The City of Richmond announced a new 20-year partnership with Virginia Union University and the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority to help support residents of the Gilpin Court public housing community.

The partnership’s goal is to position and place residents on a pathway to generational wealth through education and job training opportunities.

The city has put up $100,000 to fund mentoring and job training and employment opportunities through the city’s Office of Community Wealth Building.

The program is expected to launch in the fall with science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programming targeting middle school students in Gilpin Court through VUU’s Community Mentoring Initiative. That will be followed early next year by workforce develop- ment and training programs for families.

According to officials, RRHA will identify and enroll students in grades 6 through 8 in the mentorship and educational and training program, and identify heads of households and young adults for workforce and leadership training that will take place within VUU and outside the university.

RRHA also will provide meeting and training space at a soon-to-be established Center for Human and Family Engagement in Gilpin Court.

According to RRHA, the program will help lead to higher education opportunities at VUU and elsewhere.

The partnership was announced by Mayor Levar M. Stoney during a May 24 news conference outside the Calhoun Family Investment Center in Gilpin Court. Joining the mayor in the announcement were RRHA Interim CEO Stacey Daniels Fayson; VUU President Hakim J. Lucas; Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, chair of the VUU Board of Trustees; and City Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District.

Officials said organizers talked with residents about their needs and used the information to design the program.

The concept was originated by Reginald L. Gordon, the city’s deputy chief administrative officer for human services after Mayor Stoney told VUU’s administration that City Hall wanted to be supportive of the community.

“Whatever is done has to be long term. It could not be episodic,” Mr. Gordon said. “This matched VUU’s mission. VUU will be the anchor institution and the front door for any organization or ministry wanting to help Gilpin residents for the long haul.”

The university’s commitment was reinforced at the news conference by Dr. Richardson.

“It is very important for Virginia Union University to create meaningful partnerships that nurture and support the communities where we reside, as well as create a pipeline for the VUU students of tomorrow,” he said.

“The goals and objectives...are for public housing families to thrive and have the same opportunities as other communities,” Ms. Fayson said. “This partnership speaks to that mandate.

“We look forward, with the help of our partners, to empowering, inspiring and moving our Gilpin Court families to a level of self- sufficiency,” she said.

RRHA officials said the plan to raze Gilpin Court in the next 10 to 15 years will not impact the program. Residents are to be moved into newer housing that is to be built along the 1st Street corridor before Gilpin Court apartments are torn down and replaced with affordable housing, like with Creighton Court in the East End, said Ralph Stuckey, RRHA’s residence services manager.