Thank You from For Love of Children

Can you believe that Halloween has passed and our students are already thinking of Christmas? Before we turn the calendar to 2014, we have to acknowledge the generous people who make things happen here.  Dedicated volunteers give significant time to make sure our students get the attention they need and deserve to make the advances we see every week in our Scholars and Neighborhood Tutoring Program. Beyond that, a committed staff works tirelessly and at all hours to support the program offerings and make sure the volunteers have what they need to keep things rocking and rolling. Additionally, we’re lucky to have such talented folks staffing our Outdoor Education Center – check out the November 7, 2012 blog post.  This team not only works to improve the educational outcome of students in local middle schools, they also come up with new and creative ways to physically challenge our students, bucking the childhood obesity trend.

Who else do we appreciate? Without a doubt, our students who make a commitment to hard work and attendance so that they can achieve the results they deserve. It’s not always easy to take control of your education, especially at ages where you are vulnerable to peer pressure and habitual behavior.

And, finally, we thank our donors. Clearly, nothing we do could be accomplished without revenue to buy supplies, hire talented staff, keep our facilities clean and safe, and maintain the welcoming atmosphere that our students and their parents have come to expect.

So, at this time of giving and caring, please think about making a donation.  Whether it be your first or your fiftieth donation, all contributions are put to good use with our minimal overhead and high rankings by the Catalogue of Philanthropy and other sources. Since you’re on our blog, you must be on a computer or Smartphone of some sort. Here’s the link to our donations page: http://www.floc.org/get-involved/donate. If all else fails, call 202.349.3530 and I will be happy to talk to you about facilitating your gift that will help us create a bright future for students in our city.

So, THANK YOU!

(Martin Conover is the Director of Development at FLOC).

Q & A with Summer Associate Daniel Peek

(FLOC welcomes new staff each summer. In this miniseries, we are recognizing our summer associates and interns by publishing blog posts about their experiences. Daniel Peek is a Site Coordinator for the Summer Reading Academy.)

Q: Where are you from?

I was born in St Louis, MO, but I’ve lived in Northern Virginia since kindergarten and that’s where I live now.

Q: Where do you go to school and what do you study?

I go to school at Davidson College in North Carolina. I’m a psychology major.

Q: How did you hear about FLOC?

I heard about the ExxonMobil internship and then applied to a few organizations [through the program]. This was my top choice.

Q: What is your job description at FLOC?

I am a site coordinator, [so] I oversee the volunteers for the reading program. I make sure that they have everything they need and that all the [tutor-student] pairs are working well on program days. On non-program days, I am usually inputting data, checking lesson plans, and…just generally making sure program is running well.

Q: What have you learned?

I’ve learned a lot about what strategies to use to help kids learn; things that work and things that don’t work. Bouncing ideas and trying new things. I’ve also learned to be patient and that when something doesn’t work, try something new.

Q: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced this summer?

It was hard at first to get accustomed. There were a lot of meetings and there was a lot of information. I was really nervous when program started, because I had all of this information given to me really quickly. After seeing program a couple of times and getting the hang how things work, everything settled in.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

I’ve played sports all my life. I played basketball and soccer in high school, and now I play soccer at Davidson. I love watching movies, any type of action or comedy movie.

Q & A with Summer Intern Erin Gilman

(FLOC welcomes new staff each summer. In this miniseries, we are recognizing our summer associates and interns by publishing blog posts about their experiences.  Erin Gilman is the Recruitment and Outreach Intern.)

Q: Where are you from?

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Q: Where do you go to school and what do you study?

I go to High Point University in North Carolina. I study Human Relations, and I’m minoring in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and Entrepreneurship.

Q: How did you hear about FLOC?

Basically a lot of research. I was looking for nonprofits in DC that had a focus on children and FLOC stood out.

Q: As the Recruitment and Outreach Intern, what have been your job duties this summer?

A large part of my job was research to begin with and planning out strategies for recruitment in the fall. Beyond that, I was able to take my research and reach out to the community.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

I typically work with a nonprofit, so volunteering in general. I love to read. Also, hanging out with friends.

Q: What did you most enjoy about working at FLOC this summer?

