Hey, Richmond . . .

It’s your Mayor, Danny. I hope I’m reaching you after you and your loved ones spent an energizing—if hot!—weekend exploring the three beautiful visiting ships at SailFest or participating in one of the Elegba Society’s meaningful Juneteenth observations. It’s a busy time around town, but I’ve had an important constant on my mind: housing.

Throughout this week, our experts in Planning and Development have shared summaries of the feedback we received on the second draft of our proposed updates to the zoning code. We’ve also provided a preview of items under consideration for Draft Three of Code Refresh to continue shaping the next draft.

I’m proud to see our vision for Richmond’s refreshed zoning code shaped by the voices who know their communities best: All of you! My intention has always been for this to be an iterative process, and the items previewed this week for Draft Three reflect what we’ve heard through months of public presentations, civic association and district meetings, and online opportunities for feedback.

If you’re new to the Code Refresh process, please explore the Code’s FAQ page. And keep sharing your questions and thoughts with us!

Code Refresh is one of the most important tools we have for our housing north star: More homes for more people. At the same time, my housing affordability plan is also focused on “more ways to stay”: Making sure that our long-time residents have the resources they need to remain in the homes they love even as housing supply and costs change.

From June 8-12, we hosted our first Anti-Displacement Week, a week of programming and workshops intended to highlight the anti-displacement resources we provide in Richmond. You can revisit the information and programs we shared that week on the Anti-Displacement Week webpage. There may be a resource there that you or a neighbor could use.

Keep reading for more of the City resources, programs, and events that make Richmond such a special place to live. I’m particularly excited for the City’s Jubilation in June on Saturday, June 20, in honor of Juneteenth. And if you’re outdoors as the temperatures climb, make sure you’re staying safe in the heat. It’s a great time to visit one of our public pools or libraries!

-Danny

Note: The City of Richmond is closed on Friday, June 19, in observation of Juneteenth. Visit the closures page for information about service impacts (don't worry, pools are open!)

In this Issue

Public Utilities and the Chief Administrative Officer host the first “People’s Day” to answer resident questions and problems directly.
Cameron Booth walks us through Dogwood Dell’s past and present in time for this summer’s Festival of the Arts.
The Department of Social Services supports dads through the Fatherhood Circle pilot.
Karla Almendarez-Ramos shares the work behind the scenes at the Multicultural Festival.

But first: Meet our Mayor's Fellows!

This summer, our City offices are filled with brilliant and talented youth building their experience in local government in every field, including communications. We’re lucky to have interns from the Mayor’s Fellows program, and starting June 29, YouthWorks participants will be joining our team, too. You can expect to see some new faces and voices showing up in the information and stories we share. Check out a little of their work so far, and stay tuned for more!

Mayor's Fellow Haldar interviews ship staff at SailFest by asking "Silly Boat Questions."

Interns braved the heat to take photo and video the whole weekend of SailFest.

Mayor's Fellow Gabriella taught us about viral social media trends to celebrate June's Lunch on the Block.

People’s Day: We’re Here to Help

If you’ve ever needed help with City services and thought, “I just want to meet with a person,” Richmond’s got a new program for you. “People’s Day: We’re Here to Help” is a series of events for resident to work directly with City leadership and customer service teams to get answers to questions, solve problems, or find the right resources.

“City Hall and all City service sites are, and always will be, the people’s house,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “This is the first of many opportunities for us to provide the responsive service our community deserves.”

First up is utility services. Next week, CAO Donald, Department of Public Utilities (DPU) leadership, and other senior leaders will be on site at City Hall and Southside Community Services Center to help residents with payment support services and other challenges.

Why Utilities? Why Now?

Last month, DPU transitioned to an upgraded customer information system, which will make billing services more accurate, reliable, and accessible. That transition led to delays in some payment posting, an inconvenience for residents trying to find and pay their bills. Because of the delay, DPU is taking some important steps to support customers, including:

Temporarily suspending utility disconnections
Pausing flow restrictor installations
Automatically removing related late fees
Ensuring confirmed payments are applied without requiring customers to resubmit

Keep an eye out for more People’s Days focused on senior needs, youth services, tax payments, and more. And if you need help with your utility account, get in touch with DPU Customer Service at 804‑646‑4646, dpucustserv@rva.gov or by visiting rva.gov/public-utilities.

People’s Day Event Information

Tuesday, June 23

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall

Wednesday, June 24

5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Southside Community Services Center

Residents are welcome to bring any concern or service question, not just utility‑related issues. Registration through the online registration page is encouraged to help with staffing preparation but is not required.

Festival of Arts: Built by everyone, for everyone

-By Haldar Kolluri, 2026 Mayor’s Fellow

The 2026 Festival of Arts opens June 26 with a performance by local favorite Deau Eyes. It’s a modern kickoff to a tradition that has reshaped itself over many decades and still brings Richmonders together in the same beloved spot.

For almost 70 summers, Richmond’s Dogwood Dell amphitheater has served as a home for local music, theater, and community. Recreation Services Supervisor Cameron Booth, recently honored as runner-up for Style Weekly’s Best Cultural Ambassador, has become one of its most thoughtful narrators. Cameron says that the tradition of arts at the Dell began during the Depression, when neighbors staged small park performances that lifted spirits. Soon after, the city officially launched the Festival of Arts, solidifying the area’s role in Richmond as a summertime staple.

