Making Waves Academy is a 5th-12th grade public charter school in Richmond, CA committed to rigorously and holistically preparing its students (“Wave-Makers”) to gain acceptance to and graduate from college to ultimately become valuable contributors to the workforce and their communities. Opening in 2007, MWA was born out of a 20-year history of serving youth in Richmond through an afterschool program. Today, MWA educates more than 1,000 historically underrepresented and underserved students from West Contra Costa County.