Community Empowerment Center at Booker T. Washington

08/19/2026

Introducing Fourth Thursdays at the Community Empowerment Center with New Horizons Healthcare! 🩺🦷

Next Thursday, August 27, New Horizons will offer a variety of family medical services and children’s dental services by appointment, as well as behavioral/mental health consultations upon request.

Can't make it next week? Appointments will also be available September 24 and October 22, giving families three opportunities to access healthcare services at the CEC.

Call (540) 853-2301 or email [email protected] to schedule your appointment today!

08/13/2026

Thank you to Star City Private Wealth/Blue Ridge Financial Partners for going above and beyond to collect school supplies and needed hygiene supplies to help our students and families start the year off on the right foot! 100% of these supplies will directly benefit students.

We cannot thank our new friends enough for their generosity. They even hosted our leaders recently at an open house to collect these supplies and celebrate our partnership. We look forward to continuing to work with them in support of our students in the future!

08/06/2026

Thanks to our friends at James Madison Middle School for hosting their annual Back to School Bash at the CEC! Together, we’ve been able to provide school supplies, immunizations, and other important resources this afternoon to families so they can start the year off on the right foot!

08/06/2026

Celebrating the start of the school year by providing resources at CHIP of Roanoke Valley’s back to school event!

08/04/2026

07/16/2026

We were honored to present at this year’s Virginia School Boards Association’s 2026 Conference on Education!

“More than a Building: How RCPS Transformed a Central Office into a Family Hub” explored the what, why, and how of our path to creating the Community Empowerment Center, and provided a framework to other school divisions interested in creating their own one-stop hub!

Thank you to our School Board Chair Franny Apel and Director of Community Engagement Corey Allder for sharing our story! In addition, School Board Member Joyce Watkins serves as VSBA’s Legislative Positions Committee Chair and has helped to lead this year’s conference!

07/11/2026

🚌📚 Load the Bus returns!

Join our area school divisions in collecting school supplies to help students start the school year ready to learn. Visit the Bonsack, Clearbrook, Salem, and Valley View Walmart locations on July 31-August 2 to donate school supplies.

Friday, July 31: 3-7 p.m.
Saturday, August 1: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, August 2: 12-5 p.m.

Drop off supplies with school staff on site or place items in the donation box at the store entrance. You'll even have the chance to see some of your favorite teachers and administrators helping collect donations throughout the weekend!

Additionally, supplies can be dropped off at the Community Empowerment Center or VFW Post 1264.

Thank you to WSLS 10, Blue Eagle Credit Union, and Q99 - WSLQ 99.1 for sponsoring. We also extend our appreciation to Walmart for hosting collection sites and to our partners at Roanoke County Public Schools, Salem City Schools, and Craig County Public Schools, for working together to help students start the year with the tools they need to succeed.

07/08/2026

We had a great time celebrating our first anniversary! We can't wait to keep up the great work in Year 2!

06/29/2026

What a day! 🌟

Last Thursday, dozens of volunteers from across the Roanoke Valley showed up and showed out at the Community Empowerment Center. The United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge's Day of Action brought together local businesses and community partners to give our Center some love. Volunteers assembled welcome bags and hygiene kits, organized the business closet, refreshed our storefront, and beautified our outdoor spaces — all before noon!

This didn’t happen by accident. In the weeks before Day of Action, community partners collected school supplies, professional clothing, hygiene items, and food pantry essentials that will go directly to the students and families we serve every day.

We are so grateful to everyone who made it possible:
United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge, Title Sponsor Virginia Credit Union, Gold Sponsor LewisGale Regional Health System, Supply Drive Donors Altec Inc., The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Carter Bank, LewisGale, and Roanoke City Public Schools. Special thank you also to Kroger for the breakfast donation.

This is what community looks like. Thank you for investing in our families. 💛

06/18/2026

What a year it has been! And we're just getting started. 🥳

Celebrate the Community Empowerment Center's first year, along with the launch of the Imagination Library of Roanoke City and Roanoke County, on Tuesday, July 7 from 3-5 p.m. as we host Imagine Roanoke: A Family Literacy Celebration! 🎉

Enjoy free books and ice cream, and meet with several community partners who will be in attendance to share about even more programs and services.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

📚✨ Imagine Roanoke: A Family Literacy Celebration! ✨📚

Celebrate the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Community Empowerment Center and the launch of the Imagination Library of Roanoke City and Roanoke County with an afternoon of fun!

📅 Tuesday, July 7
🕒 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
📍 Community Empowerment Center, 40 Douglass Ave. NW
📖 Free books from RCPS
🍦 Ice cream from Freedom First Credit Union's Scoop truck
🤝 Community partners

We hope you'll join us as we celebrate literacy, milestones, and our community. See you there!