Blogging Archives - Read. Think. Act.

Fairfax County Parks through an Equity Lens

(May 15, 2019) Catherine Read sits down with Jennifer Pradas and Chris Ambrose to discuss the fate of two Fairfax County Parks that are in peril of being redeveloped. Pradas and Ambrose are community activists who are working to preserve green space in their neighborhoods. They encourage the Fairfax County Park Authority to look at the protection of these parks through an equity lens. The One Fairfax policy was implemented to ensure that all neighborhoods throughout Fairfax County, no matter the zip code, are treated equally.

Jennifer Pradas is the founder and organizer of Save Blake Lane Park in the Providence District of Fairfax County. As the population in her neighborhood has grown over the years, overcrowding has ensued in the schools. This has prompted a call for a new elementary school to be built in the area. There is currently a proposal to redevelop Blake Lane Park into a new school, which would take away a community park that serves thousands of people in a high-density area.

With so many residents living in townhouses or condominiums, there would be no open space within walking distance for these residents to frequent. The redevelopment also includes removing including a dog park and a pollinator garden recently installed by a local girl scout troop. Pradas supports the idea of looking at boundary changes for the current schools in order to shift population in a more equitable manner and preserve the parkland.

Gerry Connolly, former Chair of the Fairfax County Board and current Congressman for the 11^th District of Virginia, recently penned a letter in Blue Virginia, encouraging the planning commission to not redevelop Blake Lane Park. During his tenure at Board Chair, he called for setting 10% of County land to be preserved for parkland. He also asked to have parks within walking distance of all communities.

In Lorton, Chris Ambrose outlines a similar concern about the prospect of developing part of Lorton Park for a community center. In 2016 the Park Authority set a goal of having 5 acres of community parkland for every 1000 residents of the county. Lorton Park currently serves 10,000 residents, far exceeding the proposed ratio. Ambrose notes that further chipping away at this green space does not serve the residents of the Lorton area well.

His suggestions include considering several other parcels of land that are owned by Fairfax County and in close proximity to Lorton Park. One of the properties, across the street from the park, is land that is attached to the pollution control plant and was originally purchased as a buffer zone. There are currently recreational fields on adjacent land to this parcel. But the county is using the excuse that there are PCB’s on the land that need to be cleaned up, to the tune of $200,000. Ambrose asserts that the PCB’s should be cleaned up regardless of how the land is used, but in the scope of a $20 million project the county should be able to work this into the budget.

Another option for the Lorton Community Center could be a parcel of land nearby that is currently slated for multi-use redevelopment. Again, Ambrose thinks that a community center could enhance a redevelopment project for the area, as the county could sell off the remainder of land that is not used for the community center.

Both the Blake Lane Park and the Lorton Park will be up for discussion at the next Planning Commission meeting, which takes place on May 22^nd. Pradas and Ambrose encourage allies to come support their causes. Not every community has the same ability to advocate for itself, that is why the One Fairfax policy is so important. It asks that those who are in a position of power to take into account underserved communities and make equitable decisions about county policies.

by Rachel Simon

Undefined Fútbol on Your Need to Know

(May 8, 2019) Catherine Read sits down with Dawson Ash and Francisco Ascendio, the founders of Undefined Fútbol. Their organization teaches and promotes the sport of Freestyle Soccer, and is the first of its kind on the east coast of America.

Freestyle Soccer takes the fundamentals of ball handling and adds creativity to form a unique sport. Ash and Ascendio have created the only year-round Freestyle Soccer academy in Fairfax. They use the artistic side of soccer to empower the youth, build character, stimulate creativity, and learn amazing new skills. The sport takes inspiration from extreme sports such as skateboarding and freestyle snowboarding and skiing, and adds elements of gymnastics and dance to round things out.

Although they often attract kids who play traditional team soccer, they also have kids who just like playing around the ball and learning new tricks. There are opportunities for children to advance in the sport, and attend judged competitions, although the point of the academy is to simply expose the children to something new.

