Author: Jefferson School City Center

Literacy Volunteers Hosts Volunteer Recognition Party Tomorrow

On Saturday, January 25, 2014, Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/ Albemarle (LVCA) will host a Volunteer Recognition Party, featuring a reading by author Kevin Quirk and celebrating the hard work of over 150 volunteers. This year, LVCA will also honor three volunteers for their service in 2013: Renée Ferguson, Patty Finucane, and Sarah Peaslee. The event will kick-off at 11:00am at the Literacy Volunteers office, room 220 at the Jefferson School City Center (233 4th Street NW) with Quirk’s reading, followed by cake and conversation.

“We had a very difficult time limiting ourselves to just three tutors to honor with our Volunteer of the Year award for 2013,” Program Director Deanne Foerster said. “We chose Sarah for her dedication to the program and her warmth. She’s been with us since 2008. Patty served as an office volunteer this year, sometimes logging over 20 hours a month helping us with administrative tasks. And Renée always goes above and beyond—she works with more than one student at once, participates in fundraising for LVCA, and is a very effective tutor.”

Kevin Quirk is also an LVCA tutor and will be reading from his book Your Life Is a Book – And It’s Time to Write It, a comprehensive guide to help men and women of all ages and backgrounds tell their life story. He is also co-author of Brace for Impact: Miracle on the Hudson Survivors Share Their Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life, an inspirational book that chronicles 25 first-person accounts from passengers of the 2009 crash and rescue. He has taught Autobiographical Writing through UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies and continues to offer classes in Writing Your Life Story at OLLI at UVA. A former sports journalist, he has an M.A. in Writing from the University of New Hampshire.

“We can’t thank our tutors and volunteers enough for their service,” said Executive Director Ellen Osborne. “It’s because of them we can help adults in our community change their lives through improved literacy.”

Jefferson School Gala: A Night of Glamour & Generosity

Last Saturday, the Jefferson School dressed up in purple lights, silver sparkles, and heaps of balloons for the first annual Jefferson School Foundation Gala. The Gala kicked off in the African American Heritage Center with drinks and hors d’oeuvres while the Chris Redd Experience performed. JABA’s Vinegar Hill Cafe catered the event, with approximately 200 people in attendance. At the end of the cocktail hour, the band’s saxophonist led guests through the Jefferson School into Carver Recreation Center‘s multipurpose room for dinner.

During dinner, guests enjoyed the first screening of “A Legacy Reborn,” a short film about the Jefferson School and its resident organizations’ work in the community. Teresa Jackson Walker-Price, the winner of the first annual Reflector Award, recognizing her service to the Jefferson School City Center and the community, was also honored during dinner.

Throughout the evening, guests could bid on silent auction items on their phones or using iPads circulated during the event to raise funds for the Jefferson School Foundation.

Reflections on a Movement at African American Heritage Center Thursday

The African American Heritage Center will begin its celebration of the 60th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education and the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act with “Reflections on a Movement: Albemarle-Charlottesville, NAACP, the Civil Rights Act and Beyond.” Angela Davis, former U.Va Professor and a lifetime member of the NAACP, will be joined by George King, John Gaines and Rick Turner, past and current president of the local NAACP, in a thought-provoking conversation. These community leaders will discuss their goals and accomplishments while providing an overview of the organization’s efforts to integrate Charlottesville’s educational and public spheres. Presented in collaboration with the U.Va Idea Fund. The event is in the AAHC on January 30 at 6:00pm and is free and open to the public.

Enjoy a Night of Devotional Singing at Common Ground

Once a month Common Ground hosts a night of Kirtan, call-and-response chanting that originated in India. This month yoga and dharma teacher Kevin Warren and Tabla Master Loren Oppenheimer will lead the event on January 31 from 6:00-8:30pm.. In addition to traditional hymns of India,  Warren and Oppenheimer may include hymns from other faith traditions. All are welcome–regardless of singing ability or lack thereof. This workshop is available on a donation basis.

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!

Lisa Beane Exhibit Opening at African American Heritage Center

The African American Heritage Center will be hosting an opening reception and artist talk with Lisa Beane, a visual artist originally from Richmond, Virginia, about her exhibit “Chapters,” which will be on display from January 10–March 30, 2014. Beane’s work focuses on contemporary culture and art history, often referencing pop culture and children’s toys and games. Beane is known for weaving multiple themes into her highly textured work.

Beane’s last exhibit in Charlottesville was five years ago. Since that time, Beane has continued her introspective journey, addressing life’s hard subjects. In the seven works that comprise “Chapters” she moves away from the ethereal concerns of her last outing, to a more emphatic commentary on human interaction. The opening reception will be on January 10, 2014 from 5:30-7:00pm.

Additionally, the Heritage Center will host the Jefferson School Foundation Gala, celebrating the Jefferson School City Center’s first year. The event, featuring food, music, and a silent auction that can also be accessed online, will also honor Teresa Jackson Walker-Price, the winner of the first annual Reflector Award, recognizing her service to the Jefferson School City Center and the community.

The award is named after the Reflector, Charlottesville’s African American newspaper published by T.J. Sellers to “reflect the progress of our community and race.” The Reflector award is given to a community member whose service embodies the core values that drive the work of the nine tenants at the City Center: activism, entrepreneurship, and social and cultural equity.

The Gala will take place from 5:30-9:30pm. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Literacy Volunteers Hosts First Training of 2014

There’s only a week left to register for Literacy Volunteers New Tutor Training, scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 9:30am to 4:00pm–and spots are filling up fast! Literacy tutors work one-on-one with adult students seeking to improve their basic literacy skills or hoping to learn English as a second language. While tutoring offers clear benefits to students–from better job opportunities to being able to communicate with their children’s teachers–it also enriches the lives of tutors.

“Many tutors feel they learn as much from their students as their students learn from them,” said Amie Whittemore, Tutor Recruitment and Communications Coordinator. Most tutors are drawn to volunteer by their desire to help others, and many continue because of the strong friendships they form with their students.

Those interested in volunteering can call Literacy Volunteers to register for next week’s training; if registration fills, potential volunteers can also sign up to find out about future trainings.

Common Ground Healing Arts Hosts Laughter Yoga Workshop Saturday January 18

Common Ground’s Laughter Yoga Workshop will be led by Leigh Meredith, a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, and centers around research suggesting we can laugh as exercise – and still get all of the social and health benefits. There are no poses or asanas in laughter yoga, but relaxation is guaranteed. Participants will fill their bodies with fresh oxygen through intentional laughter, which helps lower stress hormones and raise endorphin levels.

Meredith has been leading laughter yoga for over seven years. She began her laughter adventure as adjunct therapy for depression, so she is no stranger to anxiety and sadness. Her journey of laughter for no reason has led her to a much lighter perspective and many positive relationships founded on joy. Meredith studied in Yogaville and with the founder of laughter yoga, Dr. Madan Kataria. She has led hundreds of diverse groups, including a 6-year-old laughter club that meets at Gordon Avenue Library.

The workshop is scheduled for 2:00-4:00pm at Common Ground. The cost is $20.00.

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!

Carver Recreation Center Participates in First Night Virginia

On New Year’s Eve, First Night Virginia held several of its family-friendly events at Carver Recreation Center.  The Amazing Marco (a.k.a. Zephyr the Magician) wowed guests in the multipurpose room with magic, music, comedy, and audience participation. In the gym, Virginia Acrobatics dazzled with acts of strength, skill, and spectacle. Virginia Acrobatics also featured “Cirque du Soleil”-style acrobatics with suspended mid-air with aerial silks, sling, lyra, and more.

Carver Rec will be encouraging community members to get in shape after the holidays by offering a deal on memberships through February 16. During this promotion, guests can buy a two-month access pass to Carver Recreation Center and Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center and get one month free. Carver Recreation Center features over 33,000 sq. ft. of recreational space including: a gymnasium; fitness center with cardiovascular and strength training equipment; drop-in fitness classes with offerings such as spinning and zumba; recreational studios for arts & crafts, gymnastics, and dance; plus a free hi-tech teen center. Carver is also home to a variety of special events like roller skating, dances, concerts, and birthday parties.

PVCC Hosts Information Session at Jefferson School on January 9

On Thursday, January 9 from 4:00-7:00pm prospective students can stop by PVCC’s office at the Jefferson School City Center to learn more about applying to the College, selecting a program of study, and enrolling in spring classes. No appointment necessary. Credit classes start Monday, Jan. 13. Online registration is available on PVCC’s Website. For more information, call 434-961-5255.

Common Ground Offers Donation-Based Yoga for January

Common Ground Healing Arts recognizes that the start of a new year is often a time of reflection for many people. Common Ground wants to encourage community members to make yoga part of their wellness plan this year by offering all of its weekly yoga classes on a donation basis for the month of January. Common Ground encourages guests to give the amount that feels appropriate in exchange for the service of the yoga instructor and studio. Half of every donation will go to the yoga instructor and the other half supports the services and mission of Common Ground, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing yoga and other healing services to everyone, regardless of income.

Additionally, Common Ground will be hosting an Adjustments Workshop for Yoga Instructors this Saturday, January 4 from 2:00-5:00pm. Experienced yoga teachers Jen Fleisher and Kate Zuckerman will lead  this continuing education workshop for yoga teachers that is intended to hone instructors’ skills in physical adjustments. It will focus on learning new adjustments as well as fine tuning familiar ones. There will also be an opportunity to workshop adjustments in specific postures that attendees would like to address. As Co-Directors of Charlottesville Yoga School, Fleisher and Zuckerman taught teachers for more than 1,000 hours and graduated over 80 yoga teachers. They have each been teaching yoga and giving physical adjustments to students for over 10 years. Register here for this workshop.

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!

Jefferson School Tenants Celebrate First Year at Jefferson School City Center

As 2013 comes to an end, the tenants at the Jefferson School City Center would like to share what made their first year in their new home special and what’s in store for 2014. All of the tenants are especially thankful for our broad community of supporters who helped make this year so successful! Here’s to a happy new year!

African American Heritage Center

The African American Heritage Center will recognize Teresa Jackson Walker-Price, the winner of the Reflector Award, recognizing her service to the Jefferson School City Center and the community at the Jefferson School Foundation gala on January 18, 2014.

The award is named after the Reflector, Charlottesville’s African American newspaper published by T.J. Sellers to “reflect the progress of our community and race.” The Reflector award is given to a community member whose service embodies the core values that drive the work of the nine tenants at the City Center: activism, entrepreneurship, and social and cultural equity.

Price is a native of Charlottesville and a graduate of both the Jefferson graded and high schools. After high school, she attended Hampton Institute, graduated, and returned to Charlottesville to become its first African American librarian in a public school. Price is known as a behind the scenes organizer and she was a catalyst in efforts to save the Jefferson School. Her quiet yet deliberate activism continues today as a member of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center Advisory Committee.

Literacy Volunteers

Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle (LVCA)  has experienced a year of growth at its new home this year. Since its move to the Jefferson School, LVCA has  seen a huge increase in demand for tutoring services. “We’ve also seen growth in the number of tutors who dedicate their time, energy, and hearts to helping our students,” says Executive Director Ellen Osborne. “And we know part of that growth is due to our new home and increased visibility.”

In 2013, LVCA recruited and trained 109 new tutors. Once tutors are trained, they are matched with an adult who is either learning English as a second language or improving his or her basic literacy skills. “We have students from 44 countries,” says Osborne. “It makes for great conversations between our tutors and students as they learn about each other’s cultures.”

LVCA will host its next tutor training on Saturday, January 18 from 9:30am-4:00pm. To register or learn more call 434-977-3838.

Carver Recreation Center

Carver Recreation Center has had an outstanding year in the new Jefferson School City Center. Taking into account registered enrichment classes, group exercise sessions, Fitness Center attendance, athletics events, teen center visitation, and other programming, Carver has had over 100,000 patron visits in 2013.  Highlights include:

• Carver hosted nine weeks of Charlottesville Parks & Recreation summer camp sessions, serving 200 local children.

• The free Teen Center has gained popularity over the past year. Provided as a community resource, the Teen Center is a supervised indoor space with a wide variety of table games, board games, and video games (many of which focus on active movement).  It’s a safe and fun place for kids ages 11 and over to play and socialize close to home.

• Gymnasium Playgroups for children five and under have been very successful as well.  150 kids a week participate on average in these open play sessions.  These programs are designed for interactive play between parent and child.

• Carver has hosted a number of great special events in 2013 such as our “Evening of Jazz” concerts, a community flea market, Daddy Daughter Dance, Friday Night Live teen dances, and a Holiday Craft Party and looks forward to planning new events for 214.

JABA’s Mary WIlliams Community Center & Vinegar Hill Cafe

JABA has enjoyed being able to offer food from its Vinegar Hill Cafe, socializing opportunities at the Mary Williams Community Center, and services through its onsite clinic to its members during their visits to the Jefferson School City Center. “We haven’t had one specific moment that is our highlight for the year, but rather our highlight has been the opportunity to share this amazing experience with our center members as they return to the school they attended as children or that their own children attended. We have enjoyed listening to their memories and making new ones together,” Kelly Carpenter, Mary Williams Community Center Manager, says.

JABA’s nurse Cheryl Petencin, who runs the clinic for Mary Williams members, and Geraldine Brooks, JABA’s case manager serving Charlottesville are also marking the end of their first full year at the Jefferson School City Center. “The new clinic has been [an] improvement over the old location,” says Elyse Thierry, JABA’s publicist. “Our case manager, Geraldine, had been housed in the Department of Social Service for 15 years, but the move to the Jefferson School City Center brought her right back to 1951, when she was a student there. There has to be a tie-in to New Year’s and life coming full circle!”

Martha Jefferson Starr Hill Health Center

The opening of the Martha Jefferson Starr Hill Health Center at the Jefferson School City Center has been the highlight of the hospital’s community outreach activities in 2013.  The center’s childhood obesity focus is directly in line with the needs of the community and the location is helpful for reaching populations the hospital’s community outreach programs target.  All services at the center are free of charge. A few highlights as of November 30, 2013 include:

• Miranda Trent, Certified Nurse Practitioner, saw 79 people for initial wellness consultations and had 447 follow-up office visits.

• Thirteen Teen Health Ambassadors were trained.

• Over 450 community members attended a community health education activity/program at the center, including over 150 who attended a Fashion Show/Health Update for women.  The health update included a breast health talk targeted to African American women.

“Next year we will focus on bringing in more children, teens and families for our childhood obesity programming.  Also, look for a Baby Basics Moms Club starting in January 2014,” said Jackie Martin, Director, Community Benefit.  “We are glad to be in this community and are happy the community is coming in to take advantage of what we have to offer.  My favorite event this year was the Fashion Show/Health Update held in partnership with the African American Heritage Center and Chihamba’s 24th Annual African American Cultural Arts Festival.  The event was well attended and it gave us a great opportunity to have fun and get some important information out to the community.  The Jefferson School City Center has been a great location for us.”

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!

Common Ground Healing Arts Launches Integrative Wellness Program

Common Ground has started recruiting participants for its Integrative Wellness Program, which will provide three months of coordinated care for 20 individuals. The program will support individuals struggling with anxiety/depression through integrative wellness services using mindfulness-based counseling, acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation. The goal of the program is to help individuals make lasting changes to their health through the combined effects of multiple wellness practices, peer support, and the expertise of senior practitioners.

“The Integrative Wellness Program gets to the heart of what Common Ground is all about. It will interconnect diverse community members through the shared goal of wellness,” explains Executive Director Maggie Guggenheimer. “And it will do so in a very innovative way. This is the first program in Charlottesville to combine mindfulness counseling, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and massage therapy to address specific health concerns such as depression and hypertension.”

Individuals can sign up for either the hypertension or depression/anxiety group. Each group will be limited to 10 participants and last 12 weeks. The hypertension group will run January 20–April 12, 2014 and the depression/anxiety group will run February 3–April 26, 2014. All sessions will take place at Common Ground.  While required group counseling sessions for both groups will be scheduled regularly, participants will be able to schedule acupuncture, yoga, and massage according to their schedules.

Through grant funding from Charlottesville’s Community Development Block Grant and Common Ground’s sliding scale services, the Integrative Wellness Program will be offered at sliding scale rates, ranging from $25.00 to $275.00. Individuals interested in the program are encouraged to call 434-218-7677 or email Common Ground no later than January 10, 2014 to learn more about the program and to register.

Those interested in supporting the Integrative Wellness Program, or other Common Ground offerings, can do so through its giving campaign.

Carver Rec Hosts Winter Break Camp, First Night Virginia Events

Carver Recreation Center will be offering Winter Break Camp for children ages pre-K-6th grade over the holidays. Camp will feature arts and crafts, games, field trips, gift-making, swimming, and other activities. Parents can sign their children up for Week One (December 23-27, excluding December 25) and/or Week Two (December 30-January 3, excluding January 1), running from 7:30am to 5:30pm each day. The fee per week is $75.00 for residents and $113.00 for non-residents. Parents must provide a lunch and snack for their children each day. For more information or to register, call 434-970-3260.

On December 31, Carver Rec will be holding two events as part of the First Night Virginia celebration. At 4:15, 6:15, and 7:30pm in the multipurpose room, the Amazing Marco (a.k.a. Zephyr the Magician) will perform a magic show. The performance will feature vignettes with magic, music, comedy and audience participation and is appropriate for all ages. At 3:00, 4:15, and 6:15pm in the gym, Virginia Acrobatics will dazzle with acts of strength, skill, and spectacle. This review will feature “Cirque du Soleil”-style acrobatics with suspended mid-air with aerial silks, sling, lyra, and more. This performance is also appropriate for all ages.

The Y at the Jefferson School Throws Holiday Pajama Party

If you visit the Jefferson School City Center today, you might just run into a small child singing carols while wearing pajamas–if you’re lucky. Early Child Care Director Michelle Ryan and her staff have planned quite the pajama party for the children in their care today. “We’ll be decorating cookies, reading The Polar Express, and dressing up Mr. Devyn, one of our teachers, as a Christmas tree,” Ryan explained. Additionally, the children will be visiting organizations around the building and singing carols.

