P.O.W.E.R. program - Leadership opportunity for rising 8th graders!

The United Planning Organization (UPO), in partnership with The American University’s School of Education, Teaching and Health (SETH) has launched an innovative higher education preparation entitled P.O.W.E.R. (Providing Opportunities with Educational Readiness).

98% of P.O.W.E.R. participants have graduated from high school and 85% of those have graduated from college within 5 years.

Staff from SETH and UPO have designed a summer curriculum that builds upon American University’s social justice philosophy, encourages academic rigor, provides cultural exposure and of course, FUN! 

This curriculum will include four major areas: reading/writing, math, science and social studies. These areas will then be organized within a media arts framework—that is designed to better engage the youth and allow them to explore and visually portray a social justice issue within their community. The program is gender based and the group of 20 rising eighth grade males and 20 rising eighth grade females will meet separately. 

The components of the P.O.W.E. R. Program are:

• The Summer Campus: During the summer, the youth will attend the P.O.W.E.R. Program on American University’s campus every day for up to five weeks. The coursework will concentrate on enhancing the youths’ skills in science, math, English and an elective that guides their exploration of a social justice issues.
  
• Saturdays at American: Beginning in the 8^th grade and continuing through the 12^th grade, participants attend Saturday P.O.W.E.R. classes from 10am to 3pm to work on the core subjects of English and math at the American University campus. Additional neighborhood P.O.W.E.R. classes may be added after-school for academic tutorials and enrichment purposes.
  
• Family Alliance: One of the key features of the P.O.W.E.R. Program is a holistic approach to family involvement. Through the use of the Village Project concept, UPO and American University will be able to address the academic needs of youth and the employment, health and adult education needs of their parents. Case management, quarterly family activities and workshops will serve to strengthen family relationships, introduce parents/guardians to the higher education opportunities for their children and provide them with social and academic support as needed.
  
• Family Commitment: The P.O.W.E.R. program is a five (5) year initiative that will assist students and their families with higher education preparation.
  
  Families are asked to commit to:
• Ensuring that their child participates in at least 90% of the Saturday classes at American University;
  
• Attending quarterly family meetings or activities; and
  
• Summer participation in the P.O.W.E.R. program through the 12^th grade.

Requirements

1. Submit a completed P.O.W.E.R. application package before the February 1^st application deadline;
2. Be a Resident of the District of Columbia;
3. Be a rising 8^th grader in DC Public Schools and live in Ward 8;
4. Commit to participate with this project for five years;
5. Willing to participate in research interviews, surveys and focus groups;
6. Willing to provide on-going Family participation; and,
7. Income not to exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline.

 For more information, please contact:

Ms. Abeo F. Anderson

Program Coordinator, P.O.W.E.R. Program

Youth Services Division

United Planning Organization

3839 Alabama Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20020

Phone: 202-238-8661

Fax: 202-575-7595

aanderson@upo.org