Blog - Read. Think. Act.

Skylar Johnson – Sew Fly Sky – Kitchen Table Conversations

(August 6, 2018) Catherine Read interviews 11-year-old fashion designer and entrepreneur Skylar Johnson. Skylar recently designed and stitched an outfit for Phyllis Randall, Chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, to wear at her annual State of the County address.

Skylar has been hard at work learning how to sew and design clothing starting at the age of eight, when she first attended an after-school enrichment program through her elementary school. She recalls her first creation as a mint green skirt with a lace overlay. Since then, Skylar has refined her skills, taught herself how to create unique patterns and experimented to find her style, inspired by fashion trends from the 1970’s. Both her Great Aunt and her Great Grandmother were seamstresses, and she thinks her love of sewing may have trickled down to her.

Supervisor Randall learned about Skylar’s talent, and reached out to her to see about designing a special outfit for her State of the County address. After meeting with the Chairman, Skylar explored various ideas and found inspiration in fabrics that she acquired while on a family trip to California. She did not want to stitch a traditional suit, so she looked for inspiration in various fabrics and spiced up a traditional design by creating a beautiful royal purple satin shirt, with buttons up the back, paired with wide-legged, white linen pants. The outfit Skylar crafted was gorgeous, and perfect for the occasion.

Skylar was recently featured in the 10^th anniversary edition of Posh Magazine, as a young student using practical applications of STEAM curriculum who is going places. She encourages kids to follow their dreams, and talks about her clothing brand she has created called “Sew Fly Sky”. She continues to take sewing lessons and strives to learn all she can about the fashion industry.

After that interview was published, she was invited to speak at a local elementary school to younger students about how fashion design is related to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) curriculum being taught. She walks the young students through the artistic process of creating a design, the mathematics of properly measuring fabric and creating a pattern using a variety of geometric shapes, along with the tools and technology needed to complete a project. She hopes that her talk was inspiring to the students.

Skylar is excited to continue her entrepreneurial journey, but as her mother Danyel Trammell points out, school still comes first. You can find Sklyar on Facebook, Instagram (@sew_fly_sky) or you can contact her directly at [email protected]

by Rachel Simon

Dalia Palchik – FCPS School Board – Your Need to Know

(Aug. 1, 2018) Catherine Read sits down with FCPS Providence District School Board member Dalia Palchik. Dalia speaks candidly about her background as an immigrant coming to this country at the tender age of six, and about her experience as a non-English speaking student in Fairfax County Public Schools, as well as the work she is doing to help all students in the county in her current role as School Board member.

Dalia’s family immigrated to the United States from Argentina In 1992. She, along with her mother and siblings, came to the United States to meet her father who had been working here in Virginia. They were thrilled when they were finally granted citizenship, and had the opportunity to build a better life for themselves in Virginia. As they assimilated to their new country, a new language, and a new life they worked hard to navigate the system and learn a new culture.

Dalia entered school speaking no English, and received ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) services. She is thankful for her wonderful teachers, and for having the opportunity to come to this country. As her family settled in and adjusted to life in America, it was Dalia who learned how to navigate the ins and outs of the school system and help her parents understand the culture of the school, how it all worked, and how to access opportunities. She felt as if she were the parent in their relationship at the time. Dalia eventually went on to graduate from the prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School, and earned a scholarship to Tufts University, where she majored in International Affairs. Professionally, she traveled all over the world to help organizations tackle the big issues of poverty and hunger.

After a long stint away from home, Dalia returned to Fairfax County, and looked around at the ever growing diverse community here in Fairfax had an epiphany about how she could make an impact.As she is fluent in 4 languages (English, Spanish, French and Italian), Dalia became language teacher and eventually ran for School Board, in the hopes of giving all kids the same excellent opportunities that she had as a child. She strongly believes that all children in Fairfax should have access to a world-class education, no matter where you live or what your family circumstances are.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is the 10th largest school system in the country, with almost 190,000 students walking though the doors every day. It is a culturally rich and diverse community, with a socioeconomically diverse student body. There are 48 Title 1 schools in FCPS, and Dalia mentions that it is important to understand the challenges and hurdles that these students face. She believes it is imperitive to put policies in place to make sure that these students are able to succeed. The One Fairfax policy that was recently adopted by both the School Board and the Board of Supervisors, is designed to look broadly from community services to education, to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents. Its purpose is to intentionally, comprehensively and systematically break down barriers that are creating gaps in opportunity (quote website).