These activities are aligned with the YILC’s Child Care curriculum, which uses principles from The Creative Curriculum, such as an emphasis on social skills, diversity, exploration, and intergenerational activities to ensure children have a fun, safe, and educational experience at the YILC. The YILC welcomes new families to register their children for care and offers care for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. In addition to daycare, the YILC also offers Child Watch, an evening childcare program that allows parents to take evening classes at PVCC or enjoy a night downtown while their children engage in educational and fun activities at the YILC.

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!

JABA Busy with Holiday Fun, Gift-wrapping Fundraiser

Throughout December, JABA has scheduled several holiday delights for its members. This week, Buford Middle School’s choir sang holiday songs on Wednesday and Tom and Kathy Sendall shared their antique mechanical music makers with JABA members on Thursday morning. “The Sendalls brought music boxes and instruments similar to player pianos. The collection dated as far back as the 1800’s and early 1900’s,” says Mary Williams Community Center Manager Kelly Carpenter. “Each music maker used a slightly different technique, ranging from paper reels with holes punched, to wooden reels, to metal discs.”

Next week, JABA members will venture to Graves Mountain Lodge for a special holiday gathering. “This is a trip the members have taken before, but not for the special holiday gathering,” Carpenter says. “We’ll be participating in the Holiday Social at the lodge where they plan to have hot drinks and caroling. Then they are serving a special holiday menu for lunch with roast turkey and all the trimmings.”  After the fun, JABA members will participate in a gift exchange.

JABA relies on community support to provide such engaging opportunities for its members. Thus, with paper and scissors in hand, JABA volunteers will be wrapping gifts at Barnes & Noble from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday, December 17 to raise funds for the organization. “The gift wrapping is a fundraiser Barnes & Noble offers to local nonprofits,” Carpenter explains. “We can only wrap items purchased at Barnes & Noble, but we are collecting donations for doing the work of wrapping.”

Promote Winter Health with Common Ground’s Winter Hibernation Workshop

Next Wednesday, December 18 Common Ground will host a workshop dedicated to promoting health throughout the winter. Kathleen Maier, AHG, PA, a practicing herbalist with over twenty years of experience, will lead this Winter Hibernation workshop from 7:00-9:00pm. The workshop will be centered around practices inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is the time of the Water element, which governs the kidneys and bladder. Thus taking time to rest the adrenals, which affect immunity and the nervous system, can be especially useful at this time of year. The class will touch on simple ways participants can use herbs to replenish the ‘burn out’ from adrenal stress and how to honor the seasons within and without.

Maier is also the director of Sacred Plant Traditions, where she offers a Three Year Clinical/Community Herbalist training program, and a founding Board member of Common Ground Healing Arts. She is co-author of Bush Medicine of San Salvador Island, Bahamas.

The cost for this workshop is $25.00. Fees received from workshops like this enable Common Ground to offer a sliding scale fee for many of their other services, so that the healing arts are available to all. Common Ground is also seeking support for its services through its giving campaign, so that it may continue to providing access to the healing arts to community members, regardless of income.

Carver Rec Hosts Winter Break Camp

Carver Recreation Center will be offering Winter Break Camp for children ages pre-K-6th grade over the holidays. Camp will feature arts and crafts, games, field trips, gift-making, swimming, and other activities. Parents can sign their children up for Week One (December 23-27, excluding December 25) and/or Week Two (December 30-January 3, excluding January 1), running from 7:30am to 5:30pm each day. The fee per week is $75.00 for residents and $113.00 for non-residents. Parents must provide a lunch and snack for their children each day. For more information or to register, call 434-970-3260.

Literacy Volunteers Receives Two Grants Through Charlottesville

Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle is excited to have been awarded two $5,000 grants through the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the CACF and the community endowment fund both awarded Literacy Volunteers funds to put toward its English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring program, “Community Connection,” and for tutor recruitment. Since moving to the Jefferson School City Center in December of 2012, LVCA has seen a 20% increase in demand for tutoring services. Many of these new students are involved in the “Community Connection” program, which addresses civics concepts while providing English language instruction. In 2014, LVCA expects to serve at least 260 adult ESL students through the program and will have over 200 active tutors in the program.

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!

Vinegar Hill Cafe Celebrates its “first” First Friday in December

Vinegar Hill Cafe will be hosting its first First Friday event at the Jefferson School City Center next Friday, December 6, from 5 to 6 pm. Cafe Manager Joel Schectman will have complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages on hand. The cafe will be showcasing the work of Ellen Osborne, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers—a fellow tenant organization at Jefferson School City Center.

