Our Partners
Spotlights and Opportunities
We’re doing lots of cool stuff at Saints Center News, and we’re honored to work with so many of our community partners. Check out the latest news and updates regarding the special events held here at Marymount University through the Saints Center for Service. Sign up for updates to learn more about our work and make sure you stay up to date regarding upcoming events.
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Overview: Currently, Susan has been talking to a lot of community partners to see what ways the Spirit of Service Scholars and the rest of the Marymount community can be of assistance for the work they do. A lot of these will be available to anyone on campus, but if there is a scholar who would like to pair with a community partner and work primarily with them, this is the chance for me to advocate for anyone who wants the help. This is a good opportunity if anyone wants to volunteer plus get some good experience for their resume. If you are interested in working with a community partner, please reach out to Susan at sthomas@marymount.edu
Bridges to Independence
Bridges to Independence leads individuals and families out of homelessness and into stable, independent futures. They offer a continuum of aid and support for all family members, helping them attain financial security and move forward into self-sufficiency. As homelessness is often episodic, our other priority is working closely with former participants to ensure they are able to remain securely housed and do not fall into homelessness again.
As a private, nonprofit organization, Bridges has been working with and for homeless families since 1985, when we were founded as the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. We became Bridges to Independence in 2015 because we needed a name that better reflects how our mission and service spectrum has evolved and expanded over the years.
Our bridges – our services – strengthen families and provide them with the stability, skills, knowledge, and community networks to become self-sufficient. We offer supports for every family member – adults and children alike. Our short-term goal is to help individual clients right now. Long-term we aim to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by preparing today’s struggling kids to be tomorrow’s successful adults. From housing to financial literacy, from tutoring to youth development, from life skills to career counseling, we tailor a continuum of services.  Some activities are required, some are optional, and some are just plain fun.
Arlington Public Schools Opportunity
APS Preschool teacher: Ms. Freeman-Moore works at Hoffman-Boston and has many students whose primary language is something other than English: Mongolian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic dialects, etc. (I'll have a precise list next week.) She is looking for students to read stories, record short lessons, and interact so that everyone in the class has a chance to share their culture and learn English and their first language.
Girls on the Run Opportunity
Girls on the Run always looks for volunteers to act as captains/volunteers the days of their races all over NoVa. I am going to see if they have longer term opportunities for anyone interested in athletics, training, developing youth positive self esteem .
Culpepper Gardens Partner Opportunity
Culpepper Gardens provides residential housing and nursing care to senior citizens, especially ones with socio-economic challenges. We have supported them in many smaller events, but they are looking to revive their community garden plots and have other on-site events coming in the Spring.
