The JLW Awards Opportunity Grant to Little Lights Urban Ministries

The Junior League of Washington (JLW) is pleased to announce Little Lights Urban Ministries as the second of three organizations the JLW has awarded an opportunity grant to this fall. Opportunity grants are grants for less than $1,000 and are awarded to community organizations that are addressing one of the following complex areas of the JLW’s narrowed children’s reading literacy focus (1) lack of books in the home; (2) lack of books and resources in the school; and/or (3) reading out loud to children ages 0 – 5.

Since 1995, Little Lights Urban Ministries has been committed to providing sanctuaries of encouragement, hope, and practical assistance to at-risk children, youth and families in Washington, D.C.  Little Lights has evolved from providing an after-school tutoring program to providing both academic and social support. Throughout the year, Little Lights provides programs that focus on four main objectives: improving academic achievement, providing emotional support and encouragement, building character and leadership, and developing creativity and practical skills. The cornerstone of the organization’s programs is one-to-one interaction with caring adults through mentoring and tutoring.

Little Lights works primarily, but not exclusively, with families from Potomac Gardens, a public housing complex in Southeast DC where income for a family of four does not generally exceed $7,830 per year. Ninety percent of the Potomac Gardens children live in one-parent, female-headed households. It is estimated that, without intervention, less that 2% of the complex’s youth will attend college. Little Lights currently serves approximately 100 children and youth each year, many who attend schools designated "In Need of Improvement" by No Child Left Behind.  Little Lights provides a safe and welcoming place for children to learn after school.

At “Reading Heroes”, a weekly program, students improve reading skills, gain confidence, and develop a love for reading through working with caring adults. Last school year, the elementary and middle school Reading Heroes students gained almost a grade and a half in reading accuracy and comprehension skills. Little Lights plans to continue building on this success by accelerating our students' fluency and comprehension skills this school year, ensuring their success as life-long readers.  Students are paired with tutors for one-to-one focused reading tutoring. Each volunteer tutor is trained and equipped with a specific lesson plan, including curriculum, for their student based on his or her reading level as determined by our assessments at the start of the school year. Additionally, the reading curriculum is being supplemented to include an online element called “Ticket to Read”, which tracks reading progress online and provides reading activities that are appropriate for each child’s reading level.

The $1,000 from the JLW will contribute to Ticket to Read program. The JLW also awarded 140 books through Resolution Read, which will enhance the after-school program’s library. Stay tuned to learn more about Hope House DC, the third of the grant recipients awarded this fall.

In the spring, the JLW will be awarding additional opportunity grants to community organizations, with a deadline of February 1 for submission of materials. Additional information can be found online. If you have questions about the opportunity grants or want additional information, please contact Alicia Lee, chair of the Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee at grantsandvolunteers@jlw.org.

Alicia Lee
Chair, Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee

JLW Chair Extraordinaire

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
- John Quincy Adams

We are proud to honor Biffy Cathcart, chair of the Horton’s Kids committee, as JLW Chair Extraordinaire.  A third-year Active, Biffy has served on Horton’s Kids since 2010. Her conscientious leadership and  careful attention to detail have ensured a successful placement for her committee members, as well as for our community partner.  Congratulations, Biffy and keep up the good work!

Did you know there are more than 125 leadership positions in the JLW?  Each year, an amazing group of women answer the call to serve and their talent and skills form the support structure upon which our organization runs.  Just as we value and appreciate your membership, we appreciate their service.  The JLW Chair Extraordinaire is a new award for our Centennial year.  Each month, council directors may nominate a leader for consideration and one chair will be recognized by the president.  

Jubilee JumpStart, Grant Recipient

The Junior League of Washington (JLW) is pleased to announce Jubilee JumpStart as the first of three organizations the JLW has awarded an opportunity grant to this fall. Opportunity grants are grants for less than $1,000 and are awarded to community organizations that are addressing one of the following complex areas of the JLW’s narrowed children’s reading literacy focus (1) lack of books in the home; (2) lack of books and resources in the school; and/or (3) reading out loud to children ages 0 – 5.

Jubilee JumpStart is an early childhood education center located in Jubilee Housing, a subsidized housing community in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, and provides comprehensive dual-language early education services for fifty-two children from six weeks to five years of age; Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Their mission is to ensure that children are fully prepared for success in school and beyond by providing them with early education enriched by an intense focus on social and emotional well-being and practical support to their families. Jubilee JumpStart empowers families to move up and out of poverty by helping children and parents to realize their educational and career opportunities.

