Kevin J. Vonck currently serves as the Director for the Department of Planning and Development Review for the City of Richmond (Virginia), which directs and regulates long-range planning, land use, zoning, historic preservation, site and building plan review, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement within the City. He became Director in January 2021, after joining the City as a Deputy Director in August 2020.

The Richmond 300 Master Plan calls out a re-write of the zoning ordinance as one of six "Big Moves" we need to expand equity, improve sustainability, and beautify our City. Code Refresh is our answer to that call; an overhaul of an outdated zoning code to meet the needs of Richmonders today, tomorrow, and for the next generation.

What does that actually mean? Basically, we're taking a close look at our current zoning, last written in the mid-1970s, to determine what does and does not suit our needs. This means remapping every single parcel in the City and devising new zoning categories and strategies which will advance our goals for thriving neighborhoods and thriving communities.

Read more HERE.

Hannah Barr brings more than a decade of experience in high-performing, tuition-free school environments dedicated to expanding educational opportunity for children. Before joining St. Andrew’s School in 2023, she served as a teacher, school leader, and later a Program Manager at one of the nation’s highest-performing public charter networks. In that role, she partnered with executive leadership to strengthen literacy and math outcomes across 52 schools serving students throughout the K–12 continuum.

As Head of School at St. Andrew’s, she leads a mission-driven, tuition-free independent school focused on whole-child development, strong literacy instruction, and long-term student success. Under her leadership, St. Andrew’s has launched a transformative schoolwide literacy initiative through Success for All, a nationally recognized program grounded in the Science of Reading. Through targeted instruction, embedded teacher coaching, and data-informed support systems, the school is working to ensure every child develops the foundational reading skills necessary to thrive in school and in life. Hannah is passionate about building sustainable, scalable models of educational excellence that can help reshape what is possible for students and families in Richmond and beyond.

June 8th will be a day of celebration for Key Club members and Kiwanians!

We sponsor Key Clubs in four high schools: Atlee, Benedictine, Richmond Community, and Thomas Jefferson High Schools. Join us as we celebrate awards with our Key Club Scholarship Recipients.

We will also be awarding Kiwanians who have dedicated years of service to the service of children through the Kiwanis Club of Richmond.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” The Virginia Coalition for Open Government (VCOG) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for transparency and public access to government records, meetings, and proceedings at the state and local levels.

One of the foundations of a healthy democracy is the public’s ability to access information about government operations. VCOG Executive Director Megan Rhyne will highlight the importance of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, its many applications and trouble spots. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, she holds a law degree from the University of Colorado.

Learn more HERE!

See you next week!

On Saturday, May 23, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will open its gates for the public to enjoy the Garden's beautiful new landscape extension, two years in the making. The project nearly doubles the size of the existing Conservatory, adds 7.5 acres of new gardens, and incorporates an additional lake into the Garden experience. The result increases opportunities for connections, wellness, learning, and resiliency.

Dr. Brian Trader, President and CEO, has been overseeing this exciting project that allows even more guests to enjoy nature’s beauty.  He has served as its leader since early 2021 and believes in the healing power of gardens, as a place where we can come to be nurtured and restored.  Coming to Virginia with experience at Longwood Gardens and the Delaware Botanic Gardens, he earned his doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Tech and has also taught at Virginia Tech, Mississippi State University, and the University of Delaware.

The Underground Kitchen and its evolution are an inspiring story in the Richmond community. In March of 2020 during COVID, this roving experimental dining company was forced to shutter its business. Afterward, Micheal Sparks and his expert chefs devoted their culinary talents to supporting food insecure children, families, people with disabilities, and seniors. They provide a consistent source of nutritious and healthy, chef-made meals for residents of underserved communities, as well as for others in food insecure situations due to environmental or social events. A former creative leader in the fashion and eyewear industry, Michael Sparks is a dynamic speaker, with a remarkable personal and professional story.

Learn more about The Underground Kitchen: Community First HERE.

Christy Coleman, Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, will highlight our Club’s focus on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the launch of the American Revolution. She leads one of the country’s most significant historical institutions, overseeing the Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, site of the surrender of British forces at the end of the war. Her distinguished career has spanned over three decades, including leadership of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond. An accomplished screen writer and public speaker, she has also served as a historical consultant for major film and television productions.

Coleman's leadership has been instrumental in developing inclusive and complex interpretations of history, advocating for the power of museums and narrative correction. She has received numerous accolades, including three honorary doctorates, and has been recognized as one of the "31 People Changing the South" by Time magazine and one of "29 Women Changing the World" by Worth magazine. Coleman's work has been recognized with the 2023 David McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History.

Amy Strite, President and CEO of The Span Center, has 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience in change management, resource development, clinical services and education, early childhood and family development, and building effective systems of service. Specifically, Strite possesses a strong commitment to organizational culture, team development and social justice that facilitates systemic change.

