Volunteer Spotlight: John Working

John Working began volunteering with Downtown Ashland Association in 2019 to help promote the local business community, and he currently serves as Vice President.

John Working, J.D.

Working is the co-owner and a founding partner of Railside Law Group. His practice focuses on criminal and traffic defense, family law, and estate planning. Together with partner Virginia Podboy, The Railside Law Group operates as a general practice at 307B England Street.

John Working explained the partners’ choice to locate in Downtown Ashland, saying, “There is a real sense of community among Ashland business owners. People rally around each other and the community values supporting local business.”

John Working is a 2001 graduate of Randolph-Macon College.  He earned an English major and Education minor. Working says, “I was grateful to not only receive an education from the College, but also make meaningful connections with professors and coaches.” After graduation, Working spent seven years teaching English and coaching football at Varina High School and Mechanicsville High School.

John Working and his wife Jessica Robertson Working are both entrepreneurs in Downtown Ashland.

During his time in the public school system, Working was inspired to advocate for youth and the less fortunate, and he became interested in the legal field. He attended the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law. Now an attorney, Working volunteers with the Hanover County Drug Court defending youth who are criminally charged and are at-risk of developing substance dependency. The Drug Court helps divert youth away from the criminal justice system, while helping them develop tools to build better futures.

Downtown Ashland Association is fortunate to have John Working’s leadership as an advocate and business owner in our community.

Ashland Fourth Fridays 2021

Friday, April 23 from 5-7pm Ashland Fourth Fridays will launch its 2021 Season celebrating arts and culture in Downtown Ashland. Stroll the streets for sidewalk sales, art exhibits, live music, and outdoor dining!

Now in its second year, this event is an opportunity for local artisans to showcase their work. Downtown Ashland enjoys a vibrant community of jewelers, painters, designers, entertainers, chefs, farmers, and musicians—just to name a few!

“Our goal is to support local creatives, while bringing attention to what Downtown Ashland already has to offer. We hope to provide a place for artists to regularly share their work and reach new supporters,” says Kitty Barnes the event organizer and co-owner of RED VEIN Escape.

Stay updated on the latest plans for each month’s event by following Ashland Fourth Fridays at the links below:

Untold Stories: A Retrospective

“Untold Stories: Growing up in Ashland/Hanover — Black & White Experiences” is a powerful annual event hosted by Downtown Ashland Association and our non-profit partners. Local residents share personal memories of life in our segregated southern community during the 40s, 50s, and 60s. The stories are often powerful, emotional and inspiring.

While we couldn't hold our Untold Stories forum this year in-person, we are proudly sharing the video retrospective of our past seven programs. We are deeply grateful to the volunteer storytellers and organizers for sharing these stories with our community.

Business Grants Awarded

Downtown Ashland Association proudly presents the 2021 Marketing Initiative, a grant program to catalyze business recovery.

This week, ten local small businesses were awarded over $16,000 in grant funds. The program is designed to help Downtown Ashland businesses recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and is made possible by funding from the Virginia Main Street Program.

Downtown Ashland businesses receiving the grant awards are Refunkit, Ashland Feed Store, Center of the Yarniverse, Origin Beer Lab, Alvaro Coronado Inc., Thrill of the Hunt, Jake’s Place, RED VEIN Escape, Ashland Meat Company, and Family Eye Care Centers of Virginia. The resulting projects will include digital branding, online sales expansion, and improved outdoor signage.

“COVID-19 changed our global economy almost overnight. With the grant program, we have an opportunity to help local businesses respond to this new challenge and to support the development of a stronger Downtown Ashland economy in 2021,” said Maggie Longest, executive director of Downtown Ashland Association.

“We are thrilled to be a part of Downtown Ashland Association’s 2021 Marketing Initiative,” said Kristina Lyden, owner of Thrill of the Hunt. “The grant funding will help tremendously, and we are getting started right away.”

Awards were chosen competitively, based on the strength of an applicant’s marketing plan as evaluated by an independent panel of business experts. Preference was given to small businesses marketing directly to the public, especially entertainment, retail, and restaurants.

The Downtown Ashland community is cooperating to make the grant program a success. We Think in Ink is offering a 20% discount for grant projects, and the Town of Ashland provided $2,000 funding toward the program. Meanwhile, Downtown Ashland Association is offering a series of free virtual workshops to help all local business owners plan and implement post-COVID recovery projects—information is online at ashlandvirginia.com/brws.

“We are proud to see our local community rally in support of small businesses during the global pandemic,” said Longest. “This spirit is what makes Ashland ‘The Center of the Universe’!”

Volunteer Spotlight: Penny Boyd

Recognition of Penny Boyd’s community spirit, written by her friend and fellow Downtown Ashland Association volunteer, BJ Zarris.

“Individuals build communities” is a guiding principle which Penny Boyd demonstrates every day in every facet of her life.

Penny is one of many Ashland citizens who make up the backbone of the activities provided to residents and visitors in our town. She is also a uniquely positive and generous person who is proud to live in Ashland and be a productive member of this community. She and her husband, Gary Robertson, live on Center Street along the railroad tracks. In addition to their volunteer activities, they provide an opportunity to view and enjoy art and some humorous artifacts as people walk or drive by their front yard.

After obtaining a degree in Community Development and working as one of the early volunteers with VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), Penny has engaged in helping people in varied and creative ways. She is a longtime employee of the Virginia Department of Social Services and currently works from home. Her two children are grown and she has two wonderful grandchildren. Even with family and work responsibilities, she has always made time to participate in helpful volunteer activities, and Ashland has truly benefited. After graduating from the first Ashland Citizens Leadership Academy, she served on the Board of Zoning Appeals, is a docent for the Ashland Museum, recently became the Secretary of the Friends of Ashland Library, and has been active in supporting the Ashland Theater.

Penny’s generosity of spirit even conveys to how she shares her space.

The yard in front of her house is always a work in progress and changes with the seasons. She and Gary enjoy finding items to add to the scenery. Penny especially looks for things the children walking by may like and enjoy.  Penny’s quirky sense of humor and eye for detail are readily apparent. She loves working in the yard and chatting with passersby. She says one of her favorite things is celebrating Halloween with all the children and families coming by with their wonderful costumes and effusive appreciation for treats; as many as 800 trick-or-treaters have come knocking in years past!

When describing her vision for Ashland, Penny spoke of the Ashland Town Council meetings she attended before COVID. Those meetings were about visiting with and listening to neighborhoods, and striving for equity among citizens of Ashland. She hopes that Ashland will continue to be a welcoming and friendly community while becoming more united, especially in terms of race. For example, she envisions the collaboration of Ashland Museum and the Hanover County Black Heritage Society in order to tell a more complete history of Ashland and to provide a place, a way, to go forward as one diverse but united community.

The Ashland community is strengthened by Penny Boyd’s community spirit and avid volunteerism. Her commitment to our community is recognized by Downtown Ashland Association and our partners.