Click here for COVID19 Announcement Blog Events Join Us Grants & Programs Latest PostsVoices of Valley Women – #StrongerTogetherJune 3, 2020Samantha Barber Samantha is a member, a partner and an inspiration to all of us at FRWRC. She is the founder of Reaching Out Now (RON). The RON Girls of Destiny Program is the recipient of our Kim South Girl Grant for empowering middle school girls. Hello Community Leaders, Our nation is in turmoil over the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others. Our hearts are aching; I am sad and appreciate everyone who has reached out to check-in. As a community leader, I serve as a voice to the voiceless; I've accepted the call to sit and have those difficult conversations - with myself and with my family; to understand, and to work towards healing our nation, state, and county. APART, we will continue to see lives lost, senseless deaths, the uncontrollable rage of those demanding change, and desperate voices clamoring to be heard. Yet, TOGETHER, we can heal; TOGETHER we can overcome; TOGETHER we can begin to rewrite the blueprint of racism, injustice, and intolerance that has plagued our country for over 400 years. "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-ending stream!" (Amos 5:24) TOGETHER...we are able to stand!!! Stronger Together Reaching Out Now The Shenandoah Valley is one of the majestic beauties handcrafted by God So, we too His children, created in His image Created for a purpose, created to reproduce, Created to take care of the earth, designed to care and love each other Created to be one with Him as He is one with the Father Created to be our brother’s keepers Created to be united is the intent Created to be…Stronger Together! His intent is good and is possible WE first must be willing Willing to value each life He created that we may each fulfill our purpose Willing to value every life that we reproduced Willing to care for our nation, our states, our communities Willing to care for those who are hurt, feed those who are hungry Willing to stand along those who seek justice Willing to be…Stronger Together! His intent is good and is possible WE first must Reach Out Reach out no matter one’s race, color or socioeconomics Reach out to hold a hand and seek tolerance of who we are as a people Reach out to our neighbors, our leaders, our communities and start a conversation Reach out and pray for those who feel burdened and voiceless Reach out and listen to the hearts of those who feel oppressed Reach out so our nation, our states, our communities in unity…are Stronger Together!! -Samantha N. Barber- President/Founder- Reaching Out Now, Inc.... Read more...Turning Point Memorial Donor WallJune 2, 2020In order for FRWRC to be included on the Memorial's Donor Wall We need to raise an additional $500 by June 30. Please send a check to FRWRC, P.O. Box 1748, Front Royal, VA 22630, marked for the Turning Point Memorial, or use the Donate button below to give electronically. Thank you. Spotlight on Women Winning the Vote As part of our Spotlight program dedicated to the five generations of suffragettes and their commitment to achieve voting rights for women, FRWRC has communicated with the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association, which is constructing a memorial in Lorton, Virginia where women were imprisoned for picketing in front of the White House. These women endured harsh conditions and abuse, which was reported in newspapers and raised the public awareness of suffragettes' courage and commitment. This was the "turning point" in the 72-year struggle and led to the 19th amendment becoming part of the U.S. Constitution in 1920. This memorial will have an overview of the entire movement and is being led by a nonprofit, volunteer-led association, whose goal is to memorialize the suffragette message of empowerment. At the entrance will be a replica of the White House gates where the women stood as "Silent Sentinels" demanding the right to vote. Inside these gates will be a donor wall inscribed with the names of individuals and organizations who supported the construction of the memorial with a minimum donation of $1,000. FRWRC feels it is important for our name to be on that wall, and our Board has raised $500 of the needed funds. We are asking for your help to raise the remaining $500 by June 30 in order to meet their deadline. Please send a check to FRWRC, P.O. Box 1748, Front Royal, VA 22630, marked for the Turning Point Memorial, or use the Donate button above to give electronically. Thank you.... Read more...2020 Dare to Dream GranteesMay 17, 2020Mia Coffman Mia is a Front Royal native now in her junior year at the University of Lynchburg where she is working toward a degree in Special Education. Her heart has always been drawn to helping those with disabilities and special needs. During summer breaks, Mia works with Christian Freedom International and with Joni & Friends Camp which gives outdoor experiences and respite for families caring for disabled children. Mia’s dream is to teach children with special needs as a full-time professional. Mia has been awarded $600 for tuition for a class next semester. Amanda Horn Amanda majored in fine art at the Art Institute of Chicago and at George Mason University. In 2011 her first son was born, followed by a second son in 2013. Motherhood left her with scant time or energy to devote to painting. With her children at her side, she was able to find time to garden, hike and investigate the natural world. By 2016 she was able to carve out time to paint again... now with a focus on plants and wildlife. She has helped paint several murals in and on buildings in the area and would like to help with more of them. She has shown and sold her work at wineries, area art shows, and festivals throughout the greater D.C. area. Amanda’s dream is to become ever more successful as she shares her paintings with others. Amanda has been awarded $1,000 to purchase a portable display system. Eka Kapiotis Eka is no stranger to this organization. She has been a helping and healing force among us for many years. Eka began her career as a massage therapist in 1984. Many of you here learned Reiki from her through the Valley Health training program she established. That program continues to this day. Eka is always seeking more effective ways to help others heal. In addition to her massage therapy and Reiki practice, she became a Cranio-Sacral Therapist and has worked with dolphin-assisted CST programs. Eka’s dream is to become a certified CST therapist at the very highest level - that of “Diplomate.” This will involve significant work on her part, onsite testing, and travel. Eka has been awarded $600 to apply to the cost of certification. Meghan LeCompte Meghan is a busy young woman. She recently completed her studies to become an LPN. Now she is taking classes at ECPI University to become an RN. Meanwhile, she volunteers at Warren County Fire and Rescue. She also works as a Medical Technician at