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| Success Stories Archive | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bright Future Ahead for Strawbridge Square’s Alex Valentin He is going on 14 and loves The Simpsons, but Alex Valentin is anything but your average teen. He plays the viola, he’s in a bowling league, he has perfected the art of plastic canvas (a type of cross stitch), he speaks fluent Spanish, his dream is to become a chef, and he has known since elementary school where he wanted to go after middle school: Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology. This spring, Alex was accepted to Fairfax County’s elite high school out of over 2,000 applicants. Alex has lived with his mom and two brothers at Strawbridge Square, Wesley Housing’s first community, since he was one-month old. The on-site Lincolnia Community Resource Center has contributed to his academic success, he says. He credits Center volunteers for helping him with math and reading, and for being there on a consistent basis. “The Center has helped me so much—it has always been there when I needed it.” Alex is himself a volunteer at the LCRC and hopes to be a camp counselor there this summer. Wherever his path takes him, Alex’s future is exceedingly bright. back to top In 1985, Marcus Amoako emigrated from Ghana to the United States. His wife and two daughters joined him in Alexandria seven years later. Martha, now 18, and Sally, 12, did not know a word of English when they arrived. Michelle, his youngest daughter, was born in Fairfax. The family lived in a four-bedroom apartment at Strawbridge Square, Wesley Housing’s first community. While a resident of Strawbridge Square, Marcus pursued his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Virginia Commonwealth University. Traveling to Richmond, he lived in off-campus housing during the week for four years. While Marcus earned his degree, his daughters attended schools in Annandale. Sally and Michelle participated in after-school activities at Strawbridge Square’s on-site Lincolnia Community Resource Center (LCRC), including the after school program and 4-H camp. Martha, the oldest, served as an LCRC camp counselor for two summers. She also enrolled in Advanced Placement courses and won awards for excellence in chemistry and other subjects. Marcus and his wife Juliana did all they could to sup-port Martha’s studies. All of the studying, self-discipline, and extra hours paid off — for both father and daughter. Marcus graduated in 2001 and has since been working as a computer specialist for a government contractor. In 2003, Martha was valedictorian of her Annandale High School class and earned a full scholarship to Brown University which included admission to its medical school. In the fall of 2003, Marcus and his family purchased a four-bedroom townhouse in Woodbridge, Virginia. Although he is no longer a Strawbridge Square resident, Marcus remains a technology volunteer on call (he would often update the LCRC’s computers and taught computer classes to residents) and is initiating a computer instruction class for new immigrants from Ghana. “My volunteer service is a way for me to give back to the community,” says Marcus. back to top Jesse Krieger is a young man with a plan. He graduated from Annandale High School last spring, took a semester off to work, and will attend Northern Virginia Community College in January to study architecture. In the interim, Jesse found time to volunteer at the Lincolnia Community Resource Center (LCRC) located at Strawbridge Square—where he has lived with his grandmother, younger sister, and cousin for the past five years. Jesse has been a volunteer for the LCRC’s Homework Help and Reading Assistance programs and has attended numerous field trips. This summer, he served as a camp counselor during the LCRC’s five-week camp. He credits these experiences with helping him grow in his concern for others and for teaching him the importance of good communication. Reflecting on his experiences at the LCRC, Jesse observed that kids learn “to respect each other and themselves” through group projects, group activities, and team building. The most valuable lesson he learned? Communication is vitally important. “Sometimes you need to express yourself to the fullest because people might not be able to understand you.” This is helpful when there is a developmental, language, or cultural barrier. Jesse will most likely continue to volunteer for after school programs in the future and may serve as a counselor again. His advice to future camp counselors: “Overall, be prepared to learn.” Clearly, Jesse’s experiences as a volunteer and counselor have prepared him well for college and beyond. back to top By Konovia Mikeal, Wesley Housing Director of Family Programs and Shane McWhorter, former Lincolnia CRC Director In Alexandria, Letekidan Adhanom personifies the vision of the Lincolnia Community Resource Center (LCRC), HUD’s Neighborhood Networks initiative, and the American Dream. In search of a better life, Letekidan immigrated to the United States in 1996. Originally from Eritrea, she worked as a secretary in her home country and wanted to enhance her administrative skills. Letekidan began working with the LCRC to improve her English and upgrade her employment status. She knew that learning English would boost her marketability. At the LCRC she found the opportunity to take computer classes, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, and work with employment counselors. Two weeks ago, Letekidan became an American citizen. The LCRC offers resources and opportunities to Strawbridge Square residents and members of the community who lack access to technology, education, and information. The purpose of HUD’s Neighborhood Networks is to bridge the digital divide and to provide encouragement, hope, and most importantly, a concrete plan to develop new skills. The real measure of success is in the faces of those residents who have benefited from the time invested in working with the community center staff. With the increased confidence and competency they gain from learning new skills and aptitudes, their lives steadily improve. For residents such as Letekidan, the ultimate indicator of success is being employed in the field they have been working to master at the community center. Two months ago, Letekidan obtained her first job in the United States working in a clerical position for the Immigration and Refugee Services of America (IRSA). This achievement was a direct result of working with Lutheran Social Services at the Lincolnia Community Resource Center. Letekidan completed Microsoft Office computer classes, attended work-readiness workshops, and worked one-on-one with an employment advocate. Lutheran Social Services is partnering with the Lincolnia Community Resource Center to provide job placement