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

4 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 November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

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City Government

San Pablo Appoints New Economic Development and Housing Manager

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo. Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Kieron Slaughter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Pablo

The Richmond Standard

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo.

Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Before that he was an associate planner in the City of Richmond’s Planning and Building Services Department from 2007-2015.

San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez lauded Slaughter’s extensive experience in economic development, housing and planning, saying he will add a “valuable perspective to the City Manager’s Office.”

Slaughter, a Berkeley resident, will start in his new role on Nov. 12, with a base annual salary of $164,928, according to the City of San Pablo.

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City Government

Aaron Osorio Rises Up Ranks to Become Richmond’s Fire Chief

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10. “I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.” Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Richmond Fire Department Chief Aaron Osorio. Courtesy photo

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10.

“I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.”

Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Osorio is a San Francisco native who rose up the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief.

He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighters, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief. He said he truly loves working in this community.

While it isn’t common for a fire department to hire a chief that came up through its ranks, Osorio was credited by the city for serving Richmond well during uncommon times.

The city lauded him for developing internal policies and vaccination clinics during the initial COVID response, for supporting activation of the emergency operations center in response to a potential mudslide disaster in Seacliff last year, helping to draft mutual aid agreements and working to increase fire response capabilities for industrial incidents.

He’s also led departmental hiring and recruitment since 2018.

Osorio said it is an honor to be hired as chief and has big plans for the department moving forward. He said he wants to continue hiring and promoting for vacant positions, and also completing a strategic plan guiding the direction of the organization.

He also aims to replace and renovate a number of fire department facilities placed on the Capital Improvement Plan and create new ways to recruit that will enhance the diversity of the department.

Osorio said his experience within, and love for, the city of Richmond puts him in a good position to lead the department. He says he knows what is needed and also the challenges that are unique to the city.

“I look forward to utilizing that institutional knowledge to move the fire department forward in a positive direction and enhance the services we provide to the community,” the chief said.

Osorio holds a bachelor of science degree in Fire Administration and is also a California State Fire Marshal-certified chief officer, company officer, and state instructor.

He also holds numerous certifications in fire, rescue, hazardous material, and incident command.

The chief has been married to his wife, Maria, for 26 years and they have two sons, Roman and Mateo.