Good evening

Less than two days remain before Powhatan's Board of Supervisors takes up the issue of the fate of Pocahontas School. As you may know, the supervisors plan to discuss a memorandum of undersanding-- requesting that the Powhatan School Board transfer ownership of the Pocahontas property to the supervisors. That meeting is happening at 6pm on Monday, and details can be found on the Board of Supervisors' webpage. If Pocahontas supporters attend in large numbers, that will send a strong message to both the supervisors and the school board members that this is an important issue for residents and other stakeholders. Unless they change their minds, a majority of the county's school board has decided that demolition is the right solution for the buildings that are in disrepair.

In advance of the Board of Supervisors gathering, here is an opportunity to learn more about the history of the place, which was once the county's school for students of color. In a recent talk at the Powhatan African American Cultural Arts Museum, which is located in the Pocahontas Landmark Center, Dr. Demetrius Venable delivered a presentation on how Pocahontas began, the number and names of students who matriculated during segregation, and the challenges they overcame. He has made portions of his talk available here, and you may be surprised to find names, faces and connections that are more familiar than you'd expect.

Please continue to comment on the petition by adding recollections and statements about what Pocahontas means for you and the wider community. You may access the comments page by clicking here. And please continue to tell others about the opportunity to sign the petition and about the threat of demolition that still hovers over many of the Pocahontas buildings. Pocahontas remains under immediate threat unless and until the community impresses upon leaders that there can be a better way forward.

Thank you
Pocahontas Proponents