Building Together: Community Voices, Academic Impact
At VCU, community engagement is not a side project. It is a shared practice rooted in trust, collaboration, and the belief that scholarship can be co-authored with the communities we serve.
This fall, the VCU Division of Community Engagement continues to demonstrate how academic inquiry and community wisdom can shape meaningful change. One of the most powerful examples comes from the 2024 Academic-Community Planning Grants, which supported faculty and community partners in designing projects that reflect mutual priorities. As Dr. Antonio Villa, Executive Director of La Casa de la Salud, shared:
“This grant created a space where my voice as a community partner was genuinely heard. My recommendations shaped real outcomes; we weren’t just invited to the table to review something—we were building it together.”
That spirit of co-creation is reflected across the Division’s work this semester, from youth development and health equity to legal empowerment and place-based partnerships.
Youth Development in Action
The Mary and Frances Youth Center launched Cohort 2 of the Advanced Certificate in Youth Development Management, welcoming 15 dedicated professionals committed to advancing positive youth development. In partnership with Richmond Public Schools, the Center is also supporting out-of-school time learning at Carver Elementary, Star Seed Academy, Cultural Roots, Wilder Middle School, CodeRVA, and Peter Paul Development Center.
Health Hub at 25th: Wellness Rooted in Community
Each month, certified community health worker Ivy Bell leads the Hub Club, while entrepreneur-in-residence Malique Middleton facilitates weekly sessions on safe food growing. The Hub also hosts free legal workshops on Virginia’s landlord-tenant laws, weekly legal consultations, and wellness programming through Mobile Health and Wellness and Fitness Warriors.
Advancing Scholarship Through Engagement
The Division’s Community Engaged Scholarship Series continues to spotlight faculty whose work bridges academic rigor and community relevance. In September, Dr. Kathy Tossas shared insights from The T.R.U.T.H. Project. On October 22, faculty will gather for an in-person workshop focused on transforming outreach into scholarly contributions.
Measuring What Matters
This year’s Impact Collaborative workgroup convened faculty from across the university, including the School of Nursing, School of Public Health, and Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research. Together, they explored how VCU defines and measures the impact of community engagement. Two recent community stakeholder meetings deepened that conversation, asking not just what we do, but why it matters.
Civic Joy at Carver Elementary
VCU’s long-standing partnership with G.W. Carver Elementary continues to thrive. Volunteers joined VCU Police and the Kiwanis Club of Richmond for a spirited Welcome Back event, supported summer beautification days, and are now preparing for Carver Spirit and Field Day.
From grants to gardening, from literacy to leadership development, the Division of Community Engagement is building a university culture where scholarship and service go hand in hand. As Dr. Villa reminds us, the most powerful outcomes emerge when we build together.
Campus Tour Brings Provost to Community Engagement Leaders
Dr. Beverly Warren, VCU’s interim provost, met with leaders from the Division of Community Engagement at the beginning of the fall semester. The August conversation was part of a series of meetings the provost is holding with units across the university.
Read our full September Newsletter and explore the 2024–2025 Annual Report for more.
Categories Community Engagement, Provost