As a foreign language teacher herself, Dalia spoke passionately with Catherine about the importance of teaching languages to students in FCPS, especially the elementary students. As our children are being raised in a global economy, these skills are becoming more and more important. Currently, there are only 17 language immersion programs being offered in Fairfax County, where half of the school day (math and science) is taught in the target language. Dalia notes that there are specific challenges to maintaining these World Language programs, with recruitment and retainment of staff as one of the largest obstacles, but she would like to see increased access so more students can take advantage of these programs. FCPS is also looking into dual immersion programs in certain schools where there is a majority Spanish speaking population. There are currently 25 elementary schools that fit the profile for these programs.

Dalia is also very excited about a new position that is being created this year, the Family and Student Ombudsman, to help students and families better navigate the school system. Armando Peri, a former principal, will serve as a chief problem-solver, who can review cases and help advocate for students who are experiencing issues from diversity challenges to special needs. The goal of this position is to bring parties together to come up with viable and effective solutions. Dalia continues to look for opportunities to help solve problems and bring students, teachers and parents together to make positive changes for the FCPS school system.

by Rachel Simon

Female Genital Mutilation – Angela Peabody – Inside Scoop

(July 30, 2018) Catherine Read interviews Angela Peabody, Executive Director of the Global Women’s P.E.A.C.E. Foundation (GWPF) about her work to help eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is the deliberate, non-medical removal or cutting of female genitalia. This practice is found in over 20 African countries and in some Middle Eastern and Asian countries. With large communities of immigrants settled throughout the United States, this practice has followed them. Although culturally accepted in their own countries, 26 states have now passed legislation criminalizing this practice. Virginia passed legislation effective July 1, 2018, that makes this abuse targeting female children a class two felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Female Genital Mutilation falls under three main categories: Circumcision, Excision, or Infibulation. Circumcision involves removal of the clitoris; Excision is partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora; Infibulation is narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and sewing over the outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris or inner labia. All of these procedures cause lifelong problems with women’s health, in addition to the life altering trauma of the cutting itself that is inflicted upon girls from the ages of 5 to 15.

Federal legislation was passed in 1996 that made FGM a crime, but there have not been prosecutions under that law. The first major case to be tried under the federal law will go to trial in January 2019. Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, a doctor in Detroit (MI) will be tried along with two others in a case that may have as many as 100 victims over the last decade. It’s estimated that cases of FGM in the U.S. have more than tripled since 1990. Worldwide, the victims number in the millions and yet the issue is not widely known or discussed. States with large populations of immigrants from practicing countries – Virginia, California, New York, Minnesota, Michigan and Texas – are finally starting to address the issue from a legal standpoint, but education and prevention are not being addressed, a reality that continues to put young girls in danger.

Over the past several years Angela Peabody has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of this issue. FGM is a widely accepted practice that is devastating to the girls and women who have suffered from this abuse. Based on the Population Reference Bureau’s estimate, there are approximately 513,000 girls and women who are potentially affected by this practice in the United States, with over 30,000 of them residing here in the Washington DC metro area. Working together with Virginia Senator Richard Black, the patron of SB47, Angela is pleased that the General Assembly passed the bill this year criminalizing this practice.

The Global Women’s Peace Foundation has multiple goals in fighting FGM. First they aim to prevent girls from being subjected to this traumatizing practice. This involves educating communities, schools, medical professionals, faith communities and law enforcement about the practice of FGM. Additionally, FGM needs to be identified as a crime punishable by law everywhere in this country. That means more meaningful federal oversight and laws in all 50 states. And finally, there is a need to identify survivors and offer counseling and medical interventions to improve the quality of their lives.

The practice of FGM needs to be recognized and labeled for what it is: child abuse and violence against women. Angela points out that there is no religious justification for this in Christianity, Islam or Judaism. It is simply a culturally accepted practice in certain cultures that goes back centuries. In segments two and three, Catherine speaks with F.A. Cole, a brave survivor who has undergone reconstructive surgery thanks to the Global Women’s P.E.A.C.E. Foundation. She shares the painful details of her story, which to this day brings her to tears. She is thankful to have found Angela, and for the emotional and monetary help and support that both she and the organization have provided so F.A. could regain her life and move forward as an advocate against this practice. There are physicians and clinics around U.S. that are starting to provide reconstructive surgery to survivors.

