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20th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration
20th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration– Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation 20th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration is a night of cocktails, music, and dancing that raises funds for the Maya Angelou Schools, a network of alternative schools serving at-risk youth in Washington, DC. This event kicks off a year-long celebration that honors the foundation’s 20-year history of transforming the lives of the city’s most vulnerable youth. This year, our goal is to raise $175,000.
See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Schools– Our mission is to create learning communities in lower income urban areas where all students can grow academically and socially. At Maya Angelou Schools, the key to our success is rooted in building trusting, respectful, and nurturing relationships with each other. We strive to create spaces where all students, particularly those who have not succeeded in traditional schools, can reach their limitless potential. Our students develop the academic, social, and employment skills they need to build rewarding lives and promote positive change. We achieve this through a demanding academic program and socio-emotional learning support that focus on the whole child. We empower students to grow successfully so they can see forever.
Your Support Can Transform Students’ Lives– Throughout the year, our educators, staff, and partners go beyond the call of duty to ensure all students develop the academic, social, and employment skills they need to build rewarding lives and promote positive change. This wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our funders and supporters. With you contribution, we can continue to provide wrap-around programs such as:
- Comprehensive Mental Health and Socio-Emotional Services
- On and Off-Campus Tutoring
- Extended Day and Enrichment Programs
- College and Career Success Programming
- Workforce Training for young adults
- Residential housing
Join us in our mission to help students overcome challenges, realize their potential, and go off to college!
Click the link below to purchase tickets or download the pdf here.
Maya AOHT featured at Summer Youth Employment Launch
DC mayor wants to make teen summer jobs expansion permanent
WASHINGTON — The race is on for teens and young adults who want to be part of the D.C. summer jobs program.
The Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program received more than 6,000 online applications within 20 minutes of the website launching Friday, Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
The program will take applications through Feb. 24, Bowser said, to connect 13,000 young people to meaningful, paid work experiences.
In the program, 14- and 15-year-olds earn $5.25 an hour; 16- through 21 year-olds earn $8.25 an hour; and 22- through 24-year-olds earn $11.50 an hour.
The program cutoff used to be 21 but was expanded to include ages 22-24 starting in 2015.
Bowser has asked the D.C. Council to make that expansion permanent.
Applicant Andre Jones said he’s excited by the prospect of getting a summer job through the program.
“I want to work,” the 15-year-old sophomore said. “I would love to get a job in the hospitality business — it seems fun.”
Jones, whose father died a few years ago, said he is eager to buy his own phone and contribute to the household income of his mom and two siblings.
“It’s very empowering,” said Akoshia Yoba, director of the Career Academy at the Maya Angelou Public Charter School that Jones attends.
“I think it’s a wonderful way to establish a work ethic, to get students and young people acclimated to the world of work and how they may serve in it,” Yoba said.
Jones will prepare for a summer job at Yoba’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. As for his future beyond high school, Jones said he would like to get into information technology or cyber security.
“If that doesn’t really work out, or even if it does, I would like to get a trade in mechanics and have that as a side job to bring in even more income,” Jones said.
Teens and young adults can apply for the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program on the program’s website.
Updates from MAA Summer 16
Hello from Maya Angelou Academy! Our summer school program got off to a great start. Our interns along with our staff led our Harambee assembly. This activity was designed to build and strengthen our school community. Also, our amazing teachers worked collaboratively with our interns and support staff to create highly engaging lessons and activities. The collaborative approach led to high student engagement and achievement.
During our summer school program, our scholars participated in various computer coding activities and projects, led by our community partner, Code in the Schools. During the program, our scholars were taught computer programming and gaming. They also developed problem-solving skills associated with computer programming.
In addition, our scholars were also hard at work in their other classes. They worked on various graphic design projects in art class, completed their research paper in English and conducted lab experiments on water pollution, genetics, and animal dissections in science. Academically, this summer was truly a great experience for our scholars!
Finally, several visitors from different organizations visited our school namely the Children’s Defense Fund and the U.S. Department of Education. Our visitors participated in our Harambee assemblies and classroom activities. Our scholars were inspired by their work and role in the community. We are eternally grateful to our visitors from the Children’s Defense Fund and the U.S Department of Education for supporting our scholars. To that end, we look forward to a great 2016-2017 school year.
And Still I Rise Screening
This July, Maya Angelou Schools joined the March on Washington Film Festival to host an exclusive screening of “And Still I Rise,” a documentary featuring Dr. Maya Angelou’s life and legacy.
Fresh popcorn filled the air of MAPCS, as the Maya Ambassador Corps assembled goodie bags for the morning screening. The student hosts treated their fellow peers to a full movie theatre experience in the media center, where roughly 60 summer school students enjoyed the documentary. Special guests and staff were treated to an afternoon screening.