Anecdotal feedback from parents has been very positive. They find that their children not only are excited to attend the academy sessions, but they are picking up the ball and practicing on their own at home in order to perfect a trick to create a new move. Many children naturally want to try new things and challenge themselves. This sport fosters their love of thinking outside the box and trying new things, which can have a very positive impact.

The program welcomes boys and girls equally. Undefined Futbol runs a summer camp based at the Green Acres Community Center for any children who might be interested in getting involved and learning more about the sport. It is a great way to get kids off the couch, and combine physical fitness with creativity.

In addition to the children’s academy, Undefined Futbol offers opportunities for adults who love to sport to come together. They host large-scale freestyle soccer events on a regular basis. These events bring together enthusiasts from across the country to celebrate the sport, and to be a part of the Undefined Futbol community.

by Rachel Simon

Genesys Works with Mioshi Moses and David Williams

(May 1, 2019) Catherine Read interviews Mioshi Moses, Executive Director of the National Capital Region and David Williams, CEO of Genesys Works. They empower high school students from challenged backgrounds to achieve college and career success through skills training and meaningful work experience.

Founded in 2002 by Rafael Alvarez in Houston, TX, Genesys Works came to life when he served on the board of a local charter school and was struck by the bleak prospects economically challenged students faced, at a time when companies like his were in need of new sources of talent. His goal was to think outside the box and create a meaningful program to help students thrive. Starting with 10 students, he developed an intern-based program that is a unique fusion of training, mentoring and professional experience.

Students who would otherwise not have access to professional experience opportunities are selected to apply to the program. It is a rigorous application process because they want to be sure that the students are 100% committed to sticking with the program. The students then spend the summer of their junior year in an intensive 8-week training program, designed to teach them both the technical skills they would need in an office, as well as the soft skills that they need to succeed.

Once senior year rolls around, the students have condensed classes in the morning to cover academics, then go on to work for 5 hours in a professional setting. This is a demanding program that expects the students to be able to stay on top of their academics, while balancing it with their internship. In order to help each student succeed in their new professional environment, they are assigned a job coach to work with over the course of the year. This is someone who they can call on for advice on how to handle situations and challenges regarding their day-to-day duties.

In order to get this program off the ground, Alvarez had to develop relationships with companies who bought into their mission. Companies who were looking to give back to the community became solid partners, as well as those looking to grow their pipeline of talent. Companies find that by investing in students, they are investing in the future of the community as a whole. Since those first 10 students were placed in 2002, Genesys Works has grown to serve over 4,000 students in five cities (Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington National Capital Region and soon to be launched this summer New York City).

To date, 100 percent of the students who have participated in the program have graduated from high school, and 93 percent of them have gone onto college. The program’s goal is to move more students out of poverty and into professional careers, creating a more productive and diverse workforce in the process. By giving underserved students the opportunity to succeed in a professional work environment while still in high school, they can open up career possibilities and pathways previously thought unattainable.

Moses runs the local chapter of the group here in the National Capital Region, and is excited about the prospect of exposing students to public sector jobs through opportunities with government agencies at the Federal, State and Local levels. They already have a program established with Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools, and she is looking to grow those opportunities and add more partnerships over time. In order to accomplish this goal, Gensys Works is looking to grow their name recognition and increase philanthropic giving to support their mission and serve more students in need.

Moses shares that they were awarded two significant grants this year. One from the Jack Kent Cook Foundation, for $120,000 over 2 years, and the other from the Clark Foundation, for $1 million over a 3-year period. CEO David Williams, who took his post in January of 2019, is looking to grow the program exponentially during his tenure. Although the program has only been rolled out in larger metropolitan areas to date, Williams believes that this program can succeed anywhere. They are looking to grow their geographic footprint in order to serve the needs of more students, companies and communities across the country.

by Rachel Simon

NoVA Outside with Kurt Moser and Nancy Striniste

(April 24, 2019) Catherine Read sits down with Kurt Moser and Nancy Striniste of NoVA Outside to talk about their organization, as well as their 8^th annual Student Environmental Action Showcase scheduled for April 23, 2019.

