The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host “Two Seas Merging” featuring the work of world renowned Cuban artist Salvador González Escalona at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. The exhibit will open on Thursday, July 2 with a public reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until Friday, July 31, 2015. A self taught mixed medium master artist, González Escalona, with the help of campers enrolled in the Great Summer Escape camp at Pine Camp, just completed painting a mural titled “Two Seas Merging”, which symbolizes the cultural diversity of the Afro-Cuban connection. González Escalona will also paint another mural “Together We Stand”, will brings together teen and adult men from the Highland Park and Hotchkiss communities at the Hotchkiss Community Center, 701 East Brookland Park Boulevard, which begins beginning at 5 p.m on Monday, June 29. This project strives to cultivate a stronger community connection...

The City of Richmond is seeking enthusiastic and customer service oriented volunteers to serve as City Hall Ambassadors. The purpose of this new volunteer effort is to enhance the visitor experience at City Hall. The City’s Neighbor-To-Neighbor (N2N) initiative is recruiting highly motivated individuals who love Richmond and have a passion to serve others. City Hall Ambassadors will welcome visitors, answer basic City questions and provide directional assistance. Ambassadors will be located in easy to find locations and quick to serve the public. There will be two shifts for this program, a morning shift from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and an afternoon shift from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Ideal candidates are persons over the age of 18 and able to commit to volunteer for at least one shift per week for one year. N2N is accepting applications for City Hall Ambassadors through July 10, 2015. Applications are available online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/8BQFWRV < https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8BQF...

The City's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) is again partnering with the USDA's Summer Meals for Kids Program. This FREE program provides children and teens, through the age of 18, with nutritious breakfasts, lunches and dinners, now through August 28. Even if your child does not participate in one of the City's PRCF summer campsites, he or she can still receive a free meal as walk-ins during meal times are always welcome! These free meals are available by visiting a participating site at meal time. For more information and a list of locations, please call 646-5698.

The City of Richmond and Stone Brewing Co. will host a vendor outreach information session on business opportunities available during the project construction phase and on-going business operations. WHAT:          Stone Brewing Co. Vendor Outreach Session WHEN:        Tuesday, June 23, 2015, from 5 to 7 p.m. WHERE:     Powhatan Community Center                    5051 Northampton Street                    Richmond, VA  23231 WHO SHOULD ATTEND:   Supplier, construction and service entities seeking to secure vendor relationships with Stone Brewing Co. during the construction project and business operation of the future brewery opening in Richmond. For more information, visit Richmond.stonebrewing.com or email Juliell...

The Washington Redskins Training Camp is ready to kick off its third year, from July 30 through August 16, at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, 2401 W. Leigh Street. The City of Richmond’s Neighbor-To-Neighbor initiative and the Washington Redskins are seeking 250 volunteers to serve as Richmond Training Camp Ambassadors during this year’s camp. There will be two shifts for both types of ambassadors, Fan Experience Ambassadors and Security Ambassadors. For Fan Experience Ambassadors, the morning shift will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the afternoon shift will be from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For Security Ambassadors, the morning shift will be from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the afternoon shift will be from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be a few dates with only a single practice which may result in only one shift. “For the past two years the Richmond Training Camp Ambassadors have displayed a tremendous amount of civic pride and have provided a positive visitor experienc...

The Washington Redskins will be moving their training camp practices back to the afternoons in 2015. The schedule runs from July 30 to August 16, with Fan Appreciation Day set for Saturday, August 15. Most days, the team will conduct a walkthrough at 10:35 a.m. and a full practice at 3 p.m. Both are open to the public. The joint practices with the Houston Texans will be August 6-8. For more information, visit the Bon Secours training camp website, http://redskinsrva.bonsecours.com/training-camp

Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today that, for the fifth year in a row, there will be a free fireworks display downtown on Friday, July 3 as part of the City’s 4th of July celebration. RVA Fireworks on the James, an event produced by the City of Richmond and Venture Richmond and funded by Dominion and MWV, will be held on Brown’s Island on July 3. Food trucks and vendors will be in and around Brown’s Island, and the public is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy the summer evening and see the fireworks that will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. Patriotic music that accompanies the fireworks will be simulcast on Richmond independent radio WRIR, 97.3 FM. “For the past five years, Dominion and MWV have proven to be leaders in our business community and true community partners,” said Mayor Jones. “Our thanks go out to these companies for bringing this world-class fireworks show to Richmond’s historic riverfront.” “The James River is the perfect backdrop for fireworks,” said...

~ Anti-Poverty work first year efforts to be recapped ~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones has announced that the City’s Office of Community Wealth Building is organizing a Community Wealth Building Summi t to be held on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, 1000 Mosby Street. Plans for the summit include sharing information on the first year of work of the new office and kicking off new programs and efforts that will be connected to the office’s mission. “Our City is ready to accept the challenge from President Obama to become a My Brother’s Keeper Community,” said Mayor Jones. “Much of the work we’ve been doing through the Office of Community Wealth Building and under the Maggie L. Walker Initiative is precisely establishing a cradle-to-college-and-career strategy for Richmond youth. This summit will provide us with the opportunity to take an active inventory of how we’ve progressed and to map out additional plans going forward.” “Our roadmap to establishing Prom...

Looking for something to do this summer? The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (DPRCF) is sure to have an event or program to kick start your summer along with great activities for everyone in your family! All City pools are open for City residents. Weekday hours are 1 to 8 p.m. with free swim available from 1 to 4:30 p.m., family time from 5 to 7 p.m. and adult swim from 7 to 8 p.m. Weekend hours for the outdoor pools are noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Click here to view the DPRCF Program Guide for a full listing of City pools and addresses. The USDA Summer Meals for Kids is serving meals for kids at more than 100 sites across the City of Richmond. The Summer Meals for Kids Program provides children and teens (through the age of 18) nutritious breakfasts and lunches during the summer months. Click here for more information. On Friday, June 19, residents are invited to join the department for the start of the 2015 Movies in...