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Dear Friend,
As we transition from the warmth of summer into the excitement of fall, the LILI team is ready to embark on another year of engaging students in experiential learning opportunities that ignite their curiosity, inspire creativity, and foster a love for lifelong learning. Over the past several months, our team has worked hard to refine our curriculum, seek out new destination partnerships, and explore innovative ways to grow our donor base. We are committed to this work and we are so grateful that you are too.
If you're new here, welcome! We invite you to read through our fall issue of The Progress Report— a place that captures the growth of our organization. Below you will learn more about our incredible Fellows, new partner schools, and a pro bono opportunity that supports our development and communications strategies.
Thank you once again for your commitment to our students and our teachers. We look forward to your active participation and enthusiasm as we make this school year an unforgettable one. If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Your input is deeply appreciated!
Sincerely,
Erin McSpadden & Maryam Trowell
P.S. Interested in learning more about our impact? Take a look at our 2022-2023 Impact Report here.
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In just a few short weeks, our Programming team will be traveling all across the city to bring experiential learning to our third-fifth grade students. This year, we are excited to welcome back Drew ES (Ward 7) and add Excel Academy (Ward 6) , Hearst ES (Ward 3), and Van Ness ES (Ward 8) to the Live It Learn It family. We look forward to working with our partner schools soon!
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For She's a Jolly Good Fellow
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Many of you have heard about our two phenomenal Fellows, Julia and Maya. They serve our students tirelessly in and out of the classroom, support the development of our organization, and keep us laughing with their hilarious energy! The Fellows are beginning their second year of the fellowship where they will focus on curriculum development, in addition to further building out their skill set as educators. Read on to learn more from their experience as first-time Fellows.
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What has surprised you about yourself during the fellowship?
Julia: The rapid-paced environment has compelled me to consistently embrace and tackle any challenge or new experience. Before joining LILI, I described myself as adaptable, but I feel like this fellowship is the first time I really had to prove it. Not only do I possess the ability to adapt under pressure, but I also have the capacity to excel and take the lead in high-pressure situations.
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What is something you have learned as a Fellow that you will take with you beyond LILI?
Maya: The fellowship is cultivating a confidence within myself as a working professional and in the classroom as an educator. It has highlighted the importance of building relationships within the community while also reinforcing skills like attention to detail, time management, and collaboration.
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In an effort to foster a deeper sense of belonging to LILI, our Fellows have developed an orientation session for third-grade students and classes that are brand new to the LILI community. The goal is to learn more about our approach to learning, celebrate and honor their classmates, and connect with our educators. We are excited to pilot these sessions to help students feel more connected to our organization this year.
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New Board Member!
Melani currently serves as a DCPS teacher and is passionate about providing culturally responsive, child-centered experiences that support the whole child and foster a deep love of learning— making her a perfect fit for our Board.
Get to know Melani→
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Summer Sessions
For the fifth consecutive year, staff attended and facilitated an interactive session at WISSIT for DMV educators. They participated in the Smithsonian National Education Summit to learn more about creating a sense of belonging and authenticity in the classroom.
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Over the summer, we were fortunate to receive a pro bono partnership with Georgetown graduate student, Alissa Platz. Alissa reached out to LILI to complete her Capstone project as part of the Master's in Public Relations and Corporate Communications program. She developed a full-scale communications plan that included background information, objectives, strategies, and tactics in order to increase LILI’s donor base and expand our reach in the DC area. Alissa worked diligently to provide our organization with the latest findings and research, and was even granted the Outstanding Capstone Award by her program. We deeply appreciate her commitment to supporting our organization’s efforts and introducing new concepts and ideas for us to explore in the future. Congratulations, Alissa!
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Next month we’re hosting our Experience: Live It Learn It event. We’ve created this opportunity to let new and old friends see Live It Learn It’s work firsthand by participating in a field trip and creating your very own artwork. This fundraising event is focused on portraiture and is inspired by our student lesson, Painting Our Identity, but updated for an adult audience. Don't miss this opportunity to attend as space is limited!
Feel free to invite your friends, colleagues, and anyone you believe would benefit from this hands-on event.
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| ICYMI: What better way to kick off the new school year than by joining the LILI Honor Roll? For just $15 a month you can support one student as they explore and learn at places like the National Museum of Natural History, Planet Word, and the Kreeger Museum. |
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Women Supporting Women
| We want to give a big shout out to the Corcoran Women's Committee for their continued support of our programming unit, Taking a Stand, at the Phillips Collection. Thank you for your commitment to promoting the arts for our youth! |
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Vote, Vote, Vote!
| Have you voted for us through Target Circle? If not, there's still time! See how you can help direct Target's giving to benefit LILI and the community. Cast your votes by 9/30 when purchasing any item from Target. |
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