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 VCU Da Vinci Center to implement LEGO® Serious Play, a hands-on method that uses LEGO bricks to help participants build physical representations of their experiences, values, and ideas.
Through 3 different small-group sessions with MFYC’s youth advisory council, student workers, staff, community partners, and members of the Advanced Certificate in Youth Development Management program, participants responded to open-ended prompts by constructing models that reflected their stories.
One question, “Build a model that represents your dream youth center”, sparked thoughtful conversations and powerful reflections on connection, transformation, and the center’s impact.
Listening Through Empathy Interviews
Rather than using traditional surveys, MFYC turned to empathy interviews to spark thoughtful conversation. Participants explored their experiences, values, and hopes for the center’s future, and the format encouraged honest, reflective dialogue, especially from youth and student staff, whose perspectives are essential but not always part of formal planning efforts.
These interviews revealed rich, emotional insights. Participants spoke about the welcoming spirit of the center, the passion embedded in its work, and the unique programs that meet people where they are. One community member described MFYC as “a bridge to building community,” while another emphasized that it is “not just a center, but a gathering place with multiple entry points and a strong connection to VCU’s resources.”
At the same time, challenges emerged: a desire for broader awareness of MFYC’s offerings, concerns about limited staff capacity, and a need to be even more intentional about access, especially for those who may not know all that the center provides.
Shaping a Shared Vision
All of this feedback is actively shaping the next strategic plan. The process reflects MFYC’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and community ownership. By centering personal stories and shared experiences, MFYC is ensuring that its future is built with the community.
This method of engagement also echoes VCU’s values of authentic community partnership and thriving communities. It aligns with the division’s commitment to partnership, alignment, and impact, ensuring that institutional resources are directed where they are needed most and guided by those with lived experience.
Looking Ahead
As MFYC prepares to finalize its new strategic direction, one thing is clear: the future is being built collaboratively. From the powerful reflections captured, the center is demonstrating what it means to listen deeply, reflect openly, and grow intentionally.
By engaging students, youth, faculty, and community partners in shaping its path forward, the Mary and Frances Youth Center is not just revising a document but cultivating a movement grounded in community and trust.
To learn more about the Mary and Frances Youth Center, visit https://mfyc.vcu.edu/ or email Misti Mueller ([email protected]).
To learn more about the VCU Da Vinci Center, visit https://davincicenter.vcu.edu/