NoVA Outside is an alliance of educators, schools, businesses, nature centers, nonprofit “green groups” and government agencies that strive to connect people of all ages to the natural environment. NoVA Outside is the regional affiliate of the statewide Virginia Association of Environmental Education (VAEE). Moser notes that it is very easy to get involved with their local group. People who are interested can join the VAEE for a $25 membership fee and have access to their newsletter, attend networking events and meet others who are passionate about the environment.

Nancy Striniste is an educator and a landscape architect who specializes in planning outdoor spaces with children in mind. Her designs incorporate natural materials that are intended to connect children to the outdoors and encourage them to explore and use their imagination. Children today have less and less free time to play and explore in nature, and Nancy is committed to designing environments where children can spend unstructured time outside, and connect with nature so that they foster a love of the outdoors. This connection forms a foundation for them to connect to the natural environment, so that they grow up to be environmentally conscious adults.

Nancy recently published a book entitled Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World. Nancy decided to write this book because she noticed that children today do not have the opportunity to roam and play freely in nature, as children have in generations past. The book is meant to be a resource to help bring nature to the spaces where children spend their time. The book has threads of sustainable landscaping and child development, and offers a lot of ideas of transforming all types of spaces from backyards to schoolyards.

The various chapters tackle different things such as challenging bodies by using natural materials, inspiring imaginations through outdoor play and using fragrance and sound to awaken the senses. There are step-by-step do it yourself projects, hundreds of photographs and illustrations, themed plant lists – all with the goal of inspiring families and communities to create natural play spaces.

Kurt Moser is excited to welcome approximately 500 elementary, middle and high school students to the 8^th annual Student Environmental Action Showcase on April 23^rdat George Mason University. The event is designed for students to be able to share and showcase their ideas of how to solve environmental challenges. In addition to the student projects that will be on display, industry partners will conduct hands-on exhibits in order to expose students to new ideas and inspire them to continue their creative work.

Over the years the conference has grown and evolved. When they first got started, the event was simply students showcasing their projects. Today, additional partners are brought in, such as a Virginia Tech student group who will demonstrate how computer programming can be used to help solve environmental challenges. Students also have an opportunity to sit down with legislators to talk about how they can be effective advocates for the issues that they care deeply about.

by Rachel Simon

AARP Scam Jam with Martin Bailey and Melissa Smarr

(April 17, 2019) Catherine Read sits down with Martin Bailey from AARP and Melissa Smarr from the Silver Shield Task Force of Fairfax County, to discuss their upcoming event called Scam Jam to be held on April 27^th from 9am-1pm at the Fairfax County Government Center.

The second annual Scam Jam aims to educate the public on how they can protect themselves against scam artists. There will be speakers and workshops, all designed to inform people about different scams that are currently happening here, and all over the world. Bailey notes that 16.7 million people a year are scammed at a cost of $16.8 billion dollars annually. It is a huge problem, and this program is intended to arm people with knowledge so that they are less likely to fall for a scam.

There will be several speakers who will be highlighting current scams that are happening now in Virginia. The Grandparents scam is one of the more common ones, and has been around a long time. A con artist calls up an elderly person and pretends to be a young relative in trouble, needing bail money. It is designed to put the victim in panic mode and scare them into compliance. There are also a variety of phone scams using IRS, Medicare and Social Security (note: these agencies will never call you, they will always send you correspondence in the mail).

One of the key ways to protect an identity is to safeguard your social security number. Bailey points out that much of the demographic information on potential victims is “out there” for the world to see, via everything from the online white pages to social media. But a scammer would need a social security number to open a bank account or credit card. It is very, very important to never give out that number unless it is a wholly legitimate source.

In addition to the speakers, there will be an opportunity to shred old papers with confidential information and safely dispose of unused medication. If you cannot make it out the event, AARP has a variety of resources online that are free to the public. Two of their most popular pieces are the Con Artist Playbook and the Watchdog Alert Handbook, which are free and available online. There are also blog posts and articles that are constantly being updated, as AARP attempts to keep up with the scammers in an ever-changing environment.

