It all started in 2008 with an after-school reading club for a few kids in Chirilagua, a Latino immigrant community in Alexandria. Since then, Casa Chirilagua has blossomed into a neighborhood hub of activity: Kids Club is now a full-fledged afterschool program serving 42 children and their families five days a week, and offering an entry point to additional programs that nurture children’s development and strengthen family and community bonds. Eleven staff members, 100 volunteers, and 20 community and church partnerships make it all possible: summer enrichment programs, one-on-one mentoring, a Teens Club, professional development for college-age youth, and parental engagement. Many of these kids face unresolved trauma from their migration journeys; most are learning English as a second (or third) language; all come from low-income households. This year, Casa Chirilagua opened a new community center in the heart of this vibrant neighborhood. Let’s give them a warm welcome.
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