August 15, 2013

Thank you for subscribing to the new One City Youth Newsletter! 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.

Featured Event

WHAT: DC Rally and March for Statehood and Self-determination WHEN: Saturday August 24, starting at 8:30 am WHERE: At the DC War Memorial DETAILS: The District and the nation will commemorate the 1963 March on Washington. Residents of the District of Columbia—led by Mayor Vincent Gray, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson—will start the commemoration with a rally of our own, the "DC Rally and March for Statehood and Self-determination." Attendees will extol the value of statehood for DC and voting rights for residents. This rally is a chance to share with the nation and the world the limits placed on DC residents and the need for the city to takes its place as a full member of the democracy. Want your children to know more about the 1963 march, what precipitated it and what followed? A bevy of resources have been gathered and posted at http://onecityyouth.dc.gov/page/featured-programs.

Children, Youth, and Family Community Events

WHAT: Free Summer Meals Program WHEN: Open through August 23 WHERE: At the more than 50 sites throughout the District DETAILS: Kids and teens can still eat for free. To find a site and the meals served, go to the One City Youth website’s Featured Programs page, http://onecityyouth.dc.gov/page/featured-programs.

WHAT: Back-to-School Backpack Giveaways

WHEN: Throughout August

WHERE: Throughout the District

DETAILS: For more information, go to onecityyouth.dc.gov. 

WHAT: Fun Day

WHEN: Sunday, August 18, 2013, 1 pm - 4 pm

WHERE: W.B. Patterson Elementary School, 4399 South Capitol Terrace SW, Washington, DC 20032

DETAILS: W.B. Patterson Elementary School invites you to come meet their staff. You can complete registration paperwork. There will be food, games, and lots of fun.

CONTACT: For more information, call (202) 939-5280.

WHAT: Sign up for DC Public School's Beautification Day! WHEN: Saturday, August 24, 2013, 9 am - 1 pm WHERE: Volunteers are needed at nearly 100 schools citywide DETAILS: DCPS needs volunteers for a variety of projects to help clean up and spruce up schools in preparation for the first day of school. Activities will include gardening and landscaping, organizing books and libraries, painting, flower planting and more. This is a great opportunity to contribute to neighborhood schools. CONTACT/RSVP: To volunteer, donate supplies, or for more information about DCPS Beautification Day go to www.dcps.dc.gov/Bday2013.

WHAT: Metro Mambo: The Drum Circle and Washington, DC

WHEN: Saturday, August 24, 2013, 2 pm - 4 pm

WHERE: Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, DC 20020

DETAILS: Since its inception, the very title of the Metro Mambo series referenced cultural exploration. Hosted by Jim Byers (WPFW 89.3 FM's Latin Flavor), graduate student Megan Sutherland explores the social tapestry of the drum circle and its special place in the fabric of Washington, D.C. After the presentation, join the community in a festival of rhythm in our own drum circle!

CONTACT: For more information, call (202) 633-1000.

WHAT: March on Washington Film Series
WHEN: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 6:30 pm
WHERE: Woodbridge Library, 801 Hamlin St. NE, Washington, DC 20018
DETAILS: A library staff member will show episode four "No Easy Walk, 1961-1963" from the critically-acclaimed Eyes on the Prize film series. This fifty-five minute (55) film chronicles the challenges and achievements of Dr. King in Albany (Georgia), Birmingham (Alabama), and in Washington, DC.
CONTACT: For more information, contact Paul Mills, paul.mills@dc.gov.

WHAT: Braille Book Club for Kids

WHEN: Saturday, September 7, 2013, first Saturday of every month, at 11 am (except holidays or as advertised)

WHERE: Adaptive Services Division, Room 215,  Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, Washington DC 20001

DETAILS: Join our Braille Book Club for children in grades 1-6 (and their parents) who are Braille readers. This program is sponsored in partnership with Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind.

CONTACT: For more information, contact the Adaptive Services Division at 202-727-2142 or lbph.dcpl@dc.gov.

