Richmond Promise

TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION.

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, 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.