The Pace Center for Campus and Community Ministry at VCU

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The Pace Center for Campus and Community Ministry at VCU

Tending Methodist Roots. Nurturing the Greater VCU Community. Bearing Missional Fruit in Richmond, VA and beyond. Email us at [email protected]

We equip and empower servant leaders! The Pace Center is an inclusive, multicultural community at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Pace is a place where students feel their unique stories and gifts are valued. As a collaborative ministry of the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), we believe all are created to live in deep relationship with one another, not in isolatio

n. We also believe every individual has been created with infinite value and an important role to play in their community. Pace is located in the heart of VCU’s campus. We are grounded in traditional ministries such as Bible Study, weekly communion, and small groups. At the same time we offer innovative ways for students to explore their spirituality and find community. At Pace, students create and lead programs that showcase their gifts and the gifts of the VCU community. Join us and meet new people, share your story, build community, and discover your gifts!

09/03/2026

For Elizabeth, who started her journey at Pace as a non-traditional graduate student, Pace offered what she had been missing elsewhere at VCU: a true sense of belonging. “I was very lonely,” she recalls. “You know, VCU tries, but I often eel like there's not enough effort given to making sure students feel a sense of community and belonging. I was older than everybody. I lived at home. I felt like I had more in common with the professors than the students sometimes.”

Elizabeth began volunteering at Community Café, a communal meal. Before long, she was volunteering in other ways, becoming deeply involved. “Pace was one of those ‘third spaces’ -- a place outside of home and class where you can go and meet people in an informal way.”

For her husband, a retired professor at VCU, the impact is just as personal: the conversations, the shared meals, and the chance to witness students grow has made Pace a place that gives as much as it receives. “Pace is a great place to be because people are really happy here, which makes it easy for me to be happy to be here. It’s a joy.”

That sense of joy and connection has shaped how both John and Elizabeth think about giving back. For Elizabeth, supporting Pace is deeply tied to care for future generations. “We want our money to help other people after we pass. I feel like I’m doing something good for future generations of VCU students - treating them as if I were taking care of my own children,” she says.

Together, they made the decision to leave a legacy gift to ensure that the experience they’ve enjoyed at Pace continues. Working with the Community Foundation, they established a plan that will distribute funds to organizations they care about, including Pace. “When we were deciding where we wanted to generate an ongoing impact, Pace, of course, figured prominently,” Elizabeth explains.

Their hope is simple: that Pace will continue to be a place where students feel connected and empowered. Through their planned gift, John and Elizabeth are helping ensure that future generations of students can walk through Pace’s doors and find the same sense of joy, purpose, and belonging.

08/21/2026

Potting plants, welcome week cookouts, and first Stories & Lunch, oh my!

We are coming to the end of a busy first week of the semester here at Pace, and wanted to share about some of the exciting things we have already done.

It’s been a blast to have the building abuzz with students, alumni, and friends of Pace alike, and we are looking forward to an exciting semester FULL of events, community, and fun! Stay tuned for plenty of opportunities to connect and get involved here at the Pace Center!

08/18/2026

In July, we had the unique opportunity to share our experience and gather campus ministers from across southeastern Virginia to learn from and with one another about Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). While Pace staff led the ministers through sections of our curriculum, we also had the opportunity to learn what is happening at other universities. We had campus ministers from seven universities—VCU, UVA, William & Mary, Longwood University, JMU, Univ. of Mary Washington and Hampden-Sydney—and three denominations represented— United Methodist, Episcopal, and Presbyterian. One take away from a participant was, “It was so nice to connect with others who are doing similar work.”

Here at Pace we use ABCD methodology to equip and empower our student servant leaders to listen deeply and respond lovingly to those around them. Our internship program is key to keeping our events running well at Pace and how we can better connect our ministry to a wider community of students, volunteers and congregations. By focusing our ministry on the gifts of VCU students rather than what they lack, Pace’s innovative ministry empowers students to build communities where individuals’ unique strengths and cultures are valued.

This summer, we took time to reflect on the ABCD curriculum as we taught it to students this past school year. During weekly peer-led leadership badge training, students gathered to explore the core principles of servant leadership – including how to introduce themselves with confidence, create welcoming ministries, identify their personal gifts, recognize the God-given gifts of others, and foster genuine, lasting connections within their communities. Interns were able to teach “Badge Trainings” to students to learn about connecting, hosting, and bond-building, just to name a few in the series.

