Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond Selected to Lead The Link
Richmond Ed Fund has selected Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond (BGCMR) to lead The Link, a citywide effort to ensure every Richmond Public Schools student graduates with an identified postsecondary pathway and the support to step into it. Press Release_ The Link
The Link builds on a decade of college and career access work through the RVA Future Centers, while expanding the model for the world students are graduating into today.
When the Future Centers launched in 2015, postsecondary planning was often centered on college access. Today, the routes to a living wage are broader and more varied, spanning four-year and community colleges, apprenticeships, skilled trades, industry credentials, direct employment and combinations of those paths. Navigating those choices takes more than information. It takes trusted relationships, meaningful exposure and sustained support as students figure out what comes next. Press Release_ The Link
“The Future Centers changed what was possible for Richmond students,” said Toria Edmonds-Howell, EVP of Workforce Pathways at Richmond Ed Fund. “The Link is the next chapter of it. The world our students are stepping into keeps evolving, and our commitment to them has to grow with it.” Press Release_ The Link
The Link will bring that support into all five RPS comprehensive high schools, where dedicated staff will work alongside school counseling teams. A community-based hub at the BGCMR Teen & Community Center will extend access after school, on weekends and through the summer, with additional programming at Club locations across Richmond. Press Release_ The Link
BGCMR brings decades of experience building trusted relationships with young people and families, along with a commitment to career-connected opportunities and helping young people discover what inspires them. Leading The Link will allow that work to extend even further into RPS schools and across the broader community. Press Release_ The Link
For Sean Miller, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond and an RPS graduate, the work is personal.
“My own journey after high school wasn’t linear, and I’ve learned that every young person’s path is different,” Miller said. “What makes the difference isn’t having all the answers at 18. It’s having people who see your potential, believe in what you’re capable of, and continue to show up as you discover what’s next.” Press Release_ The Link
That idea is central to The Link: there is no single right path after high school, but every student should have people who can help them understand their options, navigate decisions and follow through.
“Our students have incredible talent, interests, and aspirations, and we owe it to them to make sure every student understands their options and has the guidance and support to pursue the path that is right for them,” said RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. “The Link will strengthen that support for students and families at school and throughout the community as we work to ensure every RPS graduate is on the path to a choice-filled life.”
The selection of BGCMR marks the next phase of work first introduced this spring. Richmond Ed Fund, BGCMR and RPS are now working together toward the rollout of The Link across Richmond’s comprehensive high schools and community.