Each month, we highlight out-of-school time programs in the NextUp Network which are offered after school or during the summer. These programs are run by local organizations and small businesses, dedicated to serving youth and teaching them tangible tools for the real world. All of these programs have been vetted as quality, safe programs for Richmond youth to attend for free through the NextUp Middle School Alliance and Positive Youth Development.
April 2025
R.E.A.L. Girlz
Everyone needs safe spaces to be their true, authentic self…that’s what R.E.A.L. Girlz is all about.
Through afterschool and summer programs, participants are:
- Encouraged to be responsible at home, in school, and in their communities
- Empowered to use their voice
- Loved for who they are
The hype around this program is R.E.A.L. and tangible! Founder Tammie Mobley, has been a part of the NextUp Network of providers since 2019, leading afterschool and summer programs and events in multiple Richmond Public Middle Schools and throughout the city.
“We want to give these girls a sense of belonging because they’re actively looking for connection – even those quiet girls!” says Tammie. “We give them safe spaces to come together, to just be, and say what they need to say. Programs give them a break from the stress of homework and teenage life.”
Program activities and events focus on helping youth form healthy relationships with peers and adults while honing their leadership skills. R.E.A.L Girlz at MLK, Jr. Middle School engage in team-building and self-care activities that build life and career readiness skills. This comes at no cost to youth through the NextUp Middle School Alliance – a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, the YMCA of Greater Richmond (YMCA), and Richmond Public Schools.
This summer, R.E.A.L. Girlz is also hosting its fourth SumHer experience, providing young women aged 11 – 19 with daily activities to develop as future workforce and community leaders. This program is supported by Positive Youth Development funds from the City of Richmond. Every day, participants focus on different aspects of personal and community care through:
- Learning safety tips with members of the Richmond Police Department
- Practicing community outreach with local nonprofit organizations
- Gaining exposure to collegiate and professional environments
“Having programs embedded throughout the community, especially in the summer, helps girls form lasting friendships. Many of the summer program girls are from different schools and hardly know each other, and they start connecting off the bat that first week. We create an environment where they feel welcome and they can work through anything together. Many girls stay connected after the program.” says Tammie.
R.E.A.L. Girlz is an active partner in the NextUp out-of-school time provider network, comprised of more than 130 local youth development organizations. Tammie is one of eleven facilitators for NextUp’s network-wide quality and capacity building training through the Weikart Center. Richmond’s out-of-school time landscape is growing due to the high demand for quality, accessible afterschool and summer programs. Organizations like R.E.A.L. Girlz need our community’s support to continue their critical work.
You can support Richmond youth through NextUp, an out-of-school time intermediary and nonprofit connecting young people to over 150 afterschool and summer programs at no cost to families. This is made possible by funding partners like the City of Richmond, individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors.
March 2025
Master Chef with Victoria’s Kitchen
Can you smell what Richmond youth are cooking? Spicy chili, Creamy Tuscan Pasta, Peach Crisp, and more!
Victoria’s Kitchen MasterChef afterschool program is embedded in RPS Middle Schools through the NextUp Middle School Alliance and across Richmond with Positive Youth Development funding from the City of Richmond. Through MasterChef, youth make gourmet meals and desserts from scratch, fine-tuning their culinary skills alongside their peers.
A student in the Middle School Alliance MasterChef program says, “I’ve learned how to cook some good food. I cooked for my aunt and she said it was great. I learned that from my teacher! We also learn to be kind in here…don’t use unkind words! Be respectful.”
THANK YOU to out-of-school time partners like Ellen and the Victoria’s Kitchen team for delivering one-of-a-kind afterschool programs for Richmond youth! A big shoutout to site coordinating agency partners, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond and The YMCA of Greater Richmond (Ignite), for coordinating daily operations of Middle School Alliance programs.
Girls Who Code – Girls for a Change
Thank you, Girls for a Change, for inviting us to observe a Girls Who Code session! Participants designed animations with Scratch, the world’s largest online coding community for youth to create digital stories, games, and animations.
Girls For A Change partners with Girls Who Code to offer afterschool coding instruction for middle school girls with any range of computer science and coding experience. Participants work with dedicated instructors who will help them learn coding basics (with programs like Scratch) and implement them into their own, unique projects throughout the school year.
The Girls Who Code program is supported through the City of Richmond’s Positive Youth Development initiatives. A big shoutout to the Girls for a Change team for your dedication to creating safe, engaging spaces for Richmond youth to pursue their interests and passions!
Glam Squad with Sew What Kidz
February 2025
Armstrong Leadership Program
NextUp supports trusted and proven extended learning opportunities like the Armstrong Leadership Program (ALP), a group of Armstrong High School student leaders who realize their own potential, purpose and passions in life while actively pursuing lifelong learning. Students benefit from robust program offerings like personal development, leadership training, one-on-one mentoring, postgraduate preparation, cultural exposure, and service learning.
This program implements trauma-informed mindfulness and self-care practices, empowering youth to practice behavior management, conflict resolution, time management, team building, and self-worth. ALP also helps students map and implement their short- and long-term goals, yielding results of:
- 100% graduation rate with postgraduate plans
- 85% of ALP students moving on to postsecondary school
- 98% of students expressing optimism in regards to their futures
Yvette Davis Rajput, Executive Director of the Armstrong Leadership Program, expresses gratitude for program support through NextUp: “We are deeply grateful for the invaluable support of NextUp in helping us further deliver impactful and meaningful programming, which has made a real difference in the lives of our participants, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive. We look forward to continuing this journey together to support and inspire the next generation.”
