Author: Jefferson School City Center

Vinegar Hill Cafe Preps for Several Saturdays Full of Pancakes

“We’re going to be up to our elbows in pancake batter,” said Joel Schechtman, Vinegar Hill Cafe Manager.  Schechtman and his staff are excited to see their Pancake Breakfast Fundraisers gain momentum. This Saturday, October 19, the Cafe will host the NAACP. Jefferson School City Center resident Literacy Volunteers will celebrate its 30th birthday with a pancake breakfast on Saturday, October 26.

Rick Turner, President of the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP said, “We thought that this would be a good opportunity to raise money for student scholarships, while at the same time giving the community an opportunity to visit the still-new Vinegar Hill Cafe and other parts of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center.”

Schechtman expects a large turnout for the next two weekends’ events. The pancake buffet costs $8, with the organizations and the Cafe sharing the profits.  Literacy Volunteers will be highlighting its work over the last 30 years with a Birthday theme at its pancake breakfast. “We have a lot to celebrate,” Executive Director Ellen Osborne said. “We’re so thankful for the over 1300 tutors who have dedicated their time to helping our students over the years. The last 30 years have been great and we’re excited for the next 30.”

Literacy Volunteers’ Pancake Party will feature birthday favors and a video booth where guests can film short testimonies about the value of literacy. “In addition to the fun, we’ll also be informing our guests about our 30 for 30 Campaign,” Osborne added. The 30 for 30 Campaign challenges new donors to contribute $30, returning donors to add $30 to their current contribution levels, and all supporters to participate in a social media fundraising effort for the remainder of the year. “Our main fundraising event every year is Wordplay, of course,” Osborne said. “But our birthday calls for us to have some kind of celebration– so we’re grateful to have the Cafe as a partner for this.”

In November, Vinegar Hill Cafe will be hosting Tupelo Press’s Teen Writing Center, Better World Betty, and Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church. “We’ very excited about the coming weeks,” said Schechtman. “We’re expecting strong turnouts and great support for the sponsoring organizations.”

Art Adventures, an Open Studio for Preschoolers Puts Paint to Paper on October 23

Carver Recreation Center Manager Dan Carpenter is excited to announce the start of Art Adventures, an open studio for preschoolers, with its first session on October 23. This open studio provides traditional and nontraditional media for children to explore projects based on monthly themes and inspired by their interests. Children and caregivers can move through the space, visiting varied project stations.. This class is designed to encourage students to learn through play and sensory experience as they create small and large works, exercising fine and gross motor skills. Parent/caregiver supervision is required. There is a drop-in fee of $5, and the program is for children ages 1-6 years. Art Adventures will occur on the following dates: October 23, 10-11:30am; October 25, 10:30 am-12pm; October 30, 10-11:30am; and November 1, 10:30am-12pm.

Additionally, Carver Rec is gearing up for its Pumpkin carving contest next Friday, October 25, from 5:45 to 8:00 pm. Interested carvers must register in advance and the cost is $5.00 per pumpkin. All pumpkins will be entered into the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Downtown Safe Halloween Event on Saturday, October 26 (2:00 to 4:30pm). Pumpkins will be judged in three categories: Youth (ages 12-17), Adult (18 and over), and Family (all ages) and winners in each category will win a free two-month pass to Carver Rec and Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center. Pumpkins and tools will be provided. Please call 434-970-3035 to register.

The Y at the Jefferson School Preps for an Extraordinary Halloween Extravaganza

Early Child Care Director Michelle Ryan and her staff are hard at work prepping for the YMCA Intergenerational Learning Center‘s  Halloween Extravaganza, from 6:00 to 10:00pm Halloween night. The event promises a variety of activities for children of all ages. Ryan explained that each of the Y’s rooms will feature a different activity or theme. One room will have a “Monster’s Inc.” theme, for instance, and another will feature a Pumpkin Patch. Children will be able to work off their candy-fueled energy in the playground outside, which will be transformed into a graveyard. Concessions will also be available. The cost is $2.00 per person and $1.00 per person for YILC participants.

During Halloween day, child care participants will be able to wear their costumes and trick-or-treat throughout the Jefferson School. Parents are encouraged to pack their children’s costumes so children can change into them at the Y and change out of them after their costume fashion show.

