Each age group participates in community service projects in addition to the chapter-wide community service projects. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished, but there is yet so much more to do in our communities. Our mothers and children continue to serve tirelessly on outreach initiatives including:

 

• Church Hill Activities and Tutoring Richmond - a local nonprofit organization that provides preschool; after-school tutoring; and job training to youth that live in Church Hill.  We have partnered with chat to provide snack packs for its youngest children that might go without food; books for its libraries and partnered with their children on community service projects.

• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Superhero Run – nonprofit network supporting and promoting court appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that every child can be safe, establish permanence and have the opportunity to thrive. We support through volunteerism and as participants in the Superhero Run. Learn more about CASA here http://www.metrorichmondcasa.org/

• Florence Neal Cooper Smith Sickle Cell Initiative with the VCU Medical Center – This program is supported through both donations and volunteerism. In addition, our children have studied the history of this disease across the globe and in the African-American community in order to have a better understanding of how Sickle Cell has impacted our culture.

• Housing Families First – In 2013, we joined forces with the Housing Families First, formerly Hilliard House, a program that assists homeless women and their children to build their capacity to live productively within the community. Our teens have volunteered hours and hosted business attire drives for the women at the center who are striving to re-enter the workforce. Learn more here http://www.hilliardhouse.org/

• Peter Paul Development Center – an outreach and community center serving youth, ages 7 to 18. The center gives children a safe, consistent, structured, and loving environment in which to thrive. We have provided the youth nooks and books and hosted birthday celebrations. Learn more here http://www.peterpauldevcenter.org/

• Richmond Renaissance Junior Cotillion – We want every child to have an opportunity to experience the art of social dance. The Richmond Renaissance Cotillion is an opportunity for middle school aged youth to participate in the culmination of five months of formal dance instruction, community service & etiquette lessons that will enhance their lives.

• The Sister Soldier Project – A grass roots effort that has shipped well over 1,000 care packages totaling 5 tons of goods to Black female US troops–the Sister Soldiers–serving in the Middle East.

• NEW ERA (Empowerment, Responsibility, and Awareness) Program – in partnership with Sharon Baptist Church, the Richmond YWCA, Homeward and the Richmond Police Department Jack and Jill teens served as mentors to community teens.

• Other service projects include hosting coat drives, visiting nursing homes, feeding the homeless, reading to children to promote literacy and Goodwill collaborations.

 

We look forward to working with the other Chapters and the entire community to further the mission of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and serve our communities.

 

Annual Richmond Renaissance Junior Cotillion

The Richmond Renaissance Junior Cotillion is an opportunity for middle school aged youth to participate in a social program with their peers that offers formal and contemporary dance instruction, community service opportunities, and etiquette lessons that will enhance their lives. Our activities are carefully planned and selected so that participants will have the opportunity to maximize viable learning experiences. This experience will culminate in a final event where participants will showcase in front of family and friends what they have learned in the program.

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Our annual cotillion is more than learning formal dances. It’s also an opportunity to learn about life and participate in a community project. We engage and teach young men and women table manners, the art of conversation, how young men should hold the door for a lady and much more. Our mission is to encourage confident, culturally aware and community conscious African American youth, to build social self-confidence, and to teach social graces and manners. The cotillion also presents an amazing opportunity to socialize face-to-face with peers and make new friends. We sincerely hope the skills learned from dancing translate to so many other aspects of social convention, and will serve them well into the future.

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Additionally, the cotillion is our annual fundraiser to help raise awareness and generate financial support for local and national community nonprofit organizations, including the Jack and Jill Foundation. Our outreach efforts support a variety of programs focusing heavily on health, education and cultural awareness.

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The members of the James River Chapter of Jack & Jill (JRVA), Incorporated are committed to making this a noteworthy and a memorable experience for participants and their families. For more information about our annual cotillion, the application process or sponsorship for this community project, please contact jrvacotillion@gmail.com.