eugene and agnes e. meyer foundation
Strengthening Communities Across Greater Washington

Grantee Stories

  

Joe’s Movement Emporium: Revitalization Through Community Arts
www.joesmovement.org

The new facility of the nonprofit World Arts Focus is painted in vibrant hues that reflect the energy bubbling inside. The sign cheers “Joe’s Movement Emporium!” in a tone that entices passers-by to come in—for a leap of joy or two. ...  

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Community Bridges: Inspiring Girl Power
www.communitybridges-md.org

Girl Power was a strong movement in late 1999, when Medjinne Dubuche, now 22, joined a fledgling after-school program to help middle school girls understand who they were and who they could become. ...  

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Alexandria Seaport Foundation: Growth Through Apprenticeship
www.alexandriaseaport.org

It’s early on a cold April morning, only 7:30 a.m. That’s what time the day starts for apprentices—or they face a reduction in their hourly wage. But, Andrew is wide awake and ready to go. He’s a new apprentice, and has only been with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation for two months, and his enthusiasm is infectious. ...

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Dance Place: Living in Motion
www.danceplace.org

Dance teacher and choreographer Sylvia Soumah first met Carla Perlo, founding director of D.C.’s Dance Place, in the 1970s when she was ten years old and living in the projects of Cincinnati, Ohio. ...

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CASA of Maryland: Giving Voice to the Community
www.casademaryland.org

For Gustavo Torres, the anti-immigrant fervor that’s taken hold in the United States cuts him like a knife. In Maryland, where he serves as executive director of CASA de Maryland, the largest Latino and immigrant organization in the state, one of CASA’s day worker centers was recently doused with gasoline during its opening week. ...

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Hope House DC: A Special Camp Reunites Dads and Kids
www.hopehousedc.org

When the long dining room table at Hope House is covered with bags of food, crafts, and paper goods, it can only mean one thing: it's time for summer camp. Though the supplies are typical camp fare, this is far from a typical day camp. This is a camp for dads who are prison inmates at the Cumberland Federal Correctional Institution...  

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Bright Beginnings: A Place of Hope
www.brightbeginningsinc.org

There is a smiling child in the picture taped to the computer beloging to Bright Beginnings, Inc. Executive Director Betty Jo Gaines. It’s not her grandchild, but she is a family member of sorts. Her name is Diamond. Her mother LaDonya came to Bright Beginnings as a single mom struggling to balance her life: going to school, raising children, and keeping financially afloat. ...

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Jubilee Housing: More Than a Home
www.jubileehousing.org

Charletta and her young son J were living at a shelter with little support when Jubilee Housing gave her a fresh start. When an apartment became available for the two of them, Jubilee’s staff mobilized like family, helping her with everything from retrieving her belongings from storage to introducing her to her neighbors. She even found a job working at Jubilee. ...

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Brainfood: Nourishing Young Minds
www.brain-food.org

Each day at breakfast and lunch, as many as 800 employees come to the dining room of the federal government’s New Executive Office Building. It’s up to general manager Kevin Guzman to help make sure they go to work well-fed and happy. ...

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Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena: Breaking the Ice

www.fdia.org

Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood east of Washington, DC's Anacostia River, the concrete walls and forested surroundings of the Fort Dupont Ice Arena (FDIA) camouflage the activity inside. But as Kristin Hartke enters with her daughter, Maddie, the exterior gives way to a flurry of lacing skates, fastening helmets, and greeting neighbors.

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Computer CORE: Building Confidence through Computer Competence
www.computercore.org

Seven years ago, Abderrahim Agermoune dreamt of turning his economics degree into a successful career in banking. The job market was tight in Morocco where Abderrahim, who goes by Abdul, lived with his parents and seven siblings. "I wanted a career where I could improve myself and see my skills growing," he says. "I didn't see that happening in Morocco."

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