>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO KELLY MIDDLE, PRIDE
OF THE CITY. I AM KORTNI STAFFORD, THE
PRINCIPAL AT KELLY MIDDLE SCHOOL, A SCHOOL THAT IS ON THE
RISE. WE HAVE EXTENDED THE SCHOOL YEAR
THIS YEAR AS ONE OF THE 11 SCHOOLS WITH A 200-DAY CALENDAR.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE ADVANCED COURSE WORK TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS AS WELL
AS SCHOOL-WIDE ENRICHMENT CLASSES SUCH AS YOGA, STEP,
BOXING, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES.
WE ALSO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
LIKE SKI TEAM, ARCHERY, SOCCER AND MORE.
WITH THE MAYOR'S INVESTMENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL I LOOK FORWARD TO
BRINGING EVEN MORE ATHLETICS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES TO
KELLY MILLER SO OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
FROM INVESTMENTS IN CODING CLUBS TO ATHLETICS LIKE WRESTLING AND
LACROSSE OUR STUDENTS CAN EXPERIENCE THE WORLD.
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW KELLY MILLER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SEND OUR SCHOLARS ABROAD. NEXT YOU WILL HEAR FROM OUR 8TH
GRADE CHASE JONES WHO NOT ONLY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUR ADVANCED
COURSES OFFERINGS AT KELLY MILLER BUT IS PREPARING FOR HER
TRIP THIS SUMMER ABROAD. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO KELLY
MILLER AND I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME CHASE JONES.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHASE JONES AND I'M
AN 8TH GRADER AT KELLY MILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I AM IN WARD
7. BEING AT KELLY MILLER I'M IN THE
ACADEMY AND TAKE ADVANCED CLASSES.
I PARTICIPATE IN THE BASKETBALL TEAM AND ON SATURDAY I ATTEND
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH PROGRAM TO PRACTICE MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY. I HAVE A 4.0 AND I'VE TAKEN THE
SAT TWICE. THIS SUMMER I'M GOING TO A TRIP
OVER EUROPE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST TO MILAN,
ITALY, MONACO AND FRANCE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> IN THE FALL I WANT TO ATTEND
SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS HIGH SCHOOL
AND MIT FOR COLLEGE WHERE I PLAN TO STUDY COMPUTER SCIENCE
ENGINEERING. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO KELLY
MILLER AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT WASHINGTON D.C.'S MAYOR
BOWSER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MAYOR: WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
HOW ABOUT THAT CHASE JONES, GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MAYOR: HOW ABOUT THAT KELLY MILLER?
THAT'S AWESOME. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR
TRIP AND WE ARE GOING TO WISH YOU WELL IN HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE WORLD HAS IN STORE FOR
YOU. PRINCIPAL STAFFORD I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US THIS MORNING AND FOR ALL OF THE WORK
THAT YOU ARE DOING HERE AT KELLY MILLER, THE PRIDE OF WASHINGTON,
D.C.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MAYOR: I ALSO AM PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY OUR DEPUTY MAYOR
FOR EDUCATION JENNIE NILES AND OUR CHANCELLOR OF SCHOOLS ANTWAN
WILSON AND BOARD MEMBER ASHLEY CARTER SO THANK YOU, BOARD
MEMBER, FOR JOINING US AS WELL. TODAY WE'RE HERE TO MAKE AN
EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT MORE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING IN
GIRLS AT DCPS. AS YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, OUR GOAL
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS A JOYFUL LEARNING
EXPERIENCE FROM PRE-K ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH GRADUATION, THROUGH
HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER.
WE KNOW THAT EVERY CHILD HAS LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES AND
WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD WAS JUST ONE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING IN
MAKING SURE THAT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO
STUDIES ABROAD. LAST SUMMER, WE SENT 400
STUDENTS ON A FULLY FUNDED TRIP TO CHINA AND SEVERAL OTHER
LOCATIONS. AND THIS SUMMER WE'RE ON TRACK
TO SEND ANOTHER 500 8TH AND 11TH GRADERS ON THESE LIFE-CHANGING
TRIPS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MAYOR: AND LAST MONTH I ANNOUNCED NEW INVESTMENTS IN OUR
MIDDLE GRADES AND CHANCELLOR WILSON IS VERY FOCUSED ON
IMPLEMENTING A HOST OF CHANGES FOR OUR MIDDLE GRADE STUDENTS
INCLUDING CLUBS AT EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL, MORE ATHLETICS,
WRESTLING, LACROSSE AND I SHOULD SAY MATH.