An early look at the Dell, capturing the roots of the tradition that thrives today.

Today, that legacy is carried forward by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities as they work to bring local artists and residents together. “We [the friends of Dogwood Dell and the Parks Department] are being good stewards and keeping our eyes open for new artists and organizations,” Cameron says. He focuses on honoring the Dell’s rich history while propelling it into the future. He says that building an “equitable stage” that welcomes both long-loved acts and new voices is crucial to the evolution of the Festival of Arts.

The modern Dogwood Dell, still welcoming crowds for free performances.

As the festival prepares for another season, the Dell is ready to welcome the mix of families, longtime regulars, and first-time visitors who help give the space its familiar energy. Even as the lineup evolves from year to year, one thing remains constant. "Dogwood Dell has always been a place built by everyone, for everyone,” Cameron says.

With free performances all summer long, the Dell makes summer evenings simple. Pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and settle into an evening that feels both timeless and authentically Richmond.

Fatherhood as Community: Supporting Dads with the Department of Social Services

Ahead of Father’s Day on Sunday, Adrienne Walker is thinking a lot about fatherhood. She sees it not just an identity, but as an ongoing commitment that requires self-awareness and growth in order to support children. That’s because for the past several weeks, she’s been sitting down with fathers and father figures who are navigating the child welfare system to talk about that growth.

Along with her colleagues, Adrienne is piloting a “Fatherhood Circle” group that welcomes dads to talk about some of the big topics on their minds. A weekly session might focus on co-parenting, or legal resources for families, or conflict resolution. At the heart of each session, Adrienne says, is the goal of showing participants that they’re not alone.

“We really wanted to reach fathers, especially those who may not be living in the home, because they are an important part of a family’s support system,” Adrienne says. “The Fatherhood Circle creates an opportunity for fathers to build connections, access resources, and know that even in the midst of tough situations, they have support.”

Participants include both fathers and kin who have committed to raising relatives’ children. Each session includes a shared meal and provides participants with practical take-home items for personal and family use along with resources and activities to share with the children in their care.

Adrienne hopes that the program’s legacy is a sense of belonging, for both the participants with a new support network of other dads and for their children, who need to feel connected to the fullness of their families. “It helps them all to have a sense that ‘I have people, I’m not out here by myself,’ she shares.

If you have questions about the group or want to learn how to support work like Adrienne's, drop her a line at adrienne.walker@rva.gov or call 804-646-5124.

Dad Dispatches

Mr. Miller is a participant in the Fatherhood Circle group; he shares a bit of his story!

How did you learn about the group? A social worker shared it with me.

Why is it important for fathers to have space to connect with other dads? To get different pointers about how to go about certain situations regarding our children. You can learn something from them. They may have careers or things going on in their life that can help you.

What has been the most important skill you’ve learned in the workshops so far? I learned how to communicate better with my daughter.

Adrienne visits a vendor fair to share information about the Fatherhood Circle Group.

Friends and Food: Richmond’s Multicultural Festival is June 27

Richmond’s annual Multicultural Festival has a new and bigger venue this year over at the Richmond Raceway, but the spirit is the same. This year, our region will come together on Saturday, June 27, to celebrate all the cultures that make up our community.

“We have so many festivals in the summer, but none like the Multicultural Festival,” says Karla Almendarez-Ramos, the Manager of Richmond’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement (OIRE). “You can see and have a taste of a little bit of everything in the same place. We intentionally create representation across diverse communities in the area.”

Karla says that the event has existed in some form for more than two decades, back when her office was the Hispanic Liaison Office and the celebration was held in September as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Over the years, the festival has expanded to include communities from around the globe who’ve made their home in the Richmond region. OIRE united with ReEstablish Richmond, a local non-profit who helps newcomers resettling in the area, to move the event to June to connect with World Refugee Day.

This year, Henrico County has also officially joined the team, making the move to the Raceway possible. “It’s been such a great way to work together, since we serve so many of the same communities,” Karla says.

She explains that planning for the event begins each year in the fall, so that the team has time to organize sponsorships to keep the event free for the public. They also worked with the Raceway’s Exhibit Hall layout to make sure activities for children, the performance area, and resource booths were all included. One step that took no time at all? “We have such a good rapport with partners and community organizations that it only takes two weeks for us to fill out the whole registration. This year, we have over 80 organizations register in the resource fair, 12 cultural displays. We have more food vendors than any other year."

Karla’s Festival tip: "Come early so you can eat lunch and dinner from two very different countries (I’m planning on Filipino and Senegalese). And leave room for a snack like an empanada!"

Many of the registrants will be performing as musicians or dancers throughout the day. Karla says that while Richmond is no stranger to arts programming, what makes the Multicultural Festival special is that all the talent onstage is local. “We always take pride in having local artists performing, because the goal is to highlight their work and to have a space for sharing culture through their different presentations.”

Stop by the Richmond Raceway on June 27, and remember to come hungry!

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