2008 Annual Report
2008 Accomplishments & Highlights
• The DC Housing Authority gave us 2 apartment units at Potomac Gardens (1212 I Street, SE) to use for program space. Thanks to the donations of time, equipment, and financial resources of many volunteers, we were able to convert the space into a wonderful area where young children and teenagers can get help with homework, play games, eat, and just hang out. • We were awarded $20,000 in December 2008 by the DC Children & Youth Investment Trust Corporation to go towards the development of our teen internship program. • We were awarded the 2009 Arnold Keller, Jr. Award by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. The $10,000 award will go towards supporting our programming at the 1212 I Street apartments at Potomac Gardens. • We expanded our teen internship program. Currently, 11 high-school students assist with the younger children in our various programs. • 365 individuals, 26 churches, and 12 foundations provided financial support, whithout which we would not be able to continue the work we do. • Over 225 volunteers assisted in various capacities, including 60+ volunteers who faithfully came out once - or sometimes even twice - per week during the school year. • Our second annual talent show was held at Mount Joy Baptist Church. Over 40 children and youth danced, sang, performed spoken word, cheered, and rapped, to the delight of the packed auditorium. All of the food and much of the planning was provided by several of our wonderful volunteers.
Private Grants: 42%
($251,709)
Foundation Support Little Lights received grants from the following foundations in 2008: • Capitol Hill Community Foundation • Gannett Foundation • Meyer Family Foundation • The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation • DC Children & Youth Investment Trust Corporation • Korean Embassy • Commonweal Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region • American Fund of Studies • Charity Works DC • New York Avenue Foundation
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ayvaughn is an 8 year old with lots of energy to burn. He has also been diagnosed with ADHD, making his situation even more complex. As one of his tutors said, “He should have to run a marathon before coming to programs, just so he can calm down.” Earlier in the semester, Kayvaughn spent much of his time at Reading Heroes and Math Heroes in timeout and suspension. On various nights, he was found sleeping, disrupting other students, and running around. He has had trouble participating in the one-on-one tutoring sessions that form the backbone of our academic programs. During these times, we sometimes thought about giving up on Kayvaughn. How could we teach a child who was so resistant to our way of doing things? Instead, however, his tutors and I have worked together to find creative ways to encourage him. For example, his math tutor, Matt, was having trouble with Kayvaughn because he refused to be corrected when he incorrectly answered a problem. Matt found that if he made the lesson into a game, Kayvaughn was more likely to be engaged and was more willing to accept correction. He would ask Matt a geography question and Matt would, in turn, ask him a math question. Kayvaughn thoroughly enjoyed the competition and did not mind being corrected since it was in the form of a game. Using this system, he was able to complete 3 worksheets in 2 weeks; he had not completed any up to that point. During Reading Heroes, Kayvaughn’s tutor Ethan was frustrated because he kept running around and not focusing on the lesson. Things changed, however, when one day Kayvaughn went over to the bookshelf and pulled out a Curious George book. He listened intently as Ethan read him the story. He calmed down, and was then able to practice his spelling by playing hangman with Ethan. Through Kayvaughn I have become more aware of the fact that every student can learn. Sometimes it just takes creativity and thinking outside the box...and lots of patience and love.
- Michelle Osborne, staff
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have been working with the girls of Little Lights Urban Ministries for a little over two years now. I serve as the program coordinator of Girls’ Night, which is a weekly Bible study held on Wednesday evenings. My first experience with the organization was as a speaker at a girls youth retreat in February of 2007. In all honesty, I had no plans to remain involved with the girls after the retreat. I thought my testimony of God’s rescue, faithfulness, and redemption could potentially speak to them, but I didn’t anticipate pursuing any further involvement. I am so thankful that God had other plans! During the retreat, God bonded my heart to the girls, and I was hooked! I couldn’t wait to see them again when they left for home that Saturday evening. The following Wednesday, Angie Dunlevy and I were at Girls’ Night. Soon after, I was asked to consider the position of Girls’ Night coordinator. I immediately said yes and I am so grateful to have gotten to know this amazing group of young women, and share Jesus with them. There have been days that I have left the Hope Center feeling a bit defeated, but I am glad to say that has been the rarity. Most weeks, as I watch the girls file out of the Hope Center into the van, my heart is full of love and gratitude for having the privilege of being involved in their lives. They are so full of love and potential and my prayer is that every one of them discover their individual God-given purpose. I am sincerely a better person for my experience with these beautiful girls!
