Meet Tameka Jefferson, the Community Relations Manager for Richmond Region Tourism, the region’s destination marketing organization. Tameka also manages the day-to-day operations of BLK RVA and OutRVA.

Her responsibilities involve collaborating with community partners behind the scenes and devising strategies to engage business owners, fostering connections between them and visitors and residents. When asked about her motivation to work for Richmond Region Tourism, she said, “Richmond Region Tourism promotes the region as a welcoming and inclusive place to visit and play. As an avid traveler and Richmond lover, I was excited to join an organization that works to showcase our wonderful businesses, attractions, hotels, and events to the rest of the world.”  

Tameka believes that OutRVA and BLK RVA, Richmond Region Tourism’s community-led initiatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion, benefit from the free marketing and promotional opportunities provided on Richmond Region Tourism’s website and social media platforms. Additionally, she values the ability to utilize Richmond Region Tourism’s platform to uplift hospitality and tourism businesses and events while also facilitating connections between business owners and valuable resources to enhance their capacity and engage both visitors and residents.

When asked about her favorite aspects of working with OutRVA and BLK RVA, Tameka highlights the relationships she builds with local business owners and partners, as well as the satisfaction of seeing the outcome of their efforts through the perspective of our community and visitors. She further emphasizes the significance of supporting small businesses, not only during special occasions or significant moments but consistently throughout the year. These businesses drive our economy and are vital to the overall quality of life in our community. Tameka states, “There are a ton of places to visit, businesses to patronize, and experiences to enjoy – and we owe it all to our dope business owners and event planners. They are the essence of what makes this region vibrant, gritty, and thriving and the reason why the Richmond Region is featured in several travel magazines!” 

Finally, Tameka reminds visitors and locals to support Richmond’s small businesses and to immerse themselves in our vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming culture. So, GO OUT and explore! 

To learn more about Tameka's work with OutRVA, please visit our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook.