![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
Leesburg Restaurants Protect Employees With “Ask for Angela” Program
Leesburg restaurants conducted an employee security initiative in April, “Ask for Angela,” a program meant to protect employees from assault by saying ambiguous, coded phrases.
Courtesy of Cate Magennis Wyatt (via Creative Commons)
Through “Ask for Angela,” Leesburg restaurants have begun providing support for their employees and ensuring their safety at their workplace. In the program, used only in emergency situations where employees are at risk of assault, employees say a phrase to call for help and receive it from another trained staff member.
June 8, 2022
“Ask for Angela” was founded by the Lincolnshire County Council in England in 2016 to protect employees at work. The Lincolnshire County Council observed that many of their employees felt uncomfortable in their workplaces, so they decided to create a solution that would protect employees against the worries of sexual assault. That’s when “Ask for Angela” was born — a program for employees who feel harmed or threatened, and its purpose is to help employees when they are in danger.
“Ask for Angela” is being implemented at Delirium Cafe and Loudoun Kitchen and Bar in Leesburg, Va. “Ask for Angela” allows employees to use an ambiguous phrase to call for help if they feel endangered or harmed by customers. When employees are threatened, simply saying the word “Angela” will alert surrounding people that the employee is in danger. The program is scheduled to be effective from April to mid-May.
According to Loudoun Kitchen and Bar manager Ellie Kosovic, this program was successful at the Loudoun Kitchen and Bar. They partnered with the Loudoun Abused Shelter, Local Police Department, County Sheriff Department and Sexual Assault Response Team to launch the initiative. Staff members were trained at the beginning on how to spot signs, intervene in uncomfortable situations, and help to have a safe bar atmosphere. “I really enjoyed the experience from the ‘Ask for Angela’ program,” Kosovic said. “It was very helpful for the employees, especially intervening in uncomfortable situations.”
Employees study the codewords and phrases on a poster so they can easily memorize and call for help when needed. The codewords should only be used at a time when employees are being assaulted or in danger.
The ‘Ask for Angela’ program seemed to workout well. The employees were thankful for the protection they received, even if it was for a limited time. According to Kosovic, everyone in the Loudoun Kitchen and Bar seemed happy after working with the program and hoped to work with other programs which provide the same protection.
“The employees are also thankful for this opportunity to work with this marvelous program,” Kosovic said.
![On Monday, Dec. 16, the Rock Ridge Phoenix boys varsity basketball team faced the Unity Reed Lions in a close-knit battle, where the Phoenix prevailed 59-56.
The first quarter started slow, with both teams focusing on strong defense. Even with sophomore Filippo Gomes leading the first with two three-pointers, the Phoenix were still down three at the end of the quarter, leaving a 15-12 lead for the Lions.
The Phoenix amped up their offense considerably for the rest of the game. During the second quarter, the Phoenix scored 20 points, allowing them to grow the point gap between them and the Lions’ score, finishing the quarter 32-23 Phoenix. The third quarter was neck-and-neck as the Lions found footing again, but the Phoenix persisted and gained 14 points, ending the third quarter with a nerve-wracking 46-45 Phoenix lead. “I was a little nervous, I’m not gonna lie,” senior Akash Kulkarni said. “But just staying confident, making good passes, and listening to [Coach] Geyer [got us through].” Both teams fought tooth-and-nail for the fourth quarter, utilizing fouls, free throws, and timeouts to their advantage, but in the end, it was up to Phoenix defense to ensure their win. Ultimately, the Phoenix triumphed, with a winning score of 59-56.
After the game, the Phoenix basketball team awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) belt to the player who worked diligently behind the scenes senior William Beck. They awarded him MVP for his team leadership and playmaking throughout the game. “It feels good, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Beck said.
✏️ and 📷 by Nidhi Manchala and Lucian Tiller](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)