Greetings,
I can’t believe it’s already March again and that we have been “distancing” for more than a year now! No one could have predicted back then what the future would hold for us. Looking back, I must again thank our community for your perseverance throughout this time. Despite the sameness as the months go by, LCNV has been constantly reflecting on our work and exploring better ways to serve the community through these difficult times. For the current spring semester, with the help of our diligent staff and volunteers, we registered 382 students one by one on the phone and welcomed them to join the journey of learning English to make a difference in their own lives. I cannot believe that we have already served more than 1,000 learners virtually since social distancing started!
This week last year, only 11 days before the event, we made the decision to make our annual fundraising breakfast, A Taste of Literacy, virtual, and with your support and enthusiasm for the moving stories our students and volunteers shared, the event was successful, raising more than $54,000! Next week, on Thursday, March 25, A Taste of Literacy will once again be virtual. We welcome you to join us to hear more informative and inspiring accounts of all that has been accomplished this year. By signing up, you will receive emails throughout the day that you can review at your own pace. At noon EST, we will hold a “live virtual” event to give you a simulation of what it is like to learn a new language and you will hear an interview of US Congressman Don Beyer by some of our students. We hope you will join us – we promise you will be touched by what we have to share.
We are also truly appreciative of the support, trust, and recognition we enjoy from our community. Just recently, Senior Fellow, Dr. Carole Bausell was interviewed by COABE for her article, Racial Equity and Immigrant Integration: An Introspection and our Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement, Ruba Afzal, was named a Northern Virginia 2021 “40 Under 40 Winner” by the Leadership Center for Excellence and Leadership Fairfax!
With spring approaching and vaccines being more and more available to the public, our hearts are full of hope. As we have said over and over again, we look forward to being able to see you in person soon, to shake hands, to hug, and to share our stories in person.
Best,
Roopal Mehta Saran
Executive Director