Angela notes that raising the profile of this practice through education is very important. She recently gave a presentation about FGM at a local church in Springfield, VA, after which a woman approached her and shared a story. She spoke about a young girl in her neighborhood who came running out of her townhouse screaming that her father was trying to cut her. Her father came running behind her wielding a knife. The woman, who had previously heard Angela’s presentation at her church in 2014, understood what was happening and called the police. When the police arrived, they did not fully understand what was happening because they were not familiar with the practice of FGM.

Over the last year, Angela has worked with the Loudoun County (VA) Sheriff’s Department, police officers in Fairfax County (VA) and Montgomery County (MD), the Department of Justice and the FBI to help them to understand the crime and how to identify both victims and perpetrators. She is also focused on working with the medical community and public school educators so they can partner on prevention, detection and aid to young girls at risk. While her Centreville (VA) non-profit is small, Angela has been able to reach across the country from coast to coast in raising awareness about this devastating practice that is happening right here in the United States.

The Global Women’s P.E.A.C.E. Foundation is having their fifth annual fundraiser walk on October 27^th in Washington, DC. This year they will also have walks in sister cities to help raise money and awareness. Support services are available for survivors, including counseling, job search assistance and reconstructive surgery. Angela also works with organizations that aid victims or potential victims seeking asylum in this country.

For more information on the prevention and prosecution of FGM, reach out to Angela Peabody at www.GlobalWomanPeaceFoundation.org

by Rachel Simon

Rob Paine – Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

(July 25, 2018) Catherine Read interviews Rob Paine, Director of Marketing and Outreach for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), which is run through Volunteer Fairfax. RSVP is American’s largest volunteer network for people aged 55 and older. In Northern Virginia, RSVP volunteers are making an impact by growing the capacity of public and nonprofit agencies in and around Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria.

RSVP is a federal government program that works in conjunction with localities to offer qualified volunteer opportunities to seniors. There are five basic areas that RSVP focuses on: veterans and military support, aging in place support for seniors, the environment, those who are food insecure, and help and support with financial literacy. RSVP works locally with over 30 organizations that have been vetted to meet the goals of the organization, and fit the requirements for their government grant.

Volunteer Fairfax offers a variety of ways for seniors to get involved. Paine notes that there are meet and greet luncheons, an online option to reach out to the organization as well as simply calling on the phone and speaking with their Volunteer Coordinator Carly Hubicki. Carly is extremely knowledgeable and works hard to make sure that the volunteers are getting placed in jobs that are a good fit. And, Paine mentions, if a volunteer job winds up not working out, Carly will work hard to find a suitable alternative so seniors can remain engaged n the community.

Paine believes strongly that we as a community need to understand how much seniors have to give to the community. These individuals have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, and are excited to give back. A recent study showed that a majority of seniors said that they get more out of volunteering, than the people who they are helping. Volunteering is also an important opportunity for social interactions between seniors, especially those who are living alone. The connections that they forge through volunteer work, along with the pride they take in the work that they are doing, can greatly enrich their life.

The marquis event for RSVP this fall is the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics, being held September 15-26 throughout the area. There will be 60 events in 28 locations, and there will be a need for over 100 volunteers to keep everything running smoothly throughout the course of the two weeks. There will be opportunities to learn more about the RSVP program at the following lunch and learn events:

July 31 at 10:30 in Alexandria
August 2^nd at 11am in Fairfax (Bocce lunch and learn)
August 9^th at 3:30pm in Vienna
August 14^th at 10:30am in Arlington

More information can be found on their website, or by simply calling the office at 703-403-5360.

by Rachel Simon

Krista Gauthier – Sliding Doors Squared

(July 18, 2018) Catherine Read speaks with Krista Gauthier who is the founder of Sliding Doors Squared, an enrichment program for children with dyslexia. Studies have shown that children with dyslexia excel in STEM related curriculum and careers, so Gathier’s program focuses on reading tutoring and STEM enrichment to help these students excel. Unfortunately, many dyslexic students go undiagnosed, and because they have a barrier to learning how to read they are not encouraged to explore and engage with other content. Sliding Doors Squared is designed to help these students realize their potential.

