So I’m writing this just a few days since CityWorks (X)po 2017, while it’s still fresh. I’m still processing all of the stories and ideas and heavy subject matter — including institutionalized racism — that we discussed during the annual conference in Roanoke’s Grandin Village, but I thought I would focus on my concrete actions that might inspire more of us at Virginia Western. Here we go: 1. I donated more money to Virginia Western I cried twice during this year’s (X)po. The first time was while watching this video about Welcome Home of Chattanooga, which provides a home for anyone with a terminal illness who has nowhere to go for end-of-life care. (Don’t watch without Kleenex … you’ve been warned.) The second (happy) cry was after hearing the story of Dadhi Dangal, the first recipient of Virginia Western Educational Foundation’s Refugee Annual Scholarship. Starting when he was 7 years old, Dadhi, of Bhutan, spent 18 ½ years in a refugee camp in Nepal before moving to the U.S. in 2008. Even while struggling to support his family, Dadhi earned his GED, received his LPN certificate at Virginia Western, and ultimately completed VWCC’s LPN to RN bridge program. He is… Continue Reading CityWorks (X)po: 5 ways I’m turning ideas into ACTIONRead More
Last week, I received the following email from a faculty member here on campus: I am reaching out to you for direction regarding finding grant opportunities. This is a completely new process for me and I have no idea where to begin! I’m so happy when faculty and staff step forward with this humble question, and I wanted to share most of the response I emailed back, as many more folks might find it helpful. First, I would urge you to begin with grants closest to Virginia Western … I consider them “starter” grants. Your odds at getting funded are better, and they can be good practice for bigger projects. Here are three places to begin: No. 1: The Paul Lee Professional Development Grants through the VCCS Dr. Carrie Halpin, Virginia Western’s Instructional Designer and Technologist, has been awarded a VCCS Paul Lee Workshop Mini-Grant for the past few years … they have funded her successful summer Instructional Technology Mini-Conferences. The grant pays up to $1,500 to host a workshop that involves at least two or more VCCS colleges. The next deadline would be Feb. 1 for projects proposed for the 2018 summer semester. Learn more about these grants (and… Continue Reading Help! I have no idea where to begin with grants!Read More
I’ve been thinking a lot about the “community” part of community college lately. I light up every time I hear community-service ideas in our college forums, like the idea of building a Habitat for Humanity house (heard that one at a strategic planning brainstorm). Or forming a Relay for Life team (Staff Senate). Or establishing a student food pantry (I’m part of a small group working on some version of this right now). I’m still new to Virginia Western, so it’s very likely I’ve missed some excellent examples around campus. So far, these are the most visible community-oriented initiatives I’ve found: Students in our Community College Access Program (CCAP) must complete a 4-hour service learning project each semester. According to the Educational Foundation’s Impact magazine, these students contributed more than 2,800 hours volunteering in the Roanoke Valley in 2015-16. Examples include: Cleaning pens and walking dogs at Angels of Assisi, waiting on customers at the historic Buchanan Theatre, working at the kitchen in the Rescue Mission, and serving LOA Meals on Wheels. (If you know of an organization needing volunteer help, contact CCPA coordinator Carolyn Payne at 540-857-6371 or cpayne@virginiawestern.edu.)Our Dental Hygiene Program partners with many community agencies to provide free… Continue Reading Soft skills and service learning: Can Virginia Western do more?Read More
About Shelley
Shelley Lyons is glad to be back on campus as she is a Virginia Western alum, and has served as the Administrative Officer for Grants Administration at Virginia Western since early 2022. Prior to VWCC, her career focus was within the Human Services and Arts fields. She wrote her first grant in 1996 on a whim and has continued to plan and learn since that time. She most enjoys seeing a well-planned project come to fruition, where funder, project manager and beneficiaries can all feel success and see impact.
Recent Posts
- Have you heard? October 28, 2024
- The Game of Life – Innovation Edition! August 29, 2024
- Why Try An LOI? May 10, 2024
- Grant Nerds Unite! March 12, 2024
- The Power of Collaboration November 17, 2023