The White House Selects LCNV AmeriCorps Classroom Instructor Xavier A. Munoz as a Cesar E. Chavez “Champion of Change”
March 28, 2014 at 4:15 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps | 2 Comments
Click on image for larger downloadable pdf file.
LCNV AmeriCorps teachers volunteer at George Mason University’s Alternative Break Program
December 17, 2013 at 4:56 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Community, Teaching | Comments Off on LCNV AmeriCorps teachers volunteer at George Mason University’s Alternative Break ProgramTags: AmeriCorps, ESOL, professional development
Recently, LCNV AmeriCorps teachers, Tristen Mimiaga, Xavier Munoz, and Shani Brown, agreed to voluntarily host a teaching workshop for the Alternative Break Program at George Mason University. Here is the back-story from new AmeriCorps teacher, Tristen Mimiaga, on how this came to be:
“I was a member of the Alternative Break Program (AB Program) for two years; one year I only served as a member and the following year as a trip leader. The trips within the AB Program are designed and led by students. The theme/focus of the trip vary – not all trips do the same thing. For my trip in particular our focus was, and still is, education. So, I thought of the idea of providing a workshop for them because during both years there was little guidance available on teaching English at the school with whom we were working. I got in contact with a friend of mine – who happens to be a leader for a trip leaving in January about possibly providing a workshop related to teaching methods/how to teach. So, this is how it came to be.
It ended up being a small workshop with three participants, but they were all very eager to learn and highly engaged. We spoke about the qualities of good and bad teaching (and how to avoid bad teaching), the importance of modeling, how to use different types of dialogues within the classroom especially with various learning levels, and how catering to different learning styles can motivate students and prevent boredom from the sense of repetition.”
Click here to see more photos from the workshop.
Interested in finding out more, email info@lcnv.org or call the office at 703-237-0866.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
www.lcnv.org
Appreciation, Opportunity, Reinvigorated
August 28, 2013 at 11:55 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Uncategorized | 2 Comments
2012 AmeriCorps Instructors (l to r)
Katherine Lee, Xavier Munoz, Rachel Conn Martin and Katie Trizna
It’s been a privilege for me to serve as an AmeriCorps member at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia the past eleven months. But my work here is not done. There is still so much more than I can gain and contribute, which is why I will be serving a second year as an LCNV AmeriCorps member! But looking back on my first service year, I can sum up my experience so far in three words –appreciation, opportunity, and reinvigorated.
Appreciation
LCNV’s volunteers are downright amazing. At our class sites, I’ve gotten to work alongside retired public school teachers with an undying passion for teaching, individuals that work full time, and lifelong volunteers who have volunteered with LCNV for over a decade. But there are other volunteers with whom I’ve also interacted:
- Volunteer Placement Advisors in the Basic Adult Literacy and ESOL Tutoring Programs test new students, match students with tutors, and provide ongoing support to the tutor-student pairs. If one thinks of tutors programs as neighbors helping neighbors. Then the PAs are neighbors helping neighbors helping neighbors.
- Outreach volunteers go to events like the recent Annandale High School Pyramid Back to School Resource Fair to raise awareness of LCNV as a quality place that supports parents and adults in the community.
- Office volunteers come in on a weekly basis to help with IT, run the library, and offer other departmental support.
- Susan Kral was the AmeriCorps Program Coordinator the past three years for LCNV, Loudoun Literacy Council, and BEACON for Adult Literacy. As if managing the AmeriCorps federal grant wasn’t enough of a task for a volunteer, she also acted as a “mama bear” for me and the other AmeriCorps members.
I’m left inspired by how committed to service these volunteers are. And I have a new understanding of how invaluable a robust core of volunteers is to the longevity and success of a nonprofit organization.
Opportunity
My one expectation for the year was to gain experience teaching ESOL to adults. LCNV has given me teaching experience and then some. I’ve been able to represent LCNV in a number of ways beyond my primary role as an ESOL classroom instructor: co-presenting on behalf of LCNV at the 2013 Virginia Literacy Leadership Council conference, playing a small role in LCNV’s The Washington Post award honorable mention, and doing a TV spot on LCNV’s classes and learners.
