Press Releases

Virginia Hospital Center Chair of Emergency Medicine Selected as Medical Director of the Year by Alteon Health

Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), a community-based hospital providing medical services to the Washington, DC metropolitan area for 75 years, is pleased to announce Michael Silverman, MD, FACEP, chair of emergency medicine, was recently selected as one of five 2020 Facility Medical Directors of the Year by Alteon Health, the industry-leading national medical group that has managed VHC’s emergency medicine program since 2001.

The award honors medical directors from across Alteon’s more than 125 clinical sites who exhibited exemplary leadership and professionalism in 2020, mentoring their physicians and advanced practice providers while improving department performance. Throughout 2020, Dr. Silverman played a critical role in VHC’s COVID-19 Task Force, led the physical adaptation of the Emergency Department to safely meet patients’ evolving needs, and worked with the Hospital’s public relations team to provide the community accurate and timely health information. In December, Arlington Magazine recognized Dr. Silverman as “Best of Arlington” for COVID information. He also led his physician team in designing and delivering a 12-part lecture series for the department’s physician assistants and nurse practitioners, equipping them to comfortably managing the higher acuity patient population.

Five Virginia Hospital Center Nurses Honored with Washingtonian Magazine Excellence in Nursing Awards

Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), a community-based hospital providing medical services to the Washington, DC metropolitan area for 75 years, is proud to announce that five members of the nursing team were selected by Washingtonian Magazine to receive Excellence in Nursing Awards. Throughout the pandemic, nurses served on the frontlines caring for patients and this award honors their efforts to go above and beyond every day for their patients and colleagues.

“The strength and resilience our entire staff have displayed over the last year has been truly remarkable,” said James B. Cole, President and CEO of Virginia Hospital Center. “This award recognizes the hard work of not only these incredible nurses, but the entire VHC team.”

The five Virginia Hospital Center nurses are included in a group of 50 exceptional nurses selected from hundreds of nominations. The VHC employees who have been named 2021 Exceptional Nurses are:

• Meghan Bozzelli, BSN, RN, CEN, Patient Care Director, Emergency Department
• Melody Dickerson, MSN, RN, CPHQ, Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer
• Loan Nguyen, BSN, RN, Medical Stroke Unit
• Sally Parris, MSN, RN, COHN, Director of Occupational Health
• Lorraine Waltz, BSN, RN, OCN, Patient Care Director, Oncology

The Arlington Rotary Club has honored school counselor Laurie Dodson as Arlington Key Elementary School’s “Educator of the Year” and presented two Arlington high school students scholarships totaling $18,000 at the club’s annual education awards event.

• Emma Newman, a Washington-Liberty senior, is the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship over four years to attend Virginia Tech. She plans to major in psychology and hopes to pursue a career helping people who live with mental illness.
• Sarai Joya Argueta, a graduate of Arlington Community High School is the recipient of the $8,000 Audra Rafter Scholarship. She begins studies at Northern Virginia Community College this month to study information technology and hopes for a career in the medical and pharmacy field.

“The awards reflect Arlington Rotary’s ongoing commitment to education,” said the club’s interim Education Fund President Steve Klemp. “We are proud to honor a leader of the present and two leaders of the future. They are assets for our community.”

The club presented the awards on April 22 in an event held virtually because of the pandemic. Lisa Fikes, Acting President and CEO of Volunteer Arlington’s Center for Leadership Excellence, was the keynote speaker.

Arlington Rotary is a partner with Key School, supporting it with special activities throughout the year.

Laurie Dodson was commended for helping Key School-Escuela Key, the county’s bilingual Spanish immersion K-5 elementary school, to achieve national recognition from the American School Counseling Association as a model for its data-informed counseling program.

Dodson also coordinates the school’s “Adopt a Child and Family” holiday gift campaign that matches community donors with over 60 families in need.

Linking Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” to education, Fikes noted that “Taking the time to listen and learn is a form of civic engagement” and then taking what you learn “to make a difference.”