“It’s interesting to be mixing my work life and my ‘other’ life,” Osborne said. “This work represents the type of thing I do when I’m not here!”

Osborne is showing two series of small collages using old photographs, an inkjet printer, acrylic paint and color pencil. “My artwork has always involved some sort of photography,” Osborne said. “We relate to photos in such a positive way. We tend to see our similarities more than our differences when we share our personal histories.”

One of the collage series is from a group of 1940s photos from Osborne’s family friend who served in Europe. “The letters and the poses in the photos he sent home could have been expressions from any number of soldiers at that time,” said Osborne. “They all wrote about missing home and they all posed in front of famous monuments.”

Osborne refers to the other series as Ode to a Normal Childhood. The collages are made from a number of photos from the 1960s and 1970s of her family during regular life events such as birthday parties, first days of school, and vacations.

Schectman hopes the event encourages other local artists to consider using the Cafe to display their work. Interested artists can email inquiries to vinegarhillcafe@jabacares.org.

JABA & Literacy Volunteers at Alternative Gift Fair Today

Join Jefferson School City Center tenants JABA and Literacy Volunteers at The Paramount Theater’s Second Annual Gift Fair  today, November 29, from 12 to 7 pm.  Last year the Alternative Gift Fair helped channel thousands of dollars in donations to seventeen Charlottesville non-profits dedicated to energy, poverty, animal rescue, nature, the arts, education, innovation, and more. This year, The Paramount will feature nearly double the number of participating nonprofit and charity organizations.

At The Paramount’s Alternative Gift Fair, there will be no ‘things’ for sale at all. Instead, holiday shoppers at this virtual “mall” will visit dozens of local organizations, learn about their work and challenges, and decide whether to name a gift to that organization in honor of a friend, colleague, or loved one. Paramount staff offers a one-stop checkout so there is no pressure on buyers. Charities don’t know who their donors are until they receive a list after the event, and even then the donor may choose to remain anonymous. Shoppers may pay by cash or credit card, and one hundred percent of their donations goes to their designated charities. The Paramount absorbs all the overhead costs, which this year is again underwritten by Victor Millner of Northwestern Mutual.

Forte Jazz Band to Perform at Carver Rec December 7

Tickets are still available for Forte Jazz Band, an eight-piece jazz ensemble from Smithfield, Virginia, playing Saturday, December 7 at Carver Recreation Center. The evening will kick off at 8:30 pm and tickets are $20 per person. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Mel’s Cafe. Carver Rec Center Manager Dan Carpenter warns this event will sell out fast and urges music lovers to purchase their tickets early by calling the Center at 434-970-3053.

Common Ground Hosts Restorative Yoga Workshop

On December 7 Sandra Pleasants will lead a restorative yoga workshop at Common Ground Healing Arts. Restorative Yoga is designed to allow deep relaxation for body and mind.  The measurable benefits of deep relaxation include more balanced cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure as well as improved digestion and elimination. Restorative yoga is also known to help with insomnia and release muscle tension.

Pleasants will aid participants in achieving deep relaxation through use of props and holding postures for extended lengths of time. Pleasants has been practicing and teaching yoga for nearly 30 years. The cost is $30 and the workshop will be held from 2 to 4 pm. Fees received from workshops like this enable Common Ground to offer a sliding scale fee for many of their other services, so that the healing arts are available to all.

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!

Halloween Extravaganza Offered Frights and Delights at the YMCA Intergenerational Learning Center

Halloween spirits arrived the YMCA Intergenerational Learning Center, with costumed creatures gathering for family fun at the First Annual Halloween Extravaganza on October 31st. Approximately 60 guests attended the evening event at the Jefferson School City Center, which featured activities for a wide range of ages and interests. Young visitors enjoyed a ghostly maze, haunted cemetery, indoor trick-or-treating, games, and art projects. In the center, brave souls navigated through a haunted house and shrieked through a scary pumpkin patch.

“The Halloween Party is a great chance to bring everyone in the community together,” said Brookes M. Sims, Director of Child Care Services. “We want to make this a fantastic tradition that everyone looks forward to at YILC. I think our staff and volunteers outdid themselves this year to make sure that all our guests had a wonderful time. Our parents enjoy having a safe place for their children to come for safe trick-or-treating. Our staff are starting to come up with ideas for next year.”

Local business sponsors helped make the party a success with monetary, product, and personal support. Sponsors included: Lowe’s, Shenanigans, and our YILC Parents who had their workplace donate boxes. A volunteer from the PVCC Early Childhood Practicum course, Ms. Mariah, and  Mr. Rupert, helped make the night a spooky success.

