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Community Outreach Coalition and student urge continued TRIO/federal-grant support at Portsmouth school board meeting
Summary
A Community Outreach Coalition representative and a student said federal funding supports academic and college-readiness programs serving hundreds of Portsmouth students; they urged the board to continue backing TRIO and related services amid potential federal cuts.
A representative of the Community Outreach Coalition and a high school student addressed the Portsmouth Public Schools Board on March 27 to describe the local impact of TRIO and other federally funded college-readiness programs and to ask for continued support amid concerns about federal grant funding.
Dr. Kendra Robinson, identified herself as the CEO and founder of the Community Outreach Coalition and said the nonprofit serves about 500 middle and high school students across the division. Robinson told the board that 90 students are participating in a reset remediation program at three middle schools and that federal grants are a significant funding source for the Coalition's services. She described recent advocacy trips in which students met Speaker of the House Don Scott and other delegates in Richmond and, she said, two students spoke with senators in Washington, D.C., to explain the programs' importance.
"Federal grants are a significant source of our funding and with potential funding cuts on the horizons, it has been more important for our students to have their voices heard," Robinson said.
Christina Hatcher, introduced as a sophomore at IC Norcom High School and a TRIO participant, told the board her TRIO experience began in a reset remediation program and expanded into Talent Search and an internship. She said college tours changed her future plans and that she recently met state and federal legislators to advocate for program support. "TRIO isn't just a program. It's a path to success," Hatcher said.
Board members thanked Robinson and Hatcher for the testimony. The speakers framed TRIO as a conduit to academic support, college exposure and civic advocacy for participating students; Robinson asked the board to continue partnerships that enable the Coalition to serve students.
