☀️ Roundup: James, Sears, Black Dems + @ElaineLuriaVa, Ft. Monroe, Money

NEWS ROUNDUP

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👊🏽 KAY COLES JAMES. Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James writes in The Washington Post on Aug. 26 about being excluded from the Chesterfield NAACP Gala as a speaker and what she believes hyper-partisanship means for the Black community.

James, along with Republican Del. Carrie Coyner and Democrat State Sen. Joe Morrissey, were to speak and the annual NAACP Chesterfield Freedom Fund Gala. But the gala was cancelled. Black Virginia News was informed by two sources familiar with the situation that there was opposition by the Liberal Women of Chesterfield County to the speakers. The gala was then cancelled. Read more here from our Aug. 10 post.

👊🏽 PETERSBURG. Washington Post Opinions on Gov. Youngkin’s policy focus on Petersburg. Only time will tell if Youngkin’s plans will improve Petersburg’s economic situation. The areas has received little comprehensive attention over the last decade. Review what Black officials said on the day of Youngkin’s visit.

👊🏽 LT. GOVERNOR WINSOME SEARS. Lt. Governor Winsome Sears spoke at the African Landing Ceremony at Ft. Monroe on August 27 and at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington DC — 8th and I — the day before. Lt. Governor Sears served in the Marines.

Lt. Governor Sears at Ft. Monroe on Aug. 27 and at the “8th and I” Marine Corps Barracks in Washington DC on Aug 26 with her family.

👊🏽 NEW COVID BOOSTERS! Read about it here in the Danville Register & 🐝

🌹 RIP Dr. Florence Saunders Farley First Black woman to be Petersburg mayor remembered as trailblazer, mentor and friend - Progress Index

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — GREATER HAMPTON ROADS BLACK DEMOCRATS. The GHRB Democrats held a mega event at the Black owned Upscale Restaurant and Lounge in Virginia Beach in support of Rep. Elaine Luria.

Luria speaks with attendees, Mayor Alexander and Leader Scott, Cliff Hayes and Rep. Scott, Hayes and Rouse, the Lucases lead, attendees file in.

The endorsement event for Congresswoman Luria, who is in a tight race with Republican State Senator Jen Kiggans, featured Rep. Bobby Scott and Sen. Tim Kaine and was attended by elected and candidates all over the peninsula.

🗳 There are 68 days until Election Day. Early voting stars in 22 days. On Aug. 29, Scott and Kaine were in Portsmouth with an enthusiastic group of supporters.

From left: Don Scott greets Luria, Mayor Alexander, Aaron Rouse and Scott, Rouse and Lucas, Maurice Hawkins, Sandra Brandt and Scott and event flyer.

POLITICS + MUSIC. Seen in the sprawling lounge was Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, House Minority Leader Don Scott, State Senator L. Louise Lucas, State Senator Lionell Spruill, Delegates Cliff Hayes, Clint Jenkins, Nadarius Clark, Portsmouth City Council member Lisa Lucas-Burke, Virginia Beach City Councilman Aaron Rouse, Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue Phil Kellam, Chesapeake School Board member Patricia King (who is running for Chesapeake City Council) and Vernon Tillage who is running for Portsmouth City Council. Former Delegate Alex Askew, Gary McCollum, Maurice Hawkins and Ed Reed were also in the room.

State Senators Lucas and Spruill

State Senators Lucas and Spruill engaged in friendly banter during the evening. The duo are two of only four Black State Senators in Virginia. Political miscalculation around Brian Cannon’s One Virginia effort two years ago and a failure by Democrats to draw the lines when in the majority have led to Senators Lucas and Spruill likely having to run against each other in the Democratic primary next year for Senate District 18, which includes Portsmouth and Chesapeake.

Kaine addresses the crowd. No known trackers were present last night.

Candidates for the House of Delegates Susan Hippen (HD96) and Mike Feggans (HD97) were also in attendance. Gaylene Kanoytan has dropped two mega events in less than a week, the other being the must-attend 40th Annual Sneaker Ball Gala in Hampton on Aug. 27.

Rep. Scott and Sen. Kaine have spent the last few days announcing federal money they’ve worked to bring to Hampton Roads. Rep. Scott ran down all of the recent legislative achievements he believes Democrats should amplify over the next 68 days. The evening ended with Sen. Kaine joining the band Dee Polite and the Phenomenal Sounds for Dean Dillon’s song, made famous by Chris Stapleton, Tennessee Whiskey.

MONEY SECTION 💵
👊🏽 US Black Chamber of Commerce + Grubhub Community Fund to Provide over $500,000 in Funding for Black-Owned Restaurants. $500,000 grant program. Click here for more information.
👊🏽 AUG 31, 2022 — Norfolk State University ACCESS TO CAPITAL workshop. Click here for more info.
👊🏽 OCT. 14, 2022 — Future of Black Communities Summit

👊🏽 US Black Chamber of Commerce + Grubhub Community Fund to Provide over $500,000 in Funding for Black-Owned Restaurants. $500,000 grant program. Click here for more information.

A few pieces from Samake African Art shown at Ft. Monroe this weekend.

👊🏽 At this weekends ceremonies at Ft. Monroe commemorating the First African Landing in 1619, several Black owned businesses were selling are, food, clothing and jewelry. ☀️ They included Samake Fousseyni at Samake African Art at 804-229-6846, e-mail: samakef13@gmail.com and Moody.Art 757-263-0519 and e-mail: info@moody.art.

Seen at Ft. Monroe for the African Landing commemoration ceremony.

👊🏽 PORTSMOUTH COFFEE TALK. 📺 Below is an episode of Portsmouth Coffee Talk with James “Slim” Overton and Leah Stith.

🍁 Please send questions, tips, releases to: BlackVirginiaNews@gmail.com. Thank you!