Little Lights Urban Ministries Cribs

This is an introduction our kids will see on September 7th when they come for our fall programs. Enjoy!

Let Programs Begin!!!

The Little Lights staff is hard at work preparing for a great year of programs aimed at helping students thrive academically, emotionally, and spiritually--and we are excited about what we have planned!  We’ve even added a Fall Parent Orientation Night (Tues. Sept. 14 at 6:30pm) in our new Family Center to be sure our families are well-informed--and may win a computer that we will raffle off that night.

For both Elementary and Middle School Reading and Math Heroes, we have added new diagnostics which will help us address more specifically what our students need to improve their knowledge and skills.  We have also added an online student assessment tool for staff and tutors, so that the most recent student progress is always easily accessible.  These improvements plus new math remediation software and lots more fun, hands-on learning activities have us poised to make a powerful impact academically this year.  Elementary Homework Club students will see new, friendly faces this fall, including Ms. Debbie Robinson (Bible Study Leader and Family Center Manager), as well as Tiffany and Nathan Gibson.

Other new program features this year include an increased middle school emphasis on homework support and on creative writing activity “Express Yourself!” with new staff member, Jason Edwards.  He explains, “As a composer, amateur writer, and former English teacher, I have always upheld the value of using words to express oneself.  So many of our young students require a positive outlet to simply express their thoughts and desires, explore their potential gifts for writing, and release their creative energy!” Students will explore different styles of prose and poetry, challenging them to flex their own writing skills in new and exciting ways.  Jason will also be leading a new learning activity using word games this semester.  Also at the middle school level, we will welcome back Ms. Katie Keister who will again partner with our own Tim Rodgers in weekly art class.  You can see the paper and books the students in made last year on our Flickr.  Don’t miss their creations on our website this fall, and at our year-end Spring Expo (save the date:  Thurs. May 26 at 6:30 PM) where both Elementary and Middle School students will share what they have been creating and learning all year.

In addition to our academic programs, we have also gotten more strategic in our spiritual investment in our students.  Staff member Vince Campbell has crafted our new “Bible in One Year” curriculum and has trained our staff on how to implement it in all programs so that over the year, students build their biblical literacy in an organized and intentional way.  Additionally, staff members have 3-5 students for whom each staff member will check in weekly as to the student’s spiritual needs, and share these back to our teams for prayer and follow up.  Our new Mentoring Coordinator, Martha McNeely, (who also coordinates Girls’ Night Bible Study and plans for Reading and Math Heroes) has been hard at work interviewing prospective mentors who also can support students emotionally and spiritually. We are also looking forward to seeing our high school students on Friday nights--a positive place to hang out with caring staff. We want to see every student start or grow in her/his relationship with God this year, and we are looking forward to seeing good things unfold.

Thank you, First Christian Church at Brockhall youth!!

This summer, the elementary youth at the First Christian Church at Brockhall held a backpack drive and provided 35 brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies for us to share with our students. It definitely was a blessing to many of the families at Potomac Gardens, and just in time for back-to-school!

Thank you, FCC!

Goodbye to the Jungle!

Little Lights Urban Ministries has seen yet another successful year of our Summer Drop-In Program.  This year’s theme was “Jammin’ in the Jungle”.  Our entire site at 1212 I Street was transformed into a Jungle Wilderness with a Reading Lagoon, Crocodile Den, Monkey Math Room, and more.  We were able to offer a full summer schedule for the entire month of July to serve the youth at Potomac Gardens. 

Our program had a variety of things for kids to choose from.  First, we offered Academic Programs for specific age groups for one hour Tuesdays-Fridays that focused on Reading, Math, and Computer skills. Students would participate in hands-on games, reading, writing, math skills, and more with a 1:2 staff to student ratio. 

