Posted By Wyatt Gordon on Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 3:35 PM
Anyone who feels like there’s nothing fun and safe to do during the pandemic clearly hasn’t spoken with Shemicia Bowen, one of the three women behind the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience. For the food festival’s fifth iteration, she, Kelli Lemon, and Amy Wentz have pulled together a 10-day culinary journey featuring over 70 Black-owned businesses around town, running from March 5 to 14.
“With 27 food trucks and 43 brick-and-mortar establishments, we have a full menu of experiences for folks this year,” Bowen says. “We are trying to connect the culture of Richmond to the cuisine of Richmond, and that means going beyond soul food to include the full array of foods Black people provide this city.”
Richmond startup roundup for 2020: New concepts for coronavirus challenges
December 28, 2020
Jackson Ward Collective is a business incubator aimed at Black entrepreneurs that launched in September. Pictured, left to right, are co-founders Kelli Lemon, Rasheeda Creighton and Melody Short. (
Courtesy of Will Royé/The 123 Agency)
A year dominated by the pandemic provided plenty of opportunity for local startups to address the range of problems that came with it. And as some had to pivot to rise to the occasion, others found themselves well positioned to capitalize on the moment.
Here’s a roundup of the most interesting news from Richmond’s startup scene in 2020:
Care packages for frontline healthcare workers are a great way to give back
Sponsor a care package to give some love and encouragement to the nurses and healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID crisis. They deserve it! Author: Derek Haas (KING), New Day Northwest Published: 10:00 AM PST December 10, 2020 Updated: 12:42 PM PST December 10, 2020
SEATTLE After hearing stories from her cousin Lexi Hess, a nurse on the COVID floor and brother in law Shane Musgrove, a PA on the COVID floor. Local wedding photographer Kelly Lemon was inspired to give back.
Determined to spread some holiday cheer, she took to social media, asking for nominations of nurses, doctors, and all health care workers who could use some encouragement.