MORE -- ALGEBRA. STUDENTS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS TO
GET TO SUCCESS.
LAST YEAR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW WE LAUNCHED THE EMPOWERING MALES
OF COLOR INITIATIVE WHICH INCLUDED THE CREATION OF THE RON
BROWN COLLEGE PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL.
RON BROWN IS THRIVING IN WARD 8 WITH A STRONG 9TH GRADE CLASS.
I'M SORRY, IN WARD 7. AT THE FORMER RON BROWN SCHOOL
NOW THE RON BROWN COLLEGE PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL.
WE WILL ADD ANOTHER GRADE SO WE WILL HAVE 9TH AND 10TH GRADERS
STARTING NEXT YEAR. OUR EMPOWERING MALES OF COLOR
INITIATIVE INCLUDES CRITICAL INNOVATION GRANTS THAT CREATED
ARTS PROGRAMMING, BLENDED LEARNING AND ROBOTICS TO SUPPORT
OUR SCHOOLS. SO TODAY WE ANNOUNCE A NEW
PROGRAM AND IT IS CALLED REIGN LIKE A QUEEN REIGNS AND
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THAT PROGRAM.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH 100 STUDENTS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS DCPS HAS
CONCEIVED OF THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM.
REIGN IS ALSO, THE FURTHER EXPLANATION IS THE EMPOWERING
YOUNG WOMEN AS LEADERS PROGRAM. WITH THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE
WILL ANNOUNCE TODAY WE WILL SUPPORT MORE WOMEN OF COLOR
FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, HEALTH, WELLNESS
AND IDENTITY. REIGN, THE PROGRAMS INCLUDED
COME DIRECTLY FROM THE FEEDBACK WE HEARD FROM OUR YOUNG LADIES
AND WE WHO WE KNOW HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAN OUR BOYS.
REIGN WILL SUPPORT YOUNG WOMEN TO GROW INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WOMEN CAN BE LEADERS BUT THEY HAVE TO BE
TOLD THAT AND LEARN THAT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THEY CAN BE ENTREPRENEURS, THEY CAN BE IN POLITICS, THEY CAN BE
IN ALL LEVELS OF BUSINESS. SO THIS PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON
BUILDING COMMUNITY, BUILDING CONFIDENCE, BUILDING LEADERSHIP
SKILLS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL, AND I'M VERY
THRILLED THAT PART OF THIS INITIATIVE WILL BE INNOVATIVE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE WILL MAKE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
DEPUTY MAYOR NILES AND CHANCELLOR WILSON WILL SPEAK
MORE ABOUT THIS. BUT IT IS NO BETTER PLACE TO
ANNOUNCE THIS THAN KELLY MILLER WITH OUR WONDERFUL KELLY MILLER
STUDENTS. DEPUTY MAYOR NILES?
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU, MAYOR BOWSER.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PRINCIPAL STAFFORD, THE STUDENTS AND
TEACHERS HERE AT KELLY MILLER AND I WANT TO WELCOME OUR
TRUESDALE STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
I'M PLEASED I'M WEARING A CROSS BETWEEN TRUESDALE AND KELLY
MILLER TO REPRESENT THIS REMARKABLE AND WONDERFUL
ANNOUNCEMENT THIS MORNING. WE'RE EXCITED TO CLOSE OUT
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WITH ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT REIGN.
WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND GIRLS AND WE WANT TO ENSURE
THAT OUR YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR DEVELOP PERSONAL GROWTH,
LEADERSHIP SKILLS, CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
THAT WE KNOW WILL ALLOW THEM TO THRIVE BOTH IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF
SCHOOL AND IN THEIR CAREERS AND IN THEIR LIFE.
WE LISTENED TO 100 GIRLS AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND GENDERS AND IDENTITIES ABOUT WHAT THEY
NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS JUST THE
BEGINNING OF REIGN. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING
BECAUSE WE JUST -- WE WANTED TO START WITH A WAY TO FOCUS ON KEY
THINGS WITH INNOVATION GRANTS SO WE WANT TO HAVE FUNDING FOR THE
REIGN INNOVATION GRANTS WHICH WILL BE CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS.
CHANCELLOR WILSON IN HIS QUEST TO VISIT ALL OF OUR D.C. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS HAS ALREADY VISITED NEARLY HALF OF THEM, OVER 50.