Jubilee JumpStart serves a diverse community of primarily low-income families, 75% of whom are eligible for government childcare subsidies. The families Jubilee JumpStart serves are among the most economically-disadvantaged in the District. More than 65% of Jubilee Housing families bring home less than 30% of Area Median Income, and half earn less than 20% of Area Median Income. Jubilee JumpStart’s student population reflects the diversity of our community. Currently, 25% the children served are Jubilee Housing residents, 75% are from low-income families, and 80% are either African-Americans or Latinos.

Jubilee JumpStart has begun the process of obtaining accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), with a candidacy date of January 31, 2013, and successful completion anticipated by July 31, 2013. By achieving NAEYC accreditation in July of 2013, the subsidy reimbursement rate will increase by 16% which will help in the organization’s daily operations. In order for to achieve NAEYC accreditation, specific criteria must be met, some of which specifically addresses cognitive development in early literacy, including varied opportunities for the different age levels to have access to books that enable independent exploration, writing materials, ways to retell and reenact stories in books, and exposure to print books, songs and rhymes. Jubilee JumpStart’s dual language program requires that books and other literacy materials are provided in both English and Spanish.

The $1,000 from the JLW will allow Jubilee JumpStart to enhance the early literacy materials they currently have for each age group, such as writing materials, CDs, dramatic play supplies, and language literacy training for the teachers. The JLW also awarded 164 books through Resolution Read - the age appropriate books, for children ages six weeks through five years old, will include durable board books, picture books, books with rhymes, and books with print so children can familiarize themselves with words in both English and Spanish.

Stay tuned to the blog to hear about the other two organizations the JLW has given grants to, Hope House DC and Little Lights Urban Ministries.

In the spring, the JLW will be awarding additional opportunity grants to community organizations, with a deadline of February 1 for submission of materials. Additional information can be found online. If you have questions about the opportunity grants or want additional information, please contact Alicia Lee, chair of the Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee at grantsandvolunteers@jlw.org.

Alicia Lee
Chair, Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee

JLW Marketplace Virtual Pop-Up Shop

During this holiday shopping season, you can cross multiple names off of your list with just one stop at JLW Marketplace.  Check out some of the unique items available now…

Order your annual holiday party invitations and greeting cards through JLW Marketplace and 15% of your order goes back to the League.  There are dozens of designs, ranging from traditional to modern – you can even customize your envelope liner!

 

Decorate your Christmas tree with a beautiful JLW Centennial Celebrations glass ornament – priced at $35.  These commemorative ornaments would make a lovely gift for a fellow JLW friend or even Junior League family members back home!

Here are some more JLW Centennial Celebrations items – these convenient May Books (www.maybooks.com) notebooks, only $8, would make a great gift for your favorite woman on the go!  May books’ notebooks were featured on Good Morning America.  Ditto for this acrylic tumbler with lid and straw available for $20.

Who doesn’t love a great monogram?  Gift your friends and family with these adorable acrylic monogramed ice buckets and lucite trays.  These would make a great holiday or wedding gift for the newlyweds in your life.

And show off your JLW love around town in this zip up jacket $75, or with a JLW branded Vineyard Vines canvas bag. Bags are $95 and the matching keychain is only $25.

To purchase any of the JLW items above, email JLW Marketplace at jlwmarketplace@gmail.com.

New Member at Kitchen Tour Kick-off

As a new member of the Junior League of Washington, I had the pleasure of attending my first Kitchen Tour Kick Off at Scavolini Kitchen Design Center and the Ritz Carlton Degrees Lounge on October 18, 2012.

The event was a success!  This event was great because I got to meet so many League members on an informal basis, sample delicious appetizers, and get ideas for my dream kitchen.  Highlights for me included delicious Duck and Apricot wrapped in filo dough and Naaz Khatoon-eggplant puree with pomegranate juice from the Peacock Café, Mac-n-cheese truffle tartlets from Chevzous Catering, chocolates from Chouquette, and a specialty cocktail.  I also was able to see some truly stunning kitchen design ideas.  With so many options, it was hard to pick my favorite!  As an added bonus, there were ongoing door prize drawings throughout the evening.  Although I wasn’t lucky enough to win something this time; one lucky guest went home with a beautiful Hermès scarf!

The absolute highlight of my evening was meeting our wonderful President, Wendy Cumberland.  It was great to connect with her and all of the ladies I met and hear their passionate stories of their commitment to volunteer service in the Washington, DC community.

Are you interested in revamping your kitchen or enjoy fabulous kitchen designs?  If so, mark your calendars for the second annual Kitchen Tour on April 20, 2013 and stay tuned for when tickets go on sale!  Proceeds from events like the Kitchen Tour Kick Off and the Kitchen Tour support the League’s efforts to promote literacy by providing trained volunteers and targeted grants. 

New Member Sarah Bryant with JLW President Wendy Cumberland at the Kitchen Tour Kick Off Event