By Kathy Chouteau
The West Contra Costa Unified School District and EnrollWCC are partnering to host the virtual “2021 West Contra Costa Education Fair,” Jan. 16-23 with the dual aim of providing parents/caregivers a chance to explore their children’s individual needs, as well as showcasing myriad opportunities available in West Contra Costa Schools.
By attending virtual sessions, families can meet school representatives and participate in panel discussions surrounding topics like special education, African American student achievement, dual language immersion, mental health services, various high school and middle school options and more.
According to organizers, more than 90 school and community leaders will be participating on session panels and more than 350 West Contra Costa community members have already registered to attend.
By Kathy Chouteau
A promise made is a promise kept. Amid a challenging year that drastically changed academic landscapes across the country, the Richmond Promise welcomed its largest class of scholars ever.
In total, 503 new Richmond and North Richmond students joined the organization’s scholar network of 1,500 scholars across 100-plus college campuses nationwide, according to Richmond Promise Executive Director Jessie Stewart.
The Richmond Promise’s mission is to build a college graduating culture in Richmond. The program provides a $1,500 annual scholarship that is renewable for up to four years to high school seniors in Richmond pursuing degrees at a two-year or four-year college, or a Career Technical Education Certificate at any not-for-profit institution in the U.S. The Richmond Promise was created 2015 from a $35 million, 10-year investment by Chevron Richmond.
Volunteers serve up holiday cheer to neighbors in need with Christmas dinners and Walmart gift cards at Independent Community Church at 605 S. 16th St. in Richmond on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. (Photo credit: Mike Kinney)
On Macdonald Ave. Tuesday, hundreds of “boxes of hope” containing Christmas dinners were handed out to community members in need. Meanwhile on Bissell Ave., families got books along with their frozen turkeys and pies. And over on S. 16th St., donated Christmas dinners came with gift cards.
Such events came at a critical time for community members facing mounting economic hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic.
For years, the Richmond community has fostered a reputation for banding together to support neighbors experiencing difficult times. The city’s residents, businesses, government agencies, schools, nonprofits and religious organizations collaborate annually on charitable giveaways. Efforts amid an unrelenting pandemic, however, have come with a heightened se
By Mike Kinney
Santa Claus came early for dozens of students at Downer Elementary in Richmond.
Today, three Santas (who also happen to be employees of the West Contra Costa Unified School District), hopped on First Student School buses and drove to 46 homes in Richmond and San Pablo to deliver gifts to students in Downer Elementary’s three kindergarten classes.
It’s an annual tradition. Every year since 1998, the WCCUSD Business Services team “adopts” one Iron Triangle neighborhood school’s kindergarten class. The team’s employees purchase a gift between $15 and $25 for the students. They rotate schools every year, and this year was Downer’s turn, WCCUSD spokesperson Robert Jordan said.