Past Projects

LMR has many traditions that give the organization its heart. The Leadership Quest Class Community Action Project experience stands alone for its impact on Richmond region. Since 1995, these projects have served as the "LMR laboratory" for hands-on experience with leadership and community issues.
 

Each project had the potential to significantly affect the success of community partner organizations, enabling them to look beyond their day to day activities and focus on long term solutions and new opportunities to better serve out their individual missions.

Profiled below are the Leadership Quest's community action projects over the past fifteen years of creating true social impact and building the social capital necessary for service focused region.

For a complete review of the community action projects over the years, please click here.
 

Class of 2008 Projects

The 2008 LMR class took on some challenging projects for regional nonprofits. Each project had the potential to significantly impact the success of the organizations, enabling them to look beyond themselves for valuable insights and direction. Many of these groups would not have had the luxury to tap into this well of talent and experience without the assistance of the LMR class.

 

Project Team: The Foamheads
Community Partner: Hands on Greater Richmond
Project Title: Get Involved!

The project was designed to enhance the visibility and name recognition of Hands on Greater Richmond to attract and keep volunteers. Additionally, the team developed an overall marketing strategy and development plan designed to attract corporate support

Project Team: Horizon
Community Partner: Richmond Boys' Choir
Project Title: Program for Higher Education: Partnering and Mentoring

The project's primary goal was to increase the academic, financial, and social opportunities for the Richmond Boys Choir (RBC) members and alumni while creating a sustainable program to prepare members for post secondary success. The secondary goal focused on cultivating the talent and potential of members while providing the providing guidance in the re-application of the skills and ethics in preparation of "real world" opportunities and challenges.
 

Project Team: The Natural Bridge Builders
Community Partner: Richmond CASA
Project Title: Richmond CASA Board Development

This project focused on assisting the organization in developing a plan for board growth, development and involvement.

 

Project Team: INT-Action (Intent to Action)
Community Partner: Community High School
Project Title: Embrace Richmond

This project focused on increasing the visibility of Richmond Community High to improve the opportunities for its students by engaging college students at local universities to create a network of tutors for Community students.

 

Project Team: Team Happy
Community Partner: William Byrd Community House
Project Title: Project Free Byrd - "Teens Achieving Great Success" (TAGS)

The project goal was the engagement of Highland Park teenagers in substantial, interesting, and focused activities by creating a sustainable Teen Center that leads to productive, educational and vocational outcomes.
 

Project Team: RAISE Richmond
Community Partner: Central Virgina Food Bank
 

Project Title: Kids Cafe Program - Maximizing Operational Excellence
The project goal was the development of an operational and compliance program to ensure quality delivery of the maximum number of meals to children in needs through the Kids' Cafe.

2006-2007

"Scan, Brand and Ready to Plan"
Virginia Home for Boys and Girls
The Dream Team

Developed a branding study that resulted in a formal proposal to the board for determining a unique brand identity and specific action steps for establishing the brand.

 

"Speak for Me"
Henrico County CASA
Bridge Team Naturally
Created a communications plan including a speaker's bureau, multi-media material, video and promotional kit for use to increase community awareness and name recognition.

 

"This Little Engine Can"
Coordinators2inc.
4 Sight
Provided Coordinators2inc with a detailed plan for board growth, development/involvement, and specific action plans including: board analysis, competition analysis, customer/client analysis, financial analysis, marketing analysis, program analysis, staff analysis, board member information form, board member profile, board guidelines, executive director – job description, and service overview chart.

 

"Enlarging the Footprint of the Ronald McDonald House"
Ronald McDonald House
Bold Bridge Builders
Created a strategy and action plans for Ronald McDonald House – Richmond for inclusion in the new full-service children's medical center and alternatives the "House within a Hospital" for creating a larger presence in the Richmond market and beyond.

 

"Putting People F.I.R.S.T."
F.I.R.S.T. Contractors Inc.
Spices of Life
Developed a marketing and implementation strategy for products; assisted with identification of customers to distribute products; provided support with identifying and creating an effective distribution and inventory management system.

 

"The Hummin Alums"
Rubicon
Arquitectura
Developed a strategic plan for a new alumni association program for clients in the member transitional phase including: by-laws, tools and strategies for budget development & management, city resource guide to support members in their recovery and facilitation of discussions between the Alumni Association, Rubicon Staff and Board Members.

