OAA Information, Events, and Opportunities 7.15. 2011

District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 07/15/2011 01:01 PM EDT

Mayor’s Office on African Affairs 
List Serv
July 14, 2011
                                                                                                                                                     
AT-A-GLANCE:

You Should Know:

  • ·         Opportunities for  English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS)
  • ·         African participants wanted for Health Survey

You Should Go:   

  • ·         Bring Your Calabash and Songs with Kweku  
  • ·         Please Join Africa Prays for monthly worship
  • ·         2nd Annual DC Africa Festival
  • ·         FestAfrica 2011: 9th Annual African Fest

Camps and Educational Opportunities:

  • ·        
  • ·         Ethiopian Heritage and Culture Camp  
  • ·         Howard University Cyber Camp 
  • ·         The 2011 Free Service-Learning Institute!
  • ·         Colors Hospitality Opportunities for Workers (CHOW) offering free training program!  

Employment Opportunities:

  • ·         Recreation Assistant (1)
  • ·         Recreation Specialist (4)
  • ·        


                                                                                                        

You Should Know:

 

To submit your event or job announcements, please send it to Oaa@dc.gov by 2:00 pm Thursday!  

Opportunities for  English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS)

http://www.cal.org/ehls/index.html

The EHLS program is designed for nonnative speakers of English who want to develop their ability to use English in professional situations. For 2012, the program is recruiting native speakers of Arabic, Balochi, Dari, Hausa, Hindi, Igbo, Mandarin Chinese, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Punjabi, Somali, Swahili, Turkish, or Urdu.

Deadline July 18

http://www.cal.org/ehls/qualifications/overview.html

African participants wanted for Health Survey

 

The District of Columbia Department of Health and Human Services partnering with the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases to recruit health black African men and women to understand diabetes and heart disease risk in Africans. You must be born in Africa, between the ages of 18 and 65 years old. Three visits are required and compensation is provided. Please call 301-402-7119 if you’re interested or visit the website at http://clinicaltrials.org

You Should Go:

Every First Saturday of each month 4-6pm

What: Africa Prays

Info: Please join Africa Prays in a three (3) day fast from Thursday thru 1st Saturday of each Month believing that Africa will rise again to give God glory in Jesus name

Where: Hope Christian Church, Youth Worship Hall, 6251 Ammendale Rd., Beltsville, MD 20705.

Time: Every 1st Saturday 4-6pm

Contact: www.AfricaNeedsU.org

 

Every Monday 7-8:30 pm

What: Bring Your Calabash and Songs with Kweku

Info: Bring Your Calabash is an exploration of the unique rhythms and songs of Ghana, West Africa brought to you by Ghana's own Kweku Owusu. These rhythms originate from the Ga and Asante tribes of Ghana who live along the coast. The rhythms form the basis for traditional hi-life music, and are played for festivals of all kinds.

Where: The New Sewell Music Conservatory, 712 Kennedy St NW. 10 minute bus ride from Takoma Station (62 bus) or Ft. Totten Station (E2 bus)

Time: Every Monday 7-8:30 pm

 

Contact: email:vibrationking@yahoo.com or call 202-375-9110

 

Cost: $20 per session checks or cash

 

Saturday, July 16, 2011


What:    2nd Annual DC Africa Festival

Info:    This year our theme will be “One City, Many Voices: Showcasing Africa’s Cultural and Economic contributions to the District of Columbia.” The event will feature: A Parade of Flags, A Bead-Making Craft Section, A Flag Making Station, Face Painting Station, Live Art Canvass, Entertainment, Embassy Showings, An African Bloggers Exhibition, A Fashion Presentation, African Storytelling, Drum Jam Session, Art Vendors and Food Vendors. This year’s festival will promote the positive legacy of the African community by highlighting: talent, social and networking media, social entrepreneurism as a tool for the betterment of Africans in the Diaspora and Africa’s capability to compete in the global market. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs will kick off a new initiative: We Count! : A demographic survey of African-owned businesses, organizations and residents of the District of Columbia. This event is free of charge and open to the public.


