Alumni Profiles

Asa Jackson '07

Society is hurting, especially African Americans in many communities. Hampton Roads, Virginia is no exception. Even though racism has been around forever, throughout much of 2020, we have seen more injustices brought to light than we can count. It is tough to creatively achieve community connections without first finding the quiet space, set apart from one’s hectic reality, in which to examine that reality and more. Luckily, an HRA alum has been building up just the backdrop for arts to reside and take this form in the 757.

Asa Jackson ‘07 has been inspiring countless people through his numerous artistic endeavours and community-centered projects for many years. He is a working artist as well as the President and Co-founder of The Contemporary Arts Network (CAN), which, after relocating to a new Newport News location, had its Grand Opening in the summer of 2020. “The arts network’s mission is to empower artists, patrons and the community at large through the arts.”, Jackson says. “We aim to advance arts education and its role in innovation through integrated education programs, collection building, publications and exhibitions.” 
      
Those that make up the CAN are multicultural, bring unique backgrounds and experiences with them, and embrace all cultures collectively. In response to the recent publicized black-targeted killings and nearly 400 years after the emancipation of those enslaved in America, the majority of the U.S. has finally formally recognized “Juneteenth” as a holiday. In an act of support for their African American brothers and sisters and to honor this milestone, the CAN invited the community to an event of artistic expression and unity. “Juneteenth: A Freedom Day Celebration” was part of their soft opening of the space on June 19, 2020. 

The day consisted of outdoor music, mural tours, DJ sets, spoken word performances, and vendors. In addition to enjoying these activities, visitors could visit and support the “Buy Black” Pop-Up shop, consisting of black owned independent clothing brands. Attendees were encouraged to be part of an interactive art exhibition where they’d paint a word, phrase, or image on the walls of the gallery as an expressive release of how they’re feeling. Guests were also invited to join in a meditation walk from the CAN Headquarters to Huntington Beach where the day concluded with a performance art piece. With the Covid-19 guidelines also set in place, the event proved to be full of growth, celebration, creation and peace.

True to its mission statement, the CAN continues to provide a “nexus of interconnectivity and development for a strong, enduring, harmonious arts community within the global art market,” and it’s not just one HRA alum who is committed to this tremendous network. Living and working between Newport News and Richmond, VA, artist/curator Mahari Chabwera ‘13 is a 2020-21 CAN Foundation First Patron Artist in Residence. She received her B.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking from VCU in 2017, and shortly after began practicing creative sustainability, culture cultivation, curation, and communion rooted in black cosmic well-being. She and Asa have worked together multiple times and Mahari has painted at least one of the giant murals showcased on the building. Asa’s wife, Kira Young Jackson ‘04 is the CAN’s Business Operations Director and Technical Writer. She has also supported and collaborated with him in other educational artistic projects. Kira’s sister Natasha “Tasha” Young Rose ‘98 is the Event Planner/Coordinator with the CAN.   
 
Asa says “I aim to help Hampton Roads move in the direction of having a stronger arts economy, where artists can live and thrive.” Even in times of racially motivated attacks and a global pandemic, Asa Jackson and The Contemporary Arts Network prove that there are still ways to create positive actions and profound thoughts through what they’re most passionate about: Art.    
 
For more information about The Contemporary Arts Network, visit https://www.thecontemporaryartsnetwork.com/.

Courtney Elliott Gardner ‘85 and Brooke Garrett Tiller ‘83

April 2020 was the first full month of Virginia’s stay-at-home Executive order because of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Ever since the  early spread of the virus, not only were individuals’ lives threatened by this invisible illness, but many livelihoods and industries were, and continue to be in danger as well. The nonprofit industry has taken a unique hit since early 2020. One organization, whose mission was already to help fund positive projects in the Fall each year, knew they needed to lend a hand immediately to those organizations that were struggling. Philanthropic giving has always been at their core.    

In 2016, Courtney Elliott Gardner ‘85 and Brooke Garrett Tiller ‘83 gathered a group of women in Hampton Roads with the idea of giving life to effective philanthropy in the community. The concept was simple. Recruit 100 women to donate $1,000 each and collectively fund at least $100,000 in grants to charitable initiatives which demonstrate the potential for real community impact and sustainability. The response was favorable and the group grew quickly. Many other members of the HRA Community joined in and even quickly took voluntary leadership roles within the organization. HRA is honored to host their annual “Big Give”, the special event when the nonprofits take the stage to present their cause and the members vote to fund the top choices each Fall. To date, Impact 100 has granted $422,736 to 16 local nonprofits and is transforming women’s giving on the Greater Peninsula. These communities include Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, James City County, Williamsburg, York County, Gloucester, Isle of Wight and Smithfield.
 
