Bienvenidos at The Way to Transition from School to Adult Life Conference
On Saturday, October 25, 2025 Bienvenido’s Todos ECNV Project sponsored by ADA-MID Atlantic, hosted a successful Conference! We addressed The Future Plan- Guide to Transition which highlights the importance of future planning, providing a guide and information to transition for youth receiving special education after high school. For parents, learn about rights and tips to prepare for success.
Image: Panel from left Rosalia Fajrdo, black blouse Daniela Sykes, Elizabeth Noriega, and Lizzeth Uria en a light grey blouse.
ECNV's Adult Social Group
On Friday October 17th, ECNV's Adult Social Group took an afternoon adventure to Old Town Alexandria to enjoy the fall colors and lunch.
Image: Four individuals pose on Alexandria bus.
ECNV Staff Took Sail on the Odyssey for a Luncheon
On October 15th, ECNV staff and peer mentors enjoyed a wellness day aboard the Odyssey, setting sail for a relaxing luncheon-style afternoon on the water.
Image: ECNV staff (left) Emily Kudron, Maura Schmidt and ECNV volunteer, on right Kevina Brown and Paul Whitney on board the Odyssey for a health wellness afternoon.
2025 Festival Latinoamericano
ECNV participated with a table of information at the 2025 Festival Latinoamericano was held on Fri., Oct. 3, from 5-9 p.m. at Arlington Mill Community Center. Arlington County's Festival Latinoamericano is dedicated to celebrating the vibrant and diverse cultures on Columbia Pike that enrich our community. With a showcase of the rich tapestry of Latin American art, food, and culture.
Image: David Ayuago, a Hispanic male in a black and grey sports outfit, next to Rosalia Fajardo in a blouse with dots, stuffing the ECNV table.
ECNV Attends Flu Clinic
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Jim Scott Community Center, the Chinese American Community Health Services (CACHS) hosted its annual health Fair. ECNV generously supported this event, providing free flu vaccines to uninsured community members attending their annual community health fair in Northern Virginia.
Image: A Muslim male receiving a flu vaccine from a Walgreens pharmacist.
Congratulations to RAMP Summer 2025 Participants!
On Friday, October 3, 2025, ECNV RAMP students celebrated at their Closing Ceremony & Celebration! It was so lovely to be able to celebrate the achievements of our RAMP students together!
Image: ECNV RAMP students pose with their certificates in hand.
Arlington NDEAM Proclamation
On October 21st, ECNV's Laura Kim, attended the Arlington County Recess Meeting, where JD Spain read the proclamation of the disability employment awareness month.
Image: The Arlington DAC Chair Karen Audant and Laura.
ECNV Partners with Fairfax County at Free Flu Clinic
On Thursday, October 2, 2025, ECNV partnered with Fairfax County Health Department’s Division of Community Health Development for a free flu clinic at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, VA.
Image: David Ayuago, a Hispanic male in a black and grey sports outfit, next to Rosalia Fajardo in a brown blouse with dots, stnding at the ECNV table.
Big Congratulations to Our Very Own Kevina Brown!
On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) awarded Kevina with the RAMP Coordinator Award !!!
Image: (Left to Right) Director of Programs Hannah Roberts, Manager of Youth Programs Paul Whitney, RAMP Program Coordinator Kevina Brown, and Peer Mentor Carlos Marquez. Kevina is holding her award.
2025 Virtual Special Education Summit in Spanish
On Saturday, August 16, PEATC, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education, held the 2025 Virtual Special Education Summit in Spanish. This virtual event, which was presented entirely in Spanish, brought together parents of students with disabilities and professionals to better understand special education and discover resources that help meet the needs of our community.
(Left): A flyer of the event reading in Spanish “Cumbre Education Especial.” ; (Right): a picture of the speakers of the event, including Rosalia Fajardo.
(Bottom): Jimena Barron wearing a red blouse and glasses.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church’s Multicultural Celebration & Health Fair and Back to School
On a beautiful sunny Saturday, August 16, ECNV staff Margarita Baquero and David Aguayo attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church’s Multicultural Celebration & Health Fair and Back to School event hosted by Fairfax County Community Services and Health Department. Testing/screenings were provided by the Fairfax County CareVan. ECNV sponsored the Bienveniodos Todos Project for this back-to-school event.
(Left): Davis Aguayo from ECNV providing information to a female in a pink pant floral blouse; (Right): Javier Alarcon, a Caucasian man in a blue t-shirt and brown shorts, Rosalia Fajardo, Claudia Thomas from Fairfax County Public Schools in a blue blouse and jeans.
