The center of the Annandale neighborhood
By Frank Mustac
Housed in a quad trailer on the grounds of Annandale High School, the Annandale Neighborhood Center may look like a modest structure containing only auxiliary classrooms.
Contrary to its physical appearance, however, are the rather ambitious programs and activities that take place within the four large rooms inside.
Whether it plays host to an afternoon teen group session, a healthy girls group meeting, academic tutoring, an upcoming potluck dinner on March 26 from 7-9 p.m. or an intergenerational game night scheduled for April 4 from 7-9 p.m. for young and old alike, the center was opened in October 2007 with the intention of supporting residents of the Annandale community, especially students in the Annandale High School pyramid and their families.
“The purpose of the center is to connect and bring the community together,” said Jessica Green, program coordinator with Alternative House, the Dunn Loring-based nonprofit group that operates the center for Fairfax County.
The center itself is a collaborative effort between the county government and Fairfax County Public Schools.
“We always need volunteers and more people to come in and bring their services. We want this to be the neighborhood that really runs this center,” said Green, who works with program assistant Monica Perez, also of Alternative House.
According to county officials, the work of the center will “focus primarily on strengthening family relations, promoting social and emotional health and well-being, supporting the education and development of children and youth, and fostering community engagement and leadership development.”
Sondra White, a school social worker, runs the teen group, which meets every Monday afternoon, after which late buses are available to drive students to their home bus stops.
“The teen group is very popular,” said White, who is assisted by Diana Rosario, a school counselor. “Of course, the free refreshments always help.”
Attended by a culturally diverse group of students, some in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program, the teen sessions take place in a room with two sofas, a large-screen TV and a pair of desktop computers connected to the Internet.
Some past activities have included creating art projects, watching documentaries and movies, performing dance, singing karaoke and playing sports like bowling.
“They can also get together with their friends and socialize,” White said. “There aren’t many places for students to go to just socialize.”
White is also planning some field trips for the students in the near future.
“It’s just a matter of trying to get transportation,” she said.
But the Annandale Neighborhood Center is not only for the high school students, Green said.
“We want more people to come in and use the facility,” she said. “It’s here. It’s open and it’s free.”
“The more people who come in, the more people who are helped,” Green said. “We’re here every day, Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.”
For more about the Annandale Neighborhood Center, call 703-642-7400, e-mail NeighborhoodCenter@gmail.com or visit www.neighborhoodcenter.info .