ILLUMINATING LEGACIES: GILES B. JACKSON DAY

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Video Courtesy of City of Richmond

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Pre-registration for "Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day" has closed.

Community members who did not pre-register can still support Black-owned businesses across the Historic Jackson Ward District throughout the day and view the illumination show via personal vehicle, bicycle, or on foot from 9pm to 10pm, which will span the historical footprint of Jackson Ward. Please be sure to pour into these small businesses with patience and|or support through giftcards if they reach capacity.

EVENT OVERVIEW 

The JXN Project will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Jackson Ward with "Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day" on April 17, 2021 from 6pm to 10pm.  The celebration will consist of a series of socially distanced outdoor activations across the sixth ward, including food trucks, art activities, curated playlists, and over a dozen live projections that will reveal the ward’s origin story through restorative truth-telling and redemptive storytelling. 

The community is invited to  experience the anniversary celebration by two means:

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Pre-registered attendees can explore the ward by historian-led trolley. 

9 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Pre-registered attendees can experience live projections across the historical footprint of Jackson Ward via trolley or tuk tuk – alternately, community members who did not pre-register are invited to engage with the experience either via personal vehicle, bicycle, or on foot.

The historian-led trolleys will include Ride The Ward with Gary Flowers of The Gary Flowers Show, The Black Church with Benjamin Ross of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, In The Footsteps Of Maggie L. Walker with Janine Bell of Elegba Folklore Society, and Sacred Ground with Ana Edwards of the American Civil War Museum.  The tuk tuks will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis for registered attendees. 

Location:  3rd Street Side of the Greater Richmond Convention Center [Pre-Registered Attendees Only]

Address:  403 N 3rd Street

Date:  April 17, 2021 

Time:  6pm-10pm

Where:  Historic Jackson Ward District

Hashtags:  #TheJXNProject #JXNWard150

HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE

In accordance with COVID-19 protocols, pre-registration is required to ensure capacity control.  All pre-registered attendees must comply with the health and safety guidance provided below. This event will  incorporate contactless practices when possible and pre-registered attendees are required to observe social distancing and wear a face mask and|or covering. Ticketing will be contactless and pre-registered attendees will have their temperatures checked for entry into the event and|or onto the trolleys and|or tuk tuks, which will operate at half-capacity to ensure social distancing. Sanitizing stations will be provided.  Pre-registered attendees should not attend this event if they have experienced and|or have been exposed to a person with any of the below symptoms within the last 14 days – fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, headache, body aches, and|or loss of taste or smell.

PHOTO RELEASE NOTICE

Attendance at "Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day" serves as permission for The JXN Project and its partners to take, copyright, and/or publish photography and/or videography of attendees in print and/or electronically without compensation for any lawful purpose – to include publicity, advertisement, and/or web and social media content. 

FAQs

 What is Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day? 

Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day is the kick-off event for a year-long celebration in honor of the 150th anniversary of Jackson Ward as part of The JXN Project.   

Can I participate in the event if I didn't pre-register?

Yes and No — While the experiences related to the historian-led tours via trolley and tuk tuk require pre-registration, such as the food trucks and art activities, community members who did not pre-register are still invited to engage with the event by supporting local Black-owned businesses across the Historic Jackson Ward District throughout the day and viewing the illumination show via personal vehicle, bicycle, or on foot from 9pm to 10pm, which will span the historical footprint of Jackson Ward.  

Is there a waitlist for the event?

No — Unfortunately, per COVID-19 protocols, this event cannot waive its maximum capacity to ensure crowd control.  In the event of no-shows, we may except non pre-registered walk-ups on a case by case basis, but cannot guarantee admission on a trolley and|or tuk tuk.   

How do I enter the event?

The 3rd Street side from the Greater Richmond Convention Center from Marshall Street to Clay Street will be closed for the event and will serve as the two points of entry.  All pre-registered attendees will be asked to show their digital registration form via EventBrite and will have their temperatures checked for entry into the event. 

Is this a rain or shine event?

Yes — Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day is a rain or shine event.  Unfortunately, the celebration will not be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.  

Can I hop on and off of the trolleys and|or tuk tuks?

Yes and No — While registered attendees are free to hop off of the trolleys and|or tuk tuks, they will not be allowed to hop back on as neither experience is designed for long-term stops in order to accommodate the tour schedule.   

Will parking be available?

Yes — Parking will be available at the parking deck located at 351 N 3rd Street for $7 per vehicle.  

Will merchandise be available?

Yes — Limited edition merchandise with the  "JXN Ward 150" logo will be available at the event, which will be followed by the launch of an online store in coming weeks.  

Is press invited to attend the event? 

Yes — All press is asked to RSVP with The JXN Project's Director of Communications, Morgan Dye, at morgan@merakicommsgroup.com by Friday, April 16, 2021. 

Where can I send additional questions?

Please submit any additional questions to info@thejxnproject.com. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The JXN Project would like to give a special thank you to the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Greater Richmond Convention Center, and City of Richmond, as well as Duron Chavis, David Riley, Brian Bullock, Ryan Pace, Amanda Barnes, Marc Holland, Dustin Klein, Alex Criqui, Gary Flowers, Ben Ross, Janine Bell, Ana Edwards, LeMore Printing, DJ Lonnie B, DJ Nobe, DJ Ease, DJ Rayvon, DJ Mikemetic, and Keshia Eugene.  Also, thank you to a long list of event sponsors such as BLK RVA, VPM, VMFA, Initiatives of Change, Venture Richmond, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and The Valentine Museum and community partners such as the Historic Jackson Ward Association, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Richmond Black Restaurant Experience, RVA Tuk Tuk, RVA on Wheels, Studio Two Three, and 1708 — and several projection sites spanning the historic and historical footprint of the sixth ward who helped make “Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day” possible alongside last weekend’s support staff to include the Afrikana Ambassadors and Unlocking RVA.  Also, the project would be remiss not to thank the many news outlets, photographers, and videographers who helped to capture the anniversary celebration.⁣  In addition to its creators, Enjoli Moon and Sesha Joi Moon, The JXN Project is supported by a project team who deserves honorable mention — to include Meredith Carrington, Nigel Richardson, Morgan Dye,  Todd Waldo, Amy Wentz, Andre Johnson, Bryan Wallace, LaToya Gray, Michon Moon, and Jonah Hodari.