AUGUST 2008

NOW AND THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 2008: COURAGE AND CHANGE IN EL SALVADOR

Local photographer Peggy Harrison is exhibiting compelling images about the lives of Salvadoran women and their families at UVA’s Newcomb Hall Art Gallery from June 2 through September 10. An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, June 5, 4:30 – 6:30 pm. An Open House Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, 1 to 3 pm.

For more information, contact Peggy Harrison at (434) 963-7852 or p@peggyharrison.com

STARTING UP IN AUGUST: ENGLISH FOR SUCCESS CLASSES

The English for Success classes will be starting up again in August, every Monday at 7pm, at Casa del Padre church. “English for Success is designed to teach the student to speak, comprehend, read and write English in a full immersion classroom. Special consideration is taken with students that can not read. No one will be left out! This class builds confidence in speaking the language and understanding the North American culture. It is a must for daily living success!”

Casa del Padre also offers employers corporate discounts for on-site classes or for a group of employees they would like to sponsor and translation services of important documents like policy handbooks and of staff meetings. “Prices are very reasonable.”

For more information, contact 434-989-2508 or hazaelgaray@gmail.com

THROUGH AUGUST 2008: JOIN THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS!

BBBS is exploring new members for its Advisory Council which will focus on the development, growth, funding and future goals and strategies for the BBBS in the Charlottesville region. The Advisory Council will be comprised of 10 – 25 members who can commit to a term of 2 years. It will meet once a month for 2 hours. It will not have governance responsibility/liability and will act in an advisory role only.

Of particular interest is the participation of Latinos and/or those who work with this community, especially persons with Government, Community or Non-Profit expertise who can navigate the entities and/or partner, and/or who possess talents, resources or experiences of unusual or significant benefit [i.e., Financial, Charlottesville Business, Community, IT, Event Planning, Albemarle Church Community, Youth Services, etc.].

For more information or to express your interest in joining the Advisory Council, please contact Jeff Mitchell at 872-0119 or jsm@onemitchellgroup.com

THROUGH AUGUST 2008: LOOKING FOR PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES? CHECK OUT BLUE RIDGE COMMONS

Creciendo Juntos (CJ) promotes and supports partnering initiatives serving the Latino population, like the Latina “mom’s group” at Word of Faith Church and the literacy and English playgroups at Southwood, made possible vis-à-vis a partnership sharing bilingual, infrastructure, expertise and other resources.

Blue Ridge Commons is a Prospect Avenue housing complex comprising some 140 units, 20% of them housing Latino families. It includes the Blue Ridge Commons Recreation Center that, among other activities, coordinates after school and summer programs for children. The Center’s Colleen Berry invites agencies and individuals to contact her at 220-3704 or at colleen.t.berry@gmail.com to explore mutual interests in partnering with the Center to enhance outreach and services to Latino children and families by building on existing programs or starting up new ones, and/or to organize other activities that cultivate cultural sensitivity/awareness among the diverse populations at Blue Ridge Commons.

THROUGH AUGUST 2008: COOLING ASSISTANCE

Two cooling assistance programs begin in June, one through Social Services, the other through JABA. Both require applicants to be permanent residents. Undocumented parents can apply for their citizen children under 6.

The JABA Cool-Aid program offers window air-conditioners. Fans and assistance for utility bills are also available to approved applicants. Households must meet low income criteria and applicants must be a resident of the City of Charlottesville, or the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa or Nelson; must be 60 years old or older, or disabled or severely ill of any age (if applicant can provide a doctor's prescription stating air conditioning would beneficial to their health); cannot currently have any working household air conditioning. Applications in English and Spanish are available from JABA, (434) 817-5222. JABA has a bilingual worker who can help a Spanish applicant. English application and eligibility requirements are online at: http://www.jabacares.org/files/docs/Web%20application.pdf. Click here for the Spanish application. Click here for a fact sheet in Spanish about the program.

Cooling Assistance through Social Services offers payment of an electric utility security deposit or of the electric bill to operate the cooling equipment (fan, air-conditioner); purchase or replace and install an air conditioner; or repair a central air conditioning unit or heat pump. Households must meet low income criteria and must contain at least one elderly or disabled individual or a child under six. Applications are available in English and Spanish and must be submitted to the Social Services office in the locality where the applicant resides ( Albemarle County, 970-4010, or Charlottesville city, 970-3400). If applying for help with payment of an electricity bill or deposit, the application must be accompanied by an unpaid bill. The English application is online at: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea/cooling/forms.cgi. Click here for a Spanish application.

