This Archive was created to provide information on past entries to Community Calendar. The Archive begins with events dated on and after November 11, 2006.

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APRIL 2008

APRIL 2008 MEDICAL INTERPRETER TRAINING

The Blue Ridge AHEC’s Spring 2008 Bridging the Gap (BTG) and Introduction to Community Interpreting (ICI) courses have been identified. Bridging the Gap is a 40 hour course designed to train medical interpreters to be held in March 2008. Introduction to Community Interpreting is a 20 hour course designed to train interpreters working with human service providers to be held in April 2008. Participants in each course must pass a language proficiency exam prior to the training dates. Both courses will be held in Harrisonburg. Contact Svetlana Shulgan at 540-568-3011 or shulgasx@jmu.edu, or visit www.brahec.jmu.edu

APRIL 4, 2008: FREE IMMIGRATOIN LAW CONFERENCE ON THE ADVERSE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS

The Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia State Bar is sponsoring a very timely FREE immigration law conference to be held on April 4, 2008 in Fairfax. With new laws very likely coming on the books on July 1 that will require all jailers to check the immigration status of anyone taken into custody and establish a presumption against bail for those unlawfully present who are charged with certain serious offenses, it is critical that lawyers representing immigrants understand the implications of a criminal conviction (including a plea bargain) for immigration status. Speakers include nationally recognized experts: Dan Kesselbrenner, Director of the National Immigration Project; Mary Holper, Supervising Attorney of the Boston College Immigration and Asylum Project; Ofelia Calderon, experienced practitioner with Calderón & Derwin, PLC, in Arlington,Virginia. The registration deadline for the conference is March 28,2008. For an agenda of the day long meeting and to register, visit http://www.vsb.org/docs/YLC_Immigration_2008.doc

THROUGH APRIL 10, 2008: STUDENT SEEKING BILINGUAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY ON SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS

My son, David Newman, is a freshman at the University of Richmond taking a class called Spanish in the Community.  Part of the class assignment is for him to go into the community on a volunteer basis where he can use his developing Spanish skills to be of assistance and service.  He needs to get in 20 hours of service to fulfill the requirement of the class and this has been somewhat difficult for him to arrange.  He only has about 5 hours right now.  If there is some opportunity for him to do that here in Charlottesville on Saturdays or Sundays we could arrange to have him come home here for the weekends for the next month.  It would be great if he could volunteer for a number of hours at a time, if possible, so he could complete this requirement, be of use to the Spanish speaking community, and then buckle down to do well on his exams in May.  Any ideas you might have in this regard would be very much appreciated. Please contact, Thomas Newman at tnewman12@aim.com

THROUGH APRIL 12, 2008: SPANISH LANGUGE TAX PREPARATION SERVICE FOR AREA LATINOS

Martha Trujillo, United Way, will be providing free tax preparation services to Spanish language area residents starting February 7, 2008, from 9 am – 1 pm, at the Albemarle County building on 5th Street Extended. Assistance is by appointment only. Refer your Clients to Martha at 972-1703.

APRIL 15, 2008: ANNUAL RICHMOND HISPANIC GALA - A WONDERFUL NETWORKING & CULTURAL EVENT!

The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (VAHCC: www.vahcc.com) announces that the 5th annual Hispanic Gala will be held on Tuesday, April 15th at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, VA. Over 700 attendees are expected including, Latin American Ambassadors, Corporate and Political leaders. This year's 2008 “Bridge Builder” award will be presented to the former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, who has accepted an invitation to attend the Gala as the recipient of this well deserved award. President Fox, after leaving office in 2006, has dedicated himself to focusing on a new vision of hope for the future of the Americas, which is outlined in his book, Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President.

This annual fundraising event supports the programs and services that the VAHCC offers. Tickets for the Gala are now available on line and seating is limited. For sponsorship opportunities and additional information, please call 804 378 4099 or visit www.thehispanicgala.com

THROUGH APRIL 16, 2008: OUTREACH WORKER VACANCY

The Migrant Farmworker Program at Central Virginia Legal Aid Society seeks a full-time outreach worker. Spanish fluency required. Job focuses on employment rights and community education, and requires evening visits to farm labor camps across the state and the ability to assist project’s staff attorney by providing case support. CVLAS is an affirmative action employer.  Minorities, women, disabled persons, and older adults are encouraged to apply. Please send cover letter and resume by April 16 to CVLAS Hiring, 1000 Preston Ave, Suite B, Charlottesville, VA 22902. http://www.cvlas.org

THROUGH APRIL 16, 2008: STAFF ATTORNEY VACANCY

Central Virginia Legal Aid Society ( CVLAS) is seeking a staff attorney for its farmworker project. The staff attorney will represent clients and handle cases within program priorities; coordinate state-wide outreach to farm labor camps, community groups, and social service agencies that serve farmworkers; and supervise outreach workers, law students and other volunteers. Candidates should be fluent in Spanish, be able to work independently, and have experience with farmworkers and employment law (preferred). Member of Virginia Bar, eligible for admission, or able to take the next bar exam. Salary DOE, excellent benefits. Send a cover letter and resume by April 16 to: CVLAS Hiring Committee, 1000 Preston Avenue, Suite B, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903. CVLAS is an affirmative action employer.  Minorities, women, disabled persons, and older adults are encouraged to apply.  http://www.cvlas.org

