The University announced the creation of the President’s Council on Community-U.Va. relations Monday. The council acts as a more permanent iteration of the U.Va.-Community Working Group, which was announced October 2018. The newly-created President’s Council will focus on the issues identified by the U.Va.-Community Working Group. The council is tasked with creating smaller groups that will oversee work towards these specific goals, such as examining the University’s role in the local economy, analyzing the “pipelines and pathways” of the University’s hiring to ensure better access to underrepresented groups, working with the community to maintain more housing for low-income residents and early childhood education.

Members of the council include University staff, local business owners, community leaders and first-year College student Zyhana Bryant, who is acting as the student representative of the council. There are 17 people serving on the council.

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Bryant hopes to involve other students in the President’s Council, noting that many of the relationships that the University has developed with the community come from connections with students, such as mentoring through Madison House.

“Even if [students] aren't officially members of the working groups, making sure that [students] are able to come to the meetings and give input,” Bryant said. “And if we have surveys, I think student voice will be prioritized.”

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