I like that most of the summer interns [participated] as tutors in the Neighborhood Tutoring Program because it gave us a chance to see what our co-workers were doing and see what FLOC does.

Q & A with Summer Associate Brenda Balcarcel

(FLOC welcomes new staff each summer. In this miniseries, we are recognizing our summer associates and interns by publishing blog posts about their experiences.  Brenda Balcarcel is the Community Resource Assistant.)

Q: Where are you from?

I’m from Washington, DC.

Q: Where do you go to school and what do you study?

I’m a rising senior at Mount St. Mary’s University. I’m a Spanish major with a minor in Education.

Q: How long have you been involved with FLOC and in what capacity?

I started as a tenth grader in the College Prep program. I’m still a Scholar and this summer I’m working for FLOC.

Q: What do you do as the Community Resource Assistant?

I’m going to be creating an electronic referral guide for FLOC to use, including health services and other educational services that FLOC doesn’t provide. After interviewing staff, I made a list of the needs that were most common. My job is to research and find organizations that meet those needs and then organize a concrete list of organizations to be able to refer families.

Q: What have you learned while working here?

I’ve learned a lot about the services that DC provides for families. I’m also getting more professional work experience, which is something I was really looking forward to.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working here?

The staff. I think everyone is really friendly and supportive. I don’t feel scared to ask anyone for help.

Q: What are your plans after college?

I either want to pursue a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or work at an educational organization.

Partner Highlight: TerpSys Goes Above and Beyond for FLOC

TerpSys is a perfect example of the kind of business that others should emulate. Led by President and CEO Ed Woods, TerpSys incorporates creativity, community, and philanthropy in its company culture. Since 2000, TerpSys has been committed to corporate citizenship that ensures its partner community organizations are equipped with the latest technologies and web designs to address their missions.  TerpSys has donated to For Love of Children since 2002.

TerpSys has a unique way of partnering with organizations — it complements the organizations’ passion for a cause with its employees’ innovative technological expertise.  TerpSys works consistently with three community organizations and chooses one additional organization to support each year, nominated by TerpSys employees.  For Love of Children is thrilled to be one of the three organizations consistently supported by TerpSys.

TerpSys has expanded For Love of Children’s ability to offer educational opportunities to DC youth.  Since 2004, TerpSys has participated in FLOC’s Holiday Toy Drive, and since 2008, they have contributed over $120,000 in in-kind services, revamped FLOC’s website design, and assisted upgrading FLOC’s logo.

Each year FLOC students provide a wish list containing three wishes for the holidays. TerpSys employees have pledged to purchase at least one of those gifts for 200 students, and often they purchase all three. Their participation in our Holiday Toy Drive guarantees many happy faces and a room full of excitement.

On the technology front, TerpSys has given FLOC a sleeker, more modern look to its website and logo. Since the launch of FLOC’s new Website, views increased from 67,000 to 78,000 and both online and more traditional donations have increased from 49 to 94.

TerpSys understands that nonprofits frequently rely on volunteers to carry out their mission. TerpSys’ commitment to FLOC has helped secure a tutor for each child who requires individual tutoring in math and reading. Over the past four years, FLOC’s seniors have had a 100% graduation rate from high school and a 100% enrollment rate in postsecondary programs.

There is no doubt that FLOC has served more youth in the community and engaged more leaders in its mission to teach, empower, and transform the lives of young people, thanks in part to support from TerpSys.

TerpSys is a family and working there means sharing time, talent, and growth through community development. Employees are encouraged to challenge themselves and give back to society. The culture at TerpSys has earned numerous accolades over the years.  TerpSys was named one of the Best 50 Small & Medium Size Companies to Work for in America by the Society for Human Resource Management in 2009; one of the 50 Top Corporate Philanthropists by the Washington Business Journal in 2006, 2A07, and 2008; and was a recipient of Greater DC Cares’ My Business Cares Seal of Social Responsibility Award in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

TerpSys offers its employees paid volunteer leave and a corporate structure that promotes active involvement in community service.

