Friendship Place

On any given night in Washington, DC , thousands of men and women do not have a home to sleep in. Homeless people, and those who are at risk of experiencing homelessness, rely on shelters and transitional apartments in order to get themselves through difficult times.

Friendship Place, a nonprofit in the District, empowers the people of this marginalized community through programs that address significant areas of need. These programs offer support to homeless and at-risk persons in regards to housing, job placement, meals, showers, laundry, and medical care.

One impressive component of Friendship Place is the Permanent Support Housing service that they provide. The purpose of PSH is, "to empower people with serious mental health challenges, addictions, physical illnesses and/or disabilities to transition into housing and rebuild their lives."

What sets Friendship Place apart from other supportive housing providers is the organization's come-as-you-are policy. One branch of the Permanent Support Housing program is Neighbors First, a "nonjudgmental and non-coercive" model of homeless services that does not force people out based on sobriety requirements. The residents set their own goals and work with managers at Friendship Place to achieve them. The result? "Housing stability rates of better than 98 percent."

Friendship Place began in the shadow of resistance. Initial efforts 25 years ago to create a shelter led to protests from some residents. But still others persisted, and what has grown since is a reminder of the might of the determined few. Today, Friendship Place serves more than 1,600 people each year.

To learn more about Friendship place and the services they offer, visit their website. To view a list of items you can donate to the organization, click here; to see how you can volunteer at Friendship Place, click here.

The Grassroot Project

In the '90s, nary a red carpet was walked without a sea of red ribbons. AIDS was the cause-celebre. Young romances began with "six months, and then we get tested before we sleep together." Okay, it's not exactly "oh, that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek," but it all came from a place of consideration. We thought it would be easier to locate organizations that focus on HIV education and prevention, and it's not. 
That's why we were very happy to come across the Grassroot Project, a nonprofit that not only educates adolescent children about HIV and AIDS, but does so through peer advising and sports. 
Here's the breakdown: NCAA athletes attend training sessions to learn the facts (statistics, methods of transmission) and then to learn how to teach those facts, as well as some less qualitative lessons (making choices, community, peer pressure) to middle school students. The activities with the college coaches are generally worked into a sporting  game, which keeps heavy topics a little more digestible for young kids and gives them another opportunity to focus on living healthy. 
"Our goal is to create a generation of young people who are living healthy, HIV-free lives," said Marie Rudolph, executive director at the Grassroot Project. The focus on HIV prevention and education, she said, is "part of a larger effort to help young people make healthy choices and recognizing the consequences of their actions that they may be taking or soon will be taking."

More than 1.2 million people in the United States are estimated to have HIV, and the scary part is that one in eight don't know they're infected. That's why HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs, like the Grassroot Project, remain vital. This week's DDG featured org, was founded in 2009 by then-Georgetown student Tyler Spencer. After spending two summers in South Africa, working on sports-driven HIV prevention programs, Tyler realized that the curriculum he was applying overseas could be adapted at home. At the time, nearly 3 percent of the DC population was living with HIV or AIDS
The first group of 40 college athletes was trained, and programming began in January 2009, in four local schools. Today, the Grassroot Project has worked in more than 50 DC-area schools and has partnered with DC Public Schools and the Office of the State Superintendent. Thanks in part to this nonprofit, the number of new cases diagnosed in DC has decreased by nearly 70 percent, but still remains at epidemic level. 
The Grassroot Project continues to evolve, and new opportunities to volunteer keep arising. Learn more about partnering with the Grassroot Project. 

Sarah's Circle

According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 10% of people 65 and older in our country live in poverty. Since this demographic is less likely to be employed than younger generations, they are prone to falling into poverty with no way out. To support this at-risk segment of society, Sarah's Circle provides affordable housing for low-income senior citizens in the District of Columbia.

Sarah's Circle supports successful independent living by providing support services and individualized care to its residents. The average age of the residents at Sarah’s Circle is 74, and every member of the community has a fixed income at or below the poverty level. The organization does more than simply offer elderly folks an affordable place to live. Sarah's Circle is dedicated to fostering a sense of community by encouraging its residents to make friends and get involved in group activities. Programs that emphasize nutrition, art, health, and exercise are available to all of the residents who live at Sarah's Circle.

Sarah's Circle combats feelings of isolation and loneliness in its residents by providing abundant opportunities to socialize, from book club and yoga to watercolor painting and exercise classes. As one resident, Mrs. Patricia Kelly said, “My whole outlook on life is different since moving to Sarah’s Circle. I like Sarah’s Circle as it is a great community with great people.”

Heeling House

Since the 1980's, an increasing number of studies have focused on the potentially beneficial relationship between humans and animals. Pets can help lower blood pressure and heart rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and can produce oxytocin, according to a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. 

At Heeling House, this week's DDG featured org, children with special needs interact with highly trained therapy dogs. The animals can help the kids learn a range of abilities from fine motor skills to socialization to executive function. For instance, the Animal Assisted Applied Behavior Analysis Program employs dogs as models of good behavior and examples of socially appropriate interaction or sensory processing. Heeling House also offers programs focused on reading, STEM skills, and an ABA-based small group training for children on the autism spectrum. 

Heeling House was founded by Kathy Benner, an animal behavior expert, who has spent her career working with animals from penguins to llamas. Her background is reflected in the wide spectrum of training programs for animals, which includes multiple levels of animal-assisted training, and a canine good citizen course. Never fear, however, as Heeling House employs human specialists as well -- that is, people who specialize in people. (Pssst... click here for a couple of work opportunities). A degree in behavioral sciences isn't required, however. Volunteer applications are available. 

Horton's Kids

If you’re looking for a nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering at risk youth to fulfill their true potential despite their circumstances, then you’re looking for Horton’s Kids.

Operating on the mission statement that “circumstances should not dictate a child’s future, and every child should graduate from high school ready to succeed in college, career, and life," Horton’s Kids is living up to that standard by providing 500 children out of Ward 8, where most family’s annual income is at or below 10,000, of Washington DC with various support services, including addressing basic health needs and a Community Resource Center. 

Children inWard 8 face numerous challenges, including living with one of the highest crime rates in the city, and underachieving schools where only 15 percent of elementary students are reading at grade level. Horton’s Kids is working to combat these problems by providing a comprehensive model of support. 

Horton’s Kids was founded in 1989 by Karin Walsh, a woman who wanted to provide impoverished youth with new experiences that broadened their perspectives on life and opportunities available to them. One evening, Ms. Walsh was approached by several children who asked to pump her gas in exchange for spare change. Instead, Ms. Walsh offered them a trip to the zoo. That was the spark. Since then, Horton’s Kids has grown into a dynamic organization, thanks to an active volunteer force as well as federal partnerships. Learn more and get involved.

