Help A Low-Income Girl Stay in School

In School Programs Are off to a Great Start

Programs, which began the first week of October, are in full swing! Through partnerships with eleven schools within Montgomery County, Community Bridges provides out-of-school time activities to 150 girls and their families. Community Bridges also hosted two open houses for families to meet the program managers and learn about the programs.  More than 50 families attended. Staff also gathered needs assessments from parents in order to begin planning this fall’s Family Roundtables.  At each Roundtable, families will engage in discussion of topics they have identified as relevant, such as communicating with their daughters about dating and intimacy, knowing who their daughters’ friends are, and advocating for their daughters’ education within the Montgomery County Public Schools. 

This year the girls in our program will focus on three themes: healthy sense of self, critical thinking, and positive leadership.  Our Glow! High School Program will also focus on the fourth theme of college and career readiness.

Plans are also underway to host our 2^nd Annual Art Show in December.  During this event, girls will demonstrate what they’ve learned during the fall through various art forms. This year Community Bridges is partnering with community organizations that will bring in outside experts in various art forms, such as photography, dance, and theater. Working on these projects in groups allows the girls opportunities to develop such skills as goal setting, problem solving, conflict resolution, and positive leadership, and to build confidence in their abilities. After last year’s Art Show, many of the Community Bridges girls expressed the desire to work on longer-term projects, so changes in this year’s show preparation made sure we delivered on this request. As the date gets closer we will send invitations to the Art Show, and we hope you will join us for this exciting evening with the girls and their families.

Field Trips that Inspires Girls to Work Hard and Reach for the Stars

Two Memorable Trips to the White House

 Marine One

With cameras in hand, four Community Bridges girls watched President Obama exit Marine One on Sept. 14 as he returned to the White House from a trip to North Carolina. The trip was coordinated by Community Bridges Program Manager Lauren Wetherell working with Monique Dorsainvil, who works in the White House Office of Public Engagement and was previously an intern in the Office of the First Lady.  In the weeks prior to the field trip, the girls were given a fact sheet on Marine One and Community Bridges staff lead a discussion on the president and his modes of transportation. As the helicopters approached on Sept. 14, the girls attempted to guess which helicopter the president was in, having learned that two were decoys. Smiles erupted when the girls realized they had guessed correctly. 

The girls took the opportunity to ask Ms. Dorsainvil questions, including “What do you have to do to work at the White House?” and “When is the next election?” Standing in front of the White House, watching the president of the United States land, and making a connection with a woman who works for the Obama administration was quite a powerful experience for our Community Bridges girls, and an experience they won’t soon forget.

State Arrival Ceremony

Despite the cold and rainy weather, six Jump Start Middle School girls along with their program manager and attended the Korean State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House on Thursday, October 13, 2011. This trip was made possible by our contact at the White House Office of Public Engagement. Ms. Monique Dorsainvil. This was a great experience for our girls as they had an opportunity to hear both President Obama and President Lee Myung-Bak offer remarks on forging partnerships between the United States and South Korea.

Links:

• Community Bridges Fall Newsletter!
• Celebrating our Community Heroes Fall Fundraiser