Experience Making a Difference

Experience Making a Difference

IVC NCA Member Profile: John Gradowski – A Perfect Fit at Friendship Place!

IVC NCA Member Profile: John Gradowski – A Perfect Fit at Friendship Place!

IVC service corps member John Gradowski, now in his sixth-year volunteering at partner agency Friendship Place in Washington, D.C., knew from the start that his placement there felt right. The agency works with those experiencing homelessness and unemployment to help them obtain stable housing and jobs and rebuild their lives. John thought he could make a real impact there, and he has.

Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center: Helping Afghan Refugees Resettle in Northern Virginia

Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center: Helping Afghan Refugees Resettle in Northern Virginia

Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, a mosque and Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia, provides extensive social services to a vibrant and diverse Muslim community. With a congregation of over 3,500 members representing over fifty countries, the Center’s comprehensive support programs include career training and placement, a food bank, dental care and serving thousands of hot meals annually. Recently, the Center has taken on a new and urgent role: supporting newly arrived Afghan refugees.

IVC Vision & Planning Winter Updates

IVC Vision & Planning Winter Updates

The IVC Vision and Planning process has been active since its launch in early October 2023. With one of the goals of the process being to “gain meaningful insights on experiences and views”, three of four initiatives have either been completed or are underway as 2024 begins.