assistance to individuals participating in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and computer classes. Such classes at the Lincolnia Community Resource Center are part of Wesley Housing’s adult education program, Promising Futures. It is supported, in part, by funding from Fairfax County’s Combined Community Funding Pool (CCFP/CDBG). Although Letekidan has achieved two major goals already, she says she wants to continue taking computer classes at the LCRC. “I want to know more, I want to learn. It’s better for me.” back to top “Daniel,” one of the first residents of Agape House, moved into his one-bedroom in November 1999. Under a special program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, he pays only 30% of his modest income for rent. He had the following to say about the Agape House and his struggle with HIV/AIDS: “One of the best things about living here is that I don’t have to hide with my ailment. Everyone has the virus. We check in with each other, because we all have the same thing. We might not like where a person comes from, but here, we all come together. We are all taking our medications several times a day. Sometimes we remind each other. Nobody goes hungry. We all share. We help each other. Sometimes we have a love-hate relationship. . . we are close knit. For Easter, we made an impromptu dinner together. Someone had a lot of leftover chicken, which I cooked in three different ways. Someone added green beans. We ate together in the lounge and had a great time. When I received my diagnosis, I put it on the back burner. I ignored it. Then I got really sick. I asked my landlord to take me to the hospital, where I was admitted. I was down to 98 pounds, and couldn’t walk without holding on to something. In order to live, I had to do what a person who wants to live has to do. Once I understood I had the virus, I understood that everything had to fall around it. I had to re-evaluate everything. I had to take my medication come hell or high water. I had to change my living arrangements. My life changed for the better. In 8 months my life turned around. Now I take care of myself. I eat properly, I sleep, I exercise. I take my medication. And now I’m rewarded with a healthier body, a clearer mind, strength and endurance. The Agape House has given me another sense of wanting to live because we are all struggling with the same thing. I hope and pray that other establishments be built and be available for persons with the virus. HIV is a social disease. I could live anywhere, but I feel more at ease among people who can feel what I’m feeling, and who are going through what I’m going through. The people around me now are concerned with my well-being. That gives me a boost. People around me care. Acceptance is the key. Accept whatever comes your way. I’ve got the virus. I’m going to live and make the best of it. I can be a positive force for someone else to emulate.” back to top The women are grouped around a folding table studying their workbooks intently. Led by Konovia Mikeal, Wesley Housing's Adult Education Director, they practice their English language exercises carefully. They are gathered in the Lincolnia Community Center at Strawbridge Square Apartments on a Wednesday morning. Some have children sleeping in their laps. Most are immigrants who have come to the Adult Basic Education Class to improve their English language skills so they can eventually take the GED exam. Wesley Housing's emphasis on adult education is a critical component of the Continuum of Care that Wesley Housing is making available to increasing numbers of residents. Konovia Mikeal explains, "Housing alone is not enough. Many residents have other needs. By providing on-site education with childcare, we remove the two primary barriers: transportation and lack of childcare." English as a Second Language is a popular choice at both basic and intermediate levels, as are life skills classes provided by the Women's Center of Vienna. The most popular offerings, however, are the computer classes, which are filled to capacity. These classes are offered in conjunction with Northern Virginia Community College. Students receive credit and are awarded a certificate when they complete the course work. Courses are generally 10 weeks and are offered four times a year. "One of the nice things about offering the programs on site is that we are able to gauge resident interest. We can offer classes to meet the specific needs of residents," continued Mikeal. "The classes help me with English language," commented Rekaa Atikunnessa, a resident of Strawbridge Square who is originally from Bangladesh. She attends regularly, with the hope of improving her language skills. One of her classmates, also an immigrant studying English, was recently able to get a job working at Dulles Airport with Dobbs International Services. Similar classes are planned for the Community Resource Centers, which will soon be in operation at both Wexford Manor and Whitefield Commons. "We know that it is crucial to offer residents access to the supports they need to become self-sufficient," elaborated Alvin Smuzynski, Wesley Housing President/CEO. "Our goal is to help residents move up and out!" back to top D’Andre Monroe, a resident of Whitefield Commons in Arlington, just finished 2nd grade at Barrett Elementary and made tremendous progress over the past year. According to his speech teacher, he could only pronounce six sounds at the beginning of the school year. Much of the time, only practiced friends and neighbors could understand what he was saying. D’Andre attended the after-school program at the Whitefield Commons Community Resource Center (WCCRC), where he read special books sent by his teacher. In January, D’Andre was taken out of special education classes, having mastered 22 sounds. His mom, long-time resident Tamieka Monroe, is extremely proud of her son who has become a very good reader. D’Andre has jumped another hurdle while attending the WCCRC—his fear of swimming activities. Last summer, when the rest of the WCCRC camp kids splashed each week at the Washington-Lee pool, D’Andre paced the edge of the pool. Afraid to participate, he played Mancala (an ancient strategy game) at the water’s edge instead. Camp staff consistently encouraged D’Andre to take a dip, showing him that the water would only come up to his chest. By the end of the summer, D’Andre joined in the fun at Cameron Run, a wave pool and waterslide park in Alexandria. He graduated from baby pool, to intermediate, and then into the wave pool…up to his waist and splashing the other kids. All of the kids cheered him on. This summer, D’Andre hesitated only briefly on the first swimming trip of the season. Pretty soon, he was all over the pool and looking forward to a long, hot, wet summer. Now, if we can only get D’Andre to put his head under the water! |