ECNV Staff Attend Independent Living (IL) Advocacy Day at the VA State Capitol
On 01/24/24, ECNV staff and consumers boarded a charter bus to Richmond, VA to attend the IL Advocacy Day. We spoke to Legislators, Delegates, and Senators to discuss priorities for the disability community.
Image: A group photo of ECNV staff and advocates celebrating a successful IL Day 2024 together in a hallway!
ECNV is an Alexandria Resilience Fund Grantee!
ECNV is excited to announce that we have recently been selected as an agent for Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants.
Image: ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia spelled out, and below, simple ECNV logo on white set against a dark blue gradient background.
Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants
ECNV is excited to announce that we have recently been selected as an agent for Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants.
ECNV's New Bienvenidos Todos Outreach Grant
On January 16, 2024, Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) awarded $300,000 to The ENDependence Center to develop information for Latinos with disabilities and their families. Rosalia Fajardo, ECNV’s Director of Disability Justice Partnerships, looks forward to the prospect of mentoring ten bilingual people with disabilities or family members as they build community networks and bridge access to services, programs, and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Disability Justice Mindful Design Lab
WHAT IS THE MINDFUL DESIGN LAB? The Mindful Design Lab core curriculum is an experiential program involving a blend of personal reflection, mindfulness-based leadership skills, and social entrepreneurship skills. This program is for individuals who are seeking to make a difference in the world, but who are also committed to their own personal growth and well being.
2024 ECNV Vaccination Events
With funding from USAging’s Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), ECNV is organizing community vaccination events especially for seniors and people with disabilities.
In Loving Memory of Collin Jacobs
In Loving Memory of Collin Jacobs: It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Collin Alexander Jacobs, of Woodbridge, Virginia...read more.
Collin Alexander Jacobs, smiling.
Join Us for a Memorable IL Advocacy Day Trip to Richmond!
We’re thrilled to invite you to a day of advocacy and unity! Join us on January 24th for the IL Advocacy Day Trip to the State Capitol in Richmond, VA.
Image: ENCV simple logo with the organization name spelled out below. Below the logo is bold red text that reads: Join ECNV on Jan 24th for IL Advocacy Day at the State Capital in Richmond, VA!
National Landing Vaccine Clinic
On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, ECNV hosted a vaccine clinic at National Landing. ECNV Communications and Publications Specialist Elaine Shaw administered the demographic survey, David gave out the gift cards and Rah was downstairs to help direct people to the clinic. Marcie Goldstein was on hand giving out the patient forms from Walgreens. Some ECNV staff even came down to get the updated COVID-19 booster; Program and Training Coordinator Andrew Shaw was the first patient of the day and Program Facilitator and Independent Living Specialist Maura Schmidt received hers as well.
Collage: (Top) Marcie Goldstein, David, Walgreens vaccinator; (Bottom) Marcie Goldstein and David.
ECNV Honors Jeremy Smith, Winner of 2023 Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Award
On December 11, 2023, the Fairfax Area-Disability Services Board presented Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards to Cheryl Johnson, Jeremy Smith, and University Mall Theatres and Cinema Arts Theatre for their commitment to promoting equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and the City of Falls Church.
Collage: Pearl Johnson of DARS, NVRC Board Secretary Pam Gannon, NVRC Executive Director Eileen McCartin, and NVRC Board member Tom Dowling with Jeremy in front, at the 2023 Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion & Equality Awards ceremony. Pictured below left to right, Chair FFX Disability Services Board Chair David Simon, FFX Board of Supervisors Supervisor Walkingshaw, Jeremy Smith, and FFX Board of Supervisors VIce Chair Penelope Gross. Jeremy Smith pictured below with members of his family.
Advocates Speak at Arlington Legislative Forum
On Monday, December 11, 2023, advocates stood up to be heard at the Arlington Legislative Delegation Forum. ECNV Peer Mentor, Joseph Albert stressed the importance of being included, accepted and able to work. Director of Disability Justice, Cherie Takemoto spoke about the needs for changes for DD Waiver programs. ECNV Agents of Change (Arlington Three) Advocate, Ben McGann explained that virtual public meetings should be a disability accessibility right. ECNV Agents of Change (Arlington Three) Advocate, Huan Vuong advocated for the right to work - especially closer to home in Arlington.
