August 2008

Calling All Walkers To Join Team CFLS!

          Community Family Life Services (CFLS) will again be participating in the annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon scheduled for Saturday November 22, 2008 on the National Mall and WE NEED YOU &&..

This exciting and meaningful event helps to raise awareness about issues of homelessness throughout the Washington Metropolitan Region and beyond. It also provides much needed funds to organizations like CFLS to implement and sustain the programs required to transition people from homelessness and poverty to self-sufficiency.

Additionally, the Walkathon is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to make a real difference in the lives of the homeless and underserved among us  who despite the odds are working hard and succeeding in their efforts to achieve independence. (See article on new CFLS employment program below)

Our goal this year is to recruit 1,500 walkers in order to be eligible for the $25,000 Fannie Mae Walker incentive award. 1500 is a daunting number - - but I really believe we can do it if we all join forces. Thats why we need all our friends and supporters to sign up to join team CFLS and to encourage their colleagues, family, friends and neighbors to register to become CFLS team members too.

The registration fee is $25 for adults and $15 for youths (25 years and under). Remember 100% of your registration fee goes to CFLS.  Please take a moment to go online at www.helpthehomelessdc.org/goto/cfls and register to join team CFLS.

Thank you for you continued support of CFLS and for your courage in helping to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. If you have any questions or need additional information please do not hesitate to contact us at 202-347-0511 ext. 415 or at development@cflsdc.org  

Sincerely,     

Claudia Thorne

Executive Director                      

An Impressive Start For New CFLS Employment  Program

My self-confidence went through the roof those are the words of Delontay Johnson one of the participants in the first group of graduates from the new employment program at CFLS.

Back in June we told you about Community Family Life Services new employment program promoting a successful transition into permanent employment for hard to employ populations. The group of people served by this program is comprised of ex-offenders, homeless and chronically unemployed persons.

Today we are pleased to report that we had a 90% graduation rate for the first group of 21 participants and have successfully placed 88% of the graduates. The graduation exercise on August 1, 2008 was a rewarding and moving event. Family members of several of the participants attended to give support to their graduate. The guest speaker Dr. Roselyn Smith-Withers charged the graduates, never to let their emotions get in the way of their prosperity.

Under the direction of John Andrews the Program Director the participants received instructions in DC employment skills training to prepare them with the necessary attitudes and behaviors to enable their success in the workplace.

CFLS graduates have been placed in positions in information technology, hospitality, construction and administrative support.

While the main objective of the program is employment the participants have openly and excitedly expressed the new sense of purpose they derived from being in the program. Graduate Delontay Johnson has attributed his new energy and drive to participating in the employment program. He says, my confidence went through the roof, it has helped me spiritually and emotionally and lifted my self-esteem. I can now set goals for a career.  Delontay successfully applied for and secured the receptionist position at CFLS. His next big goal is evening college classes which he intends to start in the fall.

The employment program is definitely off to a good start  and CFLS is excited at the outcomes of the program and the partnership with the District of Columbias Department of Employment Services (DOES). Program Director Andrews reiterates that while the initial placements made are up to 6 months, our ultimate objective is to move the workers to permanent jobs with higher wages.  

A second group of participants will graduate on September 5.

A Summer To Remember at Summer of Dreams Camp 2008              

            It was a dream come through and then some for the 50 rambunctious, energetic and curious campers who participated in CFLS Summer of Dreams Camp 2008. From the get go the children and youth were enthusiastic about being enrolled in the camp and they showed it. The Camp kicked off with a breakfast meet and greet and was a beehive of activity that morning and for the first couple of days as the participants settled into their surroundings.

The annual Summer Camp is a critical component of CFLS Youth, Education and Advocacy program and provides yet another opportunity to help youth improve negative self-images and build self esteem. The main objective of the Camp is to provide the children of the families we serve with structured educational fun and the opportunity to participate in positive and enriching experiences during the summer months.

This year campers were exposed to a rich and rigorous, fun-filled educational and creative program. Armed with journals the participants visited countless museums and art galleries including the Museum of Natural History and the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture. They hiked in Rock Creek Park, received nutrition lessons at a farm and visited the National Zoo. They went bowling and ice skating a first for many, and had weekly tennis lessons at the Washington Tennis Foundation and went swimming each week at Turkey Thicket Recreational Center.

The older children participated in a book club sponsored by the Martin Luther King Library and got a chance to exercise their analytical skills as they engaged in vibrant discussions about the novel, The Skin Im In. Additionally, campers were encouraged to tap into their own talents with art and craft exercises, a music camp at the Church of the Redeemer and a creative writing workshop.  The participants were able to sharpen their journalistic skills as they selected stories and pictures, wrote, edited, designed and produced a very professional, four page full color newsletter. 

The icing on the cake for the campers was the 4-H Sleep Away Camp (Sunday-Thursday) sponsored by the Capital Area Food Bank which was held the last week of camp.  This was particularly special for many of our campers as they had never experienced a camp away from home.  The Friday before there was endless discussions and questions about what they would take with them and what they were going to do. The excitement continued from the moment they hopped into the van in DC until they arrived at their destination in Virginia.

After an exciting, adventurous, educational and rewarding 8 weeks the Summer of Dreams Camp 2008 wrapped on August 15 with an entertaining production of skits, dances and other performances by the campers all displaying some of what they had learned over the past two months. With big smiles, filled journals and tons of memories the campers posed for pictures, hugged each other and said goodbye.

The realization hit one camper as he left the gym, "Im not here next week, wow."

We would like to express our deepest thanks to the foundations, corporations, individuals, faith-based organizations, volunteers, interns and staff who made the Summer of Dreams Camp 2008 possible.