Broad Futures

Not all disabilities are visible. For the one in seven people with learning disabilities, an estimated 45 percent of working age adults in that population are unemployed, according to this week's DDG Featured Org, Broad Futures. Broad Futures strives to help young adults with learning disabilities achieve their potential and find independence and successful employment. The goal is not only to help prepare individuals for the workforce, but to provide a mutually beneficial training that will prepare both prospective employers and employees to be aware of one another's needs, and thus to keep the lines of communication open. Be sure to save the date for the Fall Gala on November 5th.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

We all know that babies are cute and adorable. They're basically puppies without fur, right? Wouldn't that be nice. But seriously, while we think babies are a blessing, having a baby when you're too young or completely unprepared can come with major challenges. Only 38 percent of girls who get pregnant as teenagers earn a high school diploma by age 22. Teen mothers are nearly twice as likely than older mothers to forego first trimester care. In 2008, Medicaid costs for one birth was more than $12,000. The cost of one year of contraceptive care was less than $300. This information comes from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing information about abstinence and other methods of birth control, and about the consequences, both to individuals and taxpayers of unplanned pregnancies. 

A woman's, or a couple's, reasons for waiting to have a baby, or for choosing to not have one, are numerous and PRIVATE. That's why The National Campaign launched their Bedsider campaign to say "Thanks, Birth Control." There's even a song. A September 2016 study showed that the majority of Americans support birth control, but there are socioeconomic gaps in information and access, leading to more unplanned pregnancies among low-income women. Listen, we know the "yay baby, nay baby" thing can be controversial, but here's how we look at the Thanks, Birth Control campaign: It's not about saying that one choice or the other is better, it's about having the choice -- planning what's right for you, your career, your family, your life. You do you, as they say. 

Community of Hope

TRANSFORMED BY HOPE

Alanda Braxton-Miles was sick.

 She was swollen and tired. She was gaining weight. Her hair was falling out.

 Her physician wasn’t looking hard enough for answers. She was tired of visiting the emergency room. So she went to Community of Hope’s Conway Health and Resource Center.

“My doctor took time to listen,” she said. “She’s loving and caring. I know she’s busy, but she treats every patient like they’re her only one!”

 Finally, Alanda got her diagnosis: Diabetes. And after receiving the proper treatment to manage her condition, most of the symptoms have disappeared. 

 "I've had a physical transformation,” she said, “from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet." 

 “To be able to see the impact our services have on people,” said Community of Hope development and marketing manager Karis Erwin, “that was a really special day.”

Since 1980, Community of Hope has been working to help low-income families in DC find stability, in the forms of home, health and income.

“Many times people who come to us for help don’t need support in just one area, but wrap around services that touch multiple parts of their life,” Karis said.

A pediatric exam at Conway Health Center/Photo courtesy of Community of Hope

Health services are available to anyone, regardless of ability to pay.

Three facilities, in Bellevue, Carver-Langston and Adams Morgan, provide medical, dental and behavioral health services for men, women and children.

“There are significant challenges to health care,” said Karis. “There’s a higher infant mortality rate, increased deaths from diabetes and AIDS, need for increased access to primary medical care, dental care and behavioral health support in Wards 5,6,7 and 8.” 

HOPE AND INDEPENDENCE

About 80 percent of Community of Hope’s housing clients live in Wards 7 and 8, which have the highest unemployment rates in the city. As of Jan., 2015, the unemployment rates in Wards 7 and 8 were 13.1 and 16.2 respectively, according to the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services.

“These are individuals we’re really trying to target to work with them on job skills, helping them access benefits, and find the resources they need to find and keep jobs,” she noted.

A Community of Hope housing client shows off her space/Photo courtesy of Community of Hope

The housing component of Community of Hope ranges from rapid re-housing – families and individuals who need a few months of help to get on their feet – to permanent supportive housing, which consists of having a lease in ones own name and paying up to 30 percent of rent from income.

Housing clients are referred by the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center.

Monique Walls lives in one of COH’s Rapid Re-Housing apartments with her 3-year-old son.

 After being laid off from a position she’d held for 14 years, Monique could no longer pay rent, and was eventually evicted. The DC General Shelter was an unhealthy environment for her child, who had heart problems as a baby.

 The two spent 11 months in a motel before finding Community of Hope. Now, Monique and her son not only have a safe place to live, she has support. Monique is actively searching for employment.

 “It’s programs like Community of Hope that make me feel hope – for myself and others like me," she said. "It’s giving me an opportunity to gain my independence back. I needed help and Community of Hope has just been such a blessing.”

WORKING FOR HOPE

Community of Hope's in-house workforce development program allows clients to work with employment specialists who help them with resumes, job leads and interview techniques.

A soft-skills development program focused on customer service is available to COH clients. Here, they learn not just how to get a job, but how to keep one. Topics include how to accept feedback from supervisors, avoiding co-worker conflicts, and how to deal with difficult customers, valuable skills, indeed, for nearly every working person.

After completing the six-week program, David Mitchell landed a job as a wheelchair escort at Dulles Airport, a great relief for the 31-year-old, who had been unemployed for three years.

 Through Community of Hope, David learned the confidence and poise required to make an interview turn into a job.

 “Community of Hope saw something in me,” he said. "I found it, and now I’ve been working for six months. I’m going to be proud to do my taxes this year.”

Workforce Development class/Photo courtesy of Community of Hope

COH has a dedicated and motivated staff, from the doctors and nurses who staff the health centers to CEO Kelly Sweeney McShane who, on March 24, was named one of eight Women of Excellence by Mayor Muriel Bowser, The Office on Women's Policy & Initiatives and the DC Commission for Women.

Like most nonprofit organizations, however, Community of Hope relies on loving and dedicated volunteers and mentors, people like Ellie Matthews. 

For the past four years, Ellie has been a mentor with COH. She's been working with her current mentee, an elementary school girl, for two years. They spend their time together experiencing many of DC's cultural opportunities -- the National Zoo, or an Italian Christmas celebration at the Portrait Gallery, to name a few.

"I've been able to see her grow up," Ellie said of the child. "I enjoy the activities we do together. I can impart knowledge, and she teaches me things in a different way."

Despite any challenges she and her colleagues face in their work, Karis Erwin said the opportunity to see hope coming to fruition keeps her going.

“I’ve seen the lives that have been impacted and the lives that have been changed,” she said. “That’s motivation enough for me.”

Editor’s note: Sections in italics are based on stories sent to The Daily Do Good via e-mail by Community of Hope.

Seabury Resources for the Aging

Aging With Dignity

Aging can be an unpredictable process.

Medical needs, general health, finances and network of support are all concerns as a person grows older. Seabury Resources for Aging has worked to address the spectrum of needs for seniors in the greater Washington, DC area since 1924.

“We try to be an informational source for people,” said Kate Lewis, Seabury’s Chief Advancement Officer. “People are looking for different things.” 