the Senior Living Center in Front Royal, and as a Trauma Tech at Winchester Medical Center. When she completes her RN degree in 2021, Meghan plans to work and continue her studies for a BS in Nursing, then an MS in Nursing - and eventually realize her dream of being an ER nurse. Meghan has been awarded $1,000 for school expenses. Laura Ruby Laura has been contributing to our community for many years, volunteering in the schools, for youth sports leagues, Girl Scouts, the Humane Society, and Reaching Out Now - a program for at-risk middle school girls. In 2017 she opened Ruby Yoga in Front Royal. The business has grown steadily ever since. Now Laura sees a need to expand her skills and knowledge to better meet the needs of her clients. Specifically, she seeks training in Kids’ yoga and in Trauma-informed yoga. Laura’s dream is to offer classes that will better address the needs of underserved populations. Laura has been awarded $600 to help pay for her training. Megan Vardiman In addition to having four children at home, Megan is enrolled at Lord Fairfax Community College and is volunteering with the Blue Ridge Hospice and with Young Lives - a program offering support to teen mothers. Megan came to realize that she had a special gift for this work when, a few years ago she was able to help several friends who had experienced late-term miscarriages. These women later told Megan that she had been a godsend at a low time in their lives. Megan finds great satisfaction in being that quiet, dependable shoulder for women to lean on. Megan’s dream is to become a psychologist helping women heal from trauma. She is currently working toward a degree in Human Services at Lord Fairfax. This coming fall, all of her children will be in school; Megan will be able to take a full class schedule. She plans to continue with her college education and eventually get a Masters degree in counseling. Megan has been awarded the Elaine Bromfield Memorial Scholarship of $1,500. Diana Cercy As a mother searching for ways to help her troubled teens, Diana became convinced of the power of the arts and journaling to help families develop tools for self-care and healing. In 2016 she co-founded a non-profit that developed and brought Healing HeARTS Toolboxes and workshops to teens and adults in Prince William and Fauquier Counties. Many school social workers have found the toolboxes and training to be invaluable aids to emotional healing. Diana moved to Linden in 2018 and is eager to expand the Healing HeARTS program to our community and to Warren County schools. Diana has been awarded $900 to purchase supplies for the toolboxes. Mary Cook Mary lives with her husband and seven-year-old daughter in an old farmhouse off of Browntown Road. An accomplished artist, she has held several arts management positions, including Director of the Torpedo Factory’s Gallery in Alexandria, VA. After moving to Warren County, Mary took time out to raise her young daughter. She began offering arts workshops to local children in both public and private schools. Mary has established a thriving arts/nature summer program for kids at the Izaak Walton League: Walton Wednesdays. She has opened a studio space in Front Royal where she plans to offer arts experiences year-round. All of Mary’s workshops focus on process rather than product. Her dream is to eventually offer free arts experiences to childrenand adults in need. Mary has been awarded $900 to purchase materials for mobile arts workshops. Taylor Fletcher Taylor is a nursing student at Lord Fairfax Community College. She has a BA in Exercise Science and is a Certified Nursing Assistant. She worked for two years as a CNA while also caring for her ailing grandmother. It was this experience that convinced her that nursing was her calling.It was this experience that convinced her that nursing was her calling. Taylor’s dream is to become a Nurse Practitioner. To reach this goal, she will need to continue her nursing studies at LFCC to attain her associate of applied science degree in registered nursing before transferring to a four-year university to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degrees She has quite a road ahead of her. Taylor has been awarded $1,000 for tuition at LFCC.... Read more...2020 May Book CommentaryMay 11, 2020Donated Book – Now available at Samuels Public Library Front Royal Women's Resource Center and Royal Oak Bookshop co-sponsor donations to Samuels Public Library that are by or about women. Nan Hathaway, Book Donation Sponsor & Coordinator, chooses our books each year. Thank you Nan! We highlight one of these books every third week each month. Our 2020 Book Reviews and Commentaries are provided by JoEllen McNeal. Thank you JoEllen! Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America By Kathleen Belew “A Gripping Study of White Power…Explosive” -New York Times The white power movement in America wants a revolution. It has declared all-out war against the federal government and its agents, and has carried out—with military precision—an escalating campaign of terror against the American public. Its soldiers are not lone wolves but are highly organized cadres motivated by a coherent and deeply troubling worldview of white supremacy, anticommunism, and apocalypse. In Bring the War Home, Kathleen Belew gives us the first full history of the movement that consolidated in the 1970s and 1980s around a potent sense of betrayal in the Vietnam War and made tragic headlines in the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building. Returning to an America ripped apart by a war that, in their view, they were not allowed to win, a small but driven group of veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilian supporters concluded that waging war on their own country was justified. They unified people from a variety of militant groups, including Klansmen, neo-Nazis, skinheads, radical tax protestors, and white separatists. The white power movement operated with discipline and clarity, undertaking assassinations, mercenary soldiering, armed robbery, counterfeiting, and weapons trafficking. Its command structure gave women a prominent place in brokering intergroup alliances and giving birth to future recruits. Belew’s disturbing history reveals how war cannot be contained in time and space. In its wake, grievances intensify and violence becomes a logical course of action for some. Bring the War Home argues for awareness of the heightened potential for para militarism in a present defined by ongoing war. This is a difficult but important and powerful book. The Author, Kathleen Belew, spent ten years researching and writing this book, examining previously classified FBI files and vivid personal testimonies and letters. She is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Chicago and has appeared on Fresh Air, Weekend Edition, and CBS News. Her work featured prominently in the PBS Frontline documentary “Documenting Hate: New American Nazis.”... Read more...
