Black Business Month: Faith Wilkerson
Tell us a little about yourself and your business:
I arrived in Richmond, Virginia in 2000 to attend Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) where I earned 3 degrees. I continued to work at VCU for over 15 years managing many of the University's annual traditions, as well as, overseeing student centered diversity & inclusion programs. I also serve as an Adjunct Professor at The University of Richmond and sits on the Board of Directors for the VCU Alumni Association. I somehow do all of this while constantly working on my passion, UnlockingRVA an event planning and promotions company
From sun up to sun down, what’s your ideal day in RVA?
First up is the Urban Hang Suite RVA to grab some specialty tea and a breakfast sandwich. There I am planning out the rest of the day. Attending one of our many music/food festivals is always at the top of my list. My favorite may just be the Heart and Soul Festival. I am also heading to the 17th Street market to spend some money with our local makers at the Richmond Night Market and somehow I know I will end up at Hatch Local Food Hall to grab the Go-Go chicken sandwich from Buttermilk and Honey...because mumbo sauce from DC makes everything better.
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What would you say is Richmond’s best-kept secret?
RVA's best kept secret is FOOD! The day I realized I could go to Big Herms or Inner City Blues to secure a nice juicy bologna burger I knew I would be set for life!
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BLK RVA is all about supporting the thriving Black businesses and culture in the Richmond region and encouraging tourists to do the same. What’s one thing every visitor MUST do/see when they come to our region.Take a moment to visit our Mending Walls murals. They are phenomenal pieces of work all over the City that tell powerful messages that deserve to be heard and seen. I also encourage visitors to see the Kehinde Wiley 'Rumors of War' statue at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It's the most powerful reminder of how art can truly imitate life.
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Where are you from? What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re staying close to home? I am actually from Queens, NYC by way of South Carolina, Kentucky and Newport News, VA (Shout out to my military brats out there). My new favorite thing to do is to grab take out from a restaurant and head to one of our local parks. You haven't lived until you down an order of conch fritters and jerk sliders from Carena's Jamaican Grille while watching the sunset from Browns Island with the James River roaring in the background.
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When we say the name BLK RVA, what does that mean to you? When I hear the name BLK RVA it means evolution, it means trendsetter and it means a never-ending cycle of information the entire city can benefit from hearing. BLK RVA means a powerful shift in the acknowledgement of everything the Black culture has contributed to the city.
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Describe Richmond in 3 words. Growing, innovative and historic.