Announcements

If you are a lifelong learner over 50+ who wants to make new friends, power up your brain, and enjoy a wide-variety college-level courses, Encore Learning is for you.  A non-profit, Encore Learning offers courses and Special Events in the arts, health, law, literature, technology and more. Courses are presented either online or in-person.

Encore Learning also offers nine social clubs covering everything from breakfast to bridge….tech to travel.

The Fall Course Preview event is September 1st at 10:00 AM via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84159780997
Join the free presentation to learn about courses and meet the instructors.

Course registration opens on Tuesday, September 6 at 10:00 AM.  Check out the courses page for complete information.

Enrolling in an Encore Learning course is a great way to expand your mind and meet new people!

www.encorelearning.net

For many of us, back-to-school time means shopping for school supplies and enjoying the last days of summer. For scores of tutoring and mentoring organizations in the DMV, however, back to school means filling an urgent need to sign up and onboard hundreds of tutors and mentors to support underserved children and teenagers. With at least 2 out of 3 DC children reading below grade level, the need is great.

The DC Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative (DCTMI) is a matchmaker connecting volunteers with tutoring and mentoring organizations in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We’re looking to match 1000 new volunteers to work with our partners by October. Just an hour or two of time per week, or even a couple of hours a month, can make a world of difference, not just for the students but for the volunteers.

https://dctutormentor.org

At Nova Fencing Club, the beginner fencing classes are designed for students of all levels – including students who have never fenced before.

If you’re looking for a fun physical activity that improves your fitness, critical thinking and rapid decision making skills then come join us!

There’s no better time than now to give us a try – and take part in one of the fastest growing sports. Our highly educated, professional coaching staff includes Virginia’s only Maitre d’Armes, a member of USA Fencing’s coaching team, former members of the USA National Team, and our Head Coach, who has produced national champions.

Register for either our Youth Beginner Fencing Classes (7-12) or our Teen & Adult Beginner Fencing Classes (13 to Adult) and become a part of the club that champions call home.

(This Community Post was written by Educational Theatre Company (ETC) and underwritten by Embracing Arlington Arts.)

Educational Theatre Company (ETC) is heading back to school with programming for kids and adults! After a successful summer camp season for ages 3-18, ETC is looking forward to new sessions of fall after school classes, Creative Age for adults age 55+ and Devising Hope.

ETC’s original Devising Hope program brings together adults who have recently experienced homelessness with local teens to create a devised theatre performance. Using theatre games, playwriting techniques, and new friendships, the participants will work together to create and perform scenes, monologues, and movement pieces that highlight personal narratives of often overlooked members of our community.

These techniques will also be used in our partnership with Challenging Racism to disrupt racism in our community. ETC will guide members of local groups — businesses, volunteer organizations, community partners — through devised theatre techniques to create meaningful conversations about race and racism in our community.

If you would like more info on fall classes or to be involved as a Creative Age student, Devising Hope teen, or partner group working to disrupt racism, please visit educationaltheatrecompany.org or contact us at [email protected]; 703-271-0222.

Are you feeling anxious, depressed, or stressed? Are you adjusting to a
transition in your life? Do you want to make a change? ____

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Peaceful Mind Solutions is here to help. By providing evidence-based
psychotherapy we can help you learn new coping skills and explore your
emotions, current stressors, and past struggles that are keeping you feeling
stuck. We provide therapy to you in the comfort of your own home through
telehealth.

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Reach out today to be connected with an experienced psychotherapist. We
provide a free 15-minute consult to learn more about how we can address your
goals together. Make a change that lasts!

Sign up for your Free 15 minute consultation at
peacefulmindsolutions.com or email us at [email protected]

Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, trauma or anger? Are
you ready to make a change?

Lauren K. Nickum, LCSW, CSAC from Peaceful Mind Solutions is now taking new
clients for psychotherapy. Lauren has over 10 years of experience treating
mental health disorders and general life stress in adults and adolescents. For
more information visit
peacefulmindsolutions.com.

As the summer winds down, it’s a great time to look forward to a creative fall! Art House 7 has a terrific selection of classes, for preschoolers to adults. Our fall session, starting September 6, offers painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, ceramics (including the wheel) and sewing. We have specialty classes such as Suminagashi, the ancient art of Japanese water marbling.

If you’re looking for a shorter commitment, we also have a full schedule of workshops, Art Nights, and Morning Art Socials. If you haven’t discovered Art House 7, please check us out! We offer classes throughout the year, taught by a range of fantastic teachers. You can buy art supplies next door. We’re near the Lee Harrison shopping center, and free parking is outside our door.

Art House 7
5537 Langston Blvd.Arlington VA 22207
https://arthouseseven.com/

Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, trauma or anger? Are
you ready to make a change?

Lauren K. Nickum, LCSW, CSAC from Peaceful Mind Solutions is now taking new
clients for psychotherapy. Lauren has over 10 years of experience treating
mental health disorders and general life stress in adults and adolescents. For
more information visit
peacefulmindsolutions.com.

(This Community Post was written by Signature Theatre and underwritten by Embracing Arlington Arts.)

Signature Theatre just released single tickets for all 33rd season productions, which highlights the organization’s long-time relationship with legendary composer Stephen Sondheim. Beginning with the musical adaptation of The Color Purple and irreverent No Place to Go, the season continues with three Sondheim musicals, the DC premieres of Off-Broadway hit Which Way to the Stage and Pulitzer Prize finalist Selling Kabul, the Tony Award®-winning rock musical Passing Strange, and return of Signature’s cabaret series honoring legendary artists.

“Last November, the world lost an icon. The death of Stephen Sondheim was a blow to everyone in the theater community. Signature Theatre would not be the same without Sondheim — he IS Signature’s ‘signature.’ This season, we are honoring the legend with productions of Into the Woods, Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd dedicated to his memory. These shows represent the diversity and range of Sondheim,” said Signature’s Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner about the new season.

(more…)

“Probing the highly imaginative, inspired mind of Teresa Oaxaca is not altogether unlike having a present-day conversation with an Old Master,” says Nashville Arts Magazine.

Here is an unusual opportunity to learn from this incredibly talented and accessible artist, at Art House 7’s two-day oil painting workshop in October. Teresa will give 2 portrait painting demonstrations for 3 hours each morning. Students will then be painting from a clothed live model. Teresa will offer individual critiques that focus on materials, techniques, process and artistic vision. You’ll get jazzed up about painting and become more confident about your abilities.

Art House 7, Two-Day Oil Painting Workshop with Teresa Oaxaca. Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT $250.

See more about Teresa Oaxaca here. Art House 7 5537 Langston Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22207

Validating one’s emotions has the power to heal, transform, and empower. What Is Validation? Every human being has feelings. We all have emotions that change over time, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. The question isn’t whether we feel; it’s how we handle feelings once they arise.

Building strategies to understand emotions is essential to positive mental health, and validation is one effective skill to practice.

Emotional validation is the process of understanding, embracing, and actively listening to another person’s feelings (or your own).

Understanding someone’s emotions doesn’t necessarily mean you approve of how they are feeling or reacting to something. You can be supportive in acknowledging and validating an emotional experience without agreeing or diminishing it. Validation is a skill to learn and improve over time. It may take practice, but the effort is most certainly worth it. Emotional validation has the power to enhance interpersonal communication and foster strong relationships.

To speak with Valeria D’Amato Caputi, Licensed Professional Counselor at VDC-Counseling.com, please call 703-646-0640 or visit www.vdc-counseling.com