Hello Men of Color (MOC)! Welcome to MANuevering VCU, the official newsletter of Men's Multicultural Collective (MMC) tailored specifically for Men of Color at VCU!
MMC is an office led group created to support ALL VCU students identifying as Men of Color (MOC). This includes Indigenous, Black/African American, Asian/Asian American, Pacific Islander, Latino, and Multiracial MOC. This also includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional MOC. MMC works to offer large scale programming, small group programming, 1 on 1 support, and community engagement opportunities. Click here to learn more about MMC.
Please read the entirety of this email to get plugged into events and resources for MOC. Additionally, please email me (leckyjj@vcu.edu) if there is anything you would like included in future editions of MANuevering VCU.
- Jair Lecky, Program Manager for Men of Color Initiatives
Upcoming Events
Indigenous Peoples' Heritage Month
November is Indigenous Peoples' Heritage Month! Though the works towards getting Indigenous Peoples' Heritage Month precedes 1990, in 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month") have been issued each year since 1994.
Browse this linktree page to explore the diverse lineup of events being hosted by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, additional campus offices, student organizations, and the greater Richmond Community.
CULTURE Wellness Workshop: Mocktails and Reflection Bracelets
Join CULTURE tomorrow from 6:30-7:30 pm in the Rams Lounge in The University Student Commons for their first wellness workshop in collaboration with the RecWell. The event will feature a conversation about positive strategies for stress reduction and self-care guided by the RecWell. Afterward, you'll have the opportunity to make your reflection bracelet while enjoying mocktails and snacks. Make sure to register on RamsConnect.
VCU Transform Open House (virtual)
Join VCU Transform for their open house! VCU Transform is the 2-year Living-Learning Program for students who want to explore their leadership potential and become engaged as change-makers in their local communities. Not only do students receive guaranteed apartments in West Grace North residence hall, upon completion of Transform you will receive a certificate in Leadership Studies and Experiential Learning! If you want to learn how to positively impact your community whilst creating an inclusive community here at VCU - VCU Transform is the program for you! Learn all about their community at their upcoming Open House! Please contact hillk8@vcu.edu with any questions. The LAST open hours is tomorrow from 12-1pm (virtual). Make sure to register on RamsConnect.
Wellness Corner
University Counseling Services (UCS) Support Groups
UCS offers support groups! Support groups are different from therapy groups in that their PRIMARY aim is to help you gain peer support and to build community with other students, particularly those who may share an identity you hold. Unlike our therapy groups, support group members are encouraged to build connections outside of the group. You do NOT have to complete an intake appointment or be an enrolled client at UCS to participate in these support groups.
Many of these groups are identity based. Select the group you'd like to join and complete the interest form. The group leader will contact you with guidance for the next steps to get started
Have you experienced basic need insecurity as a student at VCU? If so, we would like you to participate in our focus group. The purpose of this focus group is to identify how the Dean of Students Office can better assist students experiencing basic needs insecurity. Some basic need insecurities include financial, food, and housing.
The focus group session will last no longer than 60 minutes. For your convenience, there will be both Zoom and in-person options available. Selected participants will be eligible to win VCU swag or a $200 Visa gift card.
Our research records will not be released without your consent unless required by law or court order. The data resulting from your participation may be made available to other researchers in the future for research purposes not detailed within this consent form. In these cases, the data will contain no identifying information that could associate it with you or with your participation in any study.
We thank you in advance for your participation and support,
Michelle Bair, Rachelle Blackwell, Sara Rafuse, Ra’meer Roberts, & Sara Weinstein
Doctoral Candidates, Education Leadership VCU School of Education
Leadership Opportunity: Apply to be an RA!
Resident Assistants serve the residential community as peer leaders. A peer leader at VCU is defined as a student who has been selected and trained to serve in a leadership role that supports student success. An RA at VCU facilitates a safe and inclusive living environment in the residence hall by acting as a liaison between residential students and University administration.
RAs are expected to uphold and demonstrate a commitment to Residential Life and Housing values: Collaboration, Inclusion & Diversity, Resident Centered, Learning, and Excellence. RAs enhance each resident’s experience through in-person and online interactions via programming, policy education and enforcement, conflict management, quality customer service, commitment to building communities that are welcoming for all, maintaining a community presence, and role modeling good conduct and positive contributions to the residential community.
If you are a Man of Color, and would like to speak with someone from Residential Life and Housing (RLH) about how to become an RA, someone from RLH will be doing office hours in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA). Drop in to OMSA (located in the University Commons on the 2nd floor in Suite 215) anytime during the following dates/times to learn more about what it means to be an RA/ask questions about the role:
Tuesday November 29 from 3pm-4pm
Job Opportunities
IT Support Center After-Hours Technician: The VCU IT Support Center provides centralized technical support services for VCU faculty, staff, and students. Support is provided to the VCU community via phone, walk in requests at our two locations on both campuses, as well as chat, email, and web support. The primary duty of this position is to provide after-hours remote technical support for VCU faculty, staff, and students over the phone, voicemail, email, and web ticket queue for the IT Support Center. Click here to apply.
Communications Specialist: The Massey Cancer Center is seeking a Communications Specialist to assist with and be responsible for: growing and developing a variety of content for social media channels, marketing programs, and resources and raising awareness of the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Awards by creating and sharing interesting, relevant, and engaging content, identify new and innovative ways to enhance and expand social media presence and outreach to various stakeholders.
Managing the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Awards website, which includes creating a variety of content, ensuring that the site is fresh and timely, accurate, representative of our varied bodies of work, and engaging to a variety of audiences. To review the full list of job responsibilities, and apply, click here.
Executive Administrative Assistant: VCU School of Nursing is seeking applicants to apply for the Executive Administrative Assistant position to provide professional administrative support to the Associate Dean and Office of Academic Affairs for the School of Nursing, including support of standing meetings in the School of Nursing. This position also focuses on developing and implementing systems and environments that contribute to effective administration of travel. To review the full list of job responsibilities, and apply, click here.
Campus Resource Highlight: Office of Global Education
The Global Education Office provides a one-stop shop where international students and scholars find the suite of services that help make the most of the opportunity. They support international exchange students at VCU and VCU students who want to study abroad. The Global Education Office is located at 912 Grace West Grace Street.
Stay/Get Connected
Hello Men of Color! I would love to hear more about your experience at VCU, any programming ideas you have, and how I can support you better. If you would like to connect, send me an email (leckyjj@vcu.edu) to set up a meeting. Also, I provide the option for in-person or virtual drop in hours weekly Monday's from 2pm-3pm & Wednesday's from 5pm-6pm. My office is location in the University Commons in suite 215 (right above the subway on the 2nd floor).
The future is bright.
- Jair Lecky, Program Manager for Men of Color Initiatives
Have you experienced basic need insecurity as a student at VCU? If so, we would like you to participate in our focus group. The purpose of this focus group is to identify how the Dean of Students Office can better assist students experiencing basic needs insecurity. Some basic need insecurities include financial, food, and housing.
