By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Promise, an organization that works to build a culture of postsecondary success in Richmond through scholarships and supportive services, is gearing up to host its “7th Annual Scholar Celebration,” Sat., July 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Richmond Civic Center Plaza. The free-admission, outdoor event is open to all; RSVP here.
The event, which marks the organization’s first return to an in-person Scholar Celebration after a two-year pandemic pause, will usher in its newest cohort of 419 scholarship recipients set to pursue their higher education journeys this fall, per the Richmond Promise. The cohort consists of Richmond youth who will be joining the organization’s “community of local degree and certificate seekers who are supported through a multi-year scholarship and wraparound services.”
Richmond’s Civic Center Plaza will transform into a college quad for the celebration, according the organization, to include a ceremony recognizing members its 7th scholar cohort (12:30 p.m.), as well as the Curbside Kitchen food truck, games/activities, performances, community resources and booths hosted by local colleges and universities such as U.C. Berkeley, Contra Costa College, Berkeley City College, Diablo Valley College, San Francisco State University and others.
Richmond Promise, which launched in 2016, was made possible through Chevron Richmond’s commitment to invest $35 million over a ten year period to fund post-secondary education for Richmond students. Since then, it has supported more than 3,000 Richmond students in their higher educational pursuits and presently serves more than 1,900 scholars—many of whom originate from low-income backgrounds—working toward associate and bachelor degrees and career technical education certifications at 220 colleges and universities nationwide, per the organization.
Christopher Whitmore, executive director of Richmond Promise, said that the organization wants its scholars to know “that there’s an entire city and region that’s supporting their goal of earning a college degree or certification.” He encouraged the community to join the Scholar Celebration “to cheer on our new cohort of students and to participate in our effort to build a culture of postsecondary success in Richmond.”
Richmond’s Civic Center Plaza is located at 440 Civic Center Plaza. For more info or to RSVP for the free-admission event, click here.
