Public invited to boombox bike ride led by DJ Bee to celebrate the project’s launch

NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 11, 2025 – The Elizabeth River Trail (ERT) Foundation, a nonprofit supporting Norfolk’s  10.5-mile waterfront trail, will launch an immersive audio storytelling project on Sept. 13. The Truth Be Told Virginia Project will launch the first four of 12 stories along the ERT that invite visitors to listen to personal narratives that connect local contemporary history to some of the trail’s sights.

Coinciding with Black Storytelling Week, the launch will kick off with a Boombox Bike Ride led by DJ Bee along a special route highlighting the trail locations where the first four stories occur. The ride will include stops along the way for participants to meet the storytellers and see the trail in a new light as the region’s history and culture come to life.

The event, a collaboration between the ERT Foundation, Heard Productions and Freshtopia’s Live Fresh Bike Ride, will include DJ Bee and his wife Keja sharing the story of how their boombox rides took shape: “What started off as just a casual ride with my wife has grown to be a community event that brings people together from different backgrounds who share a love of biking,” said DJ Bee, Owner of Freshtopia and leader of the Saturday Live Fresh Boombox Rides.

In curating the trail related stories, Heard Productions Producer Hannah Sobol said, “I love the intimacy in hearing a shared story from a stranger who is actually my neighbor. When people choose to listen, they gain a connection, they fill in some color into an area of their community they might not have been aware of before.”

The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation works with intention to create a trail with something for everyone. “This launch event incorporates the things that make the ERT authentic and uniquely Norfolk. We are so honored to be able to amplify the stories of the people who live, move, work and play along this trail and hope this interactive experience brings a new audience to see all the trail has to offer,” said Kindra Greene, executive director of the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation.

The public is invited to ride, listen and connect through stories that matter. Following are the event details:

Saturday, September 13, 2025

• 10:00 a.m. – Meet up at MacArthur Center Green, (across from the NorVA). Bring your own bike, helmet and bike lock or download the Lime app to rent their electric bikes on site
• 10:30 a.m. – Ride-out approximately 10 miles at a casual pace, with 4 stops along the ERT at Harbor Park, Nauticus, Fort Norfolk and a return to the MacArthur Green
• 12:00 p.m. – Join the post-ride finale party at Freshtopia Record Shop inside MacArthur Mall on the lower level across from Auntie Anne’s pretzels for Q&A with the producers, storytellers, networking, an Elizabeth River Trail resource table, and some fun surprises.

This season of Truth Be Told was funded by a grant to the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation from the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Grant and Virginia Humanities.

If you would like to bring this audio programming to your organization, access the accompanying curriculum for storytelling, or partner with the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation for programming or sponsorship, please email hello@elizabethrivertrail.org.

Media Contact:

Kindra Greene

Executive Director, Elizabeth River Trail Foundation

757-681-1405

kindra.greene@elizabethrivertrail.org

About the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation

The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides the planning, program, and advocacy for the Elizabeth River Trail connecting Naval Station Norfolk to the Virginia Beach Trail. The Elizabeth River Trail runs 10.5 miles through businesses, and historic attractions and is within a 5-minute walk of 28 neighborhoods. The multi-use trail is designed for walking, running, and biking. It comprises 11 sections from Norfolk State University, through Downtown Norfolk and Old Dominion University to NIT Terminals along the Elizabeth River. The Foundation has completed multiple new unique and award-winning amenities, including kayak launches, play sculpture, and a double turbo challenge course in Plum Point