Dear Brothers,
My name is Rashid Darden (6-Mu Lambda-Sp03). On behalf of my mentor, friend, and Brother Brodrick Clarke (10-Sigma Eta-Sp90), I would like to welcome you to Washington, DC for the Centennial Convention.
Brodrick and I work for Heads Up, a University Neighborhood Initiative. Established in 1996, Heads Up provides children and youth from low-income neighborhoods with academic skills and learning opportunities they need to succeed by connecting them with college students who serve as after-school and summer teachers. As an extension of our mission we strive to teach and practice three principles at every level of our organization: Service, Learning, and Leadership.
I was introduced to Heads Up through Brodrick, who is a Site Director at LaSalle Elementary School in DC, in a neighborhood that has had an entire generation wiped out by the crack epidemic of the 80s. Inspired by Brodrick, I joined the Heads Up family this year at Amidon Elementary School in Southwest DC. In the face of abject poverty, both Brodrick and I persevere.
As an aside, we also have the pleasure of working with the daughter of our own Brother Bobby Austin, who is the Chairman of the Centennial Symposium.
Brothers, we do good work here. In the time that Brodrick has been a Site Director, he has propelled his site to new heights and fostered positive relationships with the faculty and administration at LaSalle. Here at Amidon, I have changed the culture of the students so that they have a new respect of order, discipline, and most importantly, learning.
We welcome you to come observe our work. We also welcome you to come serve with us.
If you are interested in visiting one of the eight Heads Up sites in Washington during your time in DC, please contact Brother Brodrick Clarke at (202)486-1925 or email him at
bclarke@headsup-dc.org. Our sites are open from 12:30pm to 6:30pm during every day of the convention except Saturday, July 29. On that day we will host our Tenth Anniversary Project Fair, in which our students will present poster projects based on their community experiences over the summer. If you are interested in attending the Project Fair, please email Ms. Davena Mgbeokwere at
dmgbeokwere@headsup-dc.org.
We know that many Brothers will be in town who didn't get the chance to register during the deadline. What better way to fill your time than in the spirit of service? We hope that you will join us when you visit DC.
Fraternally,
Rashid Darden
Site Director - Amidon
Heads Up
A University Neighborhood Initiative
645 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
http://www.headsup-dc.org
T: (202) 544-4468 ex. 25
F: (202) 544-4437
C: (202) 210-3316
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