Bowser Administration to Host “Summer in the City” to Connect DC Families to Summer Opportunities

(Washington, DC) – The Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Office), located in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME), is inviting DC residents to “Summer in the City 2023,” a special event to connect children, youth, and families to opportunities available during the summer. The event will take place on Saturday, March 25, from 11 am – 2 pm, at Eliot-Hine Middle School (1830 Constitution Avenue, NW).

“We know that summer is a critical time for our students to stay connected and engaged, and we want to provide a one-stop shop for families to learn more about the high-quality programs that are available across the District,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “From camps to earn-and-learn programs and internships, we know there’s something for everyone. It’s never too early to start thinking about and planning for the summer.”

Summer in the City will connect families with over 40 community-based organizations and District agencies to learn about summer programs and learning experiences. Families also can locate potential afterschool and summer programs available to them through the Learn24 program finder.

“Summer in the City is a pilot initiative that responds to the community’s needs and desire for collaboration and coordination across District agencies and community-based organizations that provide summer opportunities for our children and youth. We are excited to provide a centralized space where families can learn more about out-of-school time services and summer programming, in real time,” said Dr. Shontia Lowe, Executive Director of the OST Office. “We encourage families to join us for Summer in the City so they can not only learn more about high-quality summer programming, but also make decisions around what their child will be doing during the summer.”

The OST Office leads the Learn24 network, which consists of OST programs, government agencies, the Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes, the Institute for Youth Development, and other key stakeholders that are committed to ensuring all District youth have access to quality OST programming. Since October 2017, the OST Office has worked to improve the quality of OST programs in the District by facilitating workshops that improve the skills of youth development professionals and supporting capacity building within organizations.

If you are an organization interested in participating, or if you have questions, please email learn24@dc.gov.