Community · Sustainability · Justice
Bringing communities together through adult literacy & ESOL classes, sustainable arts workshops, seminars, talks, retreats, and more.
The Institute
Modeled on the casa de povo (house of the people) found in Portugal, the John Dos Passos Institute is a rural community enrichment center. The mission of our organization is to nurture community, sustainability, and justice in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and beyond. We offer free classes (Spanish in the Community, English to Speakers of Other Languages, Adult Literacy), we coordinate paid internships for local youth (from Rappahannock Community College and Chesapeake Bay Governor's School), we create literary events around the legacy of local author John Dos Passos, and we facilitate grassroots restoration of our 5 acre wooded wetland site. We aim to provide a full range of enrichment programming from pre-K through adulthood to a rural, underserved, diverse local population.
By partnering with a wide spectrum of Northern Neck nonprofits, we will ensure that we will increase the quality and number of enrichment opportunities for our local community.
With the help of grants, donations, and community support, we will welcome the public to our 1037 Tucker Hill Road site in the near future. For now, please email [email protected] to schedule an individual or small group tour.
Siguiendo el modelo de la casa de povo (casa del pueblo) que se encuentra en Portugal, Brasil y Goa, el Instituto JDP es en parte un centro comunitario y en parte un centro cultural. Nuestros principios operativos son comunidad, sostenibilidad y justicia. La misión de nuestra organización es sostener, nutrir y revitalizar la comunidad del condado de Westmoreland formando conexiones dentro de Virginia, los EE. UU. y el mundo. Hacemos esto creando acceso a oportunidades de becas, desarrollo de liderazgo y propuestas progresistas para una vida sostenible a nivel local y global.
Community
Built through engaging in classes, workshops, and groups
Sustainability
Both in terms of improving ecological health, and making life more sustainable for lower-income residents of Westmoreland County
Justice
Through access to educational and cultural opportunity, mentoring, and career advising for marginalized residents (including recent immigrants, returning citizens, and non-traditional age students)
Adult Literacy & ESOL Classes
Our community members bring a wealth of knowledge and skills, and in order to live out their potential, they need access to opportunities for growth through communication. Our classes include individual and group learning settings, at no cost to Westmoreland County residents.
Paid Internship for Local Youth
We believe that youth ages 15-25 are the future of the Northern Neck, so we offer them paid internships in Grounds & Botanical Work, Accounting & Nonprofit Management, Community-Based Learning, and Literary Studies (on the legacy of John Dos Passos). In return for their commitment, we offer former interns a chance to serve on our Youth Advisory Board, plus lifetime college and career support.
Westmoreland County Demographics
Population
%
Language other than English spoken at home
%