State of Cultural Heritage in Virginia Symposium · April 9, 2026 · AAHA! Virginia
✦ April 9, 2026 · Surrender & Jubilation · VA250 · Presented by AAHA! Virginia & the African American Heritage Tourism Network   Register Free →
AAHA! Virginia Presents

State of Cultural
Heritage in Virginia

Surrender & Jubilation — A Symposium on Heritage, Economy, and Community

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Date Thursday, April 9, 2026
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Time 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET
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Venue Lost Office Collaborative
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Admission Free · Open Registration
✦ Reserve Your Seat 🎟 Register on Eventbrite ❤ Support This Event View Full Schedule ↓
200+
Heritage Sites Represented
4
Curated Panel Sessions
5
CHEWS Framework Pillars
VA250
Anniversary Celebration
1
Day to Change the Narrative
About the Symposium

Where Heritage
Meets Economic Power

On April 9, 1865, surrender at Appomattox set the stage for a new chapter in American civic life. One hundred sixty-one years later, we gather in the spirit of that jubilation — not to look back, but to build forward.

The State of Cultural Heritage in Virginia Symposium connects heritage institutions, HBCUs, destination marketing organizations, Black-owned businesses, and community leaders around a single mission: turning Virginia's African American cultural legacy into lasting economic opportunity.

This is a working day — not just inspiration, but partnership formation, MOU conversations, and a clear path to joining the African American Heritage Tourism Network.

The CHEWS Framework

Every session, panel, and breakout room maps to one or more pillars of our community-centered model:

C
Culture
Stories, narratives, foodways, artistic traditions
H
Health
Wellness through heritage, land, food sovereignty
E
Education
HBCU pipelines, heritage careers, research
W
Wealth
Economic development, tourism revenue, equity
S
Stewardship
Long-term preservation, conservation, generational legacy
Full-Day Schedule

A Day Built for
Partnership & Action

From keynote to Partnership Café to closing remarks — every hour is designed to create connection, not just conversation.

9:30 – 9:45 AM
Welcome & CHEWS Framing
AAHA! Virginia leadership introduces the day's framework and sets expectations for partnership-building focus.
Opening
9:45 – 10:30 AM
Opening Keynote: "The Heritage Ecosystem"
35-minute keynote followed by 10-minute live Q&A. Sets the strategic context for Virginia's heritage tourism landscape.
⭐ Keynote
10:45 – 12:00 PM
Morning Panel Block
Panel 1: "From Stories to Stewardship: Culture as Economic & Environmental Asset" (35 min)

Panel 2: "The Heritage Education-to-Enterprise Pipeline" (35 min)
Culture · Wealth · Education
12:00 – 1:15 PM
⭐ Partnership Café Session
The centerpiece of the day. Three structured breakout rounds (20 min each) mixing heritage orgs, HBCUs, DMOs, and businesses. Each table has a facilitator and discussion guide. Share your insights in the main room at 1:05.
Centerpiece Event
1:15 – 2:00 PM
Lunch Break
Catered by a Black-owned Virginia business. Optional informal networking lunch rooms open by CHEWS theme.
Networking
2:00 – 3:15 PM
Afternoon Panel Block
Panel 3: "Wellness Through Heritage: Health, Food & Place" (35 min)

Panel 4: "Partnership Models That Work: Multi-Sector Collaboration" (35 min)
Health · Stewardship · Wealth
3:15 – 3:45 PM
Closing Keynote: "Building Legacy — A Case Study"
25-minute presentation followed by 5-minute Q&A. A concrete example of heritage-driven community development in action.
⭐ Keynote
3:45 – 4:00 PM
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Attendees share partnership commitments. Preview of follow-up infrastructure. Heritage Challenge enrollment. Thank-yous.
Action Commitments
Panel Sessions

