[Archived] Space of Her Own Program Schedules Two-Day Orientation For Volunteers

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	September 26, 2006 PIO# 218-06/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

SPACE OF HER OWN PROGRAM SCHEDULES
TWO-DAY ORIENTATION FOR VOLUNTEERS
Arts-Based Mentoring Program for Pre-Teen Girls

The Space of Her Own (SOHO) program has scheduled a two-day orientation for prospective adult, female volunteers who are interested in providing mentoring or other support services to at-risk, low-income, pre-teen girls on Thursday evenings throughout the school year. The orientation will take place from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, Oct. 12, and Thursday, Oct. 19, at The Art League Annex, 1 Duke St.

SOHO is an arts-based, mentoring program that allows local youth to attend workshops with mentors. Young participants and their mentors take part in team-building activities and learn life skills and artistic concepts, techniques and processes. Based loosely on the television show “Trading Spaces,” the program culminates in the remodeling of the girls’ bedrooms.

The SOHO program seeks to facilitate an appreciation for the arts while it develops positive, long-term relationships between girls and mentors, reduces crime and promotes the overall success of the program’s participants in school, home and community life. Each mentor commits to a yearlong relationship with a student.

The Art League and the Alexandria Court Service Unit administer the program. The City of Alexandria provides financial support through its Youth Fund. Other program contributors include the Otto Whalley Family Foundation, Alexandria’s ALIVE! and Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant.

Since its inception in 2003, SOHO has assisted over 58 girls. This year’s program runs from Oct. 29 through June 7.

To RSVP the two-day orientation, e-mail SOHO@alexandriava.gov. For more information on SOHO and other volunteer opportunities in the program, visit www.alexandriava.gov/soho.

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