JABA Member Annie Merritt Celebrates 99th Birthday

On Wednesday, the Mary Williams Community Center celebrated JABA members’ November birthdays with singing and cake–a monthly tradition. Among those celebrated was JABA member Annie Merritt, who turns 99 today (Nov. 8). However, Merritt didn’t stick around for the party. “She left early to go serve lunch at her church,” Kelly Carpenter, Mary Williams Community Center Manager said. “But that tells you what kind of an amazing individual she is.”

Merritt was recognized for decades of service with the local chapter of the NAACP’s membership committee in September at the annual Freedom Fund banquet.  A retired RN who worked for the Health Department for many years, Merritt still lives independently and visits the community center a couple times a week, participating in Tai Chi and meditation classes. “She works hard on our community service projects, such as making Foster Bags, and enjoys interacting with the children of the YMCA preschool during our Intergenerational activities,” said Carpenter.

Common Ground Healing Arts Offers Digestive Health Workshop

On Saturday, November 16, Common Ground will offer a workshop focusing on the Ayurvedic (traditional Indian medicine) perspective on digestion. From the Ayurvedic standpoint, many digestive issues and even seemingly “unrelated” concerns, such as allergies and chronic pain, can be improved by balancing what is called agni, or digestive fire. Students will learn simple ways to keep the digestive fire stoked and balanced through nutrition, lifestyle suggestions, and herbal remedies.

The workshop will be hosted by Caroline Horan, ANC, AADP, an Ayurvedic Nutrition & Lifestyle Curator. Her practice, Ahara Thrive, focuses on bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern lifestyles by providing comprehensive and inspirational healing programs to help guide students towards a life of renewal , transformation, and balance. The cost is $20 and the workshop will be held from 2 to 4 pm. Learn more here. Fees from programs such as this enable Common Ground to offer a sliding scale for some of their services, so that the healing arts are accessible to all.

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!

Pumpkin Carving Contest at Carver Recreation Center a Success

Over sixty people attended Carver Recreation Center’s first pumpkin carving contest last Friday, October 25. Participants helped twenty pumpkins transform into cats, ghosts, and monsters at the event.

“We had some very creative designs. Our winner in the family category was a pumpkin that got a little “sick” and had pumpkin guts and seeds coming out of his mouth,” said Dan Carpenter, Carver Recreation Center Manager. The winning pumpkin belonged to Kirsten Seay, Olivia Bryan, and Eli Seay. “The kids really got into it and showed a lot of pride in their pumpkins.  A few participants gave their carved pumpkins a hug goodbye on Friday evening,” Carpenter added.

All pumpkins were voted on the next day at the Downtown Safe Halloween event, with over 1700 people voting.  In addition to the family category winners, Rachel Mayo won in the adult category and Jasmine Gomez one in the youth category.

Carpenter was pleased with the event’s success. “Next year, we will probably add pumpkin bowling,” he said, adding that he plans on making the event a tradition. “Our name is Carver after all.”

The African American Heritage Center Celebrates First Friday with Poet Kendra Hamilton

The Jefferson School’s African American Heritage Center will kick off its second Watering Hole, a First Friday event co-sponsored by the Young Black Professional Network tonight (Friday, Nov 1) from 6 to 8 pm. The event will feature performances by Kendra Hamilton, local poet, scholar, and educator and musician Jamal Millner from 6 to 7 pm. Hamilton will read selections from her book of poetry, Goddess of Gumbo.

Guests can also view the temporary exhibit “Selections from Corapeake,” photographs by Kendall Messick on display through December 22. Messick’s work focuses on Corapeake, North Carolina, and explores issues of memory and forgetting in a small town that has changed little since its founding in the 18th century. Jefferson School African American Heritage Center Executive Director Andrea Douglas highlighted the synergy between Messick’s photographs and Hamilton’s poetry. “Like the exhibition, these poems are celebrations of a beloved place,” Douglas said.

Common Ground Hosts Jin Shin Jyutsu: Acupressure Techniques Workshop Saturday

Common Ground Healing Arts will host a workshop this Saturday on using Jin Shin Jyutsu®, a gentle form of acupressure, to promote stress relief and self-empowerment. With Jin Shin Jyutsu, students learn to place their fingertips on their own body to clear energetic pathways and bring healing, relief from fatigue and pain, and help with other conditions. In this workshop students will not only gain insight into the background and origins of  Jin Shin Jyutsu, but they will also experience putting hands on themselves for stress relief and maintaining balance.

