In the opening Note of his book, The Souls of Black Folks, W. E. B. Du Bois wrote, “The problem of the Twentieth Century is the color-line.” There are no truer words. For millennials or people born after year 2000, it is hard to comprehend what life was like during our nation’s nearly 100-year...
A simple definition of leadership is “the art of motivating a group of people to act toward a common goal.” They are the people in the group who possess the combination of personality and character to make others want to follow. There are many who think we all possess the ability to lead. I am […]
It is days until members of the Virginia General Assembly will converge at the state capitol to welcome the new class of 2020. With signs held high and fire in our guts, women of differing ages, colors, religions and sexual orientation will be there to greet them as we march in solidarity for one common...
New Year’s resolutions cause one to explore the coming year with hope and dreams. We plan for a safe and prosperous year for our friends, family members, and ourselves. Not all those dreams and hopes will materialize, but we remain optimistic. This past year – 2019 was up and down and many...
The 2019 Virginia elections ushered in political and ideological changes. Not since 1992-93 has the Democratic Party held trifecta control in Virginia. When the session convenes this month, Democrats will be the majority in the House of Delegates and the Senate, along with a Democratic Governor, Lieutenant...
Illuminating the issues of Southwest Virginia’s communities of color is the heart of ColorsVA. In 2019, our commitment to this mission was present, as we explored issues of environmental justice, domestic abuse and just being outside in the beauty of the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Many strong features...
The Holiday season is upon us and with that season comes an air of hope and thankfulness. At this time of year, families gather and individually reflect on achievements and even the disappointments of the year. The song already has begun playing – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. However,...
Leave your hang-ups at home and explore Roanoke's blended community of poets and artists.
This year, Mayor Sherman Lea Sr. is proposing an ordinance to move the mayoral and city council elections to November from May. He expressed several reasons, but the main reason is that historically voter turnout in May is very low. In fact, roughly only 10 percent of Roanoke’s registered voters vote...
It is a performance that has never been seen by any audience at Opera Roanoke. And it is a performance that will make a lasting impression. “It’s really important to have something like this because it’s unique,” says Brooke Tolley, Opera Roanoke General Director, as she describes the upcoming...
