Jeanette Deutermann, The Parent Who Created Opt Out on Long Island Reflects

Jeanette Deutermann is a parent who lives on Long Island. She launched the nation’s biggest opt out movement in her community. It was all grassroots. Here she reflects on the dramatic spread of the movement. It started with a few determined individuals. As Margaret Mead said, that’s the way all movements begin. Jeanette writes: We […]

Charter Vs. Charter: Don’t Exclude Students When Seats Are Empty

Seth Andrews, founder of the charter chain Democracy Prep, created an organization called Democracy Bulders. The latter group of charter advocates issued a report critical of charters that refuse to “backfill,” that is, to accept students who apply after the entry year or other designated points. Its report showed that this policy means that many […]

The F.R.E.E. List April 24-26

F.R.E.E. = Frugal Richmond Events for Everyone! All events have free admission unless noted. Welcome to Crazy Busy April Weekend: The Sequel… Celebrate the Art of Flowers: Paris in Springtime at VMFA, The Bard’s Birthday at Agecroft Hall, Robinson Street…

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Walmart Closes Stores with Activist Workers for “Plumbing Repairs” UPDATE*

Fortune magazine reports that Walmart had closed down six of its stores where workers were agitating for better pay. According to the giant chain, the stores needed plumbing repairs. The workers thought the move was retaliation for their activism for higher pay. Walmart is owned by the Walton Family, each member a billionaire. The Walton […]

Classically inspired VCU Fashion Students

In conjunction with the Classical Allure: Richmond Style exhibition, VCU fashion students were given the opportunity to view the Valentine's costume collection and create classically inspired sketches.

Their instructor Michael-Birch Pierce says, "I'm excited mostly because this gives the students a chance to work from both a real world design prompt and to base their creations on historical research. Having access to the Valentine's costume collection has been so inspiring for them and this experience will be invaluable as they take their talents into the industry next year. The chosen looks are provocative and avant-garde and I look forward to seeing what they can produce outside of the constraints of their regular coursework."

Take a look at the three sketches that were chosen and will be manufactured as real garments!

Winners of Purex Giveaway!

Thanks to those who entered in my Purex Giveaway! Winners were selected randomly:

1. Cheryl F.
2. Hillary D.
3. Kelly T.

Congrats! E-mails have been sent and you will have 48-hours to respond or else another winner will be selected!

Wendy Lecker: Segregated Charter Schools and Hypocrisy about Civil Rights in Connecticut

Wendy Lecker, a civil rights attorney who lives in Connecticut, writes here about the hypocritical claim by charter schools that they are a part of the civil rights movement of our day. She points out that charter schools in Connecticut are hyper segregated and are setting back the clock on civil rights. She writes: Education […]