vol. 272 / CozyExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 272 / COZY
Sit back and get cozy—this week’s guest editor is Jenny Kacani. Jenny is the Volunteer Lead for Keep Virginia Cozy, a Richmond-based nonprofit on a mission to protect wilderness and inspire all Virginians to care for our wild places in the River City and beyond.
Since 2017, the dedicated volunteers at Keep Virginia Cozy have removed over 600 tons of litter from public lands, preserving our natural legacy for current and future generations. Through zero-waste, community-driven efforts, they show that even small actions can lead to meaningful environmental impact.
In addition to keeping Richmond cozy, Jenny is a painter, glass artist (check out Odd Bird for flameworked glass objects), and works in publishing. A Richmond native who has always loved being outdoors, you can most often find Jenny kayaking, hiking, or climbing.
The events Jenny is highlighting this week celebrate what makes Richmond special—a community of people who love to come together to make things, make a difference, and make our city a better place.
Take it away, Jenny...
Reduce, Reuse, Risograph!
This event combines two of my favorite things: art and sustainability. Studio Two Three is offering a Risograph class that teaches you how to reuse materials to make prints. Risograph printing is an approachable medium that invites experimentation and creativity. Best of all, it’s a one-evening class, perfect if your schedule doesn’t allow for longer time commitments! Studio Two Three’s classes are always a wonderful experience—with uber-talented instructors and a warm, welcoming space.
Join Keep Virginia Cozy for our final cleanup before we host the 5th Annual Cozy Ol' Brewgrass Festival We’ll meet at the picnic shelter in Forest Hill Park and pick up litter around the park—including the picnic area, trails, lake, and playground. Stick around afterward for PRIDE on Forest Hill, and come back the next day for the South of the James Farmers Market—which, in my opinion, is the best in town! No sign-up needed. We’ll provide gloves and bags.
Vitals:
June 14, 11 am-12:30 pm / Forest Hill Park / 4021 Forest Hill Avenue
5th Annual Cozy Ol' Brewgrass Festival
The 5th Annual Cozy Ol' Brewgrass Festival will be the biggest and best yet! Join us down by the river to celebrate summer with all your local favorites: food from 1115 Mobile Kitchen, Goatocado, Vegan Action, and ArrozRVA; drinks from Väsen Brewing, HIKE Hopped Seltzer, and Ninja Kombucha; music from Andrew Alli & Josh Small. There will also be a fair for local artists and makers. Best of all, by coming out, you're helping keep our parks, trails, and beloved James River cleaner and cozier for all!
The event is sold out, but ticketholders can find more info here. And if you didn't score a ticket this year, follow along here for details about other events and ways to get involved!
I joined Keep Virginia Cozy to get more involved in the community and give back to the parks where I spend so much of my time. Our community cleanups are always a great experience—we get the friendliest people in attendance, and together we've picked up over one million pounds of trash!
What many people don’t know is that we also offer private community cleanups—a great way for businesses to connect with their local community. They pick the day, and we organize a cleanup for their team. It’s a chance to get out of the office, enjoy some time outdoors, and give back.
We weigh all the trash at the end, and seeing that final number really makes you feel good about what you’ve accomplished. I love leading these events because I get to meet so many new people—and it’s always fantastic when corporate cleanup participants return for our public community cleanups!
