Here at Alternative House you would think the holidays are upon us.  The young people in our programs are excited.  They find it hard to concentrate.  There is anticipation in the air.  What could it be?  Why the end of the school year, of course! 

This is an exciting time at Alternative House.  We will be at numerous graduation celebrations for the young people in our programs.  Seven of our Homeless Youth Initiative high school students will receive their diplomas and are off to higher education and employment.  We are also celebrating at the Culmore Teen Center where seven young people are graduating from high school.  Five of them are off to college, two of them with full scholarships.  Perhaps the most excited about graduation of all, though, are the children making the big step to Middle School in our Safe Youth Projects.   

After the graduation excitement settles down, we're planning a summer filled with educational field trips, cultural activities and fun things like trips to the pool.  I hope you also have a safe and fun filled summer.  

Eric Russo came to Alternative House almost a year ago to work in the position of Residential Counselor at our Emergency Teen Shelter on Gallows Road. He came looking for more than a 9-5 job, but to work in a place he had wished existed for some of his friends when he was a teenager. "This is an awesome place and I wish some of my friends would have had this growing up," said Eric. As a Residential Counselor, he provides individual counseling, assists with homework and helps the teens stay on task with daily chores and responsibilities.  Our counselors also help keep the Emergency Shelter a well-maintained and welcoming place and ensure the young people staying with us feel safe. "I really enjoy working with teenagers in general and there is never a boring day."

When a child enters the shelter for the first time, Eric uses his experience to initiate a conversation with them about something they are interested in like music, television shows, movies or sports. This helps make the young person feel comfortable right away. "I try to keep up-to-date with things that are popular with teenagers so I can speak to the kids when they arrive and hope to find a common ground to open the conversation."

Before Alternative House, Eric was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with a major in English and in his spare time he enjoys painting miniatures.