FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025 8:30AM
LETTER FROM THE UPO PRESIDENT & CEO
THE UPO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Ruthven Phillip, Esq. (Chair)
Lafayette Barnes (Vice Chair)
Michael Austin, Esq. (Secretary)
Barbara Bovbjerg (Treasurer)
MEMBERS
Salim K. Adofo
Reginald Black
Nkosi Bradley
Christian Clansky
Lorén Trull Cox, Ph.D.
Tonya Crawford
Rhonda N. Hamilton
Shakira Hemphill, SHRM-CP
Laura Manville
Hadiyah M. Muhammad
Jennifer Park, Ph.D.
Dorjan Short, MBA
Aron Szapiro
Robert Thorne
Dr. Christine M. Warnke
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Welcome to UPO’s 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast!
As we join together to honor the life, dreams, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we must address his vital question, “Chaos or Community?” In this unstable time, how can we envision a better future and how can we work to achieve it?
These questions are critical for the DC residents who work handin-hand with UPO to build themselves up. They strive for economic security and education, knowing that these are the keys to reaching their full potential
This MLK Breakfast has stood for over 4 decades and supports the aspirations of families who, while financially burdened, are educationally driven — they want to reach their full potential and UPO helps them achieve their goal.
Thanks to your generous hearts, we have sowed scholarships and reaped degrees. You helped to break generational poverty by investing over $1 million in Joseph A. Beavers Scholarships for more than 200 deserving students. Your devotion also helped us create a range of UPO programs that respond to the needs of our diverse community.
We are grateful for your ongoing support of UPO’s mission and eagerly anticipate our continued work together to make a meaningful impact on so many lives. The seeds of change that you plant today will blossom into educators, leaders, and trailblazers, reflecting the principles we hold dear at UPO.
We extend an invitation to you: Engage with us even more this year as a supporter or volunteer as we live out our mission of Uniting People with Opportunities.
Please enjoy a wonderful and meaningful MLK weekend.
Andrea Thomas UPO President & CEO
ORDER OF PROGRAM
OPENING Voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
INTRODUCTION OF INVOCATION AND MC
Dr. Daniel Ofori-Addo, UPO Executive Vice President & CIO
INVOCATION Pastor Ricardo W. Payne, The Light House Baptist Church
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
“LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING”
Mhlengi (Temidayo) Famakinwa, 2019 Beaver Scholarship Recipient
Soloist Jaynise Coleman, Case Manager, UPO Youth Services Division (Please Stand)
WELCOME REMARKS Ruthven Phillip, Esq., UPO Board Chair
OPENING REMARKS AND SPONSOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUTGOING BOARD CHAIR
BREAKFAST SERVED
Andrea Thomas, UPO President & CEO
Lafayette Barnes, Incoming UPO Board Chair
Andrea Thomas, UPO President & CEO
MOMENT OF REFLECTION Voice of President Jimmy Carter (2013)
INTRODUCTION OF BEAVERS SCHOLARS AND PURPOSE
Dianna Guinyard, UPO Vice President of Operations & COO
RJ Mendez, Director, UPO Youth Services Division
PRESENTATION OF BEAVERS SCHOLARS
Alex Lawler, College and Career Readiness Coordinator, UPO Youth Services Division
INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER Shakira Hemphill, SHRM-CP, UPO Board Member
KEYNOTE SPEECH Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd
CLOSING REMARKS Andrea Thomas, UPO President & CEO
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rev. Dr. GWENDOLYN ELIZABETH BOYD
Engineer, community servant, and champion of education
Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd is an engineer, a creative and innovative leader, a dynamic motivational speaker, a powerful preacher, and a nationally recognized champion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.
Her professional career of more than three decades at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory showcased her exemplary leadership and dedicated service as part of engineering teams.
Rev. Dr. Boyd was chosen by President Barack Obama to be a trustee to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation and for the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
She was the first female president of Alabama State University and was elected as the 22nd National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., where she was known as the “Technology
President” for her transformative accomplishments. These included the launch of Project SEE (Science in Everyday Experiences), an initiative funded by a $1.6 million National Science Foundation grant with a goal of promoting math and science for middle school African American girls.
