Archive for December, 2009
Arlington – During a ceremony at the their annual holiday party at EatBar Lounge in Clarendon, the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance yesterday presented Del. David Englin (D-45) with their annual Equality Award for the individual who stands out for working to advance equal rights.
“When we think of a straight ally, the first name that immediately comes to mind is Delegate David Englin,” said Bess Kozlow, president of AGLA. “From the moment he was first elected, often with little support outside of the LGBT community, he has fought in the General Assembly to advance equal rights and he has been our champion and our advocate.”
“Thank you for this great honor,” said Englin, accepting the award. “We have so much more work still to do, but whatever small measure of progress toward equal rights I’ve been able to accomplish as your Delegate is built on the foundation that you have laid over the past nearly 30 years. For nearly three decades, AGLA has worked and organized to bring gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members of our community out of the shadows and into the sunshine to demand fair and equal treatment in the public square. I look forward to continuing our work together so we may move us toward that day when all people are equal in human freedom.”
Continue reading ‘Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance honors Englin with 2009 Equality Award’
David joined local nonprofit leaders at the newly renovated Dunbar-Alexandria Olympic Boys and Girls Club today to formally launch this year’s Alexandria United Way Campaign. For the second year running, David is the chairman of the campaign intended to raise money to support nonprofit human services organizations helping those in need in our community.
In remarks at the event, David noted that more than 1,600 Alexandria families live below the poverty line, more than 5,600 Alexandrians rely on food stamps, and over half of the children in Alexandria’s public schools qualify for federally subsidized lunches.
“While you’re giving generously to the United Way, I especially hope you’ll support the Alexandria Community Impact Fund — code 9001 on the United Way form — which makes sure your charitable contribution stays in our community and goes to the areas of greatest need,” said David.
Gifts to the Alexandria Community Impact Fund are distributed by a knowledgeable committee of Alexandria volunteers who work with nonprofit, government, and business leaders to identify gaps in services and make sure the money goes to specific local initiatives that meet Alexandria needs. This year, the Alexandria Community Impact Fund distributed more than $158.861 to 28 Alexandria nonprofits.
For more information about the United Way or to give online, visit the website at www.unitedwaynca.org.
Wearing a kilt for the first time, David joined hundreds of people who braved freezing rain and snow to kick off the holiday season in Alexandria Saturday marching in the annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.
“The Scottish Walk is one of my favorite events of the season, and even when it’s so cold and wet, it’s a wonderful way to come together as a community and kick off the holidays,” said David, who traces part of his family heritage to Scotland. “It’s especially meaningful because it highlights the important services the Campagna Center provides for our children and families.”
Alexandria’s Campagna Center provides a variety of quality educational and after care programs for children throughout the city.
The parade was one of several events that comprise the annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, hosted by the Campagna Center and the Saint Andrew’s Society of Washington, D.C. The Walk kicked off with the Society in the lead and featured Scottish military regiments, highlanders, school bands, citizen groups and associations, Scottish clan societies, Campagna Center volunteers and children, vintage cars, the parade’s Grand Marshal, Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook, and local and regional political leaders.
David visited a T.C. Williams “Tiny Titans” Early Head Start class today, where he observed students being taught part of the “Als Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices” curriculum.
“I was pleased to be invited to spend some time with Ms. Brown and Ms. Colletta’s class watching how much the children enjoyed this innovative program,” said David. “Quality preschool is among the best investments we can make to ensure all of our children have an equal opportunity to succeed, and it was great to see that in action.”
The Alexandria Community Services Board’s Preschool Prevention Team have implemented this grant-funded, research-based curriculum in 34 high risk preschool classrooms and two homeless shelters in Alexandria to help ensure children are prepared to learn when they enter kindergarten.
