Casa Chirilagua
Learning together to love our neighbors as ourselves
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Sixty-one percent of Latino immigrants in our community, including children, have reported experiencing trauma due to family violence, gang-dominated neighborhoods in their country of origin, sexual abuse, and migration journey trauma. Most families live in poverty and only a small percentage graduates from high school. Many struggle with low self-esteem, depression, isolation, and identity issues. When our founders moved to the Chirilagua neighborhood in 2007, they spend the first three years listening and learning from their neighbors. What they discovered from parents was the need for academic support for their children in order to fulfill their family's dreams and hopes for a better future. This listening and learning process began our afterschool program, Kids Club, in their small apartment and lead our founders to create the 501(c)3 organization we are now.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Kids Club
Kids Club is a thriving after-school enrichment program serving the at-risk Latino population in the Chirilagua neighborhood of Alexandria. The goal of Kids Club is to lay the foundation for the emergence of local leaders. We achieve this goal by providing a safe and loving environment where Chirilagua children can grow, learn, and be assisted in their social, emotional and academic development as they interact in a fully bicultural-bilingual world.
Children rotate through three stations: 30 minutes of reading, with individualized support provided by community volunteers and staff members, 30 minutes of homework help and academic activities, and 30 minutes of character development lessons, focusing on topics such as conflict resolution, forgiveness, and building healthy relationships.
Mentoring
Our community-based mentoring program offers one-on-one weekly mentoring sessions in public places throughout the neighborhood, with 40 current mentor-mentee relationships. The individualized attention and companionship provides the opportunity for Chirilagua youth to build stable relationships with trusted adults to help them grow in confidence, reducing risky behaviors, increasing a youth's sense of well-being and improving academic performance.
Local Leaders Program
An indigenous leadership and professional development program for college-aged young adults from the Chirilagua community, providing them with part-time, paid employment with the organization and personal and professional development classes. The Local Leaders serve as Assistant Directors for our Kids Club after-school program, employed in a leadership role that not only develops desirable skills for employers, but also places them in a highly visible position to serve as role models to their younger peers in the community.
Summer Kids Club and Summer Teens Club
During July, elementary school students receive reading and math tutoring every afternoon following summer school. During August, students attend half-day academic programming that includes art, writing and science projects, as well as weekly field trips to Washington D.C. attractions. Students will participate in open discussions about their identity, dreams, building healthy relationships and making wise decisions. Group time will also cover teamwork, trust, and service. The Summer Camp includes physical exercise and field trips.
Teens Club (Middle School After School Program)
A weekly program that offers evening and weekend extracurricular opportunities for middle school students, providing academic support through tutoring and social and developmental support through group classes, experience and exposure field trips, and service learning projects.
Teen Bible Studies
Age and gender-appropriate Bible studies led weekly in the neighborhood by trained staff and volunteers, focusing on their relationship with God, character building, developing self-esteem, extending kindness and empathy toward others, choosing and maintaining healthy relationships, and developing conflict resolution skills. Participants are invited to attend two biannual group camping trips.
Parent Committee (Comite de Padres) and Monthly Family Dinner Night
Committees that invest in their children's well-being, serving as a venue to speak, be heard, and provide program input. These venues increase awareness of the community's felt needs and serve as an informal place to discuss community concerns and receive ideas to improve program development. Hosted by local community groups and volunteers, the dinners are a monthly time of fellowship to strengthen family and community relationships by sharing food, celebrating each other's accomplishments communally, and building unity and trust.
Casa to College
Casa to College is designed to remove barriers for high school students and families who desire to be 1st generation (or first in their family) college enrollees. The goal is for first generation High school Students and their families to have awareness of post high school opportunities and access to college application support through targeted programming, building the leadership capacity of this population in Chirilagua.
Adult Education Program
Adult Education program comprises English language, Spanish literacy, leadership, nutrition and computer literacy classes for adults.
Where we work
Awards
Washingtonian of the Year for Executive Director 2022
Washingtonian Magazine
Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 for Executive Director 2021
Leadership Center for Excellence
Alexandria 40 Under 40 for Programs Director 2018
ALX Chamber of Commerce
Alexandria 40 Under 40 for Executive Director 2017
ALX Chamber of Commerce
Affiliations & memberships
Christian Community Development Association 2023
Alexandria Council of Human Services Organization 2023
Alexandria City Public Schools Community Partner 2023
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 2021
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsPercentage of students who are first in their families to attend college
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Latin American descent
Related Program
Casa to College
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Percentage of students who received scholarships
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Latin American descent
Related Program
Casa to College
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Percentage of students accepted to college
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Latin American descent
Related Program
Casa to College
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of tons of food distributed to the community
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Central American descent
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Casa Chirilagua distributed over over 465 tons of fresh produce and protein boxes. Recipient community members helped with the distribution to over 600 families, especially those in quarantine
Number of hours of online academic support for students in grades K-12
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Central American descent
Related Program
Kids Club
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Casa Chirilagua provided over 400 hours of vital online academic support to 65 students who are navigating a virtual schooling environment. Immigrant students have high risk of academic regression.