Seabury began as the Episcopal Church Home in 1924 with the donation of a single-family home for use by seniors in the community. More home donations followed, as well as the development of the Friendship Terrace Retirement Community, which can accommodate nearly 200 residents.

In the mid-1990s, the organization began to focus on services, recognizing many seniors’ desire to stay in their own homes as long as possible. In 2010, the organization rebranded itself as Seabury Resources for Aging, reflecting the group’s growth and open welcome to seniors seeking assistance.
 
“Because our services are free or affordable, we serve a lot of folks of modest income,” Kate said. She worries about homelessness and HIV, both of which she says are growing concerns in the aging community. By connecting aging adults with the assistance they need, Seabury works to help counter these problems.   

Seniors still living at home can find free assistance through the Age-In-Place program, Seabury’s largest outreach. Volunteers - many of them high school students - rake yards, trim hedges, run the vacuum cleaner, and take care of other simple maintenance to enable people to stay in their homes safely.
Meal delivery, transportation, and social work assistance services also benefit many aging adults. Family-style or community Seabury homes serve seniors unable to live independently. 

Kate points out that Seabury doesn’t exclusively serve seniors. The organization can be a reassuring presence for caregivers and families, especially adult children living too far to offer routine assistance to their parents. A Seabury social worker can offer counsel and mediation for families as a parent plans to transition from independent living to a Seabury residence or another assisted living home.

Seabury Resources for Aging has evolved over the decades, adapting strategies and outreach programs to connect to the community’s changing needs and become a powerful resource. 
“We’re 90 years old,” Kate said. “We have the experience and the expertise.”

How I Was Helped
 

-DOROTHY-

Dorothy Carracedo, 76, Retired

Q: How did you connect with Seabury Resources for the Aging?
A: I was taking WEHTS for transportation and then Seabury took it over. Also, my son located a Mom’s Meals person and that person told us about the Seabury office, and I called and Ms. Kenny came out to see me. She’s a social worker there. She still comes out to see me, and when I have a problem I call her. When I have problems getting rides, she helps me, and when I have problems with getting help from different agencies, she’s right there with me. I wouldn’t give anything for Seabury, I love Seabury. 

Q: Why were you in need of Seabury's services?
A: I’m a 76-year-old, retired, disabled senior and I need all of the help that I can get. I have many doctor’s appointments, and when I go I need transportation. I’m on a fixed income and I can’t afford Metro access. Even though it’s not that much money, it’s a lot for me when I’m on fixed income. I have qualified so I get Medicaid help, Meals on Wheels, and other services that help me out with my budget.

Q: What intangibles have you taken away from your work with the organization?
A: Everything I’ve gotten from Seabury has been tangible, has been needed, has been used. I’m very pleased with the service I get from Seabury transportation. And the drivers are all wonderful drivers, wonderful people. They work with you, they act concerned for you. As I said, I’m very happy and fortunate to be with them. They’re doing a lot of good for me. And Ms. Kenny is wonderful. I can’t put her name out there enough!

Q: Do you feel you are now better equipped to pay it forward, and if so, how?
A: I have a lot of neighbors who are just like me--on fixed income, seniors. They don’t know where to go for different things. I find it easier to send them to Seabury, who can direct them or aid them, rather than tell them to call this place, call that place. That’s my gift back to my community. 

How I Help
 

- KHALILAH- 

Khalilah, a retiree, has volunteered with Seabury since June of 2013. She currently volunteers 20 hours per week at the Kibar-Halal Nutrition Center, one of several locations hosting educational nutrition and wellness programs.

Q: What motivated you to work with Seabury?
A: I’m a retired citizen and a volunteer, and I like to give back to the community or whatever organization I belong to. After I retired and relaxed for a little bit, I decided to devote any sort of volunteer presence [I could].” 

Q: What sort of work do you do in your capacity as a volunteer?
A: I help the managers put the food on the plate and I serve the seniors. It gives me something to do instead of sitting at home. I can come out four hours a day and help somebody out, make somebody smile, give them a coffee or sit down and talk to them for ten minutes. That’s it right there, to be able to do that.”

Q: What advice or inspiration would you offer other people looking to get involved in their communities
A: Wherever you go or whatever you read there’s always somebody doing some volunteering. There’s always someone giving their service. If everybody were to do this, there wouldn’t be too much of a problem of the seniors being left alone to themselves and not being able to do anything.

About the Author: Jessica Sillers is a Washington, DC-based writer. She has volunteered as a teacher's assistant in Faridabad, India, and on a farm in Ireland. Contact her at jessicasillers@dcfreelancewriter.com

This is My Brave

FINDING BRAVE: THIS IS MY BRAVE

Phoebe has struggled with depression more than half her life.

“I’ve been on medication since I was 6 or 7,” the 15-year-old said. “Most people my age don’t think of someone having a disability unless you’re in a wheelchair. People will say ‘oh, I’m so depressed.’ In a way, it’s offensive.”

In This Is My Brave, Phoebe has found a platform to talk about her experiences, and a community of people who give her understanding, and even admiration.

Jennifer Marshall founded the organization in 2013, after writing a blog for What to Expect about being a mother living with bi-polar disorder. Though Jennifer had written a blog, Bi-polar Mom Life, for a number of years, she’d always done so anonymously, fearing the stigma that can accompany mental illness.

May 2015 cast of This Is My Brave/ Photo by Dorie Howell Photography

“A lot of the stories about mental illness tend to be tragedies,” she said. “You don't hear the success stories of people who have overcome it. It can be scary to hear stories of mental illnesses left untreated and a tragedy happened. We are bringing positive stories into the light." 

 

LIVING BRAVE: THIS IS MY BRAVE
 

After Jennifer's piece appeared on a national website, people reached out to thank her for sharing her story. "I realized what a relief it was to open up about that part of my life."

Upon launching a Kickstarter to fund the first show, Jennifer and associate producer Anne-Marie Ames were stunned to see that support was plentiful.

“Everyone was so moved by the message we shared,” said Jennifer, who was diagnosed in 2006, after two hospitalizations for manic episodes the prior year. “We’ve all been so impacted by mental illness, and we’re able to lead full lives.” 

Today, This Is My Brave puts on full-length shows in multiple cities, including DC and Boston, performs at schools, hosts yoga classes and more. All the cast members and producers volunteer their time.  A team has formed to support cast member Annie as she runs a half-marathon for the cause.  In June, This Is My Brave will open Mental Health America’s annual conference, in Alexandria. 

Phoebe compared being a part of This Is My Brave to being on a sports team. 

“On sports teams,” she said, “they say ‘I got your back.’ We kind of are a team. It’s having that gut feeling that these people have got my back and I’ve got theirs.” 

