Marjorie from Wright to Read

From student Marwah:

Each week, Marjorie and I do reading worksheets, we read and we talk. Sometimes we talk about reading and sometimes we talk about stuff we just want to talk about. We read chapter books and also fiction and non-fiction. We’ve been reading together for almost a year.

Outside of the library, we’ve gone to the IHOP [for the holiday dinner]. We also went to the summer picnic. Also, we sometimes eat marshmallows after reading.

From working with my mentor, I’ve learned how to read fluently and how to understand what I’ve read. And I’ve learned a lot more sight words. Marjorie has helped me get my reading level really high, and she’s always nice.

From tutor/mentor Marjorie:

Marwah and I have been reading together at Beatley Library once a week for close to a year. Her improvement over that time has been amazing and inspiring to watch. She has
always had a wonderful attitude, but now I see her confidence growing as she tackles big words and complex sentences.

We typically spend our hour together reviewing flash cards, practicing writing, doing workbook exercises and reading books of Marwah’s choice. She is open to reading almost any book, but she especially likes ones with colorful pictures and ones with animals. Marwah also has a wonderful sense of humor and expressively gives voice to the characters in funny books, like Mo Willems’ “Elephant and Piggie” series. Her favorite sweet is a marshmallow so I sometimes remember to bring those along.


Through Wright to Read, I’ve been able to work with Marwah to improve our reading, but I’ve also gotten to know her whole family. It’s a great organization, providing plenty of support and help.

This article was previously featured in the Alexandria Gazette and the Wright to Read Blog. 

THANK YOU'S for a Successful Spring2Action

SOHO girls, watched over by Del Ray Program Director Angela,
work hard on their hand-written thank-you notes to Spring2Action donors.

On Wednesday, April 5th, the whole community (Alexandria and beyond!) mobilized to give a total of $1,592,459 to local non-profits, including many AMP programs.  Casa Chirilagua Mentors won the contest of most donations over Casa Kids Club and Casa Bible Study, while the entire organization received 4th place for most overall donors and 2nd place for most overall dollars!  The Alexandria Seaport Foundation received 7th for most overall dollars, while Space Of Her Own had a record-breaking fundraising year and finished 15th for most overall donors and 17th for most overall dollars. Casa Chirilagua, Community Lodgings, Space of Her Own, and Wright to Read all received matching grants from the Mason Hirst Foundation.  BRYCE Project and CCNA: RARE also participated in the event and received substantial donations.  On behalf of all AMP programs, we thank everyone who contributed!  

Thanks is the most important part, as 10 SOHO boys and girls learned this past week.  For an entire day each on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8 girls from Space Of Her Own and 2 boys from Space Of His Own gathered together to create hundreds of hand-written thank-you's to everyone who donated to their program.  Each wrote about what the donations will be used for, how their mentor helps them, and what their favorite part of SOHO is.  While the task was daunting and left the participants with some cramped fingers from so much writing, each expressed at the end of the day how grateful they were to everyone who had donated to make SOHO possible, and how rewarding it was to be able to express those thanks personally.  

Spring2Action is a yearly day of giving sponsored by Act for Alexandria.  Learn more about this year's fundraising results, and continue to follow AMP to see what amazing future events and projects these contributions support.  

Casa Chirilagua Open House

"Mi Casa es Tu Casa" and "Home Sweet Home" was written all over, from t-shirts to posters to individual invitations.  "Welcome to your new home!" was shouted by Casa Chirilagua Executive Director, Dawnielle Miller.  The event title of Grand Opening was interchangeable with "Open House," emphasis on house.  But nothing displayed how "homey" the new community space on Mt. Vernon Ave was like the hundreds of Chirilagua neighborhood families who came out to celebrate Casa Chirilagua's new base.  

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Casa Chirilagua moved into their new center/program spaces/office at the beginning of March, and has been holding their weekly Kids Club and Bible Study meetings there since.  On Saturday, April 1st, a grand event was held to celebrate the new space.  Previously, Casa Chiri's offices and programs had taken place at different partner churches in the Northern Alexandria area.  Now, Casa Chirilagua has one home, in the very center of the neighborhood that they serve. 

The event began with speeches by Board Member Jim Vandehei, Mayor of Alexandria Allison Silberberg and Executive Director Dawnielle Miller.  The Mayor then assisted Casa Chiri students in the ribbon cutting ceremony.  The entire day was hosted by two Casa Chiri parents: a parent committee member and volunteer/mentor, who presented and translated everything for both the Spanish and English audience members.  