Following the film, Directors, Rita Coburn Whack and Bob Hercules, Isisara Bey of the March on Washington Film Festival, as well as See Forever Foundation Board Member and Dr. Angelou’s grandson, Colin Johnson, spoke with students and staff about the importance of the documentary and Dr. Angelou’s extraordinary life.
“What was the hardest part about making the film?” asked Maya student, Joshua. “Trying to figure out what parts to cut,” jokingly responded the directors. The 2-hour documentary chronicles the robust life of the legendary, poet, singer, dancer, and civil rights activist, and still had much more footage that wasn’t included. Dr. Angelou accomplished a lot in her storied life, and even keeping the film to 2 hours was a task.
“I get emotional every time,” said Johnson of the film. Mr. Johnson, the only grandson of the late poet, runs Caged Bird Legacy, which aims to continue Dr. Angelou’s great work. He recently joined the board of the See Forever Foundation to take more of a role in Maya Schools. Mr. Johnson has already made an impact on the Maya Angelou Schools and looks to continue his grandmother’s legacy by playing an active role in empowering the students and schools to see forever.
Enjoy the clip of And Still I Rise below, and make sure to visit http://mayaangeloufilm.com/ to see a screening near you!
Class of 2016 Graduation
What a year it has been for our Maya Rebels! We introduced a new learning model, changes to the schedule, new programs, and our students pushed through in true Maya spirit.
Held at Trinity University, MAPCS Class of 2016 Graduation was a culmination of students’ hard work, perseverance, and a little G.R.I.T. “Growth Rooted in Transformation,” a thematic system introduced in MAPCS last year to promote positive behavior and support an encouraging learning environment. And given the outside challenges, some of our students face, grit is something our students surely have. Their relentlessness proved transformative as students made it through the end of their senior year.
Many of our students were emotional during their walk across the stage, including valedictorian, Jada C. Holding back tears, she talked about making new friends, overcoming the death of her mentor, and adhering to a new style of learning this past year. “It didn’t just teach me how to do my work, but it taught me how to be responsible and take advantage of my education in my own way, on my own time.” Jada, an Achievers Scholar, who maintained a 3.5 GPA in her four years at Maya, will be attending Norfolk State University in the fall to pursue business, with hopes of becoming an entrepreneur.
Jada’s story was met with cheers, heartwarming smiles, and tears of joy. She is one of the 34 total graduates for MAPCS, who received more than $1 million in scholarships and over 70 acceptances to dozens of institutions across the country.
And across town, our YALC and Maya Academy students saw their successes celebrated at the GALA Hispanic Theatre. YALC students bravely told their stories, from trials to triumph, to an audience of their peers, teachers, and family. Students like Lowell Blackmon described his personal journey of navigating 10 schools in six years to finally walking across the stage as a Maya Alumni. A poet and an artist, Lowell plans to enter the hospitality program at the University of District Columbia. In total, 13 GED graduates and 15 OSHA-10 PACT recipients were honored that day.
A smaller, more intimate graduation celebrated the transformation of 6 Maya Angelou Academy graduates. Former MAA student, Kenneil Cole, spoke directly to his peers, describing his journey from juvenile offender to champion for justice reform. His story, nothing short of remarkable, is an inspiration for graduates like Tyrell M., who will follow in his footsteps and attend Delaware State University this fall.
The Maya Family is proud to celebrate all of our graduates of the Class of 2016. We wish them continued success on their journey to college and careers. Through our alumni network, we will continue offer support and empower them to grow successfully so they can see forever. This is how we live the Maya Way, even when no one is watching.
Click through the galleries below to see graduation photos!
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Student Summer Jobs 2016
This summer, our students had the opportunity to engage in various work programs, while continuing their studies. Through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and other partnerships, Maya students earned while they learned!
At the YALC, a group of students nearing the completion of the GED program were chosen for paid internships. Students worked in the morning and attended classes in the afternoon, which offered a mix of academic, workforce, and life skills development.
Seeds for Success students took part in a beautification project, a part of their on-going program with Department of Public Works and Department of Employment Services. Each day, students were taken to a different green space to work on cleaning and landscaping those areas.
Additionally, two students from our HBI program, Vincent B. and Tayvon M., worked on a unique building project at the UDC East Capital Urban Farm. Under the management of YALC HBI Instructor, Kerry Harrington, students built a classroom and office space for the community garden to use during the coming years. The garden sits a few blocks from the school, and with the new classroom, it will surely serve as a great resource for the entire community, thanks, in part, to our student workers!
Metro was another place where YALC students shined this summer. A recent graduate, Myla R., interned with WMATA, where she assigned to the communications team and worked on social media strategy and increasing engagement on all major platforms. Myla’s hard work earned her Youth of the Summer Award and an extension of her internship through November! Notably, Takayla F., a current MAPCS and HBI student, also participated in a summer internship at Metro, assisting a senior project manager at the Landover office.
