http://www.sashabruce.org/news en jbeck@sashabruce.org Copyright 2009 2009-07-01T20:28:00+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/rally-at-the-white-house-and-capitol/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/rally-at-the-white-house-and-capitol/#When:20:28:00Z An 11 year old boy from Florida named Zach Bonner has been walking up the eastern seaboard to raise awareness about homelessness and funds to support CBOs which work with youth. He is a remarkable and precocious person and his efforts have generated quite a bit of media attention. Zach and his family and entourage will be arriving in DC in the coming days and have planned a rally at Lafayette Park outside the White House on Thursday, July 9. We’ll be there with as many staff, volunteers and clients as we can gather and hope you will join us at 9:30 am at the southeast corner of Lafayette Park (north side of the White House). We will march to the Capitol and then have a party at our Sasha Bruce House shelter. The party at the shelter is scheduled for 2 pm, and we’d love for you to join us. The address is 1022 Maryland Avenue, NE. Please call Pape Samb for more information at 202-675-9340. Check out Zach’s website by clicking here 2009-07-01T20:28:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/a-letter-from-youth-detained-at-oak-hill/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/a-letter-from-youth-detained-at-oak-hill/#When:14:49:02Z The Oak Hill Youth Center is DC’s jail for juveniles. Reasonable people have widely varying views about this facility and the degree to which it helps—or hurts—young people and their families. Many young people are diverted from Oak Hill to Sasha Bruce programs so that we can help them reunite with strengthened families, and guide them to be responsible members of our communities. Though our staff are involved with youth exiting Oak Hill on a daily basis, it is infrequent that we receive positive news from the jail, itself. The note below is remarkable. It was written by Genesis Scholars, a group of young people incarcerated at Oak Hill and who attend the Maya Angelou Academy there. Accodring to Nicole Lee, the Director of Advocacy Education at the Academy, the youth who have written the note earned $125 through their participation in career planning and academic classes, and some scholars even chose to donate additional funds to Sasha Bruce from their actual stipend earnings. Their note speaks volumnes about the high character of these young people. May 7, 2009 Sasha Bruce, We have noticed the work that you do in our community and would like to thank you with this financial contribution which we have earned from good behavior and donations from our check that we earn at our school. We are pleased to contribute to your organization. Please continue to be a positive example in our community! Many thanks, Genesis Scholars 2009-06-02T14:49:02+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/college-tour-bus-returns-home/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/college-tour-bus-returns-home/#When:17:41:00Z Sixteen youth recently returned from a tour of six colleges and universities in Virginia and North Carolina. Their dream of a college education is one step closer to reality. Now we must build the SBY College Scholarship Fund. For 5 days, the group traveled to North Carolina Central University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, St. Augustine’s College, Shaw University, Hampton University and University of Virginia. They had an inspirational visit with Anthony Ross, former Sasha Bruce Independent Living Program resident and current student at St. Augustine’s College. Anthony was gracious enough to share his story and give a motivational message encouraging our youth to “do whatever it takes to get to college and let the Sasha Bruce staff know your goals and they will help you achieve them!” The students also had a chance to sit in on a freshman orientation class. Over the course of the week, the young people were inspired to go after their dreams and began to realize that going to college is an attainable goal. Everywhere the group went, they were praised by others for their polite, mature, and fun-loving behavior! On the way home, Ms. Courtney Braxton, Mr. George Ransom and Mr. Stephen Cherenfant shared with the group how much fun they had and how glad they were to make friends who were positive and goal-oriented. Stephen said, “When we all get to college and we look back on our experience, we’ll all be able to say, ‘it started on this college tour.’” To support the educational aspirations of these and other SBY teens, our Youth-Led Program will be offering free SAT and ACT preparation courses. But we must do even more. Indeed, it is important to realize that many of the 1,500 youth that we serve each year have never been outside of their neighborhood and all of them come from broken homes. For many, daily, often desperate struggles to survive—let alone going to college—have been the norm. So we are compelled to raise funds for our College Scholarship Program and pleased to announce a special fundraising event May 28 at a dinner hosted by The British Ambassador and Lady Sheinwald at their residence. Dinner will be followed by testimony from the winner of our scholarship competition and an intimate performance for the audience of 100 by world-renowned mezzo-soprano, and D.C. native, Denyce Graves. Contact James Beck at 202-675-9340 if you’d like more information. 2009-04-27T17:41:00+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/sby-to-host-youth-employment-expo-may-9/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/sby-to-host-youth-employment-expo-may-9/#When:17:05:01Z Save the date for Youth Expo 2009 to be held at the King Greenleaf Recreational Center from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday, May 9. This annual event will bring more than 150 young people in contact with employment and educational opportunities, health services, guest speakers and music. SBY connects young people with opportunities for stable and productive lives. Youth Expo 2009 will serve as a day-long celebration of positive choices and will allow our youth to educate themselves about their health and to plan long-term goals in an exciting, enriched environment. In addition to a series of workshops for young people throughout the day, the Youth Expo will feature vendor tables with information and applications from a wide range of services and programs. Washington Wizards star Etan Thomas is scheduled to appear, and go-go bands TCB and Big G will perform along with Sasha Bruce’s own 2XB. Space is still available for organizations to participate as vendors or workshop presenters. The first 100 young people entering the gymnasium can earn 25 dollars for their participation in workshops and engagement at vendor tables. For more information, please contact Carl Douglas at (202)-675-9365 or cdouglas@sashabruce.org. 2009-04-27T17:05:01+00:00 http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/save-the-date-community-service-planning-work-party-ii-april-25/ http://www.sashabruce.org/news/permalink/save-the-date-community-service-planning-work-party-ii-april-25/#When:15:16:00Z Join youth, SBY board members, staff and neighbors of our shelter for the second phase of beautifications to the Bruce House on Friday May 15. We’ll continue to discuss how our community can heed President Obama’s call to service. Contact Jim Beck at 202-675-9340 for more information. 2009-04-03T15:16:00+00:00