Kyonda Trass

This story was told by Shaundria Brown to Kyonda Trass in an interview. It has been lightly edited for length. I was born and raised here on the south side of Richmond. As far back as I can remember we have lived on South 6th Street and Florida Ave. I attended King Elementary School, Portola Middle School and John F. Kennedy High School. After graduating, I went to a beauty school in Hilltop, and later graduated from a cosmetology apprenticeship program in Vacaville. I’ve been a hairdresser ever since.

This story was told by Wanette Foreman to Kyonda Trass in an interview. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity. My substance use began long before I moved to Richmond. I came here from Oakland in 1998 with my husband, becausewe were looking for better housing opportunities. It was during the dot-com boom. The rent was cheaper in Richmond, and I was able to transfer my housing voucher. Since then, I’ve lived in the Iron Triangle and Richmond Heights.

This story was told by Edward Miller to Kyonda Trass, in an interview. It has been edited for length and clarity. Growing up, most people knew me by my nickname, “Pappy.” So a lot of times, if you say “Ed Miller,” you’ll hear, “Who?” But if you say Pappy, you’ll hear, “Oh yeah, that’s Pappy from Richmond!” I’m a south-side kid. For a long time, we lived with my grandmother on 5th Street and Chanslor Avenue. We moved to Ninth Street and Cutting Boulevard and later to 14th Street and Harbour Way.