City of Promise

City of Promise Creating sustainable pathways from cradle to career through child centered initiatives & partnerships Our offices are located on Page St.

City of Promise is a Department of Education Promise Neighborhood initiative designed to offer a continuum of solutions to significantly improve educational and developmental outcomes of children in the 10th and Page, Westhaven, and Star Hill neighborhoods of Charlottesville, VA. in the heart of the neighborhoods we serve, and our team consists of staff who coach children, guide parents, and promo

te the well-being of the entire community. The City of Promise Action Team began as a work group of the Charlottesville Dialogue on Race in 2010 to push for creation of community network of supports for African American children modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone. The goal was to increase student achievement and build a culture of high expectations through community and parent engagement, school reform, and enriched out-of-school experiences for children. Modeled loosely after the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York, City of Promise is a collaborative effort of public agencies, nonprofits, public schools and neighborhood residents to “change the game”—building a community where all children get what they need to succeed in school, work and life. Key Partners / Supporters
Charlottesville – Albemarle Health Departments
Charlottesville City Schools
Charlottesville Dept. of Human Services
Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Children, Youth & Family Services, Inc. City of Charlottesville
Community Action on Obesity
Computers 4 Kids
Jefferson Area Child Health Improvement Program (CHIP)
Monticello Area Community Action Agency
Region Ten Community Services Board
Safe Schools/Healthy Students
Smart Beginnings – United Way – Thomas Jefferson Area
Virginia Organizing
Youth-Nex | The UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development

06/11/2026

Summer school isn’t a punishment — it’s a head start with a bad reputation ☀️📚

City of Promise, from our central position in the neighborhood,acts as a trusted convener of services for our communitym...
06/09/2026

City of Promise, from our central position in the neighborhood,
acts as a trusted convener of services for our community
members, partnering with non-profits, businesses, and schools to
bring our families the support they need in the 3 places where
children spend all of their time: at home, in the community, and at
school.

The Community School model accounts for the fact that
intervention in one area of a student’s life, while better than no
Intervention, at all, will not single-handedly change outcomes.
Research demonstrates that in order to learn effectively, children require access to nutrition, healthcare, safe housing, mentorship,
technology, transportation, mental health services, etc.
The domains within the overlapping constellation of care form a foundation from which students become successful, self- sufficient adults - it’s everything, everywhere, all at once.

06/04/2026

So what ARE our kids doing all summer? 🤔
80% of a child's life happens outside of school. Summer is not downtime. It is an investment opportunity.

For kids without resources, that gap grows. And they show back up in August even further behind. 📚

Building comprehensive summer programming is how we close the gap. Keep showing up. 💪🏽

Let us know your thoughts in the comments 👇🏽

We do a number of things with our students that involve the community. One major thing we do is the Tour of the Town. Ou...
06/02/2026

We do a number of things with our students that involve the community. One major thing we do is the Tour of the Town.

Our middle and high school students have the opportunity to visit local organizations and businesses to engage in hands-on learning and career exploration. Introducing students to a wide range of opportunities allows them to see future possibilities they might not otherwise encounter.

This year’s trips included UVA Surgery, Fontaine Fire Department, Kiwanis Club, Willow Tree (now Telus Digital), and Getting Word.

If your organization wants to be a part of our Tour of the Town, contact us today 📧 [email protected]

05/29/2026

On this episode of Envision Radio, Markiana and Price chat with guest Leontyne Peck–celebrated educator, author, film creator and speaker–to the studio. They discuss the books she’s written (“Our Mother’s Dresses: An Ancestry Tribute to my African, European and American Mothers,” “Silver Children: The African American Family of Henry Clay,” and “Paxton Street”), her interest in ancestry and genealogy especially in the Black community (including her own), her experience serving on several boards of historical organizations, and much more.

Listen now–available on all streaming platforms and https://unitedwaycville.org/listen-to-envision-radio-episode-212-with-guest-leontyne-peck/

Envision Radio is a weekly radio show cohosted by Markiana Smith of United Way of Greater Charlottesville and Price Thomas of City of Promise. It airs live every Saturday morning at 7am on Newsradio WINA, then is available to stream after airing. It is brought to you in partnership with Jefferson School Foundation.

05/27/2026

100% of kids in the City of Promise tutoring program showed literacy growth. Every single one.

Kindergarteners grew 131 points on the scaled score. First graders averaged 58 points of growth. Three kids exited the high risk band entirely.

That is what the wrap around approach looks like when it is working. Rigorous in school support, a walking bus, a food pantry, out of school time that fills the gaps. It is all connected.

The model is working. And the data backs it up.

Learn more about the work we are doing and how you can support it at cityofpromise.org

05/20/2026

Money matters. But where you put it matters more. 💰

Real change happens outside school walls. In homes. In communities. In families who have what they need to thrive.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments 👇🏽

05/12/2026

Have you heard of the "Honesty Gap"? 🤔

At the Civic Futures Summit, City of Promise Executive Director Price Thomas sat down with students from Renaissance Sch...
05/12/2026

At the Civic Futures Summit, City of Promise Executive Director Price Thomas sat down with students from Renaissance School and Charlottesville High School, alongside educators Kris Chain and Bethany Farris, for an honest conversation about what next gen civic leadership really looks like.

The next generation is already shaping what civic life looks like in Charlottesville.

Grateful for the for creating space for these conversations, and for everyone who showed up and shared.

📸 Alisa Foytik

Address

Charlottesville, VA
22901–22908

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