Reflections of Success

Showing Resolve

A youth in ERCPCP’s High Intensity program was enrolled and successfully completed a pharmaceutical tech program located in Virginia. Despite several personal obstacles to completing the program, this youth showed resolve using personal finances to pay for the program.  Currently, this youth has obtained an internship at a local pharmacy in the DC region.  Additionally, by participating in DCYL services the High Intensity worker was able to use the completion of this program, which showed a great deal of determination and steadfastness, as the basis for building an even deeper and stronger relationship with this youth’s parents.

Overcoming Obstacles

A Youth enrolled in ERCPCP’s High Intensity program received a high school diploma from a DC Public School after completing summer school. This young person overcame several personal obstacles that prevented this youth from completing their degree in 4 years. This youth took advantage of DCYL services such as High Intensity and Tutoring to ensure that they were equipped with the tools necessary to complete high school. Currently, this young person is in the process of reviewing scholarships that are available to assist them in taking the next step in realizing their dream of going to college.

Becoming Engaged

A youth enrolled in ERCPCP’s DCYL Workforce Development program began working with our partner Career Path DC for 20 hours per week. The youth then became involved with our partner Earn, Learn, and Grow and began working 30 hours per week. Because of his great work with Career Path DC, that youth was offered full time employment.  Currently, this young person is fully engaged in the community; helping with lawn care and landscaping projects benefitting the Department of Aging. The youth was pictured in an article in the Washington Post along with Career Path DC and other youth.

Making Achievements

A youth enrolled in ERCPCP’s DCYL Workforce Development program is enrolled at Anacostia Community Outreach Center. This youth scored high marks on the Pre-GED test which allowed the youth to sit in on the GED test. We are honored to report that this youth passed the GED test and is now working on enrolling in the District of Columbia Community College. This young person is definitely moving toward a brighter future!

Making a Good Impression

Earlier this week, a provider took several of our youth to the Tanger Outlet Mall.  One particular youth who is enrolled in our workforce development program was there and was dressed in business casual as requested. He had great energy and was impressive to the employers he met. He has already completed the second phase of the application process for the Tommy Hilfiger store and is working on completing other online applications as well.  We are hopeful that he will be successful in his quest for employment and are already proud of him for taking it seriously and making it this far along in the process.

#GivingTuesday: Join the Movement

This year, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, ERCPCP is taking part in a global call to action that will change the calendar and help make history. We are celebrating a day dedicated to giving — when charities, families, individuals, businesses, community centers, students, retailers and more will all come together for #GivingTuesday – a movement to celebrate giving and encourage more, better and smarter giving during the Holiday Season that we are proud to be part of.

#GivingTuesday will create a day of giving around the annual shopping and spending season –giving’s “opening day”. Leading up to December 3, the #GivingTuesday campaign will provide a platform for you to contribute to your community and the world to help make this season the biggest giving season yet!

We invite you to be part of this celebration. #GivingTuesday will show how the world can do much more with our wallets than just consume. Here’s what you can do to help make this initiative a success:

1. Support ERCPCP on #GivingTuesday by going to our website and making a donation!
2. Help us promote to spread the word about #GivingTuesday to your networks!  Here is some sample language for you:
   1. Perfect antidote to overspending on #BlackFriday? #GivingTuesday coming on Dec. 3! http://givingtuesday.org support @ercpcp and @givingtues
   2. Have u told ur network about #GivingTuesday? It’s Dec 3, get your friends to sign up at http://givingtuesday.org and support @ercpcp!
   3. Ever thought one day of giving thanks isn’t enough? Get ready for #GivingTuesday, coming Dec 3. Support ur favorite charity, I chose @ercpcp

A Mother’s Tea

In support of the survivors and victims of homicides and violent crimes in the District of Columbia, ERCPCP has joined forces with several agencies and organizations to present the Annual Mother’s Tea.  This beautiful and therapeutic event is being held at the Historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel.  As a show of solidarity, the tea is being presented free of charge to the mothers of victims of homicide and violent crime.  Therefore, we are counting on community support to help cover the costs related to producing this event.

Please consider donating to this important event at one of the following levels:
Benefactor = $1,000.  Patron = $500.  Supporter = $250.  Sponsor = $100.  Friend =$50

Additional details below.

You Are Cordially Invited
To Attend

 A Mother’s Tea
On
Sunday, October 6, 2013
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

 In support of the
Survivors and Victims of Homicide and Violent Crime

 In the Ballroom of the
Historic Willard InterContinental Hotel
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20004

 RSVP By:
September 20, 2013

 The Tea is made possible by an Anonymous Contributor

 For More Information, Please Contact:
Mr. Philip Pannell (202) 889-4900, Reverend Donald Isaac (202) 373-5767 or Reverend Anthony J. Motley (202) 327-4837

For those needing a ride:
The bus will leave across from the Anacostia Metro Station located at Shannon Place and Howard Road at 1:15pm and return at 5:30pm.  The bus is limited and reservations are required, email at acc01@aol.com or call (202) 889-4900.

Supported by:
*Forgiving Mothers   *Abigail Ministries *Inner Thoughts, Inc.   *Metropolitan Police Department  *Dancing With A Purpose. Ministries *Anacostia Coordinating Council  *Stop Killing Innocent People “SKIP”  *Faith Presbyterian Church *Ward Eight Council Against Domestic Violence  *East of the River, Clergy, Police, Community, Partnership, Inc.

The Path to Transformation

With the type of work that we are involved with, sometimes it can be difficult to see the progress made.  Besides knowing that you are called to do the work in the first place, one can sometimes be left to wonder if their efforts are worth it in the end.  Articles like this one from the Washington Post (Juvenile Offenders Learn Meaning of Work through Mowing Lawns of the Elderly) help to highlight the benefits of the challenging work that ERCPCP and its partners are involved with.  This article excites us and reaffirms the fact that the work does indeed make a difference.  We’d like to congratulate our partner, Career Path DC, for the inspiring work that they are doing – transforming juvenile offenders into employed, committed young citizens.  We look forward to seeing many more amazing success stories from our colleagues in the future!

Summer 2013 at ERCPCP

Summertime is a very important time for us here at ERCPCP.  Understanding the potential for unusual or unexpected things to occur in the summertime, we have always been really strategic about our methods of engagement with our population during the summer months.  In past years, we focused a lot on our 40 Days of Increased Peace initiative – an initiative running for 40 days during the summer with increased collaboration with partners and increased activities for youth, providing numerous activities and events in which youth may participate.  While we did not present our 40 Days of Increased Peace this year, we are still hard at work planning, implementing and engaging youth in wonderful experiences that are fun, educational and enriching through our collaboration with partner agencies, and most of all, our DC YouthLink Family Engagement Summer Youth Institute.

Our Summer Youth Institute staff has been quite busy in the community hosting information tables at partner events to spread the word about our work as well as conducting their own activities for the young people that we serve.  Some of the activities already conducted and still planned for this summer include a trip to Busch Gardens, family portraits for the youth and their family members and both northern and southern college tours, among numerous other events.  We are excited about these amazing opportunities to engage our youth and provide them with exposure to positive recreation and enrichment.  Our desire is to contribute toward stable productive young people who are free from delinquency and excited about the road ahead.

We look forward to reporting back to you with our success stories from the summer as well as our daily work in the community.  Until then, be well and have an amazing summer!

 

For more information about our programs and services, please visit us at http://www.ercpcp.org.