Community Outreach Program

Community Outreach Program office locations and hours have changed - please call ahead to ensure someone will be available to assist you.

Citizenship Classes and Information are now available in-person and virtually.

The Community Outreach Program is a multicultural program promoting self-sufficiency and community belonging through neighborhood educational programs and services for newly arrived and low-income Arlington County residents.

  • Our outreach specialists are based in three outreach centers strategically located in low-income neighborhoods with high concentration of immigrants.
  • Each outreach specialist is bilingual and some are even multilingual. Our specialists can provide services in Spanish, French and Arabic. In addition to being bilingual (or multi-lingual), each specialist is also bicultural — meaning that they live and understand the culture of the languages they speak.

The Community Outreach Program offers:

Programs to Meet Community Needs

Each outreach center runs programs designed to meet the varying needs of the community. Programs may include:

  • Citizenship classes and workshops
  • English classes provided by the Arlington Education and Employment Program (REEP)
  • Computer classes
  • Job readiness training
  • Spanish literacy classes
  • Food and nutrition classes
  • Diapers for families with children under the age of 3
  • Health screenings and presentations
Connections to Community Resources and Services

Arlington County has an array of services offered through local government, community and non-profit agencies. These services are sometimes difficult to navigate, especially for someone who experiences language and cultural barriers. Our outreach specialists assess the needs of community members and connect them with the appropriate resource to meet those needs. We provide assistance with referrals for food, medical services, housing, legal assistance and more.

Individualized Assistance

Our outreach specialists provide on-going assistance to individuals and families who are in crisis and have specific needs. We listen to community members in a culturally sensitive way, usually in their native language, and connect them with necessary services. We work with the family as a unit, ensuring that as they meet with various agencies and organizations all needs are being met and services are coordinated.

Special Events

Throughout the year we also organize special events for our community. Many of these events are designed to preserve the unique cultures of our clients, including multicultural festivals. Other special events include neighborhood day activities, health fairs, immigration seminars, tax assistance workshops and clothing drives.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Community Outreach Program has a great group of committed volunteers who help with many facets of the program. For example, volunteers teach citizenship classes, help people find jobs, instruct sewing classes and assist with other programs. Volunteers also help plan special events and other opportunities.

If you are interested in volunteering, call Kim Durand at 703-228-1317 or visit Volunteer Arlington.

Contact the Community Outreach Program:

Dina Abdelghani
dabdelghani@arlingtonva.us

703-228-1386
(English/Arabic/
French)

Arlington Mill - Tuesdays and Fridays

Luz Maria Fernandez
lfernandez@arlingtonva.us

703-228-5618
(English/Spanish)

Arlington Mill - Mondays and Wednesdays

Miguel Carpio-Castanon
Mcarpio-castanon@arlingtonva.us

703-228-5569
(English/Spanish)

Lubber Run - Wednesdays and Fridays

Susan Stolpe
sstolpe@arlingtonva.us

703-228-1198
(English/Spanish)

Arlington Mill - Tuesdays and Fridays

Zineb Mourchid
zmourchid@arlingtonva.us

703-228-7798
(English/Arabic/
Spanish/French)

Arlington Mill - Mondays and Wednesdays

Hours may vary - please call ahead to confirm staff availability.

Arlington Mill Community Center
909 S Dinwiddie St, Suite 523
Arlington, VA 22204

Lubber Run Community Center
300 N Park St 
Arlington, VA 22203

Rinker Community Center at the Gates of Ballston
Fridays for AFAC Food Distributions Only
4108 4th St N
Arlington, VA 22203  

Community Outreach Program History

The Community Outreach Program was originally created in 1979 to meet the needs of the many individuals who had immigrated to Arlington from Southeast Asia.  Since that time, our program has expanded in order to effectively meet the needs of each new group of immigrants coming to Arlington from around the world.

Our program is designed to identify and reach out to immigrants and other under-served populations. These populations are served through various programs, counseling and referrals to Arlington County services and non-profit agencies. As we work with newcomers to acculturate and become a part of the community, our overarching goal is to help them acquire the tools needed to live and succeed in the United States.

Welcome banner

Immigration Resources: Welcome to Arlington’s diverse and inclusive community.

We welcome everyone who has made Arlington County their home.  Our community provides a variety of programs and services for new immigrants and other residents who need assistance. This page is also available en español.

Upcoming Events

 

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