During the next several weeks, Conversations in the Community has announced several events throughout the Northern Virginia areas:

Virtual Conversation:  Join our virtual conversation on Thursday, April 21st at 7:30 p.m. EST“We Have Not Arrived:  Apathy in the African American Community.”  We will discuss the contemporary challenges of racism in social systems such as housing, education and politics and how African Americans are responding (or not responding) to them. We will also discuss the responsibility that African Americans have to accept and run with the baton that was given to us by our ancestors.  This virtual conversation is free and open to all community members.  Use the Sign Up Genius link to register.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4CA4A628A13- wehave

Fredericksburg Field Trip:  Join us on Saturday, April 30th at 11:00 a.m. for the African American Trolley Tour of Fredericksburg.  The tour costs $23/pp and will leave from the Fredericksburg Visitor Center located at 706 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA.   Trolley tickets are limited.  The tour will last approximately one hour and will include stops relating to the slave trade during colonial times, the Civil War and Fredericksburg’s significance during the Civil Rights Movement.   After the tour, join us for lunch at Foode located in Fredericksburg’s Historic Bank Building (900 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA), a few blocks from the Visitor Center.  The cost of lunch is separate from the cost of the tour.  Payments for the trolley tour should be made to Jennifer Roberts via Venmo at Jennifer-Roberts-944 or CashApp at $Jenanise.  Respond to this email or text me at 703-629-7752 for additional information about the tour.  Adults and children are welcome.

Meet us at Mount Vernon:  Join us on Saturday, May 15th at 2:00 p.m. for the Enslaved People of Mount Vernon Walking Tour.Tour tickets are included in the price of admission to Mount Vernon (grounds pass).  RSVP by responding to this email.  We will meet at the tour location.  Participants will need to inquire about the exact location of the start of the tour at the Mount Vernon Visitor Center.  Adults and children are welcome.

Participants Requested:  Conversations in the Community is planning an intergenerational conversation this summer about the impact of school segregation and integration in Virginia.  We are looking for community members who experienced school segregation, forced integration and the Massive Resistance Movement of the 1950’s.  We are looking for Black and White people to join the conversation as panelists.  This event will be held this summer in person at a yet to be determined location.  Please respond to this email if you are interested in participating as a member of the panel discussion or interested in attending the event.

Upcoming Community Events
Prince William County School Board Meeting:  Your voice as a member of the community matters.  You do not have to have a child enrolled in Prince William County Schools to attend the meeting or to lend your support to ensure that all children receive an equitable education.  The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20th at 7:00 p.m. EST at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center located at 14715 Bristow Road Manassas, VA 20112. 

We are holding an initial roundtable conversation on Monday, April 25th at 7:00 p.m. EST at Ronald Wilson Reagan Middle School located at 15801 Tanning House Place Haymarket, VA 20169. 

Christyelz Bacon Performance (Lorton, VA):  Christyelz Bacon is a Grammy nominated, progressive, hip-hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from southeast Washington, DC.  He has a mission towards cultural acceptance and unification.  He multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African djembe drum, acoustic guitar and the human beat-box all while continuing the oral tradition of storytelling through his lyrics.

He is performing on Friday, April 15th, 2022 at 7:30 a.m. atthe Workhouse Arts Center located at 9518 Workhouse Way Lorton, VA 22079.  Get tickets at https://insidenovatix.com/organizations/workhouse-arts-center.
Weekly Black Lives Matter Vigil:  Join the Fauquier County Chapter of the NAACP and other community sponsors on Saturday mornings from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. for the Black Lives Matter Vigil at Courthouse Square in Warrenton, VA.  The next vigil is this Saturday, April 16th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.https://www.naacpfauquiercounty.org/events

Mount Vernon (Alexandria, VA)
“Lunch and Fellowship:  Free Black Loyalists” on Monday, April 25th, 2022https://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/calendar/events/lunch-and-fellowship-free-black-loyalists/