[{"id":414,"date":"2026-04-13T20:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engagevcu\/?p=414"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:11:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:11:36","slug":"dce-march-2026-engagement-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engagevcu\/2026\/04\/13\/dce-march-2026-engagement-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"DCE March 2026 Engagement Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Division of Community Engagement | Virginia Commonwealth University<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Community Engagement is a practice that requires sustained presence, reciprocal relationships, and a willingness to let community-identified needs shape the work. March 2026 offered a vivid illustration of what practice looks like across Richmond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Community Partnerships and Collaboration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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New collaborations took root across Richmond, including, but not limited to, the 9th District Council Office, The City of Richmond\u2019s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, Girls for a Change, and Embodhi Consulting. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Each of these relationships reflects a deliberate effort to align university resources with community-identified priorities, civic representation, youth development, and social and economic development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Health Hub on 25th Street, for the first time, staff from Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority came directly into the Hub to sit alongside residents and assist them in maintaining their place on the waitlist for public housing vouchers. The Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC) welcomed two new partnerships: Eathkin Nature School and VCU\u2019s Division of Student Engagement and Impact, as well as launched a hybrid cohort for their Advanced Certificate in Youth Development Management program. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their interest to Vaughn Garland garlandvw@vcu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across our programs, March included more than 25 community meetings and engagements, from RBHA Board participation to the State of the City and ongoing coordination with Resilient Nation and the Blackwell Community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCU Day of Service: An Inaugural Moment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On March 19th, VCU held its inaugural Day of Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 100 volunteers from across the VCU community, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff, spent the day working alongside 11 community organizations and neighborhood leaders across the Richmond metro area.The work was tangible and varied from tree maintenance and park beautification at Southside Releaf Swansboro Playground, SOAR365, and Carver Elementary, cemetery cleanups at Barton Heights, meal preparation at Underground Kitchen, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Thank you for connecting us with the VCU volunteers for the Day of Service at Southwood. The students (and faculty) were kind, flexible, and eager to serve\u2014supporting food distribution, preparing Easter bags, and uplifting the entire effort. Their impact was truly meaningful, and the leadership made the day seamless. We deeply appreciate this partnership and the difference it made in our community.”<\/em> \u2014 Elena, City of Richmond Partner, Southwood Apartments<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What made this day distinctive was its intentionality. VCU\u2019s Community Service Leave policy, which allows eligible employees to use paid leave for community service, created conditions for faculty and staff to serve the communities that support our institution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four VCU students stepped into Team Leader positions- coordinating volunteers, managing logistics and community sites, and serving as the connective tissue between the university and its partners. Before the event, the Community Foundation provided formal training in volunteer management and event coordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Day of Service was executed through broad cross-campus collaboration, with partners including Student Affairs, Alumni Relationships, Career Services, the Office of the President, the Office of Government Relations, VCU Police, the School of Social Work, the School of Education, the Health Hub at 25th, the Mary and Frances Youth Center, University College, Office of Athletics, and Human Resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Day of Service represents more than a single event; it reflects a commitment to community-engaged practice grounded in respect, partnership, and mutual learning. It affirms that communities possess inherent strengths, resilience, and expertise, and that meaningful engagement requires us to approach this work with humility and intentionality.”<\/em> \u2014 Verenda Cobbs, Senior Manager for Civic Innovation and Partnerships<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inaugural event demonstrated that community engagement is an institutional commitment expressed through the people who make up VCU. Two focus groups will be held on April 22, 2026, at 10 AM & 4 PM to share feedback on how participation benefited the community and how this experience can become a more sustained partnership with the community and be offered in the future. Visit community.vcu.edu<\/a> to sign up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Student Engagement and Experiential Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This month, more than 240 VCU students<\/strong> engaged through community-based learning across our programs\u2014through service learning, internships, Federal Work Study placements, graduate assistantships, and volunteer leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Health Hub<\/strong>, 66 students engaged across academic classes, nursing rotations through the Mobile Health and Wellness (MHWP), and internships. Two BSW interns completed the full arc of community-based research placement: administering surveys with community members in the early semester, then shifting in March to data analysis, program preparation, and community outreach. Their reflections speak to the depth of that learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My internship at the VCU Health Hub has enhanced my academic learning experience by allowing me to apply social work theories in real-world settings, strengthen my communication skills, and gain a deeper understanding of how community-based resources can help support individuals.”<\/em> \u2014 Aleah Etue, 4th Year BSW Student<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This internship has enhanced my academic learning by helping me apply classroom lessons, develop resilience, and navigate real-world challenges thoughtfully.”<\/em> \u2014 Katie Dawson, 4th Year BSW Student<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mary and Frances Youth Center engaged 93 VCU students this month across open and club pickleball and volunteer roles. This number was supported by 19 student staff members, including a Graduate Assistant, two Transformative Federal Work Study interns, and two Social Work Interns. Laila McGlone, <\/strong>a social work intern, <\/strong>is co-leading the Youth Advisory Board alongside Graduate Assistant Betty Kiconco and facilitated a mental health workshop for youth at Wilder Middle School. This work demonstrates how student practitioners, when well-supported, can contribute meaningfully to community wellbeing while deepening their professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student Spotlight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meet Xavier Wise<\/strong>, a Real Estate major at BCU and a dedicated member of the Student Council for Community Engagement. Xavier has made giving back a central part of his college experience, volunteering his time and energy to uplift those around him. His passion for community engagement continues to shape him into a well-rounded leader both on and off campus. \u25b6\ufe0f View his spotlight video to hear more about his journey \ud83c\udfa5 !<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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