Meeting archives
On Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, stakeholders gathered at the Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building to hear the final recommendations of the Family Representative Council. Please visit the Recommendations page to review the final recommendations or watch video coverage of the Dec. 13 event.
On Saturday, June 4, 2016, stakeholders gathered at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School to hear the preliminary recommendations from the Family Representative Council. Please visit the Recommendations page to review the preliminary recommendations.
On Saturday, May 30, 2015, stakeholders gathered at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School with members of the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee, VCU staff and consultants. At the event, stakeholders viewed presentations by Ryan Smith, associate professor of history at VCU, on Richmond’s historic burial grounds and Joseph Jones, assistant professor of anthropology at The College of William & Mary, on the African Burial Ground National Monument. The community discussion included questions focusing on interment and memorialization practices as well as an overview of the Family Representative Council selection process. The day was closed with a saxophone performance of “When the Saints Go Marching In” by Ricky Cokes.
On Saturday, May 16, 2015, stakeholders gathered at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School with members of the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee, VCU staff and consultants. At the event, stakeholders viewed presentations by Tal Simmons of the VCU Department of Forensic Science and Michael Blakey of the William & Mary Department of Anthropology. Audience members held more detailed discussion in small groups. The day was closed with a performance of “Crossing the Jordan” from James Rusell Bennett, III.
On Saturday, May 2, 2015, stakeholders gathered at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School with members of the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee, VCU staff and consultants. At the event, stakeholders viewed a presentation by Gregg Kimball of the Library of Virginia. Audience members held more detailed discussion in small groups. The discussion and session was led by Justice and Sustainability Associates, a civic engagement and alternative dispute resolution firm based in Washington, D.C.
On Saturday, April 18, 2015, stakeholders gathered at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School with members of the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee, VCU staff and consultants. At the event, stakeholders viewed presentations by Jodi Koste, archivist and head of special collections at VCU’s Health Sciences Library, Quincy Byrdsong, associate vice president for health sciences strategic initiatives and engagement at VCU and Joanna Wilson Green, archaeologist with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
The East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee:
- Delegated the task of organizing and sharing coverage from the launch event on the project’s website and social media to the Communications Committee.
- Delegated the planning of the “Community Consultations” to the Event Planning Committee, and Justice and Sustainability Associates.
- Discussed formation of the “Steering Committee.”
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, Virginia Commonwealth University and the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee hosted an open house and ceremony to introduce the community to the project. Guests were able to view exhibits about the project, hear selections from the VCU Black Awakening Choir and experience a libation pouring ceremony. VCU President Michael Rao and other university and community members shared remarks.
The East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee:
- Established the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee Communications Subcommittee.
- Viewed a report presentation by Jodi Koste and Dan Mouer, who provided context to the committee’s work.
The East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee:
- Discussed meeting protocols and outlined a timeline for committee proceedings.
- Viewed presentations by representatives from the Smithsonian’s Division of Physical Anthropology and representatives from Historic Jamestown
President Michael Rao welcomed and charged the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee.
The work of the East Marshall Street Well Planning Committee is to implement a community process that encourages learning about the human remains discovered near East Marshall Street and seeks community input in the formation of a steering committee. The steering committee will serve to represent the descendant community that will make recommendations on behalf of those individuals whose remains were discovered to support appropriate study, memorialization and reburial with dignity.
Committee members were provided pertinent information and materials to assist with the execution of their duties.