Good morning, RVA: Monkeypox vaccine, Enrichmond, and development in Manchester

If you're at high risk, fill out this monkeypox vaccine interest form:
rhhd.gov/monkeypoxvax

Good morning, RVA! It's 78 °F, and, yet again, today looks dangerously hot. We've got a heat advisory in effect until at 8:00 PM, and the National Weather Service says to expect a heat index between 105 and 109 °F. That's no-joke, serious hot, and if you plan on being outside, maybe just don't. This heatwave continues through, probably, Tuesday, so get used to it. Remember: Hydrate or diedrate.

Yesterday, the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts launched a form for folks to fill out if they're interested in receiving the monkeypox vaccine. At the moment, supply of the vaccine is limited, so filling out the form does not guarantee you a vaccine, but puts you on a list to "potentially receive a vaccine in the future depending on your risk factors and the available supply." This should all sound super familiar and regular, since we've all spent the last two years learning how to fill out forms and patiently wait our turn when the supply of a vaccine is low. RHHD will start by offering the monkeypox vaccine to the highest-risk individuals, which, for this current outbreak, includes: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and have had multiple or
anonymous sexual partners; transgender women and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sex with men and have had multiple or anonymous sexual partners; sex workers; staff at establishments where sexual activity occurs; and people who attend sex-on-premises venues. I think it's super important to note that, despite whatever thoughts you have after reading that list, anyone can get monkeypox regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, if they have close contact with someone infected with the virus. So, if you're at high-risk, fill out that form, and you can read RHHD's release here and learn more about monkeypox here.

While we're talking about diseases, VCU has partnered with the National Institute of Health to run a study on long COVID in children and families. They're looking for "children, teens, and young adults aged 25 years or younger and their families" to participate—regardless of whether they've had COVID-19 or not. Tap through that link to learn more or check out the NIH's helpful page, or, damn the torpedoes, and head straight on over to the sign up form.

Did the collapse of the Enrichmond Foundation happen while I was on vacation? I can't remember writing about it, and, dang, the whole thing seems like a disaster. Karri Peifer at Axios Richmond has a nice recap that you should read if you're feeling a little lost. In addition to owning two historic Black cemeteries (which was always weird and contentious on its own), Enrichmond functioned as the fiscal agent for tons of smaller organizations, including a bunch of the Friends of \ groups. That's important because you and your neighbors, who want to take care of your local park, probably do not want to figure out how to start your own nonprofit to accept donations. Enrichmond would helpfully step in and serve as the umbrella organization, handling the legal and financial infrastructure and letting those organizations do the on-the-ground work without all the nonprofity hassle. Sounds great, until your fiscal agent collapses, I guess. Worryingly, it seems like no one knows what happened to any of the money Enrichmond was holding for these small organizations?

Mike Platania at Richmond BizSense reports that developers have their eyes on two entire city blocks of Manchester on which to build hundreds of apartments. Remember that Scott's Addition development map I linked to yesterday? Well, zoom in to the Manchester development map and you'll catch similar vibes with tons and tons of projects planned or under construction across the neighborhood. If it's been, say, two years since you've walked around Manchester, you should definitely plan a day trip (when it's not so hot out). It's the one place I can think of in the region (maaaaaybe parts of Scott's Addtion) that feels definitely urban but distinctly unlike a Central Business District. I know it's got its issues—especially around walkability—but we can and should replicate parts of Manchester to other appropriate neighborhoods across the city (aka the nodes specified in Richmond 300).

While you're trapped inside hiding from the heat, you should read this piece about OXO—you know, the squishy-handle kitchen gadget company.

If you’ve ever stocked a first apartment’s kitchen, or searched the internet for the perfect measuring cup, or asked a friend “Why is your ice-cream scoop better than mine?,” you know OXO. Founded in 1990, it was the brainchild of a housewares mogul who was inspired to create a new kind of product (legend has it) by the struggles of his arthritic wife to peel an apple. OXO brought universal design into the mainstream: Its products were meant to be welcoming, accessible, and easy to use for customers of differing abilities and confidence levels. And it’s succeeded, without ever substantially changing its iconic look—so iconic that the company’s initial vegetable peeler, with its “Good Grips” handle, is now in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

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