Author: Jefferson School City Center

Over 150 women, many in African attire, gathered at the Jefferson School City Center’s African-American Heritage Center for an evening of health updates and fashion.  The event was part Chihamba’s 24th Annual African American Cultural Arts Festival.  The event included information about the Heritage Center, a breast health talk, “Expanding on the basics:  What advances in research are telling us about genetics and breast cancer,” and a fashion show featuring Adore Modeling & Talent Agency, and Kenechi Fashions. 

“This was a fun and successful event because we were able to provide some extremely important health information to a room full of women,” said Jackie Martin of the Martha Jefferson Starr Hill Health Center. “We are grateful to the Chihamba festival committee for allowing us this opportunity.”

Martha Jefferson’s Starr Hill Health Center wellness assessments were promoted. Other organizations including Every Woman’s Life, The Women’s Initiative, and Sisters Conquering Cancer, answered questions about their services.  Over 200 Advanced Directives were distributed at the event and food was provided by Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Culinary Arts Program.

JABA’s Long-Term Care Ombudsmen
JABA is looking for volunteer advocates to work to improve the quality of life
for people in long-term care facilities. Candidates should have good listening skills, understanding, and the ability to be assertive, but patient. The volunteer commitment is four hours per week. Those interested should call Beth at (434) 817-5271.

Walk-in Wellness Clinic for Women

The Women’s Initiative has provided a listening ear to over 4000 women in our area since they opened their doors in 2008. Now the counselors of The Women’s Initiative are available at the Jefferson School City Center. Walk-in hours for a free, one-on-one session with a counselor are Tuesday mornings from 9 am-1 pm or Wednesday afternoons from 2-5 pm. Staff are available to provide immediate, short-term assistance to those in need of self-care assessment and planning, referral services, education, or emotional support.

“We’re offering effective evidence-based mental health care to women, regardless of their financial means,” said Outreach Coordinator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Eboni Bugg. “We can help women transform challenging life situations into opportunities for personal growth.” For more information please contact Eboni at 434-202-7692.

Just Breathe

Common Ground Healing Arts will be presenting Dancing with the Breath: An Intro to Restorative and Buteyko Breathing on Saturday, August 17, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at the Jefferson School City Center. Promoted as “an inspiring, informative, and practical class on the respiratory system,” participants will learn how to use breath awareness and remedial breathing exercises throughout the day to remain anxiety and stress free. The class will be led by Dorisse Aha, who is an RN and a Respiratory, Movement, Wellness and Buteyko Breathing Educator.

Buteyko Breathing is also used to strengthen immune systems, help people overcome allergies, sinus problems, asthma, and respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological challenges through breath control. For more information, visit Common Ground.

Vendor Spaces Available for Indoor Flea Market at Carver Recreation Center

Charlottesville Parks and Recreation will present the Carver Flea Market on Saturday, August 24 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Carver space at the Jefferson School City Center.  The summertime outdoor yard sale has been brought inside to Carver.

Vendor space is still available.  Vendor applications are available at Carver Recreation Center, or online.  Spaces are approximately 8’ x 8’ and are $15 each.  Vendors must provide their own tables.

Admission to the event is free.  Visitors are encouraged to come browse for unique, low-cost items.

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!

First Thursdays at the Jefferson School City Center mean a $10 grill menu and live music at the Vinegar Hill Café. On Thursday August 1, Vinegar Hill Café  will host Chill’n & Grill’n from 5 to 7:30 pm. The Cafe will provide acoustic music and a straight-off-the-grill menu that includes BBQ ribs, BBQ chicken, or hamburgers, with a choice of collard greens, baked beans, coleslaw and homemade cornbread. A kid’s menu with reduced pricing is also available.

According to Vinegar Hill Café’s head chef Sean Connelly, “Chill’n & Grill’n is definitely for the whole family. It’s kid-friendly and has something tasty for everyone.” Sean reminds people that along with the burgers and barbecue they’ll be serving his Southwestern black-bean burgers. “They’re made with quinoa, barley, black beans, and lots of different secret spices and herbs. These burgers are totally vegan and gluten-free, the only ones in the area can that live up to that claim. Lots of places use bread crumbs or eggs, but we don’t.”

