TPEP 2011 “Summer Sizzler” kicked off on July 11 with weekly workshops focused on self- empowerment, self- image and self-identity as African-American women.
Field Trips: Exciting field trips reinforced those concepts. The teens participated in Women’s Empowerment Field Day learning about the accomplishments and challenges of great women. The group visited the National Council of Negro Women Headquarters for a special tour and learned more about the work of the legendary civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy I. Height, followed by lunch on historic U Street at Bus Boys & Poets (a restaurant dedicated to the work of Langston Hughes). Later, the girls also had the opportunity to tour the national historic home of educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune, who was instrumental in advancing the interests of African American women around the world.
“Restaurant Wednesdays”: During this month the TPEP girls facilitated, managed and participated in their very own “Restaurant Wednesdays” featuring themed lunch meals like Cook Out, Soul Food, TPEP Cookies & Cakes, raising $500.00 to be used for their August retreat and graduation ceremony.
Inspiration: Finally, the teens had the opportunity to meet former teen parent, Ms. Nicole Lynn Lewis, who is now a wife, public speaker, author and CEO/founder of Generation Hope, a nonprofit that provides direct sponsorship and college support for disadvantaged teen parents. Nicole’s book Glori describes her experiences as a teen parent. Our teens were inspired by Nicole’s journey and story through love, loss, struggle and motherhood as a teen.