The Valentine’s Controversy/History Series Returns to Tackle City-Wide Debates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2018
Contact:
Eric Steigleder
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
esteigleder@thevalentine.org
The Valentine’s Controversy/History Series Returns to Tackle City-Wide Debates
RICHMOND – Today, the Valentine announced their innovative Controversy/History series will return on November 6, co-hosted by Valentine Director Bill Martin and Coffee with Strangers host Kelli Lemon.
Launched last year, Controversy/History explores present-day issues facing the Richmond community by pairing historic debates with modern data, encouraging important discussions that inspire action and promote progress.
“We’re excited to bring this conversation series back for a second year,” Martin said. “Last year, we were overwhelmed by the community’s interest in these discussions, and we’re excited to offer the Richmond Region the opportunity to engage in further conversations on relevant topics.”
At each of these events, Martin and Lemon will present a back-and-forth focused on an historical debate from Richmond’s past. Expert speakers will then present data and analysis about what that same debate looks like today.
“After taking part in this series last year, I saw just how important it is to engage in honest conversations about our past as a way to move our region forward,” said Lemon. “I’m looking forward to being a part of Controversy/History again and continue encouraging the community to use the debates of the past to inform the conversations we have today.”
The Valentine has partnered with the Capital Region Collaborative to align discussion topics with their regional priorities and Dialectix Founder Matthew Freeman will facilitate group discussion.
Here is a complete list of dates and topics:
November 6, 2018, 6-8 p.m.
Education: Segregation Then & Now
December 4, 2018, 6-8 p.m.
James River: Commerce or Recreation?
January 8, 2019, 6-8 p.m.
Workforce Preparation: Race & Labor
February 5, 2019, 6-8 p.m.
Healthy Community: Disease & Disparity
April 2, 2019, 6-8 p.m.
A Tale of Two Cities: Richmond or RVA?
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About the Valentine
The Valentine has been collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond stories for more than a century. Through collections, exhibitions and programs, the Valentine provides residents and tourists the opportunity to discover the diverse stories that tell the broader history of this important region. The Valentine offers major changing exhibitions, which focus on American urban and social history, costumes, decorative arts and architecture. https://thevalentine.org/
About Kelli Lemon
Kelli Lemon is an on air personality for Radio One Richmond’s Kiss FM and iPower and hosts a weekly podcast called Coffee with Strangers. Kelli hosts various social events and has assisted in creating unique urban events in Richmond including RVA Pop Up Parties, HeART & Soul Brew Fest, Richmond Black Restaurant Experience and The Art of Noise. Kelli recently opened her social cafe “The Urban Hang Suite” in Jackson Ward.
About the Capital Region Collaborative
The Capital Region Collaborative brings together local government, business, and community stakeholders to achieve a shared vision for the Richmond Region. CRC partners recognize that the most pressing challenges extend across jurisdictional boundaries and that a cross-sector, cross-jurisdictional approach is needed to reach the region’s full potential. https://www.capitalregioncollaborative.com/