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 Members Enjoy Chilly But Lively Lunch Cruise on the Rappahannock River

Eighteen JABA members, their guests, and staff, enjoyed a “City of Fredericksburg” Lunch Cruise on Wednesday, October 9. Charlottesville Parks and Recreation’s Recreation Specialist April Baber provided JABA’s group with transportation and assistance throughout the day. The two-hour trip down the Rappahannock River included a guided history for the first hour and music the second hour, along with a lunch buffet.

“During our tour of the river we were able to see the site where George Washington’s childhood farm stood as well as several other historical locations,” says Kelly Carpenter, Mary Williams Community Center Coordinator, “we were even able to spot a blue heron.”

Though the weather was a bit wet and dreary, the group enjoyed the comfort of the enclosed lower portion of the boat.  After the long day, members and staff relaxed on the drive home. “Our Jaunt driver, Jay Jay, brought us home safely and comfortably–so comfortably we all took naps on the way back to Charlottesville,” says Carpenter.

Last Night of Global Hip Hop at African American Heritage Center Tonight

The African American Heritage Center is wrapping up a week of hip hop documentaries, which featured hip hop from around the world, with a talk with local hip hop artists, Anthony Amos and Bernard Hankins. Amos and Hankins will discuss their web-based sitcom Hip Hop for President as well as the hip hop scene in Charlottesville. A performance by Spit it Out and Freak Aliaz follows the discussion. The talk will begin at 5:30pm and the suggested donation is $8.00.

Calling all Pumpkin-Carvers! Sign up for “Carving at Carver”

Carver Recreation Center at the Jefferson School City Center will be hosting a family-friendly pumpkin carving contest on October 25, 5:45 to 8:00pm. Interested carvers must register in advance and the cost is $5.00 per pumpkin. All pumpkins will be entered into the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Downtown Safe Halloween Event on Saturday, October 26 (2:00-4:30pm). Pumpkins will be judged in three categories: Youth (ages 12-17), Adult (18 and over), and Family (all ages) and winners in each category will get a free two-month pass to Carver Rec and Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center. Pumpkins and tools will be provided. Please call 434-970-3035 to register.

Peaceful Warrior and Winter Wellness Workshops Offered at Common Ground

Starting October 22, Common Ground will host a weekly yoga class for military veterans and those currently on active duty. Led by Evalyn Bishop, the course will introduce students to hatha yoga postures and mindfulness practices that are informed by the common needs and experiences of veterans and current military personnel. The course is designed to cultivate strength, flexibility, and compassion in participants. Bishop, a clinical psychologist and certified Kripalu yoga teacher, has worked with military members since 2007.

The course will be held on Tuesdays from October 22 through December 3 from 7:00-8:15pm and the cost is $13.00. More information can be found at Common Ground.

Additionally, Common Ground will host Herbalist Heather Wetzel, RH, MEd, for a Winter Wellness Workshop at on October 23. The workshop will focus on diet and lifestyle strategies that support health all winter long. Wetzel earned her herbal certification from Sacred Plant Traditions School of Herbal Studies where she served as Apothecary Manager for five years. In addition to offering herbal consulting privately, she has taught around the region, including at PVCC and UVa. The course will be offered from 7:00 to 9:00pm on October 23 and the $25.00 registration includes tea.

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!

Zumba at Carver Rec Makes Exercise a Party

Just follow the sound of bells, salsa music, and laughter down the halls of Carver Recreation Center at Jefferson School City Center on a Tuesday evening and before long you’ll find Amanda Cempre’s Zumba class. If you arrive early enough you might be able to tie a bell-covered neon scarf around your hips before shimmying your way into one of Carver Rec’s popular group classes.

“This class is the real deal,” said Celia Thompson, one of Cempre’s students. “I think I speak for the entire class when I say that.” Cempre started offering the course in January when Carver Rec opened and she’s seen a steady increase in the class’s popularity. She started with just a handful of students and now has about 15-20 regulars.

Zumba combines a variety of dance, aerobic, and strength moves to create an energizing and playful way to exercise. Cempre mixes in hip-hop music along with music styles traditionally associated with Zumba, such as salsa, merengue, and mambo to her classes. Many of the songs are repeated for a month or longer, allowing students to gain confidence in the choreography.

Cempre acknowledges that the class can be intimidating. “Everyone who has gone to Zumba class has been in that position, and we do our best to make people feel welcome and excited,” she says, “Try not to be shy. Come in and try it once and I guarantee you will fall in love with it.”

Thompson echoes Cempre’s sentiments, indicating she had tried other classes and workout routines but now Zumba is her favorite way to exercise. “The class is great. It really makes you sweat,”  she says.

