As part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations this year, the nonprofit education and preservation organization known as the Mosby Heritage Area Association has thoroughly reviewed how the organization can ensure the continued protection of the area's extraordinary landscape and its history in the next quarter-century. After extensive discussions, the Board of Directors has decided to retire the organization's name and adopt one that more accurately captures the broad scope of its mission to highlight all the diverse history, from the time of the Native Americans through the twentieth century, that has taken place in the Heritage Area. The organization will now be known as the "Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association" (VPHA).

"Our mission of Preservation Through Education is as important today as ever," said C. Dulany Morison, the Chair of the Heritage Area Association. "We are committed to examining every aspect of our complex history to develop a deeper understanding of our past, foster constructive dialogue, and preserve the area's unique beauty."

The Heritage Area Association will continue to offer student and adult education programs that ask thought-provoking questions, address history's painful truths, and provide a scholarly context of our local history. Since the onset of COVID-19 restrictions, the Heritage Area Association has offered digital remote learning resources several days a week. The reach of these programs has been remarkable. People from across the country have engaged with our history through virtual historic site tours, Zoom panel discussions with noted historians, and Facebook Live events.

The President of the Heritage Area Association, Jennifer Moore, who has long served the organization, said, "We have spent a considerable amount of time explaining that our focus goes far beyond just the Civil War. With the name change, our broad mission will now be far more apparent to those unfamiliar with our organization."

The future of the Heritage Area is bright. The three fulltime staff and eighteen Directors are excited to announce "Piedmont Crossroads," a project that will explore the past 500 years of history in the Heritage Area. The project will include comprehensive programs done in partnership with other local organizations to share our knowledge. The Board of Directors of the Heritage Area Association encourages everyone to visit www.piedmontheritage.org and follow the organization on social media to learn about their virtual and in-person offerings and continue supporting their vital mission done for twenty-five years.

"The amount of varied history in the Heritage Area is endless," Jennifer Moore said, "and we look forward to delving deeper into its extraordinary history."