Women will be celebrating the many ways they have turned their live challenges into positive change tomorrow (Saturday), June 15 at The Women’s Initiative at the Jefferson School City Center. From 4:30 to 6:30 pm, writers and supporters will honor the women essayists who shared personal stories of transformation for the 2013 issue of Challenge Into Change.
The gathering and celebration is integral to the process of publishing Challenge Into Change. “Change occurs when there’s an element of community involved and we can support one another,” said Eboni Bugg, Outreach Coordinator at The Women’s Initiative. “This is one more way we can help women transform challenging life situations into opportunities for personal growth.”
The Women’s Initiative plans to present prizes, gifts and certificates of achievement for this year’s participants. The winning writers will read their stories, inspiring others to take pen to paper to express their own struggles as a way of healing.
The creation of the book, Challenge Into Change, is just one of the ways The Women’s Initiative is reaching out into the community around the Jefferson School City Center to promote health of the mind, body, and soul.
Free parking for the event is on both levels of Jefferson School City Center parking garage.
Pigmentocracy on display
“When buying the ticket for the long train journey home to Charlottesville, grandma would often take her place in the queue for white folks and get quicker and better service than the dark skinned blacks who would often have to wait longer,” wrote photographer Lola Flash. Flash will speak at the African American Heritage Center at the Jefferson School City Center Friday (tonight), June 14, at 5:30 pm.
The show, named [sur]passing, addresses the concept of pigmentocracy, a term that relates a slave’s socio-economic position to their skin color. The exhibition is made possible through the support of Albemarle Magazine and the Blue Moon Fund. The exhibition will be on view through August 30. Gallery hours are are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday 10 am to 3 pm, and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm.
Service for those seeking U.S. citizenship
Literacy Volunteers at the Jefferson School City Center will be providing another session of the 12-week class, Preparing to take the Citizenship Test, beginning July 1. Designed for intermediate ESL Learners, the class will meet on Monday evenings from 6 to 8 pm. Homework and English practice are required. There is $25 registration fee, but books and materials are provided.
The class takes students through the 100 questions on the test for naturalization. Literacy Volunteers is providing this class in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville. To register, call 977-3838.
Two new programs of study for fall
Piedmont Virginia Community College is offering a new Culinary Arts Associate Degree and Nursing Assistant Career Studies Certificate beginning this fall and many of these classes will be offered at the Jefferson School City Center.
Graduates of the culinary arts program will be prepared for entry-level jobs as chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, caterers, food service managers and more. The program includes credit classes in food preparation, foodservice management, nutrition, safety and sanitation and hospitality industry computer systems.
Classes are held in PVCC’s new teaching kitchen and classrooms at PVCC’s Jefferson School City Center located at 233 Fourth Street, NW, in downtown Charlottesville. Additional information about this degree is available at www.pvcc.edu/culinary. Information sessions about the Culinary Arts degree will be held in the main building on PVCC’s campus at 501 College Drive on the following dates and times: Monday, June 17, 6:30 to 8:30 pm; Saturday, June 22, noon to 2 pm; and Monday, June 24, 10 am until noon.
The Nursing Assistant Career Studies Certificate prepares students to take the Virginia state nursing assistant certification exam to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).
Open enrollment for fall semester 2013 PVCC classes begins June 17. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 26. For additional information, contact the PVCC Admissions and Advising Center at 434.961.6551 or admissions@pvcc.edu.
Jefferson School City Center is a voice of the nine nonprofits located at Charlottesville’s intergenerational community center, the restored Jefferson School. We are a legacy preserved . . . a soul reborn . . . in the heart of Cville!
