Lamb Arts pitches Creative Changemaker program for Prince George students; board to consider cost and timing

Amanda Vitebelson, program manager at the Lamb Center for Arts and Healing (Lamb Arts), presented the Creative Changemaker program and requested the board’s consideration of a Prince George cohort.

Vitebelson described the program as a nomination‑based leadership track for rising 9th–12th graders that begins with a weeklong intensive training and may continue through high school as an ongoing mentorship and paid team‑captain positions with Lamb Arts. The program includes community leadership meetings, field trips (for example to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), mindfulness and job preparation skills; student work has been placed on permanent display and recognized by the Virginia House of Delegates, she said.

Vitebelson said Lamb Arts plans to enroll about 15 Prince George students (alongside 15 Hopewell students). Board members asked operational questions: Mister Johnson asked about slots and next steps; Vitebelson said the board would need to approve funding if it chooses to participate and that the weeklong training would be scheduled during an off‑school week (spring break or late summer) with regular after‑school meetings during the school year.

Vitebelson identified philanthropic supporters including the John Randolph Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Richmond, Dominion Energy and the Hopewell‑Prince George Chamber of Commerce. Faith and Felicia, two college captains who participated as students, described how the program influenced their trajectories and cited ongoing mentorship and paid positions as team captains.

The board asked staff to follow up on timing, costs and nomination logistics and said the item would return for action if the division elects to fund or participate in the program.