Courtney Wright, YALC Post Secondary Coordinator, views this summer as a success and plans to expand the programs in the future. “Seeing students reflect upon what they learned during the afternoon session, and then applying their knowledge to their morning work, is creating a path for our students to have a more successful school year.”
Things were pretty busy at the High School, too. Students were engaged in work-learn activities through DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), for which MAPCS served as a host site. The SYEP project was called Summer Bridge 1…2…3. With Mary Okowi, Career Academy Coordinator, at the helm, students learned skills ranging from resume writing to time management. Students worked at the school in the morning, where the program was structured like a real job. They were expected to clock in and out during work hours and report to their respective supervisor. The students then attended classes during the afternoon, where they prepared for the new year or caught up with work from the past semester.
And, it wouldn’t be summer without a little a break! The Summer Bridge program also offered students weekly trips to different colleges and work sites. A visit to the UTZ chips factory in Pennsylvania was the highlight for many students. They learned about opportunities in the food and beverage industry and even got a chance to sample the product. Ms. Okowi feels that this summer’s offering helped students understand what to expect when they enter the workforce. She reflected, “students who took the Summer Bridge Program seriously showed noticeable gains in their confidence, maturity, and time management skills.”
–Alessandra Dreyer
A Letter from the CEO
Dear Maya Family,
It’s hard to believe, but we are already counting down the last days of summer and looking forward to the new school year. Over the past few months, the heat has reached new heights and the Maya Angelou Schools has kept busy creating more capacity to support our students.
But before we move on to the exciting changes in store, I must congratulate all of our students who walked across the stage this year. They are the reason we do the work we do, and nothing better represents our mission than seeing their proud smiles on graduation day. We are so proud of the Maya Class of 2016, who received more than $1 million in scholarships and over 70 acceptances to various institutions across the country.
I am also pleased to introduce two new additions to the Maya family: Clarisse Mendoza, Chief of Schools, and Charles Jackson, Chief Operating Officer. Their knowledge and experience have already made an impact on our schools this summer, and I cannot wait to begin the new school year with them on board.
When students arrive next week, they will see changes to the building. We are so excited to finally have a new gymnasium that will provide a space for our students to engage in teamwork and sports, as well as gather together as a school. The entrance to the high school building has improved, with a redesigned structural flow to better facilitate entry and exit for our students, staff, and visitors.
Meanwhile, our summer school students were earning while learning, as many of them participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program. In this newsletter, we feature some of the great opportunities our students had this summer, and we recognize their accomplishments in the workforce.
Finally, the Maya Angelou Schools was honored to host the March on Washington Film Festival screening of “And Still I Rise,” a documentary featuring Dr. Maya Angelou’s life and legacy. The directors of the film, as well as Dr. Angelou’s grandson and See Forever Foundation Board Member, Colin Johnson, were in attendance and spoke to our students about the impact of Dr. Angelou’s life and work.
We are honored to have her as our namesake of the Maya Angelou Schools and look forward to many more years educating our youth in her spirit. As Dr. Angelou once wrote, “love life, engage in it, give it all you’ve got;” and with that, I wish you a loving and happy rest of your summer.
As ever,
Heather
Summer 2016 Renovations
Excitement builds as the latest round of MAPCS renovations nears completion. With a focus on creating a secure, welcoming environment for the students to take pride in, this summer saw many changes in the cafeteria, stairwells, front entrance, and especially the gym. Turning MAPCS into a 21st-century school for students has been the goal for Managing Director Marvin Hardin and Operations Manager Heather Hesslink. They have played major roles in completing this phase of crucial and critical renovations by the start of the new 2016-2017 school year.
The entryway will have two entrances, one for students and one for staff and visitors. The new student entrance will feature its own screening area, away from public view. Mr. Hardin incorporated this change to allow students more privacy during the screening process. Additionally, creating this new entryway opens the flow of traffic, making arrivals and departures more manageable. A security Kiosk has also been added to the staff and visitors entry, which along with keeping tabs of who is entering and exiting the building, will serve as a map to help visitors navigate MAPCS. The two new single-stall bathrooms in the cafeteria serve a welcome addition to the school, as students will no longer need to use the restrooms on the 2nd floor.
On the first day of school, students will see the most significant changes made to the gym. Ms. Hesslink, wanted the renovations to create an authentic, warm, and welcome gym space for the students. Some significant changes include adding lights, fixing the ceiling, refinishing the floor, painting the school’s logos and mascot to the floor, and adding bleachers and a scoreboard for home games.
Since the opening of the Maya Angelou Learning Center in 2014, all basketball games were hosted at opposing schools, as the gymnasium redesign was shelved for other renovations. Several years in the making, this new, sleek, and modern gym will be ready for the first day of school and ready for competitive play. With a new mascot and a new court, the gym aims to re-instill pride in the MAPCS Rebels and serve as a center for school spirit for the entire Maya family.
–Alessandra Dreyer
Lawyer fined $25,000 for professional misconduct
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