Willston Center’s many programs will need to be relocated
 |
| The Willston Center |
On a recent weekday at the Willston Multicultural Center in
Seven Corners, the Computer Clubhouse was packed with kids, a couple of men
were playing a lively game of ping pong in the Korean Senior Citizens Center,
and it was party time in the Vietnamese Senior Center, with karaoke and dancing.
Seven Corners, the Computer Clubhouse was packed with kids, a couple of men
were playing a lively game of ping pong in the Korean Senior Citizens Center,
and it was party time in the Vietnamese Senior Center, with karaoke and dancing.
All these organizations will need to find a new location, as
the Willston Center will have to be shut down, following a settlement between Fairfax
County and the Department of Justice that calls for the building to be brought
into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
the Willston Center will have to be shut down, following a settlement between Fairfax
County and the Department of Justice that calls for the building to be brought
into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
That would require extensive renovations, which Mason
Supervisor Penny Gross says would cost upwards of $7 million to $8 million. That’s way out of line with what the county could afford, and the
building is also “full of asbestos,” she says. “We have three years to figure
out what to do.”
Supervisor Penny Gross says would cost upwards of $7 million to $8 million. That’s way out of line with what the county could afford, and the
building is also “full of asbestos,” she says. “We have three years to figure
out what to do.”
There has been some talk about renovating Willston Shopping
Center and the possibility of incorporating some sort of community center into
that project, although that is just speculative at this point.
It’s also been suggested that if the Willston building is
torn down, the Graham Road Elementary School building, which is larger and has
a gym, would be an excellent location for a multicultural center. That would
require transporting the children who live near the Willston Center, though. Also,
the founders of a proposed charter school are hoping to the use the Graham Road site.
torn down, the Graham Road Elementary School building, which is larger and has
a gym, would be an excellent location for a multicultural center. That would
require transporting the children who live near the Willston Center, though. Also,
the founders of a proposed charter school are hoping to the use the Graham Road site.
 |
| The Willston Center’s Computer Clubhouse |
The Willston building had been an elementary school until
1973 and has housed the multicultural center for about 20 years. The center
serves residents of the nearby apartment complexes—there are about 300 to 400
kids in the immediate vicinity—but other people come to the center’s various
programs from all over the county.
1973 and has housed the multicultural center for about 20 years. The center
serves residents of the nearby apartment complexes—there are about 300 to 400
kids in the immediate vicinity—but other people come to the center’s various
programs from all over the county.
There are 40 children (grades 1-6) in the RECQuest summer
program, which is run by the Fairfax Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. That’s nearly double the intended size of 25 kids, and many more are
on a waiting list. The fee is based on family income, and scholarships are
available for those who can’t afford it.
program, which is run by the Fairfax Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. That’s nearly double the intended size of 25 kids, and many more are
on a waiting list. The fee is based on family income, and scholarships are
available for those who can’t afford it.
The kids have activities like computer games, arts and
crafts, and water balloon games and go on field trips once a week to places
like museums or King’s Dominion. A similar program, with homework help, serves kids in the afternoons during the school year.
crafts, and water balloon games and go on field trips once a week to places
like museums or King’s Dominion. A similar program, with homework help, serves kids in the afternoons during the school year.
There’s a teen program open 6-8 p.m. during the school year
that offers homework help, soccer, computer games, and educational programs on
topics like nutrition and suicide prevention.
that offers homework help, soccer, computer games, and educational programs on
topics like nutrition and suicide prevention.
 |
| Karaoke in the Vietnamese Senior Center |
During my visit to the Willston Center, I met Luis Oliva in
the Computer Clubhouse, a program that receives funding
from the Herndon-based Equal Footing Foundation. Oliva, age 23, was visiting
his old mentor, Willa Dumas, whom he credits with motivating him to do well in
school and aim for higher education.
the Computer Clubhouse, a program that receives funding
from the Herndon-based Equal Footing Foundation. Oliva, age 23, was visiting
his old mentor, Willa Dumas, whom he credits with motivating him to do well in
school and aim for higher education.
Oliva hopes to graduate from Marymount University next year with a degree in fashion merchandising. “I would never have been able to go to college without
this,” he says of the Willston Center.
this,” he says of the Willston Center.