Fairfax County Silver Shield Task Force also has a number of valuable resources on their website, including consumer protection information, how to report a scam, handling door-to-door solicitors and much more.

by Rachel Simon

Assistance League of Northern Virginia

(April 10, 2019) Catherine Read sits down with Kathy Jackson, President, and Cindy Burgess, Strategic Planning Chair, from the Assistance League of Northern Virginia. Their mission is to have their volunteers transform the lives of children through community programs.

Prominent women in the Los Angeles area founded the Assistance League in the 1890’s. It was the first nonpolitical, nonsectarian nonprofit founded in the west that was dedicated to recognizing the potential of volunteers in making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. By 1935, the National Assistance League was incorporated with the focus of promoting effective volunteerism though leadership and training. Today, there are 120 chapters nationwide, in 26 states, with 22,000 members. Their goal is to establish chapters in all 50 states.

The Assistance League of Northern Virginia was chartered in 2004. Today they serve children at 11 Title One Schools in Fairfax and Prince William Counties, as well as the City of Alexandria. They run two signature programs, Operation School Bell and Operation Hugs, aimed at improving the lives of the children in these communities.

Operation School Bell

Operation School Bell has three components. Volunteers with the Weekend Food for Kids program pack 1600 bags of food each month, which then gets delivered to 6 schools within their network. The groceries go home with children from food insecure households. The Assistance League brings together volunteers from across the community to pack the bags on the 3^rd Thursday of every month. An assembly line is setup, and it takes approximately an hour to complete the work. They partner with Dominion Energy, which provides a location for the food packing and whose drivers deliver the food packs to the schools for distribution to the children.

In addition to the weekend food program, the Assistance League also provides new clothing for children in need. The organization works closely with the school counselors in order to identify specific needs, such as coats or shoes. By working to get information about specific children, they can be sure to provide the proper sizes and items for those in need. For some of these children, it might be the only new item of clothing that they receive for the entire year.

The last component of Operation School Bell is the Literacy for Kids program. Volunteers from the Assistance League are paired with children who need extra help to improve their reading and comprehension skills. They visit the children at school on a regular basis, to help improve their reading skills and to form a relationship. At one local school, they put on a program aimed at collecting books so that children can bring a book home and start creating their own library.

Operation Hugs

The other primary program that the Assistance League runs is called Operation Hugs. This is the original program that was established when the organization was founded back in 2004. There are women in the Dumbarton Oaks community who sew heart-shaped pillows that have a pocket for a small toy, that are delivered to a health clinic for underprivileged children in Falls Church. These pillows are designed to give the children some comfort, and help keep them stay calm, when undergoing procedures. They are very proud of this long-running program, and the children love receiving the pillows.

Jackson and Burgess are always looking for more volunteers, both men and women, to help carry out their mission. All are welcome to their spring fundraiser on April 26^th at the Country Club of Fairfax, held from 11am-2pm. They also open their doors to volunteers who want to come pack food or volunteer at the local schools. To learn more, visit their website.

by Rachel Simon

Children’s Science Center and Dominion Energy Foundation

(March 27, 2019) Catherine Read sits down with Deborah Tomkins Johnson, Regional Director at Dominion Energy and Nene Spivy, Executive Director of the Children’s Science Center. Their discussion touches upon Dominion Energy’s philanthropy and the future of the Children’s Science Center.

In the first segment, Catherine speaks with Tomkins-Johnson about Dominion Energy’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. Dominion is active all across the Commonwealth in organizations and programs that are important to their employees and the community at large.

Dominion Energy focuses its time and resources in four basic categories:

Human Needs: grants that increase food security and access to housing and shelter, and basic medical and healthcare.
Environmental Stewardship: grants to protect natural resources and help nonprofit organizations make efficient use of energy.
Education: grants to develop the capacity of the future workforce, especially in STEM and energy fields.
Community Vitality Grants: to foster an appreciation of diversity, revitalize neighborhoods and ensure a vibrant community life through support of cultural endeavors.