The Span Center proudly serves as the Capital Area Agency on Aging for Central Virginia. They help older adults and individuals with disabilities maintain their independence and enhance their quality of life wherever possible, while also providing essential support to caregivers.

As shared by Strite, “The Span Center is a vital resource for older adults, people with disabilities, care givers and community partners. We provide compassionate, essential support while celebrating the journey of aging together.”

Learn more about The Span Center HERE.

See you next week!

The Rev. William S. Stanley has been vicar of St. Stephen’s Church since February 2020. In this role, Will oversees the program staff and serves as a member of the executive leadership team. A native of Washington, D.C., Will is a graduate of the University of the South, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. He serves on the Board of Governors of nearby St. Catherine’s School, as well as the Board of the Episcopal Parish Network. He is married to Will Ferguson, a professional opera singer and Richmond native. They enjoy the performing arts and exploring Richmond’s food and beverage scene.

Acclaimed for his versatility, tenor William Ferguson moves comfortably and often between the stages of opera, concert, and song—specializing in fully-realized portrayals of repertoire ranging from new works to the baroque masters. A native of Richmond, Virginia, he first appeared with the Santa Fe Opera as Caliban in the North American premiere of Thomas Adès’ The Tempest and bowed in Sydney with Opera Australia singing Truffaldino in a new production of The Love for Three Oranges—a recording of which was released on the Chandos label. He has since performed all over the world for countless audiences.

They will be joining us to provide an Easter message to the Kiwanis Club before the holiday break.

Chris Hennesey is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience driving transformation at the intersection of finance and technology. As a former Technology Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Capital One, he played a pivotal role in leading a cloud-enabled business transformation, reshaping how finance and technology align to drive agility and customer impact.

Now an Enterprise Finance Strategist with AWS, Chris collaborates with executives globally to share insights on how the cloud can unlock speed, efficiency, and innovation. He emphasizes that successful CFOs must go beyond numbers, embedding themselves into the business to influence strategy and execution. Chris is passionate about helping organizations build strong business cases for cloud adoption and navigating the cultural shifts required for success. He advocates for revisiting assumptions throughout the journey and ensuring employees are empowered with the time and resources to reskill for a cloud-driven future.

Chris holds a B.S. in Finance from Virginia Tech and an International M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Based in Richmond, Virginia, he lives with his wife, three children, and dog. Outside of work, Chris enjoys outdoor adventures and taking on new challenges, embodying the same spirit of innovation he brings to his professional life.

Learn more about Chris Hennesey HERE.

Participate in an exciting virtual tour of the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ new home at Carmax Park.

More than a baseball stadium, CarMax Park is a year-round venue with several climate-controlled, indoor spaces headlined by the Atlantic Union Bank Lounge. The multi-purpose event space features an elevated game day hospitality experience with nearly 200 adjoining exterior seats and the flexibility to host a wide variety of events from boxing and wrestling to concerts and other performances. With panoramic views of CarMax Park and more than 6,000-square feet of interior space, The Atlantic Union Bank Lounge is a unique destination for corporate conferences, banquets, non-profit fundraisers, weddings and more.

Newspaper executive Jean Boone was born on March 14, 1943 in Columbia, South Carolina to Helen Patterson and Daniel Patterson. Boone graduated from C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia in 1960, and went on to earn her B.A. degree in sociology and anthropology from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1962. She then received her M.S. degree in social work in 1966 from Boston University.

After graduating from Boston University, Boone moved to Richmond, Virginia, where her husband, Raymond Boone, Sr., was editor of the Richmond Afro-American. She became an adjunct professor of education at Virginia Commonwealth University. She also worked as the associate director for housing and economic development for the Urban League of Richmond. In 1981, Boone joined the Children’s Defense Fund as the director of state and local affairs, serving until 1989. In 1988, Boone also served as the manager of community affairs and marketing for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. When Boone’s husband established Paradigm Communications, Inc. in 1991, Boone joined him as advertising director. The following year, Paradigm Communications, Inc. published the inaugural issue of the Richmond Free Press on January 16, 1992. Boone was named publisher of the Richmond Free Press in late June 2014 by the board of directors of Paradigm Communications, Inc. after her husband’s death.

Under the leadership of Boone and her late husband, the Richmond Free Press’ accomplishments were recognized by the Virginia Press Association, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the NAACP and the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. In 2001, the newspaper was the recipient of the Best in Commercial Renovation Award in recognition of its leadership during a downtown revitalization project. Boone was honored by the YWCA of Greater Richmond with the 2004 Outstanding Women in Communications Award and at Hattitude 2016: Hats Off to Women, which was hosted by the American Business Women’s Association. Boone served on the board of Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc.

