Graduation celebrations had us hopping at Alternative House last month and in this issue of our newsletter, you'll get a peek at some of the fun.  Several of you were able to join us and we were thrilled you could come.  All year the young people in the Homeless Youth Initiative, Culmore Teen Center, and Culmore and Annandale Safe Youth Projects work hard to do well in school.  It's not always easy.  All of these children are either homeless or from families that have very little income.  Finding a quiet place to study, computers and internet access are all more difficult for these young people than the typical Northern Virginia youth.  When the end of the school year rolls around, it's wonderful to celebrate with them and recognize their achievements.  Next year I hope you'll be able to join us.  

 - Judith  

The Culmore Teen Center, grades 7-12, and the Culmore Safe Youth Proect, grades 4-6, had a Graduation Party and Celebration on June 15. Board members, staff and members of the community attended to celebrate with the young people. Dinner was prepared and donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. All of the graduates received certificates and the children received prizes. Our Culmore after school programs continue to operate during the summer with extended hours giving these young people a safe place to go during the day. We also offer lunch during the summer and continue serving dinner all year long.  Culmore Teen Center and CSYP

Our Annandale Safe Youth Project, grades 4-6, meets during the school year at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. We had a Graduation Party and end of school Celebration with them on June 13. The Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova, joined us to give out the certificates. Dinner was prepared and donated by John Calvin Presbyterian Church and Vienna Presbyterian Church. Many of the parents joined us for dinner and several of the children performed songs, danced and read poetry for the group. 

Annandale Safe Youth Project

On June 21 we had our Annual Summer Cook-Out at the Emergency Shelter for Teenagers. The staff and young people from the Culmore Teen Center and the Culmore Safe Youth Project joined the teens at the Shelter as well as the Alternative House Board of Directors for a great evening of fun. Volunteers and Shelter staff spent most of the day preparing dinner and getting ready. The young people had a great time playing games in the backyard after dinner. This was a wonderful opportunity for youth, staff and Board members to come together and get to know one another. 

The class of 2011 is our third class to graduate from our Homeless Youth Initiative (HYI) program. HYI is for unaccompanied youth trying to finish high school without parents or a legal guardian. This year we had 13 seniors in the program and all of them graduated. We have 4 students who are going on to 4 year universities and 9 students going on to NOVA or certificate programs. This is a major success for our program and the result of a great deal of hard work on the part of the students and the HYI staff. We are really proud of these young people. We celebrated with them on June 27 with a dinner provided by St. Stephen's Church.

Homeless Youth Initiative

This month we would like to thank the following groups for their hard work and support of our programs.

Long and Foster Realtors, cleaned and landscaped the yard for HYI.

Convergint Technologies, painted the CulmoreTeen Center and installed a new security system.

Reach One Church of Atlanta, Ga, provided yard work at the Shelter

SC&H Group, LLC, painted the fence and provided yard work at the Shelter.