President's Council on UVA-Community Partnerships

We want to hear from you! What does a safe and healthy community look like to you? Comment below.

Responses like yours help the President's Council amplify community voices through the work of its six working groups.

The Public Health Working Group is committed to promoting greater coordination between community-based initiatives and the University of Virginia to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities. In the last quarter, Population Health has expanded its operations to include two new divisions, celebrated a decade of service, expanded access to primary care services, and more.

Swipe left to read more about the Public Health Working Group.

In Q2, UVA Pipelines & Pathways continued its mission to increase the number of community residents hired by UVA and to expand upward mobility opportunities for UVA-affiliated workers through continued program recruitment, including the Hoos Driving and Early Childhood Educator Training Programs.

Swipe to learn more.

The work of the Local Economy Working Group, anchored by UVA Supplier Engagement, has included event support for local business events, cross-institutional collaboration with and @, and preparation for SWaMfest 2026.

Swipe left to learn more!

Over the last quarter, the Council's Early Childhood Education Implementation Group has made progress by training future early childhood educators, supporting the development of local ECE spaces, and collaborating with the Family Support Collab and ReadyKids to maintain gently used materials for providers.

Swipe to learn more about the Council's current and ongoing early childhood education initiatives.

Please join us in welcoming four new members and a new Co-Chair to the President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships.

Selected through a public nominations process, these leaders will help guide the Council’s work to strengthen partnerships between the University of Virginia and the Charlottesville-Albemarle community. Learn more about the Council's members here: https://prescouncil.president.virginia.edu/people

Daniel Fairley has been appointed Co-Chair and will serve a two-year term alongside Karen Waters. The Council also welcomes four new members who will each serve three-year terms:

• Dr. Margaret Hayden, physician, professor, and director of the Program in Biomedical Ethics at UVA
• Bonita Patton, community leader and youth advocate
• Malorie Black, student leader and community-engaged scholar
• Coco Ahn, nonprofit leader and community advocate

The Council brings together University and community leaders to advance collaborative work in affordable housing, community safety, early childhood education, local economy, pipelines and pathways, and public health.

We are grateful to all who participated in the nominations process and look forward to the expertise, perspectives, and leadership these new members will bring to the Council's work.

Sign up for the Council's newsletter for updates: https://tinyurl.com/prescouncilnewsletteruva

The team enjoyed a Saturday in the sun at the Healthy Streets, Healthy People event hosted by . We spent the day engaging community members with conversations around one question: What does a healthy and safe community look like to you?

Swipe for some responses from our table visitors!

The Community Safety Implementation Group focused on goals that make a positive impact on the lives of our young community members. Swipe to read the quarterly updates!

Swipe for updates from the President's Council's Affordable Housing Working Group.

What does community partnership look like in action?

UVA’s Supplier Engagement program, created based on recommendations from the President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships’ Local Economy Working Group, is helping to connect local businesses with new opportunities, resources, and relationships across the University.

Swipe to learn more about how collaboration is helping strengthen Charlottesville’s local economy.