New program empowering women in low-income areas launches in Richmond

Jul 22, 2025 - 00:25

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New program empowering women in low-income areas launches in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A new program meant to empower women in low-income communities has been launched in Richmond, with its participants showcasing their developing skills at a recent neighborhood event.

"Her Table, Her Budget" is a new women's wellness initiative launched by the Richmond Police Department (RPD), according to a July 18 press release. It was developed by Dargenaba “Dee Dee” Anderson of RPD's Community Youth Intervention Services (CYIS) Unit and Chef Romaine May of Bon Secours.

The four-week program is "designed to equip women living in low-income communities with tools to thrive financially, nutritionally and personally," per the release.

The sessions focus on two major learning areas: "financial wellness" and "culinary and budgeting skills." The first topic includes "critical financial literacy training," while the second includes lessons on how to "cook on a budget and maximize nutritional value."

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“This program is about more than budgeting or cooking — it’s about dignity, opportunity and building connections with, and for, our neighbors,” Anderson said in the release. “We want women to feel empowered in their homes, communities and workplaces.”

The pilot cohort of Her Table, Her Budget began meeting on July 8, with this run of the program to end on Aug. 8. It is open to 10 total participants, with five women currently participating as of July 18.

Those five women got to put their newly-honed skills to the test during a July 21 "Gilpin Ice Cream Social," which was offered by Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority (RRHA) and coordinated by RPD's CYIS Unit.

Photos from the July 21 "Gilpin Ice Cream Social" in Richmond's Gilpin Court. (Photos: Richmond Police Department)

Participants from this pilot run of Her Table, Her Budget sold gourmet lemonade to attendees, "highlighting their newly developed culinary skills in a public, family-friendly setting," according to the release.

A full Her Table, Her Budget cohort for the fall is in the planning stages, per RPD.

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If you are interested in joining the program, referring a woman you know or supporting future sessions, you are asked to contact Anderson either by phone at 804-625-0461 or by email at Dargenaba.Anderson@rva.gov.

Her Table, Her Budget is made possible in partnership with Bon Secours and Truist Bank.