The first Chill’n & Grill’n, held in June, featured bluegrass legend Lovell Coleman and the Vagabond Kids. Despite a downpour that kept the more than 50 people who attended inside, “everyone was dancing,” said Sean. For those happy to just sit and eat, there’s plenty of seating outside with the nice new patio furniture, plenty of seating inside, too, with cool air conditioning.

For details visit www.VinegarHillCafe.org. or contact Joel Schechtman,  JSchechtman@jabacares.org, 434-817-5234. Revenues from Vinegar Hill Cafe Catering benefit JABA’s senior meals program. The Vinegar Hill Cafe serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday using seasonal local foods prepared fresh daily. Wi-Fi and plenty of free parking are also available.

JABA (the Jefferson Area Board for Aging) serves the city of Charlottesville, and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. JABA cares about all aspects of senior and intergenerational welfare.  The nonprofit organization works to promote, establish and preserve sustainable communities for healthy aging that benefit individuals and families of all ages.

Vendor Spaces Available for Indoor Flea Market at Carver Recreation Center

Charlottesville Parks and Recreation will present the Carver Flea Market on Saturday, August 24 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at the newly renovated Carver space at the Jefferson School City Center.  The summertime outdoor yard sale tradition has been brought inside to Carver and vendor space is available. Vendor applications are available at Carver Recreation Center.  Spaces are approximately 8’ x 8’ and are $15 each.  Vendors must provide their own tables.

Public admission to the indoor yard sale is free.  Visitors are encouraged to come browse for special and unique items at a low cost.

Just Breathe

Common Ground Healing Arts will be presenting Dancing with the Breath: An Intro to Restorative and Buteyko Breathing on Saturday, August 17, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at the Jefferson School City Center. Promoted as “an inspiring, informative, and practical class on the respiratory system,” participants will learn how to use breath awareness and remedial breathing exercises throughout the day to remain anxiety and stress free. Buteyko Breathing is also used to strengthen immune systems, help people overcome allergies, sinus problems, asthma, and respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological challenges through breath control. For more information or to register, visit 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!

Nelson Mandela Day was celebrated with twelve hours of words about freedom at the Jefferson School City Center on Thursday (July 18).  Beginning at 10 am, the public was invited to come share their thoughts on freedom at the African American Heritage Center.  The event was live-streamed and several tenants throughout the building set up places for visitors to watch and listen. Participants were welcome to bring their own writings to share. Many chose to read speeches from Mandela or other civil rights heroes.

Jennifer Van Winkle chose to read the Nobel prize acceptance speech from Rigoberta Menchu Tum, an indigenous Guatemalan woman who dedicated her life to promoting civil rights in the region. “There were many readings by well-known men, so I wanted to include a woman’s voice, Van Winkle said. “Her speech is also important because she speaks about peace as an ongoing thing. This speech is still relevant.”

The day featured many readings of Mandela’s speeches, Gandhi’s works, and even quotes about freedom from Dr. Seuss. “This was meant to be an entirely organic thing,” said Andrea Douglas, director of the African American Heritage Center. “Uncomplicated. Just show up and share.”

Mandela turned 95 on Thursday and events were held all over the world in honor of the South African President and revolutionary.

Fall Semester Info Sessions at Jefferson School Center

Piedmont Virginia Community College is hosting information sessions for fall semester at the Jefferson School Center. Sessions are from 4 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, and Wednesday, Aug. 14. No appointment is necessary.

PVCC advisors will be available to assist prospective students with applying to PVCC, selecting a program of study and enrolling in fall classes. Financial aid representatives will also be on hand. Eric Breckoff, associate professor of PVCC’s new culinary arts degree program, will present child-friendly cooking demonstrations in PVCC’s new commercial teaching kitchen. Additional information about PVCC’s new Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts will be available from Chuck Bohleke, dean of Business, Mathematics and Technologies.