Cempre’s Zumba class is offered Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30pm at Carver Rec. The entire group exercise schedule for Carver Rec can be found here.

Global Hip Hop Film Screenings at African American Heritage Center, Oct. 7  to Oct. 11

The African American Heritage Center at the Jefferson School will be hosting a series of documentary films exploring the evolution of hip hop across the globe October 7 to 11 between 5:30 and 6:30 pm each evening. The series will kick off with Hiphopistan: Representing Locality in a Global City, a Turkish film examining the intersection of hip hop, rap, and graffiti with traditional Turkish customs and culture.

The next two films will focus on hip hop culture’s intersection with the cultures of Ghana (October 7, 6:00pm) and China (October 8, 6:00pm). The week rounds out with two films that focus more closely on specific hip hop artists. On Thursday, Blaze: The Truth About Hip Hop features Christian artists discussing their work and on Friday, I Want My Name Back features the evolution of the Sugar Hill Gang, one of hip hop’s founding acts. Producer Josh Green will discuss I Want My Name Back after the screening Friday.

Suggested donations for shows range from $3 to $8.

Common Ground Offers Yoga Workshop for Sharing Yoga with Kids

On Saturday, October 19, Common Ground will host a workshop for adults who would like to introduce yoga to kids. Parents, child care providers, and teachers are all welcome to partake in the workshop, scheduled from 2:00 to 4:00pm.

The workshop will be led by Ruth Goldeen, who has been teaching yoga to children since 2000 as part of her occupational therapist practice at Kluge Children’s Rehabilitation Center as well as in general courses. She’ll cover yoga basics and how to introduce age appropriate methods for engaging children in yoga.

More information on the workshop and other offerings from Common Ground can be found at www.commongroundcville.org. There is a $25 cost for the Sharing Yoga workshop. Program fees from some workshops help Common Ground make the healing arts accessible to all by offering a sliding scale payment system.

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!

Literacy Volunteers Students Celebrate Success at Achievement Ceremony

On Tuesday, September 24, 2013, a crowd of over 50 Literacy Volunteers students, their families, tutors, and staff gathered in Vinegar Hill Café at the Jefferson School City Center  to celebrate the achievements of 34 Literacy Volunteers students. Executive Director, Ellen Osborne, kicked off the celebration, followed by two veteran tutors, Gail Raymaker and Kathy Riddle and the presentation of certificates. Students were honored for completing 100 hours of study, obtaining U.S. citizenship, and completing the program.

Both Raymaker and Riddle talked about how they came to tutoring and why they stuck around. “Until I was asked to speak [tonight], I didn’t know how long I had been a tutor,” Raymaker said, indicating she’d been having too much fun for the last six years to keep track of the time. She shared stories about the seven international students with whom she’s worked. Though they came from very different countries—including Iran, Honduras, Korea, Turkey, and Mexico—they shared a common dedication to learning English and improving their circumstances. “I feel like I really help people,” Raymaker said. “And I also feel they really give something to me. I have loved every minute of it.”

Riddle echoed Raymaker’s sentiments and shared why literacy matters to her with a story from her childhood. “My mother was singing Silent Night in German,” she said. “And I did not know my mother spoke any German…After she finished, I asked her how she knew German and she said it was all she remembered from her language classes, which were stopped during World War II.” Riddle used the story to stress the importance not only of literacy and language learning, but appreciation of cultural differences.

Following  the tutors and award presentation, Sister Sophy Mathew, an ESOL Completer originally from India, spoke about her gratitude for Literacy Volunteers. “I know my English is not yet perfect, but it is so much improved,” she said, attributing much of her success to her work with her tutor, who made learning English an enjoyable challenge.

New Early Child Care Director Joins the Y at the Jefferson School

Ask Michelle Ryan what compelled her to apply for the Early Childcare Director position at the YMCA Intergenerational Learning Center and her face lights up. “I love the Y, what it stands for, its mission, just everything,” she said. Ryan brings with her five years of experience working at the Rappahannock YMCA in Fredericksburg as its Childcare Manager, where she ran a corporate educational childcare center. Having moved to Charlottesville in July, the first place she looked for employment was the YMCA.

“We are always looking for someone that had previous experience working with the YMCA, because they will have a better understanding of our philosophy, mission, and goals we have for our center,” Brookes Sims, Director of Childcare Services, said. “Michelle managed a center with 150 children and 30 plus staff, so she has the capability of leading our wonderful YILC team.”

