Dear Friends,

Happy Halloween!  We hope you are having a good Fall.  Read on to see what Just Neighbors has been up to this month.

Clients at our Clinic

Our Tuesday evening community clinic in Falls Church this month is a microcosm of the work of Just Neighbors.  The volunteers fell into three general groups:  those from St. Mark Catholic Church (the church had generously provided funds to sponsor this clinic); those from Morrison & Foerster law firm (a steadfast provider of attorneys at both Falls Church and Herndon clinics); and returning, regular volunteers. 

Dear Friends,

A reminder that you are invited to join Just Neighbors for our Open House at our new office on Wednesday, October 8^th from 4pm-8pm.  Drop by anytime to meet our staff, visit our new space, learn about how we serve low-income immigrants in the community, and network.  No need to RSVP.  We’re at 5827 Columbia Pike, Suite #320 Falls Church, VA 22041.  Contact Nancy Sharpe at Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spambots. Es necesario activar Javascript para visualizarla or 703 979-1240 with any questions.  We hope to see you then!

Client Story

Eddie arrived a half hour early for his appointment at Just Neighbors’ clinic last Tuesday night in Falls Church.  When we sat down and I began to ask him some basic questions before he was to meet with our volunteers, he eagerly pulled out photos of his family back in the Central African Republic.  (Eddie is our first client from this country!)  The photos showed his brother, who had recently been in a car accident, surrounded by his brother’s eight children in a worn-down hospital room.  Eddie also noted that his sister had AIDS and recently passed away.  Eddie had been an economist back in his home country and was working here as a security guard, hoping to work his way up into academia over time.  Despite the setbacks and tragedies in his life, Eddie was upbeat and was optimistic that we could help him.

 Dear Friends,

Throughout August Just Neighbors has been preparing to move our main office, a process that has been both exciting and stressful.  Our month has been filled with packing boxes, purging file cabinets, dealing with utility companies, and letting Immigration know that we have a new address for each of our hundreds of clients.  Amidst this chaos and anticipation, we pause to celebrate the success story of a long-time client seeking to go to college.

Client Story

During a Just Neighbors clinic several years ago, four immigration attorneys sat around with open treatises before them; they were trying to determine what could be done to help the client down the hall.  Finally they all agreed that they could not figure it out that night, and the main volunteer attorney told the client, through a translator, that we would be back in touch with her. 

Jack, who had been homeless for many years and living on the streets, came to Just Neighbors in May 2008.  Jack was struggling to put the pieces of his life back together, and with the help of various local non profit organizations, attempting to find a job.  Unfortunately, while homeless, Jack lost all forms of identification, including proof of his U.S. citizenship, which he needed to gain employment.