Community initiatives

Consistent with Virginia Commonwealth University’s urban mission and Grace E. Harris’ legacy of community involvement, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute supports projects that build the local community’s capacity to advance positive change. Projects are based firmly on models of collaborative partnership between the university and community leaders.

Services

The institute provides services such as organizational consultation, facilitation, planning, leadership development and evaluation on these initiatives. Emerging leaders in community organizations are strengthened and encouraged through the provision of resources and support.

Institute staff members have taught mini-courses in the Non-Profit Learning Center program and have provided a variety of consultative and facilitation services to community-based nonprofit organizations, such as the Richmond Chapter of American Red Cross’ strategic planning process for the Hispanic Outreach Initiative (Colaborandos Juntos) and Homeward-Richmond.

In addition, the institute has provided consulting and evaluation services to Norfolk State University’s Presidential Leadership Institute and has designed and facilitated sessions for various departments within Richmond city government.