Subject: Program Spotlight: Richmond's NextUp RVA Enrichment Portal transforms community to the virtual.

In response to the current pandemic, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam closed all schools in Virginia for the remainder of the school year and youth-serving programs are limited to essential workers. Suddenly, all time has become out-of-school time. However, Virginia’s out-of-school time community understands that kid's needs for learning, exploration, and social connection, along with working families’ needs for supports, don’t stop. We will be shining a spotlight weekly on the innovative and uniquely responsive ways that out-of-school time programs across our Commonwealth are continuing to serve kids and families.

Richmond’s NextUp RVA translates its vast system of programs to an online enrichment portal.

Prior to March 2020, NextUp RVA’s reach was felt throughout the hallways and classrooms of Richmond City’s Public Middle Schools. Their model is a system of community integration and enlists the collaboration of 50 community-based organizations and teachers, along with Richmond Public Schools. School site teams are comprised of representatives of Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, and Communities in Schools, while numerous community partners with various specializations like STEM, Arts, Mentoring, and more, lead programming.

So when typical in-person programming grinds to a halt, one can imagine the detailed coordination it would take to replicate such an interwoven web of community to an online format. But NextUp RVA met this challenge and on April 1^st launched a live, free, online enrichment portal with classes available to all RPS middle school students Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Behind the scenes, NextUp uses a combination of technologies to make the virtual enrichments flow. Zoom is leveraged for providers to host live, interactive online classes, with NextUp staff moderating and tracking participation. Edmodo is utilized for the asynchronous elements, and Remind and social media channels keep families informed.

NextUp RVA President and CEO, Barbara Couto Sipe says their overall goals of providing access to high-quality enrichments have remained steadfast, but the way they view outcomes has needed to shift. With schools closed, outcomes like school attendance and grades are not as relevant right now, but social-emotional outcomes like a sense of belonging and engaged learning remain. The pandemic has also changed what family outreach looks like for NextUp’s partners. Direct calls from program providers have proven effective for staying connected to families, as well as immediately lending resources to the kids and their families.

To follow NextUp RVA, visit them at https://nextuprva.org or on social media @nextuprva.

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Subject: Program Spotlight: Richmond's NextUp RVA Enrichment Portal transforms community to the virtual.

Richmond’s NextUp RVA translates its vast system of programs to an online enrichment portal.