 

BRAVE TESTIMONIALS

"I'm so happy to have met Jennifer and This Is My Brave. I was writing the blog and I wanted to put it out there, but it wasn't until I was in a room with other people who were struggling, that I felt like I'd found people I wanted to reach. This is about not hiding, this is about accepting.” – Ev Reheard, singer/songwriter, speech pathologist

"There was a time in my life, when my child was three months old, that I thought about going to the top of my apartment building and jumping off. That doesn't make me a bad mother, it doesn't make me crazy. This Is My Brave is a beautiful idea. It’s so brave to stand up and say 'this is what I've been through and it doesn't make me weak.’ "  - Lynne, clinical social worker, advocate for postpartum depression

“The response I have gotten since getting up on stage and telling the gist of my story and battles has been so rewarding. People I thought didn’t like me, strangers, and people I knew didn’t like me, all put away their opinions to congratulate me, and the most incredible thing of all time was they stopped to thank me. I was thanked for having the courage to speak about things they couldn’t. I was thanked for showing them that they shouldn’t be afraid of their disease, that it shouldn’t be what defines them and their moments in life.” – Gabbi, 17, cast member

“Being in the Brave cast is important to me because it is the first time I am admitting my struggles not only publicly but to myself and friends & loved ones. Being a part of this organization has given me the courage to admit and share my story in hopes that it might encourage someone else silently struggling to feel less alone and ask for help.” – Jessica, founder of Heart Marks Art Therapy

Photographs courtesy of This Is My Brave.

Bread for the City

MORE THAN BREAD ALONE

If you put on your magic hat and conjured up an organization that addressed all the needs of DC’s low-income residents, it would probably look something like Bread for the City. From its beginning partnership with Zacchaeus Free Clinic in a church basement 40 years ago, Bread for the City has grown to a multi-facility powerhouse providing comprehensive services for over 33,000 DC residents a year. Clients will find not only food, but also medical and dental care, legal services, health and wellness programs and, perhaps most importantly, a “client first” philosophy based on dignity and respect.

CEO George A. Jones has been with Bread for the City for about half its journey. Although he was not new to the sector prior to Bread for the City, his work with the organization opened his eyes to the real face of homelessness in DC: families.

“When we think of the homeless, most of us think about the single person standing on the street corner,” he said. Bread for the City’s holistic approach with families, however, is what makes the difference for him.

Image from Agua Fund

Bread for the City’s food pantries in Northwest and Southeast DC serve more than 24,000 DC residents a year. Both locations offer rooftop gardens, where clients grow their own food, and staff cultivate vegetables for the pantries. In the summer, a farmer’s market alternates between locations. Both sites also offer social services(housing assistance, employment readiness and representative payee programs) and legal clinics to help vulnerable residents facing landlord-tenant, public benefit and family law conflicts.

EVERYTHING FOR THE CITY

An additional benefit at the Southeast center is its clothing room, and the Northwest location’s special feature is its full medical and dental clinic, open to everyone in the community regardless of income. Neighborhood residents with medical insurance seek treatment side by side with Bread for the City clients in this modern health facility with a full-fledged lab, dispensary, eye clinic and dental treatment. Health and wellness classes such as yoga and maintaining a low-sodium, low-sugar diet help clients sustain a healthy lifestyle.

Artist Lana Wong of TICAH (Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health), who worked with Bread for the City clients in a partnership with WomenStrong DC Wellness./Photo by Tara Campbell

And did I mention Bread for the City’s 2.75-acre City Orchard in Beltsville, MD, with more than 2,500 trees that will produce more than 45,000 pounds of food for DC residents? Or Glean for the City, their program to rescue thousands of pounds of excess produce from farmers markets around the city that would otherwise go to waste?

Just Bread for the City? More like Everything for the City. So how do they do it all?

Committed staff and a sense of community are a huge part of it. As Communications Director Karen Byer said, “I feel like part of a family of one hundred people from varying backgrounds all moving in the same direction.” Clients feel a sense of respect and belonging, and often come back to volunteer at the pantry or orchard. “Clients feel good about being able to give something back,” said Byer.

GOOD HOPE

Don’t just take staff’s word about all the good Bread for the City can do.

A client speaking at the organization’s Good Hope Gala recently attested to the same thing. Quoting Ralph Ellison (“It is the nature of man to rise to greatness when greatness is expected.”), she thanked the organization for expecting more of her and helping her rise to greatness.

Even at a gala, an event that would seem the furthest removed from the lives of the people it serves, a genuine sense of community shone through. Far from a snobbish affair of elites clutching glasses of bubbly while admiring one another’s shoes, this was a night where clients, staff, friends and supporters ribbed one another and laughed, literally patting one another on the shoulder, fetching a chair or a plate of food for a friend, and having a good old time—while just happening to look sharp.

And as for the music? Now, you know Bread for the City wasn’t going to bring in some staid string quartet or pipe in easy-listening jazz. No, friends: DC’s very own Brass Connection Band, which often graces Dupont Circle and other corners of the city, topped off the evening with a loud, joyous salute to Bread for the City. Long after the food had been eaten and auction had been held—which, by the way, netted an astounding $770,000 toward anti-poverty programs—clients and supporters boogied the night away as the band played on.

Tara Campbell is a DC-based writer of crossover science fiction. When not writing, she likes tending to her own little balcony garden. Not exactly Bread for the City, but maybe Salad for One.

Brainfood

THE BACKGROUND ON BRAINFOOD

Like learning about, experimenting with, or just plain old eating, food? Then you’ll love DDG's featured organization this week.

Suzanne Isack founded Brainfood in 1999 with the goal of “using food and cooking to provide high school-aged youth with structured activities during non-school hours”.

Brainfood programs teaches life skills and raise self-expectations through one of the oldest and central human traditions: the act of making your own food.  Brainfood’s variety of  programs teach young people the importance of healthy eating and nutrition while giving them a role in their community and an outlet for their voice.  Most importantly, they get to learn to make AND eat recipes like banana bread muffins, samosas and Shepherd’s pie.  The programs also include restaurant visits and working with guest chefs from some of DC’s most popular restaurants.

The programs are designed to meet the “capacities, strengths, and development needs of youth,” according to the oganization’s website, providing them with an environment where they can take risks without fear of failure and can learn new skills.  In turn, Brainfood’s students are better equipped to make change in their own communities.

 “One of the things that’s really stood out to me over the years I’ve been involved here is how community-oriented our students are without prompting,” said Carina Gervacio, a program director at the organization. “ It was a pleasant surprise how many of them want to take the skills they’ve learned and turn around and give them back to their friends and family. We are just giving them a place to shine.”

In May 2015, Brainfood opened its first retail space in Union Market called Brainfood Homegrown. The space is run by a graduate of the program and sells produce and foods prepared by Brainfood classes.

Brainfood Homegrown currently also offers a CSA pickup program on Saturdays and Sundays.