Rev. Dr. Boyd is a minister and an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She serves on the ministerial staff of Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, Maryland.
For her contributions to the community, Rev. Dr. Boyd has received many honors and awards, including the 2023 Fitzroy Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; The Carver Medal from Simpson College; “Keys to the City” from 40 cities; a “Key to the State of Florida”; and declaration of Gwendolyn E. Boyd Day in 18 cities.
MLK41 COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Many thanks to the committee for your devotion. You made our event so wonderful!
Courtney Arrington
Jo Boukhira
Mikell Bozeman
Victoria Claiborne
Jaynise Coleman
Kelvin Edgar, Jr.
Dr. Charity Ezenwa-Onuaku
Dianna Guinyard
Laurette “Elle” Hilliard
Tanisha Jacobs
Larry Jones
Kiara Jones
Alice Jordan
Alexandria Lawler
Ed Lazere
Denzel Little
Giselle Logan
Monei Lyons
RJ Mendez
Robin Myers
Dr. Daniel Ofori-Addo
Nichelle Perrieau
Sene’a Pinkney
Zohar Rom
Marques Ross
Lyndrielle Smith
Kane’a Stover
Andrea Thomas
Jerald Thomas
Yvette Thompson
Magali Villarroel
Chi Vo
Rebecca Webb
Kenichia White
Regina Woodson
UPO JOSEPH A. BEAVERS SCHOLARSHIP
UPO’s scholarship fund is named for the late Joseph A. Beavers, a dedicated member of UPO’s Board of Trustees and legendary Washington, DC labor leader who had a lifelong commitment to youth and education. In 1992, UPO posthumously honored Mr. Beavers by naming the scholarship fund after him.
Mr. Beavers was a longtime civil rights activist — notably, he was treasurer for the 1963 March on Washington. He retired as the first Vice President of the Hotel & Restaurant Employees Union.
For more information about our scholarship opportunities, please contact Alex Lawler at (202) 610-2014.
JOSEPH A. BEAVERS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS HAVE ATTENDED
“WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP MATTERS”
“The Beavers Scholarship has allowed me to turn a childhood dream into reality — attending Spelman College. [Being a student] without any financial stress has allowed me to enjoy my college experience to the fullest and continue my path to becoming an attorney.”
- 2020 Beavers Scholar Tiara Crutchfield
2025 JOSEPH A. BEAVERS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
MARCOS GONZALEZ
Dunbar High School
Marcos is trustworthy, resilient, and loves to volunteer in his community. He will study Business Administration and is determined to open his own restaurant. Marcos is a Commander in the JROTC and is on the Prime Ability biking team.
KHLOE MCDONALD
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Khloe leads with heart and purpose as a mentor for children and advocate for mental health awareness. One of her goals is to be a software engineer, and she is unstoppable — she gets that from her grandparents. Khloe’s parents, in turn, inspire her to strive for greatness.
ANDRÉS MORALES
Dunbar High School
Andrés is a gifted student who leads with integrity, perseverance, and compassion. His difficult life journey has made him stronger and, to help others, he plans to become an immigration lawyer. He loves being in JROTC.
A’ZIA TURNER
Digital Pioneers Academy
A’Zia has always dreamed of being a serial entrepreneur and with her many businesses she wants to advocate for families of all colors. She’s an Honor Roll student whose confidence, determination, and passion will make her a great leader.
DESTINY WALKER-DAVIS
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Destiny was runner-up at last year’s MLK Jr. Oratorial Contest. She will study criminal justice; she wants to be a criminal defense lawyer for juveniles. Destiny is in the Women Inspiring Strength and Employment (W.I.S.E) club, which uplifts and empowers girls.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS SPONSORS
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
Alpha Security, Inc.
Al’s Twin Air, LLC
Clark Construction Group, LLC
DC Housing Authority
Jo Raffa Boukhira
CDW
Delta Housing Corporation of the District of Columbia
Education Resource Group
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Dianna Guinyard
Laurette Hilliard
Juan Jara
Gallagher Benefit Services
Giant Food
Jennifer Park, Ph.D.
