New leader
On January 1, Owen Brennan, interim executive director of The Haven, will officially become the organization’s permanent executive director.
“Owen’s knowledge of The Haven and the local Continuum of Care, his calm presence in accompaniment of people in crisis, and his deep understanding of the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness are the right combination of skills to lead The Haven into the future,” said Rabia Povich, chair of the board, in a December 10 press release.
Since opening in 2010, The Haven has been a resource for community members experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Brennan has worked for the organization in various roles for more than a decade, most recently as operations director for the nonprofit. He is currently listed as both the executive and operations director on The Haven’s website, and has an extensive background in collaborating with other major players working to address housing insecurity in the Charlottesville area.
The Haven is one of many local nonprofits expected to work with city leaders and the Salvation Army on the creation of a year-round, low-barrier shelter in the city. While The Haven has a low-barrier day shelter, Charlottesville does not currently have a low-barrier, overnight shelter available year-round.
Powering down
Albemarle County Public Schools will kick off 2025 with a new personal communication device policy, prompted by an August executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Starting January 7, students must store phones and similar devices in a locker, backpack, or designated area for the duration of the school day. Exceptions for individualized education plans, 504 plans, and special circumstances will be allowed.
High school students will be able to use devices during non-instructional time for now, but use during lunch and passing periods will be phased out in August 2025. Middle schoolers will continue to operate under current rules, prohibiting phones for the entire school day.
“This initiative supports our goal of helping students stay engaged and achieve academic success,” said Judy Le, chair of the Albemarle County School Board, in a December 10 press release. “Creating device-free classrooms allows students and staff to focus on meaningful learning experiences.”
Procedures for family and staff communication during emergencies will also be updated as part of the new policy.
For the win(s)
Four University of Virginia swimmers set world records at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest on December 12. Current Hoo and Olympic medalist Gretchen Walsh broke her own record in the 100-meter individual medley, posting a time of 55.71 during the semifinal. Her sister, Alex Walsh, joined alum Paige Madden and incoming Cavalier Katie Grimes on the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, breaking another world record during the final event of the day.
Giving season
In more UVA athletics news, the Virginia women’s basketball team received the largest gift in the program’s history, and the second-largest gift to any UVA women’s team ever. The “transformational” donation comes from alum Alexis Ohanian, general partner and founder of early-stage venture capital firm Seven Seven Six. Ohanian is also the co-founder and former executive chairman of Reddit, a popular social media site, and is married to tennis legend Serena Williams.
Hope to help
Inmates at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail will receive “hope packs” from Christ Community Church this holiday season as part of an initiative by Richmond-based organization Good News Global. Charlottesville is one of 30 jurisdictions nationwide participating in the program, according to a December 10 release. Hope packs are given to male, female, and juvenile inmates, and include personalized gifts and necessities.