Free poetry writing workshops Sept. 13 - Oct. 4

Poetry Writing Workshop

Teens of Distinction in the Tweet of the day (9/9/14)

#DC Teens (Ages 16-19) Apply for paid position w/ @DCPL Teens of Distinction by 9/12: http://t.co/GXGB1elIzC Cc @DCSchools HT @OneCityYouth

— VolunTEEN Nation (@volunTEENnation) September 5, 2014

Sing, Talk & Read at the @dcpl STAR Family Festival Sept. 13

The Saturday, September 13, 11:00 am STAR Family Festival: Sing, Talk & Read takes place at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW).

The event features lots of fun and educational activities including:

• Fun activities, crafts and games for children
• Free children's books
• Live entertainment by Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer and drummer Jali-D
• Safety, health and education resources for your child
• Workshops for parents to support your child's early learning
• Door prizes including $200 gift baskets and other giveaways
• Face painting
• Photo opportunities with costumed characters including Clifford the Big Red Dog (super yay!!)

Other event features are free lunch, special guest appearances from WKYS FM Shorty de Prince and Angie Ange.

More information is available by calling DC Public Library, (202) 727-0321.

NEW! DC Public Library calendar added to blog!

Tweet of the day (8/27/14)

Our summer reunion continues at the Petworth Library. Checking out books. Excitement for the new year! pic.twitter.com/PU5knsob7b

— Powell ES-DCPS (@Powellelem) August 17, 2014

What? Teens of Distinction is hiring? Sign me up!

DC Public Library's Teens of Distinction program is a

year-round employment program for D.C. teens. Teens of Distinction are expected to be leaders in the library and among their peers.

The application deadline is September 12 so tell teens TODAY about this terrific leadership and employment opportunity!

Tweet of the day (8/21/14)

Our summer reunion continues at the Petworth Library. Checking out books. Excitement for the new year! pic.twitter.com/PU5knsob7b

— Powell ES-DCPS (@Powellelem) August 17, 2014

Camp THIS Week!

Looking for something for your middle school student to do in August before school starts? You’re just in luck.

The 2014 East of the River Career Exposure Camp still has a few spaces available for its 2014 session beginning August 4th and ending August 8th. Join them for the 4th year of their unique program--explore career opportunities in Architecture, Aviation, and Banking.

Go to the forms section on the program's website for the student registration form and parent orientation form.

Space is limited to 20 students, contact camp organizers at eotrcareercamp@gmail.com to ensure your placement.

School Supply Drives: Share the info!

Do YOU know about upcoming school supply drives that benefit youth in Washington D.C.? Then please tell us!

We YOUR HELP IN FINDING SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVES!

If you know about an organization hosting a school supply drive, please email the information to onecityyouth@dc.gov. Specifically, we are asking for the following information:

• Organization name
• Organization website
• Date of drive
• Time of supply drive
• Location of supply drive
• Any other helpful info

Your assistance is GREATLY APPRECIATED.

PS: We are already aware of the following drives:

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?.

Tweets of the day (7/23/14)

Catch up on Saturday's #Nats @dcpl readings w this photo gallery: http://t.co/5Z5KzA1xGF pic.twitter.com/lUMs8trBF4

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 20, 2014

#Composting with @GiantFood, Rube Goldberg machines by kids, a #submarine with @USNavyResearch ... it's #Thingamajig! pic.twitter.com/0xSaBQmi5K

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

DC's Healthy Summer Trend: Yoga!

Whether you are a regular yogi or not, DC is the place to be this summer for FREE YOGA CLASSES.

Taking advantage of these classes is wise considering all the benefits of yoga. Regular yoga practice has shown to boost immunity, improve sleep, fight cravings, and help heart health. Also, yoga is super relaxing and FUN!

So, where should you go for FREE classes this summer?

Many DC Public Libraries (i.e. Cleveland Park, Petworth, Georgetown, Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, etc.) are offering classes in the afternoon and evening.

Also, various community organizations like the MBT5K Race Committee and the Golden Triangle BID are sponsoring free yoga classes.

Here are some of the best finds:

• Yoga at DC Public Libraries
• Yogalates at Farragut Square
• Yoga at Metropolitan Branch Trail with Crystal Moore
• Yoga at Meridian Hill Park

No matter where you choose to go, be sure to bring a mat, water bottle, and sunscreen!

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.