 

"Decoding your Family History: It Can Save Your Life"
Department of Human Genetics, VCU
007 Bonding Agents
Worked in consultation with the Department of Human Genetics, VCU and the state Genetics Education Plan Working Group to develop a marketing and publicity plan for family history. Deliverables included: the creation of a comprehensive strategic plan for community partner initial meetings and buy-in from selected organizations. As a result of the team's efforts, the governor proclaimed November as family health history month. 

 

2005-2006 Class Projects
 

"Cookin' in Fulton"
Neighborhood Resource Center in Fulton Hill
Fellowship of the Ring
Developed a business plan for the use of a kitchen facility at the Neighborhood Resource Center in Fulton Hill to generate revenue while providing good nutrition education to the community.

"Building Tomorrow's Leaders"
Partnership for the Future
Jambalaya
Increased corporate participation in Partnership for the Future

"Discover Discovery"
Richmond Public Schools
Rapid Waters
Implemented AMP! a mentor development and career exploration program for students at Thompson Middle School, Martin Luther King Middle School, and Chandler Middle School

"Faison School Awareness Campaign for Early Childhood Autism Diagnosis and Treatment"
Faison School for Autism
River Runners
Created awareness program among parents and childcare providers of the diagnosis and treatment of autism for children 18 months to three years old.

"Just Ask"
Association for the Support of Children with Cancer (ASK)
Time Travelers
Created comprehensive marketing plan to strenghen brand identity, name recognition and program awareness.

Volunteer Connection: "Helping Hands to Work"
Virginia Supportive Housing
7C's
Developed and delivered a volunteer recruitment plan designed to effectively connect organizational volunteer needs with community resources.


"Supporting Fathers, Strengthening Families"
Henrico County Fatherhood Initiative
Vision One
Designed organizational infrastructure and processes to ensure sustainability of a local government fatherhood support program.
 

2005-2006 Community Partners

Virginia Supportive Housing
Boaz & Ruth
Brothers Program of the VA. League of Planned Parenthood
Prejudice Awareness Summit c/o Junior League of Richmond
Curated Culture, Inc.
Hanover Community Services
City of Richmond Hispanic Liaison Office - Colabrando Juntos Network

2003-2004 Community Partners
 

Gateway Homes of Greater Richmond
Richmond Community Development Alliance (RCDA)
The Mental Health Association of Virginia (MHAV)
Richmond Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Genetics
Richmond Area of Retarded Citizens (ARC)
Richmond Community Action Program (RCAP)

2002-2003Community Partners

Adult Care Services
Virginia Blood Services
Legal Information Network for Cancer
Friends Association for Children
Urban Light Works
Greater Richmond SCAN
Virginia Heroes Inc.

2001-2002 Community Partners
 

Volunteer Emergency Families for Children
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Carver Promise
ConnectRichmond (University of Richmond)
DadsWork
East District Family Resource Center
Memorial Child Guidance Clinic
 

2000-2001 Community Partners
 

Youth Matters 3R Campaign
Central Virginia Food Bank
Asian American Society of Central Virginia
Boys & Girls Clubs of Richmond
Daily Planet/Downtown Neighborhood Assoc.
Massey Cancer Center
Greater Richmond SCAN
 

1999-2000 Community Partners

Richmond Boys Choir
Mary Carter Beacon House
Voices For Virginia's Children
Hospital Hospitality House
Richmond Community Action Program
Art 180
Jepson School of Leadership Studies/Children's Museum of Richmond
 

1998-1999 Community Partners
 

Hanover County Schools
Richmond Community Senior Center
Better Housing Coalition
St. Andrew's School
Chesterfield Domestic Violence Resource Center
American Lung Association of Virginia
Boys and Girls Clubs of Richmond

1997-1998 Community Partners

Wilson Inn Residence
Hospital Hospitality House
Richmond Sports Backers
William Byrd Community House
YMCA/VCU Metro TEEN Program
Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Sex Abuse Tax Force
Area Fire Departments/American Red Cross

1996-1997 Community Partners 

Prevent Child Abuse Virginia
The Giraffe Project
Capital Area Agency on Aging
Refugee and Immigration Services
Cross-Over Health Ministries
Friends Association for Children

1995-1996 Community Partners

The Carver Promise
Black History Museum and Cultural Center
Central Richmond Association
RUPCI
Meals on Wheels
ElderHomes
Adult Care Services
William Byrd Community House

1994-1994 Community Partners

Chesterfield Community in Schools
The Richmond Symphony
Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond
Stargate
Caritas
Offender Aid and Restoration Richmond
Hanover County Domestic Violence Task Force