Youth development

The Carver-VCU Partnership determined that the development of opportunities and programs for youth in Carver is necessary to ensure the future vitality of the community. The Carver-VCU Partnership works to support these goals by offering the following opportunities.

Homework and Tutoring Assistance Lab

The Carver-VCU Partnership offers a drop-in after-school tutoring program for children in the Caver community while VCU is in session. Tutors are available to work with children Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Sessions are held in the community space multipurpose room located at 1103 W. Marshall St. Our volunteer tutors are VCU students who dedicate their time and knowledge toward assisting children with their homework. Find out other ways to get involved.

Carver Youth Basketball League

Carver resident and Neighborhood Network participant, Raymond Patton, founded the Carver Youth Basketball League. The Carver Bulls is a team of 12 eight- to 12-year-olds with six coaches, who all have a deep commitment to the youth in Carver. The team members, in addition to learning basic basketball skills, develop skills in leadership, sportsmanship and teamwork. The Carver-VCU Partnership supported Patton’s efforts by assisting in finding a fiscal sponsor. The Neighborhood Network partially funded the league uniforms. VCU supports the league by providing space and free VCU basketball game tickets to league members. The basketball league plays seven games a season. At the culmination of each season, Patton and the coaches plan a ceremony to address each child’s success on the team and invite family members to attend.

‘In Peace and Harmony: Carver Portraits’

Beginning in 2003, photographer Wendy Ewald worked with a group of third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students at Carver Elementary School. Together they developed photographs and text exploring the student’s perception of self, community and home. Ewald photographed each student, as well as objects they selected that represented their families and community. The students were able to add personal text to their portraits. Twenty-nine monumental portrait banners were produced for this material and arranged as pairs or triptychs of images. With each group portraying the Carver neighborhood, these banners offered a multifaceted portrait of the community through the faces and thoughts of its children.

Community partners

The Carver-VCU Partnership collaborates with local organizations to bring more youth programs to the Carver community.

• We Mean Business – William Byrd Community House has partnered with the Carver-VCU Partnership to serve the youth in the Carver community. The organization is now offering a 13-week class that teaches youth entrepreneurial skills in the computer lab, located in the community space at 1103 W. Marshall St. This class meets twice a week for 90 minutes.
• Carver Promise – This long-term mentoring program partners area college students with children from Carver Elementary School. Learn more.