General Assembly to honor Governor Wilder with center aisle Presentation

The General Assembly will recognize the 40th anniversary of Governor Wilder’s historic election as the first African American Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. A center-aisle presentation will take place on Friday, January 17 beginning at Noon. Resolutions will be read in both the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia chambers. This presentation is by invitation-only but will be live streamed for the public. Media is invited to cover this event with registration.

Birthday celebration at Virginia Union University

A special celebration honoring Governor Wilder’s remarkable legacy will take place at the L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource Center on the campus of Virginia Union University, located at 1500 N. Lombardy Street, Richmond, VA 23220. The event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is by invitation only. Media is invited to cover this event with registration. 

Launch of the New Wilder Collection website

As part of the festivities, the new L. Douglas Wilder Library website will be unveiled. This comprehensive digital archive, created through a collaboration between Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and Virginia Union University, highlights key moments from Governor Wilder’s historic career. Visitors to the site will have access to photographs, documentations, and stories that chronicle his extraordinary contributions to civil rights, public service, and the nation’s history. The birthday festivities will also feature the premiere screening of the newly updated documentary, L. Douglas Wilder: Beyond Wilder Dreams.

Jazz Concert Featuring Jonathan Butler and Gerald Albright

The celebration continues Saturday, January 18, 2025, with a special jazz concert presented by JSAFFAIR. Two of Governor Wilder’s favorite artists, Gerald Albright and Jonathan Butler, will perform live at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. 3rd Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The concert begins at 3:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at JSAFFAIR.com, or by calling 804-510-9999.