spirit
The Little City: “Changing Lives and Changing the World, since 1949” — Marybeth Connelly, Director of Strategic Planning and Community Engagement and Falls Church City Council Member
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Anthropologist Margaret Mead would appreciate the FCCPS Secret Sauce project.
The Little City: “All hands on deck: There isn’t a single person in our district who is not willing to step in and support our students in ways that go beyond their usual responsibilities” — By Jen Fessenden, PK-12 Mathematics Coordinator, Falls Church City Public Schools
Enter NameThe Little City: “In Falls Church City, you can’t separate the school system from the community; they are one and the same.” — Shannon Litton, Fall Church City School Board (former chair)
Enter NameThe Little City: “My life changed the day an interview panelist asked, ‘Would you accept the position of second-grade teacher with us next fall?'” — Gail Bodner, 2nd grade teacher
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Empowered Together Network co-founder Cynthia de Lorenzi is an artist, activist, peacemaker and founder of Success in the City, an international networking group that she launched in 2006 in Washington, DC
Cynthia is also an International Motivational and TEDx Women Speaker, former tech CEO, and art curator living in Las Cruces, NM
The Little City: “During the few months I have been in FCCPS, I have focused on learning the stories of the amazing people who make up this wonderful community. I look to Finding Nemo for guidance.” — Dustin Wright, Chief of Schools
As the father of three awesome kids, I have seen most of the Pixar movies countless times. My favorite is “Finding Nemo,” my son Emmett always loved “The Incredibles,” my other son Hank is a “Toy Story 3″ kind of guy, and my daughter Charlotte was always mesmerized by “Up.”
The Little City: “Collaboration and shared values turn advocacy into action throughout FCCPS.” — Kristen Michael, Chief Operating Officer, Falls Church City Public Schools
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Teachers Make the Difference: “FCCPS is a group of people willing to roll up their sleeves and heed President Kennedy’s famous maxim to always ask what they can do to make their community better.” — Peter Laub, Principal of Meridian High School
FCCPS is a DIY school system. It was created by people willing to work late nights to read and create state code, establish a council and school board, and write policy and zoning regulations. The government was the neighbor, and everything was, and remains, hyper-local.
Teachers Make the Difference: “At the heart of FCCPS is a commitment to preparing students for the future.” — Dr. William Bates, Chief Academic Officer for the Falls Church City Public Schools
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Teachers Make the Difference: “Our teachers go beyond teaching calculus or history. They contribute to developing our students into kind people.” — Amy Hall, Director of Human Resources of the Falls Church City Public Schools
Both of my daughters have since graduated from Meridian High School with the knowledge to take them on their continued educational journey and with a genuine attentiveness to the acceptance and well-being of others.
Teachers Make the Difference: “There isn’t a way to mass market our secret sauce; the addition of all the finest ingredients, prepared at the proper temperature using the best methods, takes us from a series of numerical data to a recipe for success.” — Lisa Eaton, English Collaborative Team Leader Yearbook Adviser Meridian High School, FCCPS
Enter NameTeachers Make the Difference: “The secret sauce lies in each student’s growth, curiosity, resilience, and willingness to engage with the world.” — Miriam Schimmoller, Third Grade Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School
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Stephanie Clohesy, Former Board Chairman of the Women’s Funding Network
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Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, founder and president of the HLH Family Foundation
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Jessica Tomlin, Chief Executive Officer of the Equality Fund
Jess leads an effort to resource feminist movements worldwide, working to change systems, shift power, and dismantle barriers.Teachers Make the Difference: “The Secret to the Sauce is Dr. Noonan himself.” — Brian Fowler, Director of Facilities, Falls Church City Public Schools
Enter NameTeachers Make the Difference: “During my seven years as superintendent, I saw many aspects of the secret sauce at work and play, but the most outstanding ingredient for me was the schools and what they did for my husband, Larry.” — Lois F. Berlin, Ed.D., Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent (2004 – 2011)
Enter NameTeachers Make the Difference: “Unshakable Belief” — Rebecca Sharp, Executive Director of Special Services
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Professor Cindi Gilliland, Ph.D., teaches us about “The Power of Love” — Attend, Mend, Ascend
In her latest TEDx Talk, "The Power of Love," Professor Cindi Gilliland, Ph.D., knows love has the power to transform us, others, and the world.
October 2024: Classmate Ron Mahoney and his wife Peggy are the proud owners of the 4th Street Cafe in Bridgeport, PA
Fun fact: Ron met his wife, Margaret Mahoney (Peggy), on his 18th birthday while walking down the street. "I told her it was my birthday and got a kiss from her." They married in 1985.
