DCE January 2026 Impact Highlights
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 strengthened community trust, expanded access to services and learning, and reinforced VCU’s role as a reliable, values-driven partner.
At the heart of this month’s work was MLK Week, guided by a planning committee of 34 VCU faculty, staff, students, and community partners who collaboratively organized a two-week series of programs and events. The centerpiece of the week was the 2026 MLK Keynote Celebration, which convened 134 attendees to explore how Dr. King’s call to the “fierce urgency of now” continues to inspire action and movement in our community today.
Complementing the keynote, the Division also hosted Pizza & Politics and the Urgency of Now East End Community Dinner, creating additional spaces for dialogue, reflection, and connection. One participant shared:
“This event poured into me far more than I ever expected. You know those moments when you feel led to attend something—when not even the highest level of anxiety can pull you away? That’s exactly what I experienced at Pizza and Politics. Thanks to the event coordinator, Tani Washington, I had the pleasure of hearing from Nicole Jones, Michelle Mosby, and Prof. Tyee Davenport Mallory as they shared their incredible journeys toward serving the world as the powerful Black women they were born to be. This is my first time experiencing MLK Week at VCU, and I am loving it so far.”
Community Partnerships and Cross-Sector Collaboration
The Division sustained 344 active community partnerships and welcomed 12 new collaborators across health, food access, youth development, and civic engagement.
The Health Hub at 25th welcomed Planned Parenthood as a new partner, expanding access to health education, wellness resources, and referral services for East End residents. Collaborative efforts with VCU Health, city agencies, and seed grant recipients—including A-Vision and Music Orchard Richmond—resulted in impactful programming such as an inaugural community dinner and strengthened care pathways.
At the same time, MFYC continued to expand and deepen partnerships supporting youth programming, professional development, and workforce pipelines. MFYC engaged advisory board members, community-based youth organizations, and statewide partners to advance youth-serving infrastructure, including the in-process development of a hybrid cohort model for its Advanced Certificate in Youth Development Management program in partnership with Virginia Communities in Schools, with anticipated expansion beyond Richmond.
Student Engagement and Experiential Learning
Student engagement remained a defining feature of the Division’s work, with students participating in service learning, internships, graduate assistantships, leadership roles, and civic programming across all units.
At the Health Hub, 71 students engaged through academic classes, internships, clinical rotations, and service learning, with 19 students returning for multiple visits, reflecting sustained engagement and applied learning in community-based care. Students contributed to outreach, data collection, tabling, and program delivery, while School of Social Work interns continued year-long placements with emerging project opportunities.
At MFYC, 134 VCU students participated through open and club pickleball programming, student employment, volunteer roles, internships, and graduate assistant leadership. MFYC also supported 19 student staff and multiple interns and graduate assistants, positioning students as co-facilitators of youth programming and community engagement. Graduate Assistant leadership of initiatives such as MFYC Field Day reflects intentional pathways for student leadership development.
Division-wide, student involvement in MLK Week programming, including the MLK Keynote Celebration, reinforced civic learning, leadership, and community connection, linking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy to present-day action.
Faculty Engagement, Research, and Teaching
Faculty engagement spanned policy, health education, youth development, and workforce training. Faculty hosted community-based learning experiences at the Health Hub, delivered cultural agility and curriculum training through MFYC, and supported mental health, violence prevention, and civic leadership initiatives. Scholarly contributions included article development, proposal submissions, and peer review activities that integrated community engagement with research and teaching excellence.
Grant Activity and Funding Initiatives
During January, the Division advanced its capacity-building efforts to support community-engaged scholarship and partnerships. We are currently accepting proposals for the Academic Community Partnership Planning Grants, which are designed to support faculty and community partners in developing strong, sustainable collaborations aligned with shared community priorities.
At the same time, the Division is reviewing proposals for the Data Dissemination Grants, which support faculty and community partners in translating research and data into accessible, community-facing products that inform practice, policy, and decision-making. Together, these grant initiatives strengthen VCU’s infrastructure for community-engaged research, promote equitable knowledge sharing, and advance the Division’s commitment to reciprocal, impact-driven partnerships.
