Dear Maya Family

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!

Warm Regards,

Heather Wathington, Ph.D.