Support, Structure, and Self-Care: A Survival Guide for Working Single Parents

On April 19th, the atmosphere inside Social Flare Studio felt more like a royal ballroom than a traditional community giveaway. Elegant gowns lined the walls. Shoes sparkled beneath carefully arranged racks. Accessories shimmered under soft lighting while a Bridgerton-inspired playlist floated through the venue, setting the tone for an unforgettable experience.

The Virginia Kids Belong I Belong Project is redefining what advocacy for children in foster care can look like by creating an experience rooted in joy, dignity, and connection.

At just 18 years old, Elijah Lee is proving that age does not determine impact. The Richmond, Virginia native has spent nearly half of his life working to uplift young people, advocate for equity, and challenge communities to rethink how they invest in youth.

Created by Barry Farmer and Louise Keeton, Happy Hour Vibes spotlights local entrepreneurs with fun, personality, and monthly networking shows on K101.2 Pop Richmond.

In a world that often rewards perfection and punishes vulnerability, there is something quietly revolutionary about telling the truth. Not the polished version. Not the “I’m fine” version. The real version, the one that includes loss, rebuilding, faith, doubt, therapy, hard conversations, and the long road to becoming whole again.

Stacy Thomas has never been content to simply tell her story. She has built a platform that turns lived experience into leadership, and leadership into impact. As an author, speaker, ALS advocate, and talk show host, Stacy represents the kind of multifaceted brand that is rooted in purpose and powered by service, reaching audiences across state lines while staying grounded in the communities she serves.

When Barry Farmer launched Farmer Company Media, he wasn’t chasing a spotlight. He was building a platform. The Richmond based media entrepreneur and radio show host has steadily grown from an ambitious broadcaster with a vision into a recognized community voice, creating a modern media ecosystem designed to entertain, inform, and uplift Central Virginia.

That rise didn’t happen by accident. It happened through consistency, smart timing, and a clear belief that local media can be both commercially strong and community first.

Jawanda Smith is an award winning media personality, event strategist, and community leader committed to helping women build purpose driven lives and businesses. As the Founder and Master Event Strategist of Let’s Do It Right Events, she leads a full service event management and marketing agency known for a signature standard: Executing in Excellence. For Smith, events are not just gatherings, they are strategic experiences designed to elevate brands, strengthen collaboration, and create meaningful engagement that lasts.

Jo Oliver, APR doesn’t just help people tell their stories. She helps them lead with them.

As the CEO and founder of Jo Explains It All, JEA Communications LLC, Oliver has built a purpose driven public relations consultancy for women entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders who want clarity, confidence, and measurable impact. Her work blends strategic storytelling, coaching, and consulting to help founders turn ideas into influence, visibility into value, and missions into movements that serve their communities.

In a city powered by small business energy and community pride, Anna Sothen has become one of Richmond’s most reliable bridges, linking people, ideas, and opportunities with the kind of intention that turns introductions into impact.

Shelby Brown spent years telling other people’s stories for a living. As a news reporter and anchor, she learned how to listen quickly, ask the right questions, and find the human thread inside everyday life. But after stepping away from the newsroom, Shelby’s calling didn’t fade. It got more personal. In Lawrenceville, Virginia, she is building something that feels like journalism’s heart translated into real life: a place where stories are not just shared, they are supported.

There is a moment in nearly every teenager’s life when they realize being smart is not always enough. You can have the right answer, the best idea, or the strongest opinion in the room and still get overlooked if you cannot communicate it with confidence. For many students, especially those navigating new social circles, leadership opportunities, and the pressures of high school, the real challenge is not what to say. It is the courage and clarity to say it.

Mike King didn’t come to Richmond to blend in. He came to build. A son of West Philadelphia with a natural gift for conversation, King has become one of the most recognizable voices in Central Virginia’s business ecosystem, broadcasting “On The Mic With Mike” daily at 5:00 AM on 106.1 ESPN Richmond, live from the Call Federal Studio. His show is more than a microphone and a clock. It is a daily gathering place for leaders, dreamers, doers, and the people quietly changing the region from the inside out.