Publisher’s Note

It’s Our Anniversary

Last Year Was a Hard One, But We’re Still Here

Six years ago I envisioned creating a publication that focused on the positivity in communities of color in Southwest Virginia. I envisioned stories that created dialogue and understanding among the different ethnicities in our community. Have we succeeded? In our six years we have made great efforts to  provide a platform to create those conversations, but we still have much work to do.  

Just like many businesses, last year we were negatively impacted by the COVID-19  pandemic. The magazine business can be a challenge anyway. However, we managed to stay alive due to  our advertisers who  believe in the message of ColorsVA and understand how important it is to support the mission of a  publication of this nature. To those advertisers who continued their support, we thank you so much!! We endured, but our business is still under a  mask  of uncertainty as we look to the future. 

In this anniversary edition, we feature the new CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valley.  Richmond Vincent is the first African American CEO at Goodwill Industries of the Valley. As he takes over the nonprofit with a yearly budget of $68 million, Vincent discusses his vision for Goodwill to continue to  be a resource to solve some of the social ills that plague our community. I am extremely excited to learn more about his vision and how the organization is making sure Southwest Virginia is a better place for the less fortunate. 

As we look ahead to our sixth year of producing ColorsVA magazine, I genuinely want to thank the writers, editors, photographers and distributors, who work tirelessly to make sure that we continue to develop,  present and deliver stories that are impactful. ColorsVA  will strive to make sure we deliver stories that are positive,  enlighten and illuminate, and provide a window into becoming a more inclusive community with mutual respect.