March 2008
DISTRICT’S YOUNG LEADERS TOUR OF NATIONALS BALLPARK
Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute Students Learn about Economic Development in Community
(Washington, DC) – District youth leaders from the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute (MYLI) spent their day off from school last Friday touring the new home of the Washington Nationals. The tour, prompted by the youth leaders themselves during Chairman Vincent Gray's Committee of the Whole Youth Hearings, gave the students a rare opportunity to learn firsthand about how this major construction project will contribute to economic development in this community.
“We are pleased to have an opportunity to bring this next generation of youth leaders to such an important and exciting new development for the District and for the Greater Washington region,” touted DC Sports and Entertainment Commission CEO Gregory A. O’Dell. “This is also a great way to highlight the need for youth involvement in athletics as well as to expose them to a variety of employment opportunities available in the sports industry.”
“I am extremely proud of these young people,” said D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) Director Summer Spencer. “The Institute is cultivating the District’s young leaders by exposing them to our electoral process and government operations and, most importantly, allowing them to improve their communities through civic responsibility. Their tour of the Nationals’ new stadium gives them a unique opportunity to learn first hand about the development of this major construction project. It is important that they understand how this type of construction will contribute to economic development in this community.”
Deputy Mayor Neil Albert, Councilmember Kwame R. Brown (At-Large), a former MYLI participant, and former Washington Senators player Chuck Hinton joined the students on the tour, hosted by the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission.
The development of the new 41,000 seat Washington Nationals Ballpark is being managed by the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission on behalf of the District of Columbia government. The project will be a catalyst for the economic development and revitalization of the surrounding neighborhoods and along the Anacostia Waterfront.
The Nationals will play their first game of the 2008 season when they take on the Baltimore Orioles in an Exhibition Game on Saturday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. The team will open its regular season on the following evening when they play host to the Atlanta Braves in a nationally televised game at 8:05 p.m. on ESPN.
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The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, an independent agency of the District of Columbia government, is responsible for the management and operation of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the D.C. Armory and their adjacent facilities. The Commission is also charged with presenting and promoting sports, entertainment and special events. For more information, visit us at http://www.WashDCSports.com.
The Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute is a year-round program designed to train District youth in the concepts of leadership and self-development. The program is administered by DOES and consists of an innovative four-level training tier: Alpha level, which focuses on personal growth and development skills; Beta level, which focuses on community development; Delta level, which deals with work readiness, life skills, and career exploration; and Omega level, which concentrates on practicum and internships. For more information on the MYLI, contact the Department of Employment Services’ Office of Youth Programs at (202) 698-3492. |
