Peter Paul RVA (PPRVA) is a nonprofit organization that was founded with the intent of raising education levels, engaging families and communities, and improving living conditions in Richmond, Virginia’s East End community which experiences high levels of poverty, crime, and drug use. It was founded by John Coleman in 1979. In 2020, PPRVA expanded its role via a partnership with Legal Aid Justice Center and Rise for Youth to launch Our Rights Matter, a campaign that aims to educate community members of their rights in interactions with law enforcement. ^{1 2}

Background

Peter Paul RVA (PPRVA) is a nonprofit organization that was founded with the intent of raising education levels, engaging families and communities, and improving living conditions in Richmond, Virginia’s East End community which experiences high levels of poverty, crime, and drug use. It was founded by John Coleman in 1979. ¹

Programs

Educating The Child

Peter Paul RVA operates an After School Academy and Summer Promise Academy that provide academic assistance outside-of-hours schooling to improve school performance. PPRVA students in its S.T.E.A.M. program that helps students in science, technology, engineering, arts, action, and math. The group’s NEWGEN program aids high school students forming career plans following their high school graduations. ³

PPRVA partners with local organizations including the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and the Science Museum of Virginia for science education, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for arts, L.O.C.A.L. Adventures for sports, and Richmond’s East End Library for financial learning. ⁴

Empowering the Community

Peter Paul partners with the Giving Wall to support community members providing $10,700 in financial aid in 2024. ⁴

Older Adults

The organization programs for older adults are termed “first time experiences” and includes computer classes and copies of a book about former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s (D) blackface incident titled “What the Eyes Can’t See.” ⁴

Partnerships

In 2020, Peter Paul RVA partnered with Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) and RISE for Youth (RY) in the creation and implementation of the Our Rights Matter campaign. The campaign is designed to educate youth about their rights when interacting with the police. PPRVA facilitates workshops and distributes materials to build understanding of the difference between reasonable suspicion and voluntary interactions and other legal rights. ²

LAJC provides legal services and advocacy for low-income communities throughout Virginia and partners with communities and individuals to fight for what it views as equal racial, social and economic, youth, health, and labor outcomes via community organizing, litigation, policy advocacy, and individual legal services. ^{5 6}

RY advocates for dismantling the youth prison model in Virginia, reducing the high rates of incarceration for Black youth by raising the age of those considered juveniles, limiting solitary confinement, and diversion programs. ⁷

Funding

In its 2024 “gratitude report,” Peter Paul RVA noted that 37 percent of its revenue derived from individuals, 35 percent from foundations, 16 percent from businesses, 6 percent from government, 4 percent from churches and civic organizations, and 2 percent from the United Way. ⁴

Peter Paul RVA’s tax return for 2023 claimed $250,000 from government grants or 13.1 percent of non-investment generated revenue. ⁸

In 2024 annual fundraising event “Purple with Purpose” raised $9,771 from nearly 100 attendees and a total of $18,000 when donors not attending were included. ⁴

PPRVA encourages donations through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) that allows a 65 percent state tax credit for donations. ⁴

People

In 2025, Corey Taylor was Peter Paul RVA’s CEO and was the founding principal and chief academic officer at Cristo Rey Richmond High School. Taylor’s 2023 salary was $97,497. ^{9 10}

Kim Young was director of family and community engagement at PPRVA and was the key contact for the Our Rights Matter initiative. ¹¹

1. “Our Mission & History.” Peter Paul RVA. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.peterpaulrva.org/about.
2. “Our Rights Matter.” Legal Aid Justice Center, June 22, 2023. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://www.justice4all.org/what-we-do/criminal-legal-system/ourrights/.
3. “After School and Summer Programs.” Peter Paul RVA. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://www.peterpaulrva.org/education.
4. “2023 – 2024 Gratitude Report.” Peter Paul RVA. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://www.peterpaulrva.org/2023-2024-gratitudereport.
5. “Legal Fellowship Sponsorship.” National Legal Aid & Defender Association, April 29, 2024. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://www.nlada.org/node/74176.
6. “Mission & Vision.” Legal Aid Justice Center, August 30, 2023. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://www.justice4all.org/mission-vision/.
7. “About.” RISE for Youth, April 30, 2025. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://www.riseforyouth.org/about/campaign-overview/.
8. “Peter Paul Development Center Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990. 2023.Part VIII, line 1e.
9. ^[1] “Meet Our New Chief Executive Officer.” Peter Paul. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Meet-Our-New-Chief-Executive-Officer.html?soid=1103565212315&aid=6SV6Qm431Dw&fbclid=IwY2xjawKNl9VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqMTFhUXNuM1pnb3FBeTF6AR7htI25ME_v5He3K2yErkneRb-pdpU3RzysN4Q2SgZVJFomr4PeXtkBLJhXtw_aem_onpu_uMEZbVgE-312-AFJg
10. “Peter Paul Development Center Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990. 2023.Part VII, line 1.
11. “Peter Paul Rva.” Facebook. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/PeterPaulRVA/posts/the-next-session-of-the-our-rights-matter-training-is-starting-soon-and-there-is/10158518087627770/.