Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2013 Issue | Page 13

Photo: Teri Moy

(Top) Jennifer Lassiter shouts from the
rooftop of the historic mansion that is at
the heart of the Paxton Campus.

Katelyn, Lassiter’s daughter, is the driving
force behind Lassiter’s work with the
Aurora School and the Paxton Campus.

architect,” for example. And a call would
come with a grant opportunity to fulfill
that very need.

The property acquisition did not
come without a good deal of challenges.
The 11 buildings on the Paxton Campus
had not been used in years, and many
were in a state of disrepair. But still,
it had potential. Lassiter toured the
property in 2005. In 2008, she signed
the lease. And in December 2009, the
Aurora School held its first class on the
newly renovated Paxton Campus.

Today, the Paxton Campus
has morphed into a full-service
organization for those with disabilities

and their families. In addition to the
Aurora School, there’s the Open Door
Learning Center, an inclusive preschool,
and the Ally Advocacy Center, which
provides free information on disability
rights and more. Maggie’s Closet is a
fairly new initiative where people can
contribute clothing and families can
stop by to receive free donations. The
Paxton Attraction is a store on camp