Gauthier has a background in teaching, so when her daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia she was thrown into a whole new world in the education subculture. She quickly learned that there are not many resources for parents of children who have dyslexia. If a child is diagnosed, it is very expensive to seek the necessary early intervention to keep students on track. One year ago, Gauthier embarked on a journey to bring much needed resources to the community. Together with her daughter’s reading tutor Joyce Maryanopolis, they founded Sliding Doors Squared (SD2). This program is currently offered at St. Bernadette Catholic School in Springfield as an after-school program, and they are looking to expand to another location in the Reston/Herndon area this year.

Gauthier shares that 15-20% of the general population live with dyslexia, and 30-40% of engineers and scientists are dyslexic. She also notes that 48% of the prison population is identified as dyslexic. She believes if students are identified early and taught how to read in a way that their brain can process properly, then the students can move on and excel in school. The STEM aspect of the Sliding Doors program is designed to introduce kids to subjects like robotics and engineering. It also includes opportunities to meet area scientists on their monthly Science Saturdays field trips, many who have dyslexia themselves. This allows the students to see themselves in their role models, and understand first hand that they can achieve and succeed despite their challenges.

Most of the people who run the programming with Sliding Doors are volunteers. They must be trained in the evidence-based reading curriculum, and commit to a 2 year program with their students. Many of the volunteers are teachers themselves, who benefit from understanding how dyslexic children learn, which can improve how they approach student with similar challenges in their own classrooms.

Another key element of the Sliding Doors program includes networking opportunities for parents. As a parent herself, Gauthier realized how few opportunities there were to meet and speak with other parents, along with how difficult it was to seek out resources. As part of the Science Saturday programming, Sliding Doors often offers programming geared towards parents where they can attend workshops, learn about advocacy, or listen to speakers who can help them learn about how to best support their children.

by Rachel Simon

Sam Brinton – The Trevor Project

(July 16, 2018) Catherine Read sits down with Sam Brinton, head of advocacy at The Trevor Project, an organization that supports LGBTQ youth through a crisis intervention and a suicide prevention lifeline. (Sam identifies as gender fluid and uses the pronouns they/them/theirs.)

The TrevorLifeline is a 24/7-support line accessible via voice or text, manned by thousands of trained volunteers nationwide. The creators of the Academy-Award winning short film TREVOR founded the Trevor Project in 1998 with the proceeds that they made from the film, when they realized that there was often no place for LGBTQ youth to turn to for support.

Brinton joined The Trevor Project as head of advocacy in October of 2017. Their chief job is to ensure that the organization is advancing policies and taking positions that help LGBTQ youth when in crisis. They themselves experienced a great amount of trauma in their youth when they attempted to come out to their family. Consequently, Sam is passionate about creating a safer world for the next generation. Their job covers working at the federal, state and local levels, as well as with the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.

Sam Brinton DC Sam Brinton has an MS in Nuclear Engineering from MIT, work they still do on a consulting basis through Core Solutions Consulting. Their work at The Trevor Project is driven by the pressing need to provide a safer and more inclusive world for LGBTQ young people across the country. Their advocacy includes providing testimony at legislative hearings on both the federal and state level, sitting on panels and speaking at conferences to raise awareness of these issues, and writing for many publications on subjects related to the safety, mental health and the well being of LGBTQ young people.

The TrevorLifeline has provided a safe space for hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ youth in crises over the past 20 years. It is their longest running project and brings in thousands of volunteers who are trained to manage the calls and texts received on their crisis line. LGBTQ youth are 4-5x more likely to attempt suicide, and often have no one who they can talk to about what they are going through. The ability for them to reach out and speak with someone who can relate to them can literally save their life.

One of the newer initiatives that Brinton has taken on is advocating for legislation that outlaws the practice of conversion therapy. Sam himself is a conversion therapy survivor, and they feel passionately about making sure that others do not have to suffer the same fate. In 2014, Brinton was the first person to testify before the United Nations Committee Against Torture as a survivor of conversion therapy.