“During a time of isolation and fear during the pandemic,” Fikes also observed that “organizations, businesses and individuals came together” to meet community needs. “Creativity will continue [and] Arlington has a right to be proud.”

Klemp voiced appreciation to all whose support make the Rotary Club’s scholarships and service projects throughout the year possible. Event sponsors included:

• AHC, Inc.
• Art-Eclectic, a subsidiary of the Lott Family, LLC
• MESH — Masonic & Eastern Star Charities
• Carol Sutfin, Broker, MCM Realty Company
• Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
• Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
• John P. and Priscilla C. Becker
• Kim and Dave Durand
• Steve and Karen Klemp
• Gary and Janice Long
• Steve and Nancy Silcox
• Phil Traina

Arlington parents frustrated by Arlington Public Schools’ unwillingness to add more in-person instructional days this school year will rally ahead of the next school board meeting to let their voices be heard.

When: Thursday, April 22
Time: 530p – 7pm (ahead of the next Arlington County School Board meeting which begins at 7pm)
Where: Outside APS Syphax Building, 2110 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 

More than a year later, Arlington Public School students are without full-time in-person instruction.  Arlington is in the clear minority:  more than 2/3 of Virginia districts have returned a substantial portion of their students to full-time in-person instruction;  more than 60% of students nationwide are in classrooms five days a week.   And this week Fairfax County, the state’s largest and Loudoun, its third largest, returned students to more days of in-person instruction.

What about Arlington? Superintendent Francisco Durán says it would be a “monumental logistical challenge” to get our students back in classrooms for more days for the remaining 8 weeks of this school year.    The school board gave a collective shrug to this claim, no vote, no deliberation and no debate.

Eight weeks remain in the school year – that’s almost 20% of the entire school year. If APS can’t return more fully this spring, what will be different in the fall?  And why not give families and staff the confidence about next year by showing them what APS could get done still this year?

Arlington parents want more action from the Arlington School Board and APS leadership and they want more in-person days this school year.

Today, we waited with bated breath for confirmation of what we all witnessed–that Derek Chauvin, after the 9 minutes that we were forced to watch ad nauseum, murdered George Floyd. Over the past 330 days, the US’s “justice” system has gaslit an entire nation into thinking that there was even a fraction of a doubt that Floyd was murdered in cold blood. This “justice” system, while today handed down a verdict that provides accountability, cannot, and will not, ever restore justice.

Justice is when a Black photographer can visit a client without being harassed by both neighbors and law enforcement.

Justice is when a pregnant Black woman can deliver her baby with dignity, and not in the captivity of an Arlington County jail.

Justice is when our children can go to school without wearing the spit of racist teenagers and bearing the brunt of centuries’ worth of systemic racism.

Justice cannot exist because the system does not allow it. The only way to realize true justice and freedom is the complete dismantling of systems and structures that intentionally oppress and brutalize whole communities.

Black Parents of Arlington is, as always, determinately committed to the pursuit of justice, to the dismantling of systemic racism, and to installing the dignity that George Floyd deserved but was so cruelly denied. We still cannot breathe. Only when the entire system crumbles and we erect equitable, dignified, and just policies will we finally take that first breath of freedom.

Cerdafied Dance Studios is ready to get the DMV moving at the Takeoff to Takeover pop-up workshop on Saturday, April 25 at Clarendon Pop-Up Bar (3185 Wilson Blvd). D.C.-area native and Billboard-charting recording artist Jason Cerda and co-founder Rahna Faddoul are bringing together an exclusive lineup of nationally recognized and local dancers to lead a day of intensive classes in street jazz, hip-hop, heels, contemporary and more with music spun by DJ Reckless.

Cerdafied Dance Studios is a training facility for dancers skilled in myriad styles looking to learn from industry veterans. Before the studio takes its Takeover dance convention  to major dance cities across the nation, Takeoff to Takeover will offer DMV dancers an exclusive preview of what’s ahead.

