Rosalind Taylor, Principal

So as long as I've been at Woodville, St. Paul's has been at Woodville. We have here created through the years a marvelous example of what the faith-based community can do when you connect with a public school and you dare to meet the needs of the school and the families. Woodville would not be Woodville without Micah.

LISTEN NOW: Rosalind Taylor

Sidney Buford Scott, Founding Volunteer

To me the greatest accomplishments have been the build up of trust between the people from the faith communities and the people from the elementary schools. I think that has made a huge difference in education in the city of Richmond.

LISTEN NOW: Sidney Buford Scott

Anne Rusbuldt, Volunteer & Mentor

When I think of Woodville I smile because I love being with children and it's a bright spot in my day. I spend most of my time just being an extra friend and an extra person that is just smiling and encouraging them and reminding them how important it is to be a leader.

LISTEN NOW: Anne Rusbuldt

Lola McDowell, Kindergarden Teacher

This partnership has been a life-saver for Woodville. I was here when the partnership began with Ms. Alberta Person. When she brought it to our attention it was just like, 'oh yes, we need this' because so many of our children are in need of mentors. We couldn't do without them. We just love them.

LISTEN NOW: Lola McDowell

Barbara Holley, Mentor & Volunteer

It’s special to me because I believe that if you can read - and you must learn how to do that by third grade - then you can do anything. When you see the light bulb go on in a child’s face, you just feel like, ‘yes, this is why I’m here.’

LISTEN NOW: Barbara Holley

Lew Holley & Phil Huss, Volunteers

[Lola McDowell] I have two very good mentors now, Mr. Phil and Mr. Lew. Every year they say, ‘we’re coming back to your room, Ms. McDowell’ because they are so good with the children and the children love them.

LISTEN NOW: Lew Holley

LISTEN NOW: Phil Huss

Noreen Walsh, 1st Grade Teacher

I have had a married couple to come in and work with my children for the last three years. They come every week. My children look forward to having them come in. They are just very supportive and encouraging. They’re always smiling, always helping my children.

LISTEN NOW: Noreen Walsh

Deane and Frank Mountcastle, Mentors

This is our third year as assistants in the first grade with Noreen Walsh, who is just a wonderful teacher. It has meant a lot to us to be there with the kids and to experience learning.

LISTEN NOW: Deane and Frank Mountcastle

Clover Willis, School Counselor

The Micah Initiative has been the model to revolutionize the support of children and families in the Richmond community, based on having so many volunteers to promote long-term partnerships for Richmond Public Schools.

LISTEN NOW: Clover Willis

Ridgely Carter, 3rd Grade Teacher

I’ve had the same volunteer for about three years and I think this is my fourth school year with her. She has been excellent. She is always consistent. I can always count on her. The kids look forward to seeing her. They love her, as well as I do.

LISTEN NOW: Ridgely Carter

Dabney Carr, Mentor

I always see Micah as being a ministry of presence; that our job is to be present in the school and with the mentee. And the thing that always strikes me about Micah is that each time you go how much your presence there means to your mentee.

LISTEN NOW: Dabney Carr

Philip Brooks, Volunteer

Probably the biggest impact on my life has been taking seven or eight of the fifth grade boys who excelled in science to Bald Head Island for a four day trip; to take those boys out of their element. You see parts of them shine that might not shine otherwise and that has been a real treat.

LISTEN NOW: Philip Brooks

The Rev. Benjamin Campbell, Micah Initiative

One of the most interesting things is to sit in a meeting of [mentors of various faiths] and have each of them say ‘my God says that the way you worship Him is to take care of his children and that that is true worship.’

LISTEN NOW: The Rev. Ben Campbell

Armelia Reedy, 1st Grade Teacher

I can see that the volunteers have a really positive effect on the building. I see them working in the hallways, I see them talking with the children, interacting. And they just seem to be a really positive influence on Woodville.

LISTEN NOW: Armelia Reedy

Calandra Coleman, 5th Grade Teacher

I’ve been at Woodville for seven years. I have seen a lot with the Micah partnership that has really benefitted us. And I just enjoy you all, period.

LISTEN NOW: Calandra Coleman

Mary Hunter Ayer, Volunteer

Last summer, [my son] Thomas and I helped with the Elk Hill camp in the river. It was challenging Thomas and me as well as the children because we were all overcoming our own demons with the river and the children were having so much fun just floating down the rapids.

LISTEN NOW: Mary Hunter Ayer

Jennifer Hacker, 4th Grade Teacher

I would just like to say that we have the very best volunteers that come in. I’ve been blessed with Page Luxmoore for probably about six years. She has impacted my classroom so much. She is just a great value to our students. It is just such a blessing to have her around.

LISTEN NOW: Jennifer Hacker

Latasha Lee, Music Teacher

I would like to say that I enjoy how Micah puts together the Martin Luther King Day program that we have every year. I’ve only been here for four years and it’s just a wonderful experience to see everyone from the community come together.

LISTEN NOW: Latasha Lee

Suzanne Spooner-Munch, Summer Camps Volunteer

It was such a ray of hope to see this excitement in the kids and realize that they had really gotten a lot out of the program and hopefully they’ll remember that spontaneity and that excitement and that joy.

LISTEN NOW: Suzanne Spooner-Munch

Wilson Whitehurst, Micah Enthusiast

I think [Micah] has been probably the single best thing this church has done in the 20 years I’ve been here. I continue to be amazed at the accomplishments and the results and how widely known it is and how widely participated in it is by all of the parishioners. It is really a great model.

LISTEN NOW: Wilson Whitehurst