Learn more here: Jean Boone's Biography

Anna E. Powers, Vice President for Advancement at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, is a respected nonprofit leader with a proven record of driving transformative growth through multi-million-dollar campaigns, strategic planning, and audience engagement. She is a recognized thought leader in the museum and nonprofit sectors, bringing an entrepreneurial vision and operational discipline to guide organizations through change and opportunity. She brings 25+ years of experience to VMHC, defined by elevating mission-driven institutions at the intersection of strategy, philanthropy, and innovation—ensuring lasting relevance, resilience, and growth.

Dr. Teresa K. Anderson has devoted her career to enhancing student achievement, especially in urban areas. She has worked alongside teachers, parents, students, and district leaders to improve student outcomes in rural and urban school systems. Dr. Anderson was raised in a small agricultural town in North Carolina by a parent who was an educator. Her educational philosophy emphasizes offering opportunities that inspire students to pursue academic and professional goals beyond high school and their local communities.

The Carver Literacy Project is a flagship initiative of our Club, in partnership with George W. Carver Elementary School, dedicated to ensuring that every student achieves reading fluency by third grade. Dr. Anderson’s support has been a critical component to the current success of this project.

Learn More About Dr. Anderson.

Donate to the Carver Literacy Project.

Chris Beach is a husband of 23 years to his wife Alfreda and father of four boys ages 21, 19, 17 and 15. When not working, he can be found on a field or a court watching his boys or spending time loving his wife.

Professionally, he graduated from Longwood College and taught for 12 years at the elementary and middle school levels. As he taught, he went back to VCU and obtained his Masters degree in Educational Leadership. Realizing school administration was not about the kids anymore, he jumped into the nonprofit sector working at Big Brothers Big Sisters and FRIENDS Association for Children in Gilpin Court. He saw firsthand the need for men in the lives of children. 

He obtained his Certification in Executive Nonprofit Leadership from Duke University, has been recognized as one of STYLE Weekly's Top 40 Under 40, won the Wally Stetinius Nonprofit Leadership Award, and graduated from the Emergent Nonprofit Leaders Program and Leadership Metro Richmond. 

Chris is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond, the Rotary Club of Richmond, a CEO member of C12 Business Forum, sits on the Virginia Coalition for Men and Boys and helped council Virginia's very first statewide fatherhood report funded by former Governor Youngkin's office. He uses these life experiences to guide him as the CEO of the Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia.

Learn more about the Fatherhood Foundation HERE.

Christa Donohue is the Chief Executive Officer of Read to Them, an organization that uses the power of reading aloud together to build connections across families, schools, and communities to cultivate students’ learning and success. Their vision is to create a culture of literacy in every community.

Read to Them programs show schools and families the wide array of benefits that come from reading aloud together. A child’s positive relationship with literacy provides the basis for a lifetime of learning. Their school-wide reading programs support reading together at home and learning together at school by providing schools with the necessary tools, resources, and guidance to create a culture of literacy in their community.

Since One School, One Book was launched in 2002, Read to Them family literacy programs have expanded to all 50 states, as well as six Canadian provinces and four U.S. Army bases overseas. 3.3K schools (and counting) have celebrated the joy of sharing a book and reading together as a community. Four million books have been added to home libraries after families have read together each night.

Read to Them has brought Dolly Parton’s “Imagination Library” to Central Virginia. Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland. Imagination Library has given 304,538,420 books to 3,197,250 children registered, worldwide.

Enjoy the Holiday!

Bruce Miller is a longstanding leader of professional theatre in Virginia.  In 1975, he co-founded Theatre IV with Phil Whiteway as Virginia’s first professional children’s theatre.  He served as Founding Artistic Director of Theatre IV from 1975 until 2012.  In 2001, Barksdale Theatre entered into strategic collaboration with Theatre IV, and Bruce assumed the Artistic Directorship of both companies.  In 2012, Theatre IV and Barksdale merged to form Virginia Repertory Theatre, with Bruce as Founding Artistic Director.  In 2016, at age 65, Bruce transitioned into the advisory role of Founding Producer.  In 2019, he left Virginia Rep to serve as Executive Director of the Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education in Chester, a position he held from ground breaking through completion of construction in August 2020.  In 2023, he joined the team that founded ATLAS Partnership as Senior Advisor. 

Bruce has authored 46 plays for young audiences, including Hugs and Kisses, which celebrated in 2023 its 40th year as Virginia’s principal child sexual abuse prevention/early intervention program.  He also wrote Buffalo Soldier, which was the first play in U. S. history to be presented professionally inside the Pentagon, as a morale booster after 9/11. 

