By: J. Chevont’e Alexander

On the fourth Thursday in the month of November every year, family and friends come together for lavish feasts, feelings of gratitude, and hearts of love. Thanksgiving is a day marked as a gesture of thanks and gratitude for the many blessings in your life. In honor of Thanksgiving Day and the holiday season, Urban Views Weekly asked Richmond residents, “What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season?”

I am thankful for family, friends, good health and the President’s re-election.

-Senator A. Donald McEachin, 9th District

Thanksgiving is a great time of the year for me and my family.  I have so many things for which I am thankful.  God has blessed me with good health, the very best family, a great church, and wonderful friends.  I’m also thankful to be called to serve as Mayor of this great City.  I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve the City of Richmond and to be a part of the great projects happening here.

-Mayor Dwight C. Jones, City of Richmond

This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful to be surrounded by great friends and a loving family. With so many people out of work, I am blessed to have a great job, and to work for the absolute best boss! Finally, I am thankful that I live in the Commonwealth of Virginia — the greatest state, in the greatest Nation on Earth!

-Major Jerry Baldwin, Richmond City Sheriff’s Office

I am forever thankful for good health, friends and family that encourage me and pray for me and wonderful parents who provide me with love and support always!  This Thanksgiving I encourage everyone to be thankful for the things we don’t think about regularly and often take advantage of, when you reflect I’m sure you’ll be grateful for the many things God has blessed you with.   In

closing, this year I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve received to enhance personally and professionally and would like to thank all those who have supported those endeavors.

-Ida Jones, City of Richmond Clerk’s Office

I’m thankful for being able to provide our dog Rudy with two life saving surgeries this year. He had a large benign tumor on his liver that was safely removed and he just had his front limb amputated due to cancer. Rudy joined our family in 2006 when he was rescued from the pound by Henrico Humane Society, a nonprofit, all-volunteer rescue organization that I’ve been volunteering with ever since.

-Elia Imler, Sr. Public Relations Coordinator, CarMax

I am so thankful for God who has made it possible for me to be thankful for my great job, family, fiancé, and friends.

–Brandy Page, Makeup Artist, Crutchfield’s Salon & Barber Shop

I am thankful for life, good health and family & friends.  I am excited and thankful for the opportunity and the awesome products that I share daily with others from Soul Purpose.  “Before I ask you for anything, let me thank you for everything”.

-Natalie P. Smith, Executive Marketing Director, Soul Purpose

I am thankful for the love of family and friends and to live in a community that embraces the premise of neighbor helping neighbor and the importance of being philanthropic.

-Jeff Baldwin, Media and Public Relations Manager, FeedMore

I am thankful for my dog Caesar Maximums who treats

me like a rock star, a loving family that allows me to be me, great friends who inspire me to greatness and a super cool job that helps me pursue my passions!

-Albert Walker, III, Community-Academic Liaison , VCU Center on Human Needs

 

I am thankful for all of the opportunities that have been afforded to
me and even in my most challenging moments I have been blessed with
peace and mercy.  Thankful that my Redskins will be training in Richmond!  Thankful that my nights continue to turn into mornings. Thankful for Thanksgiving leftovers!

-Lamont Bagby, Henrico School Board Member & Director of Operations at Peter Paul Development Center

I am thankful to God for allowing me to live a comfortable life and surrounding me with special people that care about me.  He didn’t have to do it.

-James Coleman, Jr., Owner/Agent, Nationwide

This year I am most thankful for being blessed with good health and the opportunity to spend quality time with my family and friends. So often our lives are so busy, that we neglect the simple and free things that we can take advantage of and enjoy.  This year I’ve learned not to take anything for granted.

-Twandra Lomax-Brown, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and Unit Coordinator, VA Tech – VA Cooperative Ext. – Richmond City

I am thankful for the love and support of family and friends and for life’s little moments and big opportunities.

-Danielle Steel, Brand Manager, Genworth Financial

This is the time of year when life can get hectic and it is easy for people to forget about what is really important.  As I take the time to pause and reflect on the things for which I am most thankful, I count being able to spend another holiday season with my amazing mother among my highest

blessings.  Despite being 81 years old and suffering a stroke a few years back, she continues to have faith, wisdom, and resiliency.  It is because of her that I am able to be a light on the path for the many VCU students and local families that I serve through the ASPiRE program.  I am proud to say that I am my mother’s daughter.

-Nannette Bailey, Community Partnership Coordinator, Virginia Commonwealth University ASPiRE Program

I am most thankful for family, friends, and a rewarding career.
-JC Polk, II, Senior Video Producer, Media General

I am thankful for the friends and family around us who make the trials and

tribulations of day to day life worth it.

-Priscilla Wright, Teen Programming Specialist, City of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the opportunity to be in business for myself and doing what is most passionate to me. I am thankful for the wisdom and faith God blessed me with to leave my corporate job, and the chance to use me as a vessel in my community to empower women. It is a blessing that I am able to “Change Lives One Curl at a Time”.

-Keenya Kelly, CEO of Keenya Kelly LLC & Return of the Curls

This Thanksgiving – and every day – I’m thankful for a loving family, good friends, a wonderful place to work and to live in a great city like Richmond!

-Jeff Wilson, Associate Vice President/ Director of Business Development, CRT/tanaka

I am thankful to have found my passion (art) and to be able to have a job that allows me to share it with both young kids as an elementary school art teacher at Glen Lea and with adults as an artist at Wine and Design Richmond!

-Molly Sanyour, Art Teacher, Glen Lea Elementary

I am thankful for a loving and supporting family and friends who bring joy to my life, especially on the days I need it the most.

-Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan, Virginia House of Delegates

 

 

 

On behalf of the Urban Views Weekly team and family, we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!