Article by: Richmond Grid

Doing Well By Doing Good: Defining Community

It’s Friday afternoon in RVA. Inside the New Venture Richmond office a small crowd is gathering to discuss the upcoming TedxRVA in March. Taking their seats at a round table, I crack open a beer and begin.

It's Friday afternoon in RVA. Inside the New Venture Richmond office a small crowd is gathering to discuss the upcoming TedxRVA in March. Taking their seats at a round table, I crack open a beer and begin.
Andy Stefanovich recently brought together an assortment of Richmonders from every industry to discuss community at New Richmond Ventures – what is it, why is it, when is it, and who is it?
It's Friday afternoon in RVA. Inside the New Venture Richmond office a small crowd is gathering to discuss the upcoming TedxRVA in March. Taking their seats at a round table, I crack open a beer and begin.
Katie Benson, Senior Oncology Specialist at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, says that the purpose of community is to, “weave a thread that binds the similar and mends the differences.”

The conversation is straightforward-what is community, why is community, when is community, and who is community?

At the table sits some of the area’s best entrepreneurs, innovators, artists, and non-profit leaders, all ready to share their definition of what binds us together. Welcome to the new RVA, a community that believes in integrating business success with social impact.

The questions and answers that ensue are part of an ongoing series for Grid magazine, titled “Doing Well by Doing Good.” In each issue we attempt to identify the ingredients for supporting a thriving entrepreneurial community. To do this, the components of the column are driven by what we call the five C’s: Community, Conversation, Creativity, Connections, and Commitment.

Starting with “community,” my guests for the afternoon eagerly probe and discover through rich conversation this topic while showcasing a vision for a new generation of leaders that live by a set of values that serves the mission of their organizations and the community at the same time.

ANDY STEFANOVICH: WHAT IS COMMUNITY?

Lisa Sims, Director of Events at Venture Richmond: Community is us-it is everywhere, it is always. Community feeds our souls, makes up our lives. Without it we are alone. As we nurture it, we grow as humans… it nurtures us as we nurture it. Aside from family, it’s everything.

Crystal Neal, Director of Creativity & Innovation at Greater Richmond Chamber: Humans are a collection of people with differing viewpoints and goals coexisting together. Community happens when we start talking to one another, sharing our ideas, and learning from one another.

It's Friday afternoon in RVA. Inside the New Venture Richmond office a small crowd is gathering to discuss the upcoming TedxRVA in March. Taking their seats at a round table, I crack open a beer and begin.
Brad Dey, Principal at Second Order Solutions, says that community doesn’t line up on demographics. “It’s just people that are coming together for a common attribute.”
It's Friday afternoon in RVA. Inside the New Venture Richmond office a small crowd is gathering to discuss the upcoming TedxRVA in March. Taking their seats at a round table, I crack open a beer and begin.
Lisa Sims, Director of Events at Venture Richmond, says that community feeds our souls. “Aside from family, it’s everything,” she explains.

ANDY STEFANOVICH: WHY IS COMMUNITY?

Suzanne Hall, Chief Communications Officer at VMFA: The world is a big, deliciously complex place, and communities nurture us and enable us to grow and flourish in supportive environments.

Katie Benson, Senior Oncology Specialist at Onyx Pharmaceuticals: To weave a thread that binds the similar and mends the differences.

ANDY STEFANOVICH: WHEN IS COMMUNITY?

Ed Trask, Independent Arts Professional: When suffering the loss of life, the loss of direction, or the loss of an ideology. Community is the rebirth of faith, of love, of compassion via one’s peers, family, friends, loved ones, and even sometimes enemies.

Crystal Neal, Director of Creativity & Innovation at Greater Richmond Chamber: Community happens when the conversation begins!

ANDY STEFANOVICH: WHO IS COMMUNITY?

Brad Dey, Principal at Second Order Solutions: This is what’s great about community: It doesn’t line up on demographics, psychographics, or whatever. It’s just people who are coming together for a common attribute and to make sure that their concerns are being represented and heard.

Katie Benson, Senior Oncology Specialist at Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Each and every one of us owns a piece and has a responsibility in community.

CategoriesCommunity Builders, General, Storytellers, WorkTagged
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Richmond Grid

Grid is a solutions-oriented news platform that celebrates makers, storytellers, and community builders. Our goal is to share stories about people inspired by a purpose beyond themselves. We are interested in hard work, humility, authenticity, and stewardship. And most of all, people who roll up their sleeves and push Richmond forward.

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