Henrico County agencies and Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) won a combined four Achievement Awards from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) for innovative programs in 2023. Henrico’s four awards were the second most among Virginia counties. Overall, the awards competition recognized 29 programs from 100 entries submitted by member counties across the state.
Henrico’s award-winning programs are listed below:
Adult Education at Regency Mall: Shopping for Your Future
Henrico County Public Schools
HCPS students in the trade programs are helping design and build a 48,000-square-foot educational facility inside an existing mall with a reimagined approach to providing continuing education for adults. The unique mall design will maintain the concept of “career storefronts” to advertise career opportunities in licensed practical nursing, apprenticeship training, certifications and licenses, and financial literacy, along with traditional programming for adults.
Local Police Department and Students Build Relationships
Henrico County Public Schools
Varina High School Family and Consumer Sciences Department conducted a class discussion in which students had expressed fears — and sometimes a lack of respect — for police officers and their jobs. To address this way of thinking, the students prepared a “family” meal for 12 Henrico County police officers, fostering a greater understanding of each other’s perspectives through conversation.
Newcomer Event
Henrico County Public Schools
As a result of stakeholder climate surveys and the regular influx of non-English speaking families and refugees to Henrico County, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Opportunity planned and implemented its first Newcomer Event to highlight resources and employment opportunities for families who have recently moved — or fled — to Henrico.
Parson Community Center
Department of Recreation and Parks
The division completed a redesign and installation of exhibitions in the Orientation Center of Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park. These exhibitions focus heavily on the three cultures that occupied the lands of Meadow Farm for thousands of years and the renamed building focuses on an enslaved family. The redesign culminated in a rededication of the building under the name “Parsons Community Center.”
