Southeast to South Africa Friendraiser Show & Party
Support the new nonprofit org started by an elementary school teacher working to give her students in Southeast, DC a global perspective. The first trip to South Africa for the Orr Elementary School students will take place in August 2016. SE2SA needs to raise $40,000 for the first trip, and we need institutional supporters for years to come. Together we can give these students and their families a life-altering, pan-African, educational experience. Come hear from DC students who have traveled to South Africa and enjoy happy hour wine/beer/snacks as well as live entertainment from DJs, poets, dancers, and singers.
Hosted by Jonathan B. Tucker, Jamila Neferta Thompson, and Sheika Amandla Reid.
DJ Black Santa
DJ Native Sun
Spoken Word Poets
Suggested $20 Donation
*Nobody will be turned away
Studies show that many of the children who reside in Ward 8 do not get a chance to travel beyond their neighborhoods. It is no secret that huge educational disparities exist between students based on race and socioeconomic status. Many of my students typically enter 5th grade below reading level, and I am fortunate to assist them in making incredible gains. I do what I can to ensure their success but I realize that they need more. They need to see that the world spans further than their immediate communities. They need an experience that will change the course of their lives.
If my students are to emerge from the margins of society and the course of history, they must have ground-breaking experiences that shift their paradigms. SE2SA can be that paradigm shift.
We have invited parents to accompany their children on this journey because we want to use this opportunity to create a cross-generational experience that will strengthen our families’ involvement in school and allow parents and students to enjoy learning together. It also helps tremendously with international travel visas, insurance, and liability. We hope this experience bolsters our families’ sense of power and purpose for generations to come.
The trip takes place in August, so we have plenty of time to reach out to friends, family, and other caring community members. Please help us by sharing this email with your network and encouraging your friends to seize this opportunity to do something great for DC students. We will also be hosting several exciting fundraising events where you can meet the students and learn more about the Southeast to South Africa program.
Yours in service,
Ms. Jamila Neferta Thompson
5th Grade Teacher
Orr Elementary School
2200 Minnesota Ave SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-704-1521
southeast2southafrica@gmail.com
