http://www.sashabruce.org/news en jbeck@sashabruce.org Copyright 2009 2009-11-09T16:35:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/sby-awarded-drug-prevention-contract/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/sby-awarded-drug-prevention-contract/#When:19:49:00Z Alcohol and other drug abuse represents a formidable public health problem throughout the city, and particularly among youth and families in east-side neighborhoods where we focus most of our work. So we are excited by our success in an application competition conducted by DC’s Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration. Comprehensive, nonjudgmental knowledge about substances and their effects is the best way to prevent their abuse. SBY’s Zocalo Outreach Program will use its time-tested home-based counseling approach to educate young people at highest risk for drug use and to promote drug refusal skills, improved family communication and school success. For more information, contact Jacqueline Hamilton at 675-9350. 2008-03-02T19:49:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/mark-your-calendar-black-history-extravaganza-february-28/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/mark-your-calendar-black-history-extravaganza-february-28/#When:19:06:00Z Join us as we celebrate African and African American history at our annual Black History Extravaganza on Thursday, February 28. To be held this year at the King Greenleaf Recreation Center at 201 N Street in Southwest, this year’s theme is “Survivors, Growing and Striving.” Young people and families in SBY programs will joing staff, volunteers and neighbors of King Greenleaf in an number of educational and inspiring activities. The menu will include Southern, Cajun, Creole and Low Country cuisine. Music will be delivered by Sweet Honey and The Rock, and we expect entertainment from a local African dance troupe. We’ve invited representatives of the modern-day Buffalo Soldiers. Other activities include a black history inspired Scavenger Hunt and an Arts Contest awards ceremony. The celebration will begin at 6 pm. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Kim Daniels at 581-3175. Donate now 2008-02-12T19:06:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/youth-tell-their-stories-on-npr-and-xm-radio1/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/youth-tell-their-stories-on-npr-and-xm-radio1/#When:19:44:00Z Bob Edwards’ popular radio show recently featured a series of broadcasts focusing on homelessness in DC and across the country. Several of our clients were interviewed, and they offered insights about how public policy changes might improve local conditions for disconnected youth and families. Segment 4 includes some of their stories of survival on the streets and connection to Sasha Bruce Youthwork. Check out the show here. Donate now 2008-01-21T19:44:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/latest-kids-count-shows-increasing-poverty-rate-in-dc/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/latest-kids-count-shows-increasing-poverty-rate-in-dc/#When:20:13:00Z One in three children in the District continues to live in poverty, and there has been a slight increase in the city’s overall poverty rate, according to the D.C. Kids Count Collaborative. Read more about this in a Washington Post article of January 18. A bleak picture of the state of children and families in the city is given in a Jan. 18 Washington Post story titled “One-Third of Children in Poverty, Report Says” by Yolanda Woodlee: One in three children in the District continues to live in poverty, and there has been a slight increase in the city’s overall poverty rate, according to the D.C. Kids Count Collaborative, whose leaders warned of tragic consequences unless parents get help in coping with stress. The group’s 14th annual fact book, released yesterday, shows a mixed picture — entrenched poverty alongside some positive shifts — as it details the conditions in which many D.C. children live. More than one-third of African American children still live below the federal poverty level, the report says, and more than half of the children live in homes with single mothers. Infant mortality increased in 2005, the highest level since 2000. From 2005 to 2006, child-abuse cases increased 6 percent but neglect complaints decreased. The number of young adults ages 19 to 21 in foster care rose to 12 percent in 2006 from 8 percent in 2003, the report notes. It also indicates that the number of juveniles referred to D.C. Superior Court increased in 2006 after having held steady in 2005. Click here to read more. Donate now 2008-01-18T20:13:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/annual-fundraiser-a-smashing-success/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/annual-fundraiser-a-smashing-success/#When:21:40:00Z SBY’s Board of Directors and staff would like to express our gratitude to Sir Nigel and Lady Sheinwald for hosting a fabulous dinner at the British Embassy last month to raise awareness of the plight of homeless youth and funds for our work in DC’s poorest communities. And many thanks to Jay Russell, Charlie Lyons, Barrie Osborne, Revolution Studios, Walden Media and Beacon Pictures for the exclusive Washington premiere of The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep. These events raised nearly $200,000 for our work, and they afforded several of our youth exciting development opportunities. One opportunity involved meeting the cast, the director and the producer of Waterhorse at the Bruce House the day of the premiere, and the interaction between our young people and those responsible for the film was powerful and often moving. That same day, a group of outstanding youth received hands-on instruction in the use of high-technology movie-making cameras. Through the generous gift of political cause firm Greer, Margolis, Mitchell & Burns, participants will soon be traveling to the firm’s production studios and learning to edit their work. Thanks to all – and there were many – who lent a helping hand towards these events. Please do not hesitate to contact James Beck at 202-675-9340 to be involved in future fundraisers or to support our mission generally. Donate now 