Community Agencies

This is a sampling of some of the agencies that partner with the University's Bonner Scholars Program (BSP). For a more complete listing of service opportunities in Greater Richmond, please see the online community opportunities directory.

Boaz & Ruth tackles systemic issues of prisoner reentry, recidivism, community revitalization, and cultural isolation head on.

The Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) employs student coordinators to work on a variety of projects to support the CCE and its programs. Examples include coordinating an ESL project, assisting in supporting alternative spring break trips, coordinating the Alliance for Civic Engagement (an organization for dialogue and collaboration among student organizations on campus), developing the CCE weekly listserv, and researching current events and/or policy issues.

Central VA Legal Aid offers pro bono legal representation to low-income or elderly clients in civil cases and preventive legal education to low-income and elderly communities.

Churchill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT) provides home-based tutoring and mentoring focused on helping children and teens in Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood with basic math and reading skills and character development.

City of Richmond Hispanic Liaison Office promotes community information and education, citizen participation, and other initiatives that meet the needs of Richmond's culturally diverse community. The HLO supports city agencies in developing internal capacities to strengthen cross-cultural relationships with the community.

Crestview Elementary School, a Henrico County public school, not only provides comprehensive education to 350 students in pre-K through fifth grade, but also houses both a special-education program and a specialty center providing ESL for 130 students speaking 18 foreign languages.

Fan Free Clinic provides free medical care to low-income uninsured people and offers extensive educational programs on HIV/AIDS/STDs.

Henderson Middle School, a city of Richmond public school, serves approximately 700students, of which 90 percent qualify for free and reduced lunches and 30 percent have special-needs education status.

Hope in the Cities/Initiatives of Change promotes reconciliation among racial, ethnic, and religious groups based on personal and institutional transformation.

International Hospital for Children (IHC) links worldwide pediatric surgical, diagnostic, and preventative resources to heal critically ill children in developing countries. IHC also helps build indigenous health-care capacity.

James River Park System provides an ongoing source of citizen support for the conservation, enhancement, and enjoyment of the James River Parks and their natural and historic environments.

Overby-Sheppard Elementary School , a city of Richmond public school, serves approximately 400 students, of which 86 percent qualify for free and reduced lunches and many have special-needs education status.

Refugee and Immigration Services resettles refugees and assists immigrants, empowering them to build new lives in the Greater Richmond community.

Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), an affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect in the Greater Richmond area.

Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad answers more than seven thousand calls annually for medical emergencies and assistance.

UR Downtown serves as a center for collaboration with nonprofit and government entities and supports the University’s commitment to community engagement. For students, this means expanded experiential-education opportunities.

Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities promotes inclusion, challenges assumptions, and advances understanding through dialogue, experiential learning, and education.

Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce promotes business opportunities for its membership by providing proactive business and resource links to and within the Virginia Hispanic community.

Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) provides permanent housing integrated with appropriate levels of support services to low-income homeless individuals and families and those with disabilities.

VCU Health Systems offers high-quality, accessible health care to patients from central Virginia and throughout the commonwealth.

William Byrd Community House provides direct delivery of high-quality programs for individuals and families in need and helps its clients get the information, referrals, and resources necessary to move toward self-sufficiency.

William Fox Elementary School, a Richmond public school located in the Fan District, provides comprehensive education to 450 students from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds in pre-K through fifth grade.

Youth Life Foundation of Richmond offers comprehensive after-school and full-summer program services aimed at helping inner-city children to succeed academically and develop into leaders who positively influence their families and communities.