Built With Pride: A Q&A with Richmond ToolBank's Kayla Telleria

This summer, Richmond ToolBank, Virginia Pride, and OutRVA teamed up for a hands-on volunteer project with a lasting impact. Together, volunteers built and painted a series of Pride-themed picnic tables that have been installed in parks and community spaces throughout the Richmond region, adding colorful, welcoming gathering places for residents and visitors alike. The project combined creativity, teamwork, and community service while supporting a shared goal of making Richmond's public spaces more inclusive. We spoke with Kayla Telleria, Marketing Coordinator at Richmond ToolBank, about how the partnership came together, what the project meant to their organization, and why initiatives like this matter beyond Pride Month.

Q: For readers who may not be familiar with Richmond ToolBank, can you tell us a little about your organization, its mission, and the role it plays in supporting nonprofits and community projects throughout the Richmond region? 

A: The Richmond ToolBank is a nonprofit organization dedicated to lending tools and equipment to community-based organizations and volunteers. Our extensive inventory features over 10,000 tools, all aimed at supporting our mission to empower ambitious goals for community initiatives and their members. By borrowing tools & equipment from The ToolBank, community organizations & volunteers can significantly increase their volunteer capacity and concentrate on their essential work. As an affiliate of ToolBank USA, we are part of a locally delivered network advancing community resilience through shared resources. ToolBank is a capacity builder and force multiplier, allowing our partners to focus their energy on the heart of their mission. In addition to our flagship program, we lead our ToolBox workshop and Building Change volunteer program revolving around tool training & community empowerment. 

Q: How did the Pride picnic table project come about, and what inspired Richmond ToolBank to get involved in creating these colorful community gathering spaces? 

A: We normally conduct Building Change events with volunteers assembling outdoor furniture of their choice. When VA Pride and Richmond Region Tourism suggested a unique Building Change opportunity by painting LGBTQ+ pride flags on outdoor picnic tables and building them, we quickly embraced the chance to be a part of something bigger than ourselves for our community. Because this event aligns with our mission -- providing tools, equipment, and expertise to empower ambitious goals -- we didn't hesitate to contribute to this initiative. 

Q: Can you walk us through the project itself? How many volunteers participated, what was involved in building and painting the tables, and where will they ultimately be placed throughout the community? 

A: Most of our Building Change events last up to 4 hours. This particular event went by semi-fast because we split the group in half for painting and building. We hosted 23 volunteers at Richmond ToolBank to build a total of three picnic tables and to paint five pre-assembled picnic tables for donation to Diversity Richmond and local parks. The overall event was high-spirited, with everyone contributing to the careful design and drilling of the pieces. These picnic tables will be placed at the Virginia Pride Festival in September and will remain in our community's local parks. 

Q: Partnerships often start with a simple conversation. How did Richmond ToolBank and OutRVA come together on this project, and what made this collaboration a good fit for both organizations? 

A: At The ToolBank, we have served over 700 community member organizations and are always open to collaborations to build lasting change in our community alongside other community leaders. James Millner from VA Pride initially reached out to discuss partnering with OutRVA, a part of Richmond Region Tourism, through our Building Change team-building volunteer program. From there, we connected with the wonderful folks at Richmond Region Tourism (Cheers to Tameka & Grantland for spearheading this!) and came up with a creative project that their OutRVA group would do for their team-building service project. We are grateful to be a part of this partnership and happy that these hand-built and painted tables by volunteers will be prominently featured for our community to enjoy at local Richmond parks and green spaces. 

Q: Pride is ultimately about visibility, belonging, and community. What message do you hope these picnic tables send to LGBTQ+ residents and visitors who encounter them around Richmond? 

A: We hope to spread kindness, inclusion, and equitable landmarks with these vibrant picnic tables for the community and visitors who encounter them. 

Q: What does this project mean to Richmond ToolBank personally and professionally? Are there aspects of the project that stood out to your team or volunteers during the building process?

A: This project has uniquely and impactfully contributed to our mission of creating a more vibrant and equitable community for all. What stood out to our team during the building process was the resilience, dedication, and willingness to volunteer demonstrated at our warehouse by Diversity Richmond and Richmond Region Tourism. Every volunteer smiled, knowing these furniture components would create a brighter, safer space for Richmond residents and the LGBTQ+ community. 

Q: Looking beyond the tables themselves, what impact do you hope this project will have on the broader Richmond community, and what does creating more inclusive public spaces mean to you? 

A: We hope this project highlights the impact of hands-on volunteering, creativity, and unity when groups join forces to give back. Creating more inclusive public spaces brings diversity and vibrancy to our city. 

The completed tables are just one example of what can happen when local organizations work together to invest in their community. Keep an eye out for the Pride picnic tables at Alice Fitz Community Garden, Broad Street Pollinator Park, Bill Robinson Park, Fonticello Park, and Midtown Green. Visit www.richmondtoolbank.org to learn more about Richmond ToolBank's work, volunteer opportunities, and how you can get involved.