July 31, 2013

Thank you for subscribing to the new One City Youth News! This newsletter will be published bi-weekly during the summer and will transition to a monthly newsletter in September. We hope that you find the information and links in this e-newsletter useful.

Feel free to forward this email to other organizations and community members who might benefit from the information and wish to subscribe directly. If for any reason you don’t receive an edition of One City Youth News, please go to the www.onecityyouth.dc.gov main page to sign up or call (202) 727-7973. Should you decide that this newsletter is not beneficial, you may opt out at any time. See the bottom of this message for links to subscribe and unsubscribe.

Free Summer Meals on... Saturday

Saturday meals are now part of the Free Summer Meals Program. Mayor Gray recently announced the addition of DPR and DCPL sites, great news for children and youth across the District. Saturday meals are served the same time as meals are served Monday through Friday. The new Saturday sites are: ● Wards 1 and 2: Columbia Heights Community Center (1480 Girard St NW) ● Ward 4: Lamond Recreation Center (20 Tuckerman St NE) ● Ward 5: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave NE); Woodridge Library (1801 Hamlin St NE) ● Ward 6: King Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N St SW); Southwest Library (900 Wesley Pl SW) ● Ward 7: Ft. Davis Community Center (1400 41st St SE); Dorothy Heights/Benning Library (3935 Benning Rd NE) ● Ward 8: Bald Eagle Recreation Center (100 Joliet St SW); Anacostia Library (1800 Good Hope Rd SE) Children and youth, to age 18, are also encouraged to partake in free meals Monday through Friday. Menus are tweeted each day by @OneCitySummer. A shout-out is due to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Department of Parks and Recreation, DC Public Library and DC Hunger Solutions for their commitment to the program and continued outreach.

UDC is seeking new community partners and volunteer opportunities for students

WHAT: The Office of Student Outreach and Leadership Development (S.O.L.D), provides leadership opportunities for all students attending the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) who want to get involved and connected. WHEN: Volunteer opportunities are year round. The office is open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm. WHERE: There are many on- and off-campus partnerships/community sites where UDC students can choose to either develop a program or volunteer each week. Students find out about leadership opportunities by stopping by the main office located in Building 38, Room A-13 or visiting our UDC Student Outreach page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/udc.studentoutreach. DETAILS: There are three primary focus areas within the Office of Student Outreach and Leadership Development at the University of the District of Columbia:  Leadership Development, Community Outreach and UDC Special Events.  CONTACT: For more information or to partner with UDC, contact David Gaston, S.O.L.D. Coordinator, at dgaston@udc.edu or (202) 386-1729.

Did you know? DCPS has a school supplies list by grade.

The new school year is almost upon us and that means school supplies. DC Public Schools has a general list of supplies for students by grade group, http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Learn+About+Schools/Prepare+to+Enroll. Each school might require additional items so parents and other caregivers are encouraged to check in with the school.

Spotlight: Launch of Early Literacy Campaign and Website

Sing, Talk & Read DC is a new, bilingual (English and Spanish) exciting and engaging campaign designed to increase public awareness about the importance of early literacy. Led by the DC Public Library in partnership with the Deputy Mayors for Education and Health and Human Services and the State Early Childhood Education Coordinating Council, Sing, Talk & Read DC encourages parents to sing, talk and read with their children from birth to help build early literacy skills. A key to success in school is reading. You can help shape the successful future you want for your child by getting him ready to learn before he starts school. The best way to do this is to sing, talk and read with your child. Early literacy is directly linked to future academic success. Parents, grandparents, neighbors and caregivers of children from birth to eight have an incredibly important role to play with the children in their lives and this campaign shows them how to promote reading at a young age. Even small steps—singing, talking and reading—yield big rewards. Parents and other caregivers can access tips and other early childhood resources at learndc.org/earlychildhood.   The campaign also encourages community-based organizations, religious institutions, social service agencies and others to participate in the campaign. Some of the ways organizations can help are: ● Place information on your organization’s website – include information about the important role parents play in their children’s early literacy development and link to the campaign’s website. ● Display Sing, Talk, and Read DC posters (available in English and Spanish) and other materials in high-traffic areas at your organization. ● Provide staff and volunteers to serve on street teams to distribute materials at community events. ● Talk with families you serve about the importance of singing, talking and reading with their children. If your organization is interested in getting involved, email libraryvolunteer@dc.gov.