Ryan, who started this week, is still in training and getting to know the staff. Her responsibilities will include overseeing the childcare staff, promoting Y services, such as Child Watch, and working towards National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation. “I want to make sure the community is aware of the programs we have,” Ryan said.

She and Child Watch Coordinator Amanda Johns are already cooking up new ways to promote Child Watch and other Y programs, including a Halloween Extravaganza, featuring carnival style games and trick-or-treating inside the Jefferson School.

Ryan and her two children are settling into Charlottesville nicely and enjoy how livable the city is. “Our favorite thing to do is walk downtown and get some ice cream,” she said.

Go Girls! Offers Zumba Class through Common Ground

Developed at the University of Virginia, Go Girls is a fitness support group designed for adolescent girls who would rather do just about anything than participate in a traditional gym class or team sports. Pediatric endocrine specialist and certified Zumba instructor Christine Burt Solorzano, MD designed the class when she realized that simply telling her patients they needed to exercise was not motivation enough. Thus, each session of the six-week class features 45 minutes of Zumba followed by talks on issues such as nutrition and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Solorzano, along with Anne Gabel, certified zumba instructor, and Marian Matthews, certified yoga instructor, will facilitate the course. Classes will be offered on Fridays, starting October 4th, from 5:30pm-6:30pm. Although walk-ins are welcome, students can also register here.

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!

Culinary Arts Students Develop Craft, Open up Career Paths at the Jefferson School City Center

Can you name twelve ways to cook an egg? The students in Chef Eric Breckoff’s Principles of Culinary Arts I class can. “They’re off to a good start,” said Breckoff, explaining that the students are deep into the fundamentals after finishing their fourth week of classes at the Jefferson School City Center. “They’ll work on knife cuts, egg cookery, and basic cooking methods for the first eight weeks,” he said, before moving on to stock, soup, and sauce prep for the second half of the semester.

The class is fundamental to PVCC’s culinary arts associate degree, which launched this semester at the Jefferson School City Center. “We have double the number of students that we originally envisioned,” said Dr. Henry (Chuck) Bohleke, Dean of Business, Mathematics, and Technology Division. About forty students are currently enrolled in the program, which provides students with a foundation in safety and sanitation, nutrition, and opportunities to intern at local restaurants and businesses.

“[The program] opens a lot of doors,” Bohleke continued, explaining that students finishing the degree will be prepared for jobs not only as chefs or sous chefs, but also in catering, and food service management. “These are jobs that can’t be outsourced. These are jobs that are going to be here,” he added.

Student Thomas Brandt, of Charlottesville, said he signed up for the program because he wanted to learn how to “make something out of nothing, to make really good meals,” and is enjoying his studies so far.

Breckoff has taught culinary arts for over twelve years and explained that he’s structured his courses to provide students with the means to continuously improve their craft. Each class period begins with a quiz reviewing previous material, before moving through discussion, lecture, demonstration, production, assessment, feedback, and clean-up.

“It’s a serious program for students who want to work in food service,” Bohleke stressed. “It’s not just for people who want a few skills. It’s a lot of work. It’s a craft.”

Literacy Volunteers Harvest New Crop of Tutors

Two dozen people walked into a classroom in the African American Heritage Center at the Jefferson School City Center bright and early on Saturday, September 14, coffee and notebooks in hand. By the end of the day, two dozen excited new tutors walked out. Deanne Foerster, Literacy Volunteers Program Director, explained that the goal of the bi-monthly trainings is to “inform tutors about our program, resources available to them, and good practices in tutoring.”

Over lunch, many of the tutors shared their stories about what drew them to volunteer their time. Many of them are new to the area and wanted a way to connect with the community; others had known about Literacy Volunteers for a long time and were finally ready to make the commitment.

New tutor Cassandra Barnett was impressed with the thoroughness of the training. “I could tell that some of the points and guidelines came from years of experience,” she said, adding that she also enjoyed hearing from current tutors on their methods for lesson planning. “Each one had a different spin and I greedily copied down their excellent tips, warnings, and advice,” she said.

Foerster will spend the next few weeks matching tutors with students on the waiting list. “We brought in a good group of tutors very interested in helping our students.  We look forward to them being part of our program and helping someone become more integrated into our community by improving their literacy and English skills,” Foerster said. The next tutor training is scheduled for Saturday, November 9, 2013. Call 434-977-3838 for more information.

