The students at White Oak Elementary did a great job with their drawings in our philanthropy class last Friday June 7, 2013. We watched a video featuring Will Smith speaking about achievement and greatness, focused on hard work honing a skill and the importance of helping others. We then listened to a speech by MLK, called “Loving Your Enemy.” We then held an open discussion about issues in our world and community, and the students each did a writing or art project campaigning for a better world. Many focused on the environment and helping the sick and the elderly, Aldon and Bill were class standouts.

So What Else helped out at the Taste of Wheaton this past Sunday, June 9th. We brought out a group of almost 10 people who were on site from 8am until 5, helping the vendors get their stands set up and functioning. It was an enjoyable day for all participating!

In addition to contributing to the cause, So What Else helped to staff the Taste of Potomac on Saturday night hosted by Adoptions Together. Special thanks to volunteers Sherry Warren, Debbie Yaffe and Daphne Clark who all spent the majority of the evening at the Bindemann Center. The event was a success and we were happy to serve.

Last Thursday at the White Oak Recreation our weekly integrative wellness class led by Jesse Breslerman was joined by environmental educator Davey Rogner. It’s great to have people come in and share their passions!

Last Wednesday, So What Else put together a volunteer team for Bikes for the World. We have signed on for another event July 13. 2013 at their Arlington warehouse, please join us for this day of fun service and bike preparation.

This upcoming Friday at 2pm we celebrate the end of the school year at the White Oak Recreation Center. We are still looking for volunteers and artists and musicians for this event. Please join us on Friday at 1700 April Lane Silver Spring, MD.

News from this week:
 
So What Else dropped off some clothes and a collection of large blankets to Stepping Stones in Rockville. This is part of our new initiative to deliver goods bi-annually. We will do our final 2013 Community Day the first Saturday in December.
 
We finished up our final two classes at Shady Grove. We’d like to thank Principal Edward Owusu for piloting our So What Else programs. The classes were a major success and we hope that the students get involved in our mission to serve the community.
 
So What Else formed a collaboration with the Ernest Community Development Corporation of Prince George’s County. Ernest provides food for Prince George’s residents in need and healthy food education and recommendations for their clients. So What Else and their president, Julia Offiung are going to join forces to create a gardening education initiative for Prince George’s County youth.
 
Last chance to come out to our student board meeting on Sunday morning! 10 AM at One Preserve Parkway, Suite 150. This is an opportunity for students to take a leadership role in community service and apply for our summer internship as well as help them launch their own social ventures.
 
Thanks to Jesse Breslerman and Nourish Now for conducting two wellness classes (including dinner) at Hearts & Homes and White Oak Rec Center on Thursday night!
 
We had our final meeting with Excel Beyond the Bell to reflect on this year’s after school programming. So What Else scored high in its marks on quality and we would like to thank Lynn Sobolov and Emily Woodard for giving us this opportunity to work in Montgomery County!
 
Don’t forget to save the date for So What Else’s 3rd annual Gala. Saturday night October 12th!
 
Our wonderful food partner, Nourish Now, has their big event is tomorrow night at the Progress Club in Rockville.  
 
Don’t forget about our three upcoming volunteer opportunities! June 8th we have the Taste of Potomac, June 14th we have a White Oak end of school celebration, and June 25-30th is the AT&T Golf Tournament. We are still accepting volunteers for these events!

So What Else and the Kennedy High School Key Club collected over 150-200 books to be delivered to Haiti. Special thanks to Kennedy HS for collecting the books, and Olivia Deramus from LearnServe for helping get them delivered.

So What Else has formed a partnership with the Friendship Circle who provide programing and mentorship to children with special needs. We are going to be a provider for these children in the coming months.

Special thanks to Murvell Delpino for being a great volunteer and putting on an arts and crafts class for elementary aged children at White Oak Rec Center this Friday 5/10.

This year as her Bat Mitzvah project, Jamie Lipson collected sporting goods to be donated to So What Else for our after school programs and classes. Thank you and congratulations, Jamie!

Jimmy of Mama Lucia’s is donating pizzas to each class in our after-school programs in celebration of the end of the year during the week of May 20th.

Our final summer camp dates are in! July 22-August 2nd in Prince George’s County. Location TBA.

So What Else took a management course at the Foundation Center called “Understanding Collaboration” and we are beginning official collaboration with Kingman and Nourish Now.

This summer on Thursday nights at White Oak Recreation Center, Jesse Breslerman will be teaching Integrative Wellnes!

Last Saturday, So What Else delivered almost a dozen bags of clothing to a needy Gaithersburg family. Thank you to everyone for making that possible!

On May 11th, Daphne Clark attended a seminar at the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County. She received advice on how community based organizations should run meetings and structure their company in terms of dealing with giving everyone on the staff a voice.

On Wednesday we had a “Punt, Pass, and Kic” competition at Roberto Clemente Middle School. The gold medal was won by Dasani, the silver by Tre, and Tyler came in with the bronze! And the female PPK champion was Arian! We had a lot of fun including some cool prizes and good snacks provided by Nourish Now.

Tuesday at Forest Oak Middle School we had a coach’s challenge football game where the students beat the staff on the last play of the game. The students were captained by Julio and Nady. Next week there will be a final coach’s challenge soccer game for out last week of class!