Dominion has forged public-private partnerships to help address problems and support initiatives across all sectors. Tompkins-Johnson points out that one of their signature achievements has been the establishment and support of the Junior Achievement Finance Park campuses that are located throughout the state. This is a program geared at teaching financial literacy starting in middle school. Dominion supports the program financially, and also encourages employees to volunteer at Finance Park.

Dominion employees are encouraged to bring organizations and programs that are important to them to the Foundation’s attention. That is how Dominion has learned about, and become involved with, many of the projects that they have taken on to date. The Children’s Science Center is one of these programs that an employee, Tim Sargent, brought to their attention in its infancy. Dominion has been a strong supporter of this initiative since inception.

In the second segment, Catherine speaks with Nene Spivy, Executive Director of the Children’s Science Center. The Children’s Science Center was established 14 years ago with the dream of building the first children’s museum in the Washington, DC metro area. After sitting on the board for several years, Spivy was promoted to Executive Director in 2010. During her tenure, she has seen the museum open their doors as a “Lab” site at the Fair Oaks Mall.

In addition to the 2700 square feet of museum “lab” space that welcomes approximately 50,000 visitors on an annual basis, the Children’s Science Center operates as a “Museum Without Walls” by bringing their exhibits and curriculum out into the community. They serve an additional 20-25,000 people by visiting schools and community events throughout the region. Their mission is to help children define science in a broader fashion, and encourage them to explore and appreciate the world around them.

The Children’s Science Center is entering its next critical phase. Land in the Dulles area has been donated, and they are looking to build a 70,000 square foot state-of-the-art, world-class interactive science center. Spivy is appreciative of the support from both the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, who approved an initial investment of $15 million, and the Virginia General Assembly who just allocated in the most recent budget cycle, $2.3 million for the initial design phase of the project. Visit the website to learn more about the center and how you can support their efforts.

by Rachel Simon

The Arc of Northern Virginia with Lucy Beadnell

(March 20, 2019) Catherine Read interviews Lucy Beadnell, Director of Advocacy for the Arc of Northern Virginia. The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

As the Director of Advocacy, Beadnell advocates for laws and policies that help protect and promote her clients’ safety and wellbeing, as well as give them the tools that they need to thrive. This year she has been particularly concerned about reports throughout the nation that those with disabilities have been targets of sexual abuse. She aims to use these horrific stories to educate the public about how to be proactive in order to avoid having their loved ones become a victim.

The Arc has worked with social workers and counselors to produce a variety of trainings, webinars and toolkits designed to help parents and caregivers give their loved ones the tools that they need to become “tough targets”. Beadnell explains that although this may be a tough topic for parents and caregivers to discuss, that having a developmentally appropriate conversation about appropriate and inappropriate behavior is necessary to keep their loved ones safe. These resource tools give them the appropriate language and sets the framework for conversations.

They recommend taking everyday opportunities to raise awareness for things like understanding the proper names for various body parts, understanding why it is inappropriate to keep a secret if someone asks them to do so, who is a safe person to talk to, and why sex is an expression of love. It is important for caregivers and parents to understand and accept that as their loved ones age, that they will indeed have a desire for a sexual relationship. This should prompt them to educate and talk to their loved ones so that they can advocate for themselves, and not be taken advantage of.

Additionally, the Arc has been working with the Council Of Governments on some technology tools to help people who are on the Autism spectrum, or are nonverbal, communicate with those around them in order to stay safe. There is an app called SafetyMate for smartphones and tablets that allow them to share what is happening if they cannot find the words.

Unfortunately, some people with disabilities can present in a way that looks different from what is actually happening. For people who repeat phrases with only a limited amount of words, or have trouble following commands quickly, it can be confusing to the police. This app allows people with disabilities to explain to the police what their situation is, and diffuse a situation so that everyone is on the same page.

Building on this concept, a new app called TravelMate is being used in Northern Virginia to help people with disabilities navigate public transportation. With a new grant from the Council Of Governments they are looking to roll it out to everyone within the area that uses the Metro system for public transit. Beadnell is excited to work collaboratively with her partners in the region to roll out this new initiative.

