Social and Economic Development Initiatives at VCU's Division of Community Engagement

Our social and economic development initiatives aim to reshape the urban landscape and empower community members through strategic partnerships, alignment, and impactful projects. Led by Stephen Davenport, our Assistant Vice President for Social and Economic Development, these initiatives follow a comprehensive and iterative implementation plan:

Implementation Pathway:

1. Community Input: We start by gathering insights from the community to understand their needs, concerns, and priorities.
2. Program Development: Based on community input, we develop targeted programs to address the identified needs and goals.
3. Resources: Resources  are allocated to support effective program implementation.
4. Advocacy Creation & Projects: We initiate advocacy efforts to raise awareness, garner support, and mobilize stakeholders around our program objectives. Our advocacy projects educate community members on lobbying local government and provide accessible resources to empower active engagement in advocacy efforts.
5. Return to Community Input: Feedback loops are established to continuously engage the community, gather additional input, and assess the program's effectiveness.
6. Continuation: The process repeats, incorporating new insights and feedback to refine existing programs and develop new ones, ensuring continued relevance and impact.

Current Workforce and Economic Development Projects:

• CE Council: Aligning VCU resources with project goals for enhanced economic development.
• Economic Development Advisory Board: Community members directing VCU economic development projects.
• Legacy Builders Academy: Carpenters Workforce Development.
• The Spot: A community engagement initiative.
• SWAM Initiatives: Enhancing spending with small, women, and minority-owned businesses in collaboration with VCU's treasurer and infrastructure departments to promote economic inclusion and diversity.
• Human Resource Hub (HR HUB): Offering micro-credentials and HR support, including mock interviews, to community members for potential employment at VCU.
• Community Resource Hub: Providing comprehensive support services for small businesses and nonprofits, including access to VCU Library and additional resources through an affiliate program.
• Affinity Funding Group: Supporting community projects with seed grant funding sourced from both internal and external VCU channels.

By fostering a continuous dialogue with the community and leveraging our resources, we strive to create sustainable social and economic development, empowering individuals and transforming our urban environment.

Resources