About Us Northside Outreach Center

Butch talkingSince 2004, the Northside Outreach Center (NOC), a non-denominational Christian -based 501(c)3 organization, has been working in Highland Park within the Northside of Richmond by assisting low-income families, providing opportunities for underprivileged children, and revitalizing the local economy. In addition to providing a number of our own programs, the NOC operates through partnerships with many local organizations. We identify needs and build connections with community members which, in turn, enable outside nonprofit organizations to provide services more effectively. The NOC's stable presence in the community positions us to serve the residents with consistency. We have seen that the commitment to stand by families who desire to make a better life for themselves and their children is making a lasting difference. To this end, we have identified the following ways in which the new Northside Outreach Community Center will be utilized to improve the quality of life for the residents of Highland Park. Please refer to the Program Descriptions insert for more detailed information on each service.

women prayingReclaiming This Generation

  1. 3 out of the 5 Richmond Public Schools that students from Highland Park attend failed to make “adequate yearly progress” on SOL testing in the 2008/2009 school year. (VA Dept. of Education)
  2. Crime incidents in Richmond Public Schools are 2-4 times higher in seven out of nine categories than the state public schools average. (VA Dept. of Education)
  3. 33% of the children in Highland Park are living in poverty. (OJJDP SMART System)

Through the NOC ministries and partnerships, we are committed to assisting Highland Park students in reaching their academic and personal potential through tutoring and mentor programs. In addition, we will also provide parents and students an option to public school. Our private school is committed to making quality Christian education obtainable regardless of income through sliding scale tuition and scholarships. The students we serve will be given goals for their futures and the tools needed to succeed through the following NOC programs and partnerships:

  • Chosen Generation Christian Academy
  • After School Tutoring/Mentoring for elementary school students
  • After School Tutoring/Mentoring for middle school students
  • Teen Mentoring for high school aged youth

Rebuilding Familiesfamilies

  1. 69% of Highland Park households with children are single parent homes compared to the state average of 26%. (OJJDP SMART System)
  2. 32% of family households are raising children that are related but not their own. (2000 Census)

Through counseling, training, and support, the NOC is committed to advocate for the families of Highland Park. While ideally we would like to see traditional family units established and will promote this as the most economically and spiritually beneficial lifestyle, we understand that every situation is unique. Therefore, we will place an emphasis on addressing the challenges faced in nontraditional family units to bring wholeness and health to those in the household through the following services:

  • Parenting Classes
  • Single Moms Support Ministry
  • Financial Planning

housesRestoring Streets to Dwell In

  1. The per capita income in Highland Park is $11,989. (OJJDP SMART System)
  2. 38% of adults have no high school diploma. (2000 Census)
  3. Highland Park is ranked as a 10 on a scale of 10, with 10 being the highest on the Community Disadvantage Index (CDI). This index has been shown to be a key correlate of the risk for violence and is generally considered to be a more reliable indication of disadvantage than any single indicator used by itself. (OJJDP SMART System)

In such a disadvantaged community, the new community center will be the only facility of its kind in Highland Park providing an easily-accessed and consistently available partner where residents can turn to find a multitude of help in lifting themselves out of life circumstances. Our vision is for the center to become an anchor within the community, and that countless lives will be lifted out of poverty and despair through the following services offered by the NOC and its partnerships:

  • Celebrate Recovery
  • Central VA Foodbank Outpost
  • Community Partners’ Office for Planned Parenthood and GRIP
  • Adult Literacy
  • Expanded Retail/Thrift Store

Northside Outreach Center
3076 Meadowbridge Road
PO Box 16129
Richmond, VA 23222
www.the-noc.org