Ventures in Community: a brief history

VIC was founded in 1974 by Rev. Tom Quinlan of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Rev. Pat Underwood of St. Aidan's Episcopal Church,. and Ms. Jeanne Steele, lay member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, and several others. 

For more than 20 years the group has met for fellowship, community building, and venturing into problems of the community.  We gather to share resources and ideas and to solve problems that will help bring reconciliation and improve the quality of life for all in our community. 

VIC has been an advocate and community educator in the areas of housing and homelessness.  In one of its first actions, seven parishes and 11 individuals in cooperation with Child Protective Services worked to establish Samaritan House for dependent and neglected children.  In the early 1980's ecumenical Lenten soup suppers focused on hunger.  VIC's sponsorship of a rotating church shelter program in the mid 1980's led to the establishment of the Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter, operated by New Hope Housing (formerly Route One Corridor Housing), at Fort Belvoir.  A candlelight vigil in 1989 led to greater recognition of the housing crisis in the County.  Advocacy for affordable dwelling unit ordinance, the housing trust fund, and adequate social service funding have been other VIC focuses.

VIC selects focus areas for learning and action in the community.  Past emphases have included youth, homelessness, and hunger.

•sponsorship of the annual CROP Walk in April to raise money to fight hunger locally, nationally, and internationally

 •an annual choir festival on the Sunday of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend

 •an annual Easter Sunrise Service at Woodlawn Plantation

 •periodic ecumenical Bible studies series throughout the year

Regular monthly meetings are held from 11:30 am until 1 pm on the first Wednesday of each month from September through May.  The first 30 minutes of the meeting is set aside for worship.  The business meeting lasts from 12 noon until 1 pm and is followed by lunch.  The meeting location rotates among the member congregations and agencies.

 

In 2004 members of VIC formed a steering committee to investigate the issue of affordable housing. This effort as led to the decision to form a non-profit corporation to develop Singe Room Occupancy facilities along the Route One Corridor.