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About The Community Initiative
What’s The Need
The Josephine City Historic District is the site of several 19th-century buildings constructed by emancipated slaves on land purchased in Clarke County, Virginia. The properties have remained in the families of the descendants of the original settlers of Josephine City, now located within the Town of Berryville. Josephine Street has recently been the venue for Annual Juneteenth Celebrations.
The VMVLA is seeking to aid this effort by asking members who are interested in providing legal assistance to contact Susan French, who is the contact point for the legal effort to save the district. We are also collecting donations to support the project, including designating the Project as the MLK Day CLE charitable option.
About Organization
The Virginia Mountain/Valley Lawyers' Alliance (VMVLA) is all about practicing law in the Mountain/Valley Region of Virginia (Circuits 10, 16, and 20-30) and working to meet the needs of attorneys whose practices are not centered on the major urban areas of the state. We also serve Virginia Attorneys Aboard, those with addresses of record outside the Commonwealth, and Virginia Associates -- flatlanders and coastal dwellers who have small practices similar to those of the Mountain/Valley Region.
Below are some charitable causes the VMVLA has supported through member donations for CLEs and Fundraising Campaigns.
A Little Donation Goes a Long Way
How you can help and support the charitable project - Josephine City Historic District.
Early in the 1870's African Americans established Josephine City, a community originally composed of 31 one-acre lots lining a 16-foot-wide street. Twenty-four former slaves and free blacks purchased the lots at $100 an acre from Ellen McCormick, owner of Clermont Farm. The street and the community were probably named after a former slave at Clermont, Josephine Williams, purchaser of two lots. By 1900, Josephine City had become an oasis for the county’s African Americans and was a self-sufficient community with a school, grocery store, gas station, boarding house, restaurant, cemetery, churches, and numerous residents. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
We seek support for our efforts in the Josephine City Historic District. This historic area is essential in our community, representing a rich tapestry of our shared history and heritage. Regardless of size, every contribution helps us take another step toward our shared vision of maintaining the Josephine City Historic District. The VMVLA is seeking to aid this effort by asking members who are interested in providing legal assistance to contact Susan French, who is the contact point for the legal effort to save the district. We are also collecting donations to support the project, including designating the Project as the MLK Day CLE charitable option.
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Nominate a Local Charity
We invite you to nominate a local charity for support by the VMVLA. The organization must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization and primarily focus on providing legal services, supporting access to justice, improving educational programs related to civics and citizenship, or promoting general social welfare.
VMVLA Charitable Donations
Charitable causes that the VMVLA has supported through member donations for CLEs and Fundraising Campaigns.