An open house and tours of the YMCA Intergeneration Learning Center will also be available. Discounted child-care services at the YMCA Jefferson School are available for children of PVCC students. Additional information about full-time child care and hourly child watch services is available at www.piedmontymca.org or call 434.974.9622.

Registration is under way now for the fall semester at PVCC. Credit classes start Monday, Aug. 26. Online registration is available on PVCC’s Web site at www.pvcc.edu 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Up, down, and up again

Banners were returned to the Jefferson School City Center parking lot this week and reinstalled by the CBRE maintenance staff. City Council formally approved the banners promoting individual tenants at their July 15 meeting. The Board of Architectural Review previously unanimously recommended approval of the 26 changeable banners on the light poles.

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!

Every Thursday night at the Jefferson School City Center Doris Feldman can be found at Literacy Volunteers leading the conversation. Trained in English as a Second Language instruction, Feldman exhibits the patience and caring to her students as they navigate our complex community systems. Her students are from South Korea, Myanmar, Mexico, and Argentina.

“Doris is really helping us bridge the service gap,” said Executive Director Ellen Moore Osborne.  “We’re working our way through a waiting list of 44 students, trying to train enough tutors to meet the demand. While students are waiting for a one-on-one tutor, they can attend a conversation group like this one.” Students on the waiting list are also introduced to computer programs that focus on reading and speaking English.

“Most of our tutors here just have one student,” said Osborne. “We want them to focus completely on getting that one student to the next educational level. Tutors work with that one student for a couple hours every week, which gives them time to develop a relationship over the course of the year. But talking to each other in a group helps, too, because they practice pronunciation.”

Between four and eight students come every week to Feldman’s group. As they work on using adjectives to describe situations, laughter is heard down the hall of the Jefferson School City Center, signifying this group has also succeeded in developing relationships.

The next tutor training event for Literacy Volunteers is Saturday, July 13, from 9:30 to 4 pm. Call 737-977-3838 for more information on the program.

Seeking alumni and teachers

In preparation for the Jefferson School City Center’s permanent exhibition, the African American Heritage Center is requesting that alumni and teachers help with the mapping project.  Former students and teachers are encouraged to visit the Heritage Center on Saturday, July 13, from 10 am to 3 pm to help map each classroom and recollect what happened over the years inside the Jefferson School City Center. The Heritage Center will recognize those educators influential in forming the community in their permanent exhibition. Refreshments will be served.

Film at the African American Heritage Center

Illusions, a short 1983 film by Julie Dash explores many of the themes presented by Lola Flash’s photography exhibit, [sur]passing. Studio executive Mignon Dupree, a Black woman who appears to be white, sheds light on the lack of an African American presence.  The film will be shown in the African American Heritage Center’s auditorium on Friday night, July 12 at 6 pm and 7 pm and again on Saturday night, July 13 at 6 pm and 7 pm. 

The setting is a fictitious Hollywood motion picture studio in 1942, a time of heavy war propaganda. Mignon Duprée, a Black woman studio executive who appears to be white and Ester Jeeter, an African American woman who is the singing voice for a white Hollywood star, come to grips with a society that perpetuates false images. This is a highly-acclaimed drama by one of the leading African American women directors.

The film is shown in conjunction with Lola Flash|[sur]passing which will be on view through August. A suggested $5 donation will be collected at the door. All proceeds go to support Heritage Center programs.

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!

Phoebe Haupt, Program Manager for Common Ground at the Jefferson School City Center, is looking for people who have a talent for sitting.  “Our Sit-A-Thon is the most blissful fundraiser to hit Charlottesville,” she said. “This is an opportunity to invest in your own wellness and expand your mindfulness practice. Or, for beginners, this is an opportunity to meditate while supporting a good cause.”

