Northside Partners
Our Partners – Northside Initiative for Older Youth
These five nonprofits, all serving Richmond’s Northside, are in the second year of a collaborative venture to help older youth transition successfully to adulthood. The Community Foundation provides annual grants to support their work related to the Northside Initiative for Older Youth, as described below.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond
The Capital One Unit is providing mentoring and transition support services for members who are 7th and 8th graders at Henderson Middle School. The goal is to provide positive connections between youth and adults, and to prepare participants for transition to high school.
F.I.R.S.T. Contractors
This workforce development organization provides employment training, apprenticeship opportunities and a life skills development program for young adults, ages 16-21, who are transitioning out of the foster care and/or juvenile justice systems. The goal is to increase the employability of the youth by providing apprenticeships, targeted follow-up services and job coaching.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
The College supports the mission of the initiative by providing a career coach and supporting activities for 200 youth identified by the Northside Initiative partners. The coach visits each partner agency weekly to provide individualized coaching sessions, career planning and exploration workshops, and field trips.
North Richmond YMCA
The North Richmond YMCA provides a teen program with organized activities, study groups and tutoring sessions for participants. This branch serves an average of 257 teens monthly. This year, the Leaders Club will organize a service project to engage all Northside Initiative partners and the youth they serve.
William Byrd Community House
William Byrd helps to teach career readiness and youth development skills to 18 to 24 year olds who are currently not in school. While in the program, participants receive training, career case management and job placement assistance. Once they graduate from the program, they will receive ongoing case management and further assistance with education and career placement for one year. Participants are also encouraged to enroll in J. Sargeant Reynolds’ Middle College, a college entry program for 18-24 year olds who have dropped out of high school.