THROUGH APRIL 16, 2008: RACIAL JUSTICE/IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS DIRECTOR VACANCY

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia seeks a highly motivated individual committed to civil liberties and racial and ethnic equality to direct our Racial Justice and Immigrants Rights Project (RJIRP).   The RJIRP director will employ strategies involving community outreach, grassroots organizing, public education, and legislative advocacy to promote racial justice and immigrants’ rights in Virginia at the local and state level. The RJIP Director may work from the ACLU office in Richmond or from Northern Virginia, and should be able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well as English. Note: Although not required, a J.D. would be beneficial and, depending on experience, would likely cause the job description to change to include responsibilities related to litigation. For more information about the qualifications and duties of this position and to submit a pplications (cover letter, resume, writing sample-no more than 10 pages, and list of at least three references, including contact information for each), contact: Kent Willis, Executive Director, ACLU of Virginia, Email: kwillis@acluva.org / http://www.acluva.org

APRIL 16, 2008: WORKSHOP: ISN'T SHE A LITTLE YOUNG - UNDERSTANDING STATUTORY RAPE AND SEXUAL COERCION OF MINOR TEENS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY

Designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), April brings an annual opportunity to focus awareness on sexual violence and its prevention. Through this workshop service providers will gain a greater understanding of: the factors in Latina adolescent’s lives that make them vulnerable to unhealthy relationships with older men; the factors in the lives of men that encourage them to seek relationships with significantly younger partners; the laws against statutory rape and sexual coercion of minor teens; and how service providers can respond to Latina teens who disclose their unlawful involvement with an adult male. Workshop closes with primary prevention discussion of the "Isn't She a Little Young" social marketing campaign including new outreach to the Latino community with the "Gracias Papa" campaign. Speakers include Lindsey Holcomb, MS, Outreach Advocate, Sexual Assault Resource Agency/SARA Robert L. Franklin, MS, Male Outreach Coordinator, Division of Injury and Violence Prevention, Virginia Department of Health.

Robert Franklin has worked on issues of sexual and intimate partner violence since the early 1990's when he was an advocate for a rape crisis center and coordinated a batter's intervention program at a domestic violence agency. He earned a BS in Psychology from Mary Washington College and an MS in Counseling from Shippensburg University. As a college student personnel administrator, Mr. Franklin presented a number of workshops on the state, regional, and national level on issues ranging from alcohol abuse prevention, the male gender role, and why/how to involve men in the prevention of sexual violence. Currently, he is the Male Outreach Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health continuing efforts to bring the message of sexual violence prevention to men. He has appeared on CNN's America Morning, CBS's Evening News, and Voice of America discussing a statutory rape campaign in Virginia that targets men with the slogan "Isn't She a Little Young? Sex with a Minor, Don't Go There." Robert Franklin has also been awarded the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's 2007 National Award for Outstanding Response to and Prevention of Sexual Violence. For more information, contact Lindsey Holcolmb at lindseyh@ntelos.net

APRIL 16, 2008: WORKSHOP: ISN'T SHE A LITTLE YOUNG - UNDERSTANDING STATUTORY RAPE AND SEXUAL COERCION OF MINOR TEENS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY

Designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), April brings an annual opportunity to focus awareness on sexual violence and its prevention. Through this workshop service providers will gain a greater understanding of: the factors in Latina adolescent’s lives that make them vulnerable to unhealthy relationships with older men; the factors in the lives of men that encourage them to seek relationships with significantly younger partners; the laws against statutory rape and sexual coercion of minor teens; and how service providers can respond to Latina teens who disclose their unlawful involvement with an adult male. Workshop closes with primary prevention discussion of the "Isn't She a Little Young" social marketing campaign including new outreach to the Latino community with the "Gracias Papa" campaign. Speakers include Lindsey Holcomb, MS, Outreach Advocate, Sexual Assault Resource Agency/SARA Robert L. Franklin, MS, Male Outreach Coordinator, Division of Injury and Violence Prevention, Virginia Department of Health.

Robert Franklin has worked on issues of sexual and intimate partner violence since the early 1990's when he was an advocate for a rape crisis center and coordinated a batter's intervention program at a domestic violence agency. He earned a BS in Psychology from Mary Washington College and an MS in Counseling from Shippensburg University. As a college student personnel administrator, Mr. Franklin presented a number of workshops on the state, regional, and national level on issues ranging from alcohol abuse prevention, the male gender role, and why/how to involve men in the prevention of sexual violence. Currently, he is the Male Outreach Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health continuing efforts to bring the message of sexual violence prevention to men. He has appeared on CNN's America Morning, CBS's Evening News, and Voice of America discussing a statutory rape campaign in Virginia that targets men with the slogan "Isn't She a Little Young? Sex with a Minor, Don't Go There." Robert Franklin has also been awarded the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's 2007 National Award for Outstanding Response to and Prevention of Sexual Violence. For more information, contact Lindsey Holcolmb at lindseyh@ntelos.net

The workshop, sponsored by Creciendo Juntos and the Sexual Assault Resource Agency/SARA, is open to the public and scheduled from 10 to 11:30 am, in Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th Street Extended (Interstate 64, Exit 120, ½ mile on the left; or from the downtown COB, take McIntyre for 4 miles - the street changes names several times; or 5 minutes from UVA via JPA and Old Lynchburg Rd).

