UPO to Construct New Anacostia Community Service Center
Facility along Good Hope Road, in Southeast Washington
Following several site relocations and a disastrous fire, the United Planning Organization's Anacostia Community Service Center will soon construct a new comprehensive, state-of the-art facility on a now vacant lot that stretches along the much traveled Good Hope Road, in southeast Washington, D.C.
Construction of the 7,400 square foot building is slated to begin soon.
Budgeted at more than $1.1 million, the new community facility will house Anacostia's 10 employees and several volunteers who serve as UPO's voice in the Anacostia community. The new facility will include a state of the art computer laboratory open to program customers as well as area residents.
Born following the closing of the historic Southeast Neighborhood House delegate agency, UPO/Anacostia serves as UPO's "front door" to the sprawling Anacostia community providing residents with a wide variety of services funded mainly from the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Along with providing many other important community services, UPO/Anacostia is also in its third year as a designated FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Assistance) site for residents in a portion of Ward-6.
"We are very excited about the new center" observes Ms. Shirley Price, the Center's longtime branch chief. "It will be our opportunity to expand in order to provide even better and newer services many of which have not been provided before," she notes, adding "We will expand in areas such as training and employment. The training will be in the area of basic computer skills, personal and professional development as well as preparation for the world of work as we move toward the 21st century.
Ms. Price and her staff have much planned for the new center which should be completed by the summer of 2000, adding another glimmer of hope to the Anacostia community. As Ms. Price puts it, "our vision is to assist families to become self-sufficient and to focus on health and economic empowerment."

Partnerships Perform Positively for DC Children
Interagency partnerships can work wonders for citizens especially our youngest residents. It is for that reason UPO's Office of Preschool and Day Care has entered into partnership arrangements with several local and national child advocacy groups. UPO has maintained an excellent working relationship with the District of Columbia government since the earliest days of community action.
Among the many groups with which UPO partners are Project Jumpstart; GW Eyescopes; Hope for Kids; Families USA; AFFIRM; Children's Healthcare Coalition; Lead Advisory Committee; and GW American Medical Student Association (AMSA).
Other groups include Metropolitan Delta Adult Literacy of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Head Start Works/D.C. Department of Human Services Income Maintenance Administration, Goodwill Industries, Washington Urban League, DCPS Parent Education Collaborative, and the Significant Male Task Force. Still more groups include Mary's Center, Council of Latino Agencies, DC Vision, Salvation Army, Capital Area Food Bank, EPSDT Collaborative, and the Office of Child Support Enforcement.
Project Jumpstart is a case in point. A nationally focused group that operates in many localities throughout the U.S. including Washington, DC, Jumpstart was founded in 1993 to engage young people in service to their community to work toward the day when every child in America will enter school prepared to succeed. Working with students who are a part of Americorps, Jumpstart partners with local early childhood providers to use the power of community service to build school success, family involvement, and future teachers' and it does this one child at a time.
UPO along with the Edward C. Mazique Parent Child Center played important roles in bringing Jumpstart to the District of Columbia. In 1997, numerous requests were made to Jumpstart officials suggesting the program open an office in the Nation's Capital. Since its creation, Jumpstart Washington, DC has become a major partner to UPO and the agency's very young. Headed by Tomeka C. Bumbry, Jumpstart Washington, DC has linked more than 40 college students to children at various city childcare sites. Jumpstart also launched "KidsFest," an event where more than 150 volunteers and Jumpstart corpsmembers worked with 1000 preschool children and their families at an inner city facility during the day long event.
Jumpstart's major objectives are to share the magic of Jumpstart; to create leadership opportunities for Jumpstart corpsmembers; and to engage families and children in the power of literacy.

FEATURE STORY
UPO Special Activities Benefit Citizens and
Bring Together Community Residents
1968 - 1999 ... 31-years Since Dr. King's Assassination
The world paused just a bit April 4, 1998 to note the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an event that occurred at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis. Many luminaries noted the irony of how Dr. King, who had preached non-violence, was himself the victim of violence, gunned down while in his prime on that fateful day. Still others noted the further irony that James Earl Ray, confessed killer of Dr. King, himself died in April 1998.
To foster Dr. King's memory, The United Planning Organization began a commemoration of his life back in 1984, several years before his birthday was officially designated a national holiday. Since then many individuals have attended UPO's commemoration, committing their lives to "The Dream" and fostering Dr. King's ideals.
Proceeds from the Breakfast go to the UPO Joseph A. Beavers Scholarship Fund.
UPO's 1998 remembrance of Dr. King took on a unique twist as attorney Bryan A. Stevenson, renowned for his work with death row inmates, and Executive Director of Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, served as keynote speaker and delivered words that were quite appropriate for the occasion. It was the content of his speech that kept the audience glued to the podium.
"Twenty percent of families in the U.S. are living in households with incomes less than $9,000. There is still much to be done," he said, referring to UPO's overall mission. Mr. Stevenson moved quickly to explain the many challenges we all face in these days. Often quoting Dr. King, he said "Martin Luther King Jr. is still challenging us to bridge the gap and make this nation great" adding that some have forgotten their roots. "We sometimes begin to confuse personal justice for me with equal justice for all."
UPO's 1999 Breakfast was noteworthy not only as the last Breakfast in the 20th Century but by the agency's choice of the keynote speaker, Ms. Barbara Williams Skinner, President and co-founder of Skinner Farm Leadership Institute, a campus style facility located in Maryland. Ms. Skinner's late husband, Rev. Thomas Skinner was UPO's first keynote speaker of the legendary Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfasts back in 1984.
Ms. Skinner, who was introduced by UPO's Executive Director Benjamin Jennings, discussed important and noteworthy issues with the more than 1000 Breakfast attendees, observing that Dr. King, who would have been 70 years old, would have embraced the concept of UPO. In discussing topical issues, she said "Hate crimes against (all people) continue to darken our world." She also noted that the nation needs a bit of help. "The challenge of a nation whose technological genius has made us a neighborhood cannot make us a brotherhood or sisterhood."
Ms. Skinner noted that Dr. King's Dream has "not yet become a reality," adding "the Dream must never become a spectator sport!" Ms. Skinner, discussed issues familiar with today's audiences saying "A nation obsessed by a Y2K problem must solve the "real" Y2K problem of continued alienation and racial discrimination.
Several awards were presented during the morning event including Dr. Jimmy Jones, Mildred Claypoole Community Service Award; Wal-Mart Foundation, Martin Luther King, Jr.. Special Award; Food and Friends and You, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award; and Noah's Ark Ministries, Special Recognition award.
Planning is already under way for the 16th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, UPO's first event of the new millennium.

5th Annual UPO Run-Walk for Head Start
UPO proudly hosted its 5th Annual 5K Run-Walk for Head Start on Saturday, May 8, 1999, with even more gusto and vigor than in the four previous years.
More than 150 participants and supporters attended the early morning event, which raised needed funds for UPO's Head Start program.
Click here to reach the UPO Run-Walk for Head Start page.
The 5K Run-Walk Committee worked tirelessly in the months prior to the Run-Walk to make certain that all elements fell into place. Committee members are Priscilla Francis, Arthur Gray, Cynthia Johnson, Harvey Johnson III, Walter Murray, Charles Ramsey, Brian Reed, Robert Richardson Sr., Eulalia Ross, Rosa Salano, Doris Stashenko, and Joseph Wood. The Committee was chaired by Robert Durham, creator of the event.
The runners/walkers, many of whom participate in other runs in the Washington area, launched from the popular Hains Point area located in East Potomac Park. Actual "finish" line was the larger than life "Awakening Statue" a well known D.C. tourist attraction.
Popular and witty television sports personality Glenn Harris of News Channel-8 once again served as the event's Honorary Chairperson, a task he's held for the third year running. Participants received an added treat when D.C. native and Olympic Silver Medalist Jair Lynch helped with many of the morning's festivities.
Congratulations to all runners-walkers.
Developed in 1995 by UPO's Robert Durham as an accompaniment to a national Head Start conference being held in Washington, D.C., Mr. Durham's idea was to help raise funds for Head Start and its program in the Nation's Capital.
The Run-Walk concept immediately became an immensely successful UPO venture which, over the years, has raised thousands of dollars for Head Start. In fact, more than $5,000 was raised for Head Start in 1998. Last year's proceeds were used to purchase computer and special play equipment for several early childhood development centers.
UPO is very proud of the many sponsoring businesses and organizations that donated funds to this event. The enthusiasm shown by business leaders across the region shows even more that partnerships between the public, private and commercial sectors of our region always benefit the community as a whole. Businesses and organizations that contributed were:
SPONSORS: Annapolis Marriott Waterfront; Atlantic Transportation Equipment Company; Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin, & Khan; Bailey's Tavern; BESSTAX Services; Bill Newman & Family; Bradley/Parker & Associates, P.C.; Cafe Milano; Century 21 - Dear Realty; Channel Inn Hotel; Child Care Group II; Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative; East-West Lincoln Mercury; Eubanks Electric Company; Karen & Henry Greene; Georgetown University; Giant Food, Inc.; Mezza 9 Hyatt Arlington; Hospitality Community Federal Credit Union; Julien J. Studley, Inc.; Kaiser Permanente; Lockheed Martin IMS; Marshall Heights Community Development Organization; MCI Center; Ophelia's Flowers; Paxton Van Lines; Phillips Flagship of Washington; The Document Company-Xerox; The Mayflower Hotel; The Ramsey Group; The Rock Sports Bar; The Scientex Corporation; and The Washington Hilton & Towers.
CONTRIBUTORS: AAA Potomac; AETNA U.S. Health Care; Aldi-Langley Park; All American Donuts; Baltimore Orioles; Baysox Baseball Club; Buddy's Crabs & Ribs/Annapolis; Cineplex Odeon Theaters; D.C. Department of Recreation & Parks; Edelman Financial Services; Mary Kay - Tyra Gray; Safeway-Waterside Mall; School Speciality; Six Flags America; The Dandy Restaurant Cruise Ship; The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; The Washington Convention Center; Upkins Tees; U.S. Toy Company; Whatsa Bagel; and Zee Medical Service Company.
A very special thanks go to the many volunteers including Ms. Clara Jolly, Ms. Cassandra King and Mr. Melvin F. Graves, Constant Care Nursing (on-site first aid); and Ms. Thedith Moore of DC Arc.
Planning is already underway for the 6th Annual UPO Run-Walk for Head Start which promises to be even bigger than all previous events. All staff members who served as volunteers report they are very much enthusiastic about the year 2000 event.