 With the myriad effects of COVID-19 hitting the Hampton Roads region, the Peninsula Community Foundation and Impact 100 Greater Peninsula joined together to help meet the needs of citizens who are disproportionately impacted by the virus.
 
To help meet these needs, the Impact 100 Greater Peninsula Executive Committee released $15,000 immediately back in the spring and the Peninsula Community Foundation agreed to match these funds to further help the organizations most in need. This leveraged the funding power of two great organizations to make a real impact on the immediate needs of the Hampton Roads regional nonprofits and the countless community members that are their beneficiaries. According to the grant’s application page, priority is given to nonprofits who are helping coronavirus-related services to “underprivileged and marginalized populations”, for example, the Boys & Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula, Transitions Family Violence Services and Achievable Dream.

“It is truly amazing to see the impact that a group of women can make when they come together for a greater good.” says Tasha Young Rose ‘98, Impact 100 Founding Member and 2019-2020 Co-Chair. “I have watched this organization make a significant difference in OUR community and I am excited to see what we can continue to accomplish together. In particular, I am inspired by the dedication and support from those in the HRA community. It is powerful to see how the concept of service that is ingrained in HRA’s message is clearly at work.”

On May 8, a grand total of $53,100 was raised and the 13 local nonprofit recipients for the Covid-19 Response grant funds were announced. Anyone who wishes to donate to the Virginia Peninsula COVID-19 Response Fund may do so here: https://pcfvirginia.fcsuite.com/ep/donate/create?funit_id=1561. To read more about Impact 100 and how you can get involved, check out their website: https://www.pcfvirginia.org/impact100.html 

Kaycee Childress '86

The amount of change that has taken place over the last year has been astronomical. The light being shone on racially motivated attacks towards people of color has grown brighter. The way people interact with one another in social settings and even daily life has become almost unrecognizable due to COVID-19. However, there are needs that have not changed this year. For instance, if a new mom loses her job and main source of income due to COVID-19 layoffs, that does not change the fact that her baby needs diapers. As one can imagine, that hardship is difficult on one’s family and if one is not in that position, one may not think about such a situation. Fortunately, this awareness is not lost on all and many want to do something about it. 
The nonprofit foundation, Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation, located in Herndon, VA, was at the forefront of making sure those needs were met. “When Covid hit, we heard a huge outcry for food and diapers from the community,” says Mary Kaye “Kaycee” (Chitty) Childress ‘86, Executive Director. “There were so many organizations helping with food, but few helping with diapers for the tiniest most vulnerable members of our community.” She refocused the foundation’s efforts and launched their first ever diaper drive in support of the Northern Virginia Diaper Bank.   

Even though Northwest Federal Credit Union employees had to temporarily work remotely because of the pandemic, this setback was not going to hinder their energy. The Diaper Drive was scheduled to launch and a pandemic was not going to change the fact that there were children in need. They initiated online fundraisers, through social media, creating an Amazon wish list and reaching out to NWFCU members. Using those outlets, their efforts were not in vain and were very well received.

Since the drive began on April 1, 2020, the results of the Diaper Drive were exponentially greater than they ever anticipated. After 35,000 diapers and pull-ups were delivered to the Northern Virginia Diaper Bank on May 21, this brought their total to almost 51,000 diapers to help babies and young children throughout Northern Virginia! Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Northwest Federal Credit Union employees, members, corporate supporters and beyond, they have been able to provide relief for hundreds of families at a time when they needed it the most. 

They don’t have plans to stop either. Throughout the year, the NWFCU Foundation holds numerous donation drives to support their mission of empowering young people. Since the diaper drive, they’ve held a “Food for Kids” Drive for children and families with emergency food needs. Giant Foods supermarket partnered with them to increase the impact that could be made. At the time that this article was written, they’re extremely excited to be currently delivering all the nutritious food items they accumulated to schools and programs in the area. Kaycee says, “People really want to do the right thing, to help, and to reach out to those in need. I am so happy that as part of my job I get to give them a way to do that.”

If you’d like to learn more about the Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation or how to donate, visit https://www.nwfcufoundation.org/.

Hampton Roads Academy

HRA is accredited through the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and is a National Blue Ribbon School.