Celebrity choreographers Josh Price and Rob Rich will headline the dance pop-up workshop. Price has worked alongside Chris Brown and T-Pain and performed at the annual YouTube Awards with Mariah Carey as well as at the White House for President Barack Obama. He was also featured on NBC’s World of Dance. Rich landed his first dance gig with Lady Gaga and has worked with celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Ciara, Tinashe and more. Some of his notable appearances include America’s Best Dance Crew Season 6, Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and the NAACP Awards.

Among the other unique classes at Takeoff to Takeover, Cerda– who has been billed with Jennifer Lopez, J Balvin, Ludacris, T.I., T-Pain, Becky G, Gente de Zona  and more– will teach  a special “tourography” class with powerhouse Gabrielle Odom accompanied by a live band. Odom has choreographed for Love & Hip Hop’s Ashley Nicole, Danni Baylor and the Morgan State Morganettes and will team up with Cerda to teach the class for dancers interested in becoming back up dancers for major artists. Additionally, Gabby David, the official shuffle dance icon for the world-phenomenon video game Fortnite, will lead a contemporary class alongside Grace Cho. In keeping with the studio’s “Good vibes save lives” motto, the day will conclude with a special dance cypher circle.

A full-day class pass is available for $230 and includes access to twelve sessions as well as an intimate panel discussion with Price and Rich. Drop-in classes range from $28 to $40 depending on class type, and multi-class packs start at $90. Group tickets of 10+ are available for a discounted rate. For more information, visit www.cerdafiedstudios.com. Takeoff to Takeover will welcome dancers of all talent levels but is geared towards intermediate and advanced dancers. Following the Arlington debut, Cerdafied will Takeover major dance cities including Miami (August 7), Atlanta, Houston, Chicago and more.

Takeoff to Takeover is possible thanks to the help of top sponsors including A2Z Music Factory.

About Cerdafied Dance Studios 

Cerdafied Dance Studios strives to be a competition-free environment where the elite come to train. From beginner level to aspiring professional dancers and everyone in between, Cerdafied Studios enhances everyone’s love for music and movement. With access to a team of talented dancers and instructors, Cerdafied Dance Studios offers more than 20 different styles of dance, including but not limited to industry-style Hip Hop classes, Salsa, Bachata, Belly Dancing, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Body Sensual Movements, and African-root themes. In addition to great dance classes, Cerdafied Dance Studios offers a variety of fitness classes, including Zumba, yoga, Latin-infused cardio Hip Hop and core strengthening.

Arlington, VA – Washington Workplace, an award-winning commercial office furniture dealer in Arlington, teamed up with Business Furniture Installations (BFI) and a nonprofit alumni association to donate unused office furniture to Pioneer Middle School in Senegal, in West Africa.

Washington Workplace Design Team Lead Ashley Prout coordinated the company’s donation. Prout’s husband, Lamine Ly, is a Senegal native who attended the school. Senegal’s literacy rate is one of the lowest in the world, and Ly’s alumni group started the nonprofit last year with a mission to renovate their school. Their initiatives include updating restrooms, creating a library with books and upgrading each classroom.

Earlier this year, Washington Workplace moved locations and BFI retired from the furniture installation business. Both companies had inventory that was no longer needed. Prout approached Washington Workplace President John Murphy and BFI executives about donating the unused furniture to Pioneer Middle School.

“In our line of work, we see a lot of perfectly good office furniture being discarded, so I told my husband about it,” Prout explained. “With the help of his alumni association, we were able to determine exactly what the school could use.”

For two months, Prout and her family collected and organized chairs, desks, glass boards, lateral files and bookshelves. They rented a truck and hauled them to storage until they could procure a shipping container. Last month, the shipment arrived at the school in Senegal.

Murphy and his former BFI colleagues were grateful for the opportunity.

