
RICHMOND, VA – Today the Valentine announced the recipients of the 2025 Dominion Energy Richmond History Makers Awards, celebrating the contributions of five honorees making history across the Richmond Region.
The Valentine is one of the city’s oldest museums, dedicated to engaging, educating, and challenging a diverse audience by collecting, preserving, and interpreting Richmond’s history.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Valentine’s Richmond History Makers program which recognizes community leaders, advocates, and organizations across five unique categories. The ceremony officially recognizing these changemakers will take place on-site at the Valentine on Thursday, April 10.
Honorees this year include:
Building Inclusive Community Neighborhoods
Greta Harris
President and CEO, Better Housing Coalition
Creating High Quality Educational Opportunities
Dr. Kim McKnight
Director, Center for Teacher Leadership at VCU
Establishing Rewarding Work Environments
Shannon Strategies
Promoting Access to Healthy Communities
Cheyenne Varner
Founder and Creative Director, The Educated Birth
Inspiring Residents to Thrive
Elvira De La Cruz
CEO, Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center
“Every year, we focus on keeping the Richmond History Makers Program relevant, impactful, and immediate,” said Valentine Director Bill Martin. “I think it’s fitting, then, that as we celebrate the 20th anniversary and continue our museum-wide focus on sharing Richmonds stories, we are also recognizing a bold, innovative, and exciting group of honorees.”
In addition to the five honorees, 2025 marks the first year the Valentine will also recognize a Young Richmond History Maker by establishing an award designed specifically for students. By celebrating a young Richmonder serving their community, the Valentine hopes to provide an avenue to recognize a student making history in their own way.
The winning student, Olivia Tyson, a senior at Douglas S. Freeman High School, was chosen by Richmond Region educators from the Valentine’s Teacher Fellows advisory group, and will receive a monetary award as well as recognition at the official event on April 10.
“Honoring a Richmond Region student leader who has shown a commitment to improving their community is an important part of this year’s event, and speaks to the Valentine’s desire to continuously rethink, reevaluate, and reimagine our programs,” Martin continued. “We have a great class of 2025 honorees, and we are excited about what the 20th anniversary has in store.”
The Valentine aligned the 2025 categories with the Urban Institute’s pillars to improve upward mobility. An independent selection committee made up of members of ChamberRVA’s HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Engage) organization determined the five honorees based on nominations submitted by the public.
Tickets to the 20th Annual Richmond History Makers Awards are on sale now, and can be purchased here, up until the day of the event.
Richmond History Makers is sponsored by Dominion Energy, Altria, TowneBank, Markel, Keiter and Lachelle M. Lewis, PhD.