Then, we would have an open assembly time which was 45 minutes of cheers, worship songs, games, bible lessons, rules for the day, and prayer.  At the end of our open assembly, our youngest students would be paired up with safari buddies for one-to-one attention while the rest of the older kids were allowed to participate in the the program supervised by our staff leaders posted in each room. 

Our Drop-In time offered a variety of options including arcade room, board games, Playstation, Game Cube and Wii, Academic Computer Websites, Arts & Crafts, Coloring, Toy Room, and more.  We were happy to offer water, juices, milk and snacks throughout the afternoon for all participants every day.  As an alternative option to the Drop-In program on site, we were also able to take a different small group of students to the Eastern Market Swimming Pool every day for the entire month of July!!

Much of our staff consisted dedicated volunteers and interns from our Teen Intern Workforce, along with some of our full-time staff from Little Lights.  This program would not have gone so well without all of the great work of our interns and staff!!  Overall, it was a wonderful summer!!  Thank you to all who helped make Little Lights a great place to be “Jammin’ in the Jungle!” And now, as we take off our safari hats and say goodbye to the jungle, we look ahead with excitement towards what our Fall programs will bring.

For photos of Summer DIP check out our Flickr.

Summer Visiting Group: First Baptist of Juniata County

This has been my most extensive, hands-on experience with a para-church ministry organization.  It’s been exciting to see how God uses ministries such as Little Lights to reach people in focused, specific ways.  I’m thankful for this week because now I know much better how I can pray for and partner with Little Lights and organizations like it.
-Phil Persing

Group cleaning up the new unit.

Many thanks to First Baptist of Juniata County for all their hard work.

For more photos from First Baptist of Juniata County check our Flickr.

Little Lights in the Big City

The July issue of Hill Rag features a wonderful article on Little Lights by Melanie Sunukjian.  She captures LLUM’s history and vision for the future, and spotlights a couple of our Teen Interns, Geizel and Mia. 

Pick up a free copy if you’re around Capitol Hill, or find the entire issue here. Thank you Melanie and Hill Rag!  We’re so glad to call you neighbors.

Summer Visiting Group - Chinese Christian Church of Somerset

A couple weeks ago a group from Chinese Christian Church of Somerset came to spent a week with us helping and serving Little Lights in anyway they could. Here is a short letter from one of their youth kids expressing the impact they felt during that week.

This week has really opened my eyes to a lot of new things.  For one thing, I’m very excited about my time I got to spend with the kids. It has really confirmed my heart’s calling for having future employment dealing with children, whether it be education or counseling.  One point that really helped me realize my potential future dream is spending time with my buddy, Jayla.  No matter how stressed and frustrated I was feeling with other things happening in my life, watching her face glow with joy after blowing a big bubble or playing house and making me a “delicious” sandwich, the genuine innocence of her life really struck me.  She could be so negative about living in not so comfortable conditions or living with potential danger every day, but she has such a pure heart, and can afford to smile and laugh at just being a kid.  I know that I may never see her again after this trip, but I know that my time with her will always stay with me, and I hope one day she will look back at the time we got to spend together and remember it fondly, and hopefully blossom in God’s love and live a good life.  I hope the best for her, from the bottom of my heart.  And I’m so thankful for the Little Lights program for leading me to her, and letting me experience this time with the kids.

Wishing I could stay longer,
Amanda Wang

Many thanks to Chinese Christian Church of Somerset for their service
and we hope you guys come back to visit us again!!!

Wear it Well.

FRONT

BACK

Light up your life with the new Little Lights t-shirt, featuring a snappy light bulb design and inspiring quote on the back:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

To look cool in one this summer, you may give $15 (+$3 if you’d like us to ship to you), and indicate your size and shipping address in the comments section. . . or call or to arrange a pick up time here at the Little Lights Center.

Our Summer Program staff wearing them well…

HAPPY SUMMER!

