The end of a fiscal year always gives us an opportunity to look back and look ahead.  As we reflect on another year of helping Virginia's schools, businesses, and communities achieve success through inclusion, there is much to celebrate and much to look forward to at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities!

 

As we have done for the last several years, VCIC has once again broken every record in our history in terms of the number of programs conducted, number of people reached, and amount of funds secured to support our program work.  We are especially proud that the 280 workshops, retreats, forums, and presentations VCIC has led during the current fiscal year reflect an increase of 38% in the last two years and 700% since 2006!

 

With the tremendous demand for our work comes important growth and transitions.  First and foremost, we extend gratitude and appreciation to Martie O'Connell as she prepares to transition to a part-time role with VCIC on June 1.  Martie currently serves as Office Administrator and has served VCIC in a number of positions dating back to 1999.  It is no exaggeration to say that we would not be the organization we are today without Martie.  Her dedication to our mission, attention to detail, warmth, and care have permanently made VCIC a more effective and successful organization.  Martie has been an invaluable member of our team and we are thankful that she will continue to provide service to VCIC for two days each week for the rest of 2017, and one day each week after that.  Please express your appreciation to Martie!

We also are excited to welcome several new members of our staff team this summer.  Marcos Martinez joined VCIC as Educational Programs Coordinator on May 16 and will have primary responsibility for our middle school and high school youth programs.  Alexander Cena starts as Outreach Programs Coordinator on June 1 and will lead VCIC's community programs and partnerships.  We expect to hire two more staff positions in the coming weeks who will join the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities later in the summer.   Please join us in welcoming Marcos and Alex!

FY18 starts on July 1, and there are many new and important program initiatives already in the works that will move us closer to VCIC's vision of a Virginia where every person is included and where prejudice, intolerance, and fear of facing those issues don't stand in the way of success for our schools, businesses, and communities.