RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Mayor Danny Avula delivered his first State of the City address Wednesday inside the Southside Community Center, focusing on growth, connection, and improving local government services.
The address took an untraditional format. Instead of delivering a typical speech, Avula moderated back-to-back panels his team called “fireside chats.” The panels covered topics like affordable housing, economic development, and the city’s art and history. Instead of answering questions, the mayor asked most of them.
Avula reflected on what Richmond experienced in the past year, including overcoming the water crisis, and laid out his vision for the future. He emphasized that the future of Richmond is built through shared experiences, community voices, and “interpersonal healing,” rather than just data and development…