Photo courtesy of Brainfood

“We really felt like this opportunity is another way for our graduates to gain experience building their skills, and it also provides our organization with a little more leverage to expand at our own pace outside the typical funding cycle of a non-profit,” said Carina, Come get the homemade kale chips at the Union Market Stand while they last!

Looking further into the future, Brainfood is planning to create more ways for recent grads to get involved in the organization and have an even more empowering experience. They want to give their graduates a launching pad toward the next steps in their lives, building off the nutrition and healthy eating skills they learned in their first years in the program and segueing towards learning about being a responsible employee and gaining sales and retail experience.

Brainfood’s success as an organization promoting youth development has not been lost on the larger DC community. In 2013, the non-profit was the recipient of the Mayor’s Award for Sustainability. 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Brainfood MVP students and their families share a meal to commemorate the end of the program/Photo by Holly Leber

On May 21, Brainfood’s Class of 2015 Community MVPs had their graduation ceremony at their Mount Vernon Square site. Brainfood’s Community MVP program teaches returning Brainfood students how to lead their own workshops on healthy eating in the community. The program builds off the culinary skills learned in the first year, and places an additional emphasis on community service.

 “I learned how to cook on a budget and make nutritious recipes,” said Jordyn, 16. “I learned to project my voice and look at people when they’re talking.”

“It caused my baby girl to come out of her shell,” added Jordyn’s mother, Jerret Wright. “It has given her confidence—I appreciate the culinary skills and the nutritional knowledge. It’s done wonders for her.”

The students spend the fall designing workshops and learning teaching techniques, and in the spring identify community groups in need of food education resources and deliver their workshops to them.

A map displays where Brainfood MVP students served their community/Photo by Holly Leber

Over the course of the year, the 11 members of the class led 12 community workshops focused on healthy eating that reached over 350 people. Even more impressive? The 11 class members have logged 3,000 hours of community service in the past eight months.

“I see people respond to you. You illuminate things, you make things better. You bring light into my life,” Kim, a volunteer, told the students. “I don’t want you to let anybody say that you can’t do something. We believe in our core that every one of you has value and we appreciate the effort you made. It’s important that you know that.”

 

Q&A WITH CARINA GERVACIO
BRAINFOOD PROGRAM DIRECTOR

How long have you been working with Brainfood, and what motivated you to choose this particular organization?

“I started with Brainfood in 2005 as a part-time employee and was quickly hired full-time. I had always liked cooking and was looking for something more dynamic than the typical nonprofit 9-5. Initially I thought to myself that I would just keep doing this until it was no longer fun, but that moment never came. Ten years later, I’m still here! I’ve worn many hats during my time here.”

How would you describe your current role as program director at Brainfood? What are your typical responsibilities?

“I don’t teach classes anymore. I would describe my current role as kind of like the connector between all of the different spaces that Brainfood has, from the kitchen to the gardens to the sites. I coordinate everything so that there is continuity between what the program is and what the people’s expectations are. I also serve as sort of an organization librarian or archivist… when graduates come back they have all these memories of how things were previously."

What is an experience that has been especially moving to you?

“Brainfood started as just two programs: Brainfood Kitchen All-Stars and the Brainfood Summer Institute. Kids would be coming back year after year, but there was no real change in curriculum, and we wanted to expand the first year experience. We held a focus group with just the students and asked the students about what they wanted more of from us. The overwhelming response was that they wanted the ability to connect people who couldn’t come to Brainfood program with everything that they were learning. They also wanted a community recognition piece, where they could get more feedback from people in the Greater DC area about what they were doing—carving out a space for their voice and celebrating their accomplishments. Community MVP's developed out of that: an external-facing program that reaches outsides our core demographic and gives the students more responsibility, but also gives them a voice and allows them to give back."

About the Author: Marisa Weidner is a graduate of The College of William and Mary. She has volunteered as a teacher in Belize, and in homeless shelters in the United States. Marisa chronicles her explorations of DC on her blog, The Curated City. 

Dreaming Out Loud

“WHEN DREAMS EMERGE, COMMUNITIES ARISE”

As far back as human history, food has functioned as a magnet, bringing families and communities together. Access to healthy, nutritious food has always been paramount for maintaining a well-balanced diet and longevity.  Unfortunately for many families who live in low-income urban areas, finding local fresh produce remains a challenge. 

Dreaming Out Loud, a D.C. nonprofit founded in 2008, believes in the power of food to “feed the dreams of all people and build more resilient communities.”

The initial goals focused on bridging the educational and economic gap in under-served communities, working in Ward 7 to provide leadership and character development to school-aged children.

“There is a huge utility in teaching core values to kids — it changes their lives,” said founder and executive director Chris Bradshaw. “We started to notice a lot of issues stemming from food that impacted our ability to run a successful program.”

Indeed, without access to fresh foods, neighborhoods end up facing severe and long-lasting health issues, which can span generations. According to the National Housing Institute, access to affordable, nutritious food is “an essential component of a livable and well-functioning community…and can enhance their broader economic and social health.”

“In kindergarten through third grade, kids were being fed sugary snacks and then would have no attention span after school,” Bradshaw said. “In high school-aged kids, we saw an evolution of the same issues. There was a lack of access in the community to healthy foods.”

After realizing that many of the social issues they were fighting stemmed from the same source, the “consequential issues surrounding food systems and economics in our partner communities,” DOL pivoted towards its current mission of building food equity. Bradshaw and colleagues believe all communities need and deserve equal access to healthy food choices.

They launched Aya Community Markets, a “growing network of farmers markets that help to provide access to fresh, local produce, spur economic development, and build health equity,” according to the DOL website.

Aya Community Markets use both the traditional farmers market model and mobile farm stands to extend their reach as wide as possible.

In 2014, more than 10,000 people benefitted from Aya Markets, and more than 70,000 pounds of fresh, local produce were distributed. Dreaming Out Loud pairs with an anchor farm partner, Crazy Farm, in Westmoreland County, Va. In 2015, Bradshaw and company aim to reach 30,000 people.

“Aya” is Ghanian for “the fern.” Bradshaw traveled to Ghana in 2011, and was inspired by the farmers markets of Ghana, which simultaneously support farmers and communities.

“We see the food system as a way to bring communities together and strengthen them,” he said.

Q&A WITH CHRIS BRADSHAW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DREAMING OUT LOUD

1.   Have you experienced any challenges with trying to bring healthy eating habits into the lives of communities and families that aren’t necessarily used to doing so?

It is a challenge to get people used to the idea of healthier eating. It helps that awareness of the issue has grown substantially in recent years, especially with  Michelle Obama, the White House garden and the Let’s Move! campaign. People are more willing to try new things and get involved. It’s great to see the interest grow. We now have two markets and a garden space. I can feel the growth in the city and people becoming more aware… it feels like we are bridging the gap between desire and lack of opportunity. 