- Kim Prestipino, volunteer
T
he theme for Camp Heaven 2008 was “Chosen Champions for Jesus”. It comes from 1 Peter 2:9 - “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.” What an appropriate verse for our kids. Most of them have been told, whether outright or subliminally, that they cannot succeed, that they’re ‘nobodies’, and won’t amount to anything. But we as a community are taking a stand to reverse this trend. We believe that God created each of them beautifully, with incredible talents and gifts. We know that, despite their life circumstances, God has a plan and destiny for each of them. Each day before camp started, counselors had an hour to spend with God. We met to pray in the sanctuary, and called out for his mercy, grace, and anointing. I don’t remember a time in my life when I’ve had to entirely trust and rely on God’s strength and providence to see me through. Each day was a challenge, and was harder and more difficult than most of my college experience for several reasons. In school, I knew I could work hard and get results. Not so in ministry, and definitely not when you’re working with kids. And then there’s that peculiar part of being a counselor here - that on any given day you might be confronted with the deepest faults of your character, the insufficiency of your own talent and ability to work with kids, and the inadequacy of your ability to love like Jesus. But then there are those rare moments when you actually know that you’re standing on holy ground, when you can literally feel God using you to change lives. We cherish these, not because they make life easier, but because they gently remind us of why we got into this work in the first place. I clearly remember one morning telling Bryant, one of my campers, how proud I was of him. It was 10:50am, in the middle of registration, while we were standing in the blazing heat with a hundred kids surrounding us, and Bryant began to cry. I realized that he must not hear words like that too often - maybe he doesn’t hear them at all. At that moment, God’s love brought us together, in the midst of all the busyness surrounding us. I realized then that it wasn’t about how much I had to give (or how much I didn’t have to give), but how much I would be willing, as Mother Theresa put it, to “love without getting tired.”
- Jeff Kim, staff
E
very year, Little Lights hosts a number of special events. Held at various times throughout the year, they serve as opportunities for us to not only treat the children to a fun time, but also to get the community more involved in what we do. Here are a few of our most popular events: Talent Show Our 2nd annual Talent Show was held early in the Summer. Once again, our very talented students showcased their various skills for their parents, friends, neighbors, tutors, and Little Lights staff. This year, over 40 students participated, ranging in age from 7 to 19. The Mt. Joy auditorium, where the event was held, was standing room only, and everyone had a wonderful time. Banquet On October 4, Little Lights hosted a banquet and silentauction to raise money for our organization. Attendees were treated to special guest speaker Brian McLaren, as well as updates from Steven Park and a fabulous performance by the Little Lights Gospel Choir. The silent auction included a variety of exciting items, including a signed Gilbert Arenas jersey, signed Wizards basketball, a private tour of the Capitol Building, unique jewelry, a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal for 20, and more. Christmas Party As always, one of the highlights of our year was our annual Christmas Party. Volunteers rallied together to provide food, decorations, transportation, on-site help, and a present for every single child, teen, and parent. There were performances by the All-Starz cheerleading squad, the Little Lights Gospel Choir, and the Little Lights Staff (led by an inspired Mr. Jason). Thank you to all of those who helped make this special day possible.
About Little Lights Board of Directors • Steve Park, President - Executive Director, Little Lights Urban Ministries • Kenneth Balch, Chairman - Director of Mission, Washington District Church of the Nazarene • David Cho, Treasurer - Staff Writer, The Washington Post • Dave Flanders, Secretary - Presonnel Specialist Second Class Petty Officer, U.S. Navy White House Communications Agency • Charla Everhart-Lum - Human Resources Assistant, Community of Hope • Michael Hoehn - Attorney, Self-Employed • Laura Ingalls - Press Officer, Freedom House • Rob Kazee - Lead Pastor, National Church of the Nazarene • Dr. Patrick Lee - Lee, Patrick C DDS - Cosmetic & Implant Dental Center • Daniel Li - Web Developer, International Justice Mission • Mary Park - Deputy Director, Little Lights Urban Ministries
Little Lights Urban Ministries 760 7th Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 office: (202) 548-4021 fax: (202) 544-7508 www.littlelights.org admin@littlelights.org