AND HAS BEEN LISTENING TO GIRLS OF COLOR THROUGHOUT THAT TIME.
HE HAS JOINED FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA IN MEETING THEM
ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. I'M PROUD THAT ONE OF HIS FIRST
INITIATIVES AS CHANCELLOR DEMONSTRATES HIS COMMITMENT TO
EXCELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE
CHANCELLOR UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE
HERE, YOU KNOW, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME
MEETING WITH SOME TALENTED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
DOWNSTAIRS WHO WERE BASICALLY LETTING ME KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO
DO TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT A PLACE FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE EXCITED TO BE AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THEY TALKED ABOUT. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT CREATING
ENVIRONMENTS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL CELEBRATED, SUPPORTED AND
PUT IN A POSITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL SO I'M EXTREMELY
APPRECIATIVE OF KELLY MILLER FOR HOSTING.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE PRINCIPAL STAFFORD, HER WELCOMING ME A
SECOND TIME THIS YEAR AND JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT.
ALSO I JUST WANT TO LET CHASE KNOW THAT I AM ENVY US OF YOUR
UPCOMING SUMMER PLANS BUT ALSO JUST EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH
YOU BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHAT YOU SEE IN CHASE IS A REFLECTION
OF THE TALENT THAT WE KNOW EXISTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND JUST IF PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DISPLAY THAT TALENT IF THAT TALENT IS JUST NURTURED AND
ENCOURAGED WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
REACH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF SUCCESS NOT JUST IN OUR DISTRICT
BUT ALSO IN THE COUNTRY AND ALSO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS
POSSIBLE. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED AND I
WANT TO APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR FOR BEING HERE AND
PRIORITIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF INITIATIVES FOR OUR YOUNG WOMEN
SHE MENTIONED THE DISTRICT EMBARKED UPON AN EFFORT TO
PROVIDE AN EXPERIENCE UNIQUELY TAILORED FOR YOUNG MEN AND THAT
WAS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY BECAUSE WE HAVE YOUNG MEN WHO WE
ALSO KNOW HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL TO SUCCEED.
AND WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS APPROPRIATE IS TO NOT FORGET THE
NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG WOMEN. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR YOUNG WOMEN KNOW THAT THEY ARE VALUED, THAT THEY ARE LOVED,
THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THAT THEY ARE
AWESOME. LOOK AT THE AWESOME YOUNG WOMEN
THAT ARE STANDING UP HERE WITH ME TODAY.
GIVE IT UP FOR THEM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
SO IT IS WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT THAT I AM HERE AND WE ARE
ANNOUNCING THE START OF REIGN WHICH IS ABOUT EMPOWERING YOUNG
WOMEN AS LEADERS. LAST WEEK I HAD THE GREAT
PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH SEVERAL YOUNG WOMEN AT PHELPS
ACE HIGH SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY AN ENGAGEMENT TO MEET WITH A GROUP
OF YOUNG WOMEN TO TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT IS IT THAT YOUNG
GIRLS AND WOMEN NEED. IN ORDER TO FEEL SUCCESSFUL HERE
IN THE DISTRICT AND WHAT THEY SHARED WITH ME WAS QUITE
INSPIRING. I HEARD YOUNG WOMEN TALK ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THEM.
AND THE COMMITMENT OF PROVIDING MEALS TO OUR HOMELESS.
I HEARD THE YOUNG WOMEN TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF REALLY BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH OTHER
YOUNG WOMEN FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND BEING EXCITED TO COME
BACK TO DCPS AS ALUMNI TO SUPPORT FUTURE GENERATIONS.
