From Concentrated Poverty to Community
Wealth Building in Richmond, VA
Thad Williamson, Ph.D., Director, Mayor’s Office of
Community Wealth Building
October 2015
POVERTY AND ECONOMIC NEED IN RICHMOND
Richmond
Virginia



25.6% poverty rate
$40,496 median hh income
38.9% children in poverty

Richmond metro area 85th nationally out of 100 largest
metro areas in upward social mobility
City of Richmond in bottom 2% of counties nationwide in
upward wage mobility for low-income children
Approximately 42,000 City residents in poverty apart
from college students. 23.9k working age; 14.7k children;
3.4k elderly


11.3% poverty rate
$63,907 median hh income
14.9% children in poverty
CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY BY CENSUS TRACT,
RICHMOND REGION
POVERTY BY CENSUS TRACT, RICHMOND VA
5
EDUCATIONAL SEGREGATION
 Overall Richmond Public Schools Demographics
(Pre-K – 12), 2013-14





23,775 total students
18,521 economically disadvantaged (77.9%)
18, 616 African-American (non-Hispanic) (78.3%)
2,281 White (non-Hispanic) (9.6%)
2,369 Hispanic (any race) (10.0%)
REGIONAL ECONOMY WITHOUT REGIONAL
TRANSIT
7
EAST END TRANSFORMATION PROCESS
8
HEALTH DISPARITIES TRACK WEALTH DISPARITIES
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION
 The right question as City policymakers is not “what
should society as a whole do about poverty?” So
much of what could or should be done lies outside of
our immediate control or influence.
 The question we should be focused on is “What can
we as a City and community do to alter these
trends?”
RECOMMENDATIONS OF MAYOR’S ANTIPOVERTY COMMISSION





Workforce Development
Targeted Economic Development
Regional Transportation
Educational pipeline from prenatal to college/career
Pursuing public housing redevelopment with
commitment to no involuntary displacement
GUIDING FRAMEWORK: WHY COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING?
 Positive emphasis on capitalizing on what we have
and positive assets and potential of people
 Emphasis on Neighborhoods and people
 Developing employment, entrepreneurial, and
ownership opportunities with broad-based benefits
 Encompasses human capital, social capital,
physical capital, and financial capital
MAGGIE L. WALKER INITIATIVE
13
MORAL VISION
Every Richmond resident should have
access to quality employment opportunities
and preparation and support to be
successful in such employment; to a safe
neighborhood with good amenities, strong
schools, and access to mobility; and to a
supportive community environment.
14
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING: INITIATIVES
Workforce
Development
Education
Housing
Transportation
MAGGIE L. WALKER INITIATIVE FOR EXPANDING
OPPORTUNITY AND FIGHTING POVERTY





Integrated, holistic approach to reduce the City of Richmond’s 26%
poverty rate encompassing education, employment and housing,
coordinated through the Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building.
Key Components
Education: Early Childhood Initiative, Middle School Out-of-School
Time Initiative (NextUp RVA), College and Career Access Initiative
(RVA Future), Communities in Schools
Employment: Center for Workforce Innovation, Social Enterprise
Initiative, Port of Richmond, Bus Rapid Transit
Housing: Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Good Neighbor Initiative in
RRHA Communities, East End Transformation (Creighton Court)
A Good Investment: $7 million in City funding in FY 2015 and FY 2016
has already leveraged millions of additional dollars in grants and matching
funds for investments in education, housing, Bus Rapid Transit
BLISS: BUILDING PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY
In Crisis
 No Income or
assets
 No skills or
credentials
 Homeless or
unstable
housing
 No or unreliable
transportation
or child care.
 Safety and
mental health
risks are high
 Addictions
and/or Legal
Problems
At Risk
 Seeking job or
temp/seasonal
job or other
legal income
 Temporary or
transitional
housing
 Transportation
and child care
available, but
not affordable
or reliable
 Seeking GED or
vocational
training
Safe
 Employed in
semi-stable job
 Housing is
stable and is
affordable
(maybe with
subsidy)
 Transportation
and child care
are generally
reliable and
affordable
 Has high school
diploma, GED,
or vocational
training
Stable
 Permanent &
stable job
paying living
wage
 Housing is
stable & and is
affordable
without subsidy
 Transportation
and child care
are reliable and
affordable
 Career &
educational plan
in place; active
& on-going
learning
Thriving
 Permanent,
stable
employment
sufficient to
build assets
 Housing is
permanent &
affordable
without subsidy
 Transportation
and child care
are reliable and
affordable
 Implementing
education and
career plan
Based on the HUD Self Sufficiency Matrix
17
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY WEALTH
BUILDING: KEY ROLES







Coordination
Planning
Hub and Catalyst
Research and Evaluation
Locus of Accountability and Communication
Reports to Mayor
Works across City agencies as well as with partner
agencies (RPS, RRHA, RCHD, RBHA, GRTC)
 Works with university, nonprofit, private partners
18
IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL
 To cut poverty in Richmond 40% in the next 15
years, we need to move approximately 10,000
adults and 7,000 kids above the poverty line in a
lasting way.
 What will it take? Building and sustaining the
capacity to move at least 1,000 adults a year out of
poverty while strengthening the security of families
just above the poverty line.
 How will we do that? One family at time.
 Who will it take? All of us, working together, for
the long haul.
19