Navegar la transición de los entornos educativos al mundo laboral es un viaje crítico para los jóvenes adultos, pero presenta desafíos únicos para aquellos con discapacidades. Esta transición es crucial para la inclusión social y económica completa, requiriendo no solo la colocación laboral; se necesita una preparación integral y sistemas de apoyo establecidos. El papel de organizaciones como ECNV.org y recursos como los de The Arc of Northern Virginias o el Departamento de Educación de Virginia son fundamentales en el apoyo a este viaje.

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron, ENDependence Center for Northern Virginia (ECNV), in partnership with Walgreens,  offered free flu vaccines at the Mason District Healthcare Town Hall, hosted by Supervisor Andres Jimenez in partnership with Fairfax Health Department.

Collage: (Left) A group of Mason district multicultural residents waiting to be vaccinated; (Right), Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron in an ECNV white t-shirt with an Asian female Walgreens pharmacist.

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Rosalia Fajardo traveled to Virginia beach to present to a group of Latino parents for a workshop on Special Education and Transition.  This event was  hosted by Bienvenidos Todos organizadora Ana Catellanos in partnership with Matias Hope Foundation /Executive Director Lesly Lancaster.

Collage: (Left), Rosalia Fajardo posing with other Hispanic attendees; (right), a wide angle photo of the workshop.

On Thursday, November 14, 2024 the Bienvenidos Todos team hosted ADA webinar.  More than 500 hundred attendees learned how the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace and requires reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, as well as ensure that state and local government services are accessible to people with disabilities, includes places like restaurants, hotels, stores, and entertainment venues, and requires relay services for people with hearing or speech impairments.

Collage: (Left), ECNV Disability Equity Outreach Coordinator Lorena Granados, Director, Disability Equity Strategic Partnerships, Rosalia Fajardo and Bienvenidos Organizadora Jimena Barron; (Right), Lorena and Jimena sitting in front of a laptop computer and trying to coordinate the Bienvenidos webinar.

On Thursday,  November 21, 2024 ECNV participated in the Immigrants in Fairfax County: Challenges and Opportunities, which was hosted by Interfaith Fairfax Immigration Forum at Little River United Church of Christ with Karol Escalante Karol Escalante Director of Immigrant Community Affairs Office of the County Executive Fairfax County. 

Collage: (Left) Rosalia Fajardo with Karol Escalante; (Right) event attendees; (Center Bottom) Rosalia giving away free COVID-19 home tests to a consumer wearing a lime green sweater.

Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron, was the ECNV host at the vaccine clinic at the Berkdale Apartments in Herndon, on Saturday, November 16, 2024. ECNV vaccinated 37 mostly uninsured people, - primarily Latino, Arabic, and non-Hispanic - at the partnership with Fairfax County and Walgreens pharmacy.

Image: Bienvenidos Todos Organizadora, Jimena Barron stands behind recently-vaccinated mother and son.