2008-01-10T21:40:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/congress-ends-dc-funding-ban-on-needle-exchange/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/congress-ends-dc-funding-ban-on-needle-exchange/#When:23:55:00Z High HIV infection rates in DC have been a public health crisis for years, and it is no secret that youth and families in DC’s poorest communities continue to suffer disproportionately. Until now, our city government had been prohibited from funding a proven intervention – needle exchange. A December 21 Washington Post Editorial titled “Done Deal” announces congressional legislation to allow DC to finally use its own money for syringe exchange programs. FOR NEARLY 10 years, Congress prevented the District of Columbia from using its own money to fund needle-exchange programs, interventions that greatly reduce the risk for intravenous drug users of contracting or spreading HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The obstruction ended with passage this week of the omnibus budget bill. Continue to read the Post’s Editorial here Donate now 2007-12-24T23:55:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/two-conferences-on-youth-homelessness/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/two-conferences-on-youth-homelessness/#When:16:35:00Z Washington is not the only city experiencing rising numbers of homeless youth and families. Unlike the nation’s capital, several cities have developed comprehensive plans to end homelessness. The Denver Road Home initiative, for instance, has had The National League of Cities is 2009-11-09T16:35:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/public-enemy-and-virgin-mobile-to-host-charity-concert-benefiting-sasha-bru/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/public-enemy-and-virgin-mobile-to-host-charity-concert-benefiting-sasha-bru/#When:16:00:01Z Virgin Mobile USA is teaming up with Public Enemy to host a benefit concert in support of Sasha Bruce Youthwork on November 18. SBY has been chosen as the sole beneficiary of Public Enemy’s concert on November 18th at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased for $25 at DC’s 9:30 Club prior to the show or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1500435AD0969C56 “Youth homelessness has consistently been on the rise year over year…and Virgin Mobile has continued to support this growing issue,” said Virgin Mobile spokesperson Bob Stohre. According to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the number of contacts with runaways that federally-financed outreach programs make rose to 761,000 in 2008 from 550,000 in 2002. “These are very difficult times for poor families in Washington, and for months we’ve been seeing increasing numbers of young people seeking respite at our emergency shelter. This concert is great news. We need support for our young people now more than ever,” said Deborah Shore, Sasha Bruce Youthwork Executive Director. Learn more about Virgin Mobile and Public Enemy’s commitment to DC’s youth at http://www.aneveningwithpublicenemy.com. 2009-11-04T16:00:01+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/snapshot-of-some-recent-accomplishments/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/snapshot-of-some-recent-accomplishments/#When:21:01:00Z Bad news seems to be everywhere: more youth on the streets…more families breaking apart…local nonprofits shutting their doors. But Sasha Bruce Youthwork perseveres. In fact, despite all of the bad news locally and nationally, our staff have recorded remarkable success towards our mission in recent months. During the past six months, our outreach team contacted 2,298 severely disconnected youth on the streets of the District. They disseminated 247 survival kits. During this same six-month period, nearly 200 homeless youth received emergency shelter at our Sasha Bruce House. During the past 12 months, mobile HIV testing team administered a total of 967 HIV tests, post test counseling and HIV screening for youth at highest risk of infection. So far in 2009, 1,802 youth in unstable living situations have been engage in ongoing counseling services in their homes and at our offices designed to improve social and communication skills, prevent conflict, promote academic progress and teach responsible sexual decision-making. So far in 2009, 69 young people have been offered emergency respite at our Family Preservation Program following a conflict at home. This important program is unique in DC and is designed to prevent entry of young people into the foster care system. So far in 2009, 18 homeless teenagers have been admitted to our service-enriched transitional housing program and all have been re-enrolled in school. Read about more of our successes here 2009-10-27T21:01:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/new-york-times-front-page-highlights-increase-in-youth-homelessness/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/new-york-times-front-page-highlights-increase-in-youth-homelessness/#When:17:40:00Z It should be no secret that the recession has hit poor families hard and has contributed to increasing numbers of youth living on the street. A front page article in the NY Times sheds light on these phenomena. Read Ian Urbina’‘s piece in the NY Times here A front page article in the New York Times today shed some light on the economic recession’s effect on the number of youth runaways. According to the article, “Foreclosures, layoffs, rising food and fuel prices and inadequate supplies of low-cost housing have stretched families to the extreme, and those pressures have trickled down to teenagers and preteens.” It should come as no surprise that “external” pressures negatively affect families, making it harder for them to function and survive properly. The Times cites federal officials who indicate that homelessness over all is expected to rise 10 to 20 percent this year. Washington, DC, is in not immune. SBY has seen a distinct increase in homeless and runaway youth seeking refuge at our emergency shelter, and it is not uncommon for our shelter population to surpass the number of available beds, forcing youth to sleep on cots. Read more about this disturbing national trend here. 2009-10-26T17:40:00+00:00