“Giving back is always rewarding, but making a difference through a personal connection with a staff member was extra special,” Murphy said. “Doing so during a challenging time for all of us due to the Covid pandemic gave us another reason to be thankful.”

The alumni association’s next goal is to build a library and stock it with books in French, the country’s official language.

To support this effort, please contact Ashley Prout at [email protected], or make a donation via the alumni association’s GoFundMe page here.

Longtime CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing Nina Janopaul will retire June 30, 2021, after a remarkable 14-year career at the helm of the organization, leading APAH through a period of transition and rapid expansion. The APAH Board has appointed Executive Vice President Carmen Romero to lead APAH into its ambitious next phase of growth and service. Ms. Romero takes over leadership of APAH as its new President and CEO on  July 1, 2021.

During her tenure, Ms. Janopaul led APAH from the Great Recession of 2008 through a period of exponential growth. Ms. Janopaul joined APAH in 2007, rounding out a full-time staff of three. Since then, APAH has grown to an organization of 38 full-time professionals. Ms. Janopaul also oversaw a rapid increase in its affordable housing facilities, from 534 units to 1,800–and there are an additional 1,000 units in active development.

Ms. Janopaul’s signature achievement at APAH has been shepherding the small but mighty organization in financial dire straits into a regional leader in affordable housing, and a national exemplar. Today, APAH is recognized as one of the top 50 affordable housing developers in the nation.

When Ms. Janopaul assumed leadership of APAH in 2007, the organization managed 534 units but struggled with a negative net worth of $2.2 million. With two construction projects underway just at the onset of the 2008 lending crisis, Ms. Janopaul spent her first two years as CEO working to protect APAH from insolvency.

Her work, and the commitment of her staff, paid off: APAH bounced back from the Great Recession and has grown to a total asset value of more than $525 million today. APAH has also grown in scope and influence over the last 14 years. While the original geography was limited to Arlington, APAH has become a regional organization, thanks to its success and capacity to do more–and to impact more lives.

“Nina has led APAH’s remarkable growth through talent, tenacity, and building an incredible team,” said APAH Board Chair Susan Ingraham Bell. “All of us on APAH’s Board are honored to have partnered with Nina in building this organization to meet the growing need for affordable housing, to provide transformative services to our residents, and to be advocates for equity and opportunity.”

To ensure APAH’s continued growth, effective execution, and mission impact, APAH’s Board of Directors appointed Carmen Romero as APAH’s next President and CEO on July 1, 2021. Ms. Romero has led APAH’s real estate team for nearly a decade. She joined the small real estate group in 2011, bringing expertise honed at Clark Construction, Marriott International, and an MBA from the Wharton School. Working with Ms. Janopaul, Ms. Romero built APAH’s reputation as a best-in-class developer of complex new construction, infill projects, and ambitious entitlements.

“Carmen has a commitment to the APAH mission, a strong drive to achieve, and incredible talent for building a shared vision among stakeholders and partners,” said Ms. Janopaul. “She understands the details, but she gets the big picture. I know  Carmen will bring great success to APAH, as she has already demonstrated in her award-winning leadership of the Real Estate Team.”

Before June 30th, Ms. Janopaul has a busy workplan. “Beyond guiding the transition, I am focusing my energy on few key priorities: finding a sustainable way to provide high quality internet to all of our residents; scaling our practices to serve an organization that is far larger and more complex than when I started; and, advancing APAH’s work on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” During her retirement, Ms. Janopaul will continue to serve on several housing boards and look for opportunities to make a difference in the community.

“It has been my privilege, the highlight of my professional career, to serve as the APAH CEO,” she said. “What we do is real, affecting real people. As I drive around Arlington and beyond, I invariably pass an APAH building. These buildings will endure. I rejoice that the 4,500 residents we house today are experiencing greater comfort and opportunity by living in an APAH property. I am especially proud of how we were able to support our residents during this pandemic, during inequitable challenges of unemployment and health impacts. We are all shaped by where we live. It has been my honor to improve that experience for so many of our low-income neighbors.”

