Building the Future Together: How the Mary and Frances Youth Center is Reimagining Its Strategic Vision Through Community-Centered Design
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 […]
Power in Partnership: VCU and Peter Paul Explore a Shared Vision
“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 […]
Closing Mental Health Month with Community-Led Wellness at the VCU Health Hub
During Mental Health Month, a series of wellness-focused events offered East End community members space to reflect, express, and recharge. These events were led by a certified community health worker (CHW) from VCU’s Health Hub at 25th, whose work is rooted in a commitment to emotional well-being and meaningful local impact. As a certified community […]
Celebrating Impact: VCU’s 2025 Excellence in Community Engagement Awards Ceremony
The 2025 Excellence in Community Engagement Awards Ceremony, coordinated by the Grants and Awards Committee of the Council for Community Engagement and supported by the Division of Community Engagement—which stewards the Council and its working groups—celebrated outstanding achievements that have made a meaningful and lasting impact in communities across the Richmond region and beyond. These […]
Finding Purpose: Tyler’s Journey at the Mary and Frances Youth Center
When you step into the Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC) at Virginia Commonwealth University, you’ll likely be greeted by a calm and friendly presence behind the front desk: Tyler. A first-year student at VCU, Tyler has been an integral part of the MFYC team, helping to keep the center running smoothly while growing personally […]
Reflecting on Impact: Council for Community Engagement’s End-of-Year Gathering
As we close out another impactful year at VCU, the Council for Community Engagement held its annual end-of-year meeting to reflect on the powerful work across our University and look ahead at what’s next. At the heart of our gathering was a 6-minute video highlighting the Division of Community Engagement’s accomplishments over the past academic […]
Student Engagement Celebration: Honoring the Heart of Our Work
On April 25, the Division of Community Engagement hosted a special Student Engagement Celebration at the Mary and Frances Youth Center to honor the students who have helped power our work throughout the year. We proudly celebrated our Community Engagement Student Council Members, interns, work-study students, and student workers—21 students in total—who have played a […]
Uplifting Communities Through Urban Agriculture: Malique Middleton’s Entrepreneurship Residency with the DaVinci Center at the Health Hub
The intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community impact is embodied in the work of Malique Middleton, a recent graduate of VCU’s Master of Product Innovation program at the DaVinci Center. With a passion for urban agriculture, environmental justice, and food access, Middleton has taken his expertise to the VCU Health Hub at 25th through an […]
Answering a Community Need: Training Youth Development Professionals with RichmondYDN
The Richmond Youth Development Network (RichmondYDN), housed at the Mary and Frances Youth Center in the VCU’s Division of Community Engagement, is committed to fostering high-quality youth programs by ensuring that youth development professionals receive the training, resources, and connections they need to succeed. As a direct response to a community need, RichmondYDN hosted it’s […]
Advancing Community Engagement: Insights from the Latest Council for Community Engagement Meeting
The recent Community Engagement Council meeting brought together members to discuss ongoing initiatives, updates, and strategic goals for strengthening university-community partnerships. The meeting covered a range of topics, from data tracking efforts to award recognitions and institutional engagement strategies. Opening Remarks The meeting began with a reminder of the university’s commitment to the Anchor Mission […]