Digital Commons Network^™

Environmental Governance For Whom? Examining The Political, Institutional, Fiscal, And Legal Determinants Of State Environmental Agency Budget Policy In The Us, Andrew R. Duggan

Theses and Dissertations

Budgets are a prospective tool of governance, and appropriations are a planning vehicle reflecting: bureaucracies’ values, complex interactions, collective preferences, political influences, and available resources. Research spanning 30 years finds that environmental pollution is a key determinant of environmental budgets in the US, though myriad factors, actors, and subsystems are important to consider. Due to federalism and devolution of responsibilities and authorities, environmental governance falls largely to the states. While the dynamics that shape state environmental budget policy have received scholarly interest, theoretically-driven examinations of environmental appropriations remain limited within the public budgeting and environmental policy literature.

Using panel data …

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.

The Chesterfield Pike Plan: A Community Revitalization Plan For Historic Route 1, Eric Van Mai

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Chesterfield Pike Plan complements Chesterfield County’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the northern section of the Jefferson Davis Highway corridor. By focusing on housing and local economic challenges on what is locally known as “The Pike,” this plan explores community revitalization strategies in a diverse inner-ring suburb. The Pike has been impacted by the nationwide trends of suburban poverty and immigrant suburbanization, which present challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of revitalization. Striking a balance between meeting community needs and economic growth requires a plan that identifies ways in which both new private investment and the existing community can benefit. …

The Eastern Goochland Greenway: Connecting Goochland's Past, Present, And Future, Scott A. Newhart

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Eastern Goochland Greenway Plan proposes a shared-use trail that is nested within the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) conceptualization of a statewide trail system called the James River Heritage Trail (JRHT). The JRHT includes shared use bicycle and pedestrian facilities as well as water trail access points that would connect pre-existing trail systems to new proposed trails that are parallel with and in close proximity to Virginia’s James River corridor and all of the natural, cultural, and historic resource opportunities that the surrounding areas offer. Specifically, the Eastern Goochland Greenway aims to serve two major purposes; to …

A Framework For Forming Resident-Controlled Manufactured Housing Communities In Richmond, Linwood Rogers

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Despite manufactured housing representing one of the most affordable, unsubsidized housing options for families in the United States, the nature of ownership in many manufactured housing communities places families at constant risk of displacement. In mobile home parks, where a household owns their manufactured home but rents the land underneath it from a park owner, residents have few protections from eviction. Richmond contains 58 mobile home parks housing nearly 6,000 households, but poor park conditions and neglect from park owners has threatened the viability of many communities. In other parts of the country, residents have gained control of their communities …

3014 Meadowbridge Rd: A Community-Engaged Opportunity-Based Re-Investment Action Plan, Antwan L. Hoy

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan is an asset-based community response for 7^th Street Memorial Baptist Church CDC as a way to revitalize and uplift the Six Points neighborhood of Highland Park. This plan was designed to provide a template for community engagement that would reintroduce a legacy of service to the community while partnering with other community assets to reinvest into the community. The primary action that makes this a prime engagement opportunity is the restoration of 7^th Street Memorial Baptist Church location at 3014 Meadowbridge Rd. Treating the building as an asset for the community and not only the church …

Learning Together: Localism, Collaboration And Reflexivity In The Development Of Prison And University Learning Communities, Amy Ludlow, Ruth Armstrong, Lorana Bartels

Journal of Prison Education and Reentry (2014-2023)

This paper engages with challenges of localism, collaboration and reflexivity in thinking about the conceptualisation and development of partnership learning communities between higher education and criminal justice institutions. Grounded in experiences of partnership working in the UK and Australia, our arguments are twofold: first, drawing on missions, policy and practice challenges, that there is a case to be made for partnership-working between higher education and criminal justice institutions; and second that, although there is a need to think about collaborative international structures, there is also a need to reflect critically on how different socio-political and cultural realities (both within and …

Virginia Commonwealth University Courses [2019], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of courses for the 2019-2020 year.

Increasing Access To Food: A Comprehensive Report On Food Supply Options, Ursp 666 (Commercial Revitalization), Logan Ashby, Chesley De Leon, Vegas Krane, Eric Mai, Shekinah Mitchell, Michael Nixon-Garrison, Gabriella Pino-Moreno, Elizabeth Roderick, Chloe Rote, Jeff Smith, Charlie Wilson, Will Wilson, Hunter Wood

Urban and Regional Studies and Planning Reports

Access to food is one of the most important aspects of a healthy, sustainable community. Grocery stores and other suppliers can serve as an economic anchor to provide social benefits to communities. Unfortunately, many communities do not have convenient and/or affordable access to grocery items, particularly fresh produce.

