Did you know? Thanks to ongoing financial support from the City of Richmond’s Positive Youth Development Program, managed by our non-profit partner NextUp RVA, the doors of our middle school gym are open to East End youth every Friday and Saturday night. Each weekend we welcome more than 40 neighborhood boys to Open Gym for basketball, mentorship, and connection.
On the court, participants dive into organized 5-on-5 basketball games, where they build teamwork, learn to navigate conflict, and get lots of exercise. On the sidelines, we offer board games and a relaxed space to hang out—a perfect way to beat boredom. The quotes below reflects the heart of why our Open Gym program is so important. Many of our players are simply looking to make friends and be a part of something positive.
LaRon, Class of 2025, is a frequent flyer at Open Gym.
“I come to stay out of trouble and meet people. It’s nice to connect with people who are trying to do right.”
“Most of us come here so that we are not getting ourselves involved with what’s going on in the streets. This is a place where I meet people, build friendships and have fun.”
The mission of NextUp RVA is to provide Richmond youth with a strong system of accessible and equitable out-of-school time and expanded-learning resources.
