Community Works – Community Development Initiatives

Through our Community Works program Embrace recruits and trains residents to serve in their neighborhood based on the needs, desires, and abilities of that particular community. The goal being that the residents themselves become community change agents. As a result of these efforts, program initiatives are created and run by these community  leaders with the assistance of fellow neighbors and supported from Embrace Richmond and outside partnering organizations. These residents form “Community Action Teams” which not only address issues of need but that also help residents build social networks and skills that can help them advance both personally and vocationally. Currently, we have the following CAT teams:

Hillside Community Action Teams

Family Strengthening Team: providing a weekly family support group, access to outside programs and resources, outings for parents and families and supporting an after school creative and performing arts program.

Vocational Development Team: providing job readiness training, an neighborhood based computer lab, a weekly peer support group, one on one mentoring, skills development, opportunities to gain experience through volunteer and short-term work assignments, assistance with job searches, resume preparation, GED tutoring and assistance with transportation needs.

Food Security Team:  providing food monthly to more than 150 households, engaging residents in gardening opportunities and opportunities to cook together weekly to support neighborhood fellowship events.

Community Building Team:  seeking to build connections and strengthen the sense of community within the neighborhood through a block by block asset mapping and care teams, monthly neighborhood fellowship events and quarterly community wide events.