Dollar amount paid in rent and utility assistance for families
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Central American descent
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Casa Chirilagua paid over $173,000 of rent and utility financial relief directly to landlords and utility companies on behalf of 84 families who experienced job loss due to COVID-19
Total dollar value of grocery bags distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Central American descent
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Casa Chirilagua distributed 2,241 grocery bags of pantry items, cleaning supplies, baby supplies and feminine hygiene products to families who experienced job loss due to COVID-19
Percentage of students in the Casa to College program accepted to college
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, People of Latin American descent, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Casa to College
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We did not have any seniors enrolled in 2020-2022 .
Number of students educated through field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Kids Club
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
These monthly trips are designed to expose students to positive activities and places and provide new experiences that will motivate their academic and emotional development.
Hours of mentoring
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Mentoring
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
At the end of 2021, it was estimated that mentors contributed over 1,400 hours of service in the fiscal year. Additionally, the Mentoring Program held a 75% retention rate among mentors.
Number of youth who increased their weekly hours of homework/reading
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Kids Club
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our mission is to develop relationships with families to see the Chirilagua neighborhood transformed by Christ.
Our twelve-year vision (2022-2034) is focused on seeing every family unit:
1. Understand the power of the Gospel and have the invitation to participate in the building of God’s flourishing and peaceful kingdom.
2. Acquire and practice vital leadership skills that will follow them all their lives.
3. Support their children in graduating high school.
4. Create a post-high school plan alongside their child throughout their leadership pipeline journey that propels them into college, a trade school, and/or an entrepreneurial career.
Our leaderhip pipeline mentioned above consists of our programs which span from elementary to post high-school: Kids Club, Teens Club, Casa to College, Mentoring, and Local Leaders.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Phase 1:
2023
1. Build a new operating system and improve processes.
2. Identify Strategic Direction Committee.
3. Develop a focused curriculum in each program that supports the strategic plan.
4. Create a development strategy to support this 12-year plan.
2024
1. Add an additional Local Leader position for youth programming.
2. Inquire for more physical space.
3. Prepare to create a new lease with the city of Alexandria.
2025
1. Add a full-time Development staff to support growth towards a one million dollar budget.
2. Add a full-time Youth Coordinator to increase Teens Club enrollment from 20 to 30.
2026
1. Add an additional Mentoring Director.
2. Increase Casa to College enrollment from 20 to 30 students.
Phase 2:
2027-2030
1. Create the next phase of execution with the Strategic Direction Committee (meet spring of 2027).
Support Staff for growth:
1. Hire additional Development Staff (a part-time or full-time position).
2. Add a full-time Operations and Facilities Manager.
3. Adjust to larger and/or second physical space .
Phase 3:
2031-2034
Create next phase of execution with Strategic Direction Committee (meet spring 2031)
BEGIN TO SEE IMPACT: 2023’s 1st graders will be graduating high school by now and will have a solid post-high school plan created alongside their family for the past 11 years in Casa Chirilagua.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Casa Chirilagua is staffed by professionals (seven full-time and six part-time staff members) many of whom are bilingual and bi-cultural and have lived and worked abroad in Central America. Many of our staff are from or live in the neighborhood alongside our neighbors, allowing for deep, transformational relationships to be built. We have over 150 volunteers who support all programming and events, managed by our Volunteer Coordinator. We also partner with outside partners such as Alexandria City High School, ALIVE!, Neighborhood Health, and many others to provide collaborative assistance for our neighborhood. We also have 30+ strong church partnerships that support us with volunteers, funding, and expertise. One of our church partners, for example, is funding our systems overhaul project in our first phase.
Our strong partnership with the school district positions us to restructure our programmatic curriculum so that every student in our leadership pipeline will graduate high school. With a strong programmatic staffing team, over 100 committed families, over 300 donors, and a local community center, we are able to provide the necessary resources to launch our new curriculum for our strategic plan and set up the organization for growth into phase two of our strategic plan.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Casa Chirilagua's Leadership Pipeline is now the strongest it has ever been in the history of the organization. We now have programming for over 40 elementary students, 20 middle schoolers, and 15 high schoolers. Our Casa to College program has a 100% graduation rate with students moving on and graduating from colleges like Northern Virginia Community College, George Mason University, Virginia Tech, and more!
We have four Local Leaders who each grew up in the Chirilagua neighborhood and, two of whom, used to be a part of Casa's programming as kids. Three of these Local Leaders are assisting the Elementary Programs Director in creating curriculum and leading the classrooms for our Kids Club program. We also now have one Local Leader assisting the Teen Programs Director with Teens Club, Casa to College, and our Bible Study programs. This is the first time in our history that we have been able to hire a Local Leader from the community to assist with these programs in the latter stages of our Leadership Pipeline.
Our goal is that every student, alongside their family, who steps through our leadership pipeline graduates high school and has an effective post-high school career plan. Given the growth and efficiency of our model, we are on track to continue seeing this happen.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Casa Chirilagua
Board of directorsas of 03/02/2023
Mr. Fredy Hernandez
US Coast Guard
Term: 2024 - 2022
Campbell Vogel
Fredy Hernandez
US Coast Guard
Ryan Wismer
Chemonics
Connor Smith
Clark Construnction
Kristopher Klaich
Booz Allen
Adriana Gomez Schellhaas
Casa Chirilagua
Angela Zabler
US Coast Guard
Nina Bacas
Grace Episcopal Church
Amanda Meri
The Gut Nurse
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/11/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.