This year’s theme, African Americans and Labor was developed by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Learn more here: https://asalh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2025-Black-History-Theme-Executive-Summary-1.pdf Love is a force of transformation, a labor that reshapes history. This month, CTVA recognizes two local stories where the labors of love paid off, inspiring people and policies throughout the Commonwealth and changing hearts and minds forever.
First up, Loving v. Virginia (1967) affirmed that love knows no boundaries of race, striking down laws that once criminalized interracial marriage. Richard and Mildred Loving’s quiet yet courageous fight for their right to love freely was more than a personal victory—it was a powerful act of resistance against the entrenched forces of racial oppression. Their story reminds us that love is not just an emotion but a labor that demands perseverance, justice, and sacrifice. (Sidenote: we have a blended couple at our table who married a few years after this landmark decision. Charles and Louise’s story will melt your heart!) And of course, CTVA LOVES Black History Month! As we reflect on the 2025 theme African Americans and Labor, we honor not only the physical work of Black people across generations but also the emotional and intellectual labor of breaking barriers, demanding justice, and reimagining freedom. From civil rights to social justice movements today, love remains the foundation of change-the tireless labor of building a future where all are truly free. On a more personal note, I’ve been reflecting on where love has taken me. Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time examining how and where I’ve invested my energy. Growing up Black and female in the sixties inevitably shaped my perspective on race and gender politics. It’s fair to say that much of my life has been dedicated to bridging the deep divides that determine where I can live, work, and learn. At times, sustaining this work requires real stamina—but I am continually fortified by the courage of our faithful companions at the table and the love radiating from the Black, white, and in-between faces that gather to share in the labor of healing. This month, Coming Together Virginia honors African American Labor and the loving support of White allies with a program tailor-made for today. Join us on February 18th at the VMHC as we uncover the hidden history of Richmond’s original Old City Hall and the Knights of Labor, who, during the Reconstruction Era of the 1880s, envisioned a future of equity and dignity for all. This is a love story you won’t want to miss! To register for this event CLICK HERE. A message from our Coming Together Virginia Executive Director, Danita Rountree Green As we step into a new year, Coming Together Virginia invites you to embark on a journey of authenticity, courage, and connection. This new year offers a fresh start: an opportunity to begin again, to live boldly in alignment with our values, and to create a more inclusive, loving world. We are pushing the refresh button and renewing our commitment in 2025! Consider growing and learning with us. Our mission is to build bridges across divides, heal generational wounds, and foster thriving, equitable communities. We believe that true transformation begins when individuals commit to being their most authentic selves, embracing their unique stories, values, and potential. We are not starting over; we are starting better! This year, we challenge you to be fearless in your relationships. Reach across divides, whether racial, cultural, or ideological, and forge new connections. Authenticity starts with vulnerability, sharing your story and listening deeply to others. These courageous conversations lay the groundwork for understanding, healing, and growth. Hey world changer, you are our inspiration! Encourage your family and friends to live their values unapologetically. In a world that often prioritizes convenience over integrity, being true to ourselves is a revolutionary act. Stand firm in kindness, justice, and inclusion, inspiring those around you to do the same. Equally important is showing compassion to yourself. Be kinder and more loving to who you are today while holding space for the person you want to become. Self-care and self-love are not indulgent; they are necessary for sustainable growth and meaningful impact. Let 2025 be the year we choose inclusion over division and courage over fear. Together, we can create communities where authenticity thrives, relationships deepen, and everyone feels seen and valued. At Coming Together Virginia we believe in the power of beginning again. Will you join us? Let’s make this year one of transformation, connection, and love for ourselves, for others, and for the future we are building together. Let’s begin again, embracing authenticity and inclusion in 2025. My mother was a deep thinker and a woman of few words. She enjoyed reading, laughing with friends and taking long walks down country roads. When I was little, I'd walk with her and hopefully, if she had a nickel, we'd buy a bag of apples to keep us company on the way back home. Every time we’d make the trek, she would pull me past heaping carts of big shiny apples only to walk an additional quarter mile to spend a perfectly good nickel on a bag of dusty “speckled” apples from an old man sitting on the side of the road - no cart, no pretty painted signs, just a few apples that looked like they’d fallen from a tree.
“Why do we always have to buy these apples?” I whined. “Those apples are prettier!” I said, pointing back the other way. My mother would just smile, reach into the bag, hand me one from the bottom and say, “Yes, but this one will taste betta by and by.” What we do to support the neighbor down the road is the greatest investment we can make in our communities. Yes, it takes work, and it also takes time but keep going. The election taught us that. If you are feeling tired, it's okay to rest. The good news is you have friends on the path (and at the table) waiting for you. At CTVA, we encourage everyone to go deeper and look further. The nickel you spend, or the vote you recently cast, affects many. But nothing helps a community thrive better than the concerted effort of a committed few. When we roll up our sleeves and advocate for each other, we are powerful beyond measure. We hope you know how important you are, and how the choices you make matter. And you matter to us. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In Spring 2020, we watched a few hundred determined souls move boldly through the streets of Richmond to stand up for the things that matter. They were at the forefront of a movement that forever changed our world. Join us on November 19th for our 3rd Tuesday Gathering, as we reflect on that moment, the movement, and where we go next in the conversation on equity and justice. Because it matters. PS - My mother did not get the right to vote until 1965. What would she have said to me on Election Day evening? I’m not sure, but I’m certain of what she would have said Wednesday morning. “Get to work!” Danita CTVA Executive Director |
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February 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Rountree Green
Danita Rountree Green, M.A.,TLSC, is an author and transformational storyteller. As Co-founder and Executive Director of Coming Together Virginia, Green facilitates difficult conversations on race and generational trauma nationally. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and USA Today. https://danitarountreegreen.com/
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