DPR Announces New Programmatic and Park Partnerships - Releases

Media Contact Only: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced today a number of new programmatic partnerships which will enhance and expand DPR's programming.

“DPR is pleased and excited to welcome nine local organizations as new partners," said Clark E. Ray, director of DPR. “By partnering with existing community organizations and programs, we are able to expand both what our residents can find at DPR and the positive impact of these programs and organizations.”

More information about each of the new programs and partnerships is provided below. Registration for these and other DPR programs can be completed online at DPR's website, dpr.dc.gov, or by visiting a DPR recreation center.

For information on how to support or contribute to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, please contact DPR's Office of Partnerships and Development at (202) 671-1462 or DPRpartnerships@dc.gov.

College Bound
College Bound is a nonprofit organization created to prepare public school students in the Metropolitan D.C. area to enter college, earn a degree, and achieve their personal and professional goals. Through May 31, 2009, the organization will provide a one-to-one mentoring program at the Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th Street NE, every Monday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Through the agreement, College Bound will actively engage in community outreach in order to enroll a minimum of thirty (30) children in grades 8 through 12 to be served at no cost.

Metro TeenAIDS
Metro TeenAIDS is a community health organization dedicated to supporting young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Through education, support and advocacy, Metro TeenAIDS provides HIV testing and counseling to prevent the spread of HIV. Metro TeenAIDS promotes responsible decision-making through its in-school and after-school programs, and improves the quality of life for young people who are HIV-positive, at risk of HIV infection, or in families with HIV/AIDS.

Through its partnership with DPR the organization will incorporate activities and initiatives of its social marketing campaign called “REALtalkDC!” into the DPR's Teen Nights. REALtalkDC! is a community level intervention campaign using bus and metro ads and text messaging to encourage young people to seek out additional resources related to HIV/STD information.

Additional services include providing HIV 101 Workshops in coordination with DPR Teen Camps, staff trainings, Teen Nights, and other DPR identified events; offering and/or coordinating training and capacity-building to DPR staff on a variety of issues including HIV/AIDS and sensitivity to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth; collaborating with the DC Concerned Providers Group to provide professional development workshops to DPR staff in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ) cultural competency, providing HIV testing and counseling services in DPR Teen Nights and other age appropriate community events; and coordinating with DPR on large events such as World AIDS Day, National HIV Testing Day/Basketball Tournament and 2009 Summer Teen Night Finale.

Perfecting Diamonds in the Rough
Perfecting Diamonds in the Rough is a District of Columbia nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide positive change in the lives of young ladies between the ages of 13 and 19 years. Through its new partnership with DPR, Perfecting Diamonds in the Rough will enroll a minimum of 30 young ladies in its target demographic to enroll in its program at DPR's Parkview Community Center, 693 Otis Place, NW.

The program, which began in late autumn, will be offered every second and fourth Thursday from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm through May 28, 2009. The following workshops and curriculum will be used as the basis for the free program.

Image Building and Social Savvy – These workshops include makeovers, instruction on manners and social graces as well as general etiquette instruction.
Career Shadowing – Each program participant is partnered with a mentor working in the career of their choice. This program offers the opportunity to interview and shadow the mentor in their respective profession.
Self Empowerment – These workshops include such topics as “Winning Against the Odds”, “Image is Everything”, “Identifying Time Thieves” and the “Power of Good Choices”.
Money Management – These workshops compare the advantages and disadvantages of spending now versus spending later, work with participants to develop improved spending techniques and practices, and provide savings and investment strategies.

Friends of S and T Street Parks
The Friends of S and T Street Parks will maintain, beautify, and promote the S and T Street parks, two triangle parks located along New Hampshire Avenue and 17th Street, NW at S and T Streets, NW.

The Friends of S and T Street Parks will also install and maintain a small garden at the T Street Park, provide general site maintenance and landscaping, and coordinate with DPR and Circle Dogs to fundraise and support the new S Street dog park.

Cornell Club of Washington
The Cornell Club of Washington is a District-based organization created to provide programs and activities for alumni, students, parents, and friends of Cornell University in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area. Since October 1, 2008, the organization has been in collaboration with DPR to prepare public school students in the DC area to enter college, earn a degree, and achieve personal and professional goals.

