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Targeted Grant Winners of 2019

By Renunda Lee

Take a bow and tip your hat to the Targeted Grant winners of 2019: 826DC and DC SCORES.

The Junior League of Washington’s (JLW) Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee (TGVR) awarded Targeted Grants to two impressive organizations that share JLW’s focus on promoting literacy in the Washington, DC, area.

TGVR Committee members have the daunting task of reviewing, evaluating, and recommending recipients for the Targeted Grants, Community Partner Grants, Opportunity Grants, and Volunteer Resources each year. At the end of each JLW year, TGVR awards two Targeted Grants to organizations whose programs address at least one aspect of the JLW definition of literacy or where JLW places trained volunteers in the community. JLW defines literacy as an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak English, and to compute and problem-solve at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, achieve one’s goals, and develop one’s knowledge and potential. This expanded definition allows both traditional and less conventional literacy programs to apply for funding that aligns with the JLW Mission.

As in years past, TGVR received many applications and the competition was intense. Ultimately, two extraordinary organizations were awarded Targeted Grants to promote their mission and commitment to literacy.

One of the 2018–2019 Targeted Grant winners was 826DC, an organization

DC SCORES Poetry Slam! (Image taken by photographer, Aya Takeuchi).

826DC ENDEAVORS TO MAKE ITS PROGRAMS CHALLENGING AND ENJOYABLE, AIMING TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS’ ABILITY TO EXPRESS IDEAS EFFECTIVELY, CREATIVELY, CONFIDENTLY, AND USING THEIR INDIVIDUAL VOICES.

826DC team member reading with a student. Photo provided by Brian Tagalog

that works directly with students and teachers to inspire and develop creative writing skills. They have “engineered” activities integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) content across several of its program areas, including its after-school writing lab, writing workshops, field trips, and in-school programming. 826DC itself is creative in its approach to fostering literacy: the organization has developed workshops for songwriting and digital music production, podcasting, ecology, storytelling through code, and graphic layout and design. 826DC endeavors to make its programs challenging and enjoyable, aiming to strengthen students’ ability to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and using their individual voices.

Thus far, JLW’s Targeted Grant funding has allowed 826DC to release two STEAMbased publications—This Time They Hear You, a collection of science-inspired fairy tales written and illustrated by third-graders, and Whose Garden Is This?, an anthology by the students in the summer writing intensive program. Both projects taught the students the power of publishing, demonstrating how the written word can help highlight issues affecting the environment and reinforcing the importance of serving as a good steward for the Earth. The 826DC team excitedly pointed out these books provided important platforms for DC youth to share their stories.

DC SCORES students’ poetic minds at work.

JLW FUNDING HAS ALSO ALLOWED DC SCORES TO TARGET THE ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS THAT DC STUDENTS EXPERIENCE, BY IMPROVING SCHOOL WORK HABITS AND FOCUSING ON HIGHER TEST SCORES.

DC SCORES’ Literacy in Action program received the second Targeted Grant of the 2018–2019 JLW year. Literacy in Action is a unique literacy program that pairs creative writing and soccer. DC SCORES focuses on the development of leadership skills through healthy competition offered by sports, engaging students in developing soccer skills. Literacy in Action includes two 12-week seasons of rigorous fiction and nonfiction writing and comprehension work. The students author original poetry and perform in the DC SCORES Poetry Slam. According to their website, the program offers experiences designed to build confidence and develop tools to succeed on the playing field, in the classroom, and in life. DC SCORES programming is an essential building block for many DC neighborhoods that support and celebrate children and their accomplishments on and off the playing field.

JLW’s grant has enabled DC SCORES to continue their work on improving literacy, increasing achievement, and fostering positive self-identity for more than 3,000 youth across Washington, DC. JLW funding has also allowed DC SCORES to target the economic achievement gaps that DC students experience, by improving school work habits and striving for higher test scores. DC SCORES provided recent evaluations showing their participants attend school more consistently, have more positive attitudes and behavior, and earn higher grades and test scores than nonSCORES peers. •

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF TURNING Readers2Leaders

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Junior League of Washington’s decision to build a better Washington, DC, by focusing our volunteer and financial resources on literacy. An individual’s ability to read, write, and communicate lays the groundwork for his or her future success in all areas. A more literate DC means a stronger, more vibrant DC. Since 1999, our more than 2,300 trained volunteers have dealt with this issue head on and hands on—and our results speak for themselves. Join us in celebrating the power of literacy and our two decades of voluntarism around this worthy cause.

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