A LOT OF WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS REALLY ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD
DO AND HOW WE COULD SUPPORT THEM WITH HAVING AN IMPACT ON YOUNG
WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO COME AFTER THEM WHICH WAS EXTREMELY
EXCITING TO HEAR. I HEARD YOUNG WOMEN TALK ABOUT
WANTING TO DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO GET INTO
POLITICS AND OTHER CAREERS. WE HEARD YOUNG WOMEN TALK ABOUT
STAYING AFTER SCHOOL AND WORKING TOGETHER ON SATURDAYS AND
BASICALLY WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT IS HOW THEY COULD -- HOW WE
COULD SUPPORT THEM COLLECTIVELY WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE
CITY AND THEIR DISTRICT A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE INCLUDING
YOUNG GIRLS. AND I HEARD YOUNG WOMEN TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, THEIR
IDENTITY, SELF WORTH AND VALUE. AND SO IT WAS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT THEY TALKED
ABOUT IS THE PROGRAM THEY HAVE AT PHELPS HOW IT IS HELPING THEM
GROW CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER. YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS
SOMETIMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE IN A SPACE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE
RECOGNIZING YOUNG PEOPLE BUT WE HEARD THESE YOUNG WOMEN SAY TO
THEIR COLLEAGUES SITTING IN THE ROOM WITH THEM IS HOW COLLEAGUES
INSPIRED THEM AND HOW AMONGST THEM THE OTHER STUDENTS WERE
SERVING AS THEIR ROLE MODELS AND IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO HEAR
BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WERE IDENTIFYING AS THE ROLE MODELS
WERE SITTING THERE WITH THEM SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE
TO SAY IT IS TRUE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SO REIGN IS A PROGRAM
TO ADDRESS EXACTLY WHAT THE YOUNG WOMEN AT PHELPS
HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS BUILT
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NEEDS OF YOUNG WOMEN, FOR THE NEEDS OF
OUR FEMALE STUDENTS, AND IT IS BUILT BY THEM.
SO THIS ISN'T A MATTER OF US COMING IN AND SAYING THIS IS
WHAT YOU NEED IT IS TO SAY YOU HELP US DECIDE WHAT YOU NEED AND
SO OUR STUDENTS SAID THEY WANTED SPACE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH
OTHER YOUNG WOMEN AND TO FOCUS ON IDENTITY SO TO DO THIS WE ARE
GOING TO CREATE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO
COME TOGETHER. IT WILL START WITH A CITY-WIDE
CONFERENCE ON JUNE 3RD AND THEN WE WILL HAVE SEMINARS THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR WHERE WE BRING YOUNG WOMEN TOGETHER AND REALLY WORK
AND FOCUS ON THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THEY SAY ARE GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT TO THEM TO HELP THEM BE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HOPE TO
BE. IT IS AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOU GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A VOICE
TO SPEAK LIFE INTO WHAT THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS ARE.
THEY TELL YOU EXACTLY THE TYPES OF THINGS WE WOULD HAVE SAID
THEY NEEDED WHEN THEY TELL US HOW TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT WILL
BE MEANINGFUL FOR THEM AND GET THEM THERE.
WE WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE PROVIDING
ENVIRONMENTS THAT OUR YOUNG WOMEN ARE EXCITED TO BE IN BY
PROVIDING TRAINING TO ALL OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF, FOCUSING
SPECIFICALLY ON ISSUES OF GENDER AND RACIAL IDENTITY.
I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS WELL AND THEN LIKE
WE DID WITH EMPOWERING MALES OF COLOR WE WILL BE LAUNCHING SOME
REIGN INNOVATION GRANTS. SPECIFICALLY ENCOURAGING OUR
SCHOOLS TO COME FORWARD WITH PROGRAMMING AND IDEAS THAT WILL
MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG WOMEN.
WE BELIEVE THAT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE IMPORTANT FIRST
STEP IN SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG WOMEN AND OUR YOUNG WOMEN
THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT PARTICULARLY OUR YOUNG WOMEN OF
COLOR AND I WANT TO THANK THE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WHO CAME
FORWARD AND SHARED THOSE IDEAS. I WANT TO THANK AGAIN KELLY
MILLER AND THE YOUNG LADIES WHO ARE HERE REPRESENTING TRUESDALE
AND KELLY MILLER SPECIFICALLY AND ALSO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF
PHELPS AND ALL OF THE YOUNG WOMEN WHO CAME OUT TO THE
VARIOUS ENGAGEMENTS AS WAS MENTIONED I'VE BEEN TO OVER 50
SCHOOLS AND THIS IS JUST WEEK 8 AND I DO INTEND TO VISIT EVERY
ONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS A PLACE WHERE EVERY ONE OF
OUR STUDENTS IS ABLE TO COME IN, BE IN JOYFUL EXPERIENCES AND
EXCEL WHILE THEY ARE HERE THEN WE TRULY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR SCHOOLS ARE PLACES WHERE YOUNG WOMEN FEEL VALUED AND
SUCCESSFUL AND, IN FACT, OUR YOUNG WOMEN KNOW THAT THEY CAN,
IN FACT, REIGN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND I'M
EXCITED TO JUST BE KICKING THIS OFF AND AGAIN CONSIDER MYSELF
EXTREMELY PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AS CHANCELLOR OF DCPS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MAYOR: OKAY. I THINK WE WILL HAVE SOME TIME
FOR QUESTIONS BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO EXCUSE THE GIRLS.