Arlington’s pandemic-stressed safety net organizations received an infusion of funds from the Kiwanis Foundation of Arlington this month.  The Foundation, the charitable arm of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington, distributed more than $50,000 to the Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington THRIVE, The Salvation Army, ASPIRE, Bridges to Independence, PRS Crisis Link, Doorways, Capital Caring, YMCA, Arlington 4-H, National Capital Treatment & Recovery, VHC Pediatrics and other non-profits serving children in the community.

“Kiwanis, according to its mission statement, is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time,” says Jason Harrington, president of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington.  “Our Club has a 90-year history of supporting the youngest and the neediest among us.”

In previous years, grant checks were presented at Club meetings but, because it has been unable to hold in-person meetings during the pandemic, the Club sent funds directly to the grant recipients in 2020 and 2021.  There have been virtual meetings, however, and in recent weeks, members have heard from Deborah Taylor, president & CEO of National Capital Training & Recovery, Tara Hoit, director of Capital Caring Kids, and Andrew Schneider, executive director of Arlington THRIVE, about the work they are doing to improve the lives of children in Arlington.

Young people dealing with addiction have been severely impacted by the pandemic.  Speaking via Zoom to the Club in January, Taylor, a registered nurse specializing in chemical dependency, reported, “For nearly a year, individuals with substance abuse disorder have faced an epidemic of addiction within a pandemic.  Substance abuse disorder is a disease of isolation.”

Children’s bereavement during the pandemic has taken on a whole new dimension as children have watched loved ones succumb to the virus.  Capital Caring provides an annual children’s grief camp and family-centered bereavement events.  “By supporting them along their grief journey, we are creating a pathway to healing and hope,” said Hoit.

As thousands of jobs were lost to the pandemic, Arlington THRIVE found that writing same-day checks for needy citizens was not enough.  The organization, which provides emergency financial assistance to Arlington residents who experience sudden financial crisis, found that recipients needed help over a longer period of time.  “The pandemic has lengthened the time period that assistance was needed as well as the types of assistance needed,” Schneider said.  “Many of the people were working, but the pandemic closed many facilities where the people worked.”

Kiwanis Foundation funds are also helping meet the rising needs of hungry families, homeless families, victims of domestic abuse, and many others during this critical period.  Captain Alvaro Porras of the Salvation Army writes, “Lots of families are coming to our doors seeking relief in this stressful situation.  Your [Kiwanis] generosity is truly a great example of love, willingness, and caring, ready to help when people need it most.”

The Kiwanis Club of Arlington raises funds for their community grant programs through a variety of activities, most of which have been curtailed during the pandemic.  However, they were able to conduct a successful blueberry sale last year following CDC guidelines for no-contact delivery and safe distancing, and plans are underway for the 2021 blueberry sale.  This year, fresh blueberries will arrive the last week in June.  Order online at www.arlingtonvakiwanis.com and help support Arlington’s kids.

The annual Easter Sunrise Service, hosted by Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, will be live-streamed via JBM-HH Facebook beginning at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, April 4, from Arlington National Cemetery. 

This year, the Easter Sunrise Service will be held at the event’s traditional location – Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater. Due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols and limitations on large group gatherings, this year’s service will be virtual – live-streamed for public viewing.

 The Easter Sunrise Service will be a Protestant service and will begin with the call to worship at 6:30 a.m. by Chaplain (Col.) Michael T. Shellman, Command Chaplain for the Joint Force Headquarters – National Capital Region / U.S. Army Military District of Washington. The Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the Army Reserve, Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Andrew R. Harewood, will deliver the Easter message.

According to one of the Easter Sunrise Service coordinators, the deputy chaplain at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Chaplain (Maj.) Scott Kennaugh, “The Easter Sunrise Service supports military families and service members by providing spiritual enrichment and supports the joint base command’s mission to provide for the free exercise of religion in the military.”

