Come As You Are Cville

08/01/2026

✨ A Moment of Pure Joy, Community & Hope ✨

There are moments that remind us exactly why we do what we do. Reading Lamira Jackson’s scholarship essay didn’t just move us—it touched our hearts deeply. Her voice, resilience, and vision for the future are a shining reminder of the incredible potential in our community. 🎓💙🧡

We were so honored to officially present Lamira with the $1,000 Community Resilience College Scholarship! Watching her step into this next chapter with so much grace and passion was a moment we won't ever forget.

An event like this takes a village, and our hearts are overflowing with gratitude:

A huge thank you to Chef G and Lolo’s Food Bar for their incredible contribution to making this event such a success—and for blessing us with the most delicious food! Your generosity and warmth truly made everyone feel at home. 🍽️✨

To our amazing donors: Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your faith in our mission and your generosity directly open doors for young leaders like Lamira. You are helping turn dreams into reality.

At CAYA, we are dedicated to investing in our students, supporting their biggest dreams, and building stronger futures together.

Please join us in sending Lamira off with all the love, prayers, and congratulations as she takes this next big step! 🌟

12/29/2025

Charlottesville didn’t just lose a man today; we lost a compass. 🕊️⚓

There are people who tell you what you want to hear, and then there was Eddie Harris. Eddie didn't deal in the cheap currency of comfort. He dealt in the gold of truth. He was a pillar not because he was immovable, but because he was the one holding everything else up when the ground started to shake.

Eddie was a mentor in the truest, most ancient sense of the word. He didn't just reach out his hand to pull you up; he reached out his voice to call you out. He wasn't afraid to tell you when you were wrong—not to belittle you, but to save you from yourself. He knew that you couldn't build a strong house on a crooked foundation, so he spent his life helping us straighten ours.

This one doesn't just sting. It leaves a crater. He was the architect of so many of our character arcs. He saw the versions of us that we hadn't met yet, and he was willing to be the "bad guy" in our present if it meant we’d be "great men and women" in our future. His love wasn't soft; it was tempered steel. It was a love that demanded excellence because he knew we were capable of it.

To the man who never stopped reaching, never stopped correcting, and never stopped believing in the soul of this community: Rest in Power, Eddie Harris. 👑

The lessons don't die with the teacher. We will correct our paths. We will hold the line. We will carry the weight you finally set down.

10/06/2025

🎁 KIDS WILL BE SPONSORED THIS CHRISTMAS! 🎄

We have some INCREDIBLE news! A generous local business has reached out to sponsor Christmas presents for 20 children this holiday season! This means 20 of our families will have a brighter Christmas morning!

This is a first-come, first-served opportunity. If your family is in need of assistance this holiday season:
➡️ DM us (send a direct message) right now OR Email us at [email protected]

We will send the private registration link to the first 20 people who contact us.

Only ➡️20 spots are available⬅️, so please ACT FAST! Our regular, broader registration for the Christmas giveaway will follow in the next few weeks.

We can't wait to share the holiday joy with your little ones!

10/03/2025

✨ Thank You, C'VILLE! ✨

We are absolutely bursting with gratitude to announce that we been recognized with THREE major awards! These honors belong to every volunteer, partner, and family who believes in our mission.

Huge thanks and congratulations to our Founder, for his leadership!

🏆 Above and Beyond Nonprofit Organization Award (United Way of Greater Charlottesville)
This validates our approach of not just helping, but collaborating to build lasting solutions—the exact methodology taught in our new Community Engagement Playbook! What an honor to share this prestigious award with ReadyKids !

🏆 Reader’s Choice Best Kids Camp
(Charlottesville Community)
A massive shout-out to our team for creating a safe, empowering, and fun environment for our future leaders!

🏆 Favorite Civic Leader’s Award (For our Founder)
Thank you for recognizing the dedication required to lead with love and integrity! Your Trust is Our Fuel.

Want to see this award-winning approach in action? Join us as we build a safer community together this October!

➡️ Join the Movement:
RSVP for our Pledge Event on October 15th!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe98ACKXDGe7jyK8CNwVgZVTh2XWzhChtNrLuoUQVLICxRkFw/viewform?usp=header

10/02/2025

✨TWO CRITICAL EVENTS FOR OUR YOUTH! ✨

This October, we are building a safer future together. We encourage all youth, parents, and mentors to join us for two powerful community gatherings:

1️⃣ Workshop: Trauma & Resilience with Shimaine Holley

A crucial discussion focused on justice-system impacted students, featuring lived experience and FREE lunch.

