Civic Action Conversations

RVA Engage seeks to inform and catalyze community members to engage in the issues they care most about. Our Civic Action Conversations series focuses on critical regional priorities and possible action steps for every Richmonder.

Past Conversations

2024 Series

What does it take to create upward economic mobility for all?

The Richmond region is experiencing a renaissance. New people and businesses are moving in to take advantage of our lower cost of living and high quality of life. We are lauded for our dynamic arts and entertainment scene, craft beer and culinary delights, and an abundance of world class outdoor and recreational venues. Yet, too many people are not benefitting from this growth. Disparities persist when it comes to affordable housing, educational attainment, jobs, and health access.

Your voice is needed to inform a collaborative initiative in which community leaders and residents come together to develop a plan for collective action around a singular vision for our region – to advance upward economic mobility for all. Through this series, hear from experts who will share personal and nuanced insights gained from their lived or professional experiences. Learn about issues and initiatives that are helping to ensure all people can prosper. Discuss with your peers the actions we can take today that can have long-lasting impact for our region.

Confronting the Childcare Crisis in RVA | RECORDING
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

In this Civic Action Conversation, join us as we explore what it takes to create a healthy system of early childcare and a thriving workforce, where local experts will discuss the challenges, highlight the successful interventions, and share ways you can get involved to drive meaningful change.

Moderator:

Erica Coffey, Beneath the Surface Consulting

Speakers:

  • Veronica Fleming, Veronica Fleming Consulting

  • Sonya Ravindranath Waddell, Ph.D, Vice President and Economist, Federal Reserve Bank

  • Unique Luna, Thrive Birth to Five Family Council

Panelists:

  • The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Richmond City Council

  • Laura Foots, Director, New Direction Childcare & Learning Center

  • Janet Duncan, MS, SPHR-SCP, Warren Whitney

Creating an Equitable and Resilient Labor Market 
Wednesday, September 18th, 2024

Even with Richmond's growing population, employers still struggle to find skilled employees to fill their open positions. While positions remain unfilled, many unemployed and under-employed individuals, who have developed skills through alternative routes, are challenged to secure employment that aligns with their career interests and pays a family-sustaining wage. 

Workforce development impacts everyone and demands diverse solutions to ensure upward mobility for all job seekers in our region. Join our region's workforce development professionals and advocates as we discuss skill-based strategies to address labor market challenges and promote equitable access to a living wage. 

Moderator:

Erica Coffey, Beneath the Surface Consulting

Speakers:

Panelists:

Addressing the Gap in Affordable Housing | RECORDING
Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

Moving quickly on Richmond’s affordable housing crisis and ensuring that good housing options remain for people at every income level requires partnership across sectors – business, government, nonprofit, and the public.

In the first offering of this year’s Civic Action Conversation series, hear how experts “in the trenches” are working together every day to make housing affordability accessible to all, learn what you can do to help, and offer your input.

Moderator:

Erica Coffey, Beneath the Surface Consulting

Speakers:

Panelists:

  • Nick Feucht, Real Estate & Housing Coordinator, Chesterfield County Department of Community Enhancement

  • Bernard Harkless, Principal, Lynx Ventures

  • René Shepperson, Commercial Real Estate Banker, New Kent County resident

Art & Social Movements: Why It Matters & What You Can Do Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, 6-7:30p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

Art has the power to move us all. Throughout history, art and artists have played a pivotal role in our region and in amplifying social movements. Music, written word, theatre, filmmaking, murals and other forms of creative expression drive awareness to issues affecting people and their communities – from human rights to recycling campaigns to sharing untold stories.

Consumers of art discover unique and compelling points of view that build empathy, connection and understanding and, in turn, spark action. Join us for a dynamic conversation with several of our region’s arts leaders who leverage their disciplines to engage community members in meaningful conversation and change efforts.

