WHAT'S NEW

Enroll Today for Camp City Year!

Corps member and campers show off masks made at Camp City Year 2009.

Spring vacation is just around the corner; what are your plans? Don't let your kids sit on the couch all week, join City Year Washington, DC corps members for the 10th annual Camp City Year! Camp City Year is an exciting week-long day camp for kindergarten through sixth grade students during DC Public School's spring vacation, March 29 through April 2. Sign your children up for a fun, safe, and educational spring vacation at one of the three Camp City Year sites: Turner at Green Elementary School (1500 Mississippi Avenue, SE), Francis-Stevens Education Campus (2425 N Street, NW), or Emery Education Campus (1720 First Street, NE).

Join us this year for an exciting road trip theme as we travel across the USA! At Camp City Year: Road Trip USA, campers will learn about the ideas of diversity, service, and responsibility through recreational games and fun learning activities, including art projects, cultural games, and local neighborhood explorations. Corps members provide a fun and enriching environment in a structured setting to keep students actively engaged in programs throughout the day. Last year 93% of campers said they made a new friend at Camp City Year, and 87% of campers said they participated in new activities and learned something they had not known before.

For more information or to sign up, contact corps member Evan Waldt at the Camp City Year Recruitment Office at (202) 742-5266 or ewaldt10@cityyear.org.

Camp City Year is also looking for fun and responsible adults to volunteer; commitments are as little as half a day up to the entire week. The camp helps fill a critical need for parents who don't have childcare during their children's week off, so by volunteering you will help play a key role in providing a safe environment for campers. Please contact corps member David Sosa at (202) 742-5266 or dsosa10@cityyear.org to learn more about this volunteer opportunity.

HIGHLIGHTS

Steppers Make Strides Towards Building a Positive School Climate

YLOV, led by corps members Jazmin Wilburn and Courtney Howard, is a popular program among Simon Elementary School's students and staff.

At Simon Elementary School you will find 45 Young Ladies of Virtue (YLOV), also known as the YLOV Steppers, who are raising the bar for behavioral standards amongst their peers. Led by corps members Jazmin Wilburn and Courtney Howard, the YLOV Steppers is a club for third to sixth grade girls that meets twice a week to focus on building self-esteem, self-respect, and self-love through stepping and discussing issues girls face at a young age.

When the corps members decided to address the issue of conflict among students, Jazmin Wilburn suggested YLOV because she participated in the program at her church in Raleigh, North Carolina. YLOV started out as a lunch-time discussion group of about 10 girls. Eventually the group incorporate stepping into the program and participation grew exponentially. 

In addition to providing a healthy outlet for girls to have fun and release energy, YLOV teaches participants to stand for integrity, loyalty, and honesty. The discussions challenge girls to move out of their comfort zone, while the stepping element fosters strong teambuilding skills. The YLOV Steppers have had opportunities to perform at assemblies and during half-time at a George Washington University basketball game, after participating in a clinic with the cheerleaders and dance team.

Students understand it is a privilege to be a YLOV Stepper; they must be model students by meeting behavioral and academic standards set forth by their teachers. This serves as a powerful incentive for participants to exhibit good behavior and improve their grades. Although the YLOV program does not have an academic aspect, it has a positive impact on the students' academic achievement and confidence. Jazmin Wilburn has seen improvements in the reading level of many participants over just one marking period. One third grader, who was "below basic" prior to her involvement with YLOV, now reads at an "advanced" level and several other students jumped from "basic" to "proficient." The Simon Elementary staff is happy with YLOV and have expressed that they would like to have this program for years to come.

Attend City Year Washington, DC's 2010 Idealism in Action Gala Honoring Richard Stengel

Corps members lead PT at the 2009 Idealism in Action Gala.

Please join us for the seventh annual Idealism in Action Gala, May 25 at 6:30pm at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building. City Year Washington, DC will present the 2010 Lifetime of Idealism Award to TIME Managing Editor Richard Stengel for his dedication to promoting and expanding national service opportunities for all Americans.

We take this opportunity to also celebrate the 100 corps members who work tirelessly as tutors, mentors, and role models to over 6,000 DC students, and to recognize Washington, DC's most committed employee volunteers with the 2010 Idealist of the Year awards.

Every table sponsor has the opportunity to nominate an employee as an Idealist of the Year, an individual who has made a difference in the life of one person, an organization, or an entire community. Table sponsorships and limited individual tickets are available. CLICK HERE for sponsorship levels and benefits or CLICK HERE for more information about the Gala. We hope you will join us!

Leadership Development Days: Healthy Dining on a Dime with Lance Breger

Throughout the year, corps members attend Leadership Development Days that concentrate on developing them into the next generation of leaders. Held on Fridays, these days consist of workshops, forums, and community excursions aimed at developing six key competencies: Civic Knowledge, Community Understanding, Team Leadership, Project Planning and Management, Public Speaking, and Working with Children. Corps members focus on subjects such as CPR/First Aid, Current Events, Classism, Sexism, Managing Up and Down, Financial Literacy, Healthcare, Conflict Resolution, and Career Skills. The sessions often bring in outside speakers from area non-profits and local companies who are experts in relevant topics.

This month, Infinity Wellness Vice President Lance Breger taught corps members health and fitness tips and helped them set goals to live a healthy lifestyle on any budget. It is a common misconception that you can't balance a healthy diet on a tight budget, but Breger busted that myth!

Corps members learned about healthy snack choices, balancing calories, and how track and manage their daily intake on Livestrong's free Daily Plate application. Breger highlighted that you can cut down on grocery bills by buying in bulk, in season, and purchasing whole products as opposed to shredded, sliced, or chopped. Corps member Meheret Endeshaw found it particularly helpful to know frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are healthy, affordable options, as long as you rinse them before eating. This presentation left corps members empowered to pursue a healthy lifestyle no matter their budget.

Heroes Fundraiser was a Success!

Heroes engage in 16-weeks of service-learning.

City Year Washington, DC's Young Heroes and City Heroes would like to thank the eight participating Cosi locations and everyone who came out to support the February 3 fundraiser.

Heroes is a 16-week Saturday service-learning program that teaches middle and high school students about social justice issues and engages them in transformative service to empower them to become leaders in their community.

An estimated $400 was raised for the Young Heroes and City Heroes programs through this fundraiser. The money will go towards providing participants with meals during the program, "Being able to provide them with meals each Saturday is an important aspect of the program's success" says Heroes Program Manager Stefanie Vestal. CLICK HERE to learn more about Young Heroes and City Heroes.

Follow City Year Washington, DC on Twitter

Don't get lost in the Twitterverse, follow City Year Washington, DC on Twitter at CityYearDC! Keep up with the latest news and happenings in between newsletters. We'll give you daily updates about where we are recruiting, our service, supporters, corps member highlights, the blog, and what's going on in the world of national service in 140 characters or less. CLICK HERE to view our profile and become a follower.