All of us at For Love of Children know from firsthand experience that TerpSys’ corporate culture offers an inspiring model of giving back to the community. It is exactly this commitment that has made our partnership with TerpSys such a critical component in FLOC’s successful outreach to DC students and families and the reason FLOC was positively thrilled and eager to nominate Terpsys for the Greater DC Cares “Community Impact” Award.

(Ellie Haga and Denise Hernandez collaborated on this post. Ellie is the Executive Assistant at FLOC, and Denise is the Development Assistant.)

Baked by Yael and For Love of Children – One Sweet Collaboration!

For Love of Children is excited to be involved with a local business – Baked by Yael – that is owned by a woman who is passionate about giving back to her community.  Yael Krigman started her business in 2010 as a sideline, but in November 2011 decided to leave her job as a law firm associate to focus on her business full-time.

However, she didn’t always have business ownership in mind.  In fact, after she graduated from law school, Yael realized that she had a “passion for baking and an entrepreneurial spirit”.  Even though she isn’t practicing law in the traditional sense, Yael says she uses her degree on a daily basis to review contracts and research DC laws.  Additionally, she’s putting her communications and marketing skills from college to good use to help expand her business.

Yael’s entrepreneurial endeavors aren’t the only things that make her a great partner with FLOC.  As Yael puts it, “my heart has always been with social justice and community service.  I was involved in community service activities in high school.  In college, I worked and volunteered as a tutor and mentor.  I also started a student-run welfare-to-work program.”  Since moving to DC, she’s been an active supporter of organizations that provide critical services to the DC community, and that makes FLOC an attractive partner to her business.

Yael has generously donated some of her delicious baked goods to several FLOC events.  She also has a referral program where she makes a 10% donation to FLOC for any sales referred to her by FLOC.  Though Yael’s schedule is full with building a customer base and growing Baked by Yael, she hopes to become a FLOC volunteer in the future.

FLOC is pleased to partner with Yael who embodies the characteristics we strive to instill in our students: hard work, dedication, and commitment to giving back to the local community.  We look forward to a long relationship with Baked by Yael!  If you are interested in checking out delicious treats from Baked by Yael, visit her website at http://www.bakedbyyael.com/, check her out on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter – keyword “Baked by Yael”.  Don’t forget to tell her FLOC sent you!

(Ellie Haga is the Executive Assistant at FLOC.)

FLOC says Goodbye to Fall 2011 Intern Ana

For Love of Children’s fall 2011 programs were made possible by the concerted efforts of dedicated volunteers, interns, and staff. As often as possible, we like to acknowledge the work of individuals whose outstanding contributions have made a positive impact on our programs.

One such individual is outgoing intern Ana Turco-Rivas. Ana, a freshperson atAmericanUniversity, interned with FLOC for the 2011 fall semester. As a site coordinator, she facilitated the math tutoring program atRossElementary Schooland the Saturday math tutoring program at FLOC.

A native ofVenezuela, Ana had some initial concerns about the amount of English writing that would be required of her as a Site Coordinator, but she took on assignments without reservation and responded to the demands of the position with great poise. Ana made invaluable contributions not only to our programs but also to the organization by helping with our recruitment initiatives, the student intake process, and occasionally leading parent orientations in Spanish.

Ana’s good attitude, idiosyncratic taste in music, and commitment to our students will be missed, but we wish her the best as she dedicates herself to her studies and finishes her first year of college.

(Joaquin Carbonell is the NTP Program Coordinator.)

Celebrating Artistry of DC Youth

(Ashley Bradfield is a Program Instructor in the Scholars Program.)

Earlier this month, FLOC and Sitar Arts Center held their First Annual Open Mic Night. This project has been my “baby” at FLOC for the past several months and the entire week before I was anxious, nervous and excited for the event to finally happen!

With a total of around a dozen performances, from both FLOC and Sitar students alike, the audience heard everything from poetry to piano to dance. We even got to see a moving theatre piece performed by a group of FLOC students who had been working with George Washington University theatre students.

The stage was graced with a variety of talents, the audience was highly receptive, and I was proud to have been involved in bringing DC youth, parents, community members and organizations together to celebrate the incredible artistic talents that young people have to offer.