Minnie H. Peyton Community Center Back-to-School Event
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, ECNV participated in a successful Back-to-School event at Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey's Crossroads area of Falls Church. This event was organized by Fairfax County Community Services and Health Department, and had around 700 attendees. Partners distributed 400 backpacks at this “Back to School” event!
(Left): ECNV Travel Trainer Margarita Baquero, in a blue t-shirt and pants, Rosalia Fajardo in a black blouse, white pants and Jimena Barron wearing a white ECNV t-shirt and black pants; (Right): Bienvenidos organizer Jimena Barron, in a white blouse and black pants, interacting with attendees.
(Bottom): Rosalia Fajardo in a black blouse and white pants, posing with an African American boy using a wheelchair.
RAMP Makes Waves at the Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta!
On August 9, 2025, RAMP participants went out to the waters and competed in the Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta. RAMP's boat stayed afloat and all stayed dry!!
Image: RAMP participants rowing and competing in the Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta.
Dreamers Mothers in Action Informational Luncheon Meeting
On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Dreamers Mothers in Action, DMIA in partnership with ECNV, hosted an informational session with community leaders at the luncheon meeting, with the support of several communities that work directly with immigrants affected by the increase in criminalization and detention policies. We were pleased with your presence for this informational session with eight general Latin American consuls who provided useful information about services for their communities.
(Left): A group of Consuls, male and female; (Right): Margarita Baquero and Rosalia Fajardo. (Bottom): Lenka Mendoza in a pink t-shirt next to her Margarita Baquero ECNV travel Trainer wearing an ECNV T-shirt and black jeans.
Disability Rights Podcast Interviews ECNV Travel Trainers
The Disability Rights Podcast interviewed various groups of persons with disabilities at the NCIL Conference! Surprise, surprise! Two of ECNV travel trainers, Mindy Niland and Karen Arnett were interviewed and talked about travel training!
Photo: ECNV travel trainers, Mindy Niland and Karen Arnett.
ECNV Partners with Fairfax County for Health and Wellness Fair
On Saturday, July 12, 2025, ECNV partnered with Fairfax County to co-host a health and wellness fair. We had a great opportunity to serve and provide resources to the Latino and other communities residing in the Berkdale Apartments. We provided a lot of great service and information to the residents and community.
(Left), Participants at the health fair and Rosalia Fajardo surrounded by attendees; (Right) Center image description: a white woman in a light blue blouse, a boy in a grey t-shirt, Rosalia Fajardo, a mother in a grey sport t-shirt and two Latina women in purple blouses.
Integration Station and Response to ECNV Letter of Support from an Integration Station Alumnus
Integration Station isn’t just a program that I worry about being shut down. It was where I first received speech and occupational therapy.
As a young child, doctors insisted that speaking normally and being understood was out of reach for me. They said that tasks like holding pencils, processing sensory information, and understanding what people said would all be beyond my ability.
Community Connection Night
On Wednesday, February 21, ECNV participated in Community Connection Night organized by Fairfax County Public Schools at Providence Elementary School, where more than 150 families attended. This event was full of resources for students and families that included information on after‑school programs, mental health and behavior support, and assistance with basic needs such as health insurance and food security.
Collage: Rosalia Fajardo is wearing a white and black sport outfit with a Latino Family; Rosalia with a group of firefighters who were picking up their COVID home test and ECNV goodies.
ECNV and Ed Futuro-Neighborhood Health Vaccine Clinic
On Saturday, February 17, 2024, ECNV delivered COVID-19 home test kits to Ed Futuro and Fairfax County partners for a Neighborhood Health COVID-19 vaccine clinic.
Collage: Rosalia Fajardo with Edu Futuro staff. Rosalia is wearing a black sports sweater and pants with a male in white t-shirt and two females wearing jeans and in Edu Futuro t-shirts; Rosalia Fajardo in dark blue jacket and black pants distributing covid home with Eduardo Mantilla director of Neighborhood clinic and in brown jacket and tan pants with a female in dark jacket and jeans.
ECNV Partners with Second Story
During the February month, ECNV partnered with Second Story, hosting several community events mainly focusing on food security and health resources. ECNV distributed COVID-19 home tests to the public.
Collage: A group of Latinos residents of OAKVIEW apts receiving COVID home tests; a Korean male holding a COVID home test; Rosalia Fajardo in dark blue jacket distributing COVID home tests.