PNC Bank
INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS
Hyvron Jean
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Ed Lazere
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission
MedStar Family Choice-District of Columbia
Momentus Capital/Capital Impact Partners
John L. Oberdorfer, Esq
Daniel Ofori-Addo, Ph.D.
Robert Half
School Health Corporation
T.H. Easter Consulting
Andrea Thomas
United Business Technologies (UBT) UPO Inspire Wipfli
Your generous donation means so much to UPO and to our Joseph A. Beavers scholars. Because of you, our scholars will get the financial support they need to thrive in college.
Please consider donating throughout this morning’s breakfast. You can donate via:
DONATE TODAY
PAYPAL OR CREDIT CARD
Scan the QR Code CHECK
Payable to The United Planning Organization
Memo Line: MLK Scholarship
TEXT TO GIVE
Text MLK41 to 41444 to donate
So many easy ways to donate!
Won’t you help these outstanding students gain economic security through education today?
“WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP MATTERS”
“The Beavers Scholarship helped me to lessen the burden of tuition. It enabled me to focus on school — now I can achieve my goals of going to college and becoming a dentist. I’m grateful for this scholarship and I’m sure it will help others pursue their dreams by removing their financial hurdles.”
- 2021 Beavers Scholar Mhlengi (Temidayo) Famakinwa (today’s Master of Ceremonies). He is a Biology major/Chemistry minor on the pre-dental track in the Howard University Class of 2025. He is passionate about serving the community and giving back to those who have helped him grow and mature.
SPARKING A MOVEMENT TO ADDRESS YOUTH VIOLENCE
On September 25, 2024, we hosted Uniting for Safe Futures: A Community Forum on Youth Violence, where youth, parents, and community members shared their experiences and challenges. We asked people to bring their ideas to advance this movement.
Then on October 5, we held focused workshops to dive deeper into solutions, discussing safe spaces, the impact of music on behavior, and personal stories of loss and resilience. Together, we laughed, cried, and closed with a balloon release to honor youth lost too soon.
Then we went further to bridge divides and give youth a chance to thrive and grow. We brought a group of DC youth to Sandy Spring Adventure Park for a day of ziplining, outdoor activities, and connecting with police officers in a unique and positive way. This shared experience built trust and mutual understanding, and we’re grateful to The Iron Star Foundation for sponsoring our event. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to building a robust safety network, focusing on programming, resources, wellness, and policy changes to support our youth.
and Dr.
The forum’s speakers included (l. to r.): Ayana Howard-Bias, Director of UPO’s Community Advocacy & Volunteer Services; Britney Smith, Youth Advocate; Ray Nelson, Youth Influencer (and the panel moderator); Joey Elliot, Youth Representative; Joseph Jackson, Parent; Dequwan Smith, Behavioral Dean; Erica Brown, UPO Community Advocacy intern; Ebbon A. Allen, Educator; Rodriguez “Rodney” Norman, Violence Interrupter; Levon “Big Skye” Williams, Community Advocate;
Daniel Ofori-Addo, UPO Executive Vice President & CIO
INSPIRING TEENS WITH UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
One of our Youth Services programs is called POWER: “Providing Opportunities with Educational Readiness.” It is a 6-year program for grades 7-12 that empowers students in pursuit of a postsecondary education by offering academic, cultural, and social enrichment activities. The goal is to instill a sense of academic confidence and self-worth through encouragement, support, and enrichment (including hands-on learning experiences and field trips).
POWER students now have greater opportunities thanks to financial and program resources from UPO’s partnership with TD Bank and TD Charitable Foundation. This unrestricted funding enables a student-centered approach for flexibility in project design.
The latest grant enabled POWER staff to bring our teens to the Youth to Youth Conference in Ohio, which was an invaluable experience for everyone involved. The funding also supported private SAT tutoring during Semester 1. We realize that morning tutoring is difficult for teens, but the ones who persevered showed so much growth The results are already outstanding — from the baseline PSAT to the midterm, the lowest score increase was 50 points, and we’re excited to see how the final SAT scores turn out.
A WEALTH OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Preparing our POWER students for success includes teaching them important financial skills such as budgeting, how to pay for college, taxes, and entrepreneurship. Here are some exciting recent developments.