08/17/2026

Stories & Lunch is back starting THIS Wednesday (August 19th) from 12-1pm. Make friends, share your story, and enjoy a free lunch!

Each Wednesday, we choose a new story-telling theme with a lunch provided by a local congregation or partner organization. Come join us for our first Stories & Lunch of the school year!

Check the link in our bio to register on RamsConnect

08/12/2026

It’s been a quiet summer here at the Pace Center, but that is all about to change! We are excited to ring in the Fall 2026 semester in just a few days and have these halls filled with students and the VCU community once again.

If you are moving in on Friday (the 14th) and need a cool place to sit, rest, and take a breath, we will be open from 9 to 5 for you to come in and grab a glass of water, and escape the summer heat!

Keep an eye out in the coming days as we announce all of the exciting things that will be going on at Pace next week and throughout this semester!

08/06/2026

The Pace Effect
Emmett, a master's student in education, started at VCU during the pandemic, keeping his circle small and his guard up. “I was definitely more reserved and less socially confident,” he said. “I stuck to the people in my circle, even though they weren’t really a great fit for me. I was treated respectfully, but I wasn't necessarily included in everything. It kind of hurt.”
Initially skeptical, Emmett first attended a Pace Student Circle and was immediately struck by the atmosphere. “I was put at ease by how relaxed and open everyone was,” he shared. Through Student Circles, he found a space for intentional, nonjudgmental conversation. “Everyone has a chance to speak and share, so you’re really getting to know people,” he said. “People you wouldn’t otherwise meet.”
That diversity became one of the most meaningful parts of his experience. As a graduate student, Emmett found himself building friendships across majors, ages, and life experiences. “We’re all in it together, but we also celebrate differences,” he said. Beyond diversity and conversation, Pace offered something else Emmett had been searching for - a community that embraced fun without pressure. “I like having fun without substances,” he said. “Pace is a mellow, safe space where you can just try new things.”
As he became more involved, Emmett took ownership of Pace’s gracious atmosphere. He volunteered to be a Greeter, where he welcomed students through Pace’s front doors. “The Greeter is the first impression for whoever enters Pace,” he said. “I took enormous pride in setting the tone for Pace every week.”
Through these experiences, Emmett discovered his voice. “I’ve become more in touch with my feelings and more confident speaking up for myself and for others,” he reflected. Student Circles, in particular, helped him learn how to balance offering advice with simply showing support - an insight that has shaped both his personal growth and his work as an educator. “It’s almost like the Pace Effect. The longer you've been here, the more intentional you become. And the more you spread that intentionality.”
Thanks to your support, Pace can create intentional, inclusive spaces for VCU students.

07/21/2026

This spring, members of the Black Awakening Choir traveled to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC. This field trip was a chance for the choir to connect with history.

For Makayla, the experience revealed gaps in her own education. “A lot of the things I learned from the museum, I was unfortunately never taught in class,” she reflected. “I feel like the American school system is failing us.” As a theatre major, Makayla was especially struck by learning about the Black Arts Movement. “The Black Arts Movement was the name given to a group of politically motivated black poets, artists, dramatists, musicians, and writers who emerged in the wake of the Black Power Movement.”

Moving through immersive exhibits, the museum offered a physical connection to the past that left an impression. Students were able to tangibly feel history and reflect on what their family members and ancestors experienced.

Another student, Joel, emphasized the emotional weight of experiencing history firsthand. “I understand the physical aspect of what African Americans went through as I was walking through segregated train cars and slave houses,” he shared. These moments deepened his understanding beyond what textbooks can convey. “African American history is American history. Everyone should learn the impact we have made in the United States.”

“Just by looking at the pictures and objects, it made me feel what my ancestors felt. It also made me realize how lucky we are as individuals to have grown up in the current era we live in,” Makayla reflected. “Our ancestors dealt with so many things that I could never imagine myself going through.”

07/02/2026

Everyone & Everything

Growing up in Côte d’Ivoire shaped how Fatim, a biology major on the pre-med track, understood community. “A lot of African countries are 100% Muslim or 100% Christian. Côte d’Ivoire is really a melting pot - 50/50 Muslim and Christian,” Fatim explained. “There’s this cohabitation. We celebrate Eid together and we celebrate Lent together.” Even though many ethnicities and religions are represented at VCU, to Fatim, who was raised Muslim, VCU didn’t feel very diverse.

