Common Thread RVA

05/26/2026

An update on the Scissors Building!

Transcript: Hello, this is Emily Haynes McGee. I wanted to let you all know what’s happening with the Scissors Building.

On Sunday April 19th, we had about 90 people come out to celebrate the scissors return to their home. Again, thank you so much to the team: Tim, Gavin, and Jamel. Hats off to you three for your amazing work! Also, thank you to everyone who came out for your support. It was truly an amazing day and a lot of fun.

After that, I left for a conference in Baltimore, exploring the concept of “placemaking”. Placemaking is about using space to create feelings of belonging, home, etc. It was really cool. Then I came back to Richmond for the first annual Richmond Black Deaf Advocate, RVABDA, conference. There were many incredible presenters and I learned a lot. It was amazing; kudos to you all!

Shortly after that, I started experiencing some pain, and then had surgery to have my gallbladder removed. Since then, I’ve been slowly recovering. It has caused me to take a pause. So if you’ve been wondering “Hey, what’s up with the scissors building?” My apologies! I’m still recovering. I’m not at 100% yet but I’m feeling better.

So back to the Scissors Building. We finished discussions with Henrico County and they let us know about the parking situation. Right now, the parking lot behind the building is gravel, with a grassy area behind the gravel parking lot. I was hopeful that we could switch the location of the grassy area and the parking lot, but we were told no. The parking lot would be too close to a residential building so we aren’t allowed to do that. But the current size of the parking lot is acceptable, which is good news. And the building will have a fenced-off space for walking from the building to the grassy area without walking through the parking lot. That’s good for my mom heart!

So right now, a company is renting the parking area, which is great because that helps cover the monthly expenses. We’re hoping that the company continues to rent the parking lot for now. We are focusing on renovating the inside of the building. We are applying for some grants to help cover all of the costs. Right now we don’t have all the funds, but we will figure it out! So we’re focusing on the inside renovations and then we will renovate the parking lot. It’s quite a slow process, but we’re hoping that by next summer, we will have it ready and fully operational. Please be patient! I will continue to let you know what’s happening, but that’s where we are right now!

[ID: Emily Haynes McGee is a white woman wearing a blue shirt with pink flowers, a denim jacket, and glasses with rainbow colored frames. She has mid-length brunette hair, and is signing against light purple fabric.]

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THE FOLLOWING IS CAPITALIZED FOR LOW AND CLOSE VISION READERS:

AN UPDATE ON THE SCISSORS BUILDING!

TRANSCRIPT: HELLO, THIS IS EMILY HAYNES MCGEE. I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE SCISSORS BUILDING.

ON SUNDAY APRIL 19TH, WE HAD ABOUT 90 PEOPLE COME OUT TO CELEBRATE THE SCISSORS RETURN TO THEIR HOME. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE TEAM: TIM, GAVIN, AND JAMEL. HATS OFF TO YOU THREE FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK! ALSO, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IT WAS TRULY AN AMAZING DAY AND A LOT OF FUN.

AFTER THAT, I LEFT FOR A CONFERENCE IN BALTIMORE, EXPLORING THE CONCEPT OF “PLACEMAKING”. PLACEMAKING IS ABOUT USING SPACE TO CREATE FEELINGS OF BELONGING, HOME, ETC. IT WAS REALLY COOL. THEN I CAME BACK TO RICHMOND FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL RICHMOND BLACK DEAF ADVOCATE, RVABDA, CONFERENCE. THERE WERE MANY INCREDIBLE PRESENTERS AND I LEARNED A LOT. IT WAS AMAZING; KUDOS TO YOU ALL!

SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I STARTED EXPERIENCING SOME PAIN, AND THEN HAD SURGERY TO HAVE MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED. SINCE THEN, I’VE BEEN SLOWLY RECOVERING. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO TAKE A PAUSE. SO IF YOU’VE BEEN WONDERING “HEY, WHAT’S UP WITH THE SCISSORS BUILDING?” MY APOLOGIES! I’M STILL RECOVERING. I’M NOT AT 100% YET BUT I’M FEELING BETTER.

