vol. 283 / TraskExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 283 / Trask
This week we welcome back artist, musician, and community leader Ed Trask as guest editor. A Richmonder requiring no introduction, Ed sums himself up like this: “Painter, drummer. A scattered mess trying to push stories, color, composition, rhythm, love, and light on to the masses.” That restless energy has defined Ed's work and his place in the River City for more than three decades.
A graduate of VCU with a BFA in Painting & Printmaking, Ed made Richmond itself his canvas, transforming forgotten buildings with murals that gave walls new life. After graduating in 1992, he kept painting wherever he went, sometimes illegally and sometimes while on tour with punk rock bands, always in search of rhythm and story.
Back home in Richmond, he has been a driving force in using public art as a catalyst for community. He co-founded the RVA Street Art Festival, served as a commissioner for the city’s Public Art Commission, and worked with nonprofits to bring inclusive, collaborative murals to neighborhoods across the region. He has also shared his perspective in classrooms, boardrooms and community spaces, reminding people that art is most powerful when it belongs to everyone.
Today Ed’s paintings and murals can be found in collections around the world, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Modern & Contemporary Art Collection, but his roots remain firmly planted in Richmond, where he lives with his wife and two children. On the horizon for Ed is Universal, a gallery space created by Artists for Hope to incubate new creative endeavors that give back. Artists exhibiting at this nonprofit gallery will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the charity of their choice.
Take it away, Ed ...
Camera to Canvas Fundraiser
On September 12, I’ll join fellow Richmond artists for Camera to Canvas, an annual event that blends photography and painting to benefit the Friends of the James River Park System. For more than five decades, the James River Park has been Richmond’s beating heart. It's a place that has shaped my art, my music, and my life. I’ve biked its trails and paddled its rapids. I've cast a line into its waters and found endless inspiration for the stories that end up on canvas.
This year, I’ve donated my painting Train Songs, a piece that echoes the rhythm of steel, water, and movement along the mighty James. Few places capture Richmond’s creative pulse like the James River Park, and Train Songs is my way of honoring that soundtrack.
At Camera to Canvas, you’ll be able to bid on this painting, as well as photographs by Richmond photographer Bill Draper, plus original works from other artists. Attend the show, or bid on artwork online, or just spread the word. Every dollar raised helps protect and expand the park that we all love to call home.
Vitals:
Camera to Canvas / Friday, Sep 12, 2025 / 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM / 6228 Forest Hill Ave.
Walk the Dams Under the Manchester Bridge
This is my favorite spot to breathe, fish, and decompress. It is the perfect blend of nature and the energy of rushing water pounding rocks for millions of years, with trains in three-quarter time carrying goods, coal, and people slicing between osprey and herons looking to roost. The water drowns out the sound of the Manchester Bridge, which has its own rhythm of passing trucks and car horns. Together they create an orchestra that is peaceful, layered, and at times a little discordant, touching every sense. Yet just half a mile away, a completely different rhythm and song rises from the heart of a city that is changing rapidly. And here you can also walk the dam to the now-closed Pipeline Trail, a beloved spot for so many who seek solace and connection to a river that carries both a difficult history and the promise of unity. I encourage everyone to support the “Save the Pipeline” efforts led by groups such as RVA Paddlesports and the James River Outdoor Coalition, who are working to restore public access to this special place.
Vitals:
Under the Manchester Bridge, near the end of 12th & Byrd Street in downtown Richmond
Health Arts in Healthcare
I just wrapped up a collaboration with VCU Health Arts in Healthcare and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, bringing a little extra color and energy to the Virginia Treatment Center for Children’s Northside campus. This mural is meant to welcome kids and their families with warmth and imagination, but most importantly with hope. While I was painting, it struck me that there are so many ways we Richmonders can support CHoR beyond large financial gifts. The Child Life Department keeps Amazon and Walmart wish lists for toys, books, and art supplies. And the Virginia Treatment Center for Children has its own wish list to support recreation therapy and mental health services.
You can also join events like Extra Life, which unites gamers from across the globe to play games to change kids' health to change the future. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Or start your own project, from a neighborhood art show to a “Shop for a Cause” event at a local business. Supporting CHoR doesn’t always mean writing a big check. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing your time, creativity, or even a box of crayons.