NAACP Honors JABA Member Annie Merritt at Annual Banquet

Ask JABA Member Annie Merritt about her work with the local chapter of the NAACP and her face lights up as she recalls her decades of service to the NAACP’s membership committee. On Friday, September 13, 2013, Mrs. Merritt enjoyed recognition for her years of service at the annual Freedom Fund banquet. Her family accompanied her to the event.

Kelly Carpenter, Mary Williams Community Room Manager, said that Mrs. Merritt has another milestone ahead of her–in November she’ll celebrate her 99th birthday. A retired RN who worked for the Health Department for many years, Merritt still lives independently and visits the Mary Williams 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.

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!

Art, History, and Community Intersect at African American Heritage Center Talk & Exhibit

The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center is bustling with activities seeking to provide a textured understanding of people, place, and history.

The next upcoming event will be a talk and reception on Friday, September 13, 2013 featuring Deborah Willis, co-author of Envisioning Emancipation, a historical overview of photographs depicting the trials and opportunities African Americans faced from emancipation through the 1930s. “[Willis] embodies, for me, all the reasons for the things that we do,” Center Director Andrea Douglas said.

This past week Douglas introduced the Jefferson School Walking Tour app which the Center has been developing. The app, available on Google Play and iTunes, will allow users to take a historical tour of the neighborhood surrounding the Jefferson School by allowing users to select buildings and see primary documents and historical figures associated with those buildings.

This work is “not just the history of the school, but of Charlottesville, of Albemarle County, and of how our history plays out in a larger national history,” Douglas said. Following Douglas’s introduction on Thursday evening, Deborah Bell Burks, Chair of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center Advisory Committee, led a powerpoint featuring historical photographs of the Starr Hill neighborhood and morsels of the oral histories the committee has collected.

The Center also opened a new exhibit, Corapeake, by photographer Kendall Messick. Messick’s images depict her time spent in Corapeake, North Carolina, and feature photographs framed by old newspaper articles.

JABA Celebrates Freedom Day

The south wall of the Mary Williams Community Center was lined with the names of active military and veterans as a way to honor their service to the nation as part of JABA’s Freedom Day celebration on Thursday. Additionally, JABA members collaborated on a thank you note for the wall, honoring the service and sacrifices of their family members who have served or who are serving. Topping the list was a veteran and member of JABA, Earl Napier, who served in the army. Over 60 names filled the list.

Kelly Carpenter, Mary Williams Community Center Manager, and her staff provided refreshments as part of the day’s festivities and opened the center to the public so community members could stop in and add their own loved ones to the list.

Living Well Support Group Starts Next Week

In partnership with Martha Jefferson’s  Starr Hill Health Center, The Women’s Initiative presents Living Well, a twelve-week group for women seeking support to make lifestyle changes in an effort to lose weight, gain energy, and improve their overall health. The group will meet on Thursdays 5:30pm-7:00pm, from September 19 through December 12 at the Jefferson School City Center.

Eboni C. Bugg, licensed clinical worker and one of the co-facilitators, said, “Living Well is a unique health opportunity that operates from the standpoint that chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, and depression, are symptoms of a much larger issue.” The goal of the program is to help women tackle those underlying issues. She added, “using medical knowledge, emotional care and peer support, we hope to treat the whole person so that they are better able to make lasting lifestyle changes regarding nutrition and physical activity.”

Miranda Trent, certified nurse practitioner, will lead the sessions alongside Bugg to help participants create an integrated health plan to meet their fitness and nutrition goals.

This group is free of charge, however space is limited.  For more information and registration, please contact: Eboni C. Bugg, LCSW at: 434-202-7692 or ebugg@thewomensinitiative.org.

Soap-making Workshop & Yoga Woman Film Benefit

Common Ground Healing Arts Center will be hosting a soap-making workshop on Saturday, September 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Showcasing cold process soapmaking, the workshop will provide a history of soap craft, safety tips and practices, how to create custom soap batches, and other elements of soap-making. Selena D. Cozart O’Shaughnessy will demonstrate the process and every student will leave with two batches of soap.

This workshop is perfect for beginners and a prerequisite for the advanced class, during which students will make their own soaps and learn advanced techniques, such as swirling. The cost for the workshop is $35.00 plus a $25.00 material fee. Sign up here.