Video: Guatemalan Dance;
Top Picture: Honduran Dance:
Bottom Picture: Salvadoran Dance

The beat picked up when Casa Chirilagua kids presented dances from the three main countries represented by Chirilagua families: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Next attendees were given a tour of the new space, which has a central area and multiple rooms for programs.  Afterward everyone settled down for a community picnic, with Central American food such as atole (a milk and corn drink), nacatamales (banana leaf wrapped tamales), and baleadas (filled wheat tortillas) was served.  Families sat at tables while children bounded with energy, playing soccer, table games, and creating crafts.  With the afternoon at 65 degrees and the sun shining down, it felt like the first sign of summer community fun.

While Casa Chirilagua has been centered in the Chirilauga community for 10 years now, it has finally found its home among its neighbors and supporters.  We wish Casa Chirilagua a happy housewarming, and look forward to more community events to come! 

Follow Casa Chirilauga at www.facebook.com/CasaChiri/ to keep updated on programs and events. 

Corrine from Wright to Read

From Corrine

In late 2015, I began looking for volunteer opportunities as a way to give back to my community. I came across Wright to Read and was impressed with the organization’s mission and what they’ve accomplished. I know how important and enjoyable reading can be and I wanted to help a child experience this same joy and prepare them to succeed in life. Shortly after expressing an interest and going through the formalities, I was paired with Liam — a wonderful second (now third) grade student at Patrick Henry Elementary School.

When our sessions first began in January 2016, Liam wasn’t very interested in reading on Saturday mornings (let alone at all); however, I soon gained his trust and utilized some resources from Wright to Read to make the sessions as enjoyable as possible. As time progressed, Liam began to make improvements in the way of taking the time to sound out words, identifying words more quickly, and reading comprehension.

Liam began to take note of his own progress, which only made him want to get better. Noticing the positive change in his effort and attitude towards reading, I made sure to acknowledge his progress in various ways (e.g., verbal praise, stickers, and spot awards). Overall, Liam has become more interested in reading and is eager to get to the reading portion of our sessions, which gives me great joy.

Liam has been such a joy to work with and I have been so impressed and amazed with his progress. It’s safe to say that Liam now enjoys reading. He has improved by leaps and bounds, and even recently received a verbal shout out over the PA system at school for his progress in reading. Liam’s parents tell me about all the various opportunities he takes to improve his reading skills: reading to younger neighbors, reading to his parents, requesting to read the newspaper, among others. Every time I hear something like this, it puts a smile on my face and makes what I’m doing worthwhile. Liam was promoted to the third grade and I look forward to continuing our work together.

From Liam

Each week, Ms. Corrine and I practice sight words and read together at the library. We have been working together for over one year. The types of books we read include half human and half animal books. We also read monster and superhero books. Some special things I have enjoyed doing with Ms. Corrine include reading books and fun activities such as word games. I also enjoy when Ms. Corrine talks to my parents. Ms. Corrine has helped me learn how to spell her name, to enjoy reading, and I’ve learned more about animals. I think Ms. Corrine should be mentor of the month, because she has helped me with my reading and she has been with me every step of the way.

From Liam’s Mom

We have seen great progress in our son's reading level since he began being tutored by a wonderful, encouraging, and generous woman. We are so grateful to her and Wright to Read for all of their assistance.

This article was previously featured in the Alexandria Gazette and the Wright to Read Blog. 

Career Connection

Everyone was in business dress, the tables were each set up with name plates, and continuous noise from dozens of conversations filled the air.  From the outside, it appeared to be a typical career fair, where interested job-seekers took turns speaking to local professionals.  But last month's Career Connection event, hosted by the BRYCE Project, was anything but typical.  

A BRYCE Project student talks
with a female professional about
career and education options.

The "job-seekers" were not potential applicants after all, but high school students from TC Williams looking to jump-start their career by learning about their education and job options before even applying to college.  And every one of the attendees---students, professionals, volunteers, and guest speaker---were all female.  The goal of the event, aligned with the goal of the host program, was to showcase successful women and give high school girls the opportunity to understand their school and career choices from people of their own gender.  In addition to specific job information, professionals answered questions about job skills and work-life balance.  

Keynote speaker Kristin Wright

The keynote speaker was local News4 Washington reporter, Kristin Wright. She has received an Emmy nomination for Best Feature and been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists, the Associated Press, and the American Literacy Corporation for her volunteer work. 

After a day of learning and intense discussion, attendees were able to relax and enjoy some food and treats together, toasting to a successful day of female empowerment and personal development.