It began with a pastor and the mission chair from a suburban church meeting our Executive Director at our Tenley Circle site where a multicultural, international group of 30 children were attending a summer camp that included French and Spanish immersion classes. Here is Lynn’s summary of the “tour.”

We got in my minivan and headed east. In 10 minutes we had crossed Rock Creek Park and swung past Marie Reed Elementary School in Adams Morgan, the most diverse neighborhood in DC where City Gate has run programs for several years. In 2008 we were vetted by DC Public Schools to conduct out-of-school time programs onsite in the schools- including an after-school science club here at Marie Reed. Many of our students are Latino and/or foreign born.

East of the River

My tour guests were full of questions as we continued east, crossing the Anacostia River into neighborhoods seldom seen by tourists. We took Burroughs to Division to Dix, where I turned into Richardson Dwellings, an impoverished public housing community scarred by violence. What was amazing when we opened the car doors was that we had stepped into an oasis of hope and joy . . .

40 kids were spilling out of what had been a vacant Community Room until City Gate started programs here in 2008. Equally energized and excited were nearly 30 youth and adults from a church in Austin, Texas, who had been leading VBS and a variety of activities and field trips throughout the week.

My companions confirmed that seeing is believing. There is no way to “report” what happens at these sites. It is a multi-dimensional experience, an intersection of the pain of poverty with an explosion of hope that clearly has its source in the inexhaustible love of God flowing through the hearts and hands of both our kids and staff and mission teams. At the center of the Richardson Dwellings whirlwind is “Ms. Vicks” – who tends this oasis with a presence that has to be experienced!

On to Southeast DC

Back into the van . . . driving south through neighborhoods of Ward 7 for less than 15 minutes to Randle Highlands Elementary School on Pennsylvania Avenue in Southeast DC. This almost new DCPS facility had around 300 enrolled for summer programs, with about 75 participating in an afternoon, science-themed City Gate camp. We were greeted by unsolicited compliments from the school administrators for our mostly college and graduate student City Gate staff. We stayed just long enough to peek into the classrooms to see for ourselves an engaging, activity-based program of academic enrichment.

Then it was on to far Southeast DC (about another 15 minutes) to the Ward 8 neighborhood where 10 years ago City Gate’s program began at the Johenning Community Center. After several years, City Gate moved into the Community Rooms of several nearby large subsidized housing complexes. My touring guests stopped with me in the Atlantic Gardens community rooms where some kids worked on projects around tables, with others working on a bank of computers spread along the length of the room.

We finished our tour three blocks away at the Merrick Center, a wonderful new facility supported by a variety of community stakeholders along with the Archdiocese of Washington. Another crowd of kids were coming out of the Center and clustering around a snow cone machine – courtesy of another Urban Hands mission team of 15 youth and adults from Indiana.

Some things have to be experienced

These “tours” I do from time to time with folks who are planning mission trips or looking for ministry partnerships are totally unscripted. I show up with my guests unannounced. What we experience is simply real life glimpses of what happens daily at our program sites.

I suppose any “preacher” enjoys having a captive tour audience for three hours – but what moves me beyond words is the response of folks who suddenly are immersed in the needs and hopes, the problems and possibilities of the city. There’s an immediate connection and open communication and sense of trust with the children and City Gate staff – maybe finished off by sitting down and eating supper with the kids at one of our sites.

Did you know . . . that City Gate had five separate programs – involving 250 children and youth – at four different locations this summer?
. . . That Urban Hands groups from ten different states (from Maine to Florida) participated in our programs and projects?
. . . That these mission teams range from ten to 150 participants (a large group from Tennessee which provided a block party and concert for our Clay Terrace Day at Richardson Dwellings)?
. . . That 33 children at our Merrick Center program made the honor roll, and every student advanced to the next grade?

Working with City Gate’s 5-6 year olds was a great but challenging experience. At times the children, [youth] workers, and even parents can test your patience. But those times are when we find out who is actually here for the children and who is wiling to pull together and make things work as they are. The children of City Gate Summer Camp are active, energetic, creative, and interactive. With all these components working together in one child, it keeps our summer camp very “live” and never boring.

I have grown to love the children of City Gate, not just the 5 and 6 year olds, all of them. I enjoy coming to work everyday because every time I walk into the room I’m greeted with tons of smiles and hugs. These kids grow as attached to their teachers as we do with them. This year we were blessed with a great group of kids who I hope to see again one day.