IF YOU WANT TO SAY YOU CAN BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND BEHIND
ME WHILE I TAKE THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, LADIES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER SOME
QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO GO TO THE PRESS
FIRST AND THEN I WILL COME BACK TO YOU.
YOU ARE THE PRESS? OKAY.
DEANWOOD PRESS? OKAY, THEN I WILL START WITH
YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING TO
DEANWOOD EXTENDED. >> MAYOR: IT IS MY PLEASURE.
>> I HEARD A RUMOR AND THANK YOU CHANCELLOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR
NILES. Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB ON
EDUCATION. I KNOW WE'RE RISING.
I RECEIVED INFORMATION THIS WEEKEND THAT SAID THAT MENTAL
HEALTH IS BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE SCHOOLS.
I HOPE THAT THAT IS NOT TRUE. THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH IS REMOVING THEIR THERAPIST SUPPOSEDLY FROM THE
SCHOOLS AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE WE NEED
ALL OF THE MENTAL HEALTH LAYERS TO BE IN PLACE SO WE CAN
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT WE NEED AND I
WOULD LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> MAYOR: ABSOLUTELY AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE DEPUTY MAYOR TO
SPEAK TO ALL OF OUR KIND OF OUR APPROACH TO SCHOOL NURSES AND
MEDICAL ATTENTION IN SCHOOLS. SHE PARTICIPATED IN A LONG
HEARING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY AND WE APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO
CLARIFY THAT. >> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, FIRST I WANT TO START BY CLARIFYING ABOUT OUR -- THE
NURSES IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT
THAT BUT WE'RE EXCITED WE'VE GOT A NEW PROGRAM WE ARE GOING TO
PUT INTO PLACE THAT WILL INCLUDE EACH SCHOOL THAT PARTICIPATES IN
THE SCHOOL NURSING PROGRAM OR THE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM AS WE
DESCRIBE IT. HAVING 40 HOURS OF MEDICAL
PROFESSIONAL CARE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AND THERE WILL BE A
VARYING NUMBER OF HOURS OF NURSES BASED ON THE RISK FACTORS
BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE STUDENTS WITH
DIABETES, URGENT NEEDS AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY WILL HAVE A NURSE
FULL-TIME SO BUT WHAT THIS PROGRAM WILL ALSO DO IS WE WILL
HAVE ROLES OF PEOPLE WHO CAN CONNECT WITH STUDENTS MEDICAL
HOMES AS I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE CALLED WITH THE PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIANS BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE PRIMARY CARE COVERAGE IN D.C.
THAN MOST PLACES SO WE'RE EXCITED TO LEVERAGE THAT AS PART
OF REALLY CONNECTING THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH
COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH,
WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AFFORD FOR OUR KIDS NOT TO HAVE THE MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND SO I THINK THAT OUR
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS LOOKING AT SOME INNOVATIVE WAYS TO
APPROACH IT BUT WE ABSOLUTELY CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO HAVE THAT
SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS AND WE KNOW HOW VITAL IT IS AND SO WE'RE
LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COMMUNITY AND
ARTICULATING A PROGRAM THAT DOES JUST THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
RELATING TO THE MISSING GIRLS, YOU KNOW --
>> MAYOR: IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE COINCIDENTAL AND DCPS HAS BEEN
CAN TALK TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESEARCH THAT HAS GONE INTO
DEVELOPING THE REIGN PROGRAM AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM SCHOOLS
AND OUR FEMALE STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM TO
WORK ON. CHANCELLOR CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> YES, SO THANK YOU. SO IT HAS BEEN THE BETTER PART
OF A YEAR WHERE THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN STUDYING THE NEEDS OF OUR
YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS. MEETING DIRECTLY WITH THEM AND
THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE FOR THEM TO BE
SUCCESSFUL. CERTAINLY IT IS IMPORTANT ALL OF
OUR YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS FEEL SAFE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND ALL
OF THAT BUT ALSO AS WE MENTIONED THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF
CREATING THE CHANGE THAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WE ALL WANT TO
SEE WITHIN THE CITY AS IT RELATES TO GIRLS AND WOMEN BUT
ALSO RELATES TO PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
OUR STUDENTS SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO ME ABOUT THE HOMELESS
AND MANY OF THEM ARE VOLUNTEERING RIGHT NOW AND
SUPPORTING THE HOMELESS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS TO HEAR
ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE DISTRICT BETTER AND EXCITED TO
BE HERE LAUNCHING THIS EVENT HERE TODAY.