Armstrong Leadership Program is an out-of-school time program supported by Positive Youth Development funding from the City of Richmond. Positive Youth Development program selection and funding allocation in addition to quality monitoring, technical assistance, and data tracking are managed by NextUp.
Cory Alexander Basketball School
Cory Alexander Basketball School is embedded in Albert Hill, Boushall, Lucille Brown and River City Middle Schools through the NextUp Middle School Alliance with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond and The YMCA of Greater Richmond (Ignite).
Cory Alexander Basketball School’s mission is to transform young lives through basketball, imbuing them with essential skills, values, and the confidence to excel both on and off the court. This Middle School Alliance program encourages and empowers all participants — whether they want to pursue basketball or not. What’s most important is that youth learn to have positive attitudes and good sportsmanship, show up daily, and have FUN!
A 7th-grade program participant at Albert Hill says, “I love Cory Alexander Basketball School. I get to be in a program with a NBA star and we learn a lot. I didn’t know how to shoot the ball good but I am getting better. We also get gear if we have good attendance, good attitudes and participate with respect. They even give you brand-new sneakers if you come daily and don’t get into any trouble. Our coaches are good too.”
We are grateful to have Cory Alexander Basketball School in our network of program providers. Your dedication, time, and energy is appreciated by youth, parents, partners, and program supporters alike! Thank you for all you do to serve Richmond’s youth in out-of-school time programs.
Blue Sky Fund Outdoor Adventure Club
With Middle School Alliance partner, Blue Sky Fund, RPS middle schoolers enjoy outdoor afterschool activities around Richmond!
Blue Sky Fund’s Outdoor Adventure Clubs help youth develop confidence and resilience in mastering new skills by introducing students to outdoor activities. Middle schoolers learn a mix of soft and hard skills including geocaching, biking, fire building, mindfulness, meditation, river safety, and more.
One of the highlights of this school year has been exploring Richmond parks with dip nets and scavenger hunts. These activities offer fun and interactive ways to discover the abundance of life that inhabits natural spaces, even within a bustling city. Whether it’s dipping nets into streams to catch a glimpse of aquatic life or searching for native plants and animals on a scavenger hunt, these hands-on experiences encourage youth to observe and appreciate the complex ecosystems in their backyard.
In addition to exploring nature, program activities focus on team building. This helps students develop trust, communication, problem-solving skills, and a sense of camaraderie. Sanaa, a 6th-grade student at Lucille Brown, says, “It’s super fun. It’s somewhere relaxing I get to go at the end of a stressful day.”
Middle School Alliance programs like Outdoor Adventure Club are accessible, safe spaces for Richmond Public School students. Middle School Alliance programs are funded through the generosity of NextUp supporters and partners like the City of Richmond. Daily MSA program operations are coordinated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond and YMCA of Greater Richmond.
We are grateful for partners like Blue Sky Fund, dedicated to expanding outdoor out-of-school time opportunities to Richmond youth. Thank you for all you do, Blue Sky Fund team!
Money Maker by Dollars N Sense
The Money Maker afterschool program by Dollars N Sense is active in RPS middle schools through the NextUp Middle School Alliance.
Money Maker offers engaging and dynamic experiences designed to help students develop a healthy relationship with money. Through interactive games and hands-on activities, participants explore essential financial concepts such as budgeting, saving, investing in stocks, and real estate.
By making real-world financial decisions in a fun and supportive environment, students gain practical money management skills that will set them up for lifelong success. The program transforms financial literacy into an exciting adventure, empowering young minds to think critically about money and build smart financial habits.
A participant at Lucille Brown Middle School says, “I like Dollars N Sense because they teach me how to handle my money properly when I grow up!”
Transformative Middle School Alliance programs like Money Maker come at no cost to youth and their families. This is made possible by NextUp supporters and the City of Richmond. Meals, snacks, and transportation home are also included in NextUp Middle School Alliance programs.
A big “thank you” to James and the Dollars N Sense team for your time and energy in sharing your financial literacy skills with Richmond youth. And much appreciation to site coordinating agencies, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond and the YMCA of Greater Richmond, for overseeing day-to-day MSA program operations. The NextUp team remains grateful for your partnership and teamwork!
January 2025
Crown Movement (Queen’s Court with Yolanda Hall)
We stopped by the Crown Movement’s Queens Court, taking place after school at Richmond High School for the Arts, to make mindfulness jars and have a conversation about mental health.
Program Lead, Yolanda Hall of Crown Movement and Unbreakable Minds, started class with a written prompt to get everyone talking and connected. Then, each student created their own mindfulness jar that you shake up and watch settle. Yolanda walked everyone through how to use the mindfulness jars and deep breathe while watching the glitter settle. For many, it was important to talk as the glitter settled, too. This exercise can help calm your nervous system and true-back to yourself, even on the hardest days.
We’re grateful for this moment with an incredible group doing amazing work in the Richmond community. Thank you for all you do, Yolanda and team!
Queens Court is an afterschool program supported by Positive Youth Development funding from the City of Richmond. Positive Youth Development program funding selection and allocation in addition to provider relationships are managed through NextUp.
