Richmond City Council approves grants for non-profit Jackson Ward project
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A non-profit is seeking to tell pivotal stories that capture the role Richmond plays in Black American history. On Monday, Dec. 10, Richmond City Council members unanimously passed two ordinances that go toward the JXN Project telling the origin stories of the Jackson Ward area. The JXN Project, founded in 2021, is dedicated to highlighting the nation’s first historically registered black urban neighborhood. The city council granted the non-profit $950,000 toward the reconstruction of Skipwith-Roper Cottage on 303 E. Bates Street. The land was previously owned by Abraham Peyton Skipwith, one of the first black homeowners in the Richmond area. The council also granted a special use permit for the facility to operate both as a museum and community center. Before the vote, Executive Director Sesha Joi Moon made a plea for council members to support the ordinances, making sure Skipwith’s legacy wasn’t forgotten. She also explained how this is a small part of what she plans to achieve. “We are within $600,000 of fundraising for the first phase, which will bring us to a little bit shy of $5.68 million through gifts and grants,” Moon said. “For a small nonprofit founded by two black girls from Richmond, [this] is a huge accomplishment in less than three years.” Moon said she plans to unveil the first phase by 2026. She’s also working with the Library of Congress on an exhibition of the life and lineage of Abraham Peyton Skipwith.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A non-profit is seeking to tell pivotal stories that capture the role Richmond plays in Black American history.
On Monday, Dec. 10, Richmond City Council members unanimously passed two ordinances that go toward the JXN Project telling the origin stories of the Jackson Ward area.
The JXN Project, founded in 2021, is dedicated to highlighting the nation’s first historically registered black urban neighborhood.
The city council granted the non-profit $950,000 toward the reconstruction of Skipwith-Roper Cottage on 303 E. Bates Street.
The land was previously owned by Abraham Peyton Skipwith, one of the first black homeowners in the Richmond area.
The council also granted a special use permit for the facility to operate both as a museum and community center.
Before the vote, Executive Director Sesha Joi Moon made a plea for council members to support the ordinances, making sure Skipwith’s legacy wasn’t forgotten.
She also explained how this is a small part of what she plans to achieve.
“We are within $600,000 of fundraising for the first phase, which will bring us to a little bit shy of $5.68 million through gifts and grants,” Moon said. “For a small nonprofit founded by two black girls from Richmond, [this] is a huge accomplishment in less than three years.”
Moon said she plans to unveil the first phase by 2026. She’s also working with the Library of Congress on an exhibition of the life and lineage of Abraham Peyton Skipwith.