As part of Virginia Commonwealth University's Fall 2019 graduate course on Urban Commercial Revitalization, class members researched 13 retail and other food access options, which are described in this report. Each chapter covers a food access option and provides basic information that will be useful to individuals, organizations, or government agencies that …

Service-Learning Faculty Assessment: Report Of Results, 2018, Lynn E. Pelco, Katie Elliott, Katie Schifano

Division of Community Engagement Resources

In Spring 2018, the VCU Service-Learning Office sponsored an evaluation process that gathered feedback from faculty members who teach service-learning classes. The goal was to deepen understanding of the barriers faced by VCU’s service-learning faculty instructors and to solicit feedback about key strategies for overcoming these barriers. An independent research consultant conducted the evaluation in two phases: an online anonymous survey and a 30-minute phone interview. Eighty service-learning instructors completed the online survey, and a stratified sample of 18 instructors completed the telephone interviews. Findings indicated that both the online survey respondents and phone interview participants experienced similar supports and …

The Compass, Summer 2019

The Compass, 2018-

The Compass is an annual orientation guide for VCU students produced by the Student Media Collective in the VCU Student Media Centered. The guide is distributed physically during summer orientation sessions for new and transfer students. The publication includes short articles, illustrations, letters of welcome from students and administrators, comics, and advertisements from VCU and Richmond organizations.

Ampthill Neighborhood Market Analysis & Community Strengthening Plan, Claude P. Armstrong

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This is a Strengthening Plan in support of a future commercial corridor development in the Ampthill Neighborhood of Chesterfield County. It is a part of a larger strategy along Jefferson Davis Highway to strengthen ties between neighborhoods and businesses. The Plan encourages economic and community development to create a welcoming destination. A foundation for economic development results and a community road map to assist in navigating discussions, leveraging assets and upgrading transportation infrastructure. This traditionally working-class neighborhood south of Richmond has experienced major demographic change. For others to venture into the area and “get to know it”, Ampthill may …

Initiating And Sustaining Partnerships Presentation, Erin B. Brown

Community Engagement Institute

Initiating & Sustaining Community-Academic Partnerships

Erin Burke Brown, Ph.D., Director, ASPiRE

This workshop presents “5 Simple Steps” for initiating and sustaining community-academic partnerships. Participants will move through the 5 steps to consider the unique aspects of community-academic partnerships, the importance of deliberate and intentional conversations to find mutual benefit, and knowing when/if to terminate the partnership.

Initiating And Sustaining Partnerships Handout, Erin B. Brown

Community Engagement Institute

Initiating & Sustaining Community-Academic Partnerships

Erin Burke Brown, Ph.D., Director, ASPiRE

This workshop presents “5 Simple Steps” for initiating and sustaining community-academic partnerships. Participants will move through the 5 steps to consider the unique aspects of community-academic partnerships, the importance of deliberate and intentional conversations to find mutual benefit, and knowing when/if to terminate the partnership.

Self-Prep Checklist Handout, Erin B. Brown

Community Engagement Institute

Initiating & Sustaining Community-Academic Partnerships

Erin Burke Brown, Ph.D., Director, ASPiRE

This workshop presents “5 Simple Steps” for initiating and sustaining community-academic partnerships. Participants will move through the 5 steps to consider the unique aspects of community-academic partnerships, the importance of deliberate and intentional conversations to find mutual benefit, and knowing when/if to terminate the partnership.

Initiating And Sustaining Partnerships Workshop Agenda, Erin B. Brown

Community Engagement Institute

Initiating & Sustaining Community-Academic Partnerships

Erin Burke Brown, Ph.D., Director, ASPiRE

This workshop presents “5 Simple Steps” for initiating and sustaining community-academic partnerships. Participants will move through the 5 steps to consider the unique aspects of community-academic partnerships, the importance of deliberate and intentional conversations to find mutual benefit, and knowing when/if to terminate the partnership.

Virginia Commonwealth University Courses [2018], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of courses for the 2018-2019 year.

Implementation Plan For The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust To Operate As A Land Bank, Matthew J. Becker

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The purpose of this plan is to provide an implementation framework for The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust (MWCLT) to utilize as it establishes its land banking operations. Through land banking, the MWCLT has an opportunity to address three interconnected issues in Richmond; a lack of affordable housing, a concentration of disadvantaged neighborhoods, and extensive tax delinquency. Currently 44% of all households in Richmond are cost burdened, and the majority of these cost burdened households, 92% of them, are low income households. The vast majority of these cost burdened, low-income households are located within Richmond’s disadvantaged neighborhoods. Richmond suffers from …

Virginia Commonwealth University Stormwater Management Plan, Jesse Harris

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Every year millions of gallons of polluted stormwater and untreated sanitary waste are discharged directly into the James River during combined sewer overflow events. This is a problem considering stormwater is one of the most significant sources of pollution to the nation’s surface waters.

