Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting Health By Strengthening Community Partnerships, Alexandria Brown, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Alberto Cano, Harmeet Chiang, Mazhar Kanak, Bridget Prince, Erin Wilson

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Social inequities, such as employment, living conditions, and food insecurity, can adversely affect health. Our project explores the efficient integration of social determinants of health into patient care. Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments in which people live, work, and play that impact overall wellbeing and quality of life. We propose leveraging the VCU Health system to support already existing community partnerships to improve housing access and social assistance for vulnerable populations, specifically targeting Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. We will connect patients to community resources to reduce health disparities, improve health outcomes, and lower costs.

Healthy Communities: Flooded With Injustice?, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Mel Borja, Krystle Dorsey, Tiffany Garner, Edgar Greer, Denise Harrington, Paula Robinson, Jalesha Smith, Dominique Thaxton, Jeffery Wilson Phd

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

"HB1276 Comprehensive plan; Healthy Communities Strategy" authorizes defined localities to incorporate a healthy communities strategy into the next iteration of their local comprehensive plan and to engage the public in the process. In the absence of a predetermined definition, this report adopts the American Planning Association (APA) guidance as a standard, that a healthy community is a place where “all individuals have access to healthy built, social, economic, and natural environments that give them the opportunity to live their fullest potential regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, income, age, abilities, or other socially defined circumstance.”1 This report will discuss how …

Why T.R.I.P Matters?, Jumoke Akinrimsi, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Lamar Bates, Arrington Evans, Kelly Evans, Lawrence Green, Trina Louise, Melissa Mason, Freddy Mejia, Lachelle Waller

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Through the work of the House and Senate chief patrons: Delegate Delores L McQuinn (HB 142) and Senator George L. Barker (SB 342) changes to the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) intended to increase funding to reduce the impact on public transit fares on individuals with low-incomes were signed into law during Virginia’s 2022 legislative session. House Bill (HB 142) and Senate Bill (SB 342) builds on 2020 legislation establishing TRIP to promote improved transit service in urbanized areas 1 of the Commonwealth with a population of more than 100,000 and to reduce barriers to transit use for low-income individuals. …

16th Annual Higher Ground Women's Leadership Conference, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kiara S. Faulks, Sianna Westley, Nakeina E. Douglas-Glenn

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

"Seizing Tomorrow, Today," challenges participants to develop a practice of Prospective Reflection- a deliberate practice of strategic foresight to aid in facing the challenges and opportunities that exist beyond us. Prospective reflection is unique because it forces us to capitalize on this time of era-defining moments and to imagine what is possible. Today's conference will aid you in translating your values into actions, your dreams into reality, and your hopes into happens. Delivered through a high-impact combination of short, narrative-driven lectures, interactive panels, and individualized strategic reflection activities, the day will culminate in an action plan for moving your leadership …

Whistles Against Street Harassment (Wash), Rami Ammoun, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Amita Goyal Chin, Dwayne Cooper, Margaret Turman Kidd, Hannah Miller, Melyatta Powers, Angela Reynolds

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

As an urban university nestled in a bustling city, VCU is committed to having all members of the community feel safe in public spaces. The Whistles Against Street Harassment (WASH) initiative aims to improve the safety of our VCU community by (1) providing a whistle, a practical and easyto- use tool that the target or bystanders can use to disrupt street harassment, and (2) raising awareness and dialogue related to street harassment and public safety. RAINN defines street harassment as “unwanted comments, gestures, or acts directed at someone in a public space without their consent.”1 Street harassment is not …

Vcu Research Festival: From Ideas To Impact, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Samsam Ali, Marlo Brown, Elizabeth Fredericksen-Trent, Catherine Ham, Carly Katz, Tiffany Murray-Robertson, John Quillin

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Since its beginning, VCU has been inextricably intertwined with the Richmond community - physically, socially, and economically. That dynamic interdependence, if leveraged correctly, can help us achieve the vision of Quest 2028. VCU’s website notes, “...our past has made us who we are…” And that past has not always helped maintain our critical relationship with the surrounding community. It is telling that this year’s VCU Common Book is Organ Thieves — a book about VCU’s own Henrietta Lacks story. Research at VCU led to Virginia’s first organ transplants, but there are different stories we can tell about VCU’s historic roads …

