UPO Launches Exciting New Youth Initiatives

Of major interest to the DC community is the plight of its youth who, while growing and learning, may early-on fall “off-the-edge” and into a life of crime and dependency, often due to various external factors.

To help our youth overcome this tendency to “do the wrong thing,” UPO, in partnership with the federal and DC governments, has developed several unique projects designed to help smooth the path for our city’s many young people.

Initially, UPO operated very popular and noteworthy youth oriented activities including the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and a Youth Program that provides funding to smaller neighborhood-based groups.

From left, Rhonda J. Muse, Walter Murray, Wayne Thompson, and Joseph Wood work-up programmatic strategy inside Quantum Lab.

Then came the 1996 launching of the Quantum Opportunity Program (QOP), where the agency actually followed 80 young people from grade nine through high school graduation. QOP associates worked closely with staff often traveling to other cities mainly visiting various colleges and universities. At the outset, Washington, DC was one of only six cities nationwide that operated QOPs. Now in its last year, the QOP program will ultimately graduate the majority of Associates and send a record number on to post-secondary educational institutions.

UPO’s success was so great that recently the agency launched new initiatives certain to become popular with youth, their parents, and the community at-large. With funding from the U.S. Department of Labor through the D.C. Department of Employment Services, UPO will now operate two new important and noteworthy youth oriented activities.

The Youth Opportunity program (YO) will target 80 new ninth graders from Eastern, Anacostia, Spingarn, and Ballou high schools. Whereas the previous QOP program focused mainly on mentoring, the new “YO” program will have a more academic focus which also includes mentoring. Community service and experiential learning field trips are also part of the endeavor. Youth, who will likewise be termed “Associates,” will receive a stipend for their service. “Academics is the first priority,” observes Program Director Rhonda Muse, adding “every young person can succeed.”

A second youth activity is the Year ‘Round In-School program, part of the Mayor William’s Passport to Work Initiative. A total of 90 students will participate taking part in job placement, job shadowing, and employability training among others. Under employability training, specific topics include conflict resolution, work ethics, and developing first rate communication skills. Both groups of youths will make extensive use of the unique computer lab that is equipped with high speed Internet connectivity.

Along with Ms. Muse, veteran employees Walter Murray and Joseph Wood will work in the Year Round In-School program.