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!

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!

05/28/2026

Chance Encounter

As the child of a military family, Olivia attended ten different schools before arriving at VCU, often navigating new spaces from the sidelines. “I’ve done my share of sitting in a corner, waiting for a chance encounter,” she reflected.

Drawn by a desire for connection, Olivia sought a community that encouraged exploration and openness. “There’s such a wide assortment of people at Pace,” she said. “It pushes me to connect beyond what’s familiar.”

That spirit of experimentation inspired Olivia to help launch a morning prayer group. “I like praying in community and wanted a prayer service with people my age on campus,” she said. “Morning Prayer gets me up and helps me set an intention for the day.” Through Pace, she coordinated with students from a nearbyEpiscopal church to start the ministry. “It’s been a really nice bonding activity, to pray together."

Students from other religious traditions have joined Pace’s morning prayer service. “I love being in Episcopal churches, but I also love seeing how other people worship,” Olivia said. “Hearing different perspectives keeps me grounded and helps grow my appreciation for new expressions of faith.”

Now a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Olivia continues to deepen her involvement with Pace. “We’re all here because we want meaningful connection and a place to belong.” That belief shapes how Olivia shows up for others. At a recent Pace event, she saw a new student sitting alone. Olivia struck up a conversation. “Sometimes quiet people just need someone to get them out of their comfort zone.”

Through experiences like these, Olivia has become a confident community organizer, sharing her skills with the wider world. “Recently, my tattoo artist said they want to start hosting community events in their space. I was like, I can help you do that. I know how to make community happen.”

This spring, as Pace wishes luck to our many graduating seniors, we invite you to help future students experience the same welcoming faith experience Olivia found at the Pace Center.

Donate today to support a space where students can find belonging, grow in faith, and build community. Link in bio.

05/07/2026

Spewing Diamonds

Emma is a junior at VCU majoring in urban studies and homeland security. She was first introduced to Pace through Highland Support Project (HSP), a nonprofit that shares space with Pace. HSP offers service-learning trips for students centered on cultural exchange and community-building in the Highlands of Guatemala. “My first time at Pace,” Emma recalls, “was to attend an HSP trip meeting.” But Pace’s open and genuinely welcoming community kept her coming back.

In other student organizations, Emma noticed an unspoken “cliquey” culture, led by groups of friends that would unintentionally leave others on the margins. At Pace, she found a different model. “I think Pace is more successful at preventing cliques because of the leadership structure,” she says. “It’s formulaic, but there’s a human element that allows for adaptability. Everyone who comes through here is curious, but the ones who stay are dedicated to growth. And those people, I mean, Pace is spewing diamonds!”

Pace’s openness helped Emma discover her own strengths. “Being able to welcome anyone through the door and meet people where they’re at,” she says. “Being constantly curious. Moving through the world with respect. Those are the gifts that I walked into Pace with, silently, and I’m now able to share.” She also recognizes how her background has shaped her leadership journey. “I come from a hardworking family,” she says, “so I’m used to being self-sufficient and jumping in.”

Those instincts are now guiding her work beyond Pace. Emma is part of Transform, a living-learning community at VCU, where she’s developing a new project. “There are these garden plots behind the Transform dorms,” she explains. “I’m applying what I’ve learned at Pace to bring together students who are interested in creating a garden. I’m going to meet with students from the dorm, from Ram Pantry (VCU’s student food pantry), and others in VCU sustainability. First I have to get VCU onboard,” she says. “But if I don’t get permission, I’ll just throw some seeds in anyway and see what will grow.”

Thank you for your continued support, which allows students to grow and discover themselves at Pace!

05/01/2026

Happy National College Decision Day! As always, it's never too early to refer an incoming (or current!) student to a campus ministry.

Know a student attending VCU this fall? Refer them to the Pace Center! (Link to form in bio).

Visiting campus this summer? Schedule a time to drop in for a visit!

Blessings to all those taking the next step on their college journey!

Pace is a Campus Ministry funded by the United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church (ECLA), Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ.

04/21/2026

Did you know that over the past two years, the Pace Center has helped over 75 students register to vote? “We were made aware by community partners that the vast majority of college students’ same-day registration in Richmond was being thrown out,” said Rev. Katie Gooch, Director of the Pace Center. “Meaning, even though they made the effort to vote - which is a statistical improbability - their votes weren’t able to be counted.”

Many student registrations were being invalidated because students were filling out their voter registration forms incorrectly. Some forgot to include their middle name. Others confused their campus mailbox with their physical address. Others would follow their friends to an incorrect polling location. Still others weren’t sure if they were registered or how to check that information. “We felt like we had an opportunity to help guide students through the complex process of registering to vote,” Katie said.

A group of Pace staff and board members came together to design a system that would eliminate confusion and set students up for registration success. More than a dozen Pace greeters became certified to register people to vote, and learned how to walk students through every step of the process. They helped students complete forms accurately, determine their registration status (whether in Virginia or another state), and understand exactly where to go on Election Day. Pace even printed out sample ballots to give to students.

This year, Pace expanded its impact even further. After collaborating with the Richmond Office of Elections to ensure accurate precinct information for students, the Office recognized the value of Pace’s approach. They used the resources Pace created to build a dedicated section of their website that helps college students navigate voter registration, avoid common mistakes, and locate their polling place with confidence.

Maybe you’ve heard - today is a special election day. Don't forget to vote!

04/02/2026

Gather. Eat. Share.

The first time Cheyanne visited the Pace Center, it was on a dare. “Me and my friend had a little pact going,” she explained. “We didn't want to fall into winter depression, so we decided to try every event on campus that sounded interesting to us. When I heard about Weeknight Cooking at the Pace Center, I was like, ‘Hey, we get to cook and eat? Let’s go!’”

Weeknight Cooking is a program where students cook and share a meal together. Soon she was telling all her friends to come. One evening, when the kitchen became too crowded to cook, Cheyanne struck up a game of Spoons with someone new. “There was a little bit of friendly competition between me and this girl,” Cheyanne recalled, “By the last round we were laughing so much. After the game, I found out that she lived a couple of doors down from me in my dorm. Now we hang out like every week.”

Besides fulfilling a social need, Pace also helped Cheyanne in a very practical way. “There’s another reason why I think Pace is an amazing place - you don’t have to pay for food!” she said. “Especially freshman year, that was always on my mind. Like, when am I going to eat a good meal and not just Chick-fil-A? But Pace also gave me the chance to be a part of something, even though I initially just came for food.”

Cheyanne became a leader of the Weeknight Cooking program. “The first taste of leadership I got at Pace was when my friend and I came early to help prep food. I felt so invigorated that I just wanted to keep doing it,” she said. “It can be overwhelming when you start to plan for the event and you know that so many people are going to show up. Even though you might be tired by the end of the night, it's always a good kind of tired. It feels so great to make it happen and see everybody connecting.”

Reflecting on her overall experience, Cheyanne said, “Honestly, it’s all about what’s on the shirt: ‘gather, eat, and share’! Even though people may come for food, they leave with a connection or a positive outlook, because everybody is so inviting, welcoming, and warm.”

Your support helps Pace provide (non Chick-fil-A) meals and a place for students to connect. Thank you!

Address

700 W Franklin Street
Richmond, VA
23220

Telephone

+18046584064

Website

http://www.thepacecenter.com/

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