Ensure Everyone Succeeds, Kayla Anderson, Jill Butler, Leigh Anne Hylton Gravatt, Parthasarathy Madurantakam, Ingrid Redway, Maria Teves, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Students in the post-baccalaureate certificate and graduate programs on the Health Science Campus (MS, PhD, and first professional programs including DDS, PharmD, and MD) are highly motivated to succeed in their chosen career paths. Needless to say, these courses are very heavy on didactics and challenge the best of the students. Typically, these programs have rigid curricular designs and offer little to no flexibility to students in choosing the courses. It is fast-paced, high in curricular hours and the students cannot afford to have mishaps without jeopardizing their careers. While this stringent curriculum is necessary for VCU to maintain its …

Paying It Forward: A Strategy For Developing A Culture Of Lifelong Engagement And Inclusion For First-Generation Students, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Winifred Campbell, Kuei-Lan Chuang, Maria Rivera, Christopher Schreiner, Jon Snider, Srinivas Sistla

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This project aims to propose a strategy for VCU to increase the engagement and connection among First-Generation VCU students to create lifelong commitment as alumni through VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR). The team proposes to expand DAR’s outreach through collaboration with key VCU stakeholders (e.g., YOU First at VCU). By developing a positive undergraduate experience, students’ loyalty to VCU will result in greater engagement as alumni, paying it forward.

15th Annual Higher Ground Women's Leadership Conference Booklet, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

The practice of leadership is most often understood within the

context of relationships inside organizations and institutions. The

boundaries that dictated our lives months before have all but

dissolved, prompting the need to reconsider our definition of

leadership, where it takes place, and who controls it.

Circumstances and opportunities have required women to

readjust their expectations and what is expected of them. While

the past 18-months took a physical, emotional, social, and political

toll on many families, it has also provided a moment for reflection,

resignation, recovery, and reimagination of what our lives could

be beyond this moment. It has …

Vcu College Of Humanities And Sciences Racial Equity Assessment, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Nayef Chahin, Nicole Damico, Ross Losapio, Joycelyn Mahone, Virginia Mcghee, Meera Mehtahi, Ryan Patton

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Racial equity is the process of ensuring that equal possible outcomes are available for every individual. At the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) an important goal is to ensure faculty and staff have access to the same opportunities, while accounting for those facing continued barriers. Following the establishment of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, the current state of racial equity and the effectiveness of initiatives meant to correct for imbalance will be assessed.

Use Of A Climate And Culture Survey To Assess Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Initiatives At The Vcu School Of Social Work, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Joanna Bell, Chandra Bhati, Rucha Bond, Keara Chambers, David Edwards, Melissa Jamerson, Bryce Nelson

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

The project aimed to create a survey to assess the effectiveness of previously implemented diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, specifically racial equity at the VCU School of Social Work. The VCU School of Social Work has been actively working with their faculty and staff to address DEI at their school and encourage them to become active in DEI initiatives in other areas in the community. School of Social Work leadership was looking for a way to assess if those DEI initiatives met their intended purpose. This project researched ways to assess the effectiveness of DEI initiatives. The result was …

Leadership Lessons Learned, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Katherine Donowitz, Carole Ivey, Aniket Jadhav, Marcel Jennings, Emily Lilley, Patricia Sobczak, Tammy Williams

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Leaders at VCU were interviewed to gather their lessons learned, their triumphs, and their challenges in regards to COVID-19. More than ten interviews were completed with leaders across both VCU campuses and at varying positions at the university. Their responses, gathered in a multi-media case study of “lessons learned,” were collected to serve as inspirations for learning about leadership through success in a crisis.

Communication Strategies For Connecting Onevcu, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Jason Jacobus, Amy Lutero, Mary Peace Mcrae, Shravan Renapurkar, Kristin Richardson, Christian Wernz, Tonka Williams

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This project analyzes and makes improvement suggestions for communication to VCU faculty and staff. The COVID-19 crisis has brought to light a variety of communication needs. Faculty and staff are feeling overwhelmed by a flood of emails, while at the same time are missing key information. We have assessed the current communication infrastructure, and together with the key VCU communicators have identified improved processes and policies.

Evaluating Academia During A Pandemic, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Mary Fain, Nicholas Georges, Janina Golob Deeb, Lisa Mathews-Ailsworth, Rita Shiang, Patrick Smith

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

COVID-19 disrupted educational instruction which transitioned into remote learning and testing modes. Faculty adopted various platforms of remote learning, however, the students' perception of efficacy and adequacy remains unclear. Curriculum delivery transformation should be based on student feedback to align it with their needs and expectations. As remote learning evolves, it is important to identify perceptions from faculty and students. Our project might help improve and potentially enhance remote teaching and learning techniques.

