The Communities in Schools nonprofit organization is celebrating 10 years of committed service to students across the Hampton Roads School District.
The 10th Anniversary Breakfast was held at The Westin Hotel in Virginia Beach with more than 400 community leaders, students, and city officials in attendance.
The ceremony included testimonials from former CIS students who graduated from the program to pursue higher education or immediately join the workforce.
Miyzaki Edmonds, a 2021 Lakeland High School graduate, told News 3 that the program changed the course of his life. Prior to the program, he was in and out of trouble and didn't think he had much of a future.
Now with the profound tools and resources he received through CIS, he is now hopeful for a brighter future.
"I am about to join the military in January, and when I get out of there I am opening up a steel and tech company... God has plans for me," says Edmonds.
Founder Bill Milliken was also in attendance and expounded on the need for more people to get involved with the nonprofit's mission. This includes donating funds to prevent students from dropping out of school both nationally and locally.
"We really want to make sure that students don't fall through the cracks," said Program Director Joseph Jones said,
Communities in Schools hopes to continue providing services and advocating for students across the Commonwealth, and with the help of supporters and district leaders, they can help students unlock their true potential when pursuing higher education.
