National Programs
State of VFA
4.13.22
During this State of VFA address, attendees heard from our new CEO, Eric Somerville and received several other key updates including:
a recap on 2021;
what's in the works for 2022;
the new Match platform; Connect!
Redux, Reunion and our first ever RISE Retreat;
exciting changes to the Training Camp experience;
and the progress of our strategic planning process.
State of VFA_041322.mp4State of VFA
1.13.2021
During this State of VFA address, attendees heard from our Interim CEO, Dorie Smith and received several other key updates including:
the inspiration for our new branding from VFA's Director of Marketing, Keenan Covington
how to connect with Gigi Lee Chang on the CEO search
exciting ways to connect with the board from Christian Anthony
ways to get involved in the VFA community presented by Alumni Board Chair, Elizabeth Duffield and 2019 Baltimore Fellow, Adeel Afshar
market updates from VP of Community Partnerships, Carrie Murphy, as we thoughtfully exit Cincinnati and Columbus and enter Tulsa in 2021
State of VFA_1.13.21.mp4State of VFA transcript - Thank you to Connie Bowen (St. Louis 2016) for your efforts to make this program more accessible.
A History of Inequity: How Mobility, Policy, and Racism Shape VFA Cities
10.15.2020
During this session, Bryan Kessler, Graduate Instructor from the University of Mississippi, outlines the foundations for inequities in cities across the US including several VFA cities. Specifically, Bryan discusses mobility and how federal policies have historically led to inequities at the local level through the private and public sectors.
Following Bryan's lecture, Andrew Albert, Community Director of New Orleans at Venture For America, facilitates a panel with urban history, architecture and planning experts:
Dr. Robert Weems, Professor of Business History at Wichita State University
Dr. Andrew Baer - Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jeff Horner - Senior Lecturer at Wayne State University
Melissa Milton-Pung - Program Manager at Michigan Municipal League
A History of Inequity- How Mobility, Policy, and Racism Shape VFA Cities.mp4State of VFA
8.3.2020
During this State of VFA address, Amy and the team discuss VFA's decision to hire a DEI consultant in December of 2019. Then they walk through the process of completing the audit and share each department's implementation plan. Finally, Amy finishes the session with a Q&A from the attendees.
To learn more about VFA's DEI strategy, click here.
State of VFA 8_3_2020.mp4