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Neighborhoods and communities

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Located in the heart of Richmond, VCU is uniquely positioned to help students expand their education experience while supporting the larger community. From neighborhood design and youth education programs to effective government and cultural diversity, the College offers initiatives, academic programs, research collaborations and community resources that enhance the university’s partnerships within the Richmond region.

  • College and campus initiatives
  • Academic programs
  • Community resources

College and campus initiatives

The following initiatives organize students, faculty and members of the community to help build relationships with organizations and neighborhoods in the Richmond area.

College initiatives

  • Along with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Urban Institute and Wayne State University, John Accordino, associate professor in the Wilder School, collaborated on a study of Richmond’s Neighborhoods in Bloom [PDF] program.
  • In collaboration with several community partners, faculty and students in the Wilder School developed DataShare to make data on the greater Richmond area easy to access.
  • As home to one of the Centers for Disease Control’s Academic Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention, the VCU Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development works with a range of community partners to reduce risk for Richmond youth.
  • Faculty and units within the College have a 16-year history of working with a number of community partners and the Annie E. Casey Foundation to improve the lives of children and families in the East End of Richmond through the East End Partnership with Families.

Campus initiatives

  • The Carver-VCU Partnership strives to create a safe and nurturing urban community by improving the neighborhood’s quality of life while expanding on the classroom and university experience.
  • VCU’s School of Social Work partners with nonprofit service agencies to develop programs, assess service delivery and provide consultation, while educating our students.
  • The Community Nursing Organization links the community and the School of Nursing to develop innovative nursing and multidisciplinary practices that address public health needs.

Academic programs

If you’re interested in pursuing a major that combines classroom experience with a working relationship with the community, the College of Humanities and Sciences’ L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs offers the following academic programs.

Urban Studies and Geography

Community resources

Visit the Web sites below to learn more about the city of Richmond, its neighborhoods and the development of its communities and citizens.

VCU Department of Music Virginia Commonwealth University