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Richmond, VA – Today, Mayor Levar Stoney announced that the City of Richmond’s increased investments in out-of-school time programming for Richmond’s youth are paying off. Out-of-school (OST) time covers the gamut of youth programming that occurs during the 80 percent of time that children are not in school. Research shows that increased access to quality OST programming prevents incidents of youth violence through positive youth development and improve school attendance, behavior, and completion.
Since 2017, the City’s investments in OST have increased and expanded, which have resulted in:
• 35 fewer kids shot in 2023 than in 2017 – a 64 percent decrease
• 62 fewer kids involved in violent incidents in 2023 than in 2017 – a 40 percent decrease
• 20 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism at Richmond Public Schools since in-person learning resumed in 2021 (RPS)
“I know that some have questioned whether the millions of dollars we invested in out-of-school time would pay off – but I am incredibly proud that we fought for these investments year after year,” said Mayor Stoney. “Our kids deserve the absolute best – and it is our job to provide them with quality experiences for the 80 percent of time they are not in school. It is my hope that the next Mayor of Richmond will continue this progress for our kids and their families.”
Since 2017, the City has increased its investment in RPS by 58 percent. However, the City also invested in its own agencies and non-profit partners to help bolster opportunities for youth. As a result, the City has now expanded affordable, full-service, quality school-based afterschool programs to every RPS elementary and middle school. Through this effort, over 500 new slots were added across RPS.
Furthermore, the City has also:
• Nearly tripled its non-departmental allocations to youth program providers since 2017
• Increased funding for Parks and Recreation youth programming by 84 percent since 2017
• Expanded library hours, offering programs after school and on weekends
• Grown the Mayor’s Youth Academy to serve more than 500 youth
• Launched the We Matter Program, to support middle schoolers who have experienced gun violence
• Established the Positive Youth Development Fund, partnering with NextUp RVA, to serve youth ages 11-19
“It is truly gratifying to share the positive impact that the City’s investment in families, young people, and children has made. By prioritizing positive youth development, the city is demonstrating how investing in a child’s future can reduce negative behaviors, crime, and other issues that arise when young people lack constructive activities,” said Torey Edmonds, Community Outreach Coordinator for the VCU Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development. “These initiatives not only provide young people with opportunities to explore hobbies, engage in activities, and cultivate their natural talents, but they also strengthen and build capacity within the communities they serve. It’s important to understand that investing in prevention will always yield better results than trying to address a problem after it has occurred.”
“Community wealth building starts and ends with investing in people,” said Dr. Thad Williamson, Professor of Leadership Studies and Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law at the University of Richmond. “Ten years ago, as an integral part of its anti-poverty initiative, the City of Richmond began a partnership with NextUp RVA to support high-quality out-of-school time activities for RPS middle school students. The City did so because it recognized the adolescent years as a critical period of human development, and because we wanted to connect our amazing kids to the incredible community resources our city has to offer. In a decade, these partnerships have evolved from a pilot at a single school to a rich network of agencies and providers that are enriching kids’ lives and supporting the success of families. Long may this work continue and prosper—because our kids need and deserve nothing less than the best!”
Today, Mayor Stoney also announced that the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services awarded the City of Richmond a Safer Communities Program Grant of just over $3.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025. With state support, the City will:
• Partner with YWCA Richmond to plan for Richmond’s first-ever Family Justice Center that will provide a safe, confidential, and welcoming place to aid survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault
• Hire a Latino Youth Outreach Coordinator to work within the new Department of Neighborhood and Community Services in partnership with the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement
• Expand the RVA Reads program at Richmond Public Libraries
• Fund a Parks and Recreation mentorship program in Gilpin Court
• Fund quality improvement, data management, and expansion of programming for youth aged 11-19 through NextUp RVA
• Support ongoing engagement of We Matter youth through Parks and Recreation as youth transition to high school
• Enhance the Mayor’s Youth Academy, which provides work-based learning opportunities to youth aged 14-24
• Support the third annual Teen Summit RVA
• Enhance family engagement and youth credible messenger initiatives through the Department of Justice Services
The $3.5 million grant adds to the $3.7 million in Fiscal Year 2025 from the City of Richmond to non-profit partners supporting OST programming, and to the $13.8 million in Parks and Recreation’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget that supports youth programming.
Watch the full livestream of the press conference, here.
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