People Incorporated of Virginia

06/19/2026

People Inc Offices CLOSED in celebration of Juneteenth-Freedom Day!

: Today, as we commemorate Juneteenth, we reflect on the enduring journey toward freedom, opportunity, and equality for all Americans. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865—the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

The spirit of Juneteenth is deeply connected to the mission of Community Action. Both are rooted in the belief that freedom must be accompanied by opportunity, and that every individual deserves access to the resources, education, housing, employment, and support needed to thrive.

Since the launch of the War on Poverty in 1964, Community Action Agencies like People Incorporated of Virginia have worked to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and empower individuals and families to achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency.

As we honor Juneteenth, we celebrate both the progress that has been made and the work that continues to ensure that freedom and opportunity are accessible to all.

06/18/2026

In observance of the Juneteenth holiday, federal, state, and local government offices, as well as courts and financial institutions, will be closed. U.S. Post Offices will also be closed with no regular mail delivery, although most private retailers, FedEx, and UPS will operate on normal schedules.

06/17/2026

Impact Wednesday!

Take a look at our Housing Group stats from 2025. We are proud to serve communities in 2 states and 2 time zones.

06/16/2026

We have something very exciting coming up!

Our Impact Report for 2025 is almost here! To celebrate, we are calling this “Teaser Tuesday,” giving you a sneak peak into one of our success stories!

BRIDGING HOUSING AND STABILITY
Finding a Way Forward: A Family’s Journey to Stability

When Laken returned to Dante, Virginia after a divorce in 2019, she was starting over with two young children and a lot of uncertainty. Through income-based housing with People Incorporated of Virginia, Laken secured an apartment that provided the stability her family needed to rebuild. With safe housing in place, she focused on creating new opportunities. A front-desk job at the Inn at Wise quickly grew into a career in hospitality. Through hard work and determination,Laken advanced into sales, marketing, and event management roles. Today, she serves as general manager of the venue and is raising three children with her fiancé. The family recently moved into a lease-to-own home, achieving a goal they had worked toward for years. For Laken, stable housing was the foundation that made everything else possible—turning a difficult new beginning into a future filled with opportunity.

This is just one of many inspirational stories in our upcoming 2025 Impact Report. We hope this gets you excited for its release!

06/16/2026

🏠 Now Leasing at Dante Crossings Apartments in Russell County! 🏠

Looking for safe, quality, and affordable housing in Southwest Virginia? Dante Crossings Apartments offers comfortable 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments in the heart of Dante, Virginia (rhymes with "paint"😁).

✨ Features Include:
✔ 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units
✔ Washer and dryer in every unit
✔ Across from park
✔ Two-story walk-up apartments
✔ Housing Choice Vouchers Accepted

📍 Dante Crossings Apartments
508 Bunchtown Road
Dante, VA 24237

💲 Monthly Rent:
• 1 Bedroom: $511
• 2 Bedroom: $635
• 3 Bedroom: $685

📞 For more information: 276-679-4416
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.peopleinc.net/housing/dante-crossing/

At People Incorporated of Virginia, we believe everyone deserves access to quality, affordable housing that helps build stronger communities.

06/15/2026

06/14/2026

Today is Flag Day! 🇺🇸

Today is an important day in America as we recognize the symbol of our country. Our flag represents the unity and freedom we have. It tells a story of all those who are a part of it that make a difference in our communities and nation. Let's take a minute today to honor those who have and currently are serving.

06/13/2026

🎓✨ Celebrating the Class of 2026! ✨🎓

People Incorporated of Virginia’s Project Discovery Program is proud to recognize 45 graduating seniors from Abingdon, Patrick Henry, John Battle, Castlewood, Honaker, Twin Valley, Council, Hurley, and Grundy High Schools.

These outstanding students have earned acceptance to colleges and universities across the region and beyond, including UVA, UVA-Wise, Berea College, King University, Radford University, ETSU, Emory & Henry, High Point University, Hollins University, Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College, and Brightpoint Community College.

Their hard work has also resulted in remarkable scholarship awards, including:
🌟 Multiple full-ride scholarships to UVA and Berea College valued at more than $200,000 each
🌟 Significant awards to Radford, UVA-Wise, High Point, and Hollins University
🌟 Thousands of dollars in tuition assistance helping make higher education more accessible

Project Discovery helps students explore educational opportunities, navigate the college application process, and pursue their dreams beyond high school. We are incredibly proud of these graduates and all they have accomplished.

Please join us in congratulating the Project Discovery Class of 2026 and wishing them success as they begin the next chapter of their journey! 🎉📚🎓

06/12/2026

Fun Fact Friday!

People Incorporated is part of a robust network of over 1,000 Community Action Agencies across 99% of U.S. counties, all fighting poverty at the local level.

06/11/2026

Throwback Thursday!

The Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) was one of the major youth employment programs created during President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty in the 1960s and one of People Inc's first programs.

The program was designed to:
Provide part-time and summer employment for low-income youth, generally ages 16–21.
Help young people remain in school by offering income and work experience.
Develop job skills, work habits, and career awareness.
Reduce poverty by improving future employment opportunities.

The Neighborhood Youth Corps included three major components:
In-School Program
Part-time jobs for students from low-income families.
Participants worked while continuing their education.

Summer Program
Temporary jobs during summer vacation.
Often involved community improvement projects.
Out-of-School Program
Targeted youth who had left school.
Combined employment with education and vocational training.

Connection to Community Action Agencies

Many Community Action Agencies—including some of the earliest agencies in Appalachia and Southwest Virginia—administered or partnered in NYC programs.

CAAs helped:
Recruit eligible youth.
Place participants in local government, nonprofit, and community-service jobs.
Provide supportive services such as counseling and educational assistance.

The program reflected the Community Action philosophy of "maximum feasible participation", seeking to involve local communities directly in anti-poverty efforts.

Impact in Appalachia

In Appalachian communities, where youth unemployment and poverty rates were often high, the Neighborhood Youth Corps:
Provided thousands of young people with their first paid work experience.
Supported local schools and community organizations with additional workers.
Helped prepare participants for military service, higher education, apprenticeships, and long-term employment.

Legacy

The Neighborhood Youth Corps operated throughout the 1960s and 1970s before being replaced by later federal youth employment and training programs. It is considered a predecessor to programs such as:

The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs,
Workforce Investment Act initiatives,
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) youth programs.

For organizations like People Incorporated of Virginia, which traces its roots to the earliest years of the War on Poverty, the Neighborhood Youth Corps represents an important example of how Community Action Agencies combined education, employment, and community development to expand opportunities for low-income youth.

Linda, a volunteer for the past 5 years as our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) Phoneline Coordinator, participated in People Inc's Neighborhood Youth Corps in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was assigned jobs such as assisting in the high school cafeteria and filing paperwork at the county school board office. Having been raised on a farm, she says the NYC program instilled in her the importance of organization, accountability, education, and workplace skills to improve her future employment opportunities.