CIF celebrates a great group of volunteers to carry out our work! We’d like to recognize some awesome individuals
Bill Threlkeld
Bill is one of the CIF’s founding volunteers with the Centreville Labor Resource Center, as an early technical advisor regarding what might work and not work when the Center was being conceptualized and during its early formation. He utilized his experience from 2005-2007 directing Project Hope & Harmony with Cornerstones, a neighborhood coalition that established and operated the Herndon Official Workers Center. He has also participated in more recent years in the steering committee for CIF’s Immigration Issues Discussion Group, which held forums throughout the year on important issues to immigrants, often with expert guest speakers representing groups working on or affected by these issues. Bill now serves on CIF’s Board of Directors in January 2022.
Linnea Ober
Linnea became involved with CIF as an employer in 2016, hiring for projects around the house and yard work. She enjoyed meeting and working with the members, staff, and other volunteers. When I heard CIF was looking for volunteers, I was excited to become more involved. My background is in science education, but I found a place in CIF managing the database and analyzing data. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet people in our community, and to learn. CIF is a great place to volunteer because everyone is friendly and optimistic, and there is a wide range of volunteer opportunities. Something for everyone!
Steven Webb
Steve live in Reston VA and is retired, after working for the World Bank/ Banco Mundial for 21 years as an economist and 8 years as a consultant. Much of the time I was working with governments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Alice and Jerry Foltz came to our church—United Christian Parish of Reston—to tell about CIF, I realized that it would be a good organization for me to volunteer with.
Steven serves on CIF’s development committee and has been influential in connecting new groups, people, and raising awareness. Fun Fact: Steve has 16 grandchildren.
Kitty Stapleton
Kitty learned about Centreville Immigration Forum from her church, Centreville United Methodist, Missions Coordinator Barb Shaiko. She became involved at that time and then the following years during the establishment of the Labor Resource Center. Since its foundation she has participated in various activities at the Center. For several years, she taught ESL in the evenings and led some crafting sessions with the women on Saturday mornings. Kitty’s English resources are still being used by ESOL staff and volunteers, which she set up in her time as ESOL coordinator. Currently, Kitty is a member of the Human Resources committee and has helped hire great staff over the years!
Dr. Al Fuertes
Dr. Al Fuertes is an associate professor at George Mason University. He is an international consultant and field practitioner in psychosocial trauma healing, conflict resolution/transformation, and peacebuilding.
He has been involved since CIF’s inception; facilitating dialogues and community fora with residents of Centreville/Northern VA on immigration issues, together with Wellspring United Church of Christ to provide public spaces for people interested on the issue. Those monthly sessions of dialogue and fora, paved the way to the creation of CIF. Dr. Fuertes has referred many students at GMU to volunteer for ESOL, helped with wage theft recovery, and running the Labor Center. He invite workers to come to GMU and educate Mason students about immigration issues, including the nature and dynamics of human smuggling and identity. He is joined CIF’s Board of Directors January 2022.
Raquel Villalobos
Raquel first came to the center in 2018, as a senior at Centreville High School. She and a friend needed assistance on a school project to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. They hoped to encourage Hispanic students to focus on their educational future. Since then, Raquel has been connected to the wonderful people of the center, which led to a job opportunity this year working under the CDC funds and helping our community get vaccinated! She also helps when needed through distributions, interpretation, and other social service needs!
Mark Reimers
Mark Reimers is a member of the Clifton Presbyterian Church and chairman of the Mission Committee. He and his group supports the Centreville Immigration Forum with a few volunteers and some financial support. They’ve also been influential in CIF’s partnership with Western Fairfax Christian Ministries. He is an active accompaniment volunteer during COVID helped to deliver food to homes.
Alice and Jerry Foltz
Alice and Jerry Foltz are founding members, which made CIF possible.
Alice became involved with CIF through her church, Wellspring United Church of Christ. In 2007 she agreed to help our congregation sponsor community meetings about immigration, when this was a controversial issue in Centreville and nearby communities. At Centreville Immigration Forum, she has served on the Board of Directors, and on every committee; today she serves on the Development Committee, and I also teach ESOL and coordinate accompaniment.
Jerry is Pastor for Wellspring United Church of Christ. He helped with original community meetings about immigration issues. He has volunteered in many capacities like running payroll, accompanying members with needs, and much more. He currently if CIF Finance Committee Chair and serves on the Board of Directors as assistant Treasurer.
Marvin Merida
Marvin lives in Western Fairfax and was looking for opportunities to volunteer and found CIF online. He is bilingual and speaks Spanish fluently. He utilized his skills to teach English. He loves language learning and saw the ESOL classes at CIF as a fun opportunity and a chance to help others.