SO BACK TO THE SCISSORS BUILDING. WE FINISHED DISCUSSIONS WITH HENRICO COUNTY AND THEY LET US KNOW ABOUT THE PARKING SITUATION. RIGHT NOW, THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE BUILDING IS GRAVEL, WITH A GRASSY AREA BEHIND THE GRAVEL PARKING LOT. I WAS HOPEFUL THAT WE COULD SWITCH THE LOCATION OF THE GRASSY AREA AND THE PARKING LOT, BUT WE WERE TOLD NO. THE PARKING LOT WOULD BE TOO CLOSE TO A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING SO WE AREN’T ALLOWED TO DO THAT. BUT THE CURRENT SIZE OF THE PARKING LOT IS ACCEPTABLE, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS. AND THE BUILDING WILL HAVE A FENCED-OFF SPACE FOR WALKING FROM THE BUILDING TO THE GRASSY AREA WITHOUT WALKING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT. THAT’S GOOD FOR MY MOM HEART!

SO RIGHT NOW, A COMPANY IS RENTING THE PARKING AREA, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THAT HELPS COVER THE MONTHLY EXPENSES. WE’RE HOPING THAT THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO RENT THE PARKING LOT FOR NOW. WE ARE FOCUSING ON RENOVATING THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING. WE ARE APPLYING FOR SOME GRANTS TO HELP COVER ALL OF THE COSTS. RIGHT NOW WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE FUNDS, BUT WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT! SO WE’RE FOCUSING ON THE INSIDE RENOVATIONS AND THEN WE WILL RENOVATE THE PARKING LOT. IT’S QUITE A SLOW PROCESS, BUT WE’RE HOPING THAT BY NEXT SUMMER, WE WILL HAVE IT READY AND FULLY OPERATIONAL. PLEASE BE PATIENT! I WILL CONTINUE TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING, BUT THAT’S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW!

[ID: EMILY HAYNES MCGEE IS A WHITE WOMAN WEARING A BLUE SHIRT WITH PINK FLOWERS, A DENIM JACKET, AND GLASSES WITH RAINBOW COLORED FRAMES. SHE HAS MID-LENGTH BRUNETTE HAIR, AND IS SIGNING AGAINST LIGHT PURPLE FABRIC.]

04/19/2026

RAIN OR SHINE! ASL CRAWL TODAY!

ASL Yoga is indoors at Peak Experiences! Davvero Gelato has some cover and we will set up a few tents! The chance of rain decreases in the afternoon, and we will put up the Scissors rain or shine! Finally, Final Gravity has indoor space for our group. See you out there!

Sunday, April 19th

10:30-11:30 AM
* ASL Yoga with Susi *
Peak Experience Richmond
Pay what you can. Must sign waiver.
English interpretation provided.
1375 Overbook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220

Noon-3 PM
* Gelato Social *
Davvero Gelato. Vegan gelato, coffee, and tea. Social is outside.
6931 Lakeside Ave, Henrico, VA 23228

3-4 PM
* Re-mounting of the Lakeside Scissors *
Deaf and hearing community members restore them to their rightful place!
The Scissors Building
6201 Lakeside Ave, Henrico, VA 23228

4-6 PM
* Scissors After Party *
Final Gravity Brewing Beer, nonalcoholic beverages (kombucha), and snacks available.
6118 Lakeside Ave, Richmond, VA 23228

For more details and updates on these events, please see commonthreadrva.com

[ID: Two flyers for event. The first has "RAIN OR SHINE!" superimposed on top. The second has the Mosaic logo top left. Yoga, Ice-cream, Scissors, Frothy Drink icons line the flyer below it. Gold text is on a dark green background with patterns surrounding it.]

04/17/2026

Join us this Sunday, April 19th from 4-6pm at Final Gravity Brewery (6118 Lakeside Ave), just a short walk from the scissors building! More info in the video!

Transcript: This is Final Gravity Brewery - it's a very cool spot. They have local beer, and they also have nonalcoholic kombucha and snacks. It is a cool, local neighborhood bar! On Sunday, the plan is to remount the scissors at 3 PM, and then around 4 PM, the group can walk over to Final Gravity and socialize here! Please come out and join if you can!

[ID: Emily Haynes McGee is a white woman wearing a black shirt, khaki pants, sandals, a denim jacket, and glasses. She has mid-length brunette hair in a low ponytail, and is signing in front of a black and white sign with an image of an astronaut holding a beer that reads Final Gravity Brewing Co. Richmond, Virginia.]

04/16/2026

More info about Pay-What-You-Can!

Transcript: Hello! Some folks have asked about what "Pay-What-You-Can" means, so I want to explain it more in depth. Some Mosaic events are labeled "Pay-What-You-Can," meaning Mosaic has already covered all of the costs associated with that event.

