In March 2016, the Young Adult Learning Center launched the Seeds for Success work-learn program. Seeds for Success participants engage in a part-time internship with the Department of Public Works Grounds Maintenance Department while attending GED classes at the YALC. This partnership between Maya Angelou Young Adult Learning Center, Department of Public Works, and the Department of Employment Services provides participating youth with an opportunity to gain valuable personal and professional skills– putting them on a pathway to success.
The purpose of the program structure is to allow students to continue their education while gaining employment experience. Participants completed three weeks of pre-internship training facilitated by the Young Adult Learning Center. This training included a range of topics such as integrity and ethics in the workplace, time management, stress and conflict management, creating a positive first impression, and professional communication. In addition, students received specialized training from Washington Parks and People in the area of landscaping and grounds maintenance allowing them to become more familiar with the work and tools needed to be successful during their internships. Upon successful completion of training, 27 students transitioned into a nine-month paid internship with the Department of Public Works, where they are working alongside grounds maintenance staff completing city beautification projects. At the end of their internship, students will be eligible to apply for more permanent employment with DPW. This opportunity has not only provided students with the ability to earn income, it has renewed their motivation in completing their education. As one student put it, “this is the opportunity I have been waiting for. I know that I will do all that I can to be successful inside and outside the classroom.”
Hello from the Academy! We have been busy here with all of our spring events. Before spring break, scholars in the English classroom worked with artists from the Young Playwrights Theater to write their own original plays and then have them acted out by professional actors who came in as part of the program. This is our 4th year partnering with Young Playwrights Theater and is always a powerful few weeks of writing and acting! In the Art studio, scholars focused on improving their drawing technique as they prepare to create their own self-portraits, which is one of their favorite art projects each year. As we took a week for break, our staff and scholars had the chance to rejuvenate and come back refreshed and ready to tackle the remainder of the school year.
Scholars recently took their PARCC assessment, and leading up to the testing, we had our spring spirit week and the PARCC pep rally. Scholars enjoyed dressing up for the various days during the week. Then, our talented scholars and staff took to the stage to show off their musical talents and represent their fraternities and sororities in our pep rally.
Coming back from Spring Break, we had our Unit 6 awards ceremony where scholars were celebrated for their academic accomplishments and progress. We’re now officially in Unit 7 of the school year, which brings forth a lot of exciting topics of study in the classrooms.
In April, we participated in the National Poetry month and our English classes are undergoing a poetry study. Recently poet ambassadors from Free Minds Book Club came to visit our classrooms and engage in poetry discussions, write poems, and have an open dialogue with our scholars. It was a great visit! Our English classes hosted local DC poet, Alan King, as a guest author. Scholars compiled their poetry from the unit into individual anthologies and then created a larger volume of our yearly, “Within These Gates” literary magazine.
We have several exciting upcoming events, which include: our Unit 7 Awards Ceremony, mock interviews, the Career Panel, the College and Career Fair, and several other activities that are currently being planned and finalized! Scholars still remain engaged in our Saturday School programming where they take classes in music development, dance, daily spark/critical thinking, and the history of basketball, along with CPR certification.
As the school year comes to an end, we’re excited about all of the upcoming events, but also all of the progress our scholars have made. June 9th marks our graduation of several scholars from the Academy. We cannot wait to celebrate their academic accomplishments!
April–The See Forever Foundation/MAPCS announces the launch of its Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) for the 2016 -2017 school year. Slated to open in late August, the AOHT will induct its first cohort of students in a ceremony to honor and acknowledge the significance and commitment involved in this undertaking.
Using the NAF model—which has a track record of phenomenal success working with at-risk student populations for over thirty years— the AOHT will enjoy the benefits of operating within a national network of corporate partners and high schools.
Under the umbrella of MAPCS’ Post-Secondary Success Program(s), led by Director, Michael Walker, the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism will expand the school’s capacity to provide students with opportunities for college and career pathways.
