Education
Spiders mentor and support Richmond's educational landscape in many different ways. If you'd like to engage with one of these organizations, please complete the interest form.
Community Relationships
In-School
CodeRVA Regional High School
CodeRVA is an innovative high school that offers a specialized curriculum focused on computer science and coding, preparing students for careers in technology-related fields.
Explore Opportunities at CodeRVA
Communities in Schools
Communities in Schools (CIS) is a nationwide organization that partners with schools to provide support services, resources, and mentoring to at-risk students, helping them succeed academically and in life.
Explore Opportunities at CIS
Read to Them
Read to Them believes in the transformational power of reading aloud to children.
Explore Opportunities at Read to Them
Richmond Public Schools
Richmond Public Schools (RPS) is the local school district responsible for providing education to the students of Richmond, offering a range of programs and services to support their academic growth.
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Out of School
AMP! Metro Richmond
AMP! Metro Richmond is a one-to-one mentoring program operating in T.C. Boushall Middle School in Richmond’s Southside.
Explore Opportunities at AMP! Metro Richmond
Armstrong Leadership Program
The Armstrong Leadership Program focuses on leadership development, academic support, and community engagement for students attending Armstrong High School in Richmond.
Explore Opportunities at Armstrong Leadership Program
Girls for a Change
Girls for a Change empowers young girls by providing programs and support that promote leadership, self-confidence, and social change within their communities.
Explore Opportunities at Girls for a Change
Girls Like Me
Girls Like Me is a mentoring organization whose mission is to empower girls and young women of all backgrounds to achieve self-actualization by providing mentorship, education, and resources that help girls and women increase their self-esteem and self-efficacy.
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Henrico Education Foundation
The Henrico Education Foundation works to enhance educational opportunities for students in Henrico County by providing resources, grants, and programs that enrich the learning experience.
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MENTOR Virginia
MENTOR Virginia is an organization that promotes and supports mentoring programs across the state, connecting mentors with young people to provide guidance, support, and positive role models.
Explore Opportunities at MENTOR Virginia
Peter Paul
Peter Paul provides comprehensive programs and services to empower residents of Richmond's East End, with a focus on education, community development, and family support.
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Special Olympics of Virginia
Special Olympics of Virginia offers sports training and competition opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, promoting inclusion, health, and community involvement.
Explore Opportunities at Special Olympics of Virginia
Tuckahoe YMCA
Tuckahoe YMCA offers a variety of programs, including youth development initiatives, fitness activities, and community engagement opportunities.
Explore Opportunities at Tuckahoe YMCA
Youth Life of Richmond
Youth Life of Richmond provides academic support and mentoring to children in under-resourced communities, helping them achieve their full potential.
Explore Opportunities at Youth Life
Rise Richmond
Rise Richmond connects K–8 students with a network of trusted adults, local professionals, and peers for recreation, spiritual development, homework help, and skill building.
Explore Opportunities at Rise Richmond
Podium RVA
Podium RVA offers public speaking and communication training to young people, empowering them with essential skills to succeed in school, work, and life.
Explore Opportunities at Podium RVA
Campus Connections
Pathways to a College Experience (PACE)
PACE (Pathways to a College Experience) on-campus tours, hosted by student volunteers, expose elementary and middle school students to the possibility of a college education.
Scholars' Latino Initiative (SLI)
The Scholars' Latino Initiative, SLI for short, is an organization that pairs current UR students with Latinx high school students from the Richmond City area. This mentorship goes beyond supplemental academic help because UR students are prepping these students for college and beyond. Led by Dr. Kaufman in the Leadership School, SLI has helped Latinx students keep their passion for learning and continue their education at a four year university or junior college. SLI is open to any UR student that is motivated to shape the new generation of Latinx leaders in the Richmond area. Mentors do not have to be Latinx, and Spanish is not required.
Relevant Courses
EDUC 217 Foundations of Education
Introduction to the American educational system. Explores the philosophical, sociological, historical, and political roots of schools today. Attention also given to the legal status of teachers and students, including federal and state laws and regulations, school as an organization/culture, and contemporary issues in education including the use of relevant data in instructional decision-making.
EDUC 337 Education and Public Policy
Survey of contemporary issues and examination of legislation affecting educational policy at both the state and local level. In-depth examination of current and emerging policy issues, strategies for influencing policy, and techniques for adapting new policy into current school culture and processes.
SOC 320 Race, Class, and Schooling
Deepens students' understanding of the various ways in which race and class inequality manifest in schools and shape the educational experiences of students.
EDUC 376 Social Justice in Education
Examines how social inequality impacts public education, and how schools function to perpetuate and/or remediate social injustice. Further explores how socially constructed differences (race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds) may be used to privilege some learners and marginalize others. Considers teachers as agents of change and what individuals and communities can do to ensure that all students have equitable educational opportunities. A community-based learning experience is a required course component.