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Volunteer Alexandria (VolAlx) has a long-standing history with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), partnering with the division on various innovative volunteer projects. VolAlx Executive Director Marion Brunken says her organization’s service projects for youth helps keep students informed about Alexandria “to get them engaged and expand their horizons.”
Emphasizing the merits of the partnership, ACPS Executive Director of Community Partnerships and Engagement Kurt Huffman said, “ACPS strongly recognizes the impact that our partners have on the success of our educational ecosystem (families, students, staff and community). VolAlx is a wonderful example of the essential support that a community partner can provide to a school division.”
Brunken explains one of its current service learning programs, named Breaks With Impact (BWI), which started more than three years ago, to provide meaningful out-of-school opportunities for students during spring and summer break. BWI offers students the opportunity to learn about current issues facing Alexandria and how they are addressed by city officials, as well as how non-profits offer support to our community. Brunken says that program also helps students find out how they too can become involved in an area of interest, “showing them, yes, you can do something that matters.” Program topics vary, and during spring break this year (April 12-14, 2022), students participating in BWI will focus on the environment, food insecurity and emergency preparedness.
This program, targeting middle and high school students, managed to continue its outreach amid the COVID-19 pandemic by adjusting to virtual sessions. BWI now offers in-person programs with COVID-19 protocols in mind and has expanded to being offered throughout the year and includes afterschool programming. BWI gives students the opportunity to develop a sense of community ownership and responsibility, along with practical skills and knowledge to help identify issues facing Alexandria and to become, as VolAlx puts it, “leaders for change.” Huffman added, “Through the challenges of the pandemic, our partnership with Volunteer Alexandria strengthened as we continued to work collaboratively with our ACPS volunteer team to identify relevant, aligned volunteer opportunities.”
VolAlx also prides itself on mobilizing individuals to volunteer for a stronger Alexandria community and is honoring four volunteers for their service within ACPS. Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee volunteers Eldon Boes and Jim Durham have helped to make a difference for students at James K. Polk Elementary School. Boes devotes countless hours to support the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Bicycles in the Schools program, teaching beginners the how-to’s of riding a bike. Durham works along with ACPS leadership to grow and support SRTS while also engaging with students who attend biking lessons. Another two incredible volunteers from the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium also are being honored for their service. Catherine Kitchell is a book buddy at Charles Barrett Elementary School who helps first grade students learn to read. Linda Thoms is a book buddy who serves as a reading tutor at William Ramsay Elementary School.
Boes and Thoms are being awarded the Joan White Grass Roots Volunteer Services award and Durham and Kitchell the Above and Beyond honor. Brunken says the work of volunteers with children helps to build their self-esteem as they interact with someone who cares about them. This extra help makes them feel, “I am important, yes, I can learn,” she added.
Brunken believes everyone can find the experience that best aligns to their volunteer interests by checking out the Volunteer Alexandria website. “We are here to serve the Alexandria community,” said Brunken. “Our goal is that all are engaged in service.”