Unlike walk-a-thons or marathons, this is not a test of endurance. This will be a guided meditation with periods of sitting, standing, and walking. Chairs are provided or you can bring a cushion. The sit-a-thon will be held on July 13, 2013 from 9 to 11am at the sanctuary space of The Haven in downtown Charlottesville. Pat Coffey, Senior Teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition, will be leading the two-hour meditation. It will be appropriate for both experienced meditators and those who have never meditated and would like to learn the basics. A reception will follow.

“This will be a fun event that is accessible for everyone, no matter what their meditation skill, background or level of experience,” said Haupt. “Anyone can join us—from beginner to advanced. There is no minimum donation.” Drop-ins are welcome on the day of the event. Preregistration is not required.

Common Ground at the Jefferson School City Center provides services on a sliding scale basis, making the center accessible to all. This year they expect to provide $200,000 worth of healing arts to those who would not have otherwise had access to it. In addition, Common Ground’s outreach program educates the community on new ways to take charge of their health. Practitioners teach and inspire participants to take charge of their health through practices such as yoga, acupuncture, herbalism, meditation, massage therapy, and mindfulness-based counseling. To learn more, visit Common Ground’s website.

Maintenance problems still affect some programs at Jefferson School City Center

A broken hot water heater line and the resulting chemical spill from the Jefferson School City Center’s HVAC system has left a few of the tenants still in disarray. The leak happened on the second floor, flooding The Women’s Initiative, Martha Jefferson’s Star Hill Health Center, and part of the fitness center at Carver Recreation. The water cascade affected the two programs directly below them, the Vinegar Hill Café and the Mary Williams Community Center. The fitness center and Café were quickly cleaned up and reopened. The Women’s Initiative, Martha Jefferson’s Starr Hill Health Center, and the Mary Williams Community Center are still closed while under repair.

Emily Daidone, Manager of the Community Centers and Home Delivered Meals at JABA said,  “Our main room at the Jefferson School City Center was heavily affected by the HVAC malfunction. Structural repairs are being made to the room and the ceiling is being replaced. Many supplies were damaged as well. Thanks to quick communication, clear directions, and fast acting staff, our center members were evacuated quickly and safely.”

The work is estimated to take several weeks. “The malfunction was unfortunate,” said Daidone. “However, the support of the other tenants and the quick communication from all involved has provided reassurance and guidance for staff. Our seniors and we are grateful!”

The Vinegar Hill Café lost three days of revenue and the staff had to take personal days as time off. Despite the hassle, Café manager Joel Schechtman remained upbeat. “The management company (CBRE) was great. And there were a number of HAZMAT guys and Fire Department guys checking on the air quality to make sure everything is clean and safe. We were very excited to re-open.”

New tutor training at Literacy Volunteers offered Saturday, July 13

At one point this summer, Literacy Volunteers had 44 adults on the waiting list to enter the program and be matched with a tutor. Requests for services since moving to the Jefferson School City Center have greatly increased. In order to have more tutors available to meet the demand, the next tutor training is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 9:30am to 4 pm. Food from the Vinegar Hill Café is provided for lunch.

New tutor trainings are designed to give volunteers all the skills they need to be great tutors. No teaching experience is necessary but patience is helpful. Register for the July 13 training or get more information by calling 434-977-3838.

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 AIDS Services Group (ASG) celebrated National HIV Testing Day at the Jefferson School City Center on Thursday, June 27. In collaboration with Martha Jefferson’s Starr Hill Health Center and using space provided by JABA, ASG expected to test about 50 individuals for the HIV virus and Hepatitis C. ASG provided information on their programs which build community for people living with, affected by, or at risk for HIV or AIDS.

Alene Meadows, Quality Improvement Standards Manager at ASG said, “The best part of today has been watching people come in and knowing the question has been on their mind… and then walking out knowing their status. It makes a difference.”

The staff at ASG provided pre- and post-counseling and were able to tell the clients their results within 20 minutes. They also had volunteers on the downtown mall directing potential clients to the Jefferson School City Center.

