City Government

Richmond Promise ‘Scholar Celebration’ Coming to Civic Center Plaza

Nearly 500 student dreams for the future will become a higher education reality when the Richmond Promise celebrates its annual ‘Scholar Celebration’ on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 1-4 p.m. at Richmond’s Civic Center Plaza. The Scholar Celebration presents an opportunity for the organization to usher in its newest class of approximately 500 college-bound scholars, in an event that’s free for the community to join. The celebration, which will feature a college quad-style vibe, will have games, food trucks, community resources and booths with local colleges and universities.

Published

10 months ago

July 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo courtesy of Gerry Serrano.

By Kathy Chouteau

The Richmond Standard

The Scholar Celebration presents an opportunity for the organization to usher in its newest class of approximately 500 college-bound scholars, in an event that’s free for the community to join. The celebration, which will feature a college quad-style vibe, will have games, food trucks, community resources and booths with local colleges and universities.

Christopher Whitmore, Richmond Promise’s executive director, said the organization looks forward to the Scholar Celebration every year “because it gives us a chance to celebrate our newest class of Richmond Promise scholars with the entire Richmond community.” He said the event offers a great reminder that working towards postsecondary success remains a priority for Richmond students and families.

Richmond Promise launched in 2016 via a $35 million, 10-year investment by Chevron Richmond. The funds are part of a $90 million community benefits agreement between the City of Richmond and Chevron related to the $1 billion Refinery Modernization Project.

The organization’s scholars are supported through a $1,500 college scholarship that’s renewable for up to four years, as well as essential wraparound services.

To date, Richmond Promise has supported more than 3,300 young people from Richmond as they progress “to and through” higher education. Currently, more than 1,300 scholars are working toward their associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at approximately 200 colleges and universities nationwide while being served by the organization. Among these students are others pursuing career technical education certifications.

The organization said that most of its scholars identify as people of color, first-generation college students and those from low-income backgrounds.

Those wishing to sponsor Richmond Promise’s Scholar Celebration can contact Christopher Whitmore at cwhitmore@richmondpromise.org. For more info regarding the scholarship, click here. Richmond’s Civic Center Plaza can be found at 2569 Nevin Ave. in Richmond.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

Published

10 hours ago

May 25, 2025

Oakland Post

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IN MEMORIAM: Nate Holden, State Senator and Longtime Los Angeles Councilmember, Dies at 95

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn described Holden as “a lion” in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council.” Hahn added that she learned a lot working with Holden when she was a new councilmember.

Published

6 days ago

May 19, 2025

Oakland Post

Former Los Angeles Councilmember and California State Sen. Nate Holden. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Nathaniel “Nate” Holden, a prominent figure in the city’s politics, passed away at the age of 95, his family confirmed on May 7.

Holden, who represented South Los Angeles for 16 years on the City Council and served one term in the California State Senate, was widely regarded as a forceful advocate for his community.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn described Holden as “a lion” in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council.”

Hahn added that she learned a lot working with Holden when she was a new councilmember.

Holden’s journey to political prominence began in the segregated South, where he was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1929. He often recalled the childhood moment when he first heard the governor of Georgia vowing to continue suppressing Black people.

“Doing the best you can for the people. Law and order. Make sure that people’s communities are safe. I did it all,” said Holden, reflecting on his legacy.

Holden is survived by his sons, including former California Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represented a district in Southern California that includes Pasadena and Altadena in Los Angeles County and cities in San Bernardino County.

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Oakland Hosts Town Hall Addressing Lead Hazards in City Housing

According to the city, there are 22,000 households in need of services for lead issues, most in predominantly low-income or Black and Latino neighborhoods, but only 550 to 600 homes are addressed every year. The city is hoping to use part of the multimillion-dollar settlement to increase the number of households served each year.

Published

7 days ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Magaly Muñoz

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department hosted a town hall in the Fruitvale to discuss the efforts being undertaken to remove lead primarily found in housing in East and West Oakland.

In 2021, the city was awarded $14 million out of a $24 million legal settlement from a lawsuit against paint distributors for selling lead-based paint that has affected hundreds of families in Oakland and Alameda County. The funding is intended to be used for lead poisoning reduction and prevention services in paint only, not water or other sources as has been found recently in schools across the city.

The settlement can be used for developing or enhancing programs that abate lead-based paint, providing services to individuals, particularly exposed children, educating the public about hazards caused by lead paint, and covering attorney’s fees incurred in pursuing litigation.

Most of the homes affected were built prior to 1978, and 12,000 of these homes are considered to be at high risk for lead poisoning.

City councilmember Noel Gallo, who represents a few of the lead-affected Census tracts, said the majority of the poisoned kids and families are coming directly from neighborhoods like the Fruitvale.

“When you look at the [kids being admitted] at the children’s hospital, they’re coming from this community,” Gallo said at the town hall.

In order to eventually rid the highest impacted homes of lead poisoning, the city intends to create programs and activities such as lead-based paint inspections and assessments, full abatement designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint, or partial abatement for repairs, painting, and specialized cleaning meant for temporary reduction of hazards.

In feedback for what the city could implement in their programming, residents in attendance of the event said they want more accessibility to resources, like blood testing, and information from officials about lead poisoning symptoms, hotlines for assistance, and updates on the reduction of lead in their communities.

Attendees also asked how they’d know where they are on the prioritization list and what would be done to address lead in the water found at several school sites in Oakland last year.

City staff said there will be a follow-up event to gather more community input for programming in August, with finalizations happening in the fall and a pilot launch in early 2026.