Center on Society and Health Blog

Speaking Truth to Power: The Informed Neighbors’ Bold Vision

ChimereCivic engagement is at the core of both the Informed Neighbors Corps, a team of Creighton Court residents working to promote transparency and the well-being of residents throughout the redevelopment of Church Hill North and Engaging Richmond, a community-academic partnership comprised of East End residents and VCU Center on Society and Health staff. On Monday, October 27th, Informed Neighbor and Engaging Richmond team member Chimere Miles addressed the City of Richmond School Board regarding the importance of combining better quality education with the redevelopment process by stating on behalf of the Informed Neighbors, “It is our bold vision that our children live in as well as learn in healthy quality environments.”

Richmond City Council is working on a massive redevelopment project in Richmond’s East End. Two large properties, sites of the former Armstrong High and Whitcomb Court Elementary schools, have been the subject of four recent meetings between the Richmond City administration and the Richmond School Board. It was again a topic of discussion between the two administrative bodies during the October meeting.

The agenda was set to address the matter at 8:30 p.m. However, based on the importance to the community of the issue brought forth by Ms. Miles when City Council opened the meeting to public comments at 6:30 p.m. and the impassioned responses elicited by her comments, the meeting agenda was amended to address the issue an hour early.

The Informed Neighbors were galvanized by the agenda change and many learned that community voice does indeed matter in local politics. In support of the Informed Neighbors, 7th District Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille stated, “If we’re going to transform communities, schools have to be central to that.” By the end of the meeting, the School Board voted 7-1 to sign over the deeds to the two properties.

The School Board, City Council, and the Informed Neighbors all hope that this agreement will be a win-win for the East District. Engaging Richmond will be actively involved during redevelopment to address community needs and to help prepare residents for the transition.

(Pictured above from left to right are Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille and Chimere Miles.)