As Director of Advocacy, Beadnell works with legislators in the General Assembly to pass laws and advance policies that will help her clients. This year, they were able to score a big victory for patients with autism. Up until now, insurance companies were allowed to cap coverage of Applied Behavioral Therapy (ABA) to patients at the age of 10. This therapy has proven to significantly help patients with autism at all ages. This year, the Assembly passed a bill to require coverage of this treatment with no age limitation. This will help patients with autism reach their full potential and help reinforce the skills that they need to thrive at home and in the community.

Also on the legislative agenda is the request to fully fund the Priority 1 urgent waiver waiting list by FY 2020. They were able to secure funding this year for half of the list, and are hoping to take care of the remainder next year. Individuals who are on this priority list are assessed as needing services immediately by the Commonwealth’s own definition. The current system of funding has driven many of these people into crisis, a method that only winds up costing the commonwealth more money in both the short and long term. By addressing this priority list, they can begin to focus on people lower down on the waiting list, whose needs are less complex and less costly. Ultimately it will help make the system more efficient and will bring down costs.

There were a few disappointments this year. A bill that was submitted to ensure that students with disabilities are entitled the developmentally appropriate Family and Life Education died in committee. In light of stories of abuse, Beadnell firmly believes that this bill is critical to helping to keep students safe. Additionally, a request was put in for an increase in what Medicare pays nurses for caring for patients with disabilities. Often times these patients have complex medical needs, and due to the low rate of reimbursement, many families cannot afford to keep their loved ones at home with them, forcing the families to put them in nursing homes. Sadly, Virginia is one of the most underfunded states for people with disabilities. The Arc will continue to push for these measures.

Lastly, one of the other key initiatives that the Arc has been working on with Del. Kaye Kory is a bill that allows for Supported Decision Making. This model would be an alternative to the Guardianship model that currently exists. It would allow for a person with intellectual disabilities be surrounded by a team of people who are designed to help advise them and guide them in the decision making process. The fact is that the current Guardianship model does not give all of the protections that it was originally designed to do. This model also offers individuals a sense of agency in the decision making process, and the opportunity to work on thinking through problems and come to solutions.

The Arc will be holding its first Benefit Breakfast on Friday March 29^th from 7:30-9:00am at the McLean Hilton in Tysons Corner, to help raise money to support all of the good work that they are doing. To attend the breakfast, or simply support the organization with a donation, please visit their website. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@TheArcOfNova).

by Rachel Simon

New Paradigm Recovery with Joshua Cagney

(March 13, 2019) Catherine Read sits down with Joshua Cagney, Director of Communications, for New Paradigm Recovery (NPR). NPR is an intensive, outpatient rehabilitation program dedicated to changing the lives of men, women, families and communities affected by alcohol and substance abuse disorder. As an outpatient facility, NPR focuses on comprehensive healing of the individual in mind, body and spirit. They also promote best practices in order to achieve life-long recovery from alcohol and narcotics.

The goal of NPR is to maximize their client’s recovery from addiction without compromising their health, happiness or potential for success. They provide an individualized, sustainable therapeutic program of recovery, enabling their clients to overcome the issues that have negatively affected their lives, the lives of their loved ones, and the lives of those in the community surrounding them. NPR empowers their clients and teaches them how to grow through their experiences, rather than despite their challenges.

Cagney talks extensively about the importance of treating the underlying causes that lead people to addiction. He stresses that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to addiction, because the symptoms are unique for each individual. Until these root causes are addressed, and a plan is put in place so that the underlying problems do not reoccur, the likelihood of slipping back to addiction is very high. NPR approaches the challenge of addiction in a holistic manner, taking into account all of the obstacles and challenges that clients face on a daily basis. Only after an honest accounting of these hurdles takes place, can they begin to address the challenges and put a plan in place to help their clients heal and avoid a relapse.

