Blog
What 311 Data Reveals About Flooding in Richmond — and What It Misses
In our latest blog, University of Richmond student Julia Norton analyzes nearly a decade of flood-related calls to Richmond's 311 system, where residents submit non-emergency service requests. Her analysis uncovers patterns of reporting and city response, revealing differences across neighborhoods. The post also explores why some flooding goes unreported and highlights how our “Go with the Flow” project is helping fill in the gaps with community-driven data.
Heat-Risk Management: Cooling Strategies for Community Health
Syd Collier, Southside ReLeaf’s Greening Coordinator and a recent Master of Public Health graduate, breaks down what extreme heat means for Richmond — and why it’s not experienced equally across our communities. From recognizing the signs of heat-related illness to understanding how tree canopies, shade, and green infrastructure can save lives, this blog connects personal preparedness with the need for broader community-level action to address extreme heat.
Growing Richmond’s Future: Inside the Richmond Tree Plan
Richmond is developing its first-ever Urban Forest Master Plan — a long-term strategy to grow, care for, and protect the city’s trees. In this guest blog, Elena Zweerink (Department of Public Works – Urban Forestry Division, Richmond Tree Plan Team) shares how the plan is taking shape, why expanding tree canopy matters for climate resilience and public health, and how Richmond residents can help guide the future of our urban forest.
Pastures of Promise: A Family's Fight to Hold Black Land in the South
In this powerful Black History Month blog, J. Elias O’Neal traces his family’s journey from sharecropping in Jim Crow–era South Carolina to the rare and hard-won ownership of hundreds of acres of land. Through family stories passed down across generations, he reflects on Black land ownership as both an act of survival and resistance — shaped by racism, violence, perseverance, and deep love for place. Read Jamaal’s moving reflection of how the land continues to carry memory, meaning, and possibility.
Celebrate Black History Month in the Richmond Region
Across the Richmond region, museums, libraries, and community organizations are hosting an extraordinary range of events that invite us to learn something new, celebrate Black culture, and deepen our understanding of the histories that shape this place. Check out upcoming Black History Month opportunities!