Maintenance problems derail some programs at Jefferson School City Center

On Tuesday, June 25, a malfunction with a water heater and portions of the heating and air conditioning system flooded parts of the building and caused the building to be evacuated. It was completely shut down for two days. The Women’s Initiative, Martha Jefferson’s Starr Hill Center, Mary Williams Center, Vinegar Hill Café, and parts of Carver Recreation were flooded with hot water and antifreeze.

As a safety measure on Tuesday morning, the YMCA kept the children outside while waiting for their parents to pick them up. “The children were calm during the evacuation and enjoyed their extended outdoor time. The teachers were continuously interactive with the children singing songs and having storytelling time. We kept the children hydrated with plenty of fluids,” said Ikea Prince, Child Care Director.

The Vinegar Hill Cafe officially reopened on Friday morning, but other portions of the Jefferson School City Center most affected may not re-open until Monday, July 1. To keep updated, check the status on the Jefferson School City Center’s Facebook page or check with the nonprofit directly.

Sit on it

On Saturday, July 13, Common Ground Healing Arts will be hosting it’s second annual Sit-A-Thon, a community meditation event. Both experienced meditators and those who have never meditated are welcome. Common Ground is seeking to raise $50,000 with this year’s event, all of which will go directly toward charitable care. Common Ground will provide over $200,000 in charitable care this year.

Phoebe Haupt, Program Director at Common Ground said, “the Sit-A-Thon is the most Blissful Fundraiser to hit Charlottesville—an opportunity to invest in your own wellness, expand your mindfulness practice or just learn how to meditate while supporting a good cause.  Anyone can join us—from beginner to advanced. There is no minimum donation—though we have some amazing prizes for the top fundraisers.”

Carver Recreation Center to Present “An Evening of Jazz” featuring the Riseband and Show

Charlottesville Parks & Recreation will host “An Evening of Jazz” on Saturday, June 29 from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm at Carver Recreation Center at the Jefferson School City Center. The Riseband & Show is a Washington D.C. area band which performs oldies but goodies as well as jazz and Motown. This program is open for anyone ages 18 and up for a cost of $15 per person.  Included in the cost is heavy hors d’oeurvres by Mel’s Café. Register online.

Literacy Volunteers new tutor training

Literacy Volunteers has seen an increase in requests for services since moving to the Jefferson School City Center. There are many students currently on a waiting list to be assigned a tutor. The next tutor training is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 9:30a m to 4 pm. Food from the Vinegar Hill Café is provided for lunch.

New tutor trainings are designed to give volunteers all the skills they need to be great tutors. No teaching experience is necessary but patience is helpful. Register for the July 13 training or get more information by calling 434-977-3838.

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!

“My essay was about walking slowly through things, and then one day looking up and discovering I had arrived someplace new,” said writer Beth Gager. Gager was presented with an award at The Women’s Initiative’s celebration of Challenge Into Change held at the Jefferson School City Center on Saturday.  The event honored women who have turned life challenges into positive changes for their lives. Several authors shared stories about personal transformation.

“I’ve discovered I’ve arrived someplace new and I don’t have to go back,” Gager said. “I lost everything in life that I had—my job, friends, home, everything—but gained it all back by beginning to walk. Just walk. I was moving somewhere to a place of healing. I began to notice nature, began yoga, prayer, and meditation,” she said. Gager has a Masters degree in counseling and now works in the mental health field as the Coordinator of Consumer Empowerment at Region Ten.

“The celebration was beautiful. Each one us was honored, because each of us has a valuable story. We were all winners.  The Women’s Initiative did a great job showing how resilient we are. It was a powerful event and showed how The Women’s Initiative reaches out to women and helps us find strength,” said Gager.

About her long journey turning her challenges in to change, Gager remarks, “Now if I want to sit and rest under a tree, I can,” she said. The book of essays, Challenge Into Change, will be available from The Women’s Initiative soon.

