The Calvary Connection
February 2021
Black History Month at Calvary
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” This is the quote by Angela Davis that hangs on the wall outside the classrooms at Calvary Women's Services. It serves as a reminder of the power each woman at Calvary has to change her own life and it sparked the first discussion for Black History Month for the women in the Life Skills, Education, and Arts Program (LEAP) at Calvary.
 
When starting to plan for Black History Month, one resident said she knew of Angela Davis but had never heard her speak. To kick off Black History Month, the LEAP program started by watching a video about the impact Angela Davis has had on global liberation movements.
 
LEAP will continue centering the work of Black women while learning about Black art and music this month. Next up on the agenda is celebrating Mardi Gras and learning about the music of New Orleans. In March, LEAP will celebrate International Women’s Day.
 
According to Elaine, who leads Calvary's education programs, the theme for LEAP this year is “Every Month is Black History Month in 2021.” When looking at the calendar of upcoming events, one LEAP participant responded by saying “I think it’s kind of messed up that Black History is limited to only one month a year, so I’m glad that we’re giving it its due.”
 
We will continue sharing our LEAP program activities throughout the year, so be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up with the latest from Calvary.
Let's Be Strong(Her) Together
Over the past year, we have found new and creative ways to stay connected and get involved. We have learned the power our community holds when we come together to support each other. As we all continue to look for ways to make a difference and put our values into action, we hope that we can count on you to act locally. Will you join us for the Strong(Her) Challenge? 

We know that together we can empower more women to find a job, move into their own homes, reach their goals, and rebuild their lives. You have the opportunity to take action and make an incredible difference in the lives of women in our community.

We will be posting weekly challenges on our social media pages to help you follow along.

 
How will you choose to be Strong(Her) together? Let us know which challenge you completed and why by sharing a video or photo with the hashtag #StrongHerTogether and tagging Calvary on social media, or send it to sleach@calvaryservices.org.
Corporate Partner Spotlight: CareFirst
Throughout this pandemic, our community has really shown up. Since March, Calvary Women’s Services has adjusted programming and safety protocols to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of the women and staff. These changes have meant taking on additional costs of $1,000 per day. We are grateful for all of our corporate partners, like CareFirst, that have stepped up to help us meet community needs during the pandemic.
 
CareFirst has a strong commitment to the health and well-being of the individuals and families in the region, and their corporate giving strategy targets programs that work to improve the long-term health of their communities.
 
As part of their support, CareFirst awarded Calvary a $25,000 grant through their 2020 COVID-19 Response and Relief Fund. This funding will support our safe housing and health services for women experiencing homelessness.
Virtual Open House
In years past, we loved inviting donors and volunteers to our program site on Good Hope Road for a tour of the building to learn more about Calvary and the women we serve. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not had the opportunity to welcome community members to Calvary in many months.

Join us Wednesday, February 17th at 12pm for a video tour of our program site, hear how the women we serve are still reaching their goals despite challenging obstacles, and learn how you can stay involved in 2021!

You can register for the Virtual Open House here. We can't wait to see you!
Calvary Women's Services
202-678-2341
info@calvaryservices.org