Dear Storefront Family and Friends,
The senseless murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, along with the shootings of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and so many lives before them still leave me speechless. To the Black and Brown communities, families, and youth that we serve: know that we see you, we love you, and we’re here for you.
Systemic racism and injustice are diseases that still plague our country and have directly impacted communities of color, more specifically African Americans. This disease is not just limited to corporate America. It manifests itself in the built environment all around us; the places where we live and work. From redlining to urban renewal, there are countless examples of policies that have created hierarchies within the larger context of the city. Not all neighborhoods are considered equal, and not all individuals have access to the same opportunities for economic prosperity. This is no different in our city…and that’s why Storefront was created.
Storefront’s Monument Avenue exhibit at the Valentine demonstrated our commitment to shining light on the issues of injustice. The civil war iconography of Monument Ave has served as a mechanism used to further divide our city for generations. The historical decision to remove these monuments is a momentous step to heal a city that was built upon division. This is a significant milestone in creating a more just city, but let us not lose sight of the primary goal of this struggle, economic prosperity. Most specifically, economic prosperity for our communities that have historically been disenfranchised.
At Storefront, we strive to be a partner in navigating these challenging times, hand in hand with the communities we serve. We support the creation of spaces that cultivate innovation, collaboration, healing, equity and growth. We also connect people to design tools, resources, and creative spaces that will assist in developing a new generation of community designers and planners.
Through the work with our partners at the Six Points Innovation Center, we are working to teach youth and their families about land use policies that have shaped the communities in which they reside. This community is teaching us how to design and build in ways that support and enhance the quality of their lives and the lives of their children. Our hope is to build a more equitable Richmond where everyone has what they need to thrive, no matter where they live and regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.
Storefront’s work is more significant now than it ever has been. Our ability to combine design tools and creativity to some of the most intractable issues in our built environment provide hope for Black and Brown communities to contribute to the economic progress that exists around them.
We believe design, when guided by community priorities, has the power to offer tangible solutions to community challenges. We hope that the physical and social space we provide for stakeholders to gather and engage in bold and difficult conversations, can be the impetus for new models of leadership and community engagement around neighborhood development. May we empower individuals, more specifically Black people and people of color to shape the future of the city.
People Matter.
The Community Voice Matters.
Black Lives Matter.
In community,
Bernard Harkless
Board Chair, Interim Executive Director