It Takes a District: Tools and Tips for Families to Prevent Bullying Oct. 18

The D.C. Office of Human Rights and the Mayor's Youth Bullying Prevention Task Force are holding It Takes a District: Tools and Tips for Families to Prevent Bullying October 18 from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave NE).

The event is FREE and lunch will be served.

The day begins with a resource fair, at which families can learn about bullying prevention from government agencies, nonprofit organizations and schools. Professionals will be available to meet individually with families to create family bullying prevention plans.

Registration is optional.

Celebrate new Sherwood Rec Center Sept. 27

Let’s Move! DC - Children and Families Health Expo Oct. 4

Volunteers needed for rec center improvement project Sept. 27

Tweet of the day (8/28/14)

Kids enjoying musical instruments @ #ChuckBrown/#LangdonPark! pic.twitter.com/qkHvxZBeWL

— Ward5DC_9.11Grove Ⓥ (@Sept11GroveW5DC) August 22, 2014

Tweets of the day (8/3/14)

#Caps @JohnCarlson74 with @DCDPR at @CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/qYtEqqr86W

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) July 31, 2014

Great week of #tennis practice for #DC #youth @EasternHS @kidpowerdc @EliotHine @JATrojans pic.twitter.com/EwzHEvalis

— Serve Your City (@ServeYourCityDC) July 31, 2014

Tweets of the day (8/2/14)

. @Shortydaprince hangs out with kids at Kennedy Rec Center to promote the DC Free Summer Meals Program!! pic.twitter.com/NvppfLntEg

— OSSE (@OSSEDC) July 31, 2014

Sherwood Rec Campers enjoying the festivities at the #MuralsDC kickoff @RumseyPool pic.twitter.com/76OjzD0418

— DCParksAndRecreation (@DCDPR) July 31, 2014

Tweets of the day (7/29/14)

Had a great time yesterday visiting future big leaguers at @HRBC_Camps at Turtle Park. Thx for the invite, Coach Mac! pic.twitter.com/uJ9peIOEhk

— Vincent C. Gray (@mayorvincegray) July 24, 2014

Photos from Q&A session last Friday w/ @DCDPR Southeast Tennis & Learning Center: http://t.co/b8vtZnwJFu pic.twitter.com/KnSEkdfSWs

— Vincent C. Gray (@mayorvincegray) July 21, 2014

Please share the details about free lunches served on Saturdays at select DPR and DCPL sites

Are you a hero to the kids in your program, your neighbors, family members?   It doesn't take a lot.   All you have to do is share information about DC Free Summer Meals Program (meals served Monday - Saturday).   The flyer is available in PDF and JPEG, both below.

One City Youth is encouraging DC Free Summer Meals Program heroes to email their outreach efforts so they can be documented them and heroes recognized!

DCFSMP Saturday Flyer

This was originally posted on the Susie's Budget and Policy Corner blog in the post Are you a DC Free Summer Meals Program hero?.

Free lunch on Saturdays, anyone?

Mayor Vince Gray announced the terrific news last week (read more) that some libraries and rec centers are serving children and youth 18 and younger lunch on Saturdays through the DC Free Summer Meals Program!

That's right. Free lunch for all kids in DC. Shocked? Surprised? Don't be. DC has served free meals on Saturdays before. The point, after all, is to make sure kids are not hungry on weekends.

DC Free Summer Meals is an important component in One City Youth as evidenced by the real estate dedicated to the program on the One City Youth website. In addition to the searchable map prepared by OCY partner DC Hunger Solutions, the site is home to outreach materials, chief among which are the flyers in Amharic, English, French, Korean, SimChi, Spanish, and Vietnamese; a short PSA; and a list of sites containing Ward and ANC info.

What are you waiting for? Help feed some kids on Saturdays and through the summer - tell them about the DC Free Summer Meals Program, refer them to the searchable map, and tell them to call 211 to find the most convenient location.

Tweets of the day (7/22/14)

Chevy Chase CC #SuperheroesSaturday event was AMAZING & a few real @dcpolicedept heroes came by! #HeroesX2 @dcgovweb pic.twitter.com/VpZ2UHcxPh

— DCParksAndRecreation (@DCDPR) July 21, 2014

The perfect accessory to any hairdo is a #SMILE! These #YMCA kids did just that on Crazy Hair Day. #beyourself #YCamp pic.twitter.com/jUnurt78we

— YMCA of Metro Wash (@ymcadc) July 21, 2014

Tweets of the day (7/18/14)

This is why we #work so hard! #Swimming lessons for #at-risk #DC #youth @DCDPR @kidpowerdc @EliotHine @JATrojans pic.twitter.com/JtcIUHtge4

— Serve Your City (@ServeYourCityDC) July 16, 2014

One of my students in the animal mask he made. Pretty sure he's a shark.@YPTDC pic.twitter.com/cvT9WMkjzs

— Cecilia Cackley (@citymousedc) July 15, 2014

Spotlight on MPD Helping Kids Eat This Summer!

On Tuesday, July 15, Officer Nardi and Officer Marron of the Sixth District of the Metropolitan Police Department worked on DC Free Summer Meals outreach within their PSA and the surrounding area.

Specifically, Nardi and Marron were working on spreading the word about the new Saturday meal sites being offered at various rec centers and libraries. They visited DC public libraries, recreation centers, and spoke to youth hanging with friends outside in neighborhoods.

Both officers enjoyed learning more about the DC Free Summer Meals program and helping to spread the word in their surrounding communities. Many of the children were enthusiastic to learn that they can eat free Monday-Friday AND Saturday at select meal sites throughout the entire summer.

See the full list below for the NEW Saturday meal sites :

This Just In: Summer Meal Materials!

Check out onecityyouth.dc.gov for translations of DC Free Summer Meals flyers! Flyers are now available in the following languages: Amharic, English, French, Korean, SimChi, Spanish and Vietnamese. TELL EVERYONE :)

Tweet of the day (7/8/14)

It may be 95 outside but my girls are staying cool and having an awesome time here @DCDPR spray park! pic.twitter.com/qih2UEkSlt

— DC Thrifty Mom (@DCThriftyMom) July 7, 2014

Wellness Programs for Youth in DC!

Serve Your City

DPR's July 4th holiday schedule

The Department of Parks and Recreation has announced the agency's 4th of July schedule. The announcement details which facilities will be open and closed―hint: only Wilson will be open on July 4.

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Cool down in style

The forecast for the District of Columbia for the next several days is in the 90s. Face it, it's HOT out there!

Thankfully, there are plenty of public pools for kids to use so that they can cool down in DC over the summer. Most of these pools are free or charge a small admission fee. After June 22, DPR's outdoor pools are open daily. Before bathing the kids in sunblock and leaving your home though, be sure to check the schedule online since all pools are closed one day a week for maintenance.

Additionally, there are spray parks where kids can run through these fountains and play with friends. Check out Georgetown Water Front Park, Yards Park, Canal Park, and naturally, DPR's spray parks. The Department of Parks and Recreation has opened their spray parks a week earlier than planned in response to the heat and humidity. Learn what the change means in the press release.

Safe Summer Kick Off: June 18 in SE

One City Youth/Safe Summer Kickoff 2014

Tweet of the day (6/12/14)

#dctrucktouch is a hit! Thx to @DCDPR @dcwater @DCPoliceDept and DC's @AirNatlGuard to name a few! @OneCityYouth pic.twitter.com/sVlovLWBYc

— Nichole Opkins (@NOpkins) June 7, 2014