Heart & Soul, Your Guide to Black Virginia

Jarrell's Norfolk

Jarrell Williams is a storyteller, host, creative marketer, and advocate for positivity, self-worth, and joyful exploration. A father of three, Lennon, Leo, and Tala Joy, Jarrell champions a lifestyle rooted in curiosity, connection, and play alongside his partner, Heidi Joy. 

As the creator of Nomarama, Jarrell has built a culturally influential platform that highlights the authentic joy of travel, nature, food, and community through compelling storytelling and immersive experiences. Jarrell’s on-camera work includes hosting the acclaimed three-season series City With Bite, produced in partnership with the City of Norfolk and VisitNorfolk, which showcases independent restaurants, breweries, and culinary culture across the region.

Beyond the screen, Jarrell has spent years working in marketing and advertising for Visit Virginia and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) across the country, crafting campaigns that generate visibility, tourism growth, and community engagement through authentic content and local partnerships. His work spans creative strategy, brand storytelling, content production, event curation, and experiential campaigns that celebrate local culture and small businesses.

Norfolk

Chrysler Museum of Art

T he Chrysler Museum  is home to fifty galleries and a  one-of-a-kind  glass studio.  The best part  is that  it's  all free .  

Norfolk

NEON District

Norfolk’s arts district is where the city’s creative side shines. It’s home to over 80 pieces of public art, unique restaurants, and local businesses.

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Norfolk

Norfolk Botanical Garden

The Norfolk Botanical Garden is a year-round escape into nature, perfect for a family outing.

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Soiree

This Black-owned restaurant in the NEON district offers a new twist on coastal classics.

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Norfolk

Three Ships Coffee

A must-stop for coffee lovers, Three Ships Coffee serves up expertly crafted brews in a bright, modern space—perfect for a slow morning or mid-day reset.

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Paris

Richmond

Born and raised in Richmond, Paris is a flight attendant by day and a full-time Content Creator whose creativity never really turns off. For someone who travels daily for a living, coming home to RVA always feels like a “big hug after a long stretch of time away.” She’s had the chance to see the world and truly enjoys being immersed in other cultures and expanding her worldview, but the 804 will always be her home.

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Matt

Charlottesville

A resident of Charlottesville, Matt Harmon spent the past 5 years developing a love of wine. As his passion for wine developed, he wanted to share that passion with family and friends. As he did so, he noticed people’s preconceived ideas about wine, and who “should” drink wine and sought to change this perception. And thus, his entrepreneurial journey with Harmony Wine was born. Matt challenges the perception of who and what wine drinkers should be in his everyday life—sometimes he drinks wine in a suit, sometimes he kicks back and drinks his wine wearing his joggers.

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Xavier

Roanoke

Xavier Tramaine Duckett is a community leader, artist, entrepreneur, traveler, and mentor based in Roanoke, VA, where he was raised in a culture of service, generosity, and love for community. In 2015, Xavier moved back to Roanoke after finishing his football career at ODU, with the mission to not only give back to his community, but to uplift it. He recognized the need for local youth empowerment programs and founded nonprofit The Humble Hustle Co. with that in mind. Xavier has leveraged his diverse background to impact youth and inspire others. His work continues to uplift his community and its members.

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