Children, Youth, and Family Community Events

WHAT: Free, two-week online virtual camp for middle school, high school and college students.
WHEN: Monday, August 5 to Friday, August 16, Monday through Friday, from 2 - 5 pm EST
WHERE: From the comfort of your home, students can view a “live” video webcast to learn advanced biology, research methods and serve as a community health ambassador. You only need a computer with an internet connection.  
DETAILS: The online two-week summer camp allows students to gain exposure to various careers in medicine and learn advanced biology in a fun and interactive format. The virtual camp is a program of Mentoring in Medicine, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare low-income students and underrepresented minorities to pursue healthcare related careers. Students will have a chance to explore the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the cardiovascular system, learn science study strategies that really work, create a health technology project, become a Community Health Ambassador, compete in the science and health fair for prizes, network with health professionals
CONTACT: For more information, email jcolemiles@mfa.gwu.edu or call (202) 741-2574. 
RSVP: The registration deadline is Thursday, August 1 at 5 pm. Register today at www.mimvc2.eventbrite.com.

WHAT: National Night Out
WHEN: Tuesday, August 6, various times throughout the city
WHERE: Throughout the city, for exact locations go to http://mpdc.dc.gov/node/206662
DETAILS: National Night Out is a campaign designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. 
CONTACT: For more information, go to MPD’s website, www.mpdc.dc.gov

WHAT: 2nd Annual New Heights Summit
WHEN: Friday, August 16, 8:30 am – 2 pm
WHERE: Kellogg Conference Center, 800 Florida Ave NE, Washington, DC, Ward 5
DETAILS: DC Department of Human Services (DHS), DC Public Schools (DCPS), and the Student Support Center (SSC) invite you to a Summit highlighting the New Heights program and their collaborative efforts to support expectant and parenting students. The New Heights program is a school-based initiative that engages expectant and parenting students in 15 DC high schools (13 DCPS schools and two DC public charter schools), including targeting those living in foster care. The program seeks to improve the attendance and graduation rates of these students, prepare them for college or careers, and prevent subsequent pregnancies.
CONTACT: For more information, please call (202) 698-3924.
RSVP: By Saturday, August 10 at http://newheightssummit2.eventbrite.com/.

WHAT: Life Pieces to Masterpieces (LPTM) Color Me Community Conversations 
WHEN: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 6 - 8 pm
WHERE: 5600 Eads Street NE, Washington, DC 20019
DETAILS: LPTM Mentors will share their experiences to engage people from all backgrounds in conversations about the various challenges they face throughout the Washington, DC metro area. LPTM Mentors will use proven-effective Human Development System and thought-provoking artwork to facilitate Color Me Community Conversations that:
1. Provide a safe environment for a diverse group of people to discuss challenges in the community and share point-of-views;
2. Encourage participants to broaden their perspectives on various issues; and
3. Empower participants to make immediate action to address community issues.
CONTACT: For more information about LPTM, go to http://www.lifepieces.org/ or call (202) 399-7703.
RSVP: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FA8A628A3FA7-color

Please: Check out One City Summer partners' social media

Want to connect with DC government agencies using social media? You’re in luck. One City Summer Initiative partners and others regularly use DC government agencies social media which contains Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social media platform information.

Target Area Profile—Greenleaf

Greenleaf is a quick walk away from the Capitol dome, the National Mall and a large variety of museums. Greenleaf—comprised of Greenleaf Gardens, Greenleaf Additions, Greenleaf Extension, and King Greenleaf Recreation Center—has always been a tight knit community. Even with the continuing modernization, the Greenleaf residents continue to stick together. A new set of basketball courts and a community garden are being built within the Greenleaf Community for the kids and teens. We have taken the children on a few field trips including walks to the local Air and Space Museum and the United States Botanical Gardens, which were both successful. We are helping them understand the importance of community and keeping it clean. The King Greenleaf Young Adult Coordinators are Attalah Shabazz (ashabazz@cyitc.mygbiz.com) and Dwaine Brown (dbrown@cyitc.mygbiz.com).

Questions about the One City Summer News? Contact Katy Argueta at katy.argueta@dc.gov.