Chanting workshop and summer solstice yoga intensive this weekend

Kate Zuckerman, director of Common Ground Healing Arts, will lead an evening of chanting tonight (Friday, June 21, 2013) in the Yoga tradition from 7:15 to 8:30 pm. Beginners and experienced chanters are welcome. Participants will learn the Sanskrit pronunciation, the English translation, and the philosophical framework behind several chants, as well as have an opportunity to chant them as a group. Register online. The fee for the chanting workshop is by donation.

Saturday and Sunday (June 22 & 23) Common Ground will be conducting a Summer Solstice Yoga Intensive workshop. “If we are present to our experience as the seasons change, we may notice that we are not separate from the cycles of the natural world,” said Kate Zuckerman. “The longer days of summer bring forth reserves of energy and bursts of inspiration. This is a traditional way to honor these natural rhythms in ourselves and the world around us.”

These sessions are intended for students of all levels, but a basic level of physical fitness is required. Space is limited and advance registration is recommended. The first session, Balancing Poses and Inversions, is on Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Sunday sessions are Backbends & Twists from 10 am to 12 pm and Seated Pose and Forward Folds from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Fees for Saturday and Sunday are $25 per session or $60 for all three if booked in advance. Fees from Common Ground events go towards supporting equal access to the healing arts for all.

Service for those seeking U.S. citizenship

Literacy Volunteers at the Jefferson School City Center will be providing a class for those interested in becoming U.S. citizens called Preparing to take the Citizenship Test from July 1  to September 16. Designed for intermediate ESL Learners, the class will meet on Monday evenings from 6 to 8 pm.  Homework and English practice are required. There is $25 registration fee, but books and materials are provided.

The class takes students through the 100 questions on the test for naturalization.

Literacy Volunteers is providing this class in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville. To register, call 977-3838.

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!

Women will be celebrating the many ways they have turned their live challenges into positive change tomorrow (Saturday), June 15 at The Women’s Initiative at the Jefferson School City Center. From 4:30 to 6:30 pm, writers and supporters will honor the women essayists who shared personal stories of transformation for the 2013 issue of Challenge Into Change.

The gathering and celebration is integral to the process of publishing Challenge Into Change. “Change occurs when there’s an element of community involved and we can support one another,” said Eboni Bugg, Outreach Coordinator at The Women’s Initiative. “This is one more way we can help women transform challenging life situations into opportunities for personal growth.”

The Women’s Initiative plans to present prizes, gifts and certificates of achievement for this year’s participants. The winning writers will read their stories, inspiring others to take pen to paper to express their own struggles as a way of healing.

The creation of the book, Challenge Into Change, is just one of the ways The Women’s Initiative is reaching out into the community around the Jefferson School City Center to promote health of the mind, body, and soul.

Free parking for the event is on both levels of Jefferson School City Center parking garage.

Pigmentocracy on display

“When buying the ticket for the long train journey home to Charlottesville, grandma would often take her place in the queue for white folks and get quicker and better service than the dark skinned blacks who would often have to wait longer,” wrote photographer Lola Flash. Flash will speak at the African American Heritage Center at the Jefferson School City Center Friday (tonight), June 14, at 5:30 pm.

The show, named [sur]passing, addresses the concept of pigmentocracy, a term that relates a slave’s socio-economic position to their skin color. The exhibition is made possible through the support of Albemarle Magazine and the Blue Moon Fund. The exhibition will be on view through August 30. Gallery hours are are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday 10 am to 3 pm, and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm.

Service for those seeking U.S. citizenship

Literacy Volunteers at the Jefferson School City Center will be providing another session of the 12-week class, Preparing to take the Citizenship Test, beginning July 1. Designed for intermediate ESL Learners, the class will meet on Monday evenings from 6 to 8 pm.  Homework and English practice are required. There is $25 registration fee, but books and materials are provided.

The class takes students through the 100 questions on the test for naturalization. Literacy Volunteers is providing this class in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville. To register, call 977-3838.