AUGUST 14, 2008: CJ COMMUNITY SERVICES WORK GROUP

The Creciendo Juntos’ (CJ) Community Services Work Group meets every month to identify, develop and implement initiatives in the Latino community. Presently, the group is working on the CJ Fall Help Fair. Everyone interested in helping out with the fair is welcomed to attend the August meeting on Thursday, August 14, 1 - 2:30 pm, at United Way (downtown). For more information contact: rhonda@incarnationparish.org

BEFORE AUGUST 15, 2008: ENTER YOUR LATINO ORIENTED INITIATIVE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE'S FIRST ANNUAL DESIGN MARATHON!

What is the Design Marathon? On Friday October 10th, from 10am-10pm, teams of local professional designers will provide PRO-BONO DESIGN SERVICES to TEN deserving Charlottesville area nonprofit organizations. Potential projects include branding, brochures, advertisements, schematic building or space renovation drawings, drawings for ADA compliance or broader site planning. The Design Marathon will take place at the Charlottesville Community Design Center (CCDC).

Who can apply? Applications will be considered from any Charlottesville area non-profits. For-profit, political or religious organizations will not be considered. Ten organizations will be chosen for the Design Marathon based upon their needs, type of project, ability to follow through on the project, and positive impact the project will make in the community.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED for non-profit participants for the First Annual Design Marathon. Applications may be picked up at CCDC or City Hall or can be downloaded from the Design Marathon website. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE AUGUST 15, 2008. Organizations chosen to participate in the Design Marathon will be announced on September 1st. Please help us spread the word to organizations that you think might be interested! For more information, or to become a sponsor, please contact Serena Gruia: 977-8733 -or- serena@alloyworkshop.com

AUGUST 15, 2008: NEXT VIRGINIA IMMIGRATION COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD IN HARRISONBURG

The Virginia Immigration Commission is holding hearings around the state to gather information about the costs and benefits of immigration in the areas of the economy, public benefits, education, public safety, employment, health care, and law enforcement.

The next meeting of the VIC will be August 14, from 5 – 8 pm, at the Festival Conference and Student Center of James Madison University in Harrisonburg. Contact: Carla Harris (804) 726-7107 or Matt Gross (804) 726-7087

AUGUST 16, 2008: HONDURAN CONSULATE RETURNS TO CVILLE

For the second time, the Honduran Consulate in Washington has accepted Creciendo Juntos’ (CJ) request to visit Charlottesville to renew and issue new passports and consular IDs to Honduran citizens. The mobile consulate service is indispensable, as few families have the means and ability to travel to Washington or Honduras to solicit these crucial forms of identification.

Hondurans can meet with Consular officials on Saturday, August 16, from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, at the Church of the Incarnation (behind Toys R Us). Appointments are mandatory and can be made in Spanish by calling Fanny Medley at 591-0950 or 531-0104.

AUGUST 20, 2008: CHAPTER 6 NETWORKING EVENT

Chapter 6 is a branch of FORWARD's several promotional outlets dedicated to upholding FORWARD’s mission of empowering Charlottesville's Hispanic professional community by developing a socially accessible business-to-business network.

Through the efforts of its devoted members, Chapter 6 hopes to build a highly respected, deeply motivated and dynamic organization with a vibrant, contemporary outlook on the issues, solutions and opportunities available to our local as well as the larger American business community.

FORWARD-Adelante is inviting Charlottesville's professionals to meet today's business leaders on August 20, 2008. Face-to-face connections are important, because they allow professionals to meet the new pioneers in our ever-expanding economy, plus build long-lasting bonds for future business. FORWARD realizes the need for a networking event that is engaging and even entertaining. It will be held at La Taza (Belmont, Cville), from 5:30 – 7 pm. Confirmation is required before August 18: info@forwardvirginia.com There will be complimentary Hor'dourves, specially priced beverages, and Latin American music. For more information contact Olga Morse at olgamorse@gmail.com