In support of Common Ground, PVCC will be showing Yoga Woman, a documentary about women’s role in yoga. The film charts women’s increasing involvement in yoga, a practice once dominated by men, in societies around the world. It’ll be screened on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 5:00pm. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Common Ground.

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 Manager Joel Schectman struggled to put a definition on September’s Chill’n & Grill’n band. “They’re definitely not your average band,” he said, referring to the collaboration of veteran Charlottesville musicians.

The band agrees that they defy naming, though for now they’re calling themselves The C-Ville Reggae Funk Band. The five-member group shares vocals and includes Scottie B on drums, Willits Bowditch on lead guitar, Blake Campbell on guitar, Jason McLeod on guitar, and Greta von Kirchmann on bass and guitar.

As the sun dipped behind the Jefferson School City Center and reggae-funk jams grooved through the air, diners trickled onto the Jefferson School front patio and by 6:00 pm every table was full. Vinegar Hill Cafe chef Sean Connelly led his team of Garry Wallis and Herbert Hawkins in making sure the crowd was well fed.

Chill’n & Grill’n occurs on the first Thursday of the month at the cafe. For ten dollars, guests can enjoy food fresh from the grill, including homemade barbeque ribs, chicken, or hamburgers, complete with sides, such as coleslaw and cornbread, and dessert. A kid’s menu with reduced pricing is also available.

African American Heritage Center Host New Exhibition and Author Reading Next Week

The African American Heritage Center will hold a preview and walking tour of its new exhibition “This is the neighborhood you live in” next Thursday, September 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

On Friday, September 13, at 6 pm the Center will host An Evening with Deborah Willis, co-author of Envisioning Emancipation. The event will take place in the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center Auditorium and feature a talk by Willis, followed by a book-signing and reception.

Willis, a renowned photographic historian, partnered with historian Barbara Krauthamer to collect photographs from the 1850s through the 1930s to explore the profound influence of the Emancipation Proclamation, which turns 150 years old this year. Their collaboration provides necessary context to the photographs, in order to understand them as historical documents, and the struggles and aspirations the nation faced during this era.

JABA to Host Freedom Day Event Next Thursday

JABA will be one of countless organizations across the country hosting Freedom Day USA events on Thursday, September 12 at the Jefferson School City Center. Kelly Carpenter, the Mary Williams Community Center Manager, said they’re planning to have a “Wall of Thanks” on which the public can express their gratitude to men and women serving in the military. “We will be also be inviting any current military, immediate family members, or veterans to join us for the day,” said Carpenter, “and we will have free refreshments in the afternoon.”

One Week Left Until New Tutor Training at Literacy Volunteers

There’s only a week left to register for Literacy Volunteers New Tutor Training, scheduled for Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm–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 themselves.

“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  at 434-977-3838 to register for the September training. If registration fills, potential volunteers can also sign up for the November 9, 2013 training.

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!

Nearly 500 people exercised their browsing muscles at the Carver Recreation Center flea market at the Jefferson School City Center last Saturday, August 24. According to Dan Carpenter, manager of Carver Recreation Center, the event, sponsored by Charlottesville Parks & Recreation, was designed to bring the traditional summertime outdoor yard sale inside to Carver’s banquet room.

“We had a great show,” said Carpenter, “Thirty-five vendors attended, which was a complete sell-out!” Many different types of products were represented at the market, including books, jewelry, housewares, home décor, clothes and toys.  The Flea Market and the Carver staff received a lot of positive feedback from the local community and vendors.

“We will definitely plan on offering a Flea Market again, possibly multiple times annually,” said Carpenter.  “For a first time event the response was extremely encouraging and it appears that it fulfills a need in the community.  Thanks to our vendors and also to those who came out to bargain hunt!”

 Common Ground Releases Fall Schedule

Common Ground’s fall schedule will kick off Tuesday, September 3, 2013. The fall schedule continues to offer Common Ground’s mix of courses appropriate for yoga newcomers and longtime practitioners. Courses include a variety of yoga options–including flow, vinyasa, and hatha–as well as meditation and Qi Gong courses. Additionally, some of the courses target specific audiences. For instance, options such as teen, prenatal, and elder yoga are available.

There are also still spots open for the Yoga Vinyasa/Yoga Nidra Workshop on Saturday, September 7, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. The workshop, led by Annie Runkle and MaryLewis Meador, will feature a challenging and playful vinyasa flow followed by guided relaxation. Participants are encouraged to sign up in advance.