2.    Tell me more about the idea to use Adinkra symbols.

The Adinkra symbols are our organization’s core values.  They’re a way to take stock of the foundational elements of our broader teaching philosophy. How do you instill a value-based approach to your work? It also involves instilling performance values for how you conduct yourself. They are the compass for our work.

3.    Can you tell me about a specific time or instance in which you felt your mission was a success?

The instance when I felt our mission was being exemplified most was at our farmer’s market. Just hearing people come up and say how thankful they are for the market and the availability of produce and how much it helps them. I remember once last year a woman came up to me and said, “I’m so glad you this is here, this is helping me deal with my HIV and sickle cell.” That was a really touching moment for me. To have both of those diseases and to not have access to ways to maintain your diet — I couldn’t believe it.

4.    What is something you’ve taken away from your work with Dreaming Out Loud?

It’s taught me the idea that everybody’s opinion and value is unique and that you have to take the time to understand someone’s value and uniqueness.  What someone brings to your life and to your world is not always obvious.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIONS

Project Dream Green

In 2010, Dreaming Out Loud, in cooperation with Groundwork Anacostia River DC, developed and implemented “Project Dream Green,” a youth employment and training program. Participants aged 14-21 participated in environmental projects including energy conservation and maintenance of parks and trails.

Aya Accelerator

The AyaAccelerator is designed to help micro-entrepreneurs whose mission accords with that of Dreaming Out Loud. By partnering with both funding platform Clovest and Kiva Microfunds, DOL is able to provide even more opportunities for youth to “dream out loud.”

Aya Youth Cooperative

The Aya Youth Cooperative builds off DOL’s initial mission of character and leadership development by striving to provide a space for youth to gain work, entrepreneurial, and service skills.

DOL has established an urban farm at Blind Whino, which will allow 12 youth participants to gain valuable skills and development.

Produce Plus Program

In a blog post about the community partnerships, Bradshaw cited PPP as the key to much of the success DOL saw in 2014. The program helps District residents who are recipients of federal assistance programs by providing them with $10 per household per week to spend on fresh fruit and vegetables at the farmer’s markets. PPP functions as an incredible way to give access to fresh produce for low-income communities.

More DOL projects and collaborations here….

About the Author: Marisa Weidner is a graduate of The College of William and Mary. She has volunteered as a teacher in Belize, and in homeless shelters in the United States. Marisa chronicles her explorations of DC on her blog, The Curated City. 

DC Diaper Bank

DC DIAPER BANK: TAKING A LOAD OFF FAMILIES

Caring for a baby can feel like a whirlwind sometimes. As if raising a child weren't stressful enough, many parents are left to worry about how they will provide their child with basic needs such as diapers. According to BabyCenter.com, disposable diapers cost an average of $72 a month. In other words, not easy on the budget.

The DC Diaper Bank takes a load off families who struggle just to make ends meet. In the District, 26 percent of children under the age of six live in poor families. DCDB’s mission is to "strengthen families by providing a reliable and adequate supply of free diapers to families in need," according to its website.

Diaper donations in the DC Diaper Bank Warehouse/ Photo courtesy of DC Diaper Bank

The idea for the nonprofit began in 2009 when founder Corinne Cannon and her husband Jay became first-time parents to a baby boy named Jack. After realizing how much work is required of parents, Cannon began thinking about mothers who are less fortunate than her and what she could do to alleviate some of the stress they experience on a daily basis. She was blown away to learn that the nearest diaper bank was more than 200 miles away in Pennsylvania.

"I remember being with a friend of mine in the park complaining about how no one had taken this issue on, what was going to happen, and why it wasn't being addressed and my friend finally said to me, 'Corinne, you just need to do it and so I did," Cannon said. "I knew I could make a difference and I felt I had a responsibility to do it.”

Corinne Cannon, founder of DC Diaper Bank/Photo from UrbanSitter.com

On average, more than 2,500 families receive 75,000 diapers monthly. To date, the organization has donated nearly two million diapers to deserving families. DC Diaper Bank works with 30 different organizations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Those organizations offer comprehensive family care and provide help with food, utility bills and case management.

 

DIAPER HEROES

Cannon says the DC Diaper Bank has little to do with diapers and everything to do with alleviating stress and indirectly adding income to families' budget: Rather than purchasing diapers, they’re able to put that money toward food and other essentials.  

The gift of art/Photo courtesy of DC Diaper Bank

"What we want to do is work with one-stop shop social service agencies and use diapers as a way to get families to engage," Cannon said. "We know that families will reach out for diapers in a way they will not reach out for food and other services simply because they don't have another outlet."

As part of its Baby Pantry: Food & Other Essentials program, the DC Diaper Bank accepts tampons and pads, formula, baby food jars and pouches, shampoo and conditioner, pacifiers, bibs, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and laundry detergent, among many other useful items. Over the past two years alone, the Baby Pantry program has donated $105,000 worth of items. 

The organization's community service was recently recognized by CNN Heroes. The nearly two-minute video highlighting the DC Diaper Bank’s work garnered lots of attention. 

“We got calls and emails from all over the country from supporters, moms and dads in search of diapers, and folks wanting to know more about our work,” Cannon said. “More than 30 people contacted us to see how they could start a diaper bank in the community.”

 

GIVE A YOU-KNOW-WHAT

Much of the DC Diaper Bank's success is due in part to its hard-working volunteers, like Rick Bacon. A private tutor and father of an almost four-year-old boy and 5-month-old baby girl, Bacon coordinates the warehouse. His responsibilities include getting an accurate count of the diapers and making sure they’re packaged correctly before they’re shipped out.  

Bacon was raised to give back and has done so for many years, but lending his time to the DC Diaper Bank has been an eye-opening experience, especially now that he’s a father of two small children. “There’s really no one type of person who needs help,” he said. “Oftentimes when people have an image of who would need help with diapers, they may think of a single mother who’s in bad circumstances, but the way this country is set up, a lot of the structural issues that lead to poverty can affect anyone."        

DC Diaper Bank executive director Corinne Cannon bundles diapers with a volunteer./Photo courtesy of DC Diaper Bank

From hosting a diaper drive in your local area to becoming an ambassador, there are several ways to become involved. 

“The best part is that you see where the diapers are going,” Bacon said. “Meeting the parents who receive the diapers and seeing how thankful they are is always a great moment.”

Cannon admits the last thing she wanted to do is start a nonprofit having worked in the field for most of her life and knowing how difficult it is to successfully operate one. But, it’s a decision she doesn’t regret making after seeing how much of an impact the DC Diaper Bank has had on the community. She hopes her work will inspire others to start diaper banks in their communities as well.

“If we learned anything from the recession in 2008, it’s that anyone can become poor,” Cannon said. “I’m doing this because I want to live in a world that supports women, children and families because I have children, I am a woman and this could be me. It could be any of us.”

