Prince William Study Circles: Prince William supermarket a finalist in UVA resilience awards competition

August 15, 2011

Prince William supermarket a finalist in UVA resilience awards competition

Congratulations to Todos Super Market! From the website of the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia:

"The Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards honor the most resilient businesses in Virginia — those which displayed growth, a dogged entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community in areas facing high unemployment, high poverty and low entrepreneurial activity....

With the opening of a new 50,000 square-foot grocery store last April, Todos Supermarket celebrates a milestone. It’s only recently that business returned to levels before the foreclosure crises decimated adjacent neighborhoods.

A controversial local immigration law passed in 2008 had a chilling effect on customers and put the market and its owner and founder, Carlos Castro, in the middle of a fight that roiled the community. Castro, who fled El Salvador’s civil war as a boy, helped lead opposition to the law while working to bridge a cultural and community divide in Prince William County. The county ultimately revised the law, which gave police power to investigate a person’s legal status to only those in custody for a suspected crime.

Now Castro looks to the future, hoping his new anchor store at Marumsco Plaza will play a key role in the revitalization of Route 1 in Woodbridge.

Photo Credit: Linda Hughes

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PWSC is VA Neighborhood Organization of the Year!

Two Manassas residents and a community partnership were honored at the 10th Annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference in Chesterfield County on September 26. Prince William Study Circles, in partnership with George Mason University, Unity in the Community and City of Manassas Neighborhood Services, won State Neighborhood Organization of the Year for bringing study circles on neighborhood improvement issues to seven neighborhoods in the city and county. Each circle included up to 15 diverse residents who met with facilitators for six two-hour sessions to find common ground and take action in their neighborhoods. The non-profit’s director, Cindy Brookshire, accepted the award on behalf of the partnership. Leon Walker, President of Wildwood Condominium Association, was named State Neighborhood Advocate of the Year for his tireless work in transforming his 96-condo neighborhood in the heart of Manassas from one of crime and drugs, to a safe, beautiful and enjoyable community, ideal for raising families. Erin Harrover, a 12-year-old Metz Middle School student, was honored with the State Neighborhood Youth Individual Effort of the Year award for her filmmaking in the community. Erin shot videos for her father, Vice Mayor Andrew Harrover’s “Manassas Next” campaign and organized a Film Club with her friend, Laura Lopez and others. The young entrepreneurs have produced two videos on “Tall Grass” and “Graffiti” for the city government channel (Comcast 23/Verizon 39), and earn money for their expenses through bake sales

Alumni Win Awards!

Congratulations to two study circle participants who won instant grants for their neighborhoods at the City of Manassas HOA President’s Breakfast on Aug 29: Michael Sensale of Cannon Ridge ($500 for conservation efforts to control creek run-off) and Pam Weinlein of Point of Woods 3 ($300 for their area beautification plan).

Action Forum of May 30, 2009

The May 30 Action Forum inspired all who attended! Lee Morrison of Point of Woods eloquently shared his early doubts and frustrations at the study circles process -- feelings that weren't resolved until the latter sessions, when a personal portrait of action began taking shape for him on the surrounding wall charts. Lee's circle experience in April led him and fellow Point of Woods resident Pam Weinlein to turn an ordinary yard sale in May into a memorable community event with the addition of grilled hot dogs, home-baked cookies, face-painting, music and Mrs. C the Clown, who led a trail of children throughout the neighborhood. "The circles aren't about resolving problems. They're about resolving attitudes," Lee told the forum assembly. Lee and Pam are busy planning a joint watershed cleanup with residents of nearby Cannon Ridge. Thank you to everyone who made the forum a success!

Prince William Study Circles

Winner, Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Organization of the Year for 2009