Through May 31, 2009 they will provide after-school, academic-based programming every Monday at 6:30 pm for a minimum of 100 children and youth between the ages of 6 and 13 years old at DPR's Lamond Recreation Center, 20 Tuckerman Street, NE and the King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N Street, NW. The partnership is in effect until June 1, 2009. The program schedule for the two sites is:

Lamond Recreation Center

Homework Assistance: Monday through Friday between 4 pm and 6 pm.
Teen Workshops: Monthly communication workshops focusing on presentation skills, preparation for summer job interviews and professionalism.
Piano Instruction

King Greenleaf Recreation Center

Homework Assistance, Monday through Friday from 3:15 pm until 5 pm
Monthly field trips
Food and health education

DCThreads Sewing Lounge
DCthreads Sewing Lounge will provide monthly sewing classes for DC youth and adults at DPR's North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson Street, NE. The organization, based in the District of Columbia, was created to provide sewing instruction for youth and adults. Classes are held the fourth Saturday of every month from 1 pm to 4 pm. The first three sessions focused on sewing pillows and blankets, tote bags and walker caddies and aprons and chemotherapy caps. A session will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2009 about refashioning clothing and making Save the Children Caps.

The program is open to adults and children age 10 or over.

KanKouran, Inc.
Through its new partnership with DPR, KanKouran, Inc. will enroll a minimum of 10 children, ages 5 to 17 years old, and 25 adults, ages 18 years old and above, in its program at DPR's Randall Recreation Center. KanKouran, Inc. was founded and incorporated in 1984 in order to preserve and perpetuate traditional West African culture especially for the Washington, DC community. The organization will provide African dance and drum instruction thru September 1, 2009 on the following schedule:

Adult African Dance Classes:

Monday: 6:30 pm - 9 pm
Wednesday: 6:30 pm - 9 pm
Saturday: 12 noon - 1:30 pm

Adult African Drum Classes:

Wednesday: 6 pm - 7 pm
Saturday: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Saturday Children's Dance and Drum Lessons:

Ages 3 to 5 years old: 11 am - 12 noon
Ages 6 to 12 years old: 11 am - 12 noon
Ages 13 to 17 years old: 12 noon - 1 pm

National Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc.
National Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc serves the DC community as a regional and national leader in rehabilitation services through the following areas: quality patient care, rehabilitation research, education and training, assistive technology and advocacy. National Rehabilitation Hospital’s BlazeSports is a community-based sports program for children, youth and adults with disabilities.

The Hospital will conduct its BlazeSports Program at DPR's Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE; North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson Street, NE); Emery Recreation Center, 5801 Georgia Avenue, NW; and Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW until September 1, 2009.

The partnership will provide the following programs to a minimum of fifty (50) children and adults at no cost:

Quad Rugby (Tuesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm) North Michigan Park Recreation Center
Quad Rugby (Saturdays from 12 noon to 2 pm) Kennedy Recreation Center
Wheelchair Basketball (Wednesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm) Emery Recreation Center
Wheelchair Basketball (Saturdays from 12 noon to 2 pm) Turkey Thicket Recreation Center

Themba Enrichment Academy
Themba Enrichment Academy is a District of Columbia-based nonprofit organization created to design and implement quality, structured and results-oriented Out-of-School Time (OST) programs for children ages 5 to 13 years old.

Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 pm to 6 pm thru June 1, 2009 the organization will provide an after-school program at DPR's Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th Street, NE for a minimum of thirty (30) children in its target demographic. The program will follow the calendar of the District of Columbia Public School and be provided on the following schedule:

3:30 pm - 3:45 pm: Students Arrival
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Homework and Tutoring
4:30 pm - 5:05 pm: Physical Education
5:15 pm - 5:45 pm: Technology, Arts and Crafts, and Cultural Studies
5:45 pm - 6 pm: Snack
6 pm: Academy Dismissal

The free academy will focus on the following areas: Homework Assistance; Tutoring and Plato Math and Literacy; Personal Computer Technology; Arts and Crafts and international and Cultural Studies.