‘Your address shouldn’t affect your access’: Peter Paul’s legacy continues in Richmond’s East End

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- For more than four decades, Peter Paul Development Center has been a constant in Richmond’s East End — serving generations of families with after-school programming, meals, mentorship and community support.

Founded in 1979 by Reverend John Frederick Coleman, the organization began as a response to needs he saw in his own neighborhood.

“He wanted to come back to his neighborhood,” said Christa Coleman, board chair of Peter Paul Development Center and the founder’s daughter. “He saw a lot of potential. He saw a lot of need. And he felt that was where he should do his mission work.”

Coleman said her father’s vision extended beyond immediate assistance — he wanted to create a place where people could grow and reach their full potential.

“What I feel really is a huge source of pride,” she said. “Just joy that the community is still so richly supported.”

A daily reset for students

Today, Peter Paul serves students each day after school — focusing not only on academics, but also on emotional well-being.

“We absolutely ensure that there is some moment for social emotional development — that’s a daily thing,” said Corey Taylor, CEO of Peter Paul Development Center. “We want to give them an opportunity to center themselves and to calm themselves.”

Taylor said students arrive after long school days carrying different stressors, making that reset critical.

“I know that there are some students that feel like they’re in a battle that they are constantly fighting — 360 degrees — and that is absolutely unfair,” he said. “I want us to be a place of refuge.”

Programming ranges from academic support to physical activities and enrichment opportunities, giving students exposure to experiences beyond the classroom.

Meeting needs beyond the classroom

Taylor said the center’s work also addresses broader challenges facing families in the East End, including food insecurity.

“It’s often said that the East End of Richmond is a food desert,” he said. “One of my friends said it was more of a food swamp… there are food insecurities, so we do food distribution twice per month.”

Students also receive meals during after-school programming — part of the organization’s effort to remain a reliable support system.

“We want to make sure that Peter Paul is the one constant that they have,” Taylor said.

He added that systemic barriers still impact many families, from income disparities to access to resources.

“Your address shouldn’t affect your access,” he said.

A lifeline for working families

For parents like Onyinyechi Steve-Essi, the center fills both practical and emotional needs.

“We needed a secure place where we could just go — that was the plan,” she said.

Steve-Essi enrolled her three daughters in the program nearly two years ago after learning about it through their school. She said what started as childcare quickly became something more.

“The most exciting thing is when I see them want to come each day,” she said. “They always want to come. It’s because of the level of engagement they have here.”

Her daughters have participated in a range of activities, from cooking and swimming to gardening and outdoor recreation.

“They’ve done quite a lot,” she said.

She’s also seen personal growth.

“They are more creative. They are more outgoing now. They are willing to engage people — have conversations.”

Growing a legacy

Peter Paul began as what Coleman described as a “survival center,” focused on meeting immediate needs. Today, she says it has evolved into a pipeline for leadership and long-term success.

“If he could see it today, he would say, ‘Wow, baby,’” she said, reflecting on her father’s reaction to the organization’s growth.

Looking ahead, she hopes the center’s future includes former students returning to lead it.

“One thing we’ve always joked about is we’d like one year… to have the CEO be a student here,” she said.

For now, the mission remains rooted in the same purpose her father envisioned — responding to the needs of the community and helping each generation move forward.