Where:  Takoma Community Center
            300 Van Buren Street, NW
             Washington, DC 20011

When:  12 pm- 6 pm

Thursday, July 21, 2011

What:  Smart Meter Education Workshop

Info:    The D.C. Office of the People's Counsel Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A and 6C, in conjunction with AARP District of Columbia State Office present a Smart Meter Education Workshop

            Consumers' Will Learn:

•           What to do to prepare for the meter exchange

•           How to alert PEPCO that someone in your home has special medical needs

•           The steps of the meter installation process

•           About proposed features and benefits

 

Time:         7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  

Location:   Sherwood Recreation Center                  

                   641 G Street, NE | Washington, DC

Contact:          OPC at 202.727.3071 or

D.C. Office of the People's Counsel

1133 15th Street, NW |Suite 500|

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202.727.3071

Fax: 202.727.1014 | TTY/TDD: 202.727.2876

Website: www.opc-dc.gov

 

Saturday, August 13- Sunday August 14, 2011

What: FestAfrica 2011: 9th Annual African Fest

Info: The festival will feature traditional and contemporary African music and dance performances, fashion shows, arts & crafts, vendors, African cuisine, games, face painting, storytelling, a health fair, and a business expo.  FestAfrica is supported by the Maryland State Arts Council, Government of Montgomery County. 

 

Where: Veterans Plaza Silver Spring Civic Center

8523 Fenton Street Silver Spring, MD 20910

 

When: 1-9 both days

 

Admission: Free

 

For information about Vending, Sponsoring or Entertainment Opportunities please visit FestAfricaUSA.com

Camps and Educational Opportunities:

Mayor Vincent C. Gray launches ‘One City Summer fun Something for Everyone’ Initiative

 

Comprehensive Program Partners D.C. Agencies, Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations to Provide Safe, Wholesome and Healthful Summer Fun for All Ages


Summer vacation is just around the corner for thousands of D.C. youth, and Mayor Vincent C. Gray today launched a comprehensive program, “One City Summer Fun...Something for Everyone,”  to provide safe, wholesome, fun activities for the summer.  The program is a major initiative of his safe communities agenda.

 

“This summer, our residents will have a full spectrum of stimulating activities, events and programs,” Mayor Gray said. “They can engage in fun, athletics, creativity, reading, learning, exploration, healthy living, volunteerism, and employment opportunities.”

 

“One City Summer Fun … Something for Everyone” is a wide-ranging and expanded citywide partnership among District government agencies, community and faith-based organizations and private-sector groups.

 

An integrated approach to a safe and creative summer season, this initiative provides something of interest for everyone in every ward across the city.   The work in pulling together this program is the outcome and product of an extensive interaction between more than 30 District government agencies.  The program was coordinated by the One City Summer Fun Task Force, led by Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Paul Quander and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Beatriz “BB” Otero. 

 

COMPONENTS OF THE INTEGRATED SUMMER PROGRAM

 

The One City Summer Fun program has eight major areas of emphasis:

 

Swim This Summer: The District has 17 outdoor public pools, eight indoor pools, five children’s pools and nine spray parks. The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) offers residents of all ages and abilities a variety of high-quality aquatic programming and facilities across the District. Among the programming planned for DPR pools is an event scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 14, in which thousands of kids and adults at aquatic facilities around the globe will unite to set a new global record for “The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™” (WLSL). 

 

DPR’s Wilson Aquatic center, Deanwood Aquatic Center, and Upshur Outdoor Pool are official host locations for the 2011 WLSL record-setting event.

 

Play This Summer: Quality urban recreation and leisure activities will be offered this summer for D.C. residents and visitors. Among them are sports leagues, athletic contests and classes, therapeutic recreation, aquatic ventures, environmental education, summer camps, outdoor adventures, youth development and senior-citizen activities. DPR is offering hundreds of summer camps, including youth camps, teen career camps and partnership camps. Programs include movie nights, a skate mobile, fun wagon, hand dancing, computer classes and a senior picnic.

 

Read and Learn This Summer: Enrich your learning through reading this summer and attending various summer educational programs offered by the D.C. Public Schools, the University of the District  of Columbia, the Community College of D.C. and other institutions. The D.C. Public Library system will offer two age-based programs around the theme of exploring the world: “One World, Many Stories” (ages 2 - 12) and “You Are Here” (ages 12 – 19).

 

Create This Summer: This summer, the District is featuring exciting music, dance, theater and visual-arts programs for residents. For daily updates on concerts, performances and exhibitions, visit the website -- www.arts202.com – set up by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

 

Upcoming events include:

 

•        The “Dance D.C. Festival: – July 22-24

•        A hip-hop theatre festival – July 11-16

 

Be Healthy This Summer: The D.C. Department of Health encourages residents to adopt healthier lifestyles through its Live Well DC! campaign, which aims to encourage those who live, work and play in the District to live longer, more productive lives by following 10 healthy living tips. For more information, visit the Department of Health’s website at doh.dc.gov.

 

Eligible children will enjoy nutritious free summer meals this summer at various sites throughout the city. 

