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Stories of Hope and Success
| What are people saying about LMECC? |
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"LMEC HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH. I LOVE COMING HERE. THE STAFF ALWAYS HELP ME AND SUPPORT MY NEEDS VERY MUCH. ESPECIALLY THE DIRECTOR. MR, JERRY BROWN, HE WAS WILLING ASSIST ME EVEN WHEN THE OFFICE WAS CLOSED ON FRIDAY. HE TOOK THE TIME TO HELP."
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ~ JOHN 3-18-2011
"FINALLY, A PLACE THAT ACCOMMODATES ME FOR MY DISABILITY. THOUGH I WISH THE SPEED OF THE COURSES WOULD PICK UP."
~ G.A.
"LMEC IS A LOVELY PLACE." ~ TED 9-8-2010
"I JUST LOVE LMEC' ATMOSPHERE, THE STAFF IS VERY FRIENDLY, KIND, HELPFUL AND THEY ALWAYS WELCOME YOU WITH A DEEP SMILE. I LOVE TO COME HERE EVERY DAY TO TAKE COMPUTER CLASSES. THE INSTRUCTORS ARE GREAT, THEY ARE VERY PATIENT, HELPFUL AND KIND. IT IS NO DOUBT , A WONDERFUL PLACE."
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ~ AMNA ASAM
"I LOVE LMEC. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING COMPUTER SKILLS TO NEEDY PEOPLE WHICH HELPS THEM TO GET A CHANCE TO COPE WITH LIFE. "
~ Anonymous
"LMEC IS A GOOD PLACE TO COME AND GET RESTARTED IN A EVERYDAY WAY OF LIFE. LMEC IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES (AND OTHERS) TO GET REAQUAINTED WITH THEMSELVES SO ONE CAN FUNCTION AGAIN."
~ L.K. 4-21-2010
"LMEC HAS AN ATMOSPHERE LIKE NO OTHER. SO MANY GOOD-HEARTED PEOPLE AND HELPFUL STAFF. I ENJOY COMING TO LMEC EVERY TIME. THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PLACES LIKE LMEC. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO FOR SO MANY PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE."
~ JACKIE S. |
Click here to read other Testimonials
Note - These are all handwritten, personal thoughts logged in our journal at the frontdesk in our office. Come in and check it out and then add one. | |
 Empowerment
In the year 2000, I was living in a group home with three other women. I had just completed a nine-month rehab program called Women’s Day Support through the Alexandria Community Services Board at the Mill Road Detox Center. Dual diagnosis is my problem—alcohol addiction and schizoaffective disorder. (Read more...) |
Strength and Dedication 
Ali’s Strength and Dedication
I first heard about the Laurie Mitchell Employment Center through Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) more than 2 years ago. They brought me here and I met Cristina. I have been coming here regularly ever since. About 3 months ago, Cristina asked me if I wanted to volunteer in the Resource Room. I didn’t believe it at first, but here I am now working as a volunteer, 20 hours a week. This is a great opportunity for me. (Read more...) |
 A Stepping Stone
Cynthia’s Future Steps
In Our Own Voice (IOOV)
I started as a volunteer at LMEC in 1996. After 3 months, I was hired as a part-time Administrative Assistant. In 1999, I was promoted to Employment Specialist. I worked as a Program Director from 2003 to 2008.
I first heard about LMEC when I was at a clubhouse in Alexandria and saw a flyer for the center on the bulletin board. I really liked the idea of a place where people could learn computer skills without having to take out a student loan. And I knew employment services were very important to people with mental illness. I was looking for a volunteer job with a mental health organization. (Read more...) |
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Hope 
Tim Finds Hope
I learned about The Laurie Mitchell Employment Center from a flyer about the TEC 2000 classes that I found at The Job Club of DRS on Old Richmond Hwy. I qualified for the classes and got signed up for the 18 week course. From the very beginning the staff encouraged me in many ways. The staff at LMEC was always supportive and understanding. It really helped that everyone in the classes and the staff had the same common medical conditions. My teacher, Ramsey Williams, was wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about Ramsey. He was always patient, and kind, even when the source of my greatest problems was me and not the information being provided. (Read more...) |  Motivation
Gregory Pays it Forward
From a personal and professional standpoint, my experience at LMEC was the achievement of a goal of mine. It all started when I attended a Job Fair at the Government Center where Service Source had a booth. That is where I saw the flyer about an opportunity to become a Certified Microsoft Office Specialist. I was interested in computers so I followed up and entered the TEC2000 Class in March of 2008. Subsequently the staff at LMEC provided me with the training to which I have many thanks and appreciation.
The staff and consumers at LMEC are like family to me. (Read more...) |
K.S. Anything is Possible Determination  Recovery is possible - K.S
Through my personal experience in mental health therapy, I decided that I wanted to go back to school to study Psychology, but I was not ready to be a full-time student. My therapist sent me to the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) to see if they would sponsor me to go back to college. I was tested at DRS and I discovered I had no current computer skills. My DRS worker referred me to the Laurie Mitchell Employment Center (LMEC) to see if I could, “Come out of my shell,” enough to complete the TEC 2000 course. Every day, I deal with schizoaffective disorder. It makes things harder to handle, but today, thanks to what I learned at LMEC, I am doing well in living and working in the world. (Read more...) |
Stephanie: …On Her Chosen Path While in the middle of my senior year of high school, I experienced a severe manic episode which soon led to a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. It was unfortunate that at the time, no one around me knew what was going on with me or what to do to help me. This disorder, which strikes one to two percent of the population, escalated into my first time being in trouble with the law and caused me to be institutionalized for almost two years in four different places, in many ways isolating me from friends and family and interrupting my life. It was upsetting at first, but in the long run, looking back at everything I went through, I’ve realized that something a lot worse could have happened. If my diagnosis had been missed and/or if I had not gotten proper mental health care, I would not be where I am today, (Read more...) |
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Change 
How LMEC Changed Mine’s Life I first heard of the Laurie Mitchell Employment Center from a flyer that was posted at the South Fairfax County Center in 2007. The flyer advertised free computer training classes and this caught my attention. I called LMEC and spoke with Mrs. Harper. I provided all the information requested by her, came in and my application was accepted. This was the turning point in my life. The LMEC staff was very friendly and showed great nterest in me and my well-being. Everyone was really supportive and understanding. I received guidance from Jerry Brown and Troy Ann-Patterson and they were always willing to answer all of my questions. (Read more...) | |
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