Programs

  • Richmond Promise College Success Initiative

    LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2016, THE RICHMOND PROMISE IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE COLLEGE SUCCESS INITIATIVE TO BUILD A COLLEGE GRADUATING CULTURE IN RICHMOND, CA. THE RICHMOND PROMISE WAS CREATED WITH THE BELIEF THAT ALL RICHMOND STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, REGARDLESS OF RACE, INCOME LEVEL, OR PERSONAL BACKGROUND. WE SEE A DAY WHEN ALL YOUNG PEOPLE IN RICHMOND HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, EXCEL FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO HIGHER EDUCATION, ATTAIN A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE OR CERTIFICATION, THRIVE IN THE FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE, AND BECOME A LEADER OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. THROUGH A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP, COLLABORATIVE CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS, AND SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMING, (CONTINUED ON SCH O )THE RICHMOND PROMISE AIMS TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS IN RICHMOND EXCEL TO AND THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, REACH THEIR CAREER GOALS, AND BECOME CHANGE-MAKING LEADERS IN THE RICHMOND COMMUNITY. THE RICHMOND PROMISE INVESTS DIRECTLY IN OUR STUDENTS' FUTURES THROUGH THE RICHMOND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP. EACH YEAR THEY ARE ENROLLED AT ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 4-YEAR COLLEGE OR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE US, SCHOLARS RECEIVE $1,500, RENEWABLE FOR 4 YEARS. WE STRIVE TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS IN RICHMOND TO REACH THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION GOALS, WHICH IS WHY ANY RICHMOND STUDENT GRADUATING FROM AN ELIGIBLE HIGH SCHOOL CAN ACCESS THE SCHOLARSHIP.WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CITY OF RICHMOND, CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND LOCAL BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS AT THREE KEY MOMENTUM POINTS THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER-PRE-COLLEGE: DURING MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE FOCUS ON BUILDING COLLEGE AWARENESS. WE HIRE CURRENT RICHMOND PROMISE COLLEGE SCHOLARS TO TALK WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AN EFFORT TO PUT THEM ON THE PATH TO COLLEGE AT THIS PIVOTAL AGE. THIS NEAR-PEER MODEL CONNECTS MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO SHARE THE SAME IDENTITIES. THIS SHARED PERSPECTIVE CREATES AN IMMEDIATE TRUST THAT LEADS TO REAL IMPACT.-HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE TRANSITION: IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE, WE FOCUS ON ENSURING COLLEGE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE - IN THE CLASSROOM. - TO WORK ON FINANCIAL AID COMPLETION AND THE RICHMOND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION. OUR SCHOLARSHIP OF $1500 A YEAR CAN BE USED AT ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT 2-YEAR OR 4-YEAR SCHOOL OR CTE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SCHOLARSHIP CAN BE USED TOWARDS THE FULL COST OF ATTENDANCE - INCLUDING TUITION, HOUSING, BOOKS, AND TRANSPORTATION. WE PROVIDE SUMMER SUCCESS WORKSHOPS THROUGH WHICH OUR SCHOLARS LEARN ABOUT HOW TO SUCCEED IN THEIR FIRST YEARS AT SCHOOL.-FIRST YEAR THROUGH COLLEGE SUCCESS: AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL, OUR FOCUS IS ON ACHIEVING A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE, AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH THE RESOURCES, NETWORKS, AND MENTORS TO THRIVE IN THE FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE. WE BUILD FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES, INCLUDING CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE AND BERKELEY CITY COLLEGE, TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL. WE ALSO OFFER INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING TO OUR MOST AT-RISK STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE LEVERAGE THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO PAIR SCHOLARS WITH RICHMOND MENTORS TO START PREPARING FOR THEIR CAREERS.2024 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:* WELCOMED 498 NEW SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024*4205 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDING IN 2016*IN THE FINAL YEAR OF A JOINT-GRANT FROM THE CITY OF RICHMOND DEPARMENT OF CHILDREN & YOUTH, COLLABORATED WITH HEALTH CAREER CONNECTION (HCC) TO PLACE 10 STUDENTS INTO PAID PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNSHIPS IN RICHMOND. PARTICIPANTS SERVED FOR 10 WEEKS AND PROVIDED SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LIFELONG MEDICAL CARE CENTER, HEALTHY CONTRA COSTA AND ROTACARE CLINIC. OVERALL, 27 RP SCHOLARS WERE PLACED IN HCC INTERNSHIPS FOR THIS GRANT, AND SEVERAL OTHERS PARTICIPATED IN OTHER HCC PROGRAMMING AS A RESULT OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.*A FURTHER 55 COMPUTERS WERE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS WHO NEEDED THEM. OVERALL, RICHMOND PROMISE HAS PROVIDED OVER 200 STUDENTS WITH LAPTOPS SINCE 2020.*IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY IN-CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING AND OFFICE HOURS HOSTED AT MULTIPLE WCCUSD SITES, RICHMOND PROMISE'S COLLEGE ACCESS STAFF PARTNERED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST A NUMBER OF COLLEGE AWARENESS AND FINANCIAL AID-RELATED EVENTS THROUGHOUT 2024. THESE EVENTS PROVIDED DEDICATED SPACE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS, ASK QUESTIONS AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM RP STAFF AND OUR PARTNERS. * 12 "CASH FOR COLLEGE" WORKSHOPS * 2 PARENT & FAMILY FINANCIAL AID ID NIGHTS * 10 RP SCHOLARSHIP INFO SESSIONS * 13 COLLEGE & CAREER EVENTS*RICHMOND PROMISE SCHOLARS WHO GRADUATED FROM UC BERKELE IN 2024 GOT A CHANCE TO MEET AND SPEND TIME WITH DALLAS MAVERICKS CEO AND RICHMOND NATIVE CYNT MARSHALL. THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE CAMERON INSTITUTE AND CAL ATHLETICS, RICHMOND PROMISE STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS HOSTED A RECEPTION FOR SCHOLARS THAT FOLLOWED THE MAIN UC BERKELEY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY AT WHICH MARSHALL WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER. GRADUATES GOT TO CHAT WITH MARSHALL, RECEIVED COPIES OF HER BOOK, YOU'VE BEEN CHOSEN, AND CELEBRATED A MOMENTOUS DAY ALONGSIDE THEIR FELLOW RICHMOND GRADUATES.*AS PART OF THE COLLEGE PROMISE NATIONAL CONVENING IN KNOXVILLE, TENN,. RICHMOND PROMISE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WHITMORE WAS NAMED AS ONE OF SIX APPOINTEES TO THE COLLEGE PROMISE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. IN ANNOUNCING THE COUNCIL, COLLEGE PROMISE CEO DR. MARTHA KANTER SAID "THE COLLEGE PROMISE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL REPRESENTS THE BEST OF WHAT THE COLLEGE PROMISE MOVEMENT STANDS FOR DEDICATED LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO GREATER ACCESS AND SOCIAL MOBILITY FOR ALL. THEIR EXPERIENCE AND VISION WILL GUIDE US AS WE EXPAND AND ENHANCE COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE."
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $3.3M