Alexis
Summer Youth Worker
City Gate SE Summer Day Camp

A new school year is beginning, and students are returning to classrooms with stories of how they spent the summer. Many will talk of taking trips to historic places, having fun at summer camps or learning new skills. But an idyllic summer is a myth, not the norm, for most low-income children. For them, the end of school is the end of opportunity and a loss of academic skills that leads to them entering September already behind their better-off peers. Efforts to close America’s achievement gap would be helped if more attention and resources were directed to these crucial summer months.

I want to thank you for your support, which has helped us touch the lives of nearly 200 children and teens — many living at the poverty level. Instead of being unsupervised or on the streets, they had a safe place to come to, three decent meals every day, summer fun, field trips, and a variety of enrichment opportunities. Besides giving kids a chance to be kids, our day camps helped stop what educators call “summer learning loss.” We see real evidence that our kids, instead of sliding farther back, will be better prepared to go back to school — in terms of better social skills, increased intellectual curiosity and background knowledge, as well as having done reading and math during the summer.

It is a huge challenge to put together the programs and staffing every summer that these kids need — and we couldn’t do it without you — the individual donors, the churches, the Urban Hands mission groups who share the dream of every child becoming all that God created them to be.

Every day we see bright-eyed, beautiful five-year-olds bouncing in the door — as well as fifteen-year-olds where sometimes it feels like our opportunity to help shape their lives is slipping away. We thank you for caring, for helping and loving these kids. Pray for us as we head into fall. We’re providing backpacks, school supplies, even shoes as kids go back to school. We’re starting a new after-school program in another public housing complex and have been vetted by the DC Public Schools to assist onsite with after-school programs at two high-need elementary schools.

The needs and opportunities are greater than ever, and we need and thank you for your support.

God’s peace,

Lynn Bergfalk
Executive Director

• “While in camp, your child will never go hungry and will not be bored.
• They will never be without something to do or someplace to go, something to learn or a new thing to try.
• They won’t be put down, told they are stupid, or only given one chance to get things right.
• There will be no dozing in front of the TV, no high-stakes testing, no hanging out in the street, and they will never wonder if they are wanted or safe.
• We will never assume your child can’t do something, because of the way they dress, how they speak, or where they live.
• And we will never forget that this child is your precious one and only, irreplaceable and special in every way.”

In the future, I probably should write notes to read off of or perhaps produce an informative brochure. It could go something like this:

For these seven weeks of summer camp, your child will also be our child.
Therefore, they will be nourished, cared for, loved, and disciplined.
They will be taught math and reading, science and sports, history and art, right from wrong, and that they are unique and highly valued.
They will be given an outlet for their creativity, a shoulder to cry on, encouragement for their efforts, a pat on the back when they succeed, and a hug when it’s been a hard day so far, and it’s only 9 am.
They will learn how to be helpful and polite, clean up after themselves, show concern for others, and take responsibility for their own actions.
They will gain new friends, computer skills, and a better perspective on the world around them.

At the end of seven weeks, the same child you sent to camp will come home to you– but they might just be more respectful of others, confident in their own abilities, and ready to succeed in school — be prepared.

Obviously, we’re not in the business of producing perfect children. But we are here to bring children who are marginalized to the center of society, where they can use their skills and talents, and reach their full potential.

Looking toward this fall, we’re exploring new ways to give even more children from disadvantaged neighborhoods the kind of opportunities our summer day campers have had. Will you join us?

Kristin Wiener

For City Gate, this is one of the busiest times of the year as we plan and prepare our summer program. This year we have camps in Southeast DC, Columbia Heights, and Tenleytown neighborhoods, plus an additional youth empowerment program for teenagers that will touch the lives of as many as 200 children and youth.

We are putting together a great program and staff, and have some — but not all — the resources we need. And that’s where we need you. You might be able to pick up the cost of camp for one child for the whole summer, or for a week, or maybe just a day. But we need partners who believe, as we do, that every kid should have a safe place to go, activities that are both fun and enriching, three good meals every day, and new experiences that will help children grow and thrive.

Together we can make a difference for children living in poverty. We can provide a safe and supportive environment every weekday through the summer. We can make sure kids get three good meals a day. We can allow kids to be kids: having fun at the pool or playing games, taking day trips or participating in special events. We can expand their horizons through new experiences, and provide engaging educational enrichment that will help kids go back to school in September with greater self-confidence and stronger academic skills.

I invite you this spring to make an investment in a child by helping us provide the summer opportunities that will help them reach their God-given potential. Please take a moment to read our “Make Summer Great in 2008” flyer to see how you can be involved. We thank you for your compassion for children, for your prayers, and your financial support.

For love of the children,

Lynn Bergfalk