VCU’s Lynn Pelco, a champion of civic engagement, recognized with national award
The associate vice provost for community engagement has been honored for her leadership by the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities. Lynn Pelco, Ph.D., associate vice provost for community engagement and director of the Service-Learning Office at the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Community Engagement and Impact, received the 2020 Barbara A. Holland Scholar-Administrator Award from the Coalition of […]
Health Sciences Academy: A Longstanding Service-Learning Pipeline Program Impacts Thousands of High School and VCU Students
By Jenny Pedraza For 14 years, high school students in Richmond City and Chesterfield County have earned college credit while exploring health careers and gaining college readiness skills. The Virginia Commonwealth University Health Sciences Academy (HSA) is an innovative program that matches area high school students with VCU students for mentoring. HSA is a core […]
UROP Spotlight: Sculpture and Extended Media Major Elijah Scaparo Explores the Vitality of Urban Community Agriculture
By Jenny Pedraza Each year, students are awarded $1,500 to engage in community-engaged research through The Undergraduate Fellowships for Community-Engaged Research Program (CEnR/UROP), a partnership between the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry and the Center for Community Engagement and Impact (CEI). How can a community garden function as both a center of food […]
UROP Spotlight: Junior Sara Debab Assesses Community Readiness to Address Health Needs of Latinx in Galax, Va.
By Jenny Pedraza Each year, students are awarded $1,500 to engage in community-engaged research through The Undergraduate Fellowships for Community-Engaged Research Program (CEnR/UROP), a partnership between the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry and the Center for Community Engagement and Impact (CEI). Virginia’s Latinx population is expected to be the fastest growing ethnic population […]
President Rao Encourages VCU Faculty, Staff, and Students to Vote Nov. 3
In a Sept. 10 blog post, President Rao encouraged VCU faculty, staff and students to make a plan to vote Nov. 3. He highlighted the work of VCU Votes for providing voter information and promoting civic engagement. President Rao wrote: “VCU will pause on November 3 to allow all of our faculty, staff, and students […]
Undergraduates Pursue Community-Engaged Research through Fellowships
Mutually-beneficial partnerships in healthcare, the sciences, environmental studies and the arts bring creativity and collaboration to the forefront of students’ experience. By Jenny Pedraza Over the course of the summer, four undergraduate Virginia Commonwealth University students have gained experience in community-engaged research (CEnR) through the The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). In partnership with the […]
“The Toolbox” Kicks Off Training Community with Cultural Awareness Session
Part of the Center for Community Engagement and Impact’s Mary and Frances Youth Center, The Toolbox offers a comprehensive approach to professional development for youth-serving organizations. By Jenny Pedraza On July 28, more than 20 professionals representing youth-serving organizations attended a virtual training on cultural awareness, hosted by the Virginia Commonwealth University Mary and Frances […]
MENTOR Virginia transitions to self-sustained nonprofit in August
After building its board and organizational capacity, MENTOR Virginia will complete the transition to a self-sustained nonprofit organization in August. VCU is a founding partner of MENTOR Virginia, and for the past 25 years, has provided various administrative support functions for the organization, including human resources, leasing arrangements and technology support. MENTOR Virginia is an […]
Amanda Hall Named Director of Community-Engaged Research and Special Projects
A recognized community-engaged educator and scholar, Hall will serve VCU in the Center for Community Engagement and Impact By Jenny Pedraza Amanda Hall, Ph.D., has been named the director of community-engaged research and special projects for the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Community Engagement and Impact (CEI). In this position, Hall will work in partnership […]
VCU Center for Community Engagement and Impact Launches Youth Development Training Community
CEI’s Mary and Frances Youth Center will offer a one-stop professional development resource for those working with youth. By Jenny Pedraza Whether it’s an after school tutoring program, a sports activity, or summer camp, high-quality out-of-school time (OST) programs provide children with learning and enrichment experiences. These experiences have been shown to have positive effects […]