See Forever CEO, Dr. Heather Wathington weighed in on the Academy,
“We are delighted to partner with NAF and our DC-Career Academy Network to offer our students more work-based learning opportunities. Our AOHT will introduce our students to exciting careers in hospitality and tourism —- which are two occupational areas that are growing in the District. We’re thrilled to launch this new academy for our students.”
MAPCS Vice Principal, Steven Foster who is also serving as the high school’s administrative representative on the AOHT Design and Implementation team commented,
“In spite of what the challenges life brings them, our students come to us with a wide array of talents and abilities that are sometimes overlooked or underutilized. The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism will not only serve as another option to tap into these skills, but give our students an opportunity to join a booming industry in the metropolitan area. “
Joining Walker to head up the AOHT is, Akoshia Yoba, the newly appointed Director of The MAPCS Career Academy.
Walker had this to say about his growing program.
“The Maya Angelou Schools & See Forever Foundation are proud partners with NAF in launching this initiative that will bring much-needed job preparation and training opportunities to the deserving young men and women enrolled ay Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools. We selected this particular program through our research into the potential for high growth and high wages opportunities in the future for District residents and look forward to our students embracing this experience. We believe this initiative will help promote economic growth, job readiness and hope for the students of the Maya Angelou Schools and the communities and families that we serve.
We sincerely thank our school leadership, the boards of both the Maya Angelou Schools and the See Forever Foundation, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and NAF for their support of this project. I am especially grateful to Dr. Heather Wathington, Chief Executive Office for the Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation, for her continued support of this and our overarching efforts across the organization to improve the educational and employment outcomes for our students.”
Yoba, a longtime youth educator, service excellence trainer and communications specialist
“I am very excited about this opportunity to work with my wonderful team as we expose our students to the number one private industry in the District—hospitality and tourism. With our staff and growing list of local industry partners, we are looking forward to finding new and innovative ways to motivate, challenge and develop the young people at Maya to become capable and competitive candidates for the colleges and careers of their choosing.
Yoba will have the support of school veteran, Mary Okowi, the former College Readiness Coordinator, who has named the Career Academy Coordinator. Regarding her new role she says: “I am really excited about the opportunity to develop this Academy. This process has been intense, but we are looking forward to our launch in August.”
Applications are currently being accepted for admission to the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. For more information, please email us at ayoba@seeforever.org or mokowi@seeforever.org or call 202-379-4335 ext. 1370 or ext. 1122. Check out AOHT’s new page here.
As Dr. Maya Angelou wrote, “I have heard it said that winter, too, will pass, that spring is a sign that summer is due at last. See all we have to do is hang on.” And indeed, we have hung on and spring is finally upon us in DC! I look forward to all the wonderful changes this time of year brings. We at the Maya Angelou Schools have been quite busy, and I am happy to fill you in on some of the amazing work our students have been up to this spring season.
As the culmination of a quarter-long effort by MAPCS’s Fine Arts Department, our high-school students put together a wonderful Fine Arts Showcase, ”G.R.I.T”, that celebrated the arts at Maya with fashion modeling, spoken word, music, art, digital media and photography. I encourage you to look inside the newsletter for pictures from this great event.
The high school also initiated a new career-focused academic program, the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT). The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is a member of the National Academy Foundation network, which is part of a national movement where students can learn, achieve, and advance as a professional along a chosen career path, i.e. hotel owner, travel agent, human resources associate. With opening our new Academy, we also joined the DC-CAN network that hosts several academies here in Washington, DC. Several corporate partners, such as the Marriott Corporation, work together to help introduce students to the industry. The AOHT engages students by using Hospitality and Customer Service as a lens through which everyday problems are analyzed, approached and solved. We at Maya are very much looking forward to seeing this program grow over the next few months. We believe our students will be excited to be a part of it when they enroll next Fall!
