Commonwealth Times

Media Credit: Rachel Larue [Click to enlarge]

Within the brightly colored walls of Carver Elementary School sit two nondescript rooms. To outsiders, they might look like just a set of offices. But for Carver children, this is a place where dreams are promised.

These are the offices of Carver Promise, a project for first-, second- and third-graders. The program pledges that students will receive mentoring with their coursework and help in applying for college.

VCU, along with J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the University of Richmond and Virginia Union University, helps keep that promise. VCU provides student mentors who work with Carver students on reading, math and other skills.

Under its Division of Community Engagement, the university established the Carver-VCU Partnership 12 years ago. Its goal is to improve the quality of life for Carver residents through projects ranging from the Carver Promise to back-to-school drives and home beautification campaigns.

The partnership gives VCU students an opportunity to become engaged in the neighborhood, said Brenda Drew, the executive director for Carver Promise.

Drew relies heavily on VCU students to run the mentoring program and thinks volunteering is an important part of education.

"(By volunteering) college kids have a great opportunity to expose themselves in terms of maturing," she said. "They're growing intellectually. It's very self-fulfilling."

Most of the students at Carver Elementary are from Gilpin Court, the largest and oldest public housing development in Richmond.

According to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Gilpin Court has 764 households with roughly 1,130 children younger than 18. Around 700 households are headed by single females with an average annual household income of $8,076.

Children from the area often lack access to resources, such as the Internet. VCU's Division of Community Engagement provides a computer lab at the Ackell Residence Center, a dorm located in the Carver neighborhood. The lab is not only for Carver Elementary students, but it also serves other members of the Carver community, as well.

Ronald Brown, the community development coordinator for the Carver-VCU Partnership, thinks the project helps bring together the community and the university, which sometimes seem like adversaries.

"It's nice when we could work hand-inhand and minimize that barrier between us," Brown said.

Tiffany Jones, a VCU sophomore majoring in fashion design, volunteers as a computer lab monitor for the Carver- VCU Partnership. She thinks the partnership is necessary for the university and the community.

"Some have the impression that VCU is taking over the area. It's really important that VCU shows a more caring side. If we're going to be in their space, at least do something to … help out the community," Jones said. "VCU definitely has the resources."

The newest class of 76 first- and second-graders was inducted into the Carver Promise on Oct. 3.

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It's not too late to volunteer

The Carver Promise is still looking for students to volunteer as mentors. Interested students must commit for a minimum of one school year and volunteer at least one hour a week. The program provides mentor orientation and training.

For more information, contact Casey Rogers at crogers@carverpromise.org.

Article Tools

Media Credit: Rachel Larue [Click to enlarge]

Within the brightly colored walls of Carver Elementary School sit two nondescript rooms. To outsiders, they might look like just a set of offices. But for Carver children, this is a place where dreams are promised.

These are the offices of Carver Promise, a project for first-, second- and third-graders. The program pledges that students will receive mentoring with their coursework and help in applying for college.

VCU, along with J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the University of Richmond and Virginia Union University, helps keep that promise. VCU provides student mentors who work with Carver students on reading, math and other skills.

Under its Division of Community Engagement, the university established the Carver-VCU Partnership 12 years ago. Its goal is to improve the quality of life for Carver residents through projects ranging from the Carver Promise to back-to-school drives and home beautification campaigns.

The partnership gives VCU students an opportunity to become engaged in the neighborhood, said Brenda Drew, the executive director for Carver Promise.

Drew relies heavily on VCU students to run the mentoring program and thinks volunteering is an important part of education.

"(By volunteering) college kids have a great opportunity to expose themselves in terms of maturing," she said. "They're growing intellectually. It's very self-fulfilling."

Most of the students at Carver Elementary are from Gilpin Court, the largest and oldest public housing development in Richmond.

According to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Gilpin Court has 764 households with roughly 1,130 children younger than 18. Around 700 households are headed by single females with an average annual household income of $8,076.

Children from the area often lack access to resources, such as the Internet. VCU's Division of Community Engagement provides a computer lab at the Ackell Residence Center, a dorm located in the Carver neighborhood. The lab is not only for Carver Elementary students, but it also serves other members of the Carver community, as well.

Ronald Brown, the community development coordinator for the Carver-VCU Partnership, thinks the project helps bring together the community and the university, which sometimes seem like adversaries.

"It's nice when we could work hand-inhand and minimize that barrier between us," Brown said.

Tiffany Jones, a VCU sophomore majoring in fashion design, volunteers as a computer lab monitor for the Carver- VCU Partnership. She thinks the partnership is necessary for the university and the community.

"Some have the impression that VCU is taking over the area. It's really important that VCU shows a more caring side. If we're going to be in their space, at least do something to … help out the community," Jones said. "VCU definitely has the resources."

The newest class of 76 first- and second-graders was inducted into the Carver Promise on Oct. 3.

---

It's not too late to volunteer

The Carver Promise is still looking for students to volunteer as mentors. Interested students must commit for a minimum of one school year and volunteer at least one hour a week. The program provides mentor orientation and training.

For more information, contact Casey Rogers at crogers@carverpromise.org.

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