Carver promise aims to unite VCU, community, improve education

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.