January 2025 E-Newsletter
Cheers to New Beginnings: Happy New Year 2025!
As we step into 2025, let’s reaffirm our commitment to disability advocacy and support. The new year brings opportunities to break down barriers, promote inclusivity, and empower people with disabilities to thrive. Together, we can make this year one of progress, independence, and community for all.
Don't forget to stay in the loop! Visit our website to explore our calendar and stay updated on all our upcoming events!
National Mentoring Month
This National Mentoring Month, ECNV proudly honors our incredible mentors who inspire and empower people to achieve their goals. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our amazing mentors for their dedication and support.
If you are interested in mentoring or learning about the mentor programs we offer, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at info@ecnv.org for more details and opportunities to get involved.
Grant Updates:
Bienvenidos Todos Webinar Series
Save the Date: January 9, 2025 for the next Bienvenidos webinar!
Bienvenidos Todos will host webinar presentations about disability resources and services especially for Latinos with disabilities, their families, caregivers, advocates, and those who serve Latinos. Monthly webinars will cover disability topics especially as they pertain to Latinos and their different residency statuses. Webinars are available in English and Spanish.
This month’s webinar will cover “Pre-Employment Transition Series (Pre-ETS) and Vocational Rehabilitation for Youth with Disabilities!”
Upcoming Workshops and Classes!
Shape Your Future: Apply Now for the RAMP 2024-2025 Cohort!
Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP) - This is a Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program designed to help youth and young adults develop the skills necessary to further their education and/or secure employment. We are still accepting referrals to our 9-month, 2024-2025 program cohort. If an organization or group is interested in ECNV providing a separate, 16-week program for their cohort, please contact Kevina Brown at kbrown@ecnv.org. All referrals must come through DARS.
Money Matters Registration Open for April 2025
Money Matters 101 is a five-part Financial Skills training to help individuals understand and manage their money. We are currently accepting registrations for our April class: Wednesdays from 4-5pm from Apr 2 – 30. Eligibility is open to FIS Waiver and DARS referrals as well as anyone interested in expanding their knowledge about money. Visit our Money Matters program page to learn more about the program. Registration deadline is Mar 20, 2025.
Money Matters 101 Registration ››
ECNV Youth Programs and Support
Read about our programs and support aimed to empower youth with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives, pursue their aspirations, and actively participate in their communities.
ECNV's I Am Self-Advocacy Program: January 2025 ››
Sweater Weather! Check Out ECNV's Hoodies and more on Zazzle
Support ECNV by purchasing and wearing some of our unique clothes and accessories with the ECNV logo. There are lots of choices and five percent of the proceeds go back to ECNV to continue the awesome and meaningful work we all are doing for disability advocacy and justice in the northern Virginia area.
ECNV Upcoming Calendar
Check out our updated calendar page with the latest information and events.
ECNV Around Town
Vaccines for All!
During the month of December, ECNV has continued with its community vaccination campaign and distribution of free COVID-19 home tests in Northern Virginia, thus fulfilling the mission of caring for diverse communities, guaranteeing access to vaccines and being able to access them for free COVID-19 home tests. In addition to these activities ECNV also participated in other events related to the celebration of the Bienvenidos Todos Project.
ECNV is back with its free vaccination program for people from multicultural communities! We will be providing flu vaccines throughout the fall at different events and health fairs.
Travel Training at the Arc of Loudoun
On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Andrew Shaw spoke at the Arc of Loudoun about ECNV’s free Travel Training program to thirty individuals at an informational session about online safety, mental health, and recreation opportunities within Loudoun County. People with disabilities, families, as well as representatives from Loudoun County Adaptive Recreation, Special Olympics, and the Loudoun County Sheriff office were present.
Bienvenidos Webinar
On Saturday, December 14, 2024, Bienvenidos Todos organizadora Jimena Barron made an outstanding presentation about Acceptance within the disability community. The audience consisted of more than 500 hundred attendees online. They learned about ACCEPTANCE, one of the biggest limitations that the community of people with some type of disability faces, the denial of that disability by parents, caregivers and/or by themselves.
Second Story Toy Distribution
On December 14, 2024, ECNV was part of the Second Story toys and food distribution at Oakview Apartments in Falls Church. More than 80 families received toys and food, free COVID-19 home tests and purple ECNV bags.
Sterling Community Center Loudoun County
ECNV participated in community activities organized by different organizations with which we have worked throughout the year by serving underserved communities without health insurance by providing vaccines and COVID home tests. In these Christmas events, we were able to serve approximately 1,000 people, the majority Latino families, in different celebrations held at the Sterling Community Center Loudoun County, a Collective celebration organized by Dreamers Mothers in Action, LULAC, and Legal Aid Justice Center, Falls Church, and Lorton Community Center in Prince William County, and Corazon de America toys distribution in Culmore -Falls Church.
Explore our Newsletter Archive to access all of our current and past newsletters!
Be on the lookout for a distinct "Be in the Know" email, which will be distributed within the next few weeks.