In recognition of his work, Bruce has received:

• Virginia’s Governor’s Award for the Arts (Gov. Tim Kaine),

• the Commissioner’s Award from the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (Sec. Donna Shalala),

• the first Excellence in Instruction Award from the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Commission for the Arts,

• the Voice of the University Award from The University of Richmond (his alma mater),

• the Together for Children Award from the Virginia Federation of Woman’s Clubs,

• the Certificate of Excellence from Richmond’s 15th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration,

• the Theresa Pollack Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts,

• and Richmonder of the Year honors from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

In 2000, he was named one of “The 100 Most Influential Richmonders of the 20th Century” by STYLE Weekly. 

Bruce is married to acclaimed visual artist, Terrie Powers.  They are the proud parents of the Rev. Hannah Miller, Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, and Curtis Miller, a leading sound engineer on Broadway.  Bruce and Terrie live in Bon Air.

This Kiwanis Club of Richmond is visiting the Kiwanis Henrico Club on February 4 at 12 noon.

Interclub visits are opportunities to network with other Kiwanians and experience their Club culture.

Contact Bob Priddy to participate.

David J. Scott retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in May 2025 as the Assistant Director of the Counter terrorism Division, culminating a distinguished career marked by leadership in national security, criminal investigations, and cyber operations. 

Mr. Scott began his FBI service in 2003 as a Special Agent in Louisville, Kentucky, where he handled a wide range of criminal cases and served on the SWAT team. He later transferred to the Washington Field Office, gaining experience in complex investigations involving organized crime, public corruption, counter terrorism, and white-collar crime.  

He held several senior leadership positions throughout his career, including Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Counter terrorism for the Washington Field Office, Section Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Deputy Assistant Director for Operations for the Cyber Division. In the latter role, he also served as Director of the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, coordinating federal efforts against significant cyber threats. His final field assignment was as Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal/Cyber Division. 

Before joining the FBI, Mr. Scott served as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Louisville. 

Be safe and enjoy the snow day!

Enjoy the Holiday!

Bellemeade Park is far from your average outdoor public space. So, what makes it so special? People at the park would say the story begins with Mr. Bob.

Bob Argabright, a former Chesapeake Packaging Corp. executive, has made Bellemeade Park his calling since retirement a number of years ago. Eight acres of once-overgrown city property in the heart of Southside, the new park is next to Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School, serving a disadvantaged population. The park provides a connection with nature that is otherwise unavailable to neighborhood children and adults. It hosts a bluebird trail, butterfly garden, rain garden, and acres of natural delights.

Joining Bob is Carolyn Schuyler, Visiting Scholar at UVA and founder of the Wildrock nature center in Crozet. She will provide research on the proven mental and physical benefits of connecting with nature, especially among today's urban and suburban children.

Together, they are bringing programs focused on creating joyous experiences for children and youth that promote learning and building skills in a beautiful and safe outdoor environment.

In 2026, events across the country will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Virginia Museum of History and Culture will headline observances here. Jamie Bosket, VMHC President and CEO, will highlight some of the exciting exhibits, speakers, and special programs ahead for us to enjoy in 2026. Jamie, a Kiwanis member, has led the VMHC since 2016 with vision, innovation, and success.

Enjoy the Holiday!

Enjoy the Holiday!

“This holiday season prompts many of us to acquire, and offer, gifts for others. Yet, have you stopped to ponder the reason why ‘gift-giving’ is an integral part of this season? Our holiday ‘meditation,’ for our club, this week, will seek to address that traditional question.”

Dr. Macaulay was the Director for Alumni Development for Union Presbyterian Seminary from 2016 to 2024. Before returning to Richmond in 2016, he served as a pastor in congregations for thirty years. The son of a Presbyterian minister, Clay spent his boyhood in North Carolina, born in Mooresville, and grew up in Asheboro.

Clay has a daughter and a son who live and work in North Carolina and in Texas. With his family, Clay has served pastorates in Hillsboro, West Virginia, Williamsburg, Virginia, Peoria, Illinois, and Weems, Virginia. He is a graduate of Davidson College (AB 1981), and Union Presbyterian Seminary (D.Min. 1985).

Clay’s interests include playing golf (though not very well!), walking, reading, viewing fine films, and following national and global news each day. He loves to travel, on occasion, and his favorite respite is a family mountain lake-house in upstate South Carolina.

This presentation will be rescheduled for a later date.

Exciting plans for future expansion are underway at Richmond’s gem, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Dr. Brian Trader, President and CEO, will provide an update on the Garden’s latest developments that will allow even more guests to enjoy nature’s beauty. He has served as its leader since early 2021 and believes in the healing power of gardens, as a place where we can come to be nurtured and restored.

Coming to Virginia with experience at Longwood Gardens and the Delaware Botanic Gardens, he earned his doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Tech and has also taught at Virginia Tech, Mississippi State University, and the University of Delaware.