CJ Southwood Work Group
The group, consisting of service providers currently working in Southwood, meets monthly. Click here for meeting summaries and updates.
UVA Southwood Research Project
In 2011, UVA researchers Diane Whaley (Curry School), Mark DeBoer (Medical School’s Department of Pediatrics) and Amy Boitnott (School of Nursing) will use tennis and nutritional training to improve health and prevent obesity at Southwood. In six 3˝-hour monthly sessions, children of the largely Latino community will get a Nerf tennis workout and nutritional instruction; while parents participate in a parental counseling session focused on teaching their children healthy choices. Afterward they all share in a healthy dinner. The dinner is important for teaching healthy habits. During the meal, the researchers provide the recipes, discuss portions and share about healthy eating. Although the program will collect data on only 8 to 11 year-old children, the whole family is welcome. For the researchers, the project is “a true community partnership and community engagement study,” that they hope will result in behavior changes over the long term. For more information or to contact the researchers visit http://curry.virginia.edu/research/projects/improving-nutrition-and-exercise-competence-in-obese-schoolchildren-via-sal
Organización Latina de Fútbol en Charlottesville y Albemarle
This is the area’s outdoor Latino soccer league. For more information contact Jesús Ayala 434/465-1282 or Pedro Orea 434/836-0252.
Yoga Classes
Beginning Spring 2010, yoga classes have been offered by Elisa Ferante (bilingual), from the Guerrilla Yoga Project, to Southwood moms and kids on Monday nights from 7 – 8 pm, in the community center. For more information contact bananachikita@gmail.com or (434) 825-4616.
Community Garden
During Spring and Summer 2010, Trinity Presbyterian Church is assisting Southwood residents with prepping and cultivating the Southwood Community Garden. For more information contact Joe Magri at (434) 977-3700 or joe.magri@trinitycville.org
Literacy & English Playgroups In Southwood
Children, Youth and Families Services (CYFS) has offered literacy and playgroup programs in Southwood since 2008.
For flyers on both, visit http://www.cj-network.org/cjcomm_ann/docs_2009/CYFSflyers.doc For more information contact Hilary Nagel at hnagel@cyfs.org or (434) 296-4118 ex 238. CYFS’ website is http://www.cyfs.org
Click here for a June 2010 article on the Early Literacy Program.
Southwood Community Outreach Program
This program, sponsored by the UVA Latino Student Alliance and UVA’s Madison House, consists of mentoring and tutoring a diverse group of kids, the majority of whom are Latino elementary and middle school students, ranging from ages 6-13. UVA student volunteers participate in one-on-one tutoring once a week and monthly activities with the families and community. If interested contact the Madison House or visit http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~madison/
Latina Mom’s Group: Southwood
The Latina Mom’s Group is a program developed to provide support in the following areas: English language, parenting skills, access to community resources and workshops on how to help children succeed in school. Childcare is provided for young children. Multiple service providers participate including Habitat, which allows the group to use its Southwood Community Center, ACDSS Bright Stars (Kim Rambow), the ARC’s Infant Toddler Services(Maria Williams), and Albemarle County School’s ESOL program (Laura Brown). For more information, contact Courtney Stewart at the Albemarle County ESOL Office at 434-296-6517 or Laura Brown at lbrown2@k12albemarle.org
Study Club at Southwood
Since last year, Albemarle County Schools has provided a Study Club at the Southwood Community Center Conference room, to help neighborhood middle and high school students study. The initiative is coordinated by Gloria Maria Rockhold, (434) 296-5803
or g.rockhold@gmail.com
Shelter for Help in Emergencies (SHE)
Dilcia Colindres (dilciacolindres@msn.com) and Marie Murray (adrobal@yahoo.com) provide support to Southwood victims of domestic abuse. SHE’s administrative office is located at 1410 SachemPlace, Suite 102, close to Albemarle High School.
CHIP
This non-profit serves children from birth to age six and their families. Families are linked to a primary physician and assisted with preventive health care, positive parent-child interaction, and appropriate discipline. Several bilingual and/or bicultural CHIP staff work with Latinos in Southwood. CHIP’s Executive Director, Judy Smith, may be reached at 964-4701 or judy.smith@jachip.org CHIP’s office is located at 1469 Greenbrier Place. Its phone is 434-964-4700.
CJ
Southwood Health Promoter Working Group
Creciendo Juntos (CJ) Health Promoter Work Group has organized several initiatives in Southwood including a Latino Help Fair (2007), a Latino Health Survey (2007), and the recruiting and training of health promoters (2008 and 2009).
From 2009 to the present, its trained health promoters have periodically provided medical information and services to Southwood residents.
