Welcome to the Top 40 Under 40 issue — one of our favorites every year.
The reason is simple: This is a celebration of community members who are helping to make Richmond a better place. It’s a love fest, basically.
We need these kinds of issues as reminders. Especially today, when a large percentage of the public has become addicted (by design) to the relentless, 24-hour barrage of mostly horrible news stories, knee-jerk reactions and self-validating ideological silos that fill every social media platform. Constant arguing, judging and a general climate of fear and despair tend to dominate these so-called public spaces in America today.
One nation, deeply divided.
But as writers who work on this issue have remarked, it’s refreshing and inspiring to interview everyday folks who are simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs and principles, who actually are doing something to help make things better.
We’re always impressed by just how much these people manage to do, all before the age of 40. So here’s to you, class of 2019, nominated mostly by your peers and co-workers who see your work on a daily basis. Keep on rocking it.
Santia Nance, 31
Supervisor, Cultural Impact Lab Digital Engagement
Justin Griffin, 30
Small Business Lawyer
Founder, NoColiseum.com
Demas Boudreaux, 39
Government Relations Manager at Virginia Housing Development Authority
Axana Soltan, 23
Law Student at University of District of Columbia School of Law
Erin White, 34
Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Head of Digital Engagement
Jenny Connors, 36
Partner at Williams Mullen
Aurora “Austyn” Higgs, 29
Social Activist and Program Manager at VCU
Trey Pollard, 36
Arranger, Composer, Co-Owner Spacebomb Group
Christopher Pearson, 35
Senior Vice President, Davenport & Co.
Lea Whitehurst-Gibson, 36
Executive Director, Virginia Community Voice
Billy McMullen, 39
Motivational Speaker and Consultant, Billy Mac Foundation
Justin Doyle, 34
Community Conservation Manager with James River Association
Betsy Hart, 36, and Me’Kel Williams, 31
Founding Executive Director and Assistant Director
Robinson Theater Community Arts Center
Tom Barbour, 34
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Virginia Holistic Justice Initiative
Felicia Bowman, 29
Medical Social Worker, Health Brigade
Tommy Bettin, 31
Owner, Fred Astaire Dance Studio Richmond
Alex Guzman, 31
Director of Fair Housing at HOME of Virginia
Yanet Limon-Amado, 24
Co-Founder of UndocuRams, DACA recipient
Caroline Neal, 36
Founder and Executive Director of Worthdays
James Harris, 33
Owner and Founder, Men to Heal and the Healing Hub
Lakeshia Allen, 35
Resident Services Coordinator at Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Rachel Pater, 36
Founder and Executive Director of Richmond Story House
Gretchen Ross, 35
Reporter and Anchor, Nexstar Media Group
Eric Steigleder, 31
Marketing Director at the Valentine
Janae Craddock, 37
Courthouse Housing Law Attorney at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
Stephen Cobb, 37
Counsel, Troutman Sanders LLP
Sheba Williams, 39
Executive Director, Nolef Turns Inc.
Morgan Rhudy, 18
Founder of Girl Power Grants
Julia Warren, 23
Founder of Celebrate RVA
Brantley Tyndall, 32
Director of Outreach, Bike Walk RVA
Matthew Morgan, 29
Deputy Director of Neighborhood Revitalization at Project: Homes
Avohom Carpenter, 32
Director of Civic Engagement, Virginia League of Conservation Voters
Corrina Beall, 32
Legislative and Political Director, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
Kristie Helmick Proctor, 37
Executive Director of the Center for Rural Virginia
Carolyn Loftin, 36
Director of Housing and Family Services, Urban Hope
Jeremy Hoffman, 30
Chief Scientist, Science Museum of Virginia
Ryan Brown, 39
Executive Director of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Alfonso Perez Acosta, 39
Art Program Director, Sacred Heart Center
Catherine MacDonald, 31
Director of Greater Richmond Age Wave
Allison Gilbreath, 30
Policy Analyst, Voices for Virginia’s Children