Tendiendo Puentes: La Transición Esencial de la Escuela al Trabajo para Personas con Discapacidades
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.
Mason District Healthcare Town Hall
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.
Virginia Beach Special Education and Transition Workshop
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.
Rosalia Fajardo Receives Alfonso Garcia Robles Award
On Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Rosalia Fajardo ECNV Director of Disability Equity and Strategic Partnerships was the recipient of Alfonso Garcia Robles award.
Collage: (Left Photo) Rosalia Fajardo surrounded by her fellow awardees, (far right), UNAM General Rector Leonardo Lomelin in navy blue suit and black and yellow striped tie; (Right Photo) Rosalia wearing a navy blue suit and holding her award, on her left is UNAM General Rector Leonardo Lomelin.
2024 FCPS/CTS Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair
Carlos Marquez and Kevina Brown attended the 2024 FCPS/CTS Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair at Fairfax High School on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Over 200 families attended the event where various vendors from all over NOVA were able to share programming and services.
Image: ECNV Peer Mentor Carlos Marquez and RAMP Program Coordinator Kevina Brown at FCPS/CTS Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair at Fairfax High School.
Health and Wellness Fair at Alfred Baptist Church
On Saturday, November 2, 2024 ECNV participated at the Health and Wellness Fair at Alfred Baptist Church in Alexandria. This was a great opportunity to serve and create partnerships with the African American community that congregates in this revered temple.
Collage: Rosalia Fajardo surrounded by African-American female church members; ECNV travel trainer ECNV Hunter Cardwell in grey t-shirt and black pants talking with a female with black t-shirt and black pants; (bottom photo) David Aguayo wearing an ECNV t-shirt giving away a COVID test to a African American woman wearing black blouse and tan pants.
Bienvenidos Webinar
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.
Spirit of Community
On Friday, November 15, 2024, ECNV staff, Pansy, Emily, Cherie and Rosalia attended the Spirit of Community luncheon provided by Arlington Community Foundation.
Image: ECNV Development and Communications Manager Emily Kudron and Senior Expansion and Outreach Pansy Walker.
Interfaith Fairfax Immigration Forum
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.
Berkdale Apts Flu Vaccine Clinic
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.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church Vaccine Clinic
On Wednesday, November 6, 2024 ECNV provided vaccines to the Latino community at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. This Church serves a diverse and multi-ethnic congregation and seeks to promote racial harmony and social justice. Their primary focus is within the immediate community and work to provide for the well-being of the marginalized everywhere.
Collage: (Left), Latino patients holding clipboards waiting to get vaccinated; (Right), a male pharmacist from Walgreens preparing a vaccine. On the far right is ECNV Disability Equity Outreach Coordinator Lorena Granados.
RAMP Coordinator Kevina Brown at Volunteer Fest 2024
On Friday, November 1, 2024, Kevina Brown attended Volunteer Fest at the PARC at Tysons. Kevina participated in the Tyson Forest Park clean up. This was a rewarding experience in which she was able to assist and support the community as well as explore incentives and activities for the Ready to Achieve Mentor Program (RAMP).
Collage: Kevina Brown wearing a bright yellow safety vest, close-up selfie; Other volunteers walking towards a metro escalator; A group of volunteers wearing yellow safety vests; A female volunteer at the Tyson's Forest Clean-up table.
2024 Festival Latinoamericano
On Friday, October 4, 2024, the 2024 Festival Latinoamericano was held at Arlington Mill Community Center. The event celebrated the vibrant and diverse cultures that enrich our community. Indeed, that was exactly what happened and ECNV staff provided information about RACE project base in Arlington, travel training, Bienvenidos Todos and other services that we provide. It was a blast!
Collage: (Center Top) Rosalia Fajardo, wearing a black t-shirt and black pants, surrounded by two Muslim women. A little boy is also holding one of their hands; (Bottom Left) ECNV staff Lorena Granados speaking with a consumer and handing them a pamphlet; (Bottom Right) Margarita Baquero and Lorena Granados with a Hispanic mother. The mother is holding a purple ECNV bag.
Know Your Rights!
On Sunday, October 12, 2024, Rosalia Fajardo Director of Disability Equity and Partnerships at ECNV was invited to present at the informational workshops to the community Know Your Rights. This event was co-hosted by Legal Aide Justice Center and Dreamers Mother in Action in Richmond city to a group of Latino women.
(Left) Rosalia Fajardo speaking in front of a podium, behind her is a projector screen with a slide presentation and ECNV logo; (Right) Rosalia Fajardo surrounded by a group of Latina women.
Vienna Health Fair
On Saturday, October 5 2024, ECNV participated in the Vienna Health Fair at the Vienna Seventh-day Adventist Church. Our staff provided flu vaccines and distributed information to consumers about ECNV’s various other programs. More than 300 attendees came!
(Top Left) Jimena Baron helping a male senior citizen fill out paperwork for a vaccine; (Top Right) A Vietnamese woman wearing a dark navy shirt and black pants, sitting with a Muslim woman. (Center Bottom) Jimena Baron, Walgreens pharmacist, Rosalia Fajardo.
Education in Action!
On Tuesday, October 15, Rosalia Fajardo ECNV Director for Disability Equity and Strategic Partnerships was invited by the U.S. Department of Education Department to the “Educación En Acción” (Education in Action) Summit.
(Center Top) Secretary of Education Luis Cardona, an African-American man, and the actor Mauro Castillo from Disney’s ‘Encanto’; (Center Bottom) A female wheelchair user and Rosalia Fajardo.
Himalayan Free Clinic
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, ENCV once again hosted the Himalayan Free Clinic, which provided vaccines to the Nepali Community. The clinic offered a range of healthcare services at no cost to their patients. Their services primarily included chronic care management, counseling on chronic diseases such as diabetes education, various low-cost screenings, and referrals to appropriate local public resources when needed.
Collage (Center Top): Davis Aguayo, Rosalia Fajardo and Nepalese women; (Bottom Left) Rosalia Fajardo with a Nepali woman; (Bottom Right) An elderly Nepali wheelchair user receiving the vaccine from a Walgreens pharmacist.
Celebrating 50 Years of the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women
On Wednesday, October 23, ECNV Executive Director Dominique Dunford-Lack, Samantha Wentling, and Jimena Barron attended a reception celebrating 50 Years of the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women. The commission and its commissioners have advanced initiatives supporting women and girls in Arlington over the decades.
(Top Left) Jimena Barron, Samantha Wentling, Rosalia Fajardo wearing party glasses, and Dominique Dunford-Lack posing together for a group party photo; (Top Right) Rosalia Fajardo with two female African-American woman; (Center Bottom) Jimena Barron and Rosalia Fajardo.
Washington Area Women’s Foundation Annual Reception
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, ECNV staff attended the Washington Area Women’s Foundation Annual Reception at National Museum of Women in the Arts. ECNV supports the foundation’s mission that ensures women and girls of color in the Washington metropolitan area have the resources they need to thrive.
(Left) ECNV Executive Director Dominique Dunford-Lack, a woman wearing a dark navy dress, Angela Franco and Rosalia Fajardo; (Right) Bird’s eye view of a group of African American women posing for a photo together.
2024 NDEAM Panel at Fort Meade
On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, ECNV’s Disability Equity Outreach Coordinator Lorena Granados participated in the 2024 National Disability Employment Awareness Month Panel at Fort Meade Army Base.
Images: (Left) Program Cover and program page featuring (Right) Lorena Granados.