ECNV Peer Mentor, Joseph Albert stressed the importance of being included, accepted and able to work; Cherie Takemoto spoke about the needs for changes for DD Waiver programs; Arlington Delegation (from left to right) Sen. Adam Ebbin, Sen. Barbara Favola, Del. Patrick Hope, Del. Alfonso Lopez, Del. Elect Adele McClure; ECNV Agents of Change (Arlington Three) Advocate, Ben McGann explained that virtual public meetings should be a disability accessibility right; ECNV Agents of Change (Arlington Three) Advocate, Huan Vuong advocated for the right to work - especially closer to home in Arlington; Director of Disability Justice,
The Arden Clinic
On Monday, December 11, 2023, ECNV in partnership with Wesley Housing and Walgreens provided vaccines to seniors residing at The Arden Residences in Alexandria, VA. Residents received the flu and COVID-19 vaccine. ECNV staff Rosalia Fajardo and Marcie Goldstein were coordinators for this vaccine clinic.
Collage: A female wearing light green helping a resident who uses a motorized wheelchair fill up a form; two African-American men sitting around a table, along with two African-American females waiting to get vaccinated.
Seniors Getting Vaccinated!!
On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, ECNV in partnership with Wesley Housing and Walgreens provided vaccines to seniors residing at Coppermine Place in Herndon, VA. The clinic was in a festive environment for residents and another successful event where seniors received the flu and COVID-19 vaccine in the comfort of their place of residence. ECNV staff member Rosalia Fajardo coordinated the vaccine clinic.
Collage: Rosalia Fajardo in red sweater and black pants, with Hispanic female sitting in a walker wearing a black pants and jacket; Rosalia Fajardo Director of Multicultural Families from ECNV in red sweater and black pants, with white female using a motorized wheelchair wearing a black sweater and grey soft pants; Walgreens female Pharmacist wearing white medical gown and black pants.
ECNV Continues Distributing COVID-19 Home Tests!
On Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Director of Multicultural Families Rosalia Fajardo distributed COVID-19 home tests at the Arlington Mill Community Center, for Latino families attending the graduation of Latinx in Business program hosted by our partner Shirlington Employment and Education Center.
Collage: A Hispanic male wearing black pants and Jacket with the ECNV purple bag, Rosalia Fajardo in white and gold sweater and black pants, a Hispanic female wearing black pants red blouse and black jacket holding ECNV purple bag, a Hispanic male wearing jeans and black jacket holding ECNV purple bag; Rosalia Fajardo Director of Multicultural Families at ECNV in white and gold sweater and black pants, a Hispanic female holding a diploma wearing black sweater purple pants, Andres Tovar Executive Director of partner Shirlington Employment and Education Center, wearing blue shirt and black pants; Group of Latinos entrepreneurs during graduation ceremony.
Waypoint Vaccine Clinic
On Thursday, November 30, 2023, ECNV hosted a vaccination clinic at Waypoint Apartments in Alexandria. Some special guests also made an appearance: ACL's Alison Barkoff and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy! The Surgeon General received a vaccination at our clinic! Thank you for stopping by and recognizing ECNV’s vaccination efforts.
Collage: U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, ECNV Executive Director Dominique Dunford-Lack, Alison Barkoff; U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Marcie Goldstein, Alison Barkoff; a group photo of people, (center) Dr. Vivek Murthy, Alison Barkoff, Dominique Dunford-Lack, Rosalia Fajardo, a woman with long black hair, Cherie Takemoto.
What’s Going on with RAMP?
On December 8th, we hosted the First Quarter Celebration activity at Bowl America in Fairfax. The event brought together an impressive turnout of five mentees, six parents, and one sibling. Initially, students approached the event hesitantly, but as time progressed, they collectively embraced the opportunity to celebrate the completion of Phase One of the program.
Collage: Four mentees and their parents standing inside of a fire station. A firetruck is parked behind them while their attention is focused on a speaker not in the photograph; 5 mentees, their families, and Kevina Brown posing for a picture at Bowl America. The lanes are in the background of the photo.
Travel Training
During the week of 12/18/23, the ECNV travel trainer took some photos of Nathaniel Thomas, who participated in the travel training, they went to Tysons Corner to buy Starbucks.
Collage: ECNV travel training consumer Nathaniel Thomas sitting int front of a Christmas tree in an outdoor setting; Nathaniel Thomas sitting in a booth with a cup of coffee.
ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy Program: January 2024
The IASA (I Am Self-Advocacy) Program is a Pre-Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS) focused on helping students with disabilities, ages 14-22, hone their skills in self-advocacy through a combination of individual and group sessions. Funded by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), this program is offered to students referred by the Fairfax, Alexandria, Leesburg, and Manassas DARS offices.
[Image: Three circles overlapping each other with words Self Advocate in the center and words Motivated, Committed, and Passionate on each circle].
Reflecting on a Year of Resilience and Growth!
An ECNV consumer expresses their “gratitude”. Read more to find out why.
Image: ECNV logo with the subtitle “Reflecting on a Year of Resilience and Growth!”, the outline of a heart with the phrase in capital letters “Thank You” and below the heart, “For Supporting ECNV!”
