The Valentine Richmond History Center announces the next discussion in a series of monthly public meetings as part of the Future of Richmond's Past initiative, a local effort to engage audiences in a dialogue about the region's past and how that past can positively shape our future.  This year boasts a broad range of topics ranging from the Civil War to civil rights.  The next event will be hosted by the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia at Magnolia Grange on Thursday, March 1 from 6-8 p.m.  Magnolia Grange is a house museum that interprets life at a 19th-century country plantation and is located at 10020 Iron Bridge Road in Chesterfield.

The guest speaker is George Fickett who serves as a geographic information specialist for Chesterfield County.  He is one of the area’s foremost experts on the Bermuda Hundred Campaign which was a series of battles fought during May of 1864 in the American Civil War. Fickett’s preservation efforts have led to the establishment of seven Civil War parks and he was a contributor to the 58-page book “Bermuda Hundred Campaign: A Tour Guide” that was published in 2009.  The presentation will consist of the historical details around the series of battles and the audience will incorporate the information into their break-out discussions.

The event is open to the public and will be facilitated by Matthew Freeman of TMI Consulting, who will use technology to gather anonymous data from the audience in real time.  The agenda includes a review of the survey results, the speaker presentation and a facilitated group conversation.

"The more people that join in the conversation, the more productive our efforts become, and the easier it will be for people to see themselves in the history of the region," said Bill Martin, Executive Director at the Valentine Richmond History Center.

The event is sponsored by the Valentine Richmond History Center, Future of Richmond’s Past, Leadership Metro Richmond and the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.