With immigration reform coming to a head, there is an opportunity for adult education to become a larger part of the national discussion. LCNV and other adult education providers will be called upon to play a crucial role in helping adults participate more fully in their communities and workplaces. As a second-year AmeriCorps member, I will be able to help LCNV lead that discussion.
Reinvigorated
Setting aside community service that was required in high school, I started to volunteer only a year or two ago. As a college graduate with no job, I volunteered in an attempt to make my academic background useful. I also volunteered with the hopes that it would improve my chances of being admitted to grad school.
In the winter of 2012, I became an adult literacy tutor with I CAN Community Education Coalition which is a nonprofit based in Hillsborough County, Florida. I worked one-on-one with a gentleman from Jamaica. Every tutoring session left me with new questions. How could I help him master this-or-that syllable structure? What activities could we do to make two-digit multiplication come alive for him? I was challenged to become a better educator as much as, if not more than, he was challenged to learn.
And, through tutoring him, all of my coursework in psychology, linguistics, and speech-language pathology suddenly became more relevant. What I was doing became meaningful. And that fulfillment has only increased over this past AmeriCorps service year. In college, I studied for myself. At I CAN before and with LCNV now, I study for the adults I serve. I’ve stopped thinking about expanding my resume and beefing up my grad school applications. Instead, I’m thinking about what I need to do to make each class better than the last.
In truth, I never dreamed of becoming a teacher when I was younger. But serving in adult education has jumpstarted my interests and motivated me to improve myself for the sake of those I serve. Working in adult education just feels right. And so, I plan to start an M.A. in TESOL in the fall of 2014. Until then, I’m continuing on as a second-year AmeriCorps member because I want to be a part of LCNV’s continued growth and success. I’m continuing on for a second year because I want to be there with LCNV’s learners as they continue to “participate more fully and confidently in their communities” and in their lives.
Xavier Munoz, AmeriCorps Instructor
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, VA 22042
www.lcnv.org
LCNV Office Closed on 10/26/2012
October 24, 2012 at 2:37 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, ESOL, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on LCNV Office Closed on 10/26/2012On Friday, October 26, 2012, LCNV’s main office will be closed all day due to the installation of a new HVAC system at the James Lee Community Center. Staff will be working from home and will be accessible by email. The AmeriCorps Launch is not affected by this closure and will take place as planned. This closure is unexpected, and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Last Chance to Register for RACE FOR A CAUSE!
October 9, 2012 at 10:30 AM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Last Chance to Register for RACE FOR A CAUSE!Tags: 1 Mile Fun Run, 8k, acumen solutions, alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, arlington race, Basic Adult Literacy, Boy and Girls Club, Children, community, Fairfax Education, family event, family fun, Family Learning, for love of children, friends, give, giving, Greenbrier Learning Center, James Lee Community Center, literacy, literacy council, literacy council of northern virginia, local superheroes, north quincy street, October 14th, Our Daily Bread, race for a cause, run for local charities, run or walk, select the non-profit of your choice, students, The Reading Connection, the women's center, the women's centert, united for d.c., Volunteer, volunteers, you get to be a superhero too, young playwright's theatre
Don’t miss your chance to sign up to support the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia for the Acumen Solutions™ Race for a Cause 8K and 1 Mile Fun Run, which takes place this Sunday, October 14, 2012, in Arlington.
This a great event with a “super” post race event, which includes yummy food from Anita’s, Chidogo’s, and Whole Foods, as well as fun kids activities AND awesome raffle prizes for “big” kids (must be present to win)! Come support our local Superheroes. We encourage you to sport your favorite “superhero” attire! Don’t have a cape? Acumen Solutions will also be providing capes to all youth registrants!
We still need 40 registrants to be eligible for race proceeds. YOU can help us reach our goal! Join our walking literacy team?
Not in town? Sponsor a friend or family member as a runner! Every donation – big or small – helps support our cause. Please call or email Suzie Eaton (seaton@lcnv.org) with any questions and go to www.theraceforacause.com to sign up!
Registration Costs
- 8k: $35 through October 13
- $40 Race Day
- 1 Mile Fun Run: $20 Youth (no shirt; gift will be provided!);$35 Adult (8k technical T-shirt)
Registration Packet Pickup @ Potomac River Running Store, Arlington:
- Friday October 12, 4-8 pm
- Saturday October 13, 11 am – 4 pm
- Sunday October 14 (Race Day), 6:30 am – 7:30 am
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, Va 22042
(703)237-0866
www.LCNV.org
Tonight: One for the Books Gala!
