Dear Groundwork RVA Friends and Family,
THANK YOU! Your financial support of Groundwork RVA enabled some truly remarkable breakthroughs, as I’ll explain in some detail in this letter. And…
Thank you in advance for renewing your commitment to our mission with a new, perhaps even more generous donation. I’m going to explain exactly how your investment will pay off for all your fellow Richmonders, particularly the Black and Brown youth and communities most impacted by a lack of green and accessible urban spaces.
Please read on. I’m confident that you will inspired to increase your level of support as needed to make our greater ambitions possible.
As you know, Groundwork RVA believes in the power of youth themselves to create the vibrancy they deserve in the green spaces and built environments where they live. Given historical inequities, the majority of our work and mission centers Black and Brown youth as immediate beneficiaries.
Our programs show what happens when we give these youth the skills, supports, and resources they need to be the change they want to see for themselves and their neighbors. With your help and support, this year we built strong and intentional partnerships that increased our reach in certain specific program areas:
Our Green Workforce…
… installed plants and trees in the Minefee Street walkable watershed with the James River Association and observed first-hand all hardscape work.
… was written into the upcoming Fulton Green Street with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, as installer for plants and pavers PLUS supporting growth and training for even more young people moving forward.
… designed and created 4 fully-functioning rain-capture systems ranging from 500-1,200-gallon capacities for use in Duron Chavis and Happily Natural Day’s garden projects, notably – the Sankofa Community Orchard, where they also built their longest permeable path to date!
… planted or gave away over 150 trees in some of the most heat-impacted areas of Southside Richmond with the Arbor Day Foundation and Capital One.
…procured and put into action #Water-To-Thrive our 500-gallon water-wagon and new-to-us work truck to tow it, in partnership with VA Dept of Forestry, Glen Allen Auto, and Hazen Corporation! Meanwhile…
Our Bike Shop…
…held our first-ever summer Bike Camp! Camp Spokes focused on young women and girls, giving them the chance to experience bike riding, safety, maintenance and repair skills and with space to be seen and heard.
…created opportunity for over 150 students, community members and others to “earn” their very own bikes; providing both freedom and outdoor access.
…held twice-monthly bike races and regular “Bike Shop Hours” 3 times a week, attracting hundreds of interested young people and their families.
…participated in Groundwork USA’s Mountains-to Main Street program, taking a bus-load of South Richmond youth to Fort Monroe to ride bikes, learn about the first Africans arriving in the Americas and enjoy a bit of quality “time away.”
Our Green Team brought Cherae Farms – MyAsia Goode’s vision for Hillside Court’s mini-farm – to life! In partnership with Richmond Redevelopment and Housing, we engaged scores of volunteers and community members to find full success in every area…
Planning – with numerous outreach efforts to friends and neighbors.
Prepping – turning soil, finding plants, growing seedlings, laying watering hoses and weed-block fabric, mulching and fencing.
Planting – melons, beans, squash, peppers, TOMATOES! And more.
Tending – daily watering, weeding, noticing what needed doing.
Harvesting – Making over 250 lbs of produce available to the community, through self-harvesting and other events.
You helped us achieve all this last year. And now, as promised, here’s how your generosity will help us move ahead in 2022, as we…
…launch our Green Infrastructure Apprenticeship Program! A way for teens and young people to earn certifications and build “warm hand-off” pathways to employment in urban greening and climate mitigation.
…create the “bones” at Cherae Farms, establishing physical infrastructure, (installed by our Green Workforce, of course!) a “Celebration Mural,” Garden shed, 3 Sisters Garden and more!
…plant many MORE trees in heat and flood impacted neighborhoods.
…BE the #Water-to-Thrive for over 500 trees across the City.
…continue deep and active partnerships with:
The Science Museum of Virginia, both on their site and in exciting community partnerships to understand, identify and build neighbor-approved and requested climate mitigation solutions;
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s “Greening Southside” initiative where we will water trees and our young people will learn about de-paving impermeable surfaces to create increased greening opportunities;
Richmond Hill where our young people will be part of a stormwater management design process, “from the ground up;”
The National Park Service – we SO hope to be back “on the road and in the parks” at Yellowstone, Glacier and other spaces for skills-based trips, recreation and connection with youth from around the country.
Groundwork USA, for access to nationwide best practices as well as exciting project-specific support and opportunities.
Groundwork RVA has been talking about and working towards environmental and racial justice for many years. And the world is paying attention . Richmond is being noticed and trying to move in many of the right directions. And - It will take deliberate community-driven, equity-based policy, actions and mitigation solutions to improve outcomes for the young people and communities we serve.
Your financial support has been vital in allowing us to be “the wind under wings” of so many young people and initiatives. Please consider continuing or increasing that support this year. We have much to do and not never enough time or money to do it! On behalf of Groundwork RVA’s Board, staff and young people, I thank you again for all you have done and will do in support of making Richmond Greener and More Equitable.
Yours for a greener future,
Rob Jones
Executive Director
P.S. As you read through our achievements and ambitions, you may be surprised that you are one of only a few hundred Richmonders who provide meaningful financial support. We may be the best investment anyone’s making in our communities. I hope you appreciate the importance of your financial support and consider increasing your generosity this year.
I’ve tried to give you plenty of hard evidence to inspire you to renew – and, I hope, increase – your financial support. Please use the enclosed form and envelope to make your gift, by the end of the month if at all possible. Thank you!!