— About RVA Thrives — Leadership Academy — ARCA Youth Program — Greening Working Group — Housing Working Group —

RVA Thrives

ARCA

ARCA MISSION & PROGRAM 

ARCA stands for “Art, Reconciliation, and Civic Advocacy.” The mission of ARCA is to bring together Latino/a youth and black youth along the Richmond Highway Corridor, who will: deepen relationships across racial and ethnic lines; learn ways to advocate for community projects; and design and create public art.

PURPOSE: To equip and employ Southside youth, ages 14-18 years to use art to support civic advocacy and racial reconciliation in their communities.

• Led by professional artists, Ham Glass & Alfonso Perez

• Traffic calming street murals, city park art installations

• Youth advocate to city art commission for project approval

• Creative placemaking led by youth

HISTORY of arca + WHY THIS MATTERS

2025 ARCA GOALS

• More intentionally partner with the Greening Working Group to support placemaking art and traffic calming art near established gardens.

• Plan with the design team to support Art for the Southside Center for Rest and Healing.

• Continue to create to support to placemaking art and established green spaces to bring Broad Rock Creek Park (ARCA Park) fully online

• Support the implementation of a community survey of the neighborhood surrounding Broad Rock Creek Park.