October 3, 2012 at 1:14 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Tonight: One for the Books Gala!Tags: 50 years of literacy, 50th anniversary, Alexandria Masonic Temple, alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, Basic Adult Literacy, Calypso del Sol, celebrity chef, community, David Baldacci, DC Central Kitchen, financial advisor, Fresh Start Catering, gala, gala event, George Washington Masonic Memorial, Jose Andres, Jose Andres Puerta, LCNV, lcnv learners, literacy, literacy council, literacy council of northern virginia, Old Town Alexandria, One for the Books, raffle, Ric Edelman, Robert Egger, Spanish Chef, St. John, students, thank you!, Volunteer, volunteers
Please join the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia this evening for our One for the Books gala!
Join LCNV, celebrity chef José Andrés, award-winning author David Baldacci, top-ranked financial advisor Ric Edelman, and nonprofit leader Robert Egger in celebrating 50 years of improving our community through literacy!
DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012 │ 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
LOCATION: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr., Alexandria, VA 22301
ACCESS: Free parking is available. Closest Metro station is King St.
ATTIRE: Business
TICKETS: Event tickets can be purchased in person tonight at the event, starting at 6 pm.
OPPORTUNITIES THIS EVENING INCLUDE:
- A raffle drawing for a week-long stay in St. John! Please consider purchasing a $50 chance in person this evening! The lucky winner will be announced tonight.
- Book signing by José Andrés, David Baldacci, Ric Edelman, and Robert Egger at the end of the event. Books will be available for purchase on site that evening.
- Adding a leaf on LCNV’s Giving Tree. Leaves on the tree can be purchased for various dollar amounts. Each leaf contains an item that will aid the Literacy Council in its effort to enrich the lives of those who wish to understand, speak, read and write English.
- And, finally, there will be a “bookshelf” where you can write the title of your favorite book and put it on the bookshelf. What an opportunity to reminisce about all the favorite books you have read and try to figure out the best one! And you can get ideas for future reads from books listed by other attendees.
Thank you for your participation! We look forward to seeing you tonight at One for the Books!
2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, Va 22042│ (703)237-0866 │www.lcnv.org
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Race for a Cause is this Sunday!
October 12, 2012 at 3:29 PM | Posted in AmeriCorps, Announcements, Class, Development, ESOL, Family Learning, Teaching, Tutoring, Volunteers | Comments Off on Race for a Cause is this Sunday!Tags: 1 Mile Fun Run, 8k, acumen solutions, alumni, AmeriCorps, americorps partners, announcement, Announcements, arlington race, Basic Adult Literacy, Biggest Loser, Boy and Girls Club, Children, Class, community, Development, ESOL, Fairfax Education, family event, family fun, Family Learning, Family Learning | Leave a comment Edit this post Tags: give, for love of children, friends, giving, Greenbrier Learning Center, James Lee Community Center, literacy, literacy council, literacy council of northern virginia, local superheroes, north quincy street, October 14th, Our Daily Bread, race for a cause, run for local charities, run or walk, select the non-profit of your choice, Sione Fa, students, The Reading Connection, the women's center, the women's centert, tutoring, united for d.c., Volunteer, volunteers, you get to be a superhero too, young playwright's theatre
Online registration is closed BUT you can still sign up in person at the Potomac River Running store in Arlington; don’t forget to select the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia as your charity. If you go to Potomac River Running today and sign up, you could meet Sione Fa from The Biggest Loser!
Packet pickup and registration times follow:
The race will be just off Quincy Street at the intersection of Quincy and Wilson Blvd; use the Potomac River Running Store (3924 Wilson Blvd) as your “address”. Participants will warm up at approximately 7:40 AM, with guest Sione Fa. The 8k race starts at 8:00 AM. The Fun Run will start at approximately 8:06 AM. There will be a fun post event, which includes good food and a raffle prize give away.
Come support local Superheroes like the Literacy Council – costumes are encouraged! Acumen Solutions will provide capes to all youth registrants!
Hope to see you this Sunday.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, Va 22042
(703)237-0866
www.LCNV.org