Protect & Disinfect: Covid Upcycling, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Ilvy Cotterell, Collin Cox, Parthenia Dinora, Zachary Hilpert, Veronica King, Carmen Rodriguez, Alexis Shockley

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Students returning to campus will be responsible for the frequent cleaning and disinfecting of their living spaces to help limit and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Sterile, unused towels are thrown away every day in operating rooms at the VCU Health System. These towels will be collected and distributed to VCU residential halls, providing students with a free and accessible resource for the daily cleaning and disinfecting needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Annual Higher Ground Women's Leadership Conference 2020, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Rams Research Maker-Space, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Lelia Brinegar, Ashley Carroll, Stephanie Hart, Larry Medina, Elicia Preslan, Melissa Throckmorton, Jeffery Wilson

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

VCU offers a rich and varied environment around research, however the abundance of resources and webpages are housed in the respective units. RAMS Research Maker-Space presents a prototype of a virtual research collaboration and resource hub available for use by the whole VCU community. This online platform aims to strengthen the research collaboration infrastructure by linking the research resources found across VCU’s two campuses into one access point. Designed as an open access, resource rich digital maker-space, it promotes creativity, inclusion, and trans-disciplinary research and scholarship.

Vcu Brew, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Denise Bullock, Lauren Dunn, Brian Fowlkes, Hermine Maes, Elizabeth Marlowe, Fernando Tenjo-Fernandez, Zakia Williams

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

VCU Brew is an innovative proposal to create a VCU branded signature beer. The Campus Connectors will present a rationale showing how this proposal will i) potentially generate revenue to benefit VCU scholarships and academic programs, ii) create opportunities for experiential learning by engaging VCU students in product development, branding, labeling, marketing, business, and awareness of responsible drinking, iii) and guide the process of partnering with local breweries to provide practical expertise and stimulate entrepreneurship initiatives that lead to distribution at VCU athletic, community and Alumni events, while increasing ties with the community and national prominence.

One Vcu Art, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Jeff Eastman, Soundarya Gowda, Elaine Reeder, India Sisler, Claudia Testa, Matt Wallin

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Art and creativity are at the core of VCU’s identity and culture. ONE VCU Art envisions a vibrant and diverse public art landscape on the VCU campuses that equals VCU’s national reputation and enhances connections with our urban home of Richmond. VCU’s nationally ranked arts programs as well as its relationship with the city of Richmond allow for opportunity to revive efforts to enhance current and future public art on the two Richmond campuses. This is in conjunction with the goals and priorities set out by the VCU strategic plan, Quest 2025: Together We Transform.

Expanding First Generation Student Support Services At Vcu, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Megan Coe, Becky Durfee, Jessica Laux, Milos Manic, Kristen Reed, Wei Zhang

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This project aims to increase first-generation student outcomes by taking existing YouFirst programming to scale. The team proposes to expand university outreach and to leverage expanded engagement into the construction of a First Gen Network through a university-wide ambassador program. This network will grow programming over the next three to five years through annual faculty and staff outreach and the creation of a pipeline for cross-unit communication and collaboration.

Vcu In Motion, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Renee Adams, Tracey Dawson Cruz, John Glover, Brianne Jackson, Mark Marinello, Rashmi Pershad, James Wasilewski

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

VCU is an active, urban university that experiences challenges with pedestrian safety, cyclist safety, and anticipated electric scooter user safety. Pedestrian crashes occur at a high frequency across the VCU campus and steps need to be taken to make pedestrians more aware of the dangers they face in traveling on foot. From 2015 to 2018, there were 84 pedestrian accidents with one fatality within the boundaries of VCU. Set against the backdrop of the ONE VCU Master Plan VCU in Motion aims to increase pedestrian safety by developing educational initiatives and signage to help pedestrians understand current state and local …

Mind Your Meds: Safe Opioid Disposal Awareness, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Mary Ann Davies, Jenny Fox, Kenneth Johnson, Jennifer Papenfuse, Michelle Schmitt, Shijun Zhang, Lori Zoghby