Spotlight: National Night Out

Communities throughout the District celebrated National Night Out, Tuesday, August 6. Community-based events recognized strong partnerships with law enforcement, showcased local artists, updated residents about educational programs and changes to city programs and featured MPD-resident photo ops.  

The celebrations demonstrate the strong relationship the Metropolitan Police Department has with communities. To participate next year, contact Assistant Chief Diane Groomes, diane.groomes@dc.gov.

Spotlight: Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) – A Game Changer

At the Arboretum Community Center Recreation Camp, the SYEP Program plays a major role, not only during camp but all throughout the year. It plays a major role throughout the year because all campers know that around age twelve they have an opportunity to become an unofficial, unpaid junior counselor, a position of honor. The junior counselors are in training to become a paid SYEP counselor at age fourteen. They get to be in charge of little folk. Hear what several SYEP participants had to say about their experience.

SYEP Kenture Avery, age 18, WMST Charter School, said that "This experience has been remarkable because it allows us to influence the next generation. We can help the young ones become greater than we have ever been. This is my 4th year as a SYEP, and it has allowed me to personally see parts of the city I may never have seen. I will take these magnificent moments with me to reflect on during my college years."

"My name is Deonta Covington, age 16, Wilson High School. As a first year SYEP, I think it is a great experience because it helps you improve the youth you are working with, as well as yourself. I play sports in high school. Being designated as the Assistant SYEP Athletic Director is important to me. This job also helps me learn to manage money. These experiences have life-long ramifications."

"My name is Janayia Summers, age 17, Coolidge High School. This is my third year working as a SYEP, and my first year as a SYEP Supervisor. I recently received an award from the DPR Young Ladies on The Rise Program for having earned over 100 Community Service Hours. I received most for my community service during summer camp. Some of the SYEPs volunteer to work the first and last weeks of camp when there are no paid SYEPs on hand. Some of my friends plan to do the same this year. I will leave for my first year of college the day after summer camp ends for paid SYEPs. The community gave me, along with another former SYEP, a College Bound Shower. Next year, five of the SYEPs working at this year’s summer camp will be honored with their College Bound Shower."

"My name is Kyla Goodman, age 16, Cesar Chavez Charter High School. I am also a SYEP Supervisor. I help our Coach and Site Manager keep track of everyone, research possible site visits, help with administrative chores, as well as perform the regular Summer Camp duties of engaging and protecting the campers. I was once a camper myself. Next I was a junior counselor for two years. Every since then I have been a SYEP. This is my third year. Next year I plan to return. I will be one of the five honored with a College Bound Shower. Also, this year I received an award from The DPR Young Ladies on the Rise Program for my academic achievements. In college, I plan to be a Forensic Science Major. In addition, Janayia and I serve on the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council."

"We SYEPs talk a lot about our plight as inner-city Black and Brown youth, and we know we are not expected to make it. We learn a lot about how to make it, and we now know that we are going to make it. We owe much to the SYEP Program.  It is a real Game Changer."

Target Area Profile—Sursum Corda

Sursum Corda is a small gated community with people that want to go far in life. They do not have much but they use what they have. They have a Library (NW1) and a recreation center (Walker Jones) nearby but they have to use another community playground (Tyler House). Sursum Corda residents are just people who want to work but need resources such a computer and internet to get started. Without having child care or resources they do not know where to turn. Having a community center with empty rooms is not enough. The individuals of Sursum find ways to prosper through it all. This summer the children’s second home was the Library where there were successful outreaches and resources. The Sursum children loved everything that dealt with creativity and that was computer based. They even got to express themselves through canvas board painting which is now displayed on the community center walls. The only thing kids want is for you to believe in them. This is the end of the outreach for the summer but not the end of the Sursum Corda journey. The Sursum Corda Young Adult Coordinators are Shykira Cox (scox@cyitc.mygbiz.com) and Robert Harrod (rharrod@cyitc.mygbiz.com).

Questions about the One City Youth News? Email us at dmhhs@dc.gov.