The Young Adult Learning Center has also initiated a new work-based learning program, Seeds for Success. Seeds for Success is a landscaping program that partners with the Washington Parks and People, DC Department of Public Works, and the DC Department of Employment Services to bring our YALC students workforce opportunities as well as deeper engagement with the academic programs we offer. Thus far, the partnership has been tremendous and we have slightly more than 25 students in the program.
And finally, the Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation held our annual Partners and Funders Appreciation Luncheon in April. I would like to thank all our donors and partners who attended and everyone who has supported the Maya Angelou Schools throughout the years. You are the reason we can provide our students with the resources they need to thrive and be successful.
Thank you for being a part of the Maya journey, and I wish you a joyous spring!
April 20, 2016—The Maya Angelou High School cafeteria transformed into a scene from New York Fashion Week, complete with red carpet runway, high-end fashion, traditional African drums, special guest artists, dancing, and original pieces of art and poetry. The students, staff members, and artists in residence worked tirelessly to ensure that the GRIT (Growth Rooted In Transformation) Fashion Show would go off without a hitch.
Mr. Barber and Ms. Sampler put in countless hours making sure the students knew the timing, their cues, and the choreography that went along with fiercely strutting down a runway. Ms. Bell and Ms. Chapin-McGill along with several artistically talented student artists created the backdrop that complimented the clothes, music, poetry, dancing, and modeling flawlessly. Ms. LaRussa along with guest artist Mr. Joseph Ngwa worked to hone the students’ musical abilities in order to accompany the dance team and the traditional African modeling scene with traditional African Djembes. Ms. Wescott and Ms. Hall highlighted the dance team beautifully with traditional and modern choreography, and star student Shy’Drea Burriss executed her dance solo with amazing skill, energy, and exuberance. The spoken word club’s Natalie Washington and Dajah Clayton debuted original pieces of poetry that had an incredibly powerful messages. Ms. J’s braiding club enhanced the look and feel of the showcase infusing it with African tradition. Finally, Mr. Taylor and the photography club along with guest artist Mr. Jerome Beaner captured the essence of everyone’s hard work and dedication with (several) clicks of a button. Also, I would be remiss if Ms. Ayanna Gregory did not receive proper accolades. Her incredible performance took this already amazing display of talent to the next level.
This showcase truly embodied the talent and potential that resides within the four walls of Maya Angelou High School. All of the students involved were committed to creating and executing a flawless show. They truly saw how much goes into making a great show and rose to the occasion, most without hesitation. Also, the demonstration of support from both students and staff members showed that we are all here for a common cause. Receiving this grant that brought us all together, even if physically just for one night, joined the staff and students in spirit forever.
In late April, the Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation hosted its annual Partners and Funders Luncheon. We hold this event annually to thank our supporters and partners, without whom we could not fulfill our mission.
The luncheon began with remarks and an overview of the organization from our CEO, Dr. Heather D. Wathington. Each school leaders then spoke on specific initiatives their schools have been working on this semester. Sarah Navarro, the director of the Young Adult Learning Center (YALC), highlighted the new Seeds for Success program which partners with the Department of Public Works and Department of Employment Services to create work opportunities and classroom incentives for students. At the High School, Principal Tameika Ashford Freeman presented updates about the High School’s after-school initiatives and the new Hospitality and Tourism program run by Director, Akoshia Yoba. This new program engages and exposes students to various career opportunities in the fields of hospitality and tourism and provides useful credentials and contacts for students.
The luncheon ended with a tour of the Maya campus and two hands-on activities led by Maya Angelou Schools’ students. At the YALC, students taught guests how to make their own picture frames from scratch. The students were fantastic teachers, both patient and engaging, as they demonstrated the machinery and frame-making process with ease. At the High School, student Ambassadors and Ms. Bell, our High School Art instructor, directed guests in making hand-made cards.
We hope all of our guests enjoyed getting to see the schools and students in action, and we look forward to another great Partners and Funders celebration next year!