Do yourself a favor and revisit Kuba Kuba today. Here you can stand on the tiles worn down by nearly three decades of footsteps and lean against this well-worn neighborhood bar, its edges smoothed by years of elbows, while you wait for a plate of Cuban pork. Out front there's a mural I painted years ago, still bright with color. Inside, if I listen closely enough, I can still hear Papi reminding me that Rana's house hot sauce, not sriracha, is the sauce you want. Here you'll find sunlight drifting through the front door, cutting across the chorizo smoke. Regulars laughing over what is probably their fourth espresso of the day. The walls are lined with photos, chalkboards and well-loved artifacts that retell decades of neighborhood stories. Even the dogs know to pause at the door for milk bones. For me, Kuba Kuba has always been a home and a family, and Richmond is lucky to have it. If it has been a while, stop by. Order the pork, sip an espresso, and remember why we rally around the places that feel like home. Cheers, y’all.
This is not your normal podcast. It takes place on an island in the James River in downtown Richmond. For more than 200 years, Richmonders have built on this narrow sliver of land, only to watch the river reclaim it. Still, people keep returning, keep building, and keep trying to find their footing. That spirit is at the heart of Richmond’s newest podcast. Check out the recent episode featuring Ed Trask, recorded with feet in the sand and the city skyline in view, as guests talk about what it means to keep pushing the place we love to call home forward. Richmond Grid and Here Weekly are proud partners of the Sharp's Island podcast.
vol. 282 / It's Your MayorExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 282 / It's Your Mayor
We’re proud to welcome this week’s guest editor, your mayor, Danny Avula!
Born in Hyderabad, India, Danny immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1979. A father of five, he and his wife, Mary Kay, have called Richmond’s East End home for more than 20 years. Mary Kay is a teacher with Richmond Public Schools.
Mayor Danny holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Johns Hopkins. He was named one of Richmond’s Top Docs every year from 2013 to 2022, Richmond Times-Dispatch Person of the Year in 2019, and Style Weekly’s Richmonder of the Year in 2020. And in case you didn’t know, he even won Dancing with the Richmond Stars in 2017.
He took office as the 81st Mayor of Richmond on January 1, 2025. Before his election, he served as Virginia’s Commissioner of Social Services, and prior to that, led the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts. During that time, he worked to expand access to care for the city’s most vulnerable residents, elevate the voices of those with lived experience, address the root causes of health outcomes, especially poverty and race, and highlight the connection between housing and health.
Today, in addition to serving as mayor, Danny continues his work as a pediatrician and hospitalist at Chippenham Hospital.
Take it away, Mayor Danny ...
Mutuality
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that we’re profoundly shaped by the people we live in community with. When my wife and I moved to Church Hill more than 20 years ago, relationships with our neighbors weren’t just enjoyable; they were transformative. I came to understand poverty, educational barriers, and housing instability not from a policy brief, but from friendship. But I also learned so much about generosity, resilience, and the way a community shows up for each other in the face of adversity. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” The decades we’ve spent in true community with neighbors who became dear friends have absolutely affirmed that sentiment, and have changed how I show up as a father, neighbor, leader, and human.
This week, I’d encourage you to lean into that same spirit of mutuality. Invite a neighbor you don’t know well to coffee. Volunteer at a local school. Show up for a community meeting not just to share your voice, but to listen to someone else’s story. The more we are willing to step into someone else’s shoes, the more capacity we have to show up for one another, and the stronger we all become.
Richmond’s history is painful and powerful, and one of the most meaningful ways to connect with our city is to experience its stories in the places where they unfolded. Confronting the truth about our past, including slavery, racism, and the struggle for Black empowerment, is essential to understanding who we are today and where we will go in the future. To do this, start your journey along the Richmond Slave Trail, following the route enslaved people were forced to take from the river into Shockoe. Along the way, stop at Lumpkin’s Jail, known as the Devil’s Half Acre, and pause at the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground to pay respects. This walk is at the heart of the future Shockoe Project, which will honor and transform this space through education, art, and storytelling.
One thing I love most about Richmond is that when we see something that’s not working, we roll up our sleeves and do something about it. I’m inspired by the ways I see our community live this out every day: organizing meals for the unhoused, welcoming immigrant families to our city, community efforts to clean up the streets, etc.
This week, I’m asking all of us to bring that spirit to our own neighborhoods. A hallmark of this administration is creating ways for our city to serve together. I passionately believe that serving together teaches us about the critical issues facing our neighbors and helps us see perspectives beyond our own. It’s relationship-building and change-making at its best! Our next Days of Service event is coming up September 18–20, and I’d love to see you out there! We have opportunities to plant trees, build a house, clean up a park, or install a pollinator garden!
Mayor Danny paddles to Sharp’s Island in downtown Richmond for a wide-ranging conversation about listening, leadership, and the future of Richmond.
