Education

Richmond mayor honors local youth poets

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by our community reporting partners at RichmondPulse.org and is re-published here with their permission. _____________ Poetry, applause and laughter reigned at last week’s “Meet with the Mayor” event, a monthly gathering held at the Richmond Public Library and hosted by mayor Gayle McLaughlin. This month, the mayor’s special guests included a number of local, award-winning youth poets. Danica Garcia, a senior at Salesian High School, recited a poem during the meeting. Garcia will…

Premiere of part 4 in North Richmond film saga draws crowd

North Richmond is unique, and it’s a place with heart. That was the undeniable theme Wednesday night, as about 200 people packed City Council chambers for the premiere of “An Exploration of Our History, North Richmond Part 4,” a documentary produced by filmmaker Doug Harris and more than a dozen young people from the neighborhood. “This film represents the final piece,” Harris told the audience, which brimmed with civic leaders and dozens of community members seen in the film. “I…

Richmond first city in the state to endorse Millionaire’s Tax

Richmond is making a habit of being the first. In June, Richmond became first city in Contra Costa County to issue its own municipal identification cards.  In December, the city came one step closer to becoming the first city in the state to impose a tax on soda. Tuesday night, the City Council made Richmond the first city in the state to endorse a “millionaire’s tax.” The council voted 6-0-1 to pass the symbolic measure supporting a statewide initiative for…

Mentors needed for Bay Area youth

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area, a local chapter of one of the nation’s biggest youth mentoring organizations, has about 750 children and teenagers in the Bay Area waiting for a mentor.

Police searching for suspect, motive in killing of Richmond college student

A curbside memorial marks the spot where Edwin Martinez was fatally shot earlier this week, but who is responsible and why it happened remain unknown. “He appears absolutely innocent,” said Capt. Mark Gagan. “Totally uninvolved in what was going on.” At around 6:45 p.m. Monday night, the 22-year-old Richmond man was shot and killed while sitting in the passenger seat of a Toyota Corolla driven by his sister, police said. The car was parked in front of his apartment in…

Sixth Street residents receive renovation makeover

Guadalupe Corral likes to keep a tidy house. But this past Monday the main rooms in her home of two and a half years were in complete disarray— dishes were stacked on the table instead of in the cupboards, a large aqua ladder blocked off half of her beige couch set and tools were scattered in the bathroom around a medium sized hole meant for a sink. But Corral couldn’t be happier because she knows the chaos is temporary. Once…

Kennedy high gym renamed in honor of ‘Dolly’

Dolly Felix made a difference, and now her name graces the building where she touched so many lives. About 300 people packed the John F. Kennedy High School gymnasium Saturday for a ceremony dedicating the hardwood floor facility in the former teacher and coach’s honor. The building was officially dedicated the “Coach Dolly Felix Gym.” A teacher and coach whose career in public education in Richmond spanned more than 50 years, Felix died in June, 2011, after a battle with…

Local students march in honor of King

Students and teachers from five local schools joined parents and city leaders Friday in a march and celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Students assembled at 3:30 p.m. at the corner of Harbour Way and Florida Avenue and walked while chanting peace hymns and toting signs and other crafts made in classrooms. The destination was the city park on Cutting Boulevard that bears the slain civil rights leader’s name. Billed as the “March for Peace,” the event was…