>> MAYOR: YES, DENISE?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> FORMERLY MISSING GIRLS THAT HAVE RETURNED HOME AND WHETHER
THESE INITIATIVES ACTUALLY IMPACT THE REASONS WHY THEY MAY
HAVE LEFT? >> MAYOR: I HAVEN'T, BUT AS YOU
KNOW WE ANNOUNCED SEVERAL INITIATIVES AROUND MAKING SURE
THAT THE RESPONSIBLE D.C. AGENCIES ARE MAKING SURE WHEN WE
LOCATED A CHILD THAT WE ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS SO
THAT THEY ARE RETURNING TO AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE FOR
THEM AND SO WHERE THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO I WON'T VENTURE TO SAY ALL OF THE REASONS WHY A CHILD MAY HAVE
LEFT OR BEEN SEPARATED FROM A FAMILY BECAUSE THEY ARE MYRIAD
AND WE KNOW THAT. BUT WE DO KNOW IF WE CAN INSTILL
CONFIDENCE IN ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BUT ESPECIALLY OUR
YOUNG WOMEN SO THEY KNOW WHERE TO FIND RESOURCES, THEY HAVE
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE TREATED
BY OTHERS, AND IF THEY FIND A SITUATION THAT IS NOT SAFE FOR
THEM OR THEY ARE VULNERABLE OR WHERE THEY NEED MORE HELP THEY
WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO. AND THEN BEYOND THAT, THEY WILL
KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MANY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES LIKE
THE ONES THAT WE HEARD HERE ABOUT STUDYING ABROAD, ABOUT
BEING INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND
GOING ON TO COLLEGE AND CAREER. SO WHILE WE DON'T SEE -- WHILE
THIS IS NOT A DIRECT RESPONSE WE KNOW WHEN WE INSTILL THAT AMOUNT
OF CONFIDENCE AND HIGH EXPECTATION AND KNOW HOW TO GET
HELP WHEN ONE NEEDS IT WE KNOW WE PUT OUR GIRLS IN A BETTER
SITUATION. >> MADAM MAYOR?
>> MAYOR: YES?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> MAYOR: CERTAINLY WE WOULD HAVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
REPORTS ARE AND WE HAVE PART OF THE TASK FORCE INCLUDES OUR
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES. ANY TIME A YOUNG PERSON COMES
INTO OUR CARE IT IS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BE CARED FOR BY THEIR
OWN FAMILY AND THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY AND THINGS ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF A
PLACEMENT IS NOT GOOD FOR A CHILD THAT THE BEST THING FOR
THEM TO DO IS TO LET US KNOW AND NOT TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE, NOT TO
BE WHAT WE FIND SOMETIMES IS KIDS GO BACK TO FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT AREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM SO WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE
THEY ARE SO WE KNOW THEY ARE IN THE CARE OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT.
YES?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'LL JUST REPEAT THE QUESTION.
THE QUESTION WAS HOW MUCH IS THE DISTRICT SPENDING ON THE
PROGRAM? SPECIFICALLY THIS INITIAL
INVESTMENT IS A MILLION DOLLARS AND THE FOCUS IS THE THREE
SPECIFIC THINGS I MENTIONED TO GET US GOING WHICH IS STARTING
WITH A CONFERENCE FOR OUR YOUNG WOMEN, HAVING A NUMBER OF
ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR NEXT YEAR ON
SATURDAYS, A PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR OUR TEACHERS
SPECIFICALLY TO TRAIN ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO YOUNG WOMEN AND
CHILDREN OF COLOR AND THEN ALSO TO INSPIRE GRANTS OPPORTUNITIES
FOR OUR STUDENTS. THEY COME UP FROM THE GROUND UP
IN OUR SCHOOLS. >> A REPORT EARLIER THIS YEAR
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE A 3.5% INCREASE PER PUPIL
SPENDING. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT YOU
ARE PLANNING A MUCH LOWER INCREASE.
