Project My Time Expands, Offering 59 After-School Programs

at Five DC Middle Schools 

Editors’ Note: Lists of available Project My Time programs at each school are at the end of this release. 

Washington, DC – Following the successful launch of Project My Time, which has provided high-quality after-school and summer programs at three DC middle schools since January, the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (“Trust”) is expanding opportunities for more District children to participate in enriching after-school activities. Project My Time is bringing 59 free after-school programs to students at five DC middle schools.

Featuring programs ranging from Korean martial arts and African drumming to culinary arts and creative writing, schools offering Project My Time programs for the first time this school year are: Jefferson Junior High School in Buzzard Point and MacFarland Middle School in Petworth.  Schools continuing to offer Project My Time programs this fall are: Charles Hart Middle School in Congress Heights, Kelly Miller Middle School in Lincoln Heights and Lincoln Middle School in Columbia Heights.  

The free Project My Time programs are operating from 3:15 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Every afternoon, students will receive a free snack, and will have time to do their homework and receive help, if needed. They will then participate in two activities of their choice, such as academics, art, music, dance, sports, and other recreation. For more information, visit www.projectmytime.org. 

Project My Time, an initiative of the Trust, aims to build on what children learn in school, while providing safe, fun, and stimulating places for children to thrive. The initiative is supported by full-time site directors at each school to ensure coordination between the school-day learning and the engaging after-school activities offered by the selected providers. Project My Time is currently operating in five schools, but in subsequent years, the initiative will expand to other sites throughout the District including charter schools, community-based sites and recreation facilities.

“With our partners, we are creating a fun and safe after-school environment, and our plan is to continue to grow until all young people in the District have the chance to participate in programs that will help them achieve their fullest potential,” said Greg Roberts, president and CEO of the Trust.  “Now, with the expansion of Project My Time into two new schools, more parents can enroll their kids into fun high-quality programs that will also reinforce the academic skills they learn during the day.” 

In 2006, the Trust was selected to receive an $8 million grant, making DC one of five cities funded by The Wallace Foundation in New York to focus on improving after-school programs. Project My Time is the result of a partnership of 50 stakeholders, including the Trust, the Mayor’s office, the DC Public Schools, several District government agencies, including the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, the local philanthropic community, parents and community groups.

Like other cities nationally, DC wants to offer comprehensive after-school programs, operating five days a week and blending strong academics with enrichment activities. The Trust initiative aims to build a more coordinated system to improve the quality of after-school and summer programs for all DC as well as to increase access to and enrollment in those programs.  

Project My Time began its programs in middle schools because recent national research shows many urban children are “lost” during those years. One study shows that children entering middle school with even one of four risk factors have only a 10-percent chance of graduating from high school on time or at all. The four factors are: failing English, failing math, poor behavior, and truancy. 

The programs at Charles Hart Middle School, 601 Mississippi Avenue, SE, are:

  • A Greater Washington/Fields of Dreams – Teaches baseball and fitness, character education, mentoring and nutrition portions to help students develop discipline and time management skills.
  • The Adinkra Group – Youth participate in African dance and drumming classes.
  • Arena Stage – Students learn about the theater arts, writing and production.
  • Covenant House – This program offers teen pregnancy and substance abuse prevention, youth leadership development, homework assistance, crafts and community service projects.
  • DC Afterschool For All – Youth participate in a variety of educational activities, arts, sports and community service. 
  • DC Creative Writing Workshop - Creative writing and arts programs allow youth to become published writers, performance poets, playwrights, and actors while building self-esteem and literacy skills.
  • DC SCORES - Through soccer, creative writing and service-learning, students learn teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and communication skills.
  • Digital Success – Computer graphics are the focus of this program, where youth will build skills in programs and design.
  • Heads Up – College students engage youth to build literacy skills.
  • Modeling Club – Students learn about modeling and build confidence in their own body image.
  • Nomis Boxing Community Center– This program teaches life skills using boxing as a tool for social change.
  • Step Afrika – This program teaches discipline, commitment and teamwork through step, dance and movement.
  • Universal Martial Arts Center – Martial Arts instruction teaches character, confidence, discipline and respect while engaging youth in a fun, active sport.

