Division of Community Engagement

February 2026 marked a month of strong growth in community partnerships, student engagement, and cross-sector collaboration across the Division of Community Engagement (DCE). Through strategic partnerships, experiential learning opportunities, and community-based programming, DCE continued to advance VCU’s commitment to thriving communities. Community Partnerships and CollaborationDCE expanded its partnership network on Collaboratory to include 295 community […]

Girls For A Change and the VCU School of Social Work, in partnership with the Mary and Frances Youth Center in the VCU Division of Community Engagement, will host Girls, Unlimited Book Talk: 100 Books for 100 Girls, featuring award-winning author, scholar, and advocate Dr. Monique Couvson. The event will center on Couvson’s new book, […]

Where Partnership Meets Purpose In January 2026, the Division of Community Engagement advanced VCU’s commitment to thriving communities through deepened partnerships, robust student and faculty engagement, and high-impact civic and community-based programming across Richmond. Through coordinated efforts spanning Civic Innovation, the Health Hub at 25th, and the Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC), the Division […]

Building Community Through Connection, Health, and Service In November, our Division continued to execute the core mission of community-engaged work: facilitating meaningful collaboration between VCU and community partners, while responding directly to the needs and aspirations of Richmond-area residents. “We are all part of one community, one region, and ideally we just all want everyone […]

Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System marked their first National Rural Health Day with a series of events designed to honor rural communities and elevate the growing rural health efforts across One VCU. Guided by an interdisciplinary planning committee, the celebration emphasized thoughtful reflection on how an urban institution can respectfully support and partner […]

In October 2025, VCU’s Division of Community Engagement (DCE) continued to advance the university’s Quest 2028 mission by strengthening partnerships, expanding faculty and student engagement, and deepening its impact across Richmond’s neighborhoods. From record-setting Connect 2025 momentum to expanded youth programming and increased participation at the Health Hub, October was a month defined by collaboration, […]

On November 14, 2026, the Division of Community Engagement hosted the Connect 2025 Community Engagement Conference, bringing together more than 170 participants from across Virginia Commonwealth University and the broader Richmond community. Guided by a 34-member planning committee, including 19 VCU representatives and 15 community partners, the event was intentionally co-created to foster meaningful dialogue, shared learning, and stronger collaborative […]

Welcome to our Month-at-a-Glance Report for the Division of Community Engagement. Each month, we lead and support a wide range of initiatives across the university and the community. This “at-a-glance” format provides an overview of our collective efforts, showcasing the scope of our activities. Read our DCE September Newsletter. Additionally, the Division has released the 2024–2025 […]

The Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC) in the Division of Community Engagement is revisiting its mission, vision, and goals after about a decade. As the center evolves, so does its approach to planning. This time, it is using a process that actively involves those it serves. To gather meaningful input, MFYC partnered with the […]

“How are we not just providing services but are building opportunities?”That question, voiced during a collaborative roundtable, set the tone for a powerful Lunch and Learn event hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Division of Community Engagement and the Peter Paul Development Center. Held at Peter Paul, the gathering brought together VCU faculty and staff, Peter […]