New Paradigm Recovery is an outpatient facility that offers anywhere from 9-15 hours of counseling on a weekly basis. Although month-long in-patient facilities serve an important purpose to help people detox, Cagney notes that an extended care model is critical for success once people leave an in-patient program. An outpatient facility allows them to learn how to deal with the daily obstacles of re-entry to society, and helps them navigate what can be a very difficult transition.

With the opioid epidemic reaching epic levels, Cagney believes that we need to rethink how our society deals with drug addiction and treatment. Since America started its war on drugs in 1971, the number of drug addicts has grown exponentially. There are not enough practitioners to help the number of Americans who need support. Additionally, there still remains a stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction. Many families are ashamed to admit that their loved ones need help, and do not take the steps to help move them toward health and recovery. As a society we need to be more open about admitting the problem, and stop judging and start supporting those who seek out help.

Cagney also recognizes that law enforcement is not equipped to handle the growing epidemic. As a nation we need to invest in social workers and counselors, who can help addicts understand the problems that they are facing, and work toward recovery. Jail will never be the solution for a drug addict, as it is shown that the recidivism rate amongst addicts is very high. If the goal is for people to re-enter society and be productive and contributing members, then it is imperative to understand that effective treatment and recovery is the only way for that to happen. NPR, and other extended care models, will be integral to helping to solve the crisis we are experiencing today.

by Rachel Simon

Stroke Comeback Center with Darlene Williamson

(March 6, 2019) Catherine Read interviews Darlene Williamson, founder of the Stroke Comeback Center. Their mission is to provide ongoing and personally meaningful programs within a peer-driven environment that is affordable for all stroke and brain trauma survivors, enabling them to achieve their maximum potential.

Darlene Williamson is a speech and language pathologist whose career is focused on stroke recovery, specifically with patients who suffer from aphasia. Stroke is defined as an interruption of the blood supply to the brain for a significant period of time. Aphasia is the loss of language that happens when the language center of the brain is injured. Survivors who are plagued with this condition have full intelligence and the ability to think, however, the language center of brain keeps them from being able to communicate with those around them. There are approximately 2 million people nationwide who are living with the aphasia today, and there are very few programs that are specifically geared toward helping these patients with long-term recovery.

Williamson was prompted to found the Stroke Comeback Center after her experience of working with patients in the hospital and rehabilitation setting. Since insurance only covers a short period of time as an in-patient, she would often need to say goodbye to them after their insurance coverage ran out. Her patients would inevitably ask “What’s Next?” and she never had a truly good answer, as there were not many places for them to go to continue on their recovery journey.

The Stroke Comeback Center program is different from what patients experience in the hospital or rehabilitation settings. They offer classes and activities, facilitated by professionals, which allow individuals to work toward goals that they have chosen for themselves. Williamson explains that this approach allows the survivor to define what “living successfully” means to them, whether it be skyping with their grandchildren on a video call or being able to order their own Starbucks drink with a cashier. The classes encourage communication and give patients an opportunity to practice their skills and develop camaraderie with those who are in a similar situation.

The flagship location of the Stroke Comeback Center is in Vienna, VA. The center has grown tremendously over the years, thanks to a combination of grants and individual donors. Classes are offered at an affordable rate, and financial assistance is available for those who need aid. The need in the community has been so great, that they opened a second location in Rockville. There are now efforts underway to expand into Loudon County via a partnership with the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia. The Stroke Comeback Center is the only community based non-profit that does this in the DC metro area, and they are working hard to serve the 1 in 250 people who are affected by aphasia.

Looking toward the future, Williamson hopes to setup a virtual center so they can serve people in remote areas, or those who lack transportation to travel to their centers. This form of tele-rehabilitation would allow a patient to video call into a group therapy session, such as a conversation group or a book club.

The Stroke Comeback Center strives to meet the needs of as many people as possible, but in order to do so they need funding. They are holding a fundraiser called The Benefit of Chocolate on March 28^th at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD. Eventually, Williamson would love to expand programming to include fitness and music therapy to round out their class offerings. Sponsor information and registration for this fun and unique event can be found on their website – she encourages anyone who is interested to attend.