Four Conversations
Across the CHEWS Spectrum

Panel 1 · Morning
"From Stories to Stewardship: Culture as Economic & Environmental Asset"
How do cultural narratives drive tourism revenue AND fund preservation? Featuring heritage site operators, DMOs, green business sponsors, and digital archivists with real economic impact data.
Culture + Wealth + Stewardship
Panel 2 · Morning
"The Heritage Education-to-Enterprise Pipeline"
HBCUs, heritage businesses, and workforce development partners map the pathway from classroom to heritage career. Features active apprenticeship and internship programs with measurable outcomes.
Education + Wealth
Panel 3 · Afternoon
"Wellness Through Heritage: Health, Food & Place"
Exploring foodways, outdoor heritage tourism, and land connection as community health infrastructure. Farm-to-table businesses, health institutions, heritage scholars, and nature site operators in dialogue.
Health + Culture + Stewardship
Panel 4 · Afternoon
"Partnership Models That Work: Multi-Sector Collaboration in Action"
Two to three AAHTN partnerships across business, DMO, institution, and HBCU sectors present their models, outcomes, and what they wish they'd known earlier. Practical, replicable, and honest.
All CHEWS Pillars
Registration

Reserve Your Place
at the Table

Admission is free. Both options guarantee your seat — register where it's most convenient. aahava.com registration connects you directly to our Heritage Points system and partnership database.

🌐
Register on aahava.com
Direct registration through our site. Activates your Heritage Points account, connects you to the AAHTN ecosystem, and enrolls you in event communications.
Register Here →
🎟️
Register on Eventbrite
Convenient if you manage events through Eventbrite. Includes the Eventbrite QR check-in and adds the event to your Eventbrite calendar. Free ticket.
Get Ticket →
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Virtual Attendance
Joining from Hampton Roads or elsewhere in Virginia? A live stream is available. Register above and select "Virtual" to receive your access link closer to April 9.
Register Virtual →
RSVP — April 9, 2026

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Questions? Contact us at info@aahava.com or call (804) 340-0100

Venue & Logistics

Lost Office
Collaborative

A vibrant creative and collaborative space in Henrico, Virginia — perfectly suited for a day of partnership formation and big ideas.

📍
Address
5000 Old Main Street
Henrico, Virginia 23231
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Event Hours
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Doors open at 9:00 AM · Setup begins 7:00 AM
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Parking
On-site parking available
Detailed directions sent in confirmation email
♿
Accessibility
ADA accessible venue
Contact us for accommodation requests: info@aahava.com
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Virtual Option
Live-stream available
Select virtual at registration · Hampton Roads node connected
🗺️
Lost Office Collaborative
5000 Old Main St, Henrico VA 23231
Open in Google Maps →
Frequently Asked Questions

What to Expect

Is there a cost to attend? +
Attendance is completely free. We ask that you register so we can plan for space, catering, and breakout room assignments. If you'd like to support the event financially, donations are welcome via GiveWP on this page.
Who should attend? +
Heritage institutions, museum staff, DMO representatives, HBCU faculty and students, nonprofit leaders, Black-owned business owners, civic advocates, corporate sustainability officers, and anyone invested in Virginia's African American heritage economy. If you work at the intersection of culture and community, this event is for you.
What is the Partnership Café? +
The Partnership Café is the centerpiece of the day — a structured breakout session from 12:00–1:05 PM where attendees are placed in small, intentionally mixed groups of 6-7 people. Three 20-minute rounds guide conversation across CHEWS themes. Each room has a trained facilitator. The goal is real partnership exploration, not networking small talk.
Can I attend virtually? +
Yes. A live-stream will be available for the keynotes and panel sessions. Select "Virtual" during registration and you'll receive a link before April 9. The Partnership Café is in-person only.
What is the African American Heritage Tourism Network (AAHTN)? +
The AAHTN is Virginia's collaborative network of 200+ documented African American heritage sites, Black-owned businesses, educational institutions, and tourism partners. The network operates through aaht.network and connects visitors to heritage experiences while generating economic activity in heritage communities. This symposium is both a showcase of and a recruitment event for the AAHTN.
How can my organization become a partner or sponsor? +
Contact us at info@aahava.com or schedule a call via Calendly at aahava.com. We offer partnership tiers from community partners to signature sponsors, with visibility across the AAHTN digital ecosystem, event recognition, and co-branding opportunities.

Walk With Us on April 9

One day. Hundreds of partnerships waiting to happen. Virginia's heritage future — built together.

AAHA! Virginia · 1706 Floyd Avenue Suite C, Richmond VA 23220 · (804) 340-0100 · info@aahava.com
501(c)(3) Nonprofit · aahava.com