Born to Baptist Missionaries, their parents had strong feelings about their suspected sexual orientation, and Sam was subjected to some very cruel practices starting at the tender age of 11. Sam didn’t know any other people who were like them, and was very impressionable at such a young age. They were told horrible lies, such as the government had killed all of the gay children in America because they brought the AIDS virus to the country. They also suffered psychological torture such as placing their hands in ice-cold water (or extremely hot water) and showing images of men with other men, so they would have a negative association in his mind. Sam suffered greatly from this abuse, which led to a suicide attempt.

None of these practices are legitimate, nor are they scientifically proven be effective. Up to 300,000 children a year are put through these abuses. Brinton is working tirelessly to make these practices illegal in all 50 states through The Trevor Project’s 50 Bills 50 States Initiative. Over the past 5 years, they have had success limiting licensed therapists from practicing conversion therapy in 13 states. They have submitted legislation in 21 additional states, as they move toward their goal.

Here in Virginia, Sen. Scott Surovell and Del. Patrick Hope submitted HB-363 to outlaw conversion therapy. Unfortunately, the bill was defeated along party lines in committee. Additionally, Del. Betsy Carr and Del. Danica Roem introduced HJ-73, a proposal for a study to be conducted to evaluate causes of bullying and to evaluate work on suicide prevention. Again, this was killed in committee along party lines. If the Democrats are able to flip control of the Senate and House in 2019, a Democratic House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader would be able to assemble committees where these proposed bills would actually make it on to the floor of each chamber for a floor vote.

The other major program that Brinton is working on is promoting the Model School Policy for Suicide Prevention. It is a modular, adaptable document that will help educators and school administrators implement comprehensive suicide prevention policies in communities nationwide. This program is designed to make it easier for the school system to respond to suicidal behavior, as well as assess warning signs and intervene when appropriate to help prevent tragedies from happening. More information can be found online, including a one-page fact sheet, a full policy document, and a webinar to learn more about the program.

As suicide rates amongst teens is on the rise, Brinton encourages everyone to push their school districts to make sure that they have sound policies in place around suicide prevention. They also encourage everyone to contact their own legislators and tell them what bills you would like to see passed in the next legislative session. Additionally, The Trevor Project always welcomes volunteers who would like to be trained answer TrevorText and calls at the TervorLifeline.

You can find more information at www.TheTrevorProject.org, follow them on Twitter @TrevorProject and Sam @SBrinton.

by Rachel Simon

Ellen Graham – Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates – Every1CanWork

(July 11, 2018) Catherine Read sits down with Ellen Graham of Every1 Can Work and Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates. Every1 Can Work is a non-profit dedicated to providing permanent employment opportunities for young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Over 84% of young adults with cognitive disabilities are unemployed, but not unemployable. Graham and her husband Jim founded Every1 Can Work because they wanted to change the narrative around this issue. If given the proper training and supervision, they believe that these young workers can succeed and fulfill their potential. They understand the importance of dignity and that having a job means more than just a paycheck; it means self-esteem and a purpose in life.

Graham found inspiration in her daughter Cameron’s love for baking so she and her husband Jim launched Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates in October of 2013, the first business enterprise of the Every1 Can Work Foundation. When they opened their doors they had a small storefront in the city of Fairfax and sold hand-dipped chocolates. Five years later, they have grown to employ 20 workers; they have expanded their kitchen to offer a variety of baked goods, coffees and jams, and now even offer catering options. The goal of the Every1 Can Work Foundation is to earn enough money to pay their employees.

The store is run in a cooperative environment, where all of the employees learn to do all of the different jobs. Cross training is good for both the business and its employees, as workers can help one another, step into any task that needs to be done, while also providing variety in the day to day employee schedules. Glass windows look into the kitchen, so customers can see the work being done both there and in the chocolate room. They look to engage with their customers – you can like their Facebook page to and follow them on Twitter (@CameronsChoc) to see their daily specials.

Before opening their doors back in 2013, Ellen and Jim conducted quite a bit of research to learn about different models of what worked best for employing individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (IDD) and Developmental Delays (DD). They visited businesses in Richmond (Daylight Donuts), Charlottesville (Bread Works) and even traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to Chillmark Chocolates. They observed best practices, took away pieces of each business that made them successful, and used that knowledge when founding their own enterprise. The best piece of advice that Ellen received throughout the entire process was that no matter what you do, always make sure that you are producing a superior product, and to not assume that customers will patronize your store if you don’t deliver a superior product and client experience.

