College of Humanities and Sciences

Current Students

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Community Engagement

Students in College of Humanities and Sciences are part of the dynamic and vibrant Richmond metro community and engage with the community in various ways—through personal volunteerism, service learning classes and community research experiences. Are you interested in tutoring a student from a local elementary school, working on a community garden in a food desert or volunteering at a local health clinic? These are just a few of the many activities our students are engaged in. Find ways you can get involved below.

Visit VCU's Community Engagement website

Featured Organizations

Students, staff, and faculty are engaged with several community organizations in the Richmond metro area.

Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart supports Latinx/Latino families in the Richmond metro area by providing them with tools to thrive and flourish. Sacred Heart provides an array of services and resources, such as adult GED classes, English as a second language (ESOL), conversational Spanish and the Latino Leadership Institute. The organization offers several youth and children's programs, such as Casa Lupiz, in which middle school ESOL students explore different art mediums including drawing, painting and sculpture. Volunteers are essential to Sacred Heart. They teach English classes, tutor Spanish and GED classes, read to children, paint murals on the walls, help register students, record attendance, practice citizenship interview skills and photograph events among many other activities.

Equality Virginia

Equality Virginia (EV) is the leading advocacy organization in Virginia seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people. EV advances LGBTQ protections by monitoring LGBTQ-related legislation in Virginia and advocating on behalf of Virginia’s LGTBQ community. EV also seeks to move Virginia’s transgender and non-binary community toward equality through community conversations, resources and community connections. Several opportunities exist to get engaged in EV (e.g, donations, petition work and/or hosting a speaker).

Health Brigade

Health Brigade, formerly known as the Fan Free Clinic, is Virginia’s oldest free and charitable clinic located in Richmond’s historic Fan District. Health Brigade was established in the 1970s as a small community clinic and patterned itself after similar efforts in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Health Brigade provides diverse and integrated medical, mental health, community outreach and care coordination services for low-income and uninsured persons. Health Brigade has several volunteer opportunities for healthcare professionals as well as mental health and wellness internships, and group volunteer opportunities.

my service experience

Carver Dance gave me and other VCU students an opportunity to use our skills and knowledge from the classroom to support nearby Richmond communities. It is so fulfilling to see kids open up and have fun with the dances we share with them, as it shows us that they feel more comfortable expressing themselves.

Joanna 
Rivera
Student
Kinesiology and Health Sciences

Community Engagement Highlights

Gabriela León-Pérez poses with her Latino Virginia students and undergraduate research assistants. (Photo contributed by Gabriela León-Pérez)

Nov. 12, 2024

Latino Virginia oral history project gives voice to stories that supplant stereotypes

The collaboration from VCU professors Gabriela León-Pérez and Daniel Morales will form a public database documenting the state’s fastest-growing minority population.

VCU students have been active with voter outreach efforts. (Contributed photo)

Oct. 7, 2024

With a growing footprint, VCU Votes makes the case for student civic engagement

This week’s National Voter Education Week features several on-campus events designed to increase awareness among student voters.

Students, faculty and staff at VCU are leading an array of efforts to help get people to the polls this year. (Getty Images)

Sept. 17, 2024

This week’s National Voter Registration Day is a rallying point for student engagement

VCU promotes student voting in a number of ways, and political science professor Amanda Wintersieck offers insight into how young voters are – and aren’t – engaging in the electoral landscape.