UPO once again embaces DC Summer Youth Employment Program
A 20-year tradition continued at UPO this past summer as the agency once again played host to a multitude of D.C. youth for the 1999 edition of the District of Columbia government sponsored Summer Youth Employment Program.
Funded by the D.C. Department of Employment Services' Office of Youth Division, the activity saw more than 150 youth participate in the UPO-based program from July 6 to August 13, 1999. Other area businesses and nonprofit organizations also participated.
According to Program Coordinator Joseph Wood, UPO had contracted for more than 120 youth but took on an additional 30 young people on a voluntary basis. The added 30 participants also received funding from DOES. Meanwhile an additional 40 youth attached to UPO's much heralded Quantum program were included in the UPO activity giving the agency a total of 190 D.C. youth who received services during the summer months.
Orientation occured July 6 at UPO's Ralph Waldo Petey Greene Community Service Center located in the Congress Heights neighborhood.
Mr. Wood observed in a recent interview that the young people ranged in age from 14 to 20. Those age 14 to 15 worked three-hours per day; youth age 16 to 19 worked five-hours per day; and young people age 20 and up worked seven hours per day. All participants received $5.15 per hour.
Exciting, educational, and invigorating summer positions awaited participants including clerical, computer aides, building maintenance, landscaping, day care aides, and teacher aides among others.
If past numbers are any indication, young women far outnumbered male participants in this year's SYEP program. Historically, 80-percent are usually female, partly reflective of the ratio of women-to-men in the District of Columbia.

UPO Staff Members again take to Gleaning Efforts
It is a concept that dates back to ancient times and is mentioned in the Bible.
Gleaning has for many years been a part of UPO, spearheaded primarily by committed staffers who believe in helping fellow citizens. Brought to the agency in 1988 by UPO/NDC #1 Branch Chief Priscilla G. Francis, the gleaning concept has benefitted many residents since that time.
In earlier years, the late Goldie Henry coordinated the Office of Preschool and Day Care's component of gleaning efforts. Following Ms. Henry's death, Nutrition Coordinator Jandel Wilson began coordinating the Head Start/Day Care efforts. Kim Williams of UPO's NDC # 1 serves as coordinator for the agency's Shaw community efforts.
UPO staffers venture to the various sites at least twice per month to glean foods destined for local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and food banks. Gleaners' may also keep food they have gleaned. The three sites used in the gleaning effort include Parker Farm in Temple Hills, Maryland; Moormont Orchards in Rapindan, Virginia; and Blackmarsh Farm in Fredricksburg, Virginia.
A wide assortment of foods are gleaned including tasty squash, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, as well as those delightful collard, turnip and mustard greens, Fruits include apples, pears, and peaches.
For further information on gleaning, contact Kim Williams at UPO's NDC #1, (202) 462-6401. Information is also available from Washington, DC Glean, (703) 370-0155.

UPO Recognizes both Parent Volunteers and Community Partners
In an ongoing effort to recognize parent volunteers and community partners within the agency's childcare network, UPO's Office of Preschool and Day Care recently sponsored its annual awards ceremony, bringing attention to an ever increasing cadre of volunteers.
Using the theme "Quilt - Quality in Linking Together," the event, held at DC's historic Shiloh Baptist Church, drew more than 150 attendees. Keynote speaker was Ms. Elizabeth Hicks, executive director of the Metropolitan Delta Adult Literacy Program.
The event saw several awards presented to parents, partners, and staff including the Very Important Parent award; Appreciation of Community Partners; Valuable Volunteer Award; Center of the Year; Special Appreciation; Goldie Anthony-Henry Parent of the Year Award; and the Distinguished Service Award, among others.
Closing remarks were offered by Mr. Albert Williams, Parent Policy Chairperson.