Painting a story of advocacy and activism
Before graduation, Bonner Scholars and civically engaged seniors at the University of Richmond share a Presentation of Learning, their community engagement journey in their own words. It's a rite of passage for students who volunteer hundreds of hours each year.
This spring, there was a new twist. Each senior created an original work of art with guidance from Rob McAdams, director of the School of Professional & Continuing Studies' Partners in the Arts, and teaching artists Brooke Inman and Chris Visions.
Politics, Philosophy, Economics, and Law (PPEL) major Ny'Asia Flowers, '24, created a self-portrait with a depiction of the Million Man March, a 1995 gathering on the National Mall.
"This scene was inspired by the connection I felt to the greater Virginia community after I wrote an article for the REAL LIFE to commemorate tens of thousands of people with felonies on their records getting their rights to vote reinstated," Flowers wrote.
Other elements of the painting speak to Flowers' own experiences and invite us to reflect and act alongside her.
"The mirror intentionally points to me because I am picking up the mantle of many activists and leaders, and the mirror is a call for the viewer to reflect on their contributions."
As a Bonner Scholar, Flowers served at Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) as a communications intern.
"I most recently worked to bring second chance Pell grant programs to Virginia's prisons," Flowers said. "I am so proud to have been a member of the team advocating for people who cannot speak for themselves through their votes."
Flowers also played a critical role in supporting VICPP’s Student Day of Action this year.
"I was responsible for uploading pieces of information about all 100 delegates," Flowers said and emphasized the guidance she received from her supervisor Terri Erwin, director of the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison and the new leadership engagement organizer at VICPP.
"What I will most remember about Ny'Asia Flowers is her fearlessness and willingness to spring into action to make something happen," Erwin said. "We worked together advocating for college programs in Virginia prisons, and we stumbled across a new book by a national expert making the business case for hiring people coming out of incarceration. In classic style, not only did Ny'Asia read the book and submit a chapter-by-chapter synopsis overnight, by the next day, she had already reached out to the author and started us on a path to bringing him to Richmond – all before I'd even finished my morning tea!"
With her boundless energy, Flowers has been working for current mayor Levar Stoney on his campaign for Lt. Governor of Virginia.
"Our Bonner staff and student assistants work diligently to produce opportunities that help us access the greater Richmond community, and I long to try each and every opportunity," Flowers said.
Recipient of the 2024 Dr. Leonard S. Goldberg Award for Good Citizenship, Flowers will pursue a master's degree in international development at George Washington University beginning this fall.