For example, for ASL Yoga, Mosaic has committed to pay the instructor, as well as the cost associated with the room, and any other costs. If yoga isn't in your budget, no worries! Come anyway! The event is not dependent on receiving a specific amount of money to cover the costs. If we do receive donations at the event, that amount will be used for more programming in the future.

Suppose you do want to pay something - $1, $5, $10, $15, $25 - that’s great! You can contribute using either Venmo or PayPal. We can accept cash as well, but Venmo and PayPal are the easiest methods. We set up a QR code that we will bring to the events, so if you want to pay something, you can. But again, there is no obligation! We want you to join no matter what, and don't want to create any barriers.

Hopefully that clarifies "Pay-What-You-Can". Thank you! I’ve really enjoyed socializing with everyone at the events. I’ll see you out there!

[ID: Emily Haynes McGee is a white woman wearing a black shirt and glasses with green frames. She has mid-length brunette hair in a low ponytail to the side, and is signing against light gray fabric.]

04/16/2026

Yoga social story!

Transcript: Hello! I’m here at Peak Experiences. As you can see, there is plenty of parking. Let's go inside and I’ll explain more. When you enter, you’ll go to the right. You may be wondering: why am I here? I’m here for ASL Yoga! It’s hosted on the first and third Sunday of every month. This yoga class has no set cost [Pay What You Can— see next video], which is pretty cool! If you’re unsure of how to get here, the address is 1375 Overbrook Road, Richmond, Virginia. The class starts at 10:30 and lasts about an hour.

Now I’ll show you where to go. You'll walk down this long hall, then go up the stairs. Before we go in, if you need a restroom, it’s over there. Now you’ll see the Peak Experiences sign; this is where we need to go! You'll go down the stairs and around the corner. If it's your first time, you’ll need to register using these iPads for the waiver. On your first day, you register, and once annually you’ll need to register again before you can attend the class. Once your registration is complete, walk up to the desk and tell them your first and last name so they can find you in their system. We’re all set!

Now I’ll show you the classroom. There are mats and blocks at the gym to borrow if you need them. Peak Experiences also has bolsters if you want to feel more comfortable. Don’t worry, our Deaf instructor will set up mats and blocks in the classroom. If you prefer to bring your own equipment, feel free! This is where our class is held. When class is finished, wipe down the mat with these wipes, roll it up, put it back, and you’re all set! Bye, take care!

[ID: Sylvia Crespo is a Puerto Rican woman wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt, black pants, and and a cross body bag. She has long brown hair pulled back into a bun.]

04/16/2026

04/16/2026

The Richmonder published an article about the happenings!

Check it out!
https://www.richmonder.org/lakesides-giant-scissors-newly-refurbished-will-return-in-sunday-ceremony/

[ID: Screenshot of article by Michael Phillips. It is titled "Lakeside's giant scissors, newly refurbished, will return in Sunday ceremony." And there's a picture in the center with Sylvia in the foreground, she has curly long black hair that is pulled back and smiles softly as she signs ILY with both hands. Left to right are Jamel, Gavin, and Tim who are also smiling. In front of them are large scissors with a red handle. Under the picture is a caption. "The scissors restoration crew of (L-R) Jamel Lanier, Gavin Laurore and Tim Lavelle is joined by Sylvia Crespo, part of the Common Thread RVA project. (Contributed photo)." The publishing date is today and it's around a 3 minute read!]

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THE FOLLOWING IS CAPITALIZED FOR LOW AND CLOSE VISION READERS:

THE RICHMONDER PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE HAPPENINGS!

CHECK IT OUT!
HTTPS://WWW.RICHMONDER.ORG/LAKESIDES-GIANT-SCISSORS-NEWLY-REFURBISHED-WILL-RETURN-IN-SUNDAY-CEREMONY/

[ID: SCREENSHOT OF ARTICLE BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS. IT IS TITLED "LAKESIDE'S GIANT SCISSORS, NEWLY REFURBISHED, WILL RETURN IN SUNDAY CEREMONY." AND THERE'S A PICTURE IN THE CENTER WITH SYLVIA IN THE FOREGROUND, SHE HAS CURLY LONG BLACK HAIR THAT IS PULLED BACK AND SMILES SOFTLY AS SHE SIGNS ILY WITH BOTH HANDS. LEFT TO RIGHT ARE JAMEL, GAVIN, AND TIM WHO ARE ALSO SMILING. IN FRONT OF THEM ARE LARGE SCISSORS WITH A RED HANDLE. UNDER THE PICTURE IS A CAPTION. "THE SCISSORS RESTORATION CREW OF (L-R) JAMEL LANIER, GAVIN LAURORE AND TIM LAVELLE IS JOINED BY SYLVIA CRESPO, PART OF THE COMMON THREAD RVA PROJECT. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)." THE PUBLISHING DATE IS TODAY AND IT'S AROUND A 3 MINUTE READ!]