Literacy Volunteers Seeking New Tutors for September Training    

Two weeks out and Literacy Volunteers still has seats open for its September 14, 2013 training. Approximately 80 potential students have contacted Literacy Volunteers inquiring about tutoring in the last two months, Executive Director Ellen Osborne reports, so the need for new tutors is critical to helping these people gain the skills they need to improve their quality of life.

ProLiteracy, an international nonprofit dedicated to promoting adult literacy, reports that for adults in the United States, 43% of those with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty. Thus, Literacy Volunteer tutors can have a tremendous impact on the lives of the students with whom they work. Many students go on to gain better jobs, get a driver’s license, or help their own children do better in school.

Those interested in becoming a tutor should call the Literacy Volunteers office at 434-977-3838 to register for the September 14 training. The training will take place from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.

MJH Starr Hill Health Center and The Women’s Initiative Present “Living Well”

MJH Starr Hill Health Center and The Women’s Initiative Project are sponsoring a new group called “Living Well.” Living Well is a twelve-week group for women seeking support to make lifestyle changes in an effort to lose weight, gain energy, and improve their overall health.  The group will be co-facilitated by Eboni C. Bugg, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Miranda Trent, Certified Nurse Practitioner.  Participants will have the opportunity to create an integrated health plan to meet their fitness and nutrition goals, while receiving expert guidance and peer support.

The event will be held at Martha Jefferson’s Starr Hill Health Center at the Jefferson School City Center on Thursdays from September 19-December 12, 2013 from 5:30 to 7 pm.

This group is free of charge, however space is limited.  For more information and registration, please contact Eboni C. Bugg, LCSW, 434-202-7692, ebugg@thewomensinitiative.org.

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!

The Piedmont Family YMCA’s Child Watch will kick off the week of August 26 at the Jefferson School City Center—just in time for the start of PVCC’s fall classes, several of which will be offered at the Jefferson School. But Child Watch is not just for PVCC students.  As Brookes Sims, Director of Child Care Services at the Piedmont Family YMCA, explained ,it’s also for parents looking to have a date night, use Carver Recreation Center, or just catch a movie downtown.

Sims and the Child Watch staff, Amanda Johns, Coordinator, and L’oreal Lee, Teacher, have created a thematic set of activities to ensure children have a fun, healthy time while their parents are out on the town or in class. “We’ve created a theme for every month,” Sims explained, adding that each evening will feature a variety of activities, including at least 30 minutes of physical activity, homework help if children need it, arts and crafts, science, music, and drama games. “There’s no TV on our schedule,” Sims added.

Johns, who holds a degree in elementary education from the University of North Florida, wants parents to know that “the Y is a safe and healthy environment for their kids to come and grow. Even if they’re only here for a couple of hours, the values and skills we teach them are life long.”

Child Watch is available for children ages 3-12, Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm to 10:15 pm, though is open to expanding its hours if there’s a demand. “If other organizations in the Jefferson School Center are having events on Fridays or Saturdays, we’re here,” Sims said. Because Child Watch is a licensed program, parents are required to register their children in advance. In partnership with Piedmont Virginia Community College, PVCC students and staff can register their children for Child Watch at a discounted rate of $5.00/hour/child. The general admission rate is $8.00/hour/child. For more information about Child Watch, or other offerings from the Y at the Jefferson, call 434-202-0118 or email office@piedmontymca.org.

New Face at Literacy Volunteers

Literacy Volunteers recently brought on board Amie Whittemore in the newly established role of Tutor Recruitment and Communications Coordinator. As Ellen Osborne, Executive Director, describes it, she had a list of “hundreds of things” with which she could use some help. Over the last few months Osborne was able to narrow that list and create a role that, while still being invented, emphasizes the need to recruit more tutors to meet the needs of the many students on Literacy Volunteers’ wait list.

Whittemore brings with her three years of experience working as the Academic Resource Center Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. A recent Charlottesville transplant, she is happy that her new role draws on two of her passions: tutoring and writing. “While I certainly won’t miss the Wisconsin winters,” she said, “I knew I would miss my tutors when my husband and I decided to relocate to Charlottesville. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a job where I can continue to support the great work tutors do.”

Whittemore immediately got to work on recruiting volunteers for the new tutor training, scheduled for September 14 from 9:30 am to 4 pm. To register for the training or for more information, call 434-977-3838.