Failure is Not a Person: How A Mentor Can Change a Life
For National Mentoring Month, America’s Promise Alliance asked Kenneil Cole, 21, to share his story about the people who changed his life. The following blog post is an edited version of the speech he gave at the See Forever Foundation Gala.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” This quote, from Frederick Douglass, is something I strongly believe in.
Throughout my life, growing up in the 8th ward of Washington, D.C., a lot of events could have broken me–coping with drug use in my home and losing my mother, who was my strongest supporter, at the age of 14. This led to me being in foster care and eventually, being homeless. As my life seemed to spiral out of control, I made some poor decisions and ended up incarcerated as a juvenile.
Finally, I lost several family members and friends to violence.
But throughout it all, I’ve persevered. Far too often, I saw youth like me fall victim to the cold streets of Southeast DC. But I managed to persevere. I never lost hope, because I was fortunate to find a foster father and mentors who made a difference in my life.
The funny thing is, most of the mentors that I have are people that have no official title as “mentor.” Mentors that have guided me have come from government, neighborhoods, football coaches, and schools. They’ve come from various walks of my life, from heart-to-heart lectures and instances of tough love.
“Failure is not a person,” Ms. Barbara said to me. “It’s an event. Learn from it, don’t wallow in it.” Later that day, Ms. Barbara laminated that quote. And every night, as the lights went out and I sat on my bed, peeking through the small window, hearing the door lock on my cell, I remember saying to myself, “I’m going to make that quote mean something one day.”
Once I left the Detention Center, I was a senior in high school, homeless and ready to give up on education, nowhere to go and miserable. One of my teachers said, “Kenneil, I know your circumstances may feel unbearable at times, but you have to focus on the goal and take one day at a time.”
It’s been three years since then. I can now proudly tell you that I went on to graduate high school and made the Dean’s list both semesters of my freshman year because I told myself, “I cannot wallow in failure.”
From a Prosecution to an Internship
I know that I am here today because of positive influences and caring role models like Ms. Barbara. Just last summer, one of these caring adults helped me get an internship that changed my life.
One day, my mentor, Trayon White, told me to email a lawyer, Karl Racine, D.C’s first-elected attorney general, because he might be able to provide an internship over the summer. So I did. Mr. Racine replied instantly, saying he would look over my documents and, two weeks later, I had the job.
I had the honor of working right alongside Mr. Racine. During my time there, I created and led the inaugural Right Direction Awards, which honor at-risk youth who are being proactive in the community. My internship experience showed me that I can make a lasting impact on my community, that however down and out you get, you never know what opportunity is waiting on the other side of the door.
It’s funny how life works. I was once prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General, and then I worked with them.
When I graduate from college next year, I plan to pursue a dual law degree with a masters in public policy. I look forward to shaping policies and providing a positive example for the young people who need it most. I’ll tell them, “Do not wallow in failure, for adversity builds character, but resilience begins with you.”
And to everyone else, I offer this reminder: it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
Last week marked a truly historic snow storm in the D.C. area; the streets of the city were blanketed in several feet of snow, and for at least a few hours, everything seemed to stand still. Yet behind the scenes, especially here at the Maya Angelou Schools, our students and staff were already shifting into gear for the start of the Spring Semester.
We have much to look forward to this year, and much to celebrate. I am happy to announce the incredible success of last December’s Maya Way event, honoring former Attorney General, Eric Holder. We were able to raise more than $165,000 for our schools, ensuring the continued success of our students through quality education and strong support services. And we were reminded of why we do the work we do – at the event we heard from a former Maya Angelou Academy scholar, Kenneil Cole, who recounted his journey from juvenile delinquency to accomplished college junior.
His story is just one example of why a Maya education matters. Maya offers a uniquely supportive experience for our students, and this spring we hope to expand on the incredible programming we have in place. Take a look inside this newsletter to find out what our students have been up to in enrichment activities like STEM Support, and work-force engagement programs like the Home Builder’s Institute’s pre-apprenticeship certification course.