Additionally, participants will learn hands-on, self-care protocols, including some remedies for common ailments like headaches, stomach aches, itching from bug bites, sore throats and more.  Parents are particularly encouraged to come to ready themselves with some handy tips for themselves and their families. The workshop is from 1:30 to 3:30pm, costs $25.00, and participants can register here. Funds raised from every full-paying client enable Common Ground to make the healing arts available to all.

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!

Jefferson School City Center Receives Statewide Award For Exceptional Restoration Projects at Preservation Virginia Conference

The restoration of Charlottesville’s historic Jefferson School received one of two statewide community preservation awards from Preservation Virginia, the state’s premier historic preservation organization, at their annual conference in Roanoke, VA on October 21, 2013. Martin Burks, President of the Jefferson School Foundation, and Andrea Douglas, Executive Director of the African American Heritage Center, received the award.

On receiving news of the award Burks said, “The restoration of Jefferson School is something Charlottesville’s African American community worked toward for a very long time. We’re honored to receive this award and we thank Preservation Virginia for recognizing how much the restoration and re-opening of Jefferson means to our community and our entire city.”

The restoration of the school is the result of twenty years of advocacy and determination on the part of Jefferson School Alumni and committed citizens to save Charlottesville’s most important remaining African American civic landmark.

Jefferson School and Carver Recreation Center, located adjacent to Vinegar Hill neighborhood, served as the center of educational and recreational life for Charlottesville’s African American community for generations before falling into disrepair in the late 1990s. The building re-opened in December 2012 as Jefferson School City Center (JSCC). It houses a collaborative team of tenants that include the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, Carver Recreation Center, a YMCA Child Care Center, Piedmont Virginia Community College programs, Literacy Volunteers, Common Ground Healing Arts, a Martha Jefferson Hospital Clinic, the Women’s Initiative, Jefferson Area Board for Aging’s Mary Williams Senior Center and Vinegar Hill Café.

This is the second statewide award received for the restoration of Jefferson School City Center. In April 2013, the Virginia Downtown Development Association (VDDA) gave an Award of Excellence to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority for their role in assisting with the restoration. According to the VDDA, “The Annual Awards of Excellence program recognizes and encourages excellence in historic downtown revitalization throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Literacy Volunteers Receives Challenge Grant, Celebrates by Serving Pancakes

Literacy Volunteers will launch its 30th birthday celebration with a Pancake Party at Vinegar Hill Cafe on Saturday from 8 am until noon. The event, part of Vinegar Hill Cafe’s pancake fundraiser series, will kick-off Literacy Volunteers’ “30 for 30” Campaign, which encourages new donors to give $30, continuing donors to add $30 their current contribution level, and supporters to start social media fundraising campaigns through the website.

LVCA just learned that the Perry Foundation has offered a matching grant of up to $15,000 toward the costs of technology for Literacy Volunteers. LVCA is trying to raise the matching $15,000 by December 1. “We think raising $30,000 would be a terrific way to celebrate our 30th birthday!” Executive Director Ellen Osborne said. “This grant will help us reach more students through additional computers, new language-learning software, and other technology infrastructure.” In the last 30 years, Literacy Volunteers’ tutors have helped thousands of students gain the literacy skills they need to improve their lives.

Saturday’s celebration will feature a pancake buffet, complete with toppings and bacon, along with birthday favors, a video booth, and a raffle sponsored by New Dominion Bookshop. Pancake tickets are $8.00 and available at the door. LVCA and the Vinegar Hill Cafe split the profits.

Yin Yoga Workshop Tonight at Common Ground Healing Arts

Tonight (Friday, October 25) from 6 to 8 pm Common Ground will host a workshop on Yin Yoga, which is considered an inward practice that can be used to build awareness of the body, encourage a sense of non-attachment, and move towards inner contentment. It complements Yang styles of yoga like vinyasa, ashtanga, power yoga, which help muscles stretch and move. In a Yin Yoga practice, the focus is on the connective tissue and joints, rather than the main bulk of the muscle.

Leading the workshop is Sue Bovenizer, a natural health therapist, bringing an eclectic array of modalities to her therapy practice. Having been trained and certified in aromatherapy and classical massage techniques in England in the 80′s, Sue returned to America in the early 90′s to become a certified advanced cranio-sacral therapist with Upledger Institute. Other modalities she offers in her practice include Somato-Emotional Release work, Visceral Manipulation, Infant and Pediatric CST, Instructional TMJ Release work and Reiki (Master level). As a certified Integral Yoga teacher, Sue offers restorative yoga training individually and in classes.

The class costs $30 and participants can register online. Funds raised through these workshops enable Common Ground to offer many healing arts opportunities on a sliding scale.

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!