OutreachThe Micah Ministry

The Micah Ministry

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

Changing the World - One Relationship at a time

In 1998, St. Paul's Vestry appointed a task force to create an outreach project which might serve as a model for other faith communities and make a lasting difference in the City of Richmond; one that might even change the world. After months of discernment, congregational prayer, and three public hearings, the Church initiated a mentoring partnership with Woodville Elementary School in the City's East End. In 1999, six volunteers began work at Woodville. Today St. Paul's volunteers are joined by those from Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Woodville Presbyterian, UPS Freight, Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia Bar Association and the Richmond City Fire Department. Altogether, they now number 110.

Inspired by the change at Woodville School, over 57 faith communities - Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Hindu, Jewish, Methodist, Muslim, Presbyterian and Unitarian - have initiated partnerships with 24 other Richmond elementary schools. School Superintendent Deborah Jewell-Sherman recognizes the work of Micah Association participants as a factor in the dramatic rise in student test scores and school improvement.

What Does it Mean to be a Micah Volunteer?

St. Paul's Micah volunteers support the children and staff at Woodville Elementary School located at 2000 N. 28th Street, by sharing themselves in the following ways:

• One-to-one tutor for a student (45 min. per week)
• Classroom assistant (once a week, time variable)
• Voyager reading assistant (2-1/2 hrs. each week)
• Math or book buddy (after school, 2 afternoons a week)
• Adopt-A-Class: Volunteer group serves as room parent for classroom. Provide treats for classroom at holidays and end of school year; help fund field trips for students whose parents cannot; work with individual teacher based on interest of volunteer group and needs of teacher.
• Chess: work with students to develop chess skills (after school)
• Contribution Management: Assist site coordinator - sort, count and catalogue donations to school. Organize contributions in storage area (time flexible)
• Host and server at the annual Woodville holiday dinner for students, families and staff at the school
• Another pair of hands for cultural enrichment field trips to plays, museums, concert, and workshops (times variable)
• College for Every Student Partner: a Community Partner who can provide mentors for 16-20 5th grade students. The mentors would be individuals who have experienced college or are current college students and will encourage students to think about college as an option for themselves, and will explore various careers with the students. The sponsoring agency would also assist by planning a leadership retreat for students, planning visits to businesses or agencies to explore careers, planning visits to one or two colleges and planning culminating trips for the students to Bald Head Island and a second location. Needed: a planner and 16-20 mentors.

Micah volunteers also join other St. Paul's members to celebrate the Micah ministry through the annual Martin Luther King "I have a dream" service in January.  A celebration party for Woodville Elementary School staff and Micah volunteers is held each June.

Contact: , Outreach Director 643-3589 x 5415 or
, Micah/Community in Schools Coordinator at Woodville School, 780-4009