In the years since Every1 Can Work and Cameron’s Chocolates were founded, Graham has been an active member of the Workforce Development Board in Fairfax County. She advocates for opportunities for those who have intellectual challenges and for job coaches who are trained in the concept of cooperative parallel work. This type of job coach is trained to do the work side by side with the employee, being both a model and a co-worker. In the past, Ellen’s experience had been that job coaches would verbally direct the employees, but not do the work with them. Her observations are that when job coaches are working side by side with employees, the experience for the employees is much more positive and the work product improves. One of her goals it to work with the Workforce Development Board to create a certification program for job coaches that teaches the cooperative parallel work model.

by Rachel Simon

Joyce Connery – Surviving Breast Cancer – Kitchen Table Conversations

(July 6, 2018) Catherine Read sits down with Joyce Connery on Kitchen Table Conversations for a candid discussion about surviving breast cancer. Ten years after her diagnosis, Joyce shares insights and observations about being both a cancer patient and a survivor.

Joyce received her diagnosis in 2006, when she was only 36 years old. At a routine physical, her doctor recommended that she get a mammogram done so it could be used as a baseline for the future. Joyce was surprised at the recommendation, considering she had no history of breast cancer in her family, but heeded her physician’s advice and went ahead with the scan. She was stunned when the doctor found something he was concerned about. After a biopsy indicated it was in fact cancer, Joyce and her husband had to absorb the difficult news and forge a path forward.

She immediately began to read as much as she could on the subject, so she could approach the challenge with her eyes wide open. Joyce soon realized that her diagnosis affected not only her, but also the people around her – family, friends and coworkers. It was difficult for her to accept the fact that she was not in control of her own destiny, not matter how hard to she tried to believe that she was. She read books and consulted with doctors, but what she learned was that there was no set answer of exactly how to move forward. Many of her treatment options had similar statistical outcomes, so she had to make the decisions that were right for her.

Joyce felt very fortunate that she had such a strong support network, many of whom offered to help her throughout her treatment. Friends and family brought food to her home, drove her to chemo treatments and provided moral support when she was down. Because she was very public about her diagnosis and treatment, she learned to accept help and support when she needed it most. With one in eight women in the United States being diagnosed with breast cancer, chances are that a friend, family member or coworker you know will receive a diagnosis. Each patient is may have different needs, so Joyce urges people to listen to their friends and family and provide support where and when it is needed most. She points out that there is no “cookie-cutter” scenario – everyone’s story is unique.

Joyce is happy to report that she has been cancer free (from the doctor’s perspective “no evidence of cancer”) for the past 10 years. Each milestone that is hit without a reoccurrence is another positive step forward. Thanks to better treatment options and earlier detection of the disease, many more women are surviving breast cancer and living full and happy lives. On the heels of finishing her chemotherapy treatments, Joyce decided to raise money for breast cancer treatment and research by participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer – a two-day, 39.3-mile journey through the streets of DC. When her friends heard she was signed up for this challenge, many joined her to form “Team Joyce”. Surrounded by her strong support network, she completed the journey, and although still weak from treatment found solidarity and strength in accomplishing her goal.

by Rachel Simon

Gerald Poje – Affordable Housing Advisory Committee

(July 4, 2018) Catherine Read interviews Gerald Poje, member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee in Fairfax County. As housing prices continue to climb, the ability for a low or middle-income family to afford housing in Fairfax county decreases. This advisory committee is dedicated to finding ways to increase the amount of affordable housing, while also taking into account the ability for people to live in the county throughout their entire life cycle.

Today in Fairfax County, there is a shortage of 31,000 affordable dwelling units. According to today’s statistics, a family of four pays on average $1700 per month for their housing, which requires an average family income of $70,000. There are many people in our county who do not make close to that income, and therefore cannot afford to live and work here in Fairfax. Or, alternatively, they are in a situation where they need to share a residence with other families or individuals in order to afford the rent. Poje is working with the advisory board to think outside the box, and challenge the status quo to bring forth much needed change.