Literacy: Why It Matters & What You Can Do
Wednesday, September 20th, 2023, 6-7:30p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

The ability to read touches nearly every aspect of life such as health, educational attainment, jobs, housing and income levels. Learning to read and write early in childhood is crucial to ensuring future success in school, work, and life in general. In Virginia, 68% of 4th grade students are not reading at a proficient level and in Richmond, 16% of adults lack the literacy to read a bus schedule, fill out a job application, or help their children with their homework. In this webinar, local experts will explore the historic and current socio-political contexts around education policy, the impacts of literacy and the efforts to increase literacy rates for residents in our region.

Climate Justice: Why It Matters & What You Can Do
Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 6-7:30 p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

Though climate change impacts all living things, not all living things are equally impacted by crises like floods, wind, and heat. Access to land and natural resources--and the authority to steward them--can help local communities build resiliency to bounce back quickly from these challenging climate events. However, this access is not equally available to all communities, nor all individuals. Join us on Wednesday, April 19, as local experts explore climate justice, land stewardship, and resiliency initiatives around the region. The panelists will discuss who has been historically excluded from conservationist roles and share action steps that we all can take to educate ourselves and build climate resilience in our own communities.

Transportation: Why It Matters & What You Can Do
Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 6-7:30 p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

From the way goods are routed to our homes to the way we navigate to work and school, transportation planning and infrastructure is integral to our everyday lives. Yet few of us understand what it takes to bring a transportation project to life, or when and how we can get involved in shaping solutions that reflect the real challenges we face as busy, on-the-go residents. Join us on Wednesday, March 15, as local experts share important insights and possible action steps around regional planning for our port and highways, as well as local projects to improve bus routes and bike lanes.

Mental Health and Well-Being: Why It Matters & What You Can Do
Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 6:30-8 p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

As we emerge from one global pandemic, America faces another critical public health issue: a pervasive mental health crisis. Twenty percent of both adults and children in America experience mental illness, and those numbers are growing. When we consider the World Health Organization’s principle that “health…is not merely the absence of illness,” we know the crisis is even more serious than this statistic indicates and will require more – and more equitable – mental health services, resources, and innovative solutions. Join us on Wednesday, November 16, as local experts explore mental health and well-being, how the mental health crisis impacts both individuals and communities, and what we can do about it.

Affordable Housing: Why It Matters & What You Can Do
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 6:30-8 p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

Cranes, bustling construction sites, and realtor sold signs dot the Richmond region landscape. Signs of progress? Maybe, but with soaring prices and limited housing inventory, affordable housing is scarce, evictions are rising, and one-third of Richmond residents are overburdened with housing costs, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Join us to hear from leaders around the community as we dive into the housing challenges our region faces and offer possible action steps for all.


Workforce Development: Why It Matters & What You Can Do
Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 6:30-8 p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

Richmond's population is booming and its workforce is more educated than the national average. Yet high demand sectors have open positions that are not being readily filled. What obstacles do un-employed and under-employed workers in our region face and how can those obstacles be removed? At this second session, local experts will explore workforce development.

Early Childhood Education: Why It Matters & What You Can Do
Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 6:30-8 p.m. RECORDING | SLIDES | RESOURCES

Eighty percent of brain development happens between birth and 3 years of age, but too many children in Virginia do not have the high-quality care and education experiences necessary to prepare them for success.  At this first session, local experts explored early childhood education.

Civic Action Conversations is an RVA Engage series co-hosted by the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Richmond, ChamberRVA, the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, PlanRVA, the VCU Center for Community Engagement and Impact, and VPM.

Past Events

Tools for Civic Action in Our Democracy NOW

We are a region of 1.1 million people. In a democracy of diverse voices, what are the tools we need to be active citizens? During this four-part series hosted in April 2021, speakers from our community discussed four tools for civic action: Understanding Our Democracy, Collective Self Care, Discovery, and Difficult Conversations.

Watch the series on YouTube

Tools for Civic Action in Our Democracy NOW was an RVA Engage series hosted by the VCU Center for Community Engagement and Impact, the University of Richmond’s Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, and the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond.

2019 Civic Impact Summit

Held on November 6, 2019, the first-ever regional Civic Impact Summit brought together people from all sectors of our civic ecosystem — including individuals from education, corporate, nonprofit, faith-based and community groups — for a robust and interactive day celebrating all the ways people and institutions get involved and make a difference in our region. Read more