Two new programs of study for fall

Piedmont Virginia Community College is offering a new Culinary Arts Associate Degree and Nursing Assistant Career Studies Certificate beginning this fall and many of these classes will be offered at the Jefferson School City Center.

Graduates of the culinary arts program will be prepared for entry-level jobs as chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, caterers, food service managers and more. The program includes credit classes in food preparation, foodservice management, nutrition, safety and sanitation and hospitality industry computer systems.

Classes are held in PVCC’s new teaching kitchen and classrooms at PVCC’s Jefferson School City Center located at 233 Fourth Street, NW, in downtown Charlottesville. Additional information about this degree is available at www.pvcc.edu/culinary. Information sessions about the Culinary Arts degree will be held in the main building on PVCC’s campus at 501 College Drive on the following dates and times: Monday, June 17, 6:30 to 8:30 pm; Saturday, June 22, noon to 2 pm; and Monday, June 24, 10 am until noon.

The Nursing Assistant Career Studies Certificate prepares students to take the Virginia state nursing assistant certification exam to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).

Open enrollment for fall semester 2013 PVCC classes begins June 17. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 26. For additional information, contact the PVCC Admissions and Advising Center at 434.961.6551 or admissions@pvcc.edu.

Jefferson School City Center is a voice of the nine nonprofits located at Charlottesville’s intergenerational community center, the restored Jefferson School. We are a legacy preserved . . . a soul reborn . . . in the heart of Cville!

The African American Heritage Center at the Jefferson School City Center will have a new exhibition in the Contemporary Gallery this week. The Caesar Morton show has come down and is being packed up, and Lola Flash’s photography will soon grace the walls. The show is called (sur) passing and will be on view from June 7 to August 30.

Flash’s imagery confronts pigmentocracy, which is a term that relates a slave’s socio-economic position to their skin color. Flash analyzes the impact of this condition on contemporary society with her larger-than life photographs.

Like the previous exhibition, this show has a Charlottesville connection.  Flash’s family has done extensive research and concluded that they are direct descendants of Sally Hemings, one of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite female slaves. Some of Flash’s relatives still live in Charlottesville.

In the exhibition, Flash’s models, both male and female, are posed in front of undefined skylines of London, New York, and South Africa and represent an array of skin color. According to Flash, these portraits represent a new generation of people that is above and beyond “passing,” because they represent pride and strength.

Flash will speak at the gallery located upstairs at the Jefferson School City Center on June 14 at 5:30 pm. The lecture is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday 10 am to 3 pm, and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm.

“Challenge Into Change” contest winners to be announced

The Women’s Initiative at the Jefferson School City Center will be celebrating the Challenge into Change Essay Contest winners on Saturday June 15th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Prizes will be distributed to the winners and the celebration will include door prizes and refreshments. This event will honor women who have transformed challenging life circumstances into opportunities for growth and change. As usual at the Jefferson School City Center, free parking is available on site. For more information, please contact Lesley Foster at lrfoster@comcast.net or visit The Women’s Initiative online.

A successful zoo trip

Participants at JABA’s Mary Williams Community Center enjoyed a day at the Virginia Safari Park last month despite the rain. “The rain made things a challenge, but we had a good time anyway,” said activities director Karen Bieber. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm and hosts a variety of activities for seniors. Their next major outing is a picnic at Darden Towe park on June 13.

An evening of jazz at the Carver Recreation Center 

Charlottesville Parks & Recreation will host “An Evening of Jazz” on Saturday, June 29 from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm at the newly renovated Carver Recreation Center at the Jefferson School City Center.

The Riseband and Show is a Washington D.C. area band, led by Ernest Bennett, which has been making music together since 1978. The 9-member ensemble performs oldies but goodies from the 1950s through 1990s as well as jazz and Motown.

This program is open for anyone ages 18 and up for a cost of $15 per person.  Included in the cost is heavy hors d’oeurvres by local favorite, Mel’s Café. Pre-registration is required as there are a limited number of seats available. To register online, please visit www.charlottesville.org/parksandrec.  Registrations may also be processed in person at Carver Recreation Center, or by calling (434) 970-3053.

