Conozca a nuestro organizador: Alberto Najera
En comunidades de toda Virginia, un grupo de defensora/es dedicadas, conocidas como "Organizadora/es”, está transformando vidas. Estas autodefensoras y familiares bilingües, equipadas con conocimiento, pasión y orgullo cultural, son fundamentales para el proyecto Bienvenidos, una iniciativa de ECNV comprometida con apoyar a los latinos en Virginia con discapacidades y a sus familias.
Conozca a nuestro organizador / es: Alberto Najera.
Empoderando a los Virginianos Latinos con Discapacidades: El Papel Vital de las “Organizadoras” en el Proyecto Bienvenidos
En comunidades de toda Virginia, un grupo de defensora/es dedicadas, conocidas como "Organizadora/es”, está transformando vidas. Estas autodefensoras y familiares bilingües, equipadas con conocimiento, pasión y orgullo cultural, son fundamentales para el proyecto Bienvenidos, una iniciativa de ECNV comprometida con apoyar a los latinos en Virginia con discapacidades y a sus familias. A través de su labor, las "Organizadora/es” abren puertas a derechos, servicios y oportunidades esenciales para personas con discapacidades, asegurando que las familias latinas puedan navegar estos sistemas con confianza y orgullo.
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.
RAMP Update: November 2024
RAMP Update for November 2024.
Image: RAMP logo with the program name spelled out beneath it, Read to Achieve Mentoring Program.
ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy Program: Fall Session Update
[Image: Three circles overlapping each other with words Self Advocate in the center and words Motivated, Committed, and Passionate on each circle].
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.
World Diabetes Day
National Diabetes Month is observed in November. It's a time to raise awareness about diabetes and the diabetes epidemic, and to support people with diabetes it’s important to remind about accommodations that schools can be required to provide under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If a school violates a student's Section 504 rights, the student may be able to re-take classes or assignments without penalty.
Images: World Diabetes Day logo.
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.
Providence Day and Back to School
On Saturday, October 5 2024, ECNV staff hosted a flu vaccine clinic at Providence Day and Back to School event. This community event which was co-hosted by supervisor Dalia Palchik, also showcased local organizations and businesses while fostering stronger connections among residents and community leaders. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet neighbors, connect with local organizations, and prepare the community for a successful school year. ECNV Trainer Andrew Shaw and Communications and Publications Specialist Elaine Shaw were the first patients of the day!
(Top Center) Elaine Shaw and Lorena Granados posing for a selfie; (Bottom Left) An African-American man receiving a flu vaccination from our Walgreens pharmacist.
(Bottom Right) ECNV Travel Trainer Andrew Shaw filling out a form for. a flu vaccination.
RACE: Arlington Disability Access and Action Project
ECNV is organizing Knowledge + Action groups to mutually educate, empower, make connections and access what Arlingtonians with disabilities and health conditions needThe Arlington Disability Access and Action project will share navigation skills, connections and knowledge with South Arlingtonians so that they can not only gain access to what they need and want, but also gain confidence and advocacy support for disability, justice, and equity and want to advocate for disability justice and equity in Arlington.
Hispanic Heritage Culmore Day
On Saturday October 26, 2024, Second Story hosted the Hispanic Heritage Culmore Day at the Culmore Family Resource Center in Falls Church, VA. ECNV distributed more than 100 COVID-19 home tests to the multicultural Hispanic community. It was a beautiful celebration and one of the best events of the year. Live music dances, Art Culture Games and Folkloric dresses made that day so special.
Our Lady Queen of Peace
On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, ECNV provided flu shots to the Latino community at Our Lady Queen of Peace, which serves a diverse, multi-ethnic congregation and seeks to promote racial harmony and social justice. Additionally, there was a food distribution. Their primary focus is within the immediate community and works to provide wellness to the marginalized everywhere.
(Center Top): Rosalia Fajardo posing with a large group of Latina women; (Bottom Left) Rosalia Fajardo with a woman waiting in line; (Bottom Right) a group of Latinos waiting to get vaccinated.
Accessibility Tools to Help You Vote in November
2024 is a Presidential Election Year! Everyone over 18 years old can vote - regardless of disability. There are several tools to help persons with a disability make sure they are ready to vote on Election Day.
Image: your vote matters, voting, election day, vector design.
VACOLAO Latino Summit Multilingual Learners Summit
On Sunday, September 22, 2024, ECNV promoted Bienvenidos and ADVC programs at the VACOLAO Latino Summit Multilingual Learners Summit, which was held Johnson Center and Dewberry Hall at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
(Center Top Photo) A group of Hispanic leaders surrounding Senator Mark Warner who is at back in the center wearing light blue suit with white t-shirt; (Left Photo) Rosalia Fajardo a female in brown blouse, black pants with a white male in a grey sweater dark grey sweater holding a purple ECNV bag; (Right Photo) Rosalia Fajardo posing with Dr. Sergio Rimola, a former ECNV board member behind ECNV’s staff table.
ECNV’s I Am Self-Advocacy Program: Fall Session Update
[Image: Three circles overlapping each other with words Self Advocate in the center and words Motivated, Committed, and Passionate on each circle].