Celebrating Community Impact Through Storytelling
Meet the people behind the partnerships that strengthen Richmond and VCU.
The Division of Community Engagement is dedicated to fostering strong partnerships and amplifying the shared impact between the university and the Richmond community. The Community Impact Spotlight Series serves as a platform to showcase the vital work of VCU faculty, staff, students, and community collaborators. Through thoughtful interviews, we explore their experiences, connections to Richmond neighborhoods and organizations, and their enduring commitment to community engagement.
This series also reflects on the evolving landscape of Richmond and VCU, acknowledging the changes that have shaped both and celebrating the unique strengths of these partnerships.
Together, we aim to build bridges, deepen understanding, and create lasting partnerships that strengthen our shared community.
For more information, email Alliannah Hamilton hamiltonae@vcu.edu.
In this Community Impact Spotlight, we sit down with the leaders of The Ealey Project to uncover the powerful, nearly forgotten story of the Honorable Roland J. Duke Ealey—a civil rights attorney and community leader whose impact shaped major legal battles across the South. Through a remarkable discovery of more than 230,000 documents hidden in a sealed basement, community members and preservationists are bringing Ealey’s legacy back into public view. From Brown v. Board of Education to Irene Morgan v. Greyhound Bus, Ealey’s influence touched some of the most pivotal civil rights cases in American history. Learn how The Ealey Project, in collaboration with the Historic Jackson Ward Association and the Library of Virginia, is working to preserve this vital history—and why telling stories like Ealey’s is essential to understanding our past and shaping our future.
Meet Dre’mon Miller, founder of Street Smartz Over Safety LLC and department chair for criminal justice at Reynolds Community College. A Richmond native and VCU graduate, Dre’mon has dedicated his career to giving back—through law enforcement, education, and community empowerment. In this spotlight, he shares his journey, the inspiration behind Street Smart Services, and his commitment to mentoring the next generation. Learn how his experiences at VCU shaped his path and how his Street Smarts Girls program creates safe spaces for young women.
Yolanda Hall, CEO and Founder of Unbreakable Minds Coaching, shares her journey from growing up in Far Rockaway, New York, to becoming a dedicated youth mindset coach. Through her work, she helps young people shift their perspectives, find their voices, and unlock their full potential. In this inspiring spotlight, Yolanda discusses the power of understanding trauma, the importance of mentorship, and how her own experiences shaped her passion for service.