Richmond loves wondering what's wrong with itself, and how to make it right. Even more so, we like talking about it, often paying heavily for it, and binding our thoughts into pretty, hard-bound reports. That is, until we get the urge -- or a grant -- to talk some more. Naturally, a lot of the talking is by a lot of the same people.

Too bad those people don't turn more often to the people whose actions speak louder than words. The people who are perhaps too young for country club backrooms, too busy for closed-door powerfests, too interested in the trees to wonder how to amass bigger forests.

These are the people we look for every year to fill the new class of Style Weekly's Top 40 Under 40. They are the voices to which Richmond should listen more carefully. They're paying attention to the changes truly needed in the community. And we hope you're paying attention to them. — Jason Roop

Click on the pictures below for more info about each Top 40 recipient.

On the Air
Click here to see Ryan Nobles interview Chris Barras and Osita Iroegbu on NBC12.
Click here to watch Sam Brock interview recipient Lori Pasternak on CBS 6.

 

Osita Iroegbu, 30
PR and Marketing Manager
Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority

Tom Lappas, 33
Publisher
Henrico Citizen

Lawson Wijesooriya, 30
Executive Director
Blue Sky Fund

Christian Munson, 38
Account Supervisor
CRT/tanaka

Alan Hutson, 36
Principal
The Monument Group

Adria Scharf, 38
Executive Director
Richmond Peace Education Center

Andrew K. Clark, 35
Partner
LeClairRyan

Billy Christopher Maupin, 30
Actor, Director, Publications Manager
Theatre IV

Christina Cain, 37
Manager
New Visions New Ventures

Daniel JosAc CustA"dio, 32
Poet, Teacher
Richmond Public Schools

Angela W. Patton, 38
Founder
Camp Diva

Blue Crump, 36
Founder and Principal
Cityspace Construction and Urban Grid Solar

Jessica Braum, 30
Co-Owner
Echelon Event Management

Chris Barras, 34
Lead Pastor
Area 10 Faith Community

James Ricks, 36
Artistic Director
Henley Street Theatre Company

Dia Nichols, 36
Chief Executive Officer
HCA-John Randolph Medical Center

Emily Ferlis, 30
Program Development Specialist
VCU's Literacy Institute

Jennifer Miller, 35
Communications and Training Manager
AECom

Corey Widmer, 33
Associate Pastor, Third Presbyterian
Co-Pastor, East End Fellowship

Jamie Radtke, 36
President
Richmond Tea Party

Lori Pasternak, 37
Veterinary Surgeon
Helping Hands Veterinary Surgical
and Dental Care

Dr. Danny Avula, 31
Deputy Director Richmond Health District
Virginia Department of Health

Jack Brandt, 31
Disability Policy Specialist
Partnership for People with Disabilities, VCU

Stacy Hawkins Adams, 39
Author, Columnist, Speaker
Claywork Enterprises LLC

Jonah Holland, 37
PR and Marketing Coordinator
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Peter Farrell, 27
Founding Member
Recast Energy LLC

Meghan Ely, 29
President
OFD Consulting

Joe'i Chancellor, 38
Activist, Founder
The Links

Randy Lee Wilson, 29
Business Development Specialist
National Counseling Group

Ryan N. Burnette, 32
Director
Alliance Biosciences

Kysha Banks, 34
Mental Health Therapist
The Daily Planet

Michael J. Cassidy, 39
Founder
Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis

Rosalinda Rivera, 38
Executive Director
New Life For Youth

Kevin Clay, 27
Founder and Editor
GayRVA.com

Nicole Pries, 38
Trauma Response Program Manager
ChildSavers

Vincent Ellis White, 30
Benefits Specialist
Richmond Department of Social Services

John Fernandez, 34
Chief Executive
Daystar Desserts

Tabatha M. Spurlock, 30
Coordinator, Henrico Country Public Schools
Founder, Spark of Life

Amanda Davis-Holloway, 30
Teacher
Armstrong High School

Chris Mooney, 38
Men's Basketball Coach
University of Richmond