Vinegar Hill Cafe – Extended Hours & Pancake Breakfast Partnerships

To better serve students attending PVCC evening classes at the Jefferson School, Vinegar Hill Café will extend its hours starting Monday, August 26.  The café will be open until 7:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.

Additionally, café manager Joel Schechtman announced that Vinegar Hill will be partnering with local nonprofits to host Pancake Breakfast Fundraisers. Organizations will be responsible for selling tickets to Saturday morning breakfast buffets and providing volunteers to help out at the breakfast. Ticket-buyers will enjoy a pancake buffet, complete with toppings, syrup, and beverages, while learning more about the partnering nonprofit. Proceeds will be split between the cafe and the organization. For more information about the program contact Taikia Walker at 434-245-5811 or taikiawalker@gmail.com.

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!

The Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce Non-profit Round Table conducted their regular meeting at the Vinegar Hill Café on Wednesday.

“We truly appreciate the support of the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce and enjoy hosting the monthly Nonprofit Round Table meeting.  The Vinegar Hill Café and the Jefferson School City Center are a perfect home for this monthly meeting seeing as that we are a consortium of non-profit organizations all under one roof,” said Café manager Joel Schechtman. The Café provides complimentary coffee, tea and goodies for the group.

In the spirit of continuing to support local nonprofit organizations as well as those at the Jefferson School City Center, Vinegar Hill Café is beginning a Saturday morning pancake program. The Vinegar Hill Café will provide a pancake buffet, with toppings, syrup, and beverages in partnership with any Charlottesville nonprofit who requests their help. The participating nonprofit will need to spread the word, hand out tickets, and rally their supporters to come out and support the organization on the nonprofit’s designated Saturday.  The $8 ticket will be paid for at the Café on the day of the fundraiser so organizations do not need to collect any money in advance.  The nonprofit organization will receive $2 of each ticket redeemed.

The breakfast buffet at the Jefferson School City Center will require a couple of volunteers from the partnering nonprofit organization to help with the details. Reservations for nonprofits will be accepted on any available Saturday and serving times are from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.  Nonprofit organizations wishing to make arrangements for the Saturday pancake program should call Taikia Walker at 434-245-5811 or email taikiawalker@gmail.com.

New Director of Common Ground Healing Arts

Bryan Phillips, former Assistant Director of the University of Virginia’s Contemplative Sciences Center, joins Common Ground as a Director. Phillips and current Director Kate Zuckerman will work as partners to advance the mission and assure the longevity of Common Ground.

Says Zuckerman: “I am thrilled to be welcoming someone of Bryan’s caliber to our team. He brings a variety of talents that are directly applicable to moving Common Ground forward. He also resonates deeply with our mission. This is a rare and valuable combination.”

“On a personal note,” said Zuckerman, “I am very grateful to have the space to create more work-life balance for my family and spend more time with my 8 month old son, Galen.”

Common Ground’s larger vision is to bring people together across socio-economic lines around the shared goal of improved health and wellness, and to help people experience an interconnected community where everyone has the right to feel well and whole.

Since Common Ground opened at the Jefferson School City Center in January, it has had over 4,000 visits by community members seeking affordable access to holistic health services such as yoga, acupuncture, meditation, and massage therapy. Its massage therapists, acupuncturists, and yoga and meditation teachers are among the most experienced in the Charlottesville area.

Tutors sought for Literacy Volunteer program

Adult students who are seeking help with their reading, writing, and English speaking skills are having to wait several months before being matched with a tutor at Literacy Volunteers. “There are always more people requesting help than we can serve,” said Executive Director Ellen Osborne.  “We’ve added extra tutor training events since we’ve been at the Jefferson School City Center to attract more tutors, but the need for our services is huge.”

Literacy Volunteers now offers six trainings per year to attract new tutors. The next one is scheduled for September 14 from 9:30 am to 4 pm and will be held at the Jefferson School. “Our program director conducts an excellent training seminar where she takes the new tutors through the basics about what they need to know about adult students. Adult students have a lot of things competing for their time and attention, but most of them are still willing to work hard. New tutors are introduced to curriculum and teaching techniques that are especially relevant to our population of students.”

As more tutors join the Literacy Volunteers program, students on the waiting list are matched with them for one-to-one instruction. In the meantime, students who are accepted into the program can work on English-language programs on the computer or join one of the informal conversation groups held throughout the week.

To register for the tutor training on September 14, call 434-977-3838. Literacy Volunteers requests a one-year commitment to 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!