ECNV Is Hiring Peer Mentor Interns for I Am Self-Advocacy!
Jump start your career with the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia and the I Am Self-Advocacy Program!
Three circles overlapping each other with words Self Advocate in the center and words Motivated, Committed, and Passionate on each circle.
Importance Of Support For Entrepreneurs And Business Owners
On August 31, 2023, ECNV discussed the importance of support for entrepreneurs and business owners with SBA Assistant Administrator, Mark Madrid and his great team.
(Left to Right), SBA Washington Metropolitan Area District Director, Larry G. Webb; ECNV Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack; SBA Assistant Administrator, Mark Madrid; Director of Multicultural Families, Rosalia Fajardo; and Director of Disability Justice, Cherie Takemoto.
Staff and Board attended the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Conference and it was a success!
ECNV staff and board members attended the NCIL Conference July 24-27, 2023.
Collage: Left, an African-American woman in a wheelchair, a blind woman in black dress; a woman in blue and white pants and a man in dark pants and t-shirt; a group of people with disabilities dancing during the reception.
Money Matters: A Five-Part Training Series to Help You Understand How to Manage Your Money
ECNV offers this five-part training to help people with disabilities understand and manage money. Money Matters will help people understand what money is, how they can use it to pay for things they need, and how to decide what things are most important to pay for.
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I Am Self-Advocacy Summer Session Update 2023
The IASA Program is a Pre-Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS) focused on helping students with disabilities, ages 14-22, hone their skills in self-advocacy through a combination of individual and group sessions. Funded by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), this program is offered to students referred by the Fairfax, Alexandria, Leesburg, and Manassas DARS offices.
Three circles overlapping each other with words Self Advocate in the center and words Motivated, Committed, and Passionate on each circle.
Back to School: Freedom to Travel the Metro
Are you tired of being tied to Metro Access where you have to make appointments and wait for your ride? Did you know that with a little orientation and training, you can make decisions about where you want to go and when you want to go by checking the schedule for the next bus or metro? ECNV’s Travel Training program for people with disabilities continues to grow!
An inside look at an empty metro car, newer model.
What’s New with RAMP?
Officially ending July 1st, the RAMP pilot year was full of success, lessons learned, and ended with a tight-knit cohort of excited mentees ready to take the next step in their career journeys whether it be continuing with their current employment, taking college classes, taking on an internship in their career of choice, finishing out high school, or looking further into their career interests.
The first picture shows 4 mentees and 2 parents waiting in the AWS Lobby. Three are standing while 2 are sitting in gray chairs. The second pictures shows 4 mentees standing and listening while the tour guide, Gerry, is speaking about one of the exhibits. The third picture shows a mentee sitting down in the center while Gerry is standing to his left and providing instruction at a Driving Exhibit. Another mentee is standing to the right with arms crossed and watching in the background.
Get Involved with ECNV
Have you thought about getting involved with ECNV? Here are a few ways you can participate.
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ECNV Helps Afghan, Sudan Refugees Community
On July 27, 2023, ECNV cosponsored an Afghan, Sudan refugees community resource fair organized by Second Story organization, Food for Others and Fairfax County.
Rosalia Fajardo from ECNV distributing home COVID-19 home test to Afghan and Sudanese refugees.
White House Invitation
On July 20, 2023, Rosalia Fajardo was invited by the White House to celebrate Independence Day of Colombia and present a briefing about ECNV work with the multicultural communities in Northern Virginia.
Left, Rosalia Fajardo in black and blue dress in between American Flag and Colombia flag; Center, Ambassador of Colombia Gilberto Murillo, an African American man in blue dress, surrounded by White house officials and Colombian leaders.
ECNV staff attended USAging Conference in Salt Lake City, UT
On July 16-19, 2023, Pansy Walker, Senior Expansion and Outreach Specialist, Emily Kudron, Development and Communications Manager, and Rosalia Fajardo, Director of Multicultural Families, attended the USAging Conference. This is the country's largest gathering of local leaders in aging.
Top Row, Rosalia Fajardo Multicultural Families director at ECNV attended the USAging 49th Annual conference & trade Show July 15-18 2023; a man, Cumulus CEO in grey suit, center Rosalia Fajardo and cumulus staff member in dark blue suit; Bottom Row, a group of panelists left, two white women, center in back a white woman, Rosalia in the center and an African American woman in the right; (from left to right) Pansy Walker, Emily Kudron and Rosalia Fajardo stand in front of the 48th annual USAging banner.Image: Rosalia with Sara Maloney from USAging blue dress.
ECNV Celebrates Americans with Disabilities Act!
ECNV staff (Doris Ray, Ruchika Lalwani, Maya Flores and Marcie Goldstein and the Arlington County Board celebrate Disabilities Act Awareness Day at Bozman Government Center.
Doris Ray (center) holding the official proclamation for Disabilities Act Awareness Day. Maya in on her right, Ruchika is on the far right, and Marcie is behind her.
NACA Homeownership: Take the First Step Toward Home Ownership
CNV is partnering with NACA to provide a free homebuyer workshop.
Proclamation of Immigrant Heritage Month
ECNV Director of Multicultural Families, Rosalia Fajardo was recognized her leadership in the Latino community during Immigrant Heritage Month.
Right, Rosalia in black suit and Karol Escalante in grey pants suit.
Disability Justice Mindful Design Lab
Find out more about disability justice and ECNV's Disability Justice Mindful Design Lab - an 8-month incubator for social change solutions by and for people with disabilities who have experienced additional injustice, discrimination or exclusion because of race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender identity or sexual orientation. This initiative is funded by the Ford Foundation.
Agents of Change Pitch Day! A Celebration of Accomplishment and Visibility for Disability Justice Social Ventures
The ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia invites you to
Agents of Change Pitch Day! A Celebration of Accomplishment and Visibility for Disability Justice Social Ventures
ECNV Announces New Volunteer Peer-Led Support Program
ECNV is excited to announce a new program in the coming months where so many of our consumers and their families who have benefited from our programs and services can begin to serve as leaders in helping others meet similar success.
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Thriving Solo Workshop
ECNV is offering a new training series for people with disabilities who want to live on their own.
(Image) white female in wheelchair, wearing a white sweater and black dress with design at open oven door checking on food.
Fairfax County Health Department Multicultural Advisory Council Quarterly Meeting
On June 20, 2023, Rosalia Fajardo represented ECNV at the Fairfax County Health Department Strategic Plan to provide input on Health Equity in Action & Vibrant Community Relationships as Priority Areas for the next five years.
Left, Rosalia Fajardo and another collaborator at the meeting.
Health Expo at Word of Life Church
On June 24, 2023, ECNV was proud to distribute information and resources during the incredible day at the Hope Expo.
Participants at the Health Expo