Ep3 Daylight’s “Illuminate Philanthropy” show — Trend 3: Evolving Vehicles with Daylight’s Advisor Practice Specialist Rick Peck
Meet Daylight’s Advisor Practice Specialist Rick Peck who shares insights into Evolving Vehicles that includes charitable giving, the private sector, public policy, and peer-based givingRelationships Matter: “I am part of the Kindergarten team—a team that is like a tree. It changes through the seasons but remains strong and steadfast.” — Karen Bevan, Kindergarten teacher, Mount Daniel Family Literacy Program
Enter NameRelationships Matter: “The reasons behind Falls Church City Public Schools consistently ranking as the number one school district in Virginia are clear: the people make this place extraordinary.” — Sarah Gurgo, Meridian High School Visual Art, IB Visual Art, and Photography teacher
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Relationships Matter: “FCCPS is thriving community where excellence isn’t just an expectation. It’s a way of life.” — Dave Serensits, Assistant Principal, Meridian High School
Enter NameRelationships Matter: “Is a “Secret Sauce” tangible? Not always. The innate understanding of meeting students and colleagues where they are is not easily written on a checklist of interview questions.” — Carol Felderman, Literary Specialist FCCPS
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Enter NameRelationships Matter: “I’m a FCCPS ‘lifer’ who is marrying my fellow high school science teacher this summer, and I wouldn’t want to be any other place than FCCPS.” — Will Stewart, high school science teacher at FCCPS
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Relationships Matter: “The secret sauce truly is the people.” — Timothy Kasik, Principal at Mount Daniel Elementary School
Enter NameRelationships Matter: “Our Secret? FCCPS has a hierarchy without rigid boundaries.” — Jennifer Santiago, Director of Equity and Excellence at Falls Church City Public Schools
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Dien Yuen, JD/LLM, CAP®, AEP® CEO of Daylight, is working to maximize philanthropy’s potential for transforming lives by advancing the sector’s training, research, professionalization, and diversity
Illuminate Philantropy Show — Trend 1: The Changing Client Base with Daylight’s founder Dien Yuen and Daylight’s Director of Advisor Practice Tony Macklin
It is her deep commitment to community that inspires Lydia Oh Manager, Programs and Marketing at Daylight
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Author Christine Grumm tells us about her new collaborative book, “The Uprising of Women in Philanthropy”
Written in a collective voice, this book is an important human rights document. It offers a roadmap to achieve a thriving democracy. This book marks the first time that women’s rights philanthropists have united, in book form and in one voice, to call for massive investments in women’s rights for social justice change. Undoubtedly, this book will be an essential addition to the works of the few but highly influential feminist collective authorships.
Ep5: The Sharing Economy — Learn about the challenges of scaling the sharing economy with Julie Winkle Giulioni, author and champion of workplace growth and development
How the Sharing Economy inspires two Berrett-Koehler authors
August 2024: Classmate Ho Chin, who operates a fractional CFO company serving private companies that are backed by outside investors, says: “Enjoy the journey and not push off the enjoyment life can bring until xxx is achieved. I have come to realize that roses do have a wonderful scent.”
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July 2024: Sandy Ziegler knows, “Don’t take short cuts. Push through, be accountable, and take risks. If it doesn’t work out, you still experienced and learned something.”
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Ep5: Women of Color Empowered embraces the gift of Allies — The importance and nurturing of your most powerful connections with Alice Kim of PerfectDD and Bernardine Wu of Fez Ventures
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June 2024: Catch up with multimedia crafter and mom of 3, Zoe Bedrossian Chapjian
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Ep4: You will be blown away by the courage and determination of our guest Jo Miller — on the June episode of the Women of Color Empowered show
Meet the Program Coordinator at Ready to Werk, Fashion Educator at Hocking College, and Board Member at Passport 2 Fashion
Ep3: You will be inspired by the story of Brandice Daniel, CEO and Founder of Harlem’s Fashion Row and the nonprofit ICON360 — on Episode 3 of Women of Color Empowered
Learn how this entrepreneur is giving a voice to multicultural designers and provide them with the same business opportunities and connections enjoyed by others
Infant Massage USA Trainer Jody Wright: “A Story of Infant Massage and Adoption”
Bonding and attachment is vital for any parent and baby, but with adoption or fostering, family-building practices like massage, sleep, feeding, carrying, bathing, become vital to support the establishment of a new family relationship. When we act like family, and do the intimate things that families do, we soon feel like family.
Ep1: Women of Color Empowered, hosted by Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO, Women of Color Retail Alliance
What it means to empower and be empowered!
10 Questions: A Q&A with Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO, Women of Color Retail Alliance, and host, Women of Color Empowered
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Meet Rising Musical Star Jonathan “JDitto” Minor
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About WOCRA: Women of Color Retail Alliance — A Note from the CEO, Kimberly Lee Minor
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February 2024: Voted Best Personality and Most Friendly in the Class of 1982, learn what former Eagles cheerleader Cindy Dawson Moore is doing now
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Coming Summer 2025: Panama Yoga on the Isthmus Linking South and Central America
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January 30, 2024: Meet our 2024 National Conference Speakers
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Jan. 23, 2024: Help us ramp up for our 2024 National Conference, June 17-20
Enter NameChakra Jewelry by Hope
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December 2023: Award-winning esthetician Linda Lee, The Skin Rejuvenator, offers solutions for celebs and everyday gals who want to look their best!
Meet the Skin Rejuvenator