity to reclaim their childhood. build playgrounds for children in Haiti Richmond’s Chief Service Officer Paul and Afghanistan. The children made Manning recognized the children for the announcement at the George Mason their donation as well as the After School Elementary School Playground. Program for the values it teaches. “The Each year, children in the program program not only provides a safe place for select a charity to support that helps other children after school; it is grooming future children and their families somewhere in residents and leaders as we help Build a Better the world. This year, the children decided Richmond and a better world,” he said. to raise funds by selling coupon books for Dr. David B. Jones, a board member of the International Childhood Enrichment ICEP and a professor of Recreation and Top: Paul Manning, Richmond’s chief service officer, addresses a group of children. Program (ICEP). ICEP notes that while Leisure Studies at the University of Maine, the situations in Haiti and Afghanistan was on hand to recognize the children and Left: Four children help announce that $1,125 was raised to help build playgrounds. differ vastly, children in both countries accept the donation. Right: Children enjoy their playground while celebrating the $1,125 they raised. VCU increases 2011-12 tuition and fees, approves six-year plan The Virginia Commonwealth University other major research universities. 2012, state support for Virginia students at but strategic investments in faculty, student Board of Visitors has set tuition and “In the current economic climate, public VCU will have been reduced by $63.5 million scholarships and libraries by reallocating mandatory fees for the 2011-2012 academic universities must work diligently to ensure – about 31 percent -- the largest reduction university resources and taking advantage year and adopted a six-year strategic plan. financial access for qualified students among four-year institutions in Virginia. of savings realized primarily through the Undergraduate, in-state students will pay combined with a conscientious commitment “VCU remains proud that it educates the active management of energy costs. $9,517 in tuition and mandatory fees for the to academic quality and the assurance that largest number of in-state students of any The VCU Board of Visitors also approved upcoming academic year. That is a $700 or students are able to succeed in the long of the state’s four-year universities, but in VCU Quest for Distinction, a new six-year 7.9 percent increase over current tuition and term,” said VCU President Michael Rao. doing so, it consequently suffers the largest strategic plan that establishes a roadmap mandatory fees. Out-of-state undergraduate “VCU continues to transform the lives of its state cut in state appropriations,” Rao said. to reach VCU’s vision as the nation’s tuition and mandatory fees was set at students and we need to be sure that we are doing “State support per in-state VCU student premier public urban research university $22,949, a $1,000 increase. so as effectively and efficiently as possible.” in fiscal year 2012 stands at 58 percent of distinguished by commitments to academic University officials say the increase is University officials also note that the rates what it was in fiscal year 2011.” quality and student success. in the range of tuition and mandatory fee reflect the impact of ongoing reductions in Rao called the budget austere and said “The Quest plan captures the best of our levels established by the state’s other four- state support for VCU’s in-state students. As it continues to manage the decline in state opportunities in a way that is realistic,” year institutions, VCU’s tuition and that of July 1, VCU will receive $41 million less funding and “is sensitive to the financial Rao said. “It is a responsible plan that will mandatory fees remain slightly below the in federal and state funding than it did the concerns of our students and their families.” measure our progress in meeting our goals state’s average and significantly below the year before. Between fiscal years 2008 and He said the budget accommodates modest and objectives over the next six years.” The Richmond Voice May 25 - 31, 2011 • 3 4 • May 25 - 31, 2011 The Richmond Voice Happy Birthday Vet turns up heat to help mil. families Dorothy V. Harris A former Army Ranger and now a of those who serve,” said Bob Okun, chair recognized Bikram “Hot” Yoga instructor of ThanksUSA. “He’s a real inspiration has t a ken on a new role: to provide educationa l spiritually and, I have to say, physically as opportunities for military families. well. His yoga stretches your body to the Jim Ambrogi, a wounded veteran of limits of heat and stress with extraordinary Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm in results. His commitment to ThanksUSA is Iraq, has launched a fundraising campaign just as extraordinary.” for ThanksUSA, a charity that provides A native of Massachusetts, Ambrogi the families of military men and women enlisted in the Army at age 20 and served with needs-based, post-secondary school for 22 years.

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