Ten Questions with a Community Lodgings Mother – Reina Martinez By Josue Martinez Josue Martinez, an eighth-grader in Community Lodgings’ after school program, recently completed a short course on how to conduct interviews. For his final project, Josue interviewed his mother about Community Lodgings. He introduced himself, explained the purpose of the interview, created open […]
What Volunteering Means to Me by Julie Cupp My name is Julie Cupp, and I am a volunteer with Community Lodgings. I was born and raised in the area and through the years have wanted to volunteer in my local community. I’d donated to national charities, mostly in honor of my brother who died in […]
Eight Questions with Karina Wiggs, Community Lodgings’ Director of Operations Karina Wiggs joined Community Lodgings’ staff in November of 1998 – nearly 20 years ago! Find out how Community Lodgings helped Karina find her true passion, and who she wants to be when she grows up. What attracted you to Community Lodgings? I needed a […]
Ten Questions with Community Lodgings Mentor Christine Suchy Christine Suchy has been a mentor for five years. Christine gamely answered ten questions about her volunteer experience as a Community Lodgings questions during a long car trip to New York. She was our “Volunteer of the Year” in 2015 for a particularly heroic act – read […]
Ten Questions with a Community Lodgings Mom Maria Romero’s daughter Jennesy Perdomo-Romero is in third grade and has been enrolled in Community Lodgings’ youth education program, which offers after school homework support and summer program, for three years. Maria shared how the Community Lodgings staff has helped Jennesy, and Maria’s entire family. How did you […]
Six Great Quotes from John Chapman about Community Lodgings City Councilman John Chapman first heard of Community Lodgings when he was a child growing up in public housing in Alexandria. He was re-introduced to them when he was employed as a paraprofessional instructor, or a teacher’s aide, at Alexandria City Public School’s (ACPS) George Washington […]
Jenny’s Journey “I’m not good enough to wash a dog.” That is an odd statement for a job interview, but that is how Jenny McDaniel felt when she applied as a dog washer at Your Dog’s Best Friends in Alexandria ten years ago. Jenny was pulled out of school in the third grade to avoid […]
A Conversation with Gezae Berhane by Joy Loving Gezae Berhane is a former participant in Community Lodgings’ youth education program. He was featured in a video that shown during our fall fundraising breakfast. I recently spoke with Gezae about his experience with the youth program and his favorite Community Lodgings memories. How long were you […]
Entering and completing the Transitional Housing Program with Community Lodgings had a tremendous impact on my life. I entered this program not knowing what career I wanted to pursue in life, or where my job would take me. Today I stand as a teacher who is making a difference in many people’s lives. Community Lodgings […]
From Policy to People – Paul Haire’s Community Lodgings Story Paul Haire is a self-described “wonk who used to write social and public policy from 30,000 feet”. Not exactly the background you would expect for his newest career – running Your Dogs Best Friends, one of Alexandria’s best loved dog daycare and boarding facilities. In […]