Semester 1 Recap:
Our students visited Morgan State University for a campus tour. The experience was not only informative but also sparked insightful questions. A few students asked the tour guides about budgeting for college, which was a fantastic application of lessons from the workshops led by Alex Lawler. We used the financial literacy materials provided by TD Bank to guide the discussion and ensure our students are thinking about their financial future.
Looking Ahead to Semester 2:
We are excited to build on the financial skills our students have started to develop. We will shift our focus from budgeting to diving deeper into personal finance through a new hands-on stock trading platform. TD Bank provided us with a virtual stock market game that allows our students to apply their knowledge in real-world financial scenarios. This game will expand their understanding of investing, economics, and accounting, and will include a series of assignments and self-grading assessments to track progress.
Throughout the semester, students will be trading in a live market using virtual money. The goal is to see who can grow their portfolio the most by the end of the semester. This activity will enhance their financial literacy and foster a healthy sense of competition and teamwork.
We are so grateful for the difference that TD’s support has made and we can't wait to continue offering these opportunities to our students!
Our Digital Pioneers Academy high school students thoroughly enjoyed their experience at the Youth to Youth Conference at Ohio Wesleyan University. (See the letter from Au’Rea Jones.)
This trip offered students a taste of authentic college life. They stayed on campus and participated in a range of workshops, closely resembling the schedule of a college student.
During the conference, the teens had the privilege of listening to inspirational keynote speakers who shared stories of resilience and success,
A TASTE OF COLLEGE LIFE
motivating them to reach their full potential. The students also engaged in "family groups" alongside teens from across the United States, fostering a sense of community and understanding. These family groups created a safe space for open dialogue, allowing participants to share their experiences and perspectives.
The conference focused on critical issues affecting today’s youth, including the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, the impact of youth violence within their communities, and the importance of pursuing higher education after high school.
Through dynamic workshops and interactive discussions, the teens gained valuable knowledge and tools to make positive choices and become leaders in their communities.
The experience not only broadened their understanding of these pressing issues but also encouraged them to envision their future beyond high school. The POWER team is proud to join them on this transformative journey, empowering DC youth to take charge of their lives.
TEEN’S LETTER TO UPO: PROFOUND IMPACT
Dear POWER at DPA High School Team,
Thank you for taking me to the Youth to Youth Conference at Ohio Wesleyan University. I appreciated the experience of living in a college dorm and getting a feel of the routines of a typical college student. Your generosity let me embark on a journey that has profoundly impacted my perspective and aspirations.
The trip was an eye-opening experience that I will cherish forever. My first day on campus was exciting because I got to explore the university, seeing my dorm and where I'd be staying for the next four days. I thought the college campus was really nice but it was really big, with more walking than I'd prepared for, so it really put everything into perspective on college life.
I was part of a family group. We were assigned to each other on the first day. There were kids from Ohio, Alabama, and Connecticut in my group. We spoke about problems in our community, we played games and team building activities, and got to know each other.
We also had Keynote speakers that we listened to each day. To me it felt they were all motivational speakers and tried to give us inspiring messages about our future. Workshops discussed mental health topics, recognizing manipulative action, and neurodivergence/the spectrum.
My personal favorite was learning traits of master manipulators, like the many different forms of manipulation and tactics they might try. I learned how to speak up for myself when someone is trying to manipulate me, and how to keep myself from inadvertently using these tactics on others.
Each night there were wrap up parties. My favorite was the inflatable theme party on the first night. It also gave me unstructured time to interact with the new friends I met in my family group.
I would love to attend this conference again next year because I had a lot of fun.
Thank you again for your generous sponsorship to attend this conference. I appreciate the time you all took to take us to this conference and help us navigate the responsibilities of this trip. Your investment in my future has made a significant impact and I am grateful for the opportunity POWER has provided to me. I would like to attend college out of state to pursue my dreams of becoming a bioengineer
With sincere gratitude, Au'Rea
Jones
“LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING”
SINGER
Jaynise Coleman is a native Washingtonian, born and raised in Southeast DC. She attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts where she majored in vocal music. While at Ellington, she accompanied artists such as Denyce Graves, Richard Smallwood, and Patti LaBelle. Jaynise was a student in the 1st Cohort of UPO’s P.O.W.E.R. Program for 6-12th graders. She now serves as the Youth Services Division Case Manager, helping to build healthy, thriving families.