About the Author: Princess Gabbara is a Michigan-based journalist and freelance writer (Ebony, Essence, etc.). You can read more of her work on her blog. She also tweets @PrincessGabbara.

Arts for the Aging

JOY IN GENERATION

In 1988, inspired by studies that showed the benefits of art on Alzheimer's patients, scientist and sculptor Lili-Charlotte "Lolo" Sarnoff founded Arts for the Aging. 

Twenty-seven years later, Arts for the Aging is a thriving nonprofit that serves more than 600 programs each year. 

"Unfortunately a lot of people tend to overlook older adults, think they don't have anything to offer, or aren't valuable to society, when in fact that's not the case," said Brandi Rose, program director at AFTA. 

The programs, she noted, provide social engagement and interaction for the aging clients, particularly those who might struggle to connect with others in a traditional manner, which can become a challenge for people afflicted with dementia. 

"They have so many memories and thoughts," she said, "so many ways they can express themselves."

Video source: Docs in Progress

A study by the National Endowment for the Arts and George Washington University, titled “The Creativity and Aging Study: The Impact of Professionally Conducted Programs on Older Adults,” persons aged 65 – 103 who take part in a weekly participatory arts program report “better health, fewer doctor visits, and less medication usage; more positive responses on the mental health measures; (and) more involvement in overall activities.”

Arts for the Aging offers two types of programs: Joy in Generation is for seniors who are more frail, while Arts Alive! (yes, with an exclamation point) is a sequential learning series for participants who are independent and high-functioning. Disciplines include healing movement, music, dance, creative writing, and drawing and painting. 

AGING AND ENGAGING
 

Nancy Havlik is the co-director at Quicksilver, an AFTA-sponsored dance company of people ages 65 and up. Her dancers, a few of whom are in their late 80’s, she said, often volunteer to accompany her on visits to community centers and nursing homes, where she leads workshops.

“The interaction elicits people’s creativity,” she said. “…You watch the room kind of wake up as people get into their physical bodies. You see a change in energy, not just in individuals, but in people interacting with each other.”

Teaching artists are all paid for their planning and instruction time, a reflection on founder Sarnoff’s respect for artists’ work and time.

Programs are often cross-disciplinary, with two or more teachers collaborating to create an offering that draws from multiple art forms. Havlik has enjoyed collaboration with several fellow AFTA artists, such as storyteller Candace Wolf.

Nancy Havlik's Dance Performance Group and Arts For The Aging's Quicksilver Senior Dance Company present Scattered Light at the National Center for Creative Aging Conference Arena Stage Washington, DC May 20, 2015 Featuring Quicksilver co-director Anthony Hyatt on violin

“As I became more immersed with an elder population through my artistic work, I became more engaged,” Wolf said. “The elderly population in our society is really isolated overall. I was encountering so many folks who seemed to be emotionally and socially cut off from others. As I designed my programs to meet the needs of this population, it was really important not just to delight people with stories, but to try to transcend this isolation using the narrative arts.”

Participants act out parts during a Marvelous Musicals program at Alexandria Adult Day Services Center. (Photo Stephanie Williams)/Photo source: AFTA

The collaboration she did with Nancy emphasized, she said, “the movement of language, or the language of movement.” They designed a series focused on animals – what animal do you wish you were, what animal frightens you, etc.

Both women have led classes at Friends Club, a program for men with Alzheimer’s. Candace said she’s found storytelling techniques that can help trigger some memories, while Nancy recalls visiting with musician Anthony Hyatt, and watching the men dance as Anthony played “The Waltz of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

"The whole room was alive, and probably in their early lives, they never imagined they would have done that," she said. "The energy had been transformed.” 

An artist admires her work at Alexandria Adult Day Services Center. (Photo Stephanie Williams)/Photo source: AFTA

About the Author: Holly Leber is the editorial director for The Daily Do Good. Upon learning about the benefits of arts programs for aging persons, she immediately emailed the information to her parents. For the, um, future.

DC Volunteers Lawyers Project

PROVIDING A VOICE TO REACH A BETTER FUTURE

Imagine you’ve got eight children and a husband who abuses you physically and mentally. When you were younger, you thought he would deliver you from your difficult upbringing. But now he’s given you a head injury, and continues to threaten you. You’ve tried to get away from him twice before, but after fifteen years of marriage, you don’t know how you will be able to support eight children on your own.

This is clearly a case for DC Volunteer Lawyers Project.

DCVLP was founded in 2008 by attorneys Jenny Brody, Karen Barker Marcou and Marla Spindel. Their goal was to give domestic violence survivors and at-risk children access to free legal services. The organization provides the structure and resources individual attorneys need (meeting space, mentoring, malpractice insurance, etc.) to offer their services to low-income families in the DC area.

DCVLP works in three main areas:

·      Child Advocacy Services—investigating domestic living situations in which children may be at risk due to abuse or neglect

·      Domestic Violence—helping survivors file for civil protection orders and divorce, as well as providing a weekly walk-in clinic for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors

·      Immigration—assisting non-US citizens who have been victims of domestic abuse, violent crimes or human trafficking

Co-founder and Co-executive director Barker Marcou believes that domestic violence work is where DCVLP has its biggest impact.

“Stopping the cycle of violence is important not just for the women, but also for the children growing up in abusive homes,” she said. “Protecting the children makes them less likely to go on to be abusers themselves.”

Jackie Love-Baker, licensed attorney and Director of Development at DCVLP has also worked with domestic violence clients firsthand. “Getting a civil protection order (also called a restraining order or stay-away order) is an overwhelming, complex, intimidating process,” said Love-Baker. “To have someone by your side throughout the whole process is essential for our clients.”

DCVLP concerns itself not only with the immediate danger of domestic violence, but also with the aftermath of the changed family structure. In the example above, DCVLP helped the client with eight children file for a Civil Protection Order and fought her husband’s counter-claim of abuse (a tactic Barker Marcou says abusers often use). Volunteer lawyers later helped her file for divorce, and win custody and child support. They went back to court with the client again after her ex-husband failed to pay his mandated child support. Through partner organizations, DCVLP was able to get her assistance paying bills and car repairs so she wouldn’t have to go back to her abuser. They were also able to steer her toward Section 8 housing, assistance physically moving in and furnishing her house, and even help getting an Individualized Education Program for one of her children who needed special education.

Given the nature of DCVLP’s work, most of their clients’ identities are protected. But Tisha Hyter, a domestic violence survivor and DCVLP Board Member, offered personal words of thanks in the organization’s 2014 Annual Report: “DCVLP provides a VOICE to those who find themselves voiceless. I remember that feeling from moons ago when I was going through my own personal situation. Even the most articulate people can feel at a loss for words.”

Only Make Believe

IMAGINATION HEALS

Staying cooped up anywhere can be difficult for anyone, but facing the four walls of a hospital room 24/7 can be especially tough -- draining even.