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 :

Washington Nationals to Visit Summer Reading All-Stars at Four DC Public Libraries!

On Saturday, July 19, kids and teens will have the opportunity to meet Washington Nationals players and manager Matt Williams at DC public libraries!

Here's everything you need to know:

• Who: Manager Matt Williams
• Where: Tenley Library (4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW)
• When: 11:00am to 12:00pm
• Who: Outfielder Scott Hairston
• Where: Deanwood Library (1350 49th Street NE)
• When: 11:00am to 12:00pm
• Who: Outfielder Denard Span
• Where: Anacostia Library (1800 Good Hope Road SE)
• When: 12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Who: Pitcher Drew Storen
• Where: Mount Pleasant Library (3160 16th Street NW)
• When: 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Plus, all youth 18 and under can get a FREE LUNCH at the Anacostia library this Saturday from 1:00-2:30pm!!

NEW Saturday DC Free Summer Meals for Kids and Teens!

Saturday lunches are at the following sites:

• Anacostia Library (1800 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020) on July 19, July 26, August 2, and August 9 for a free lunch served between 1:00-2:30pm.
• Capitol View Library (5001 Central Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019) on July 26 and August 9 for a free lunch served between 1:00-2:30pm.
• Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library (3935 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC 20019) on July 19, July 26, August 2, and August 9 for a free lunch served between 1:00-2:30pm.
• William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Library (115 Atlantic St SW, Washington, DC 20032) on July 19 and August 2 for a free lunch served between 1:00-2:30pm.

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 :)

FREE Dental Screenings for Youth!

Out of the Basement: A Story of Perseverance and Community

Out of the Basement is a documentary short by filmmakers Natalie Avery and Kyle Centers. The film tells the story of Columbia Heights boxer, Greg Newby, as he strives to overcome his past and enter a professional boxing career, even though he has been repeatedly told that the odds are against him.

Avery first heard of Greg’s story while she was a student at The Institute for Documentary Filmmaking at George Washington University. One of her classmates discovered Lime Lite Boxing Gym, where Greg trained, and told Avery about this hidden gem filled with great stories and the great protagonists of these stories. When Avery met Greg at Lime Lite, she was fascinated by his resilience and wanted to learn more.

The dynamic between Greg and his father, Tony, was especially of interest to Avery, who wanted to delve into how they navigate and make sense of the tension posed by competing fears and ambitions.

To share a little of his story (without any major spoilers), Greg thought he had his life figured out—a career in the coastguard, a family, a reliable paycheck—but suddenly that was all gone. These tragedies were not only disappointing to Greg but to his father as well who had hoped for him to have a different kind of life and not have to face the struggles that he had as a young man.

Through the process of telling Greg’s story, Avery learned that you don’t need to reach your ultimate goal to have significant change occur in your life, “Greg may or may not become a world champion," writes Avery, "He may not, as he hopes, make a good living off boxing. But he has learned what he is capable of in the journey so far.”

Even if you aren’t into the DC boxing subculture, this film has something to offer you. On the surface, the film is about a boxer and has the audience on the edge of their seats wondering “Is he going to make it?” But in Avery's words, the boxing is a metaphor about something greater, "the rawness and the struggle of rising to the challenge of life, especially a life in this economy where there is such a winner take all mentality.”

Indeed, Avery hopes that one of the main messages that youth learn from the film is that success requires individual diligence and perseverance but also depends on the strength of the community surrounding oneself.

For show times (many screenings are at DC Public Libraries) and trailers, see outofthebasementdc.com.

A Six-Week Writing Residency For Children and Teens

The Northeast Library is proud to announce its inaugural Writer-In-Residence program for children and teens, to take place from August 26 to September 30. One Young Writer-In-Residence (ages 10-12) and one Young Adult Writer-In-Residence (ages 13-19) will be selected from an open submission period to participate in the six-week program at Northeast Library, culminating in a public performance of their work, a cash stipend, and publication in the Northeast Library Writer’s Anthology.

There are many benefits to participating including:

--Writing-studio space
--Writing prompts and/or editing/inspiration/creative support as desired
--The space and organization for the writer’s end-of-residency reading and accompanying promotion
--Publication in the Northeast Library Writer’s Anthology
--$25 stipend (Young WIR) or $50 stipend (Young Adult WIR)

Applications will be accepted from July 1 to August 1. For more information, visit the DC Library website.