Magnifying The Mind - Teens Raising Awareness about Mental Health

 In Reach's Youth Ambassadors at Parkdale High School in partnership with the Parkdale Student Government Association held an awesome mental health forum. Pictured with presenters and adult facilitators.

“1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%.”

On April 26, 2017, IN REACH’s Youth Ambassadors (YA) at Parkdale High School and members of the Student Government Association hosted a Mental Health Forum, Magnifying the Mind, to address teen mental health. The hands-on forum highlighted the warning signs of mental illness; coping mechanisms to handle stress; where teens can seek help; brought awareness to addiction, and how to break the stigma of “mental illness.”  

The diverse panel of mental health experts included Chmaika P. Mills, PhD candidate, Clinical Psychology; Audrey Forka, CRNP a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; Pamela Little, CEO of Plate of X’pressions, LLC; Rossalyn Martinez, LCSWC and Jessica Prentice, LCSWC; Rosa Lindquist, yoga instructor; Ben Malecki, a youth advocate at Parkdale High School, and Tobacco Prevention Ambassadors from Parkdale HS.

Before beginning the program, YAs distributed a pre-forum survey to their peers, where they were asked, “How they would spot someone with a mental illness,” and “What characteristics they would possess?”  182 students responded, below are some of their responses:

• “It’s not something that you can easily spot there are some people who seem or look perfectly fine which is the outside appearance but on the inside that’s where the problem is.”
• “I don’t think there is a specific look for people with mental illness.  Some characteristics possible are physical impairments such as twisted mouths, slanted eyes, but people can look totally fine & still have mental illness.”
• “There are many different signs for all the different illnesses.  Sometimes you may not even spot things at all some could be triggered by words, or sounds while in other’s you could never know.  They look like all of us.”

During the forum, students rotated through several mental health stations, spending 10-12 minutes listening to different professionals speak on their area of expertise and the resources that they provide.  Students learned how anxiety/stress and other mental health problems can negatively impact cognition and academic performance, and the stigma associated with receiving school accommodation.  They also learned basic relaxation techniques; that using art as therapy can relieve anxiety; yoga and meditation relieve stress; and learned ways to give their brain a break when preparing for tests.  

At the end of the forum, students were surveyed and asked if their knowledge about the subject increased as a result of participating in this activity?  Of the student who responded, 32% said yes; 10% said no.

“Yes” responses included: 

• “I got to learn that those who need help have to speak out to get help because it may get worse if not treated over time.”
• “Before the health fair, I initially referred mental illness to retardation, autism, etc. But now I know it extends to other things such as depression and others, this really broadened/ opened my mindset.”
• “It has enlightened me that some people who have a mental disorder are mostly anxious or stressed; and also art and yoga helps to relieve stress.”

The Youth Ambassadors is a school-based college access with a service learning heart program. The program engages high school students in a variety of opportunities to become college and career ready lead meaningful service learning projects and build life skills through financial literacy. Learn more at www.inreachinc.org.

#heartofafterschool

Our educators as afterschool professionals at Kenmoor Middle School. In Reach executive director, Toni Smith, third from left and program coordinator, Kayla Newsome, second from right.

In Reach, Inc. is joining with the National AfterSchool Association to celebrate the professionals that are at the heart of afterschool programs during "Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week" April 24-28, 2017.

There is no way we could operate without the dynamic educators who teach in our College and Career Ready 21st Century Community Learning Center or the superb principals who lead their school communities, Ms. Dorothy Clowers, William Paca Elementary School; Ms. Nancy Schickner, Carrollton Elementary School; and Ms. Maha Fadli, Kenmoor Middle School; and Dr. Lori Taylor at Parkdale High School for providing guidance for our Youth Ambassadors College Access Program. We appreciate you!

Carrollton Elementary School	William Paca Elementary School	Kenmoor Middle  School
Ernesa Bess	Alma Ardita	Annie Arches
Eboney Brisker	Melissa Bates	Mary Bass
Wanda Brooks	Denise Bishop-Edwards	Jeffrey Garcia
Gail Flowers	Sharie Canty	David Green
Shemayne Hooks	Novilen Capadnyan	Beverly Neal
Alisa Kove	Ailyn Carillo	Elizabeth Robinson
Tammy Little	Randi Coward	Gina Urban
Antonio Logan	Renee Mahomed-Washington
Lisa Smith-Parker	Claribel Mendoza
	Aileen Montillano
	Florence Moreno
	Melanie Rich-Neal and Janet Rivera

We are joining the effort because we believe Afterschool professionals make a difference in the life of a child. We encourage you to join us in thanking the afterschool professionals in your life. Here are some ideas on how you can show your appreciation:

• Declare on social media: "I believe Afterschool professionals make a difference in the life of a child. #heartofafterschool"
• Give a hand-written card from you and/or your child to the afterschool professional in your life.
• Send an email to an afterschool professional's supervisor describing why that person is appreciated.
• Make treats for the staff at your afterschool program. For more resources and information check out www.heartofafterschool.com.