Fellow Experience: Spring/Summer 2010 Newsletter

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
Here’s a question for you to think about. Do you know of a place where the more love you show the more you will receive it? Or a place where you can learn what it means to be patient, compassionate, and humble? What about a place where the second you step into it you are immediately welcomed to a community of people who are passionate about what they do? Ask me this five years ago and I don’t think I would have been able to give you an answer. Now, as my one year Fellow’s experience comes to end I can confidently say “YES! Little Lights Urban Ministries!”

I remember asking God a few years ago to “break my heart for what breaks His.” Since then, He’s been slowly opening my eyes to the brokenness that exists in this world. Through a chain of events, God led me to serve as a fellow at Little Lights for a year after graduation. In these past months, I’ve witnessed the spiritual battle here in DC. I’ve seen how hard Satan is trying to fight to get a foothold in people’s lives, especially in the lives of the kids and families we work with. The influence of sex, drugs, and violence are strong, but I KNOW God’s influence is even stronger. As much as I’ve seen Satan fight, I’ve seen God and His people fight harder and stronger because our God is both mighty and powerful. He has, time and time again, provided for and protected His people. My experience here reminds me of the urgency to share God’s love with the world. Being here at Little Lights has encouraged me to commit to living my life wholly for Him and to be open to however God will use me for His plans. 

I am confident that God will use my experience here in some way for His glory. I encourage anyone looking to meet and experience God working to consider becoming a Little Lights Fellow. It’s something you will never regret doing.

More information about the Little Lights Fellows Program.

To be added to our mailing list email

READ OUR SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER HERE!

Take me out to the ball game!!!

A few weeks ago, seven of our students in the elementary programs had the opportunity to attend a Nationals baseball game with seven volunteers and one staff (me!). They enjoyed watching the game and also had the chance to meet the racing Presidents—Teddy, Abe, George, and Tom—and the Geico Gecko. They also enjoyed the video game area where a couple of them sang karaoke! Thanks so much to the volunteers who made this event possible!

Babysitter’s Club!

We’re looking for a few good men and women to offer up babysitting services for a Saturday afternoon this weekend from 1pm-5pm.

Please email Mijin () if you are at all interested!

Only LLUM volunteers with completed applications and background checks, please. Thanks.

31x31 Campaign: Teen Thanks!

THANK YOU!  Working together we saved the Teen Internship Program!  We also far exceeded our goal of raising $31,000. . .we’ve raised almost $42,000 since April 1st!

We really appreciate the generosity you’ve shown to Little Lights Urban Ministries, and our Teen Interns are also very appreciative of your efforts.  Check out the video they made for you:

And. . . drumroll. . . our wonderful online donors generously gave more than enough to guarantee the $2,500 matching gift.  It’s an incredible blessing to know that so many people are committed to this important work.

You’ve really beaten the odds to make the 31 x 31 Campaign a huge success. . . and that support enables community teenagers to stand up against, and even beat, the tall odds they face.  We can’t thank you enough.

Voice of America

Voice of America recently spent some time with us and has made a video sharing Steve’s vision and our work here in Southeast DC.  The program will be broadcast around the world through Voice of America affiliates abroad.

Many thanks to VOA’s Chris Simkins!

31x31: You Did It!

Wow!  THANK YOU to the many donors who rallied with us to raise $31,000 for teen programs and outreach at Little Lights!  We reached our goal, with two weeks to spare, and we’re thankful that teenagers in the community can continue working as part-time program assistants with Little Lights. . . they learn from us and we learn so much from them.

But we’re not finished yet. . . a generous donor has committed to matching the next $2,500 we receive in online donations, but only through the end of May.

These funds will support additional teen outreach like Youth Night, as well as an exciting new project. . .

Read more...

Small Victories

One of the great things about Math and Reading Heroes is that we love to celebrate both big and small achievements.  Recently, one of our students, George, mastered all of his multiplication facts.  We awarded him with a certificate and small prize.  Later that week he returned with his certificate and asked for us to make copies—one for his mom, one for his grandmother, and one for his teacher.  It was great to see him so proud!