ACCOMPANIST
Jean Denis was born in Haiti, where he started piano lessons at an early age. In 1995, Jean built his skills as a church musician for the mass choir, studied classical music, and played for local bands. In 2004, Jean attended Delaware State University, where he furthered classical studies under the direction of Dr. Curtis Powell, played for the Jazz Ensemble, and traveled the country with the Classical Choir ensemble and the Gospel Choir. In 2016, Jean joined Little Rock Church of Christ as Music Director and he continues in that role.
“The time is always right to do what is right”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Energizing Our Local Economy
Creating positive economic change means breaking down financial barriers for those who matter most – our customers. We are proud to work alongside United Planning Organization to strengthen our local economy, building a better and brighter tomorrow.
A community that’s united is a community that’s moving forward That’s why we ’ re proud to support the organizations and people who are committed to making our community an even better, stronger place to call home.
THE ANNUAL
presents the black historymonth luncheon
FEBRUARY 22, 2025
AUTHORS’ BOOK SIGNING EVENT
FEBRUARY 22, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for a chance to meet your favorite authors, support their work, and get your books signed!
PRICING
$200 - General Ticket
$225 - Silver Ticket
$2,000 - General Table (10 tickets)
$2,250 - Silver Table (10 tickets)
$250 - Gold Ticket
$2,500 - Gold Tables (10 tickets)
Greg Carr, Ebony McMorris, Mary Frances Berry, Marc Morial, Christine Sampson-Clark
byby
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (March, 1966)
HONOR THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
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“The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition
poverty.”
of
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Where do we go from Here: Chaos or Community” 1967
The UPO Executive Team celebrates our Beavers Scholars and UPO’s 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast!
Every day, we light the path to a brighter future where everyone is economically secure.
Today, we support the emerging leaders who will help to create that Beloved Community.
We are Educators. We are Dream Builders. We are Opportunity-makers and Poverty-fighters.
We believe that everyone deserves a chance to pursue and live sustainable, successful lives. With our help, people become the change agents of their lives and pave their pathways to economic security.
We are United Planning Organization
Our approach is holistic and generational. As the only Community Action Agency serving the residents of Washington, DC, we’ve touched thousands of lives over our 62 years. We offer more than 30 programs and human services. We help our customers get a job; learn a skill, find and stay in affordable housing. We teach financial literacy, offer early learning and adult education, help send high school students to college and keep our seniors physically and mentally active.
From newborn babies to senior adults, when you’re a part of the UPO family, we wrap our arms around you and are with you every step of the way.
- A GLIMPSE OF UPO’S PROGRAMS -
Our mission is to Unite People with Opportunities so they and their communities can thrive. A human and community development organization, UPO serves over 50,000 DC residents annually, from babies to elders. Our team treats education as the key to helping people lift themselves out of poverty.
Office of Early Learning: DC’s largest Early Head Start provider
Youth Services: Hands-on project-based STEM enrichments that drive student success in college and careers
UPO Workforce Institute: Job training and placement, with the city’s largest Construction Skills Center
Community Advocacy: Opportunities to lead, serve, and engage that change lives and strengthen communities
Legislative Advocacy: Tackling the causes and conditions of poverty by voicing how policy impacts opportunity
Affordable Housing: Case management to keep people in stable homes (Permanent Supportive Housing), partnerships with developers to create new housing, and innovative initiatives
Community Reinvestment: Financial counseling, housing counseling (including foreclosure prevention), and free tax preparation
Foster Grandparent Program: Classroom mentoring by 200 senior volunteers; UPO’s team is the most prominent in the nation
Community Health: Comprehensive Treatment Center (methodone treatment), EBT, and Shelter Hotline
Community Impact: Place-based strategies that help neighborhoods flourish
Ronald Stanfield picking up his son Noah at a UPO Early Childhood Education Center.