 

Work This Summer: Productive employment is the one of the best ways young people can realize their aspirations, improve their living conditions and actively participate in society. This year, the District’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) will provide District youth ages 14 to 21 with an enriching and constructive “learn and earn” summer work experience.  This year, approximately 12,000 youngsters will participate. 

 

Volunteer This Summer: The District government is asking residents to make a difference this summer by connecting to various opportunities to give back to the community.  There are tons of volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit Serve DC, the Mayor’s Office on Community Service, at www.serve.dc.gov.

 

Be Safe This Summer: Planning a safe and positive summer the first priority of Mayor Gray’s summer programming. The Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS), the D.C. National Guard, the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, the D.C. Superior Court and other public-safety organizations and related service providers are all offering summer programming geared toward keeping youths safe. 

 

ONE CITY SUMMER PARTNERSHIPS

 

Unlike past years’ summer emphasis, One City Summer Fun has included community and faith-based organization programs, and private sector businesses as part of the partnership team. The District’s summer programs are being supported by good neighbors committed to investing in the city – such as Walmart, which is providing support for meal programs, learning opportunities and jobs throughout the summer to youth across D.C. 

 

HOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUMMER PROGRAM

 

To learn about “One City Summer Fun…Something for Everyone,” visit www.onecitysummer.dc.gov.  This site is a one-stop-shopping center for summer activities.  It is:

 

  • A central hub to connect citizens to agency web sites where they can get more information about specific programs.
  • Easy to navigate, because activities are categorized by emphasis area.
  • Easy to search for summer activities in your neighborhood because it includes a map application that helps citizens search for programs by program name, location, or date.
  • Helpful because it contains a form that makes it easy for citizens to volunteer for programs that are important to them.

 

For additional information, you may also contact 311 or send a message to onecitysummer@dc.gov. Residents may also get information at the D.C. Public Libraries, recreation centers, and police stations as well as at some District government agencies.

Thursday, July 21 – Sunday, July 24, 2011

What: Ethiopian Heritage and Culture Camp

Info: This camp serves as an opportunity for children with Ethiopian Heritage to be connected with one another and educated about their Heritage and Culture.

Where: Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center

712 Massanetta Road, Harrisonburg, VA

RSVP: www.heritageandculturecamp.org

Contact: 1.800.775.1797

Monday, July 18- Friday, July 29, 2011

What: Howard University Cyber Camp 2011

Info: The Howard University Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE). Rising 9th – 12th graders will have the opportunity to increase their critical academic skills, explore careers in engineering, cyber security & national defense, and gain knowledge about other cultures. This camp is free and participants will receive a stipend. The program is funded by a grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Application Due by July 5, 2011.

Where: Howard University

Admission: Free

All questions about the program should be directed by email or phone to Ms. Melissa E. Wynn, IC CAE Associate Director, HUICCAE@gmail.com or 202-806-9031

The 2011 Free Service-Learning Institute!

Join The Mayor's Office on Volunteerism, higher education staff, faculty, and community based professionals in a full day of professional development training on service-learning. Discover how integrating service and education can lead to civically engaged citizens, strong communities, and collaborative partnerships.

In these challenging economic times, it is more important now than ever, to maximize innovative program designs and partnerships to create long term organizational sustainability.

The free train will be held on Wednesday August 3, 2011 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT. The location has yet to be determined.

 

For more information, please contact Kasmin Holt at Serve DC - The Mayor's Office on Voluteerism kasmin.holt@dc.gov or (202) 727-9579 

 

 Colors Hospitality Opportunities for Workers (CHOW) program are offering free training program for restaurant workers!

This year the Colors Hospitality Opportunities for Workers (CHOW) program will be offering the following classes: Introduction to Restaurant Costumer, Service Introduction to Bartending Fine, Dining Server Training and English for Restaurant Workers. These classes are designed to build the fundamentals skills necessary to:

  • ·         Become a bartender, a fine dining server
  • ·         Gain the knowledge required to obtain employment and advance in the industry.

If you already attended orientation and are a ROC DC member, register by calling Katherine Jimenez at 202.679.8058, or email her at katherine@rocunited.org.

Employment Opportunities:

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation is hiring for the following positions:

  • ·         FT Recreation Assistant (Job I.D. 17857)
  • ·         FT Recreation Specialist (Job I.D. 17851, 17852, 17848, 17842)
  • ·         FT Superv. Recreation Specialist (Job I.D. 17847)

The job descriptions and application may be found on the DC Department of Human Resources website. http://www.dchr.dc.gov