I was touched by the support of the FLOC and Sitar staff and am hopeful that the event will be a start of a powerful collaboration between two organizations that are bringing some of the most essential services and unique opportunities to DC-area youth.

I chose to share a spoken word piece that I wrote in reflection to my work at FLOC and would like to share it with the media world also as a taste of what we saw that evening.

The State of The Youth

Though I try as a might these feelings I just cant fight
As I rest my eyes in the night I’m wishing this was out of sight

Out of sight out of mind, I was scared I might be out of my own rhymes
Until I start to write what I feel about these sad times

Misunderstandings and disillusionment
That confuse everyone but the muse

The muse of a youth that cannot seem to compute what it means to just BE YOU.
Without fear, fear of going to school, actin’ a fool, makin sure you real cool.

See, once we start to rewrite the whole meaning of life
We eliminate the strife of making sure we get each move exactly right

Because the moves ain’t always smooth—sometimes you’ll lose.
But if you pull it together you may just be able to cruise……

Have a good job, and a nice house, a small dog, and a cute kid.
But what if?

This is all a myth…of what happiness truly is.

*Note: DVDs of the event will be available. Please contact me at abradfield@floc.org if you are interested.

A Different Approach to Fundraising

FLOC tutor John McCook, FLOC founder Fred Taylor, and former FLOC student Unique Bexley

(Ellie Haga is FLOC’s Executive Assistant and Development Associate.)

Before I started working at FLOC three years ago, I admit, fundraising was a foreign concept to me. I was a teacher and the only fundraising I did was soliciting my own parents for help with the cost of grad school on a teacher’s salary!

When I began working at FLOC, part of my job was to be a member of the fundraising team. Truth be told, I was terrified. When I thought about fundraising, all I could think of was hours of phone calls, knocking on people’s doors, and generally “bugging’ people for money.

Fast forward to today, and I see a very different picture. Fundraising is more about “friend raising” at FLOC. It’s about telling stories about the impact FLOC is having and then having people who genuinely want to give money, resources, or time do so.

FLOC just held its 5th Annual Fundraising event, “Beyond the Classroom: Redefining How Today’s Kids Become Tomorrow’s Leaders.” Yes, it was a fundraiser, but it was also so much more than that. It was the gathering of nearly 200 caring partners, donors, parents, volunteers, and families that listened to stories of inspiration and success. It was about inspiring people to be their best selves in their own communities, but mostly it was about FLOC’s kids. The event was truly inspirational, and I walked away more committed to FLOC’s mission than ever before.

Because of FLOC’s approach to telling stories and rousing action, I continue to come to work every day knowing I’m not going to have to convince people to donate money, but rather, just tell them what we’re doing to make a difference. People will choose the ways they want to get involved, and we’ll be there to make it happen.

While many other nonprofits continue to take a different approach to fundraising, at FLOC we’re content to continue in the tradition that Fred Taylor began more than 45 years ago. We’ll continue to tell our story and know that people will continue to feel inspired and find a way to give back.

To learn more about FLOC and our friendraising efforts – check out a FLOC 101 session! http://www.floc.org/get-involved/floc-101

Why Volunteer?

(Elizabeth Metz is FLOC’s Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator.)

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, I wanted to explore why some of our current volunteers chose to get involved with FLOC. We ask all of our prospective volunteers to answer the question, “Why do you want to tutor with For Love of Children’s Neighborhood Tutoring Program?” Here are just a few of the answers we received:

“Children hold our future in their hands. It is important to help them learn at an early age to develop a love for education to carry throughout life.”

-Leoshay Lobley

“I enjoy mentoring children and want to help out kids in my new community here in DC. “

-Tyler Losey

“I’ve enjoyed tutoring the past two years. I like teaching new concepts and enjoy watching that ‘light bulb moment’ with the youth I’m tutoring.”

-Rose Overbey

So how about you? Why do you support For Love of Children? What keeps you motivated?

Whatever their reason for coming to FLOC two or more hours a week, we thank all of our 250+ volunteers for their commitment, their creativity, their patience, their humor, and most of all for their service. Volunteers make our programs possible! Thank you!