Wednesday April 18^th 5:30 PM

Wednesday May 16^th 5:30 PM

Saturday June 2^nd 10:00 AM

Wednesday July 18^th 5:30 PM

Saturday August 4^th 10:00 AM

Saturday October 6^th 10:00 AM

Saturday November 3^rd 10:00 AM

Saturday December 1^st 10:00 AM

E-mail Cedric to sign up for one of our New Mentor Training sessions:
cedric@bestkids.org

BEST Kids’ oldest youth participated in the MLK Day of Service at Dunbar High School for the January Peer Group event. Organized by City Year, this project brought in nearly 1,000 volunteers and focused on a campus-wide beautification project of Dunbar, America’s first public high school built for African American youth. The BEST Kids youth enjoyed the opportunity to learn and do service together while reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy.

Read more about the event at:

http://wamu.org/news/12/01/16/education_secretary_joins_service_project_at_dunbar_high

The lower peer group had a session devoted to “Making Good Choices” and they discussed decision-making, conflict resolution and played the game “Would you rather?”

The middle peer group went ice skating and all of the youth and mentors in attendance tried skating, even though many had to overcome some initial anxieties about stepping out on the ice.

The upper peer group participated in City Year’s MLK Day of Service and reflected on MLK’s legacy.

See more about the conference at:

http://www.mentoring.org/program_resources/training_and_events/national_mentoring_summit

Attendees included long-time supporters as well as new faces to BEST Kids. “I thought the banquet afforded us a great opportunity to expose people to the mission and vision of BEST Kids on a scale we have not yet managed to achieve.  And they seemed to respond.  This is such an awesome organization, I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I guess you never know until you see it,” said Board Vice President and Banquet Speaker Rev. Ed Allen.  Several of the tables were generously sponsored by individuals and organizations, while other tables introduced new people and groups to each other.  “There was awesome energy in the room before, during and after the program,” Allen continued.

This banquet marks BEST Kids’ first large-scale fundraising event and set a high precedent for future events with friends of the organization.  Said Allen, “I really believe the banquet was a real first step toward creating a support base that can carry BEST Kids to the next level.”  Mentors and other longer-term supporters also recognized the growth the banquet signaled for the organization.  “BEST Kids’ first fundraiser showed me just how much the organization has grown since I first started mentoring with them in 2006. It was truly a supportive and warm event where I felt free and encouraged to share the rewards and challenges I have with my current mentee,” said BEST Kids Mentor and Banquet Speaker Sonali Patel.  BEST Kids Staff and Board Members felt that the banquet was so successful that they are already in talks regarding the next large-scale event.

This training will include both the mandatory BEST Kids training portion and the mandatory CFSA Training.

Please rsvp to:  cedric@bestkids.org

Date: November 3, 2011
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm

Place: Arlington Hilton                                                                                                                                                  950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, Virginia, USA, 22203                                                                      Meeting Room: Gallery I and II                                                                                                                      Near Ballston Metro Stop (Orange Line)                                                                                                      Discounted parking is available next door to the hotel.                                                              

Deadline to RSVP: October 26, 2011

Cost: Purchase a seat for $70 or sponsor a table for $500 (9 seats/meals).

To pay by check: Please make checks out to BEST Kids, Inc. Checks can be sent to:

BEST Kids, Inc. c/o Sheila Bodner                                                                                                               901 N. Monroe Street #807                                                                                                                         Arlington, VA  22201

703-248-0336

To pay by credit card: To pay using your credit card, please click on the ‘Donate Now’ tab in the yellow box to the right.  Include the requested number of tickets or tables in the memo line.

Email questions to:

tickets@bestkids.org

Or call: 703-248-0336

Directions to Hilton Hotel

950 N. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA, 703-528-6000

Subway/Metro

Take the Orange Line to the Ballston-MU stop. At the top of the escalator walk straight into the Ballston Metro Center complex (20 feet). The hotel lobby is on the left.

From the North

Take I-95 south to I-495. Take I-495 west towards Northern Virginia proceed onto I-66 east until exit 71 (Fairfax Drive/Glebe Road). Go straight on Fairfax to Stafford Street (fourth light), and turn right. The hotel is on the immediate right.

From the South

I-95 North to I-395 North. Continue north on I-395 until exit 7 (Glebe Road/Rte 120). Proceed on North Glebe Road for about 3.3 miles to Fairfax Drive, make a right. Proceed to the second stoplight and turn right on Stafford Street. The hotel is on the right.

From the West

I-66 east toward Washington, DC. Take exit 71 (Glebe Road/Fairfax Drive) Proceed straight onto Fairfax Drive. Turn right on Stafford Street, after the fourth stoplight. Hotel is on the right.

From the East

Take I-66 West until exit 71 (Fairfax Drive/Glebe Road). At the top of the exit ramp, turn left onto Glebe Road. At the third stoplight, turn left onto Fairfax Drive. Proceed on Fairfax Drive two stoplights to Stafford Street and turn right. The hotel will is on the right. (note: I-66 West is HOV-2 only from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm)

At the event, the members of the upper peer group all pitched in to prepare a hearty and nutritious meal that they then shared with homeless and hungry guests.  After dinner preparation, the YSOP leader explained that eating with the guests was an important aspect of the program and that the group would all serve their guests and then join them for the meal.

Despite some initial hesitation, the youth all warmed up to the guests quickly, engaging in conversations and joking around with them. There was a really positive atmosphere during the dinner and everyone learned something important from their interactions. There wasgame-playing, singing, political discussions, and even some dancing.

In the reflection session after clean-up, the group identified some commonly held stereotypes of homeless people. Then the group discussed how the guests that evening had challenged all of these stereotypes. The group reported that many of the guests were intelligent, friendly, and knowledgeable about current events.  One of the BEST Kids youth reported that she thought she had a tough life but didn’t realize just how tough the challenges are that some people face.

During the picnic, the group started off with a game of kickball, and then the kids, guests in tow, divided into the lower, middle and upper peer groups to do some ice breakers. After this, the new staff members introduced themselves and then everyone enjoyed a classic picnic meal of pulled pork sandwiches, salad, corn muffins, baked beans and lemonade. After lunch, everyone took advantage of the many opportunities to play at the park- swinging, monkeybars, tennis, building sandcastles, hula hooping and sidewalk chalking were just some of the highlights. It’s pretty safe to say that fun was had by all!