Ten Questions with Community Lodgings Mentor Stephanie Hemmert Stephanie Hemmert has been part of Community Lodgings’ girls’ mentoring program right from the beginning, and she’s here to stay! Read our Q&A below to find out why she’s been with us for so long, and who is her favorite Community Lodgings person (hint: that person said […]
Friends Helping Friends Helping Women Everyone needs a friend. A friend is that trusted person who laughs, cries, celebrates and commiserates with you, and serves as that beautiful reminder that none of us are alone. Friends make life more fun. If you are lucky enough to work with a friend, work becomes more fun too. […]
Six Great Quotes from John Chapman about Community Lodgings City Councilman John Chapman first heard of Community Lodgings when he was a child growing up in public housing in Alexandria. He was re-introduced to them when he was employed as a paraprofessional instructor, or a teacher’s aide, at Alexandria City Public School’s (ACPS) George Washington […]
Jenny’s Journey “I’m not good enough to wash a dog.” That is an odd statement for a job interview, but that is how Jenny McDaniel felt when she applied as a dog washer at Your Dog’s Best Friends in Alexandria ten years ago. Jenny was pulled out of school in the third grade to avoid […]
A Conversation with Gezae Berhane by Joy Loving Gezae Berhane is a former participant in Community Lodgings’ youth education program. He was featured in a video that shown during our fall fundraising breakfast. I recently spoke with Gezae about his experience with the youth program and his favorite Community Lodgings memories. How long were you […]
Entering and completing the Transitional Housing Program with Community Lodgings had a tremendous impact on my life. I entered this program not knowing what career I wanted to pursue in life, or where my job would take me. Today I stand as a teacher who is making a difference in many people’s lives. Community Lodgings […]
Karma Yoga for Community Lodgings Sara Vandergroot, co-owner of Mind the Mat in Del Ray, never planned to be a yoga instructor and massage therapist. She had taught English in South America for two years after college, then studied law at the Marshall–Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, […]
From Policy to People – Paul Haire’s Community Lodgings Story Paul Haire is a self-described “wonk who used to write social and public policy from 30,000 feet”. Not exactly the background you would expect for his newest career – running Your Dogs Best Friends, one of Alexandria’s best loved dog daycare and boarding facilities. In […]
Soccer and Philanthropy: An Interview with Tommy Park by Joy Loving Tommy Park is the executive director of the Alexandria Soccer Association, one of Community Lodgings’ most interactive partners. Tommy shared what attracted him to Community Lodgings and why he thinks our programs have improved the community. How long have you run the Alexandria Soccer […]
Bill Euille knows a thing or two about affordable housing and community service in Alexandria. The city’s longest-serving mayor to (2003 – 2016) grew up in affordable housing in Old Town with his brother, sister, and mother Doris. Despite raising three children as a single parent, Doris always found time to volunteer, and took Bill […]