Kids in the Kitchen

Kids will have the opportunity to see how things cook in the Jefferson School City Center’s state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen this summer. During the week of July 15 through 19, Mr. Tom Cervelloni, Director of Food and Beverage at U.Va’s Darden School, will teach rising third through sixth graders how to prepare a healthy salad, make meatballs, and scoop muffins and cookies. Kids will learn basic rules of kitchen safety and food preparation and practice teamwork skills. Students will create a lunch to share with parents at the end of the week. Space is limited to 10 students. More information is available by calling 434-961-5354. Registration form available is available online.

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!

Thanks to a Dollar General grant awarded this week to Literacy Volunteers, adult students will be getting more opportunity to study English on computer programs at the Jefferson School City Center. Every student is required to spend approximately four weeks working in Rosetta Stone or a similar language program before being assigned a tutor. The $10,560 grant will pay for a new computer workstation, additional licenses, and additional staff hours to help students learn how to use the programs.

“It’s always been a scheduling issue,” said Executive Director Ellen Osborne. “We have 90 students scheduled to work on computer this week, but only three workstations available. Everyone is jockeying for a time slot they can fit into their job schedule. One more workstation and having staff available for questions and problems will really help.”

Osborne said that students who meet with a tutor once a week and also work on English language software programs learn faster than students who only work with tutors. “Our goal is to get them up to speed with speaking, reading, and writing English as quick as we can. In a lot of cases, their jobs depend on them being able to communicate with employers and co-workers. The computer programs can help them get basic vocabulary down pat, and then the tutors can help students make sense of it in real-life contexts.”

In the past two years, Literacy Volunteers has seen an influx of students at the lowest literacy level. “In some cases, we have to begin with the technological basics,” said Osborne. “Many have never used a mouse before.  While the primary goal is learning the language, learning to navigate a computer has become an essential life skill, too.”

Over the course of the year, Literacy Volunteers will serve about 250 students, 90% of whom are learning English as a Second Language. Most students study at LVCA for one to two years and work with one of the 190 volunteer tutors.

“We are attracting more students now that we are at the Jefferson School City Center and this will help us meet demand,” said Osborne.

New massage therapist at Common Ground has specialty treating trauma and PTSD

Karen Henderson is a Certified Massage Therapist who focuses her practice of massage on Craniosacral therapy, myofascial release and Reiki.  Karen is a disabled veteran who enjoys working with individuals who have experienced the pains of trauma and PTSD, and are seeking to find balance and wholeness in their lives.  Her own past traumas and medical diagnosis of a fatal lung disease led her on a journey to explore alternative approaches to health and wellness. She has greatly benefited from Craniosacral Therapy in her own journey.

Karen will be at Common Ground at the Jefferson School on Tuesdays from 9:30 am to 1 pm three weeks out of the month, and then at the Westhaven nursing clinic once a month. For more information, call Common Ground at 434-218-7677.

Carver Rec takes Jefferson School City Center back in time

Poodle skirts and saddle shoes will be back in style on Saturday, June 1 from 8 to 10 pm at the Jefferson School City Center. Carver Rec is hosting a Sock Hop for ages 3 and up and will be having “Best Dressed,” “Craziest Socks,” and “Dance-off competitions.” Entry fee is $5. Register online or by calling 434-970-3053.

Chillin’ and Grillin’ at Vinegar Hill Café on Thursday

The Vinegar Hill Café will have a $10 grill menu plus entertainment on the first Thursday of each month at the Jefferson School City Center. Manager Joel Schechtman said, “Look for backyard style food and lots of fun for the whole family!” The café will be showcasing BBQ Ribs, BBQ chicken and hamburgers with choice of collard greens, baked beans, cole slaw and homemade cornbread with live music. Kid’s pricing and menu are also available. All proceeds from food sales support JABA programs.

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!