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Driven by the effects of the opioid epidemic on friends, family members, students, and patients, members of the 2019 GEHLI Team “Mission Possible” are dedicated to bolstering educational awareness of safe leftover opioid disposal methods to decrease the supply of opioids in our community. On average, over 2/3 of opioid prescription medications are leftover and lead to later misuse or abuse (JAMA Survey). Despite a decrease in prescription writing for pain medication over the years, the mortality rate from overdose, and the rate of infants born to mothers with opioid abuse continues to steadily increase in Virginia (VDH). Team Mission …

Sb 106 Congressional And State Legislative Districts; Standards And Criteria, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Amber Adams, Kristen Dahlman, John Darnell Hicks, Cassandra Reynolds, Vanessa Walker Harris

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This report examines Senate Bill (SB) 106, introduced during the 2018 Virginia General Assembly session to address the criterion of redistricting and the specific impact on racial and ethnic minorities. This legislation is a direct response to previous legislative attempts to address gerrymandering and remains an evolving issue in the Commonwealth.

Hb 69 Grocery Investment Program And Fund, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Taryn Anthony, Tracey Dunn, Stephen Miller-Pitts, Grant Rissler, Barbara Williams-Lewis

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

In the 2018 session of the Virginia General Assembly, multiple pieces of legislation were brought to committee, proposing the creation of a fund to catalyze public-private partnerships to expand access to Virginians residing in food deserts. Through the creation of the fund, underserved communities would see the construction, rehabilitation and expansion of food retailers in their communities ameliorate food desserts.

Sb 909/Hb 1408 Virginia Fair Housing Law; Unlawful Discriminatory Housing Practices, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Saman Aghaebrahim, Erica Brown-Meredith, Tarik Claiborne, Danielle Richardson, Kera Woodard

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This report provides a legislative racial impact analysis of Senate Bill (SB) 909, a proposed bill in the Virginia General Assembly, to expand the Virginia Fair Housing Law to include lawful sources of income. Specifically, this report examines state and county source of income laws and their variances by race and ethnicity.

Annual Higher Ground Women's Leadership Conference 2017, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Leadership With Grace, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Susan Gooden, Nakeina E. Douglas

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

A remarkable lady of incredible talent and vision, Dr. Grace Edmondson Harris had a unique experience with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). A native of rural Halifax County in southern Virginia, she was denied admission to graduate study at VCU (then Richmond Professional Institute), a large public university in Richmond, Virginia. Ironically, later in 1967, Dr. Harris became the first African American female faculty member in the School of Social Work at VCU and ascended the ranks to become Dean of the School of Social Work, Provost, and Acting President prior to her retirement in 1999. Although Dr. Harris has strong …

Vcu Internal Alignment Project, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Mark Jacubec, Alicia Hodges, Anne Hawkins, Leonard Dilligard, Bonnie Brown

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

The purpose of this project was to see how many projects were actually implemented fully throughout the years of the program. The group members contacted others who they personally knew on the project teams of six prior projects that related to VCU Infrastructure (VCU Internal Alignment projects). Interestingly, in many cases these alumni volunteered input and constructive feedback on the institute as well. The projects included Campus Pride (2005), VCU Center for Research Excellence (2005), Monroe Park Fall Festival (2006), MERCI (2006), University Link Tank (2008), and The Next Generation (2009). All of the projects were drafted and presented in …

Phase B: Community Outreach, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Denise Branch, Patti Ferguson, Daniel Park, Vilma Seymour, Mary Beth Taormina

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Initial goal: to collect data to facilitate the 20 I 0 G EH LI class in determining the degree of success of the eight community outreach projects in preparation for Phase 2 of team projects.

Evolving goal: to present an evaluation of the GEHLI project process and its possible effect on the success of the institute.

Cultivating Hospital Volunteers And Auxiliary Board Leadership: The Next Generation, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Martha Clements, Nicole Dailey, Ingrid Mercer, Kelli Parmley, Michelle Peace, Jennifer Thompson

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

In spring 2009, Team Vision accepted the challenge from the VCUHS Hospital Auxiliary Board to assist in increasing the auxiliary volunteer population. After meeting with the Auxiliary Board, Volunteer Services, and John Duvall (team mentor), Team Vision proposed a project that would look more globally at volunteer recruitment, training and placement, and retention.As the project evolved, we also examined how the two organizations could draw on their deep experience and resources not only to develop a robust volunteer population , but to develop and strengthen their own organizations to better define their goals and ensure an Auxiliary Board membership of …