FAIRFAX COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY AWARDS 5 GRANTS TO NON-PROFITS: Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano on Dec. 19 awarded grants to five Fairfax County nonprofits that serve child victims of crime and victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Descano awarded the $5,000 grants through the second annual Community Partnership Grant Program, an initiative he unveiled last year. The grant funds, acquired under a state-code provision regarding the sharing of forfeited assets, must be used for programs or services that directly support victims and law enforcement.
This year’s recipients are:
• Just Neighbors, which provides legal services to immigrant victims of domestic violence and violent crime.
• SafeSpot, which provides services to child victims of sexual and physical abuse and their families.
• Shelter House, which provides financial assistance to domestic-violence victims.
• Women for Afghan Women, which supports Afghan survivors of domestic violence.
• United Community’s Progreso Center, which provides immigration and citizenship services, including for domestic-violence survivors.
“We are eternally grateful for everything that they do in our community,” Descano said of the recipient groups. “Supporting victims throughout the legal process, encouraging them to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement, and providing services and material assistance is important work that makes our community not only stronger, but safer.”
McLEAN COMMUNITY CENTER SETS MLK COMMEMORATION: The McLean Community Center will host two events in commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
• On Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m., Michael Steele will deliver a keynote address, “The Black Experience & the American Dream.”
Steele is a former chair of the Republican National Committee, and his remarks will “unflinchingly take on hard-hitting topics,” center officials said.
Tickets are $20 for McLean residents, $25-$30 for others.
• On Sunday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m., singer/songwriter/storyteller/activist Calvin Earl will present “Music of the Civil-Rights Movement.”
“Change is inevitable – music helps us through that change and helps us together imagine our lives beyond who we are and what we know, into what we will become,” center officials said.
Tickets are $5 for McLean residents, $7-$10 for others.
For information on each event, see the Website at www.mcleancenter.org.
The center will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of the holiday.