Currently there are two agencies who manage work being done on affordable housing in Fairfax County. Both the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Fairfax County Redevelopment Housing Authority manage federal and state dollars that flow to the county for affordable housing, and focus on long term housing solutions for people coming out of homelessness. The advisory committee is helping to develop a strategic plan to guide their work as they plan for the future.

The strategic plan encompasses two critical phases. Over the past two years, phase one included soliciting input from community members and devising a comprehensive list of 25 low cost recommendations for the county to implement. Their goal is to integrate the community needs into a comprehensive plan that will allow the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Redevelopment Housing Authority to become more efficient, effective and strategic. They are also working with the Land Use and Zoning Boards to reimagine how some of the vacant commercial property around the county can be repurposed for the use of affordable dwelling units.

As the County works together with the business community to redesign existing spaces, Poje and the advisory board are urging them to think globally about the needs of the community, and to consider creative ideas of how to incorporate affordable housing into these newly designed spaces. Poje argues that the more people who are living and working in the community, the stronger the community will become. He strongly believes that people behave differently when they work and live in their own communities. They take more pride and are more committed to the community’s overall success.

Another key component of the committee’s work includes the consideration of those who want to stay in Fairfax County as they age. Today, there is a shortage of affordable options for those looking to retire and stay in their communities. The committee is looking to ensure that there are plenty of options for age appropriate, cost appropriate and size appropriate housing for people in all stages of their lives. This requires the ability to think ahead and imagine that the future may look different from what exists today, and to build for the changes that will be ahead.

by Rachel Simon

Women Giving Back/Transitional Assistance Program

(June 27, 2018) Catherine Read interviews Nicole Morris, Operations Manager of Women Giving Back (WGB), and Dona Dei of the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP), an arm of the Arlington Diocese Catholic Charities Prison Ministry at Loudoun ADC. These women are working to assist those who are transitioning out of prisons and shelters, and need assistance with clothing and accessories as they embark on a new journey to independence.

In the first segment Catherine discusses with Dona Dei the challenges faced by women transitioning out of prison. These women face many obstacles, including not having a home to return to, not having proper identification, not having necessary skills to land a good job and needing clothing. Many of these women lost everything they had when they went to prison, and have nothing to return to. Additionally, there are those who face addiction and substance abuse problems that prevent them from being able to move their lives forward. The TAP program is uniquely suited to work with these women in helping them reshape their lives. In partnership with Women Giving Back, TAP is able to identify the needs of each individual woman, and pair them with the services they need to get off to a good start upon re-entry to civilian life.

In the second segment Catherine speaks with Nicole Morris, Operations Manager for Women Giving Back (WGB). WGB’s mission is to support women and children in crisis, and build their confidence and self-esteem by providing great quality clothing at no cost, assisted by caring volunteers who offer personalized service and interaction. The organization was founded back in 2007 by a group of professional women, all of who were connected in some way with the local homebuilding industry. WGB was formed under HomeAid Northern Virginia as a way to supplement the great work that they do for the homeless and transitionally homeless community. WGB has grown considerably since then, and is now a 501(C)(3) nonprofit and runs a newly renovated 13,000 square foot warehouse and boutique in Sterling, VA.

WGB works with over 200 partner organizations to serve the needs of women in crisis throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area. With only 2 staff members, the organization uses over 2000 volunteers to carry out its mission. Volunteer tasks include sorting and organizing donations, providing personal shopping services to clients, driving donations to partner organizations throughout the metro area, and packaging the Bag-To-Go care packages for women who are unable to travel to the boutique.

For clients who are able to travel to the boutique in Sterling, there are volunteers who act as personal shoppers, who can help them find a variety of clothing and accessories to meet their needs. The shop is open every second Saturday of the month for current residents of local shelters, transitional housing facilities and safe houses. Women and children who are qualified by their case managers can shop free of charge and take up to 50 items on each visit.

The WGB website is a wealth of information for both clients and volunteers. The calendar lists hours of operation, along with volunteer opportunities. Morris shares that the organization was just given a grant to implement a more robust volunteer software to help better manage the different jobs and keep track of volunteer scheduling and communication. Every year they work with more and more corporate partners, who hold clothing drives, and then have their staff come into the facility and help with sorting and organizing at the end of the drive. Morris says this is a great way for a local company to give back to those in need right in their own community. The WGB website includes a detailed Donation Drive Guide for anyone interested in hosting an event.