For nearly 20 years, Only Make Believe has brought happiness to thousands of children in hospitals and care facilities across the DC area through live interactive theater. To date, approximately 45,000 children have been impacted by OMB’s services, and that number continues to grow each year.

Because OMB knows that “freeing a child’s imagination is a valuable part of the healing process,” the organization works with a team of professional actors to provide interactive theater for sick children using nothing by a backdrop, along with a supply of props, costumes and imagination, of course.

What happens next is quite magical to say the least.

By the end of the show, the same children who were having the worst day imaginable and didn’t intend on participating are dancing, laughing and having fun.

Professional actor Chris Wilson, who joined OMB four years ago, calls days like these a job well done.

“Only Make Believe allows theater to become a truly immersive experience. The actors transform the space, interact with the audience, and adjust the show to the needs of each group of children,” Wilson said. “I am a firm believer that the performing arts have the ability to allow children to think and grasp concepts in a different way.”

Founded by Dena Hammerstein, OMB honors the legacy of her late husband James “for his dedication to the theater and her passionate love for children in need.” But, as soon as trips to the theater proved to be too much for many of the children, that’s when the idea of brining the magic of theater directly to them emerged.

“The majority of the children we serve do not have normal childhoods and suffer from chronic diseases and physical, emotional and intellectual disabilities,” said OMB Regional Director Tamela Aldridge. “Our performances are a rare opportunity for children to express themselves beyond the restrictions of their illness and experience hope, humor and healing.”

According to the OMB website, the actors spend six consecutive weeks and put on six different shows at each hospital, so the kids can get to know the actors and vice versa.

For the finale, OMB likes to flip the script, pun intended, by giving the children an opportunity to step into the spotlight and recreate all the past shows they’ve seen.

“We are portable, customizable and relatable,” Wilson said. “Our job is to cater to each child we serve. We have seen the impact our shows can have, and want to share this with the greater DC community.”

To bring the children some much-needed comfort, the props and costumes stay at the hospital long after those six weeks are over. Even better, all of OMB’s performances are free thanks to its generous supporters. Throughout the year, the nonprofit hosts several fundraising events, including 5k runs and cocktail parties.

Hours of work go into being able to properly execute each show and OMB’s dedicated volunteers play a crucial role by helping to set up shows and creating the costumes that are used in each performance.

Elementary school counselor Afton Cappello has been a volunteer at the organization since last summer. “I was drawn to OMB because I did theater in high school, and I love that the organization uses plays as a way to bring joy and comfort to kids who are going through something tough,” she said. “I love knowing that one of the hats I made will be given to a child and will make him or her so excited and bring them some happiness.”

OMB has garnered both local and national attention from many since bursting onto the scene in 1999 with a long list of accomplishments to its name. In addition to participating in the Children’s National Medical Center annual holiday party with First Lady Michelle Obama, OMB has received grant awards from the DC Commission of the Arts & Humanities, as well as several Ronald McDonald House Charities around the DC area.

Much of OMB’s success has to do with its longstanding partnerships with several local businesses and corporations, including Avenue Capital Group, Bloomberg and Disney, who make in-kind donations and co-facilitate arts events and smaller fundraisers.

While OMB serves as an escape for many children facing difficult times, Aldridge pointed out that the therapeutic power of theater also gives them the tools to bolster their self-confidence and outlook on their future.

“Only Make Believe taps into every child’s need to play. Often, children face the circumstances where they must deal with very adult issues,” Wilson added. “Our goal is make them forget these issues, if only for one hour, and allow themselves to be a kid. Our hope is that they keep this feeling with them and use it when they have the need.”

About the Author: Princess Gabbara is a Michigan-based journalist whose work has appeared on Ebony.com, Essence.com, BET.com, Huffington Post Women, Sesi Magazine and many others. You can read more of her work on her blog. She also tweets @PrincessGabbara.

Young Doctors DC

DC's Sons -- The Future Doctors 

If the young men in white coats don't look old enough to be practicing medicine, it's because they're not. They are part of Young Doctors DC, a mentoring and pipeline program to help guide high school boys from Southeast DC toward college and health care careers. After a year of training, including a summer session at Howard University, the "young doctors" help conduct mobile health clinics in their neighborhoods. "Without intense intervention, many young men would find it very difficult just to complete high school," said Adrian Thompson, a child and adolescent therapist who works with YDDC. Despite challenges, YDDC is about to graduate its first class of three young men, and all have been accepted to college. 

Adrian Thompson, a psychologist who works with the program, recalled a conversation with one of the graduating seniors: "(He) expresses fear and apprehension about moving out and going to college. He often brings concerns of money and confidence, and these things really worry him. However, (he) remains determined that he is going to be a cardiologist. At the most recent event at AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges), he specifically engaged several medical students and asked about course load, difficulty of medical school, and how they pay for their schooling. He leads with what he wants do to, and is trying at every opportunity to create a roadmap to reach his goal."

Postpartum Support Virginia

PPD Moms Aren't Alone

Following the birth of her second child, Adrienne Griffen felt like she was losing her mind.
"I was irritable and overwhelmed and angry," she said. "I wanted my old life back. I thought I had made a horrible mistake in having a second baby."
It took six months, she said, to find help. Doctors gave her lengthy waiting times or offered prescriptions without conversation. The hospital where she delivered had no resources for women with postpartum depression and support groups were on hiatus. 
"I kept thinking that it shouldn't be this hard to find help," she said. "So I did something about it."
In 2005, Adrienne began a PPD support group. Four years later, she launched Postpartum Support Va. Today, PSVa has 16 support groups. The organization provides references to medical professionals and offers a Moms on Call program, a group of volunteers who offer support and "virtual hugs."  
A former client, now a member of the board of directors, said after her first call with PSVa, "I climbed into my husband's lap and cried tears of joy." 

The founder of our featured org, Postpartum Support Virginia, knows that new moms can have a lot of hard days, even if they don't suffer from PPD. But for some, the problem is much more serious than "baby blues." May is Maternal Health Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on resources and organizations dedicated to looking out for Mom. 

Face Value Comics

Finding the Superhero

As National Autism Awareness Month comes to a close, we wanted to shine a light on an organization working for individuals on the autism spectrum. And while the majority of DDG's featured orgs are based in the DC area, this one is so cool, we had to step outside our usual boundaries (hey, we all have to do that sometimes, right?): Face Value Comics, out of York, Pa., has created the first-ever autistic superhero. Founded by Dave Kot, who has autism, Face Value Comics helps spread the message of autism awareness, while also striving to help those on the autism spectrum improve their communication skills. Most of all, Face Value Comics allows people, especially teens, living with autism to see someone like themselves portrayed as a hero. You can support Face Value Comics by downloading issues for a donation.