DO YOU PLAN TO MEET THE GROUP'S RECOMMENDATION?
>> MAYOR: WE WILL RELEASE OUR YOU BUDGET NEXT WEEK AND I CAN
TELL YOU IT WILL BE THE MOST WE'VE EVER SPENT IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
YES, TOM?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
IS THIS EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN THE PROGRAM FOR BOYS?
>> MAYOR: WELL, IT IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM
IS THAT WE HAVE TO DELIVER THE SERVICES IN A WAY THAT THE
CHILDREN NEED THEM, AND SO WHAT WE ASKED OUR EDUCATORS TO DO IS
TO IDENTIFY THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF GIRLS IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION,
BUT I WILL ADD AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR AND CHANCELLOR OF BOTH
SAID THAT WE ARE SEEDING PROGRAMS AND WE SEE THIS AS THE
BEGINNING.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> MAYOR: I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT
AND GET BACK TO YOU ON IT. YES, DENISE?
>> FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES OF THEIR
CHILDREN LEAVING AND RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE NEEDING SUPPORT AS
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU TELLING THEM? >> MAYOR: I TELL THEM A COUPLE
OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW THE
PRINCIPAL AND THE CHANCELLOR IS PLANNING TO MAKE A COMMUNICATION
TO DCPS FAMILIES AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS TO
DO THE SAME, AND WE WERE AT AND YOU MAY HAVE BEEN THERE, TOO, AT
A TOWN HALL THAT WAS HOSTED IN WARD 8 LAST WEEK AND A TEACHER,
I THINK SHE WAS A TEACHER FROM THE SCHOOL WHO WAS HOSTING THE
EVENT. SHE SAID PARENTS, LISTEN TO US.
A LOT OF TIMES THE TEACHERS, THE CHILDREN ARE TELLING THEIR
TEACHERS AND TALKING TO THEIR TEACHERS AND TEACHERS ARE GIVING
FEEDBACK, BACK TO PARENTS AND HER PLEA THEN WAS TO PLEASE
LISTEN TO US AND SO ONE THING IF THERE IS A PARENT WHO, AND THE
BEST PLACE REALLY FOR YOU TO COME IS IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOU
CAN CALL 311 AND ASK FOR SERVICES AND YOU WILL BE
CONNECTED TO THE PROPER AGENCY. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT YOU CAN ALSO ASK YOUR SCHOOL.
PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS AT SCHOOLS HOW TO BE CONNECTED
WITH THE BEST INFORMATION. ONE THING THAT WE ARE DOING WITH
OUR KIND OF STEPPED UP EFFORTS IS WHILE CHILDREN ARE NOT AT
HOME. UNTIL WE LOCATE THEM WE'RE
GIVING -- WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GIVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO
FAMILIES DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
THEN WE CAN LEARN, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE
HOUSEHOLD, WHAT ADDITIONAL ATTENTION OR SERVICES THE CHILD
MIGHT NEED OR THE FAMILY MIGHT NEED, AND WE SEE THAT AS ONGOING
WHEN THE CHILD IS LOCATED. I THINK WHAT I WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR TO OUR STUDENTS IS THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD AN EXPERIENCE OR WE
DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT CHILDREN WERE
KIDNAPPED OR SNATCHED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OKAY, SO
THAT'S NOT THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.
WHAT WE DO SEE, AND I EXPECT THAT WE SEE THIS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., DECIDED TO
DEAL WITH THESE REPORTS OF MISSING CHILDREN DIFFERENTLY.
NO LONGER, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE IN OUR PAST YEARS, WILL WE ONLY
ALERT THE PUBLIC TO A MISSING CHILD IF WE SUSPECT FOUL PLAY.
THAT HAD BEEN OUR PREVIOUS PRACTICE.
OUR NEW PRACTICE IF THERE IS A MISSING PERSONS REPORT FOR A
CHILD 15 OR YOUNGER WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE PUBLIC TO HELP US
LOCATE THAT CHILD. HERE'S THE REASON.
WE THINK THAT A CHILD -- IF A PARENT, GUARDIAN OR RESPONSIBLE
ADULT DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THAT CHILD IS THAT CHILD MAY BE IN
DANGER. THAT CHILD MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO
SOMEONE PREYING ON THAT CHILD AND THERE MAY BE A REASON WHY
THAT CHILD IS NOT AT HOME SO WE WANT TO FIND AND LOCATE THAT
CHILD AND GET THEM IN THE CARE OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT AND MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE PUTTING
THAT INFORMATION OUT PROACTIVELY.