Hey, Richmond: The Newsletter
Mayor Danny recently launched a new city-wide newsletter, and every issue begins with a friendly welcome: “It’s your Mayor, Danny!” Recent editions have spotlighted the Parks and Recreation Department — did you know Richmond is the only locality in our region that maintains public pools, and that our summer camps were completely full by April 1? He’s also shared an early look at the redesign of City Hall’s first floor, resources for paying utility bills, and his vision for building a culture of service across our city. And as always, the newsletter includes plenty of photos and even a touch of poetry. Make sure to sign up so you don’t miss the latest.
vol. 280 / Moments of JoyExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 280 / Moments of Joy
This week’s guest editor, Paige Wilson, is inspired by Joy. And it's her mission to encourage all of Richmond to become “Nabors.”
Based in the River City, Paige is the Founder and CEO of fast-growing Naborforce, a purpose-driven company that has sparked hundreds of thousands of joyful moments since its launch in 2018. Naborforce connects older adults to a trusted network of “Nabors,” thoroughly vetted and compassionate individuals who are available to lend a helping hand and provide peace of mind for families. This expanding network of Nabors promotes independent, joy-filled aging across Greater Richmond and beyond.
Paige was moved to create Naborforce after caring for her own mother, Joy, while navigating a demanding career in senior leadership roles in the investment banking industry. After her mother passed away, Paige set out to build a company that blended her professional expertise with her personal passion. She did so with the same warmth, optimism, and humor her mother embodied.
Built from love, Naborforce continues to attract a talented and deeply caring group of Nabors, all united by one mission: to support older adults and bring light into their daily lives.
This week, we are thrilled to welcome Paige as guest editor. She is sharing three tips for creating joyful moments for yourself, for others, and for the city we all love to call home.
Take it away, Paige …
Befriend Movement
Befriend believes in the limitless power of human connection to build a more compassionate and joyful world, and it all begins in our own communities. As an answer to the loneliness epidemic, Befriend creates opportunities for people to connect across generations and differences — especially with seniors who are often overlooked. At Befriend, everyone belongs. The organization hosts experiences that foster curiosity, understanding, and friendships that strengthen both individuals and communities. The ripple effects are lasting.
"When people show up with open hearts and curious minds, something magical happens – real connections form and lasting change begins," says Mollie Reinhart, the founder of Befriend.
Check out one of the nonprofit’s upcoming events, like the Befriend Sunset Walk happening on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the University of Richmond Eco-Corridor and Lake. Participants will meet at 6201 River Road, behind Starbucks. And don’t miss the Befriend Sunset Clean-up scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 28, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Jefferson Park, 1921 Princess Anne Ave.
One song at a time, Joyful Voices works to stimulate the mind, energize the body, and elevate the spirit. This community chorus was created for singers with Alzheimer’s or other dementias and their caregivers. Rehearsals take place every Thursday morning from 10:00–11:30 a.m. at Salisbury Presbyterian Church. The ensemble offers a meaningful and joyful musical experience, performing two public concerts each year. Volunteers are always welcome to sing along, bring refreshments for social time and concerts, help with weekly setup and cleanup, or assist in preparing printed music for the chorus. Music is powerful, and there’s no better way to experience that power than with Joyful Voices.
Vitals:
Joyful Voices / The next Summer Sing Along is August 14, from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. / 13621 Salisbury Road, Midlothian / Volunteer here
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is more than just a meal, it's a chance to bring joy into someone's home. This vital program helps seniors and homebound neighbors in Richmond stay independent, safe, and happy at home. Each weekday, fresh, diet-specific meals are prepared with care in the Bayard Community Kitchen and delivered by friendly volunteers between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Flexible delivery options ensure every neighbor is supported in a way that fits their needs.
Meals on Wheels offers more than nourishment. Every visit includes a smile and a safety check, providing connection, reassurance, and peace of mind. Feed More prepares and delivers meals to nearly 1,000 individuals across 14 Central Virginia localities and is a proud member of Meals on Wheels America.
It only takes 60 seconds to find out if this program is right for you or a loved one. If you are in a position to lend a hand, there are many ways to get involved. Be part of Central Virginia’s hunger-fighting community and make a difference through one meal, one visit, and one neighbor at a time.
Naborforce offers flexible, neighborly support for older adults — whether it's help around the house, running errands, or simply providing companionship. Friendly, vetted Nabors are available to lend a hand, offering a reliable backup solution for busy families and bringing peace of mind to loved ones. Whether you need occasional help or consistent support, this Richmond-based business makes it easy to connect with someone right in our community. Nabors are often empty nesters, retirees, or others who enjoy spending time with seniors and want to give back while earning flexible income. If you need a Nabor or are interested in creating moments of joy by becoming a Nabor, reach out to learn more.
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