Before I was inmate number 1414048, I was Candace Williams.

And long before the system knew my name, I was a little girl whose mother was in and out of prison. I was raised by my grandparents. I told myself over and over again, “I’m not going to end up like my mom.” But cycles don’t just break because we want them to.

Read more at Charlottesville Tomorrow.

The post She spent 18 years in central Virginia prisons — and wants the world to know that incarcerated mothers matter appeared first on Charlottesville Inclusive Media.

The first snow of the season in early December made my Charlottesville street look brand new, laying a clean white sheet over a city with a dirty history.

The cold bit my cheeks as I scraped ice off my car and thought about making hot chocolate and other warm winter treats. So many of my favorite childhood memories happened in snow, and this weather always fills me with nostalgic comfort. I was still grinning as I started the engine and backed out of my driveway, only for my smile to fade when I saw what was written in the snow on a car parked directly in front of my house.

The word “nigger” was etched in ice on the windshield. And if that wasn’t enough, a penis was drawn above it.

Read more at Charlottesville Tomorrow.

The post With the season’s first snow came hateful speech for this Charlottesville resident appeared first on Charlottesville Inclusive Media.

All of these compelling stories were produced as part of a program called First Person Charlottesville, a storytelling initiative that began in 2022. It invites community members to share their perspectives and experiences through Charlottesville Inclusive Media’s partner organizations: Charlottesville Tomorrow, Vinegar Hill Magazine and the In My Humble Opinion Radio Show. The program centers personal narratives to tell the story of our communities collectively.

Charlottesville Inclusive Media and Creator Hub is gathering past and potential First Person storytellers for an evening of connection, creativity and support. We’ll celebrate the contributions of these writers, introduce storytellers to each other and guide attendees through a workshop to tell their own stories. Please join us! Space is limited so please RSVP to let us know you’d like to attend.

Deeper conversations through personal stories

When: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Creator Hub, 300 E Water Street (one block off the downtown mall, across from the Water Street Parking Garage)

What to expect:

• Meet First Person Charlottesville contributors and community storytellers
• Hear the “behind the scenes” of bringing first-person pieces to life
• Get support to tell your story
• Enjoy an intimate, conversation-driven space filled with genuine dialogue — with refreshments

About Charlottesville Inclusive Media

Charlottesville Inclusive Media is a collaboration between Charlottesville Tomorrow, Vinegar Hill Magazine and In My Humble Opinion. Together, we amplify more voices and tell our communities’ stories from many perspectives.

About Creator Hub

Creator Hub, an initiative of Vault Virginia, is a shared creative space with a professional podcast studio, rehearsal and recording space, meeting rooms and open work areas for local creators.

How to attend “Deeper conversations through personal stories”

Space is limited so we can keep the gathering intimate and interactive. Please RSVP for the Nov. 19 event in Charlottesville here. This event is free and parking vouchers for the Water Street Garage are provided.

If you have questions or prefer to RSVP by email, please contact the organizers at info@vinegarhill.com.

The post Want to tell your own First Person story? Join Charlottesville Inclusive Media for an evening community workshop appeared first on Charlottesville Inclusive Media.

A quick content warning: The following story contains mentions of sexual abuse and suicide and could be difficult to listen to.

In My Humble Opinion, the Sunday talk show on 101.3FM, launched the podcast series in December, building on the work of Charlottesville Inclusive Media to bring more of our community’s perspectives into critical conversations. The segments are called First Person Charlottesville and folks can hear them by subscribing to In My Humble Opinion on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Charlottesville Inclusive Media is a partnership between the radio program, Vinegar Hill Magazine and Charlottesville Tomorrow.

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I was half-asleep in bed late one night in 2023, squinting at my phone screen, thumb sore from doomscrolling, when a post in a private Yogaville Facebook group caught my eye. “AI Swami,” it read.

Yogaville, the spiritual community in Buckingham County, Virginia founded by Swami Satchidananda, was the place I called home for years. I clicked the link and was blinded by a bright orange webpage.

Read more at Charlottesville Tomorrow.

The post She left Yogaville because of its toxic environment, but wants to keep telling the stories of survivors appeared first on Charlottesville Inclusive Media.

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Pastor Cheuk and his family immigrated to Shreveport, Louisiana from Hong Kong in the early 1970s. He was in elementary school at the time, in a town where hardly anyone looked like him.

In My Humble Opinion, the Sunday talk show on 101.3FM, launched the podcast series in December, building on the work of Charlottesville Inclusive Media to bring more of our community’s perspectives into critical conversations. The segments are called First Person Charlottesville and folks can hear them by subscribing to In My Humble Opinion on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Charlottesville Inclusive Media is a partnership between the radio program, Vinegar Hill Magazine and Charlottesville Tomorrow.

The post Listen: Episode 7, Pastor Michael Cheuk appeared first on Charlottesville Inclusive Media.

Read more at Charlottesville Tomorrow.

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