UPO Breaks Ground for Anacostia Community Center

“What a beautiful day for a groundbreaking,” were the words spoken by a longtime Anacostia resident as people began to arrive to UPO’s latest event. An estimated 150 neighborhood residents, local elected officials, federal officials, business and community leaders along with UPO family members all gathered at 1649 Good Hope Road, Southeast Washington on December 3, 1999 for a ceremonial groundbreaking at a site that will soon contain the UPO Anacostia Community Service Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will provide quality services to Anacostia residents.

“I am extremely proud that we were able to come here to break ground for a new 7,400 sq. ft. building where we can provide top notch services to the community,” observed Russell Simmons, UPO’s Board President.
Ward-8 Councilmember Sandy Allen, At-Large Councilmember Harold Brazil, and former Councilmenber Wilhelmina Rolark gave rousing remarks during the event that was hosted by WTTG-FOX 5’s Meteorologist Andrew Humphries.

UPO secured an $850,000 construction loan from Industrial Bank, as well as a $175,000 grant from the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development.

The Anacostia Center has called several sites its home in recent years, even suffering through a devastating fire in 1995 that destroyed the entire facility. Anacostia’s dedicated staff worked diligently during those tough times, making certain there was no “downtime.”

The new 7,400 square foot facility will include a computer lab and provide job training, educational services, crisis intervention, health/nutrition, senior citizens activities and youth services among others.

UPO Snares Record Head Start Grant
It has served DC’s children since “before the beginning,” according to many who have studied the local education arena. The United Planning Organization’s Head Start program actually commenced activities prior to the 1965 roll-out of the national Head Start effort. UPO’s program, which began in 1964, was used as a model for the new and exciting education initiative that would ultimately become one of this nation’s most popular, productive, and prominent early childhood educational systems.

Today, UPO’s Office of Preschool and Day Care oversees the largest Head Start and day care activity in the region, caring for more than 2,400 children including 200 children who have various disabilities.

UPO recently received a record grant amount from the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Youth, the primary Head Start funding source. For the first time in 35-years, UPO received a grant totaling nearly $12 million, including $2.6 million in local matching funds. Additionally, a DC grant totalling more than $600,000 is applied toward the agency’s Early Head Start program. Along with its federal funding, UPO receives funding from the District of Columbia’s Department of Human Services Office of Early Head Start for day care operations.

However, figures are only part of the story. Facts are also important especially when one realizes that UPO Head Start and early childhood development has since its inception, maintained a first rate and quality educational program for our youngest community members. Excellence is achieved by making certain its staff remains up-to-date with the latest early childhood education trends. Thus, 19 UPO Office of Preschool and Early Childhood Development staff members are either currently enrolled or have graduated from various institutions including the University of the District of Columbia. These employees are studying the latest early childhood education skills and techniques that will ultimately benefit Washington, DC’s children. An example is Ms. Lettie Williams who received a Master of Arts degree in Administration and Supervision in 1997 from Mt. Vernon College. Ms. Williams, a veteran UPO employee, is currently Center Director of UPO’s Early Childhood Development Center # 8 located in northeast Washington. Most others have completed certificate courses or are now enrolled in academic programs at UDC or other local institutions.

One exciting program is Project Headway, part of the Institute for Early Childhood Leadership Development at UDC. Project Headway is geared mainly for persons who already have college credits. Students may apply those credits along with Project Headway courses toward an AA degree. Headway is designed to build capacity from infant toddler through preschool.

Other important initiatives are now underway throughout the UPO Head Start Network including the establishment of a new state-of-the-art day care facility on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia. Designated the UDC Early Childhood Development Center, it is a UDC/UPO partnership where university students as well as staff/faculty will enroll their children into a quality childcare education center. The new facility is licensed to serve 30-children at the Connecticut Avenue campus.

“The UPO Head Start and Early Childhood Development program is a catalyst for the planning, development, and implementation of comprehensive child and family development systems in partnership with our delegate agencies and other public/private partners and stakeholders,” noted William D. Hughey, director of the Office of Preschool and Day Care. “During program year 1999-200, we will put forth a massive effort to upgrade management systems and procedures which will facilitate our ability to meet or exceed all program performance standards,” he added.

Mr. Albert Williams, is Parent Policy Chairperson.

Quantum Helps Smooth Path for DC's Motivated Young People
“It’s as if they’ve been with UPO all the time” is the way one staff member puts it when describing the agency’s many Quantum Opportunity Program young people when they’re hard at work in their lab. They’ve been a part of UPO for three years - their faces and names are a part of UPO’s landscape.

Still, the 80 students (Quantum members are referred to as associates) from many high schools throughout the region, come to UPO to help fulfill their dreams as well as ultimate goals.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and the DC Department of Employment Services, QOP operates on $340,000 annually according to Cecily A. Williams, the program coordinator. “The program is based on relationships with the associates,” Ms. Williams said, adding “our goal is to build stability in their lives.”

“Our associates are very motivated,” she says pointing to the many accomplishments made since the UPO program began in 1996. UPO continues to be one of seven target cities nationwide that operate QOP activities.
QOP associates are even now gearing-up for college life. They’ve already visited several universities including a special trip to various North Carolina institutions of higher learning where they received a wide array of choice information. Among the colleges were North Carolina A & T, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Elon College, Shaw University, St. Agustine, and North Carolina Central.

In an effort to reward achievement as well as build teamwork, associates have visited Virginia Beach and New York. They’ve also appeared on a FOX television program dealing with crime prevention.

Quantum is slated to run through June 30, 2000 with the possibility of a programmatic extension even beyond that date.

Families Find Success with Shelter Plus Care
What happens to homeless individuals who possess certain disabilities? What becomes of people who may have once used illegal substances? The United Planning Organization’s Shelter Plus Care Program is one solution that is working to provide permanent housing specifically for homeless families, where the heads of households have verified disabilities that are either substance abuse and/or HIV/AIDS related. Program guidelines require that children be included in the family group. In fact, requirements specify that heads of households be at least 18-years of age and have at least one child.

UPO provides case management services including development of an Individual Case Plan, referral services, intervention, and counseling. Others are supportive services, monitoring, and ongoing home visitation. Since many participants lack educational and stable employment histories, their main source of income is often public assistance benefits.

According to program coordinator Jo Ann Featherson, MSW, program goals for participating clients and families are to strengthen and stabilize the family and to assist with client self sufficiency, so the customer ultimately functions at the highest possible level. To achieve the stated goals, customers are firmly told that “success is expected!” This helps lift customer self-esteem especially at a time when the world looks a bit dim to them. Several UPO Shelter Plus care customers are now employed in local industry, in some cases, holding down their first full-time job.

Currently eight families complete with 23 children participate in UPO’s Shelter-Plus Care Program.

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