By Jaleesa Hall

​​This semester, we planned to launch our program at Friendship Collegiate Academy, located in the Ward 7 corridor of Northeast Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the summer, we created an advisory board to develop a series of recommendations designed to improve the implementation of the project and to inform all partners on the ways to work collaboratively. The committee was created with the help of the Principal and Academic Director of Friendship Collegiate Academy, the Founder of Raising A Village Foundation, and the Interim Director of the Institute for Community Engagement. This committee initiated an asset-mapping approach to do three things: (1) a preliminary search to understand the landscape of the surrounding neighborhood of the school, (2) staff interviews to assess the needs and wants of all partners, (3) school interviews to round out conversations directly with Friendship Collegiate Academy teachers and administrators in order to gather information about immediate classroom needs. 

By Jaleesa Hall

​My community project is the formation of a 501(c)3 organization, the Raising A Village Foundation and the education initiative the Let's Make a Difference Project. The Let’s Make a Difference Project is a specialized curriculum as part of the Driven 2 Succeed program that offers support and educational opportunities for 9th grade students that will increase college access and workforce readiness, bolster personal growth, enhance academic success, and increase civic engagement through the completion of community projects.

By Jaleesa Hall

I am so grateful for my time in London. To be honest, I did not know what to expect, especially because we did not have too many details coming in. One thing I did know was that my that time in London would solely be about my non-profit, particularly in terms of its scalability and sustainability. However, I was totally wrong. Yes, I did hear and see models of social innovation during the trip, but what touched me the most were the conversations with my colleagues and those who were doing the work in London. The stories that I heard and the passion I saw to do good in the world, reminded me that the KINdom of God is near and there are folks out there who are really trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 

London gave the motivation I needed to keep doing the work that God has called me to do. Also, it was a reminder that there is more than one way to do ministry, which has given me the freedom to let God do a creative work in me. 

Again, I am grateful.