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Dear family and friends,
I hope this email finds you well and thriving. I want to take this opportunity to tell you about what is going on in my life, and give you an opportunity to contribute to what is next in my development.
I just completed my sophomore year at the Calhoun School, with very good grades - my mom wants me to add. This year, I had the opportunity to explore my love for writing, through electives such as a personal memoir course. I also took advanced math courses, grew as a trumpet player and even wrote the lyrics to a song through my jazz elective. Outside of school I practiced jiu jitsu and participated in the Teen Activist Program from the New York Civil Liberties Union. Through that program I learned how to organize around civil rights and civil liberties issues affecting youth in New York City.
Perhaps most profound of all my experiences was my participation in a week long tour of Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) during the month of April. The tour, and the workshops leading up to it, gave me the opportunity to get a head start in thinking about college and what type of university I want to attend. I also learned about my history, and visited historical sites and universities, that I would have not considered attending otherwise. Most impactful of all, I built relationships with other young people of color and adult mentors, who like me want to thrive and go far in their careers, so that we can contribute to our families and make a difference in our communities.
This summer I will continue my development by attending the Encampment for Citizenship (http://encampmentforcitizenship.org), a program that has been around for over 50 years. This year the Encampment will take place in Southern California at Cal State University in Channel Islands. For one month, I will come together with youth from around the country from all sorts of different backgrounds. We will be immersed and engaged in social justice, diversity, equity and leadership work. Together will be tasked with creating a self-governing, democratic community. We will identify problems in our respective communities and develop strategies to combat them. We will also learn about the work that local communities are leading around issues of immigration, labor, and the environment.
This is an amazing opportunity and I am immeasurably blessed to have been chosen as a participant. I see this as a major aspect in my development as a leader and serviceable member of our community. Traveling in and of itself is a privilege and to be in this environment with so many other young people from around the country is an experience unlike any other.
My hopes are that I can take what I learn in the Encampment and translate it into my own community of The Bronx.
But to truly accomplish any of these things, I need your support. There is a tuition for the Encampment, and as participants we are tasked with covering our costs by soliciting support from our community members. I kindly request that you contribute towards my participation in the Encampment. I know that we can achieve the requirement because I am not just representing myself, but my entire community. With your support I believe that we can truly elevate our community and give those who come after the chance to make a difference. Any contribution would be more than enough and I promise I will not let you down.
Sincerely,
Omar
I hope this email finds you well and thriving. I want to take this opportunity to tell you about what is going on in my life, and give you an opportunity to contribute to what is next in my development.
I just completed my sophomore year at the Calhoun School, with very good grades - my mom wants me to add. This year, I had the opportunity to explore my love for writing, through electives such as a personal memoir course. I also took advanced math courses, grew as a trumpet player and even wrote the lyrics to a song through my jazz elective. Outside of school I practiced jiu jitsu and participated in the Teen Activist Program from the New York Civil Liberties Union. Through that program I learned how to organize around civil rights and civil liberties issues affecting youth in New York City.
Perhaps most profound of all my experiences was my participation in a week long tour of Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) during the month of April. The tour, and the workshops leading up to it, gave me the opportunity to get a head start in thinking about college and what type of university I want to attend. I also learned about my history, and visited historical sites and universities, that I would have not considered attending otherwise. Most impactful of all, I built relationships with other young people of color and adult mentors, who like me want to thrive and go far in their careers, so that we can contribute to our families and make a difference in our communities.
This summer I will continue my development by attending the Encampment for Citizenship (http://encampmentforcitizenship.org), a program that has been around for over 50 years. This year the Encampment will take place in Southern California at Cal State University in Channel Islands. For one month, I will come together with youth from around the country from all sorts of different backgrounds. We will be immersed and engaged in social justice, diversity, equity and leadership work. Together will be tasked with creating a self-governing, democratic community. We will identify problems in our respective communities and develop strategies to combat them. We will also learn about the work that local communities are leading around issues of immigration, labor, and the environment.
This is an amazing opportunity and I am immeasurably blessed to have been chosen as a participant. I see this as a major aspect in my development as a leader and serviceable member of our community. Traveling in and of itself is a privilege and to be in this environment with so many other young people from around the country is an experience unlike any other.
My hopes are that I can take what I learn in the Encampment and translate it into my own community of The Bronx.
But to truly accomplish any of these things, I need your support. There is a tuition for the Encampment, and as participants we are tasked with covering our costs by soliciting support from our community members. I kindly request that you contribute towards my participation in the Encampment. I know that we can achieve the requirement because I am not just representing myself, but my entire community. With your support I believe that we can truly elevate our community and give those who come after the chance to make a difference. Any contribution would be more than enough and I promise I will not let you down.
Sincerely,
Omar
Organizer