The purpose of the VCU Stormwater Management Plan (VCU SWMP) is to reduce the impact of stormwater pollution using green infrastructure and low impact development best management practices like rain gardens, green roofs, and infiltration trenches. These stormwater control strategies present opportunities for VCU to reduce runoff and to preserve and restore green spaces on an …

Learning Together In Highland Park To Build Civic Capacity, Grace Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the work of nonprofit organizations collaborating with communities to build civic capacity in North Highland Park, a neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. Place-focused planning strategies during the twentieth century diminished civic capacity in the community and fostered isolation. Today, collaborative community work in Highland Park is incorporating the assets, resources and knowledge held in the community into strategies to improve quality of life using collaborative learning. A case study approach closely analyzes community engagement and revitalization processes in North Highland Park between 2011 and 2017. Nonprofit organizations mobilized and led a group of community-based collaborators, including nonprofit staff …

In The Folds: Transforming A City’S Identity Through Art And Social Purposes, Yichien Cooper

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

This autoethnographic narrative retraces my four-year journey as an art commissioner for a city that is transforming beyond the stigma associated with a significant role in early nuclear weapons to a growing agritourism industry. The looming pressure for change is just like when tectonic plates push against each other until there is a quick release, causing earthquakes and eruptions. In the midst of the changing forces, I consider how the arts fold in. There are two purposes in this article that investigates the complexity between civic development and art. First, I will (re)define and (re)frame (Short & Turner, 2013) the …

Community Engagement Institute 2017, Vedette Gavin, Lynn E. Pelco, Katie Elliott, Valerie Holton, Jennifer Early, Erin B. Brown

Community Engagement Institute

Agenda documenting time and dates of speaker presentations. Presentations varied from topics surrounding higher education, community-engaged research, service learning, collaboration between education and communities, and community-academic partner spotlights.

Virginia Commonwealth University Courses [2017], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of courses for the 2017-2018 year.

Team 4 Vcu: Ram Resources: Helping Faculty Help Students, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Pemra Cetin, Winnie Chan, Deborah Diazgranados, Quinton Johnson, Donna Patterson, Margaret Price, Cheri Stickels

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

The Ram Resources Project seeks to provide students with an environment that encourages their well-being by connecting them with resources needed to succeed in their academic career at VCU. Ram Resources will help reduce the detrimental impact of the number-one problem affecting students’ academic performance: stress. Faculty are uniquely situated both to recognize changes in students’ behavior and to assist students with improving their well-being. Beginning with New Faculty Orientation, Ram Resources will educate faculty about resources for well-being available to students. By creating a brochure, a website, and establishing a program of faculty ambassadors to familiarize faculty with the …

Called To Teach: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Community College Adjunct Faculty’S Teaching Self-Efficacy, Christy L. Tyndall

Theses and Dissertations

Adjunct faculty teach over 50% of courses in U.S. higher education but little is known about them as educators. Strong evidence has been found in the K-12 literature demonstrating the link between teachers’ beliefs, instructional practices, and subsequent student outcomes. Teaching self-efficacy, beliefs in one’s capabilities to perform specific tasks in a particular context, is an important contributor to motivation and performance (Tschannen-Moran et al., 1998). This research advances teaching and learning literature in higher education and provides insight into an understudied population of educators by exploring adjunct faculty’s teaching self-efficacy and factors that influence those beliefs. In this mixed …

Conflicted Commons: A Local Makerspace In The Neoliberal City, Caitlin Cunningham

Theses and Dissertations

The commodification of culture, space, and resources is incentivized by neoliberal urbanism. In response, we have seen an attempt to develop collectively organized, oppositional spaces within urban places. The tensions that arise when considering the production of commons in the development of the neoliberal city are the central focus of this paper. As I will observe, these spaces are subjected to commodification as they become increasingly de-politicized through neoliberal ideologies. In order to theorize about these contradictory elements, I observe a makerspace in Richmond, Virginia called HackRVA. Specifically, I consider HackRVA as an urban commons. Through in-depth interviews and participant …

Virginia Commonwealth University Courses [2016], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of courses for the 2016-2017 year.

Smashing Silos: Community Engagement Maps - A Vivo Extension, Tessa Mckenzie, Audrey Trussell, Valerie Holton, Stephen Guilford, Jonathan Deshazo

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This poster was presented at the VIVO 2016 Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Valuing Natural Space And Landscape Fragmentation In Richmond, Va, Lee Wyatt Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations

Hedonic pricing methods and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) were used to evaluate relationships between sale price of single family homes and landscape fragmentation and natural land cover. Spatial regression analyses found that sale prices increase as landscapes become less fragmented and the amount of natural land cover around a home increases. The projected growth in population and employment in the Richmond, Virginia region and subsequent increases in land development and landscape fragmentation presents a challenge to sustaining intact healthy ecosystems in the Richmond region. Spatial regression analyses helped illuminate how land cover patterns influence sale prices and landscape patterns that …

Creating Virginia Commonwealth University's Climate For Community-Engaged Research, Valerie Holton, Jennifer Early

Community Engagement Institute

No abstract provided.