Lunch & Learn Series

Check out our upcoming Lunch & Learn events:

CASA: WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

presented by Jennifer Braun & Virginia Koser with Cumberland County CASA Program

Join us for a Lunch and Learn session to discover the vital work of Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA volunteers are everyday citizens who speak up for children in the foster care system, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. During this session, you’ll learn how CASA makes a difference in the lives of vulnerable youth, what it means to be a volunteer advocate and how you can get involved. Whether you’re curious about the role or ready to take the next step, this is a powerful opportunity to learn, connect and help change a child’s story.

This program is free, but please register as space is limited. Bring a bag lunch and join us in the Living Room ready to learn!

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Virginia Koser

Virginia Koser has over 20 years of experience in the child welfare system. She loves working at CASA because the focus of the program is on what is best for the children involved and then working to break down any barriers to meet those needs. Virginia lives in Carlisle with her family and loves the community. In her spare time, you’ll find her on the sidelines cheering on her children with their various sporting events.

Jennifer Braun MSW, LSW

Jennifer has 10 years of experience in the child welfare system and working within communities. Jennifer has worked directly with youth in foster care, helped recruit and support foster families, worked within schools as a social worker and school based therapist. Jennifer lives in Mechanicsburg with her husband and dog, Dobby. In her spare time, Jennifer is active in the young professional sports leagues (especially kickball!) or attending a University of Maryland football game (Go Terps!)

American Sign Language Workshop

facilitated by Anne & Greg Coppes

Learning American Sign Language (ASL) is a valuable life skill. ASL is a beautifully expressive and complete language that follows its own grammar rules and combines hand gestures with facial expressions and body language to convey meaning.

In this workshop, participants will develop an understanding of deaf culture and a working knowledge of ASL. After learning phrases and sentences, you will have time to practice with each other.

Registration is required and is limited to 20. Bring a bag lunch and join us in the Living Room ready to learn!

In addition to being able to communicate with members of the deaf community, other benefits of learning ASL could be:

• improved spatial reasoning
• enhanced ability to recognize and interpret body language
• improved reaction time and peripheral vision
• enhanced creativity
• protection against Alzheimer’s disease

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Anne Coppes & Greg Coppes

Anne began learning ASL in 1970 as part of the Deaf Education Program at Bloomsburg College (now University). At the same time, Greg was learning ASL at Elwyn Institute in Media PA. Since then, Anne has used and taught ASL for 43 years in various school districts. Starting about 2015, Anne and Greg began offering Lunch & Learn classes at the Carlisle Family YMCA.