🗓️ SATURDAY, OCT 11th | 11 AM – 1 PM
➡️ RSVP: Reply to this post or DM us to save a spot for your child!

2️⃣ The Cville Peace Pledge Event

Join the entire community to take a stand against gun violence. We need your presence—bring the youth in your life!

🗓️ TUESDAY, OCT 15th| 4 PM – 6 PM
➡️ YOUTH MUST REGISTER HERE:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe98ACKXDGe7jyK8CNwVgZVTh2XWzhChtNrLuoUQVLICxRkFw/viewform?usp=header

Let’s empower the next generation. See you there!

October 15th, 2025 4pm-6pm

05/23/2025

Yesterday was a truly special day as we celebrated the high school graduation of one of our most beloved camp leaders, Saadia! 🤩

Saadia isn't just a camp counselor; she's a radiant force of nature who has poured her heart into CAYA. Her infectious joy, patient guidance, and boundless love have made her incredibly cherished by our campers and the entire community around her. The kids absolutely adore her, and it's easy to see why – she brings such light and positive energy to every single session.

While we are definitely sad to see her leave us and embark on her next chapter, our hearts are bursting with pride and excitement for what the future holds for her. Saadia, you have already accomplished so much, and we know this is just the beginning of your incredible journey.

Congratulations, Saadia, and the class of 2025! We are beyond proud of all your hard work, dedication, and the amazing young woman you've become. Please know that you are forever a part of the CAYA family, and we will be here to cheer you on and support you every step of the way. Go get ‘em! 💙🧡

05/19/2025

🎉 Five Years of Heart & Action! 🎉

Today marks a truly special milestone for Come As You Are (CAYA) Charlottesville - our 5th Anniversary! 😭💖 Looking back at where we started and seeing the incredible impact we've made together fills our hearts with overwhelming gratitude.

This journey wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of our phenomenal community. From the very beginning, you opened your hearts and hands, believing in our mission to uplift and empower those who need it most in Charlottesville. Thank you, from the deepest corners of our hearts, for being the bedrock of everything we do.

We owe so much to our incredible partners, whose collaboration amplifies our reach and strengthens our efforts. Your shared vision and dedication make a tangible difference in countless lives. 🙏🏾

To our generous sponsors and donors, your belief in our work and your commitment to our cause fuel our ability to provide crucial support and intervention. Your contributions, big or small, are the lifeblood of CAYA, enabling us to create meaningful change. We are eternally grateful for your trust and investment in our community. ✨

And finally, a monumental SHOUTOUT to our VOLUNTEERS! You are the absolute FORCE behind the CAYA machine! 💪🏾 Your tireless dedication, boundless compassion, and selfless giving of your time and energy are the very essence of our organization. You are the hands that serve, the hearts that connect, and the spirit that inspires. We are in awe of each and every one of you. You are not just volunteers; you are the soul of CAYA. 💙🧡

Five years down, and with your continued support, we are more determined than ever to keep building a stronger, more compassionate Charlottesville for all. Thank you for being on this journey with us. We couldn't have made it this far without YOU!

04/28/2025

What an incredible weekend at our Mini Hip Hop Dance Camp!

We want to send a HUGE thank you to all the participants and parents for making it such an awesome time! Your energy and enthusiasm made this event truly special.

A special shoutout to McGuffey Art Center for generously opening their doors to us, and especially to Estela Knott, David Brozonsky, and Lillie Williams for sharing their studio space! We are so grateful for your support.

And, of course, a massive thank you to Jenna Hide and her amazing assistant for traveling to Charlottesville and getting groovy with our little ones all weekend long! You brought the energy and the moves, and we couldn't have done it without you.

Finally, we want to recognize our incredible teen helpers! You were all amazing, and your dedication and assistance made everything run so smoothly.

This camp was a testament to the power of community, dance, and bringing people together. We're looking forward to an amazing summer!

04/15/2025

Thank you, Katie, for your kind words! We're so glad we could help. 💙🧡

We're honored to be nominated for the Reader's Choice Awards🏆! Please vote for us daily for Best Kids Camp in the Live, Work, and Learn category. AND don't forget to vote for Mr. Tristan in the Favorite Civic Leader category in the Personalities section! Your support means the world to us!

https://dailyprogress.com/exclusive/readerschoice/ballot-2025/

If you would like more information on our resources, click the link in our bio or visit comeasyouarecville.org.

Do you have a story to share? Leave us a review or email 📧 [email protected] with your testimonial!