For more information, see the working group’s web page at http://www.cj-network.org/cjwgm/health.html
The Bright Stars Program
This preschool program for four year-old children is
sponsored by a partnership among Albemarle Department of Social
Services, the School Division and various community agencies
and organizations. The program’s goal is to provide early
learning experiences and comprehensive social supports for students
and families that address risk factors that can lead to early
academic failure. Social workers from Social Services implement
seven classes of 16 students each in six schools including Cale
where Southwood children attend. For more information contact
Kim Rambow, Social Services, 293-7455
or krambow@k12albemarle.org
Family Support Program
The
mission of the Albemarle Social Service’s Family Support
Program is to provide prevention and intervention services that
support children's growth and development, strengthen families,
and promote school success through home, school and community
collaboration. Dick Goodin is the Family Support Worker at Cale
Elementary where Southwood students attend and most of his work
is in that community. Dick can be contacted at 293-7455
or rgoodin@k12albemarle.org
Covenant School Efforts
The Covenant School has enjoyed a long and rich association with its neighbors in Southwood. Covenant students have tutored at the Rainbow House drop in center and the Boys and Girls Club. Volunteers raked leaves for Albemarle Housing Improvement Program and organized a Southwood-Covenant 5K race to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club (over $1600 in two years). The Habitat for Humanity Student Club, among many other projects, secured a grant and using plants grown by students in the 7th grade Life Science class, constructed a community garden. Among other initiatives, Covenant has hosted the Boys and Girls Club over the summer and for other occasions (computer tutoring, classroom instruction, and athletic camps), and in coordination with the Club, Covenant School families have “adopted” Southwood families at Christmas, and over three years have provided 20 families with a meal and sometimes presents. For more information about Covenant’s activities contact John Collmus, Dean of Students (9-10), jcollmus@covenantschool.org; Bryan Verbrugge, Chaplin, BVerbrugge@covenantschool.org; or Deb Short, Habitat Club, dshort@covenantschool.org
Southwood
Boys and Girls Club
Affiliated with the Charlottesville/Albemarle Boys and Girls Club, this unit, located next to the Southwood office and Community Center, has after school and summer activities including homework help, sports, hobbies, and field trips. It is operated by Olga Arouca who can be reached at oarouca@bgclubcville.org or (434) 295-0037.
The
Rainbow House
The Jefferson Park Baptist Church owns this Southwood trailer. It has provided services to the English speaking community at Southwood for many years, including loaning the trailer to other service providers for meetings and initiatives. Currently, Pastor Daniel Bannister
(Iglesia Fuente de Vida)
is using the facility for ministries directed to Southwood’s Latino population.
La Finca/The Farm: The Southwood Youth Photography Project
In June 2010, a group of Albermarle Public School students from Southwood were joined by professional photographers, writers and artists for a day-long visit to Maple Hill Farm, located in Scottsville and operated by the Local Food Hub. The goal of the project was to utilize the mediums of writing and photography to capture the students’ individual experiences of visiting a working farm. La Finca marks the 5th year of the project and the 3rd book in an on-going series created through the program. To view photos and for more information visit http://chofoodhub.blogspot.com/2010/07/southwood-youth-photography-project-la.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebridgepai/sets/72157624163089607/
Neighborhood Watch Group
In February 2009, Albemarle County Police Department started a Neighborhood Watch Group in the trailer park. Lt. James Bond was responsible for this much needed initiative. Since his retirement in August 2010, it is unclear if the group will continue.
English Classes at Southwood
For several years, ending school year 2009-10, Albemarle County Schools offered low cost beginner and intermediate English classes for adult residents of Southwood during the school year. For more information, contact Paula Mehring at pmehring@nexet.net
Martha Jefferson Hospital Diabetes Screening
In August 2010, as a part of MJH’s outreach program, a diabetes health screening, education materials, and referrals to primary care and support resources were provided at no cost to Southwood residents.
Albemarle Schools Community Night
ACPS organized an outreach event in August 2010 to enhance more communication and participation of parents in their children’s education. The bilingual activity, organized by Gloria Rockhold, included dinner, music and fun for the family. For more information contact grockhold@k12albemarle.org or click here for a NBC29 report.
English Classes at Southwood
For several years, ending school year 2009-10, Albemarle County Schools offered low cost beginner and intermediate English classes for adult residents of Southwood during the school year. For more information, contact Paula Mehring at pmehring@nexet.net
Southwood Children’s Photography Project
El Barrio: The Neighborhood, a book of photos taken by Southwood children, released in April 2009, is the result of a collaboration between the Boys & Girls Club of Charlottesville/Albemarle, Albemarle County schools and The Bridge. The effort brought low-income and at-risk students together with professional photographers to learn basic digital photography skills and feel the pride of seeing their work published. For more information, click here or visit http://johnedwinmason.typepad.com/john_edwin_mason_photogra/el-barrio/
Southwood Children’s Art Exhibit
Between 2008 and 2009, Diana Foster directed a program at the Boys & Girls Club at Southwood called Forest Discoveries. In partnership with artist Ann Cheeks, Southwood children explored the forests near the trailer park and then interpreted their findings through a variety of art media. Works of 170 children from both the Southwood and Cherry Ave B&GClub units were exhibited at McGuffey Art Center for the entire month of May 2009. For more information contact dfoster@newventure.com or 964-1022
Rural Health Outreach Program Mobile Clinic
The RHOP Mobile Clinic, operated by Jan Wolfe and Ivonne López, visited Southwood every other month for two years, providing services to Southwood residents, many of whom were Spanish speaking. After almost three years, the service ceased the end of 2007. For more information, contact Jan Wolfe at 434/263-4858, 434/409-1636 or jan@rhop-brmc.org The RHOP is located at 4038 Thomas Nelson Highway, Arrington, VA 22922.
Getting bus service to Southwood
Largely due to the efforts of the grassroots initiative IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together), bus service began running between downtown Charlottesville and Southwood on March 26, 2007. For more information contact Brian Plum, (540) 907-2299 or impact@thedartcenter.org IMPACT’s office is located at 100 Alderman Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903.
Overview:
The Southwood Task Force (2003 – 2005)
July 2006