The Virginia Union University softball team will host a clinic for Richmond Public Schools’ co-ed middle school program on March 24 at 2:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. More than 80 students from all eight RPS middle schools are expected to attend, according to Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, RPS coordinator for K-12 athletics and activities, who helped launch the program.

VUU Softball Coach Dominique Mulero emphasized the importance of community involvement. “This is our city. Virginia Union is located in the heart of Richmond, and we want to do everything we can to support our youth through education and athletics,” she said.

This partnership is a result of the Richmond City Council’s 2007 initiative, SOLE (Sports, Opportunities, Literacy, and Enrichment), led by the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL). After being dormant for over a decade, the program was revived by former Councilwoman Ann Frances Lambert, who reached out to VUU’s senior administration to bring them on board.

Lambert secured support from 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell to continue advancing the initiative.

The Richmond Parks Recreation and Community Facilities has also reaffirmed its com- mitment to the program. Staff members will assist at the clinic at MLK Middle School. Jack Moore, assistant softball coach at Bryant and Stratton College, will join other volunteers to lead the clinic.

William Forrester Jr., executive director of MJBL and one of the original architects of SOLE, has engaged Major League Baseball executives, who have expressed interest in supporting SOLE.. MJBL is a longtime participant in MLB’s youth baseball and softball program, Reviving Baseball in the Inner City.

Forrester said he hopes more youth-serving organizations, corporate sponsors, and volunteers will get involved.

“There are numerous outstanding programs out there, but in this uncertain economy, many won’t reach their full potential without a collaborative effort,” he said. “Sometimes, rather than creating something new, it’s better to tap into effective existing resources — like SOLE.”