Today, let’s catch a glimpse into … LearnServe International. Empowering high-schoolers who have the motivation (but perhaps not the means) to make a difference, their Fellows Program guides students through the creation of their own “social venture.”
“What pisses you off?” we challenged our LearnServe Fellows in September. Without missing a beat, our nearly 60 students — selected from 30 high schools across the DC metro area — began sharing their concerns: homelessness, apathy, climate change, the foster care system, gaps in cross-cultural understanding. Then we flipped the question back on them: “What are you going to do about it?”
In the fall of 2010, CFP launched a contest to mark our eighth year: we asked our non-profits to choose an “8″ word (celebrate, collaborate, appreciate, or elevate) and then create a 30-60 second film around it. Many used a simple hand-held camera or even a cell phone, but the results were pretty amazing.
Today, let’s catch a glimpse into … Capital Partners for Education, which serves motivated students from under-resourced neighborhoods who both need and want a rigorous high school preparatory education. On the road to college, CPE offers students a unique package of tuition assistance to attend one of 17 partner private secondary schools, as well as adult mentors to guide them. Psyched for the new school year, the freshman class of 2015 jumped (or perhaps climbed) into into this past September’s Back to School Retreat.
Let’s catch a glimpse into this past summer at … The Reading Connection, which opens up the world of books to at-risk families by bringing literacy services and programs into emergency shelters, domestic violence safe houses, long-term shelters, and transitional housing.
TRC’s We Are Readers aims to conquer “summer slump,” the well documented phenomenon wherein low-income children lose as much as 2.6 months of reading skill over the summer. High school soccer players, a zookeeper from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, author Mary Quattlebaum, firefighters, a chef and police officers all visited during the summer and read aloud with the kids.
The awesome results? 46 children read a total of 13,775 minutes, or about 300 minutes per child. Check it out!
As we continue our recap of cool spring/summer events, catch a glimpse into … The Theatre Lab’s Dramathon fundraiser for the “Send a Kid to Theatre Camp” campaign this past May. The Dramathon participants that raised the most for the campaign (between April 4 and May 6, 2011) had the chance to perform alongside some of DC’s most recognized professional actors in an evening of original ten-minute plays by local playwrights.
So how does this story end? The Theatre Lab exceeded its campaign goal by 19%, bringing in $58,676 for their youth scholarship fund, which enables low-income local youth to participate in The Theatre Lab’s drama programs at little or no cost. The Dramathon was to thank for over one-quarter of those funds. Check out the stars below — and learn here how you can support programs at the Theatre Lab all year round! Read all »
Today, catch a glimpse into … Liberty’s Promise, which combines professional development and civic education to sustain and support young immigrants in need — while encouraging them to be active and conscientious American citizens. You can read about just a few of Liberty’s Promise’s young participants right here.
This past June, Liberty’s Promise hosted their Annual Flag Day Fundraiser at Venable LLP, which was drew over 150 guests and successfully raised funds to support their critical work low-income, immigrant youth. Youth from the High Point High School after-school program spoke about their experiences with Liberty’s Promise; and The John Greely award was presented to Prince George’s County Council Member Eric Olson for his ongoing support of Liberty’s Promise’s Prince George’s County programs. Check it out:
Congratulations to all — and best wishes for the coming year!
Today, catch a glimpse into … The Black Student Fund, which provides vital support services and financial assistance to DC area African-American students as they navigate the application process, graduate from high school, and move on to college. Many students are the very first in their families to progress to higher education.
This past spring, the Annual Senior Reception and Alumni Induction Ceremony was held at the US Navy Memorial and celebrated the graduation of BSF’s senior class members, all of whom will be attending college in just a few weeks. Their amazing matriculation list includes Yale, Stanford, Morehouse, Howard, American, and Colby. These photos show seniors wearing their BSF “stoles,” which they receive upon induction into the Alumni Association. The graduates appear with Executive Director Jeanie Collins Carr and Board Chair Joel S. Kanter.
And as a new school year begins, you can support the next BSF class on their journey towards graduation and higher education.
Today, catch a glimpse into … Greenbrier Learning Center, which reaches children in grades three through five with Learning ROCKS!, an after-school program and seven-week summer camp whose major focus is language and literacy, and helps parents support their children’s education as well as their own skill development.
GLC’s Learning Links AmeriCorps program just finished its second year with some great results: 87% of children improved their reading last year and 62% even improved by two or more instructional levels. The Corps Members ultimately serve as a critical link across the three main aspects of a child’s day: at school, after school, and at home.
Late this spring, AmeriCorps members, our staff, students, and families, all teamed up to clean up the Four Mile Run trail in south Arlington — and awards were given for the strangest, longest, and most beautiful items found on the trail. Check it out!
In the spring, CHIME brings twenty-two Music Around the World programs to five schools. In the first two photos, kids in kindergarten through 2nd grade take part in world musician Bill Jenkins “Latin Percussion” program and form a cha-cha rhythm band! In the third, Tom Teasley teaches 3rd through 5th graders all about digital music.