04/14/2026

Deaf artist in residence at Studio Two Three! Sumi Sound Printmaking with instructor Nelly Kate…
Happens Thursday, 4/23, 6-8PM

What happens when sound becomes visible? Explore this question with suminagashi and cymatics. This process blends an ancient Japanese artform with a scientific phenomenon, to visualize sound. In this session, participants will create prints by activating sumi ink and water with sonic vibration. All materials are provided. No experience required.

Studio 23 has created a unique discount code
“COMMONTHREAD” through which members & friends of Mosaic Interpreting + Common Thread can use to join the class for free.

Link to register: https://www.studiotwothree.org/classes/p/v7cox86rqlqtxq6s6a8lar3x5xvl29?utm_medium=order-summary&utm_source=order-status&utm_content=image

More about the artist:
Nelly Kate (she/her) is a studio artist with an expanded practice in sound, expressing its material power through tones, tapes, water, wood, metal, and fiber. Her work takes the form of installation, performance, and print. Over the past decade, Nelly has experienced fluctuations between late-deafness and hearing. This informs her creative research and insistence upon slowness, the awkwardness of inclusion, collaboration, and repetition. Which is to say, she centers disability-led perspectives and projects while convincing more folks to learn sign language with her.

[ID: Bold flyer for event has same information as the post. There’s a rounded shape at the bottom, covered with swirling marbled ink that seems to have originated from repeated motion.]

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THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS FOR LOW AND CLOSE VISION READERS:

DEAF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT STUDIO TWO THREE! SUMI SOUND PRINTMAKING WITH INSTRUCTOR NELLY KATE…
HAPPENS THURSDAY, 4/23, 6-8PM

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOUND BECOMES VISIBLE? EXPLORE THIS QUESTION WITH SUMINAGASHI AND CYMATICS. THIS PROCESS BLENDS AN ANCIENT JAPANESE ARTFORM WITH A SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENON, TO VISUALIZE SOUND. IN THIS SESSION, PARTICIPANTS WILL CREATE PRINTS BY ACTIVATING SUMI INK AND WATER WITH SONIC VIBRATION. ALL MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

STUDIO 23 HAS CREATED A UNIQUE DISCOUNT CODE
“COMMONTHREAD” THROUGH WHICH MEMBERS & FRIENDS OF MOSAIC INTERPRETING + COMMON THREAD CAN USE TO JOIN THE CLASS FOR FREE.

LINK TO REGISTER: HTTPS://WWW.STUDIOTWOTHREE.ORG/CLASSES/P/V7COX86RQLQTXQ6S6A8LAR3X5XVL29?UTM_MEDIUM=ORDER-SUMMARY&UTM_SOURCE=ORDER-STATUS&UTM_CONTENT=IMAGE

MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST:
NELLY KATE (SHE/HER) IS A STUDIO ARTIST WITH AN EXPANDED PRACTICE IN SOUND, EXPRESSING ITS MATERIAL POWER THROUGH TONES, TAPES, WATER, WOOD, METAL, AND FIBER. HER WORK TAKES THE FORM OF INSTALLATION, PERFORMANCE, AND PRINT. OVER THE PAST DECADE, NELLY HAS EXPERIENCED FLUCTUATIONS BETWEEN LATE-DEAFNESS AND HEARING. THIS INFORMS HER CREATIVE RESEARCH AND INSISTENCE UPON SLOWNESS, THE AWKWARDNESS OF INCLUSION, COLLABORATION, AND REPETITION. WHICH IS TO SAY, SHE CENTERS DISABILITY-LED PERSPECTIVES AND PROJECTS WHILE CONVINCING MORE FOLKS TO LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE WITH HER.

[ID: BOLD FLYER FOR EVENT HAS SAME INFORMATION AS THE POST. THERE’S A ROUNDED SHAPE AT THE BOTTOM, COVERED WITH SWIRLING MARBLED INK THAT SEEMS TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM REPEATED MOTION.]

04/11/2026