A collaborative initiative between Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University and Metropolitan Baptist Church is making possible the William N. Bland, Jr. Literacy Center. The Center's first class of 30 students will begin this fall. The students will receive after school homework help and literacy instruction two days a week. Students will use iPad Minis for instruction. The Center is being established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization and the program is modeled after the Peter Paul Development Center in Richmond.