There is also a preschool at the Willston Center, and there
are English as a Second Language classes for adults run by Fairfax County Public Schools. A Sudanese school meets there on Saturdays. And there are
offices and classes operated by several non-profit organizations.
are English as a Second Language classes for adults run by Fairfax County Public Schools. A Sudanese school meets there on Saturdays. And there are
offices and classes operated by several non-profit organizations.
The Korean-American Association of Virginia provides English
language and computer classes, along with vocational classes in the Korean
language for people seeking careers as
HVAC technicians, plumbers, electricians, pharmacy technicians, and tailors/alternations
specialists. The association serves about 300 people a semester, although it’s
closed for the summer.
language and computer classes, along with vocational classes in the Korean
language for people seeking careers as
HVAC technicians, plumbers, electricians, pharmacy technicians, and tailors/alternations
specialists. The association serves about 300 people a semester, although it’s
closed for the summer.
 |
| Vietnamese Senior Center office manager Kieunga Pham (left) and musician Kim Oanh |
The Vietnamese Senior Center offers an “exchange of
knowledge and culture” and a place to share memories of the past, says Paul
Van. There are lectures on current events, potluck lunches, chess games,
karaoke, and dance lessons. Van, who had retired from the Fairfax County housing department
a year ago, He had spent seven and a-half years in a Vietnamese prison after
the fall of Saigon.
knowledge and culture” and a place to share memories of the past, says Paul
Van. There are lectures on current events, potluck lunches, chess games,
karaoke, and dance lessons. Van, who had retired from the Fairfax County housing department
a year ago, He had spent seven and a-half years in a Vietnamese prison after
the fall of Saigon.
During my visit to the center, musician and composer Kim
Oanh was playing the tan tranh, a stringed instrument similar to a zither.
Oanh performs all over the area, and will be playing at the first annual
Vietnam Heritage Festival at George Mason University June 23.
Oanh was playing the tan tranh, a stringed instrument similar to a zither.
Oanh performs all over the area, and will be playing at the first annual
Vietnam Heritage Festival at George Mason University June 23.
Another organization based at the Willston Center is the
Virginia Office of the Newcomer Community Service Center, which provides
employment and immigration assistance along with English instruction. The organization
focuses on helping refugees and asylum seekers apply for citizenship or green
cards, says employment specialist Claudia Mantilla. Most of her clients are
from Africa and Asia, she says, along with a fair number from South America.
Virginia Office of the Newcomer Community Service Center, which provides
employment and immigration assistance along with English instruction. The organization
focuses on helping refugees and asylum seekers apply for citizenship or green
cards, says employment specialist Claudia Mantilla. Most of her clients are
from Africa and Asia, she says, along with a fair number from South America.
They’ve been in Willston Center for 15 years but didn’t
receive enough funding from Fairfax County this year, so the program is
shutting down June 30, Mantilla says. The group’s main office, in Washington,
D.C., will remain open.
receive enough funding from Fairfax County this year, so the program is
shutting down June 30, Mantilla says. The group’s main office, in Washington,
D.C., will remain open.
Among the other organizations with offices at the Willston
Center are the Vietnamese American Community Association of Virginia, Washington, D.C., and
Maryland; the Vietnamese Resettlement Association, which offers health
referrals and other assistance to women; and the Vietnam Wushu of Shaolin
Martial Arts School.
Center are the Vietnamese American Community Association of Virginia, Washington, D.C., and
Maryland; the Vietnamese Resettlement Association, which offers health
referrals and other assistance to women; and the Vietnam Wushu of Shaolin
Martial Arts School.
3 responses to “Willston Center’s many programs will need to be relocated”
Leave a reply
Chap Petersen and John K. Freeman should look into this one. Suggest Graham Road as the Multicultural Center vs. the Charter School. There would be much support for this in the Loehmanns plaza area and route 50 corridor
John Freeman, the developer of the Kingsley commons community wants a neighborhood center close to him. This would be perfect! And, the Loehmann's area has many folks who need the services a community center would provide, and who aren't being served by anything now.
I absolutely hate willston my experience with the staff was horrible and the other students hated it as well. I love this article and think its amazing! But the place itself disgusts me.