| 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Good Shepherd Baptist Church (1127 N. 28th St.)

Richmonders Involved in Strengthening Communities

Annual Nehemiah Action Meeting

Contact Michelle Whitehurst-Cook, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or Frank Mountcastle, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

R.I.S.C.
Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Communities

2010 Nehemiah Action Assembly
Thursday April 22, 2010 6:30pm Sign-In
Good Shepherd Baptist Church
1127 North 28th Street

Hi Fellow RISC Enthusiasts:

As one of the RISC leaders said recently, we worship 52 times a year, and one evening in the year we come out for justice. That evening this year will be on April 22 at Good Shepherd Baptist Church.

At the 2009 Nehemiah Action Assembly, with nearly 1000 present, Dr. Sheldon Retchin, head of the VCU Medical Center, agreed to work with RISC to increase access to primary care for the uninsured through the Virginia Coordinated Care Program, VCU's vehicle for these state and federal funds. Since RISC's work on this problem began, the number of uninsured low-income individuals enrolled in the VCC program has jumped from 11,000 to 17,000, and the turnaround time to complete the eligibility paperwork to see a doctor has gone from 60 days to 23.

At the 2010 Nehemiah Action, Sheryl Garland, coordinator of the program, will hear our report, and our request for concrete steps to ensure that a higher percentage of those enrolled actually get to see a primary care physician.

Also, at the 2009 Nehemiah Action Assembly, we addressed the problem in the Richmond City Schools where a student was suspended for attendance-related issues such as truancy and tardiness ( effectively rewarding students for missing school by giving them permission to miss even more school ). Superintendent Brandon agreed with our complaint, and shortly thereafter changed the school system policy so that no student can be suspended for truancy or tardiness ( we understand that this policy has now been adopted statewide.)

At the 2010 meeting, we will ask school officials to address an even more difficult problem, i.e. school discipline. In the 2007-2008 school year, the City of Richmond School System had 25, 875 infractions, about 50% greater than any other school system of comparable size statewide. At this 2010 RISC assembly on April 22, we will ask Superintendent Brandon to redesign a City of Richmond discipline program that leads to greater student achievement.

At a recent RISC rally at Second Baptist Church on Broadrock Rd, our St. Paul's RISC team, led by Michelle Whitehurst-Cook and Bruce Cruser, committed that we would have at least 44 church members present at the RISC Nehemiah Action Assembly on April 22.
All told, the commitments of the 20 RISC churches, temples and mosques totaled 1200, and Dr. Sylvester, pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church, said that including the balcony, they could seat 1500. So, we need you there !!!

Please give me a call or e-mail (740-8653 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) and let me know if we can count on you. I will then send you a ticket.

Many thanks for pitching in for justice in our community.

 

Frank Mountcastle

3/26/10