G-1911-15642

This investment supports Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to promote community-based engagement, capacity building, and advocacy in Nottoway County. The work aligns with The DentaQuest Partnership priorities to promote health equity in Virginia and engage grassroots partners in systems-change advocacy. For the past five years, VCU has been funded through our Grassroots Engagement Initiative to lead similar work in Petersburg, VA, resulting in a group of health care consumers engaged in statewide advocacy in partnership with the state oral health coalition. VCU’s 2020 work will focus on outreach, education, convening, and engagement with residents of Nottoway County; building advocacy capacity; and collecting community stories towards creating a policy advocacy agenda. $80,000 will support staff time, meeting expenses, communication materials, project supplies, and in-state travel.