And lastly, I would like to thank all our donors who have continued to support the Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation. Whether through our year-end appeal or attending our Maya Way event, you are the reason we can do the work we do. Which is why I am so pleased to announce a new partnership with Amazon Smile, a philanthropic initiative of Amazon, which offers our donors a new (and fun!) way to support the See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Schools. Amazon Smile allows you to donate 0.5% of all Amazon purchases to a charity of your choice, and we look forward to initiating this partnership with them. You’ll find complete details on how to use Amazon Smile in our newsletter.
I wish you a warm and happy next few weeks, and look forward to all the exciting adventures 2016 will bring.
Enrichment Programs, like STEM Support, Engage Students
On a busy winter afternoon, Samantha Koonce, physics teacher and MAPCS’s enrichment coordinator, stopped by a sunny classroom of students. Inside, a group of girls were sitting Socratic seminar style, enthusiastically engaging in a conversation about self-esteem. The conversation was facilitated by Samantha Southall, a special education teacher and founder of the enrichment program, Class Act.
Class Act’s mission is to teach young women self-advocacy and self-worth, promoting positive interactions between young women through conversation—like the ones Ms. Koonce observed that winter day. Ms. Southall modeled the program after her experiences in leadership conferences, like Girls Lead, when she was a student. When the opportunity arose this past year to submit enrichment programming proposals at Maya, she jumped on the chance to create a similar program, where MAPCS’s young women can learn they have the right to be “heard and listened to.”
Ms. Koonce, stresses the importance of programming like Class Act. It offers students a place to “feel safe and loved, and that they are worthy.” At an alternative school like Maya Angelou, where students often come to school with outside experiences telling them the exact opposite, this feeling of worthiness is critical to student success.
Jennifer Piechoski, academic counselor and founder of the enrichment program, STEM Support, sees this fact play out daily. “It amazes me every day how resilient these kids are; they regularly survive the kind of things which would knock me out for a month. But big deal, they still come to school.” Ms. Piechoski’s STEM Support offers after-school tutoring for students who are struggling in STEM subjects. Its students, however, learn far more than math equations and the scientific method. They develop personal relationships with their tutors—college students from GW Scholars and experts in the field from DC Scholars—and create strong connections with Maya staff in a smaller setting. Ms. Piechoski, herself, regularly calls students’ homes to encourage ongoing attendance in STEM Support and impress on their parents the importance of engaging in school.
The bottom line is, as Ms. Koonce noted, enrichment programming is “necessary programming.” Students often “stop learning when they leave school, and we need to continue working with them to build the skills they need to succeed.”
We’ve been busy over the holiday season at the Academy! This year, we started our Annual Food Drive for our scholars’ families. MAA and DYRS staff gathered and donated canned goods to create food baskets for families of our scholars. The MAA Family Engagement Team, lead by Maurice Milline, did an amazing job organizing and then delivering the baskets to the families.
In December, the scholars at MAA participated in our Annual Holiday Book Recordings. Scholars had the opportunity to select a holiday book, record the holiday book, and then send the book along with the recording to their family members and loved ones. This is always a great annual event, and our scholars and staff rallied around this project! Huge shout out to our Behavior Specialist, Ms. Samantha Simpore, for taking the lead on this!
As the holidays came to a close and the New Year began, our staff and scholars re-focused to start the year off striving for continued progress, excellence, and never failing to achieve high expectation. We have a lot to look forward to at the Academy as we gear up for our Annual Black History Month Art Show, organized by our art teacher, Rashad Cuffee, as well as many special performances and events. We recently welcomed the PinPoint Theater group and we look forward to welcoming back Ayana Gregory and the West African Drumming Troupe for some special performances.
Additionally, our MAA Phoenix basketball team is having a very consistent season and scholars are enjoying the opportunity to play in the alternative league here at New Beginnings. We look forward to all that is to come!
-Chelsea Kirk, Asssitant Principal, Maya Angelou Academy