Elaine Dunn

Communities In Schools of Richmond surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS of Richmond works in 40 schools throughout the City of Richmond and Henrico County. We help kids stay in school by identifying and addressing unmet needs of children and families -- needs that when left unanswered, contribute to the dropout rate. Whether it's eyeglasses, tutoring, or a safe place to be after school, when basic needs are met, students can concentrate on what's really important -- learning. Rather than duplicating services or competing with other youth-serving organizations, CIS of Richmond identifies and mobilizes existing community resources and fosters cooperative partnerships to deliver Five Basics for students and families: CIS of Richmond Five Basics 1) a safe place to learn and grow 2) one-to-one relationship with a caring adult 3) a healthy start and a healthy future 4) a marketable skill upon graduation 5) a chance to give back to peers and community CIS of Richmond targets Richmond's high poverty neighborhoods to make a difference in the lives of our most fragile residents.