The programs at Jefferson Junior High School, 801 7th Street, SW, are:

  • A Greater Washington/Fields of Dreams – Teaches baseball and fitness, character education, mentoring and nutrition portions to help students develop discipline and time management skills. 
  • Arena Stage – Students learn about the theater arts, writing and production.
  • Capitol Education Support – Tutors and mentors guide youth through academic subjects and expose students to visual, musical and performing arts.
  • Capitol Hill Computer Corner – In addition to homework assistance and tutoring, youth receive instruction in web design, image editing and other computer skills.
  • Covenant House – This program offers teen pregnancy and substance abuse prevention, youth leadership development, homework assistance, crafts and community service projects.
  • DC SCORES – Through soccer, creative writing and service-learning, students learn teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and communication skills.
  • KanKouran West African Dance Company – Youth learn about African culture through dance and music.
  • Pizzaz ­­– Student learn modern and hip-hop dance and choreography techniques.
  • Robotics Club – Students learn about robotics and practice critical thinking games.
  • Step Afrika – This program teaches discipline, commitment and teamwork through step, dance and movement.
  • Universal Martial Arts Center – Martial Arts instruction teaches character, confidence, discipline and respect while engaging youth in a fun, active sport.  

The programs at Kelly Miller Middle School, 301 49th St., NE, are:

  • African Heritage Dancers and Drummer – Students learn African dance and drumming.
  • City Dance Ensemble– Classes build self-esteem and discipline through dance and movement.
  • DC Afterschool For All – Youth participate in a variety of educational activities, arts, sports and community service.
  • DC SCORES – Through soccer, creative writing and service-learning, students learn teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and communication skills.
  • East Capitol Center for Change – Youth engage in tutoring, character development, community service and recreation.
  • Girls, Inc. – Girls develop self-esteem and leadership skills through programs designed specifically for girls.
  • LINK – Students receive academic assistance and also participate in kinesthetic and character building workshops.
  • Step Afrika – This program teaches discipline, commitment and teamwork through step, dance and movement.
  • Universal Martial Arts Center – Martial Arts instruction teaches character, confidence, discipline and respect while engaging youth in a fun, active sport. 
  • Visual Arts – Students will learn and practice the visual arts.
  • Washington Tennis and Education Foundation – By engaging children in tennis, academic and life skills activities, they gain discipline, build confidence, and improve academic performance. 
  • Young Playwrights Theatre – Offers a playwriting program, an arts-integrated approach to literacy enhancement and a student theater company. 

The programs at Lincoln Middle School, 3191 16th St., NW, are:

  • Capitol Hill Computer Corner – In addition to homework assistance and tutoring, youth receive instruction in web design, image editing and other computer skills.
  • Columbia Heights Youth Club, Journalism Project – Students learn and practice journalism skills in reporting and writing.
  • DC Afterschool For All – Youth participate in a variety of educational activities, arts, sports and community service.
  • DC SCORES – Through soccer, creative writing and service-learning, students learn teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and communication skills.
  • KanKouran West African Dance Company – Youth learn about African culture through dance and music.
  • Latin American Youth Center Art and Media House – Youth create and record their own audiovisual art with multimedia equipment.
  • Martha’s Table – Students receive academic enrichment through tutoring, homework help and skill building. 
  • Nomis Boxing Community Center– This program teaches life skills using boxing as a tool for social change.
  • Universal Martial Arts Center – Martial Arts instruction teaches character, confidence, discipline and respect while engaging youth in a fun, active sport.
  • WAVE DC – Life skills and community service for Hispanic students.
  • Words, Beats and Life – Teaches students hip hop culture and artistic expression.
  • Young Playwrights Theatre – Offers a playwriting program, an arts-integrated approach to literacy enhancement and a student theater company.
  • Latin American Youth Center Tennis Instruction – Students develop tennis skills and while developing a love of fitness and learning. 

The programs at MacFarland Middle School, 4400 Iowa Avenue NW are:

  • DC Afterschool For All – Youth participate in a variety of educational activities, arts, sports and community service. 
  • DC SCORES – Through soccer, creative writing and service-learning, students learn teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and communication skills.
  • Latin American Youth Center Art and Media House – Youth create and record their own audiovisual art with multimedia equipment.
  • Step Afrika – This program teaches discipline, commitment and teamwork through step, dance and movement.
  • Universal Martial Arts Center – Martial Arts instruction teaches character, confidence, discipline and respect while engaging youth in a fun, active sport.
  • Visual Arts – Students learn how to create multimedia visual arts.
  • Music Instruction – Youth learn to play percussion instruments.
  • Young Playwrights Theatre – Offers a playwriting program, an arts-integrated approach to literacy enhancement and a student theater company.
  • Latin American Youth Center Tennis Instruction – Students develop tennis skills and while developing a love of fitness and learning. 

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 The DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation is a public-private partnership chartered by the District to help a wide variety of organizations in the city improve the quality, quantity and accessibility of services and opportunities for every child in the District. For more information, visit www.cyitc.org