Richmond Cycling Corps

RCC CONTINUED PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE COACHING AND MENTORING SERVICES TO YOUTH LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING. THE CYCLING PROGRAM CONTINUED TO REACH 15 YOUTH WHO WERE THE BENEFICIARIES OF MENTORING, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, COUNSELING, HEALTH AND DENTAL SERVICES, AND PATHWAYS AWAY FROM GANGS, DRUG USE, AND VIOLENCE. THE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, WHICH WAS EXPANDED IN 2017 AND NAMED LEGACY ACADEMY, INCLUDES A FULL-TIME SCHOOL PROVIDING A LOW STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO AND A RICH AND VARIED CURRICULUM. ARMSTRONG BIKE PARK - THE ARMSTRONG BIKE PARK IS THE NATION'S FIRST AND ONLY INNER-CITY MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK. CONSTRUCTED ON A 10 ACRE ABANDONED FIELD NEXT TO ARMSTRONG HIGH SCHOOL, WITHIN THE PUBLIC HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD OF FAIRFIELD COURT, THE 1.5 MILE TRAIL BOASTS 22 DIFFERENT SKILL- FEATURES. THE PARK WAS LAUNCHED AS A TRAINING COURSE FOR THE ARMSTRONG CYCLING TEAM - AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, A POINT OF ENTRY INTO MOUNTAIN BIKING FOR INNER- CITY AREA YOUTH AND RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. CYCLING TEAM - IN FEBRUARY OF 2014, RCC LAUNCHED THE NATION'S FIRST AND ONLY INNER-CITY HIGH SCHOOL CYCLING TEAM OUT OF ARMSTRONG HIGH SCHOOL. REFUSING TO BECOME A NOVELTY, THE TEAM TRAINED HARD, FOSTERING SOLID RESULTS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR. IN FACT, THE TEAM PRODUCED TWO COMPETITIVE VARSITY ATHLETES RIGHT OUT OF THE BLOCKS, WITH FOUR WOMEN COMPRISING A RESPECTED JV SQUAD. THIS NATURAL PROGRESSION INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL RANKS, HAS PROVEN INSTRUMENTAL TOWARDS OUR YOUTH RETENTION - AS CYCLING IS NOW AVAILABLE AS A PART OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE - A RECOGNIZED HIGH SCHOOL SPORT IN THE PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CYCLING ASSOCIATION (NICA).