VCU Division of Community Engagement

Within the framework of VCU's Thriving Communities Theme as outlined in Quest 2028, the concept of "priority partner communities" takes center stage as a crucial component of the university's mission and impact. 

A "Priority Partner Community” is a special focus area where VCU strategically directs its engagement efforts to create a significant positive impact. It can be a specific place or a particular issue that requires attention. This focus is essential because sometimes our efforts are spread thin across various places, and by concentrating on one community or issue, we have the potential to make a more significant impact. This approach allows us to achieve better results, measure our progress effectively, and build strong and enduring partnerships.

Priority Partner Communities (Based on Geography/Location)

1. Carver
2. Jackson Ward
3. East End
4. Petersburg
5. Blackwell
6. Manchester
7. Southwood
8. Charles City

The existing geographic priority partner communities encompass a wide range of areas, including communities where VCU is physically situated, neighboring communities, as well as communities selected based on existing engagement and partnerships, social, economic, and health data, and specific requests from stakeholders. It is crucial to note that VCU's initiatives extend beyond these communities, and these efforts will continue to be supported.

Exploring Priority Areas: A Strategic Focus (Priority based on Issue)

While priority partner communities play a pivotal role in our community engagement efforts, it is equally essential to recognize the significance of addressing priority issues within and beyond these designated communities. The priority areas listed below are not static; rather, they offer guidance and flexibility to adapt to evolving community needs and emerging challenges.

1. Health equity and disparities
2. Art, social, technological development
3. Economic and workforce development
4. Pre-K-16 student success 
5. Youth Development
6. Partnership development and collaboration
7. Transformative student engagement
8. Richmond’s History

Enhancing Impact: The primary goal of prioritizing communities is to concentrate VCU's efforts, resources, and expertise in these areas. This focus aims to maximize the university's impact on social, economic, and health drivers, ultimately promoting collective impact and positive change within these communities.

Building a Sustainable University-Wide Partnership Database for Thriving Communities

In light of the emphasis on designating specific communities for focused efforts and the success metric within the Thriving Communities theme of Quest 2028, it becomes increasingly apparent that establishing a sustainable, university-wide partnership database is of paramount importance. Such a database would play a pivotal role in effectively capturing our current engagements, identifying areas where further engagement is needed, specifying the diverse types of engagement required, pinpointing new engagement opportunities, and enabling the measurement of the depth, breadth, and impact of coordinated programs across student engagement and research within identified partner communities.