Working Group Monthly Updates (As of September 2024)

Affordable Housing Working Group Updates

Developer negotiations: Agreements have progressed at the Piedmont and Wertland & 10th Street sites that define how the developer will build, operate, and maintain the properties. Pre-construction activities are underway before financing and construction.
 
Community engagement: Piedmont and Wertland & 10th developers are actively holding conversations in the community. Piedmont Housing Alliance held a two-hour feedback session on July 31 for potential residents. Preservation of Affordable Housing continues to meet with community ambassadors.
 
North Fork Development: The UVA Foundation is developing scenarios for construction at North Fork. The UVA Foundation expects to issue the RFQ/RFP for North Fork this fall.

Community Safety Implementation Group Updates

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN): Held two large planning meetings with community stakeholders to plan for the community engagement and prevention and intervention pillars of PSN. Attendees include all police departments, RegionTen, Offender Aid & Restoration, Fountain Fund, City of Promise, Central Virginia Community Justice, and school systems among many others.

Early Childhood Education Implementation Group Updates

Research: Created a report on the state of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in the region. Report: Projecting Childcare Needs for Virginia Planning District 10. Written by Drs. Corey Borgman and Sherica Jones-Lewis, this report utilizes data to project potential needs for childcare in the region within the coming years.
 
Source, allocate, and leverage: Supported the ongoing work of Virginia Business Roundtable for Early Education and other initiatives to gain a deeper understanding of ECE opportunities and collaborate on potential initiatives.

Local Economy Updates

  • Community engagement: Hosted two Selling to The University workshops, UVA Supplier Diversity Expo and planned the VASCUPP SWAM Fest which had over 600 attendees on November 1-2, 2023. Lastly, we will have It Takes a Village event on October 10,2024 for construction and skilled trade businesses at Alumni Hall. 

    • Community partnership: Collaborated with Community Investment Collaborative. Taught entrepreneurs the fundamentals of doing business with the University of Virginia and covered entry-level knowledge of the Virginia Association of State College and University Purchasing Professionals (VASCUPP) contracts. Partnered with the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center to host regular one on one sessions with suppliers.

    • Better data: Presented local supplier spending data to several organizations such as the School of Enginering and Applied Sciences, Darden, School of Law, School of Education and Human Development and the Office of African American Affairs. It is crucial to inform those with purchasing power about the University's spending initiatives with local and Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned business (SWaM) suppliers. Analyzing previous purchases and providing SWaM alternatives fosters growth and economic vitality for local suppliers. Proactive data outreach, drives future purchasing decisions 

    • Communications: Improve the communications the Supplier Diversity Initiative provides to university purchasers and suppliers. The team leading the initiative is consulting with its internal communications team to develop a strategic, intentional communications strategy that best meets the needs of UVA's diverse audience. Resource documents have been added to the Supplier Diversity Initiative website. 

  • Connect with UVA Finance:  Twitter, LinkedIn,YouTube.  Email: [email protected]  

Pipelines and Pathways Updates

Community engagement: On April 23rd, UVA Pipelines & Pathways hosted the 2024 Spring Senior Day & UVA Career & Community Fair at John Paul Jones Arena in partnership with the President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships, The Equity Center, Albemarle County Public Schools, and Piedmont Virginia Community College. The first part of the event was for local graduating seniors interested in employment in the Charlottesville community. More than 400 students were bused in from area high schools to learn about open positions with local employers. The second part of the event was open to the general public. Over 100 exhibitors participated in the event, including numerous hiring managers from UVA Health and the UVA Academic Division, external employer partners, and community resources. Approximately 600 job seekers attended the career fair, including skills demonstrations, workshops, and headshots. Click here for a short video of the event.
 
Pipelines: On May 28th, Pipelines & Pathways launched the HOOS OnDemand Training Program in partnership with University Transit Service (UTS), which recently ended its contract with RMC for OnDemand service. The program aimed to train individuals to become OnDemand Drivers, offering safe, overnight rides to UVA students and staff. The program included three and a half weeks of training on workplace readiness, customer service, CPR/First Aid, bloodborne pathogens, OSHA 10, de-escalation, communication, and more. Nine participants graduated from the program on June 18th during a completion ceremony where two students gave speeches about their experience in the program. The program graduates began behind-the-wheel training at UTS on Thursday, June 20th. All participants officially started their overnight OnDemand shifts on Monday, July 1st! This was Pipelines & Pathways' second collaboration with UTS.
 
Pathways: Pipelines & Pathways partnered with the UVA Facilities Management (FM) Apprenticeship Program to recruit candidates for its powerful program. Pipelines and Pathways coordinated two apprenticeship recruitment events with FM, including a pop-up, the Senior Day, and the UVA Career & Community Fair, and attended the Apprenticeship Fair. As a result of these efforts, thirteen participants applied for the program and received telephone interviews. Of the thirteen, six were selected for the program, some of whom had applied numerous times in past years. All six of these individuals started employment on Monday, July 15th, and thoroughly enjoyed the program.
 
Connect with Pipelines & Pathways on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Public Health Working Group Updates

Care: The Mobile Van Care Unit offers primary care while expanding access to care in a mobile environment.
 
Community health: UVA Health purchased the Oak Lawn House, located in Charlottesville’s Fifeville Community, in October 2023. The house will serve as a community health station that offers preventive care, health screenings and health education.
 
Community health: UVA Health professionals offer primary care once per week at the Haven Day Shelter.
 
Community health: UVA School of Nursing clinical instructor Christina Feggans-Langston became the community’s new clinic nurse at the Westhaven Cares Center in January 2023.
 
Addressing health inequities: The Latino Health Initiative aims to improve the health and well-being of the local Latinx community.
 
Addressing health inequities: The International Family Medicine Clinic is working with the International Rescue Committee to provide full medical and counseling care to refugees of all ages.