To keep the number of personnel on site as low as possible, participating chaplains will be joined by a brass quartet and four vocalists from the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” and a sign language interpreter.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be live-streamed from the joint base’s Memorial Chapel located on the Fort Myer side of the base in Arlington, Va. 

Please access the JBM-HH Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jbmhh/ at 6:30 a.m. EDT Sunday, April 4, to view the live feed.  You do not need a Facebook account to view the service.

Introduced by House Majority Whip Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), HB 2128 was one of the first pieces of legislation signed into law by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam before the end of the session. The bill expands the amount of time state police and agencies have to conduct a background check on a ‘default proceed’ gun sale, from 3 days to 5 days.

Individuals who buy a gun from a licensed dealer must undergo a background check. Prior to this year, Virginia law enforcement officials only had three business days to complete this check and if the background check wasn’t completed within that time, dealers were allowed to sell the firearm anyway. This is known as a “default proceed” sale.

While 89.5% of background checks conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System provide an answer within seconds or minutes about whether an individual is legally allowed to buy a gun, approximately 10.5% of cases require further investigation and review by FBI and ATF agents.

“Last year, 235 background checks that were eventually rejected took longer than three days,” Lopez said. “That means 235 gun sales went forward that should have been rejected. That’s an unacceptable number. The only acceptable number is zero. That’s why it was absolutely critical we worked to close the ‘Charleston Loophole’ this session.”

The General Assembly had previously passed legislation expanding the time allowed for a background check from one day to three days. Delegate Lopez had also passed legislation putting an end to the practice of an online certification being sufficient enough to receive a concealed handgun permit.

While Lopez is incredibly proud of the progress made, he acknowledges there is still more work to be done.  “We’ve made amazing progress,” said Lopez, “but more work remains in the area of sensible gun violence prevention, including on assault weapons, high capacity gun magazines, and ‘smart guns’. I’m confident we will get there.”

Lopez continued, “We must do everything we can to keep our communities safe, protect families, and build a Virginia that lifts everyone up and leaves no one behind.”

Our hearts are breaking. We are angry. We are grieving. We are committed.

The Arlington Interfaith Network stands with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community of Atlanta after the heinous murder of eight people on March 16, six of whom were Asian American.

Our hearts are breaking. We mourn with the families and loved ones of Xaiojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong Ae Yue. We mourn the racist violence which took these six Asian American lives. We also mourn with the families and loved ones of Delaina Yaun and Paul Andre Michels, the other victims of the shootings. We pray for the healing of Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, still in intensive care at the time this writing.

We are angry. Racism often goes by many other names in our country, in an attempt to soften the harsh realities of hatred in our midst. Yet our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) siblings know all too well the daily toll of racism and its emotional, spiritual, and physical violence. We call out and name this racist act and the pernicious system of white supremacy that led to the shooting on March 16.

We are grieving. We recognize that this shooting comes after months of attacks on Asian American people in many communities in our midst. We know that the pain of this shooting resonates far beyond the Atlanta community and is felt by many across our country and beyond. We state unequivocally that this violence is wholly inconsistent with the teachings of all our diverse faiths and stand united in offering our deepest sympathy and prayers to those direct and indirect victims.

We are committed. We will continue to stand for justice, love, and equity, as our traditions teach us. We stand against white supremacy, racism, and violence. Our prophets and leaders stood on the side of marginalized and attacked communities in their time, and we seek to follow their example in our daily lives.

With our broken hearts, we stand:

The Arlington Interfaith Network Steering Committee

On behalf of the Arlington Interfaith Network

The Arlington Interfaith Network was established in June 2019 to bring together faith leaders of all faiths practiced in Arlington. Our mission is: The Arlington Interfaith Network convenes people of diverse faiths for the spiritual well-being and the common good of Arlington.