WE DON'T SUSPECT THAT THERE IS ANY PATTERN OF FOUL PLAY
INVOLVING THE MISSING PERSONS REPORTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.
WE ACTUALLY SEE -- HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FEWER
MISSING PERSONS REPORTS THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME BUT
THEY ARE ALL TOO MANY AND THEY REPRESENT CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT
IN THE CARE OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT SO WE WANT TO LOCATE THEM
AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
EVEN CELEBRITIES ARE RETWEETING, THE FACT THAT 12 OR 14 GIRLS ARE
MISSING IN 24 HOURS? WHAT IS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU
KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE? >> MAYOR: I RECOGNIZE THAT
PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY ARE BEING HELPFUL.
UNFORTUNATELY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND TO SPREAD
MISINFORMATION. SO WHAT -- AND I APPRECIATE ALSO
THE SENTIMENT THAT IS BEHIND IT. THEY BELIEVE THAT YOUNG GIRLS OF
COLOR DON'T GET THE SAME ATTENTION AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS,
AND THAT SHOULD CHANGE AND ONE THING THAT WE HAVE DONE
DIFFERENTLY IS TO SAY THAT EVERY CRITICAL MISSING PERSON REPORT
DESERVES ATTENTION, DESERVES THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION AND DESERVES
ALL OF US TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS ARE REUNITED
WITH THEIR FAMILIES. YES, TOM?
>> IS THERE ANY CONCERN -- I NOTICE THE INCREASED NUMBER OF
TWEETS PUT OUT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR.
IS THERE ANY CONCERN THESE WILL BECOME SO ROUTINE AS TO BE LESS
OF AN ALERT AND JUST ONE MORE MISSING PERSON AT ALL THAT
SOCIAL MEDIA COULD BURN OUT QUICKLY IF YOU SEE TWO AND THREE
A WEEK OR FIVE OR SIX OR TEN A WEEK?
>> MAYOR: WELL, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, TOM, THAT WHEN WE
HAVE -- WE NEVER WANT A CHILD THAT NEEDS ADULT SUPERVISION AND
CARE AND IS NOT GETTING IT TO BECOME A ROUTINE SITUATION.
SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE TREAT THOSE CASES WITH CARE.
THAT WE ARE PUTTING THE INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES BEHIND
THEM TO GET THEM LOCATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT ALSO THE
SERVICES THAT FAMILIES NEED. OKAY.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. YES?
>> CAN WE MAKE A PARENT CHALLENGE?
IF A PARENT KNOWS THAT A CHILD THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO THEM IS
AT THEIR HOME, CAN THEY PLEASE CALL THAT OTHER PARENT TO FIND
OUT IF IT IS OKAY FOR THAT CHILD TO BE IN THE HOME, SPEAKING FROM
EXPERIENCE. >> YES, THAT IS A VERY GOOD
PIECE OF ADVICE AND SOMETIMES IT IS QUITE INNOCENT, RIGHT?
A KID COMES HOME WITH A FRIEND FROM SCHOOL.
THEY ARE STUDYING AND ONE SAYS, WELL, WHY DON'T I JUST STAY OVER
AND SO THAT IS A VERY GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE.
AND ALSO IF THAT PARENT WANTS TO CALL ON THE CITY FOR HELP THAT
WHERE THE CHILD IS STAYING THAT'S OKAY, TOO.
>> THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST THIS WARD, YOU KNOW I'M THE
WARD 5 RESIDENT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT EVERYONE AND MY QUESTION
IS AS A COMMUNITY NEIGHBOR, RESIDENT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO
ASSIST YOU, THE CHANCELLOR AND EVERYONE TO HELP IN THIS
SITUATION? >> MAYOR: CERTAINLY I WOULD
JUST -- WE ALL KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN 13, 14 AND 15-YEAR-OLDS,
RIGHT? AND ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT
IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED TO BE A 13, 14 OR
15-YEAR-OLD THAN WHEN I WAS THAT AGE AND SO WE SHOULD I THINK
FEEL COMFORTABLE IN REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGING
THEM TO TALK TO CARING ADULTS, AND BE A CARING ADULT AND BE A
MENTOR AND BE A PART OF WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GO WHEN THEY
NEED MENTORING AND ADVICE. THANK YOU.
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