“Before I started coming to Sip n’ Tale book club at Pace, VCU felt like a foreign environment. I couldn’t find many occasions to connect with people. When I tried to go to events designed by VCU to help students meet, everyone was already in cliques. It was very isolating and lonely. I was mostly going to school and then going back home.”

At Pace, Fatim rediscovered the kind of diversity she had known growing up - people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences coming together with curiosity and respect. “I really liked the atmosphere, the discussions, the people,” she said. “So I just kept coming. I've gotten to know Christian people and atheists. I think it's really interesting to talk to everyone and try everything.”

Fatim opened up at Pace, growing socially and as a leader. Through leadership trainings, she developed skills in communication, conflict management, and inclusivity - tools she now uses beyond Pace as the treasurer of oSTEM, a student org for q***r students in STEM majors.

Now, Fatim helps perpetuate the welcoming feeling she first felt at Pace. “Before Pace, I wouldn't engage in conversation with someone I didn't know. But over and over at Pace, people just randomly started conversations with me. And I realized, that's what Pace is about - meeting people. It’s something new every day. There’s a lot of people from different ethnicities, different life paths,” she said. “You meet people you would have never met otherwise. I feel like it’s still my first year in the US. I discover so many new things every single day.”

Your support helps students engage in a diverse, intentional community at VCU. Thank you!

06/16/2026

Dear Pace Supporters,
After seven years at Pace, I will be leaving this summer to pursue an opportunity with another nonprofit - the James River Association. It has been a true privilege to meet so many caring volunteers, tireless faith leaders, and, most notably, so many wonderful students. To watch them grow and blossom into leaders who are ready to take on the world has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I’m thankful I had the chance to walk alongside these remarkable young people as they made discoveries about themselves.
They probably didn’t realize I was doing the same thing! Pace was a pretty scrappy operation when I first arrived - Rev. Katie was the only other employee. In Pace’s asset-based environment, I was given the opportunity to cultivate my gifts and strengths in a manner that would benefit the whole ministry. Just like our students, I was offered more leadership opportunities and I grew. It was only thanks to these opportunities that I was prepared to accept a role on the development team of a conservation nonprofit, which has long been a career goal for me.
Over the course of my journey, Pace became a place that not only guides students through some of their greatest challenges during college, but truly transforms them into engaged community leaders. I’ll never forget the day a graduating student referred to me as his mentor. It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career.
Thank you for supporting Pace. Your contributions have allowed me to bear witness to the incredible journeys of so many VCU students.
With gratitude,
Jean Linnell
Associate Director

06/04/2026

Home Base

Mason, a recent VCU grad who studied chemistry, is preparing for his next chapter in medical school. But much of what has shaped his path has happened outside the lab. Mason has grown into a leader who is deeply committed to service and community-building.

Mason first encountered Pace as a freshman through programs like Stories & Lunch, where he helped prepare meals and experienced what he describes as a strong sense of community. “It can be a really great landing spot,” he says, “A nice home base if you’re looking for community or community service opportunities.”

As his academic workload increased, Mason had less time to be physically present at Pace, but Pace’s influence stayed with him as he began pursuing a passion for service. Mason wanted to expand the impact of a student organization called Help the Unhoused. A turning point for the group came during a conversation with Rev. Russ Kerr. “That meeting was really helpful,” he recalls. “Learning Pace’s structure and the connections to other groups made everything possible.”

Through that connection, Mason and his student org were introduced to St. John’s UCC, where they began hosting weekly events to prepare and distribute 100 meals to vulnerable people across Richmond. For Mason, the decision to serve meals in person is intentional. “I wanted to make sure students got to interact with the population they were there to serve. When you meet the people you’re giving to, I think it encourages you to stay committed. It’s way more impactful,” he explains.

As he looks toward a future in medicine, Mason is certain of one thing: service will remain central to his life. “Living in a city, you just cannot ignore the need. I wish our systems were doing more about it, but some of them are starting to do less.” Mason looks forward to devoting time to service in a clinical capacity once he begins medical school. “The first thing I want to get involved with is mobile clinics and mobile health screenings.”

“Service is definitely going to be a part of my journey. I don’t plan on giving it up.”

Your continued support helps Pace serve VCU students, even as they serve others. Thank you!

Address

700 W Franklin Street
Richmond, VA
23220

Telephone

+18046584064

Website

http://www.thepacecenter.com/

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