‘Heads Up’ Kids Show Off What They Learned In the Community

Je’kendria Trahan from Project Peace highlights her display to children with the
focus on building peace in the community at the Heads Up’s Annual Project Fair, which featured projects by local elementary schools under the tutoring of area
college students. The event was held at THEARC in Southeast Washington and
was attended by area youth and parents.

By Mercia Williams-Murray
WI Staff Writer
Thursday, August 9, 2007

Hundreds of little bodies danced, their faces smiling and their mouths shouting as music played in the gymnasium of THEARC on Aug. 2 during the Heads Up annual Project Fair.

The display boards stood tall on the tables in the gym, which had titles such as “Don’t Forget Safety,” “Healthy Choices,” “Project Peace” and “African Americans in Music.” In addition to being colorful, creative and artistic, it was evident that a great deal of

work, thought, cooperation and unity on the students’ behalves went into the projects.
  
Pictures attached to one of the 29 boards told the story of a community service project to clean-up the neighborhood near some of the kids’ school. Heads Up said this year’s projects also included “Kids Causing Change,” where students raised money for the war-torn African region of Darfur and “Leaders of Tomorrow,” in which students learned about previous leaders and in turn obtained the skills to be leaders of the future. 
  
The display boards were an end result of the six-week summer program where students focused on one subject to benefit the community in some way, all the while strengthening their academic and literary skills. The program included in-class instruction as well as field trips and hands-on activities.
  
“I learned about growing plants,” said kindergartener Egypt Hall. Nearby, her smiling tutor held the thriving, potted pepper plants in a box.
  
Heads Up AmeriCorps is a non-profit organization that provides rigorous after-school and summer programs for elementary school children in the D.C. area’s most underserved neighborhoods.
 
 “At the end of each summer, the Heads Up Project Fair showcases the talents and work of our students, recognizes the support of our partners and celebrates the individuals who put in countless hours as tutors for our students,” said Project Fair coordinator Brooke Ericson.
  
Heads Up executive director Robin Minter said the fair is an annual celebration of their program.
 
 “I want you to remember everything you learned this summer,” she told the students.  
  
She also urged them to go to school this fall and work hard, to graduate from high school and to make a contribution to the world so their “lights can shine.”
  

George Washington student and program tutor Amar Medatia leads his student in the final celebration.

The kids applauded as their schools--Southwest, Raymond, Birney, Lasalle and others-- were called out and throughout the bleachers kids could be seen hugging or sitting close to the teacher liaisons and tutors who have been working with them. Most of the tutors were recruited from area universities such as Howard, Trinity, Catholic, George Washington and Georgetown.

After showing off their projects, the student performances began. Three of the younger girls performed a loosely choreographed dance to

Rihanna’s song “Umbrella,” complete with the needed accessory.
  
A pair of older girls recited Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” while a group of sixth-graders took turns quoting Nelson Mandela. Very small arms reached to the sky as a voice singing “we’re soaring, we’re flying, we’re breaking free” came out of the deejay’s speakers and in a well-choreographed dance, another class blended jazz, ballet, break dancing and “battling.”
  
Other children held a makeshift fashion show where students modeled what they wanted to be when they grow up. Actors, safari adventurers and firemen pranced around the gym floor. Deviating from the norm of childhood careers, some dressed up like gardeners and personal trainers.
  
Lasalle Elementary School students formed a soul train line complete with call and response and a lot of participation from their tutors. One group of kids spent their summer learning about Chinese culture, a move that their tutor hoped would promote diversity. Displaying that diversity, they performed a traditional Chinese fan dance.  
  
Raymond Elementary School attendees rapped about the places they learned about this summer--Egypt, Rome, Japan and Brazil. Fourth-grader Gwendolyn Pointer said she loved learning about the different cultures, especially Japan.