Looking ahead, both the Health Hub at 25th and the Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC) will launch their Seed Grant opportunities in March, expanding resources for community-based partners to pilot innovative programs aligned with local priorities. These seed grants are designed to support early-stage, community-informed initiatives that strengthen health equity, youth development, and neighborhood-based solutions. By investing directly in partner-led ideas, the Health Hub and MFYC continue to advance equitable collaboration, shared leadership, and sustainable community impact.
Program Reach and Community Participation
In January, the Division delivered a broad portfolio of programs serving youth, adults, families, and professionals across Richmond.
- Health Hub programs provided consistent access to care, education, and connection through weekly offerings such as Hub Club, Fitness Warriors, Memory Café, and Wednesday Walks, alongside large events including MLK Dinner programming and health screenings.
- MFYC delivered six programs, including four youth programs and two adult programs, serving 135 participants, while also supporting 15 advisory board members engaged in workforce and leadership initiatives.
- Civic Innovation-led programs, including Pizza and Politics: Legacy of Black Women’s Civic Engagement and the MLK Keynote Celebration, convened community members, students, faculty, and staff for dialogue-centered civic learning rooted in equity, leadership, and shared responsibility.
Capacity Building, Workforce Development, and Infrastructure
Capacity building emerged as a shared priority across units. MFYC advanced workforce development by expanding its certificate program model, ensuring that youth service professionals across Virginia have access to VCU-endorsed professional development aligned with best practices in youth development. Planning is underway for additional cohorts and regional expansion.
At the Health Hub, infrastructure investments focused on improving data collection and reporting systems to better track participation, demographics, referrals, and service needs—strengthening evaluation, responsiveness, and long-term planning. Civic Innovation supported the infrastructure necessary for sustained engagement through consistent planning, coordination, and cross-unit collaboration.
Institutional Alignment and Visibility
Recognition and External Visibility
The Division of Community Engagement is proud to share two significant recognitions that highlight the broader impact of VCU’s community engagement and public service work. Gabriel Kotto, a longtime community partner with the Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC), was honored as the 2025 PTR Public Facility of the Year for his exceptional leadership and contributions to creating a vibrant, community-centered public facility at MFYC. This award reflects our steadfast commitment to youth development and community collaboration. In addition, VCU was featured in CUMU’s Because Place Matters newsletter for its leadership in addressing critical workforce needs through health sciences education.
Impact and Long-Term Indicators
Immediate outcomes included increased participation in MLK Week programming, expanded access to health and wellness services, and strengthened student and community engagement across all units. Early indicators of long-term impact include sustained and repeat engagement, growing student demand for experiential learning, strengthened workforce pathways through MFYC, and durable partnerships that extend beyond individual programs or events.
Together, these efforts demonstrate the Division of Community Engagement’s collective impact and advance VCU’s commitment to building and sustaining thriving communities through health equity, youth development, civic leadership, and shared partnership.
Upcoming Events and Activities
The Division of Community Engagement will continue to advance community-engaged scholarship, partnership development, and civic participation through the following upcoming events and professional development opportunities:
February 12 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Community-Engaged Research Series: Funding for Community-Engaged Research
Professional development session for faculty and staff seeking to enhance their skills and capacity in community-engaged research.
Registration
February 18 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Academic–Community Partnerships Planning Grant Panel Discussion
A panel conversation with previous grant award recipients sharing insights, lessons learned, and best practices for building strong academic–community partnerships.
Registration
February 19 | 5:30–8:00 PM
Division of Community Engagement Networking Mixer
An opportunity to connect with fellow community-engaged colleagues and community partners across VCU and Richmond.
Add to Calendar
March 4 | 1:00–2:00 PM
Academic–Community Partnerships Planning Grants Information Session
Learn more about the grant process, priorities, and application requirements, with time for questions.
Registration
March 5 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Advancing Scholarship Through Community Engagement: Panel Discussion
Explore strategies for translating outreach and partnership work into scholarly outputs aligned with VCU’s mission of thriving communities.
Registration
March 12 | 12:00–1:00 PM
“DAIR” to Engage: Trust and Tailored Recruitment Strategies for Inclusive IDD Research
Part of the Community-Engaged Research Series, this session reflects on lessons learned from facilitating a community research team.
Registration
March 17 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Side by Side Exchange (Virtual)
A facilitated conversation between VCU and a community partner focused on shared learning and collaboration.
Registration link coming soon
March 19 | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
VCU Day of Service
A faculty and staff day of giving back to the communities that support VCU through service and engagement activities.
More information