Robert Sandel This week, the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center has played host in welcoming leadership from all 23 of Virginiaâs Community Colleges, our first in-person gathering in two years and a chance to explore a shared vision about the role of community colleges in a changing economy. Looking at the next five years and beyond, one initiative is setting the pace as an example of the change enabled through community college â especially for ALICE. ALICE is the United Way acronym that describes a significant demographic slice of the population â Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Representing almost one third (29%) of Virginiaâs families, ALICE households do not earn enough to afford basic necessities even as their income falls above federal poverty levels, thus disqualifying them for most federal assistance programs.