NextUp RVA was formed in 2013 with the name Middle School Renaissance 2020 when a group of community and business leaders collaborated with Richmond Public Schools to answer a bold question: What would it take to put more RPS teens on a path to success?

The group devised a concept of an out-of-school time system based on research and best practices to improve lagging middle school and high school outcomes.  They established NextUp to build and support a Richmond out-of-school time system focused on quality enrichment for youth, specifically middle school youth.

This system replaced a patchwork of fragmented service providers with a cohesive team of public agencies, service providers, businesses, funders, and schools. This team engages youth in high-quality learning opportunities, academic support, and enrichments through afterschool, summer, weekend, and other initiatives. NextUp emphasizes improving access for underserved youth, using resources efficiently, improving quality, coordinating efforts with schools, and delivering results.

NextUp is committed to providing opportunities for expanded learning for young people. To achieve this goal, NextUp collaborates with a network of community partners in different settings and works with RPS and the City of Richmond to coordinate out-of-school time resources in five public middle schools in Richmond and in community settings that are convenient for youth and their families.