APRIL 17, 2008:  CJ COMMUNITY SERVICES WORKING GROUP MEETING

Participation in this Creciendo Juntos working group is open to all organizations and individuals interested in working on collaborative initiatives serving the area’s Latino community (other than health which is the domain of the CJ Health Promoter Working Group ). Current participants range from Rhonda Miska, Incarnation Church, to Jon Nafinger, United Way. April’s meeting will be from 1 - 2:30 p.m. at the office of the United Way (downtown).  For more information contact:   rhonda@incarnationparish.org

THROUGH APRIL 18, 2008:  ALBEMARLE RESIDENTS MAY APPLY TO BRIGHT STARS

Applications are being accepted for the Albemarle County Bright Stars Preschool Program for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year. C hildren must be 4 years old by September 30th 2004. For more information, contact Charity Haines at 972-4010. Also, visit http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=soc_services&relpage=2873

APRIL 19, 2008: HOME OWNERSHIP CLASS IN SPANISH

The VHDA will be offering a home ownership class in Spanish at the office of the Piedmont Housing Alliance, on this Saturday, from 10 am – 4 p.m. To register, call 817-2436 ext 104. For a Spanish language flyer, visit

http://www.cj-network.org/cjcomm_ann/docs_2008/VHDAApril1908.doc

APRIL 22, 2008: CJ/UNITED WAY WORKSHOP: LATINO PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATION

CJ and United Way have teamed up to offer three cultural sensitivity workshops. Each will last 1.5 hours and will include one or more presentations and a discussion period. To facilitate a rich discussion, workshops will be limited to 15 people. They will be held at the United Way -Thomas Jefferson Area, downtown. Additional workshops will be scheduled for the fall.

The speaker at the first workshop Latinos Perspectives on Education will be Gloria Rockhold, Albemarle County Public Schools. The workshop will be offered on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, starting at 3:00 pm.

Space is limited and RSVP is required: please call Martha Trujillo at 972-1701 or mtrujillo@UnitedWayTJA.org If your agency would like to discuss a similar workshop designed for its needs, contact Jon Nafziger at jnafziger@unitedwaytja.org

THROUGH APRIL 25, 2008: ASH LAWN OPERA SEEKS SPANISH DANCERS AND CHILDREN

Ash Lawn Opera Festival announces the summer production of Carmen at Ash Lawn-Highland, the historic home of President James Monroe. The production of this well-loved opera requires Spanish dancers and a children's chorus. If you have a talent for dance or have a child who loves to sing, please call the Ash Lawn Opera office at 434-293-4500 or Debbie Scott for more information at 434-823-5111.

APRIL 28, 2008: HEALTH PROMOTER WORKING GROUP MEETING

The Creciendo Juntos Health Promoter Working Group meets monthly. The group has organized help fairs, a CJ plenary on the health promoter model, and among other activities, has conducted a Latino health assessment. It is working on grant applications and initiatives for next fall. To learn more about the group visit http://www.cj-network.org/cjwgm/health.html or contact Lindsey Holcomb at: lholcomb@sexualassaultresources.org

The group’s next meeting is Monday, April 28, 9 – 10:30 am, at SHE’s Administrative Office, 1410 Sachem Place (by Albemarle High).

APRIL 28, 2008 CHARLOTTESVILLE COMMUNITY JOB FAIR

The 2008 Charlottesville Community Job Fair will be held at the Omni in Downtown Charlottesville on Monday, April 28, 2008, from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

More than 50 employers from a wide variety of industries such as hospitality, healthcare, retail, food service, education, and government will be represented. The Fair is open to the public and is ideal for anyone in our community who is in search of a new job or second job.

The Fair is sponsored by the following agencies and organizations: City of Charlottesville, County of Albemarle, The Virginia Workforce Network, VEC, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Piedmont Housing Alliance/Creciendo Juntos, Piedmont Workforce Network, Urban Vision, and Connecting People to Jobs.

Language Accommodations: Peter Loach (PHA/CJ) is recruiting bilingual volunteers to help Latinos develop resumes and interact with potential employers. Please contact him if you can offer 2-6 hours or if you need more information for your Spanish speaking Clients: peterl@piedmonthousing.org For a flyer in Spanish, visit

http://www.cj-network.org/cjcomm_ann/docs_2008/Job%20Fair%20Spanish%20Flyer.ppt

BILINGUAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR APRIL 28, 2008

Peter Loach (PHA/CJ) is recruiting bilingual volunteers to help Latinos develop resumes and interact with potential employers during the Charlottesville Community Job Fair at the Omni Hotel. Please contact him if you can offer 2-6 hours – during fair hours from 11 am – 4 pm: peterl@piedmonthousing.org