Community Profile: LeDroit Park

LeDroit Park is a Historic District located in Washington D.C. near Howard University. LeDroit Park was developed by one of Howard University founders, Amzi L. Barber. LeDroit Park was originally a planned architecturally unified subdivision designed by James McGill and created between the years of 1873 and 1877. It is bounded by Rhode Island and Florida Avenue on the south; Howard University on the west; Elm St. on the north; and 2nd St. on the east. The Metro stop is called Shaw-Howard University. LeDroit’s houses include many mansions, houses and row-houses designed by James McGill. It currently contains 50 of the original 64 McGill houses constructed in the late 1880s and 1890s.
History:
In the early years their was a lot of controversy centered around LeDroit Park being a “whites only” neighborhood. They were also scrutinized for having a gated community which had guards to patrol the premises to ensure no unwelcome guest. After a few years and countless efforts to integrate the neighborhood, some unidentified students from Howard University tore down the fences that separated the neighborhood. This was the beginning of the neighborhood integration. Through the years it became integrated, then segregated and housed mostly African Americans to now integrated again.
LeDroit is uniquely positioned near Howard University, which has and still plays a major influence in the neighborhood. When it was first establishing itself LeDroit was known as an intimate, romantic neighborhood, unique from various other neighborhoods in the rest of Washington D.C. due to its quaintness.
Gail Watson is a 59-year-old native Washingtonian. Watson is currently a 2nd grade teacher at Bruce Monroe Elementary School in NW. Watson has lived in Ledroit Park for over 30 years and eye-witnessed various changes throughout in the neighborhood.

“When I first moved here to LeDroit from Northeast DC, the neighborhood had a reputation for being were the elite black folks stayed, so of course I wanted to be in that number. My husband and I bought this house for our family and now my grandkids are growing up here” said Watson.

By the 1940s, the neighborhood had become home to a number of famous