Scholarship Opportunity

In Reach is a community-based nominating organization to the Posse Foundation for their Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship is aimed at identifying outstanding high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential. 

In Reach can nominate 10 rising seniors (currently in the 11th grade) for a chance to receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to one of five partner colleges and universities —Bucknell University, Lafayette College, University of Rochester, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Sewanee: The University of the South.  

If you are the parent or guardian of a rising senior, or know any rising high school seniors in Prince George's County, MD that you believe should have an opportunity to become a “Posse” scholar, and they are not being nominated by their school, In Reach is here to help. Click here for In Reach nominating application materials. Contact Ms. Gross via jgross@inreachinc.org or 301.357-8433 ext. 7005 for additional assistance.

Prospective nomination applications are being accepted until Friday, May 26, 2017. Don't delay!!

In the meantime, visit the Posse Foundation website at www.possefoundation.org to learn more about this amazing opportunity!

Keeping the Lights On Afterschool for #Families

October 18, 2016


Contact: Toni A. Smith
       301.357.8433 ext. 7001

Keeping the Lights On Afterschool for Families

Landover, MD – On Thursday, October 20, 2016, at William Paca Elementary School children, parents, businesses and community leaders will come together to celebrate Lights On Afterschool. The national celebration is being held to draw attention to the need for more afterschool programs to serve the millions of children nationwide who are unsupervised and at risk each weekday afternoon. Locally, it is being organized to demonstrate the positive and powerful outcomes of communities working together to support the Prince George’s County Public School System. Lights On Afterschool for Families at William Paca Elementary School will be one of more than 8,000 such events across the nation emphasizing the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open after school. 

Hosted by community partner In Reach, the Lights On Afterschool for Families celebration will engage students, their families and the community in a number of hands-on and engaging activities to reinforce the importance of afterschool programs. Participants in In Reach’s College and Career Ready 21st Century Community Learning Center’s Afterschool Program and Family Academy will be in for a real treat as the 2016-2017 program kicks off with this event.

Recent data from America After 3PM, the research series on afterschool programs commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance, shows a vast unmet demand for afterschool programs nationwide. In Maryland, 150,112 children participated in an afterschool programs in 2014, only 16%, yet 280,319, or 36%, would be enrolled if a program were available. Further, 87% percent of Maryland’s parents were satisfied with their child’s afterschool program, and 64% percent agreed that afterschool programs give working parents peace of mind for that same year.  More work needs to be done to meet the demand for afterschool programs that keep Maryland’s kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. 

“In Reach has enjoyed an enriching partnership with the William Paca family for over four years and I am extremely delighted to be able to host this year’s Lights On Afterschool event with such a dynamic principal, Ms. Dorothy Clowers, a cadre of dedicated educators and amazing families. We are all very proud of our afterschool students and families,” said Toni Smith, executive director. There's no reason that learning should stop at 3 p.m., particularly if the alternative is unsupervised time in front of a television set, or any of the dangerous or unhealthy behaviors that can ensnare children in the afternoons. Like so many other afterschool programs around the nation, ours is supported by funding from the Maryland State Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative. Since its creation, it has provided funding to allow hundreds of children to attend afterschool. We need to grow this funding stream for afterschool and summer learning programs.

~

In Reach’s College and Career Ready 21st Century Community Learning Center opened its doors to William Paca Elementary School students and families in 2015 with a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the Maryland State Department of Education. The College and Career Ready 21st CCLC serves almost 200 children, providing homework assistance, tutoring, and classes and clubs in sports, reading, and mathematics, and dozens of other subjects at three Prince George’s County Public Schools. For more information about In Reach, visit www.inreachinc.org.

Lights On Afterschool is organized by the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs. Lights On Afterschool has been celebrated annually since 2000. More information on the Afterschool Alliance, Lights On Afterschool and America After 3PM is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Dedication | Patience | Love - #TeacherAppreciationWeek

Our amazing team at William Paca Elementary School in Landover, MD
In Reach Executive Director Toni Smith (far left) and Principal Dorothy Clowers (third from right)

During Teacher Appreciation Week, In Reach warmly thanks all of the amazing educators it is fortunate to work with in the Prince George's County Public School System to implement its College and Career Ready 21st Century Community Learning Center Program and Youth Ambassadors College Access High School Program. We could not do our work without these awesome educators. They are an intricate part of our existence and make our work possible.

This week, we recognize our educators for their

Dedication - most people do not understand the level of dedication it takes to manage a classroom with twenty or more personalities, learn each personality, teach each unique child, give assignments, grade them, complete assessments, talk to parents and so much more and this is all in one day!

Patience - with so much on their plate every day including working with partners like In Reach, usually after an already long day, we are thankful for their patience. 

Love - there is no way they could do all that they do without love. Although working with children can be very fulfilling, only love for them could truly sustain the amount of energy required to perform each day. We know this from experience.

Today, we recognize and thank each and everyone of our amazing and awesome educators.

William Paca Elementary School
Alma Ardita
Denise Bishop-Edwards
Novilen Bendebel Capadngan
Lisa-Michele Dunmore
Lekitta Epps
Renee Mahomed-Washington
Claribel Mendoza
Aileen Montillano
Florence Moreno
Teixeira Reynolds
Janet Rivera
Beverly Wilborn-Butler

Carrollton Elementary School
Ernesa Bess
Eboney Brisker
Tiffany Dupree
Rebecca Harrison
Edwin Ibias
Alisa Kove
Karen Mack
Teresa Trozzo

Kenmoor Middle School
Randi Coward
Jasmine Davis
Jeffrey Garcia
Beverly Neal 
Elizabeth Robinson
Maya Webb

Parkdale High School
Erica Bullock
Shayne Swift
Melvin Twine

To Be Beautiful Means to Be Yourself - Children's #MentalHealth Matters!

May 1 – 7, 2016, marks the annual celebration of Children’s Mental Health Matters! Campaign Week. In Reach, Inc., has joined the Children’s Mental Health Matters! Campaign - a collaboration of the Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD) and the Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) with support from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Behavioral Health Administration - to celebrate!

The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health. According to Harvard University’s Center of the Developing Child, the foundation for positive mental health begins taking shape in the earliest years. Experiences in the first 3 years of life, from relationships with parents, caregivers, and teachers can significantly impact a child’s developing brain. Negative experiences during critical developmental years can have lifelong implications such as hindering a child’s capacity for learning and ability to relate to others. Many costly problems, ranging from the failure to complete high school to incarceration, could be dramatically reduced if attention were paid to improving children’s environments of relationships and experiences early in life.

Each year, the network of nearly 250 partners and schools throughout the state celebrates Children’s Mental Health Matters! with over a week of events, workshops, media, outreach and other awareness raising activities. National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week is geared toward raising awareness to the issues and causes integral to the children's mental health field in each of the communities across the country. 

To raise awareness and create dialogue about emotions and mental wellness among students, families, and educators, In Reach will host a family movie night at partner William Paca Elementary School in Landover, Maryland where it will screen the Disney film Inside Out. Students in In Reach's program at Kenmoor Middle School will view the movie and complete the Walk in My Shoes activity for the 4th Annual Anti-Stigma Art Project.  

For more information and resources for addressing children’s mental health, visit http://www.ChildrensMentalHealthMatters.org

#heartofafterschool

In Reach, Inc. 

Celebrates the Heart of Afterschool Programs During the First Ever

“AFTERSCHOOL PROFESSIONALS APPRECIATION WEEK”

April 25-29, 2016

Prince George’s County, MD, April 25, 2016 – In Reach, Inc., is joining with the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) to celebrate the professionals that are at the heart of afterschool programs during the first ever “Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week” April 25-29, 2016.

“We believe Afterschool professionals make a difference in the life of a child,” said Executive Director Toni Smith “We encourage everyone to join us this week in thanking the afterschool professionals in their lives.”

Why is it important to recognize Afterschool Professionals?

An estimated 10.2 million children participate in afterschool programs each year. Today, afterschool programs are viewed as much more than just childcare. They are widely credited as the way to enhance education in STEM, literacy, the arts, social and emotional learning, health and wellness, and more. With that demand comes increased responsibility on the estimated 850,000 of professionals who are making a difference in the lives of our children.

What is Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week?

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week is a joint effort of community partners, afterschool programs, youth and child care workers, and individuals who have committed to dedicating time to recognize and appreciate those who work with youth during out-of-school hours. The week is marked by celebrations and public relations efforts to encourage people to thank afterschool professionals serving children in programs and organizations across the nation.

Who is an Afterschool Professional?

An Afterschool Professional is someone who works with children and youth in diverse school and community-based settings to provide a wide variety of extended learning opportunities and care during out-of-school hours. Currently, there is an estimated 850,000 afterschool professionals in the US.

How can I thank an Afterschool Professional?

--Declare on social media: “I believe Afterschool professionals make a difference in the life of a child. #heartofafterschool”

--Give a hand-written card from you and/or your child to the afterschool professional in your life.

--Send an email to an afterschool professional’s supervisor describing why that person is appreciated.

--Make treats for the staff at your afterschool program.

When was Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week introduced?

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week was announced during the NAA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on March 20, 2016, by NAA President & CEO Gina Warner.

For more information about Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week visit: http://www.heartofafterschool.com. For more information about In Reach visit www.inreachinc.org or call 301.357.8433.

Prince George's County's Finest - Excellence Always!

 L-R, Mr. Cliff Barnes, Hon. Ingrid Turner, NHC President Tomeka Bumbry, Program Chair, Crystal Christmas-Watson,
In Reach's Executive Director, Toni Smith, and Mr. Ronnie Gathers

Prince George's County's Finest - Founder and Executive Director Toni A. Smith Receives Award of Excellence in Education

Prince George’s County, Maryland – On Sunday, April 10, 2016, In Reach’s Founder and Executive Director, Ms. Toni A. Smith, received an Award of Excellence in Education from the National Harbor Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., during its Fifth Anniversary Celebration. “How appropriate,” she said “for me to receive my first Award of Excellence from an organization that values family, education and service. It does not get much better than this.” 

Since its inception in December 1999, Ms. Smith has worked tirelessly to build In Reach into a full-fledged community-focused education organization with the primary goal of bringing opportunity in reach to more students in their communities. Starting with forty students attending two partner schools, an elementary afterschool program and an in-school high school program, both programs focused on preparing students for college, work and life. Today, In Reach provides afterschool programs to nearly two hundred students attending Title I schools through its K-8 College and Career Ready 21^st Century Community Learning Center and Youth Ambassadors College Access High School Program. 

Having worked in a variety of local and national youth advocacy nonprofit environments, Ms. Smith has over twenty-five years of experience in nonprofit service, management and leadership. She has a long-standing commitment to children's issues and an intimate understanding of the wide array of social justice issues faced by children, youth and families. Professionally, she has found her greatest joy through In Reach where she is able to bring her whole self to improving the lives of children and youth, empowering women and girls to reach their full potential, and promoting the vital work of the nonprofit sector. 

Ms. Smith was delighted to share the spotlight with three other amazing recipients: the Honorable Ingrid M. Turner, Esq., for Civic Excellence; Mr. Ronnie Gathers, director of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County, MD for Recreational Excellence; and Mr. Cliff Barnes, member Epstein Becker & Green in the Health Care and Life Sciences Practice for Excellence in Health. However, the true star of the evening was Mr. Brandon C. Welcome, the National Harbor Chapter’s first Scholarship Awardee and student in the Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George’s Community College, graduating this year with a 4.25 GPA and a plan to attend Morehouse College in the fall to major in Political Science.

In Reach, Inc., is a tax exempt 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization designed to prepare students for college, work and life. Founded in 1999, In Reach envisions healthy, productive and prepared young adults in every family. To learn more about In Reach, visit www.inreachinc.org. In Reach is currently celebrating its sixteenth year, #TheBIGSixteen.

#Money, Money, Money!

April is National Financial Literacy Month, the perfect time for a financial health checkup. For parents, especially, I am certain there are times where it feels like there is simply not enough money to go around. Between buying food, paying bills, and having enough funds for transportation, the money doesn’t seem last too long. Now is a great time to make a change. No matter what your finances look like today, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Here are five tips to get you started on your journey to better financial health:

1. $ave whatever you can, just get started. If you have $10 and can only save $1, then save $1. The important thing is that you begin to form a habit of saving, the more you do it the more you will want to do it and will begin to think about doing it.

2. Educate yourself on financial matters. The more you know, the better you will be able to plan. There is a lot to learn— everything from investing to retirement—so take your time. Look for free classes at your local library and through community organizations including your place of worship.

3. Think twice, purchase once. Do you really need whatever you are about to purchase? Really? 

4. Include everyone in your household. There is strength in numbers. When you work together as a team, everyone moving in the same direction, you are more likely to be successful. This includes the children too. 

5. Don’t compare yourself to others. We must all run our own race. Don’t let what others are doing with their money determine your course. Stay focused on your plan. 

For a full checkup, visit www.mymoney.gov to learn more about the five building blocks for managing and growing your money.

Pick Up a Book and #Read with a Child

Each year on March 2, we celebrate National Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss’ birthday) with the goal of encouraging children to read for enjoyment and providing parents and families with the tools to help them do so.

Reading is at the core of learning and children who do more of it tend to be more successful in school. According to the International Reading Association, seven out of eight students with reading problems in first grade continue to struggle with reading in 9^th grade. They get better but never catch up. Students reading on grade level read twice as much outside of school (thirty minutes a day), and students reading two grade levels above, read for a full hour a day outside of school on average.¹

Parents play an extremely important role in encouraging and supporting their child in learning to read and continuously helping him/her strengthen his/her skills. Here are some tips supporting your child in becoming an awesome reader:

1.  Stay engaged with your child's teachers to keep up with what’s going on in their classrooms. Ask teachers how you can make your child’s learning skills stronger.

2.  Use the Library - your local public library is a wonderful place to start and continue your families reading journey. There are so many amazing resources onsite and online for parents/family members to sign up for, free, as well computers available at each location to use for job search, typing resumes and much more. Don’t have a library card? Now is an excellent time to get one for everyone in the household.

3.  Subscribe to a Reading Rockets Growing Readers Newsletter for ongoing information and monthly tip sheets (available in English and Spanish) on raising strong readers and writers,  http://www.readingrockets.org/newsletters/extras.

^1. The Future of Children (2012). Literacy Challenges for the Twenty-First Century, VOLUME 22, NUMBER 2, FALL 2012. 

Turn the Lights On Afterschool!

On October 22, more than a million people in thousands of schools and communities across the United States will turn their lights on for afterschool by joining the only national rally for afterschool programs.

According to the Afterschool Alliance, more than 8,000 afterschool programs are expected to participate in the 16th annual Lights On Afterschool. The day will take shape in various community service events, museums, parks and recreation facilities, state capitols, malls, and other settings.

Here in Prince George’s County, we are honored and excited to take part in our third Lights On Afterschool event in collaboration with our partner school, Carrollton Elementary, at their Fall Harvest Festival on October 23, with crafts, relay races and workshops that celebrate afterschool programs as they keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.

Lights On Afterschool is organized by the Afterschool Alliance to bring attention to the need to invest in afterschool programs, which provide homework help, healthy snacks, mentoring, physical fitness, robotics, computer programming, community service opportunities, art and music, college readiness, and countless opportunities for hands-on learning.

“Quality afterschool programs help students hone their skills and discover their passions, preparing them to succeed in school and in life,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “Lights On Afterschool events give children and youth the chance to showcase the talents they develop at their afterschool programs, which offer hands-on, engaging activities that are both educational and fun. But too many afterschool programs are without the resources they need to serve all the children in their communities who need them and families, schools, communities and the country suffer as a result.”

During the 2015 celebration, In Reach is looking forward to raising awareness about the value and necessity of afterschool programs in Prince George’s County, MD. In Reach's Executive Director, Toni Smith shared, "Afterschool programs are an extremely valuable extension of the school day that all children should have access to."

Help us protect afterschool funding. Sign the petition! For more information visit: www.afterschoolalliance.org

What does public lands, partnerships and service have in common?

MEDIA ALERT

September 15, 2015

Contact: Arielle Reynoso, Partner Engagement Specialist

Areynoso@inreachinc.org

The LEAPing Frogs Community Garden

The Value of Public Lands, Partnerships and Community Service

On Saturday, September 19^th Students, family members, teachers and volunteers “LEAP” (Learning. Environmental Engagement. Awareness. Productivity.) into a day of active volunteerism and ownership in beautifying school grounds prior to and in honor of National Public Lands Day.

In Reach and Carrollton Elementary School have planned a day of activities to raise environmental awareness, encourage an active lifestyle and build community in the New Carrollton city of Prince George’s County, MD. A collaborative event, funded by a grant from the Maryland's Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, will take place on September 19^th from 9am to 11am.

The day will consist of a general clean-up of the garden area, removal of invasive plants, planting of tulips and preparing the garden for the winter. Additionally, volunteers will take part in pre-planting stretching and light exercising inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Outside” children’s health initiative as it aligns directly with the vision and goal in our growing partnership with Prince George’s County schools and in this event. In a report provided by Alliance of a Healthier Generation, Maryland is the 21^st most obese state in the U.S. for children at a shocking 32% while the physical inactivity rate is at a solid 25%. Our event will help decrease screen and couch time and get the children of the Carrollton Elementary community on their feet and outdoors to take part in a meaningful day which will bring the community together and create something beautiful to bloom.

Although National Public Lands Day is formally taking place on September 26^th, it is the nation’s largest volunteer event acknowledging public lands. According to the National Environment Education Foundation in 2014, about 175,000 volunteers took part in this event at various sites across the nation! National Public Lands Day is a fantastic opportunity to get off the couch and out into the beautiful outdoors. Volunteers can participate as a family, with a school, community or other national organizations and non-profits. All volunteers will undoubtedly get the satisfaction that comes from preserving and protecting public lands, along with physical exercise and family and community togetherness in a day full of, planting, enhancing and beautifying.

For more information about National Public Lands Day and if you want to learn more about how to get involved at site near you visit their website at publiclandsday.org. To learn more about In Reach visit our website.

In Reach is a nonprofit organization with the mission of preparing students for college, work and life. It organizes on-going events with its students, their families, partner schools, and other community members and entities to raise awareness, educate and build relationships to reduce the issues that challenge its mission specifically those associated with poverty. 

How amazing are Prince George's County parents?!

2015 Amazing Parent recipients (c) flanked by In Reach staff and presenters.

Largo, MD | On June 14, 2015, In Reach, Inc., held its Fourth Annual Celebrating Amazing Prince George’s County Parents Awards Program, an event honoring outstanding parents with children currently enrolled in a Prince George’s County Public School.

“Each year, I am more amazed than the last of our wonderful and diverse pool of nominees. Prince George’s County has many amazing parents and it is time they are recognized. It is my hope that In Reach can be a vessel for which these incredibly engaged and involved parents can someday, collectively, raise their voices on behalf of all children in the county especially those living in lower income and under-served communities. Our children deserve the best we have to offer,” said Executive Director, Ms. Toni Smith.

Congratulations again to our three 2015 Amazing Parent Award recipients:

Mr. Robert Mathieu, recipient of the Ingrid M. Turner Amazing Parent Award for demonstrating a strong sense of community as a volunteer, coach and mentor. Mr. Mathieu represents the Barnaby Manor ES community.

Ms. Sharon Lewis, recipient of the Parks and Recreation Amazing Parent Award for being an awesome and dedicated bridge builder in the lives of children. Ms. Lewis represents the (High Bridge ES) Samuel Ogle MS community.

Ms. Dina Bell Nance, recipient of the In Reach, Inc. Amazing Parent Award for being an all around selfless individual, active in the school and community, and an incredible parent who best demonstrates a well-rounded presence. Ms. Nance represents the Walker Mill MS community.

In Reach would also like to thank all 18 of the 2015 nominees: Mr. Mark & Mrs. Monique Adams, Ms. Gwendolyn Allen, Ms. Nicole Barnett, Ms. Gayle Brown, Ms. LaShawn James, Ms. Mary Lane, Ms. Sharon Lewis, Ms. Janice Lofland, Mr. Robert Mathieu, Mr. Jerrod Mustaf, Ms. Dina Nance, Ms. Lisa Ojeda-Brown, Ms. Christine Price, Ms. Sherry A. Rather, Ms. Debbie Robinson, Ms. Ayanna Niambi Shorter and Ms. Cynthia Weaver.

"Our children are our future and we need to build strong and vibrant communities and institutions to support them. We must support and encourage effective parenting, which is the most essential ingredient in child development.  I am encouraged by the work of organizations like "In Reach, Inc." that have enhanced parent involvement and child advocacy as a primary goal," shared Alvin Thornton, Ph.D.

In Reach thanks all of the individuals and sponsors who helped make the Fourth Annual Celebrating Amazing Prince George’s County Parents Awards Program a success especially our passionate guest speaker Dr. Alvin Thornton; the Honorable Ingrid M. Turner, former Council Member, District 4; Ms. Shawna Fachet of the Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation; Mr. Jaracus Copes, President of New Destiny, LLC and Master of Ceremonies; and Kelly Bell, In Reach Board Directors, all pictured above.

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In Reach, Inc., is a tax exempt 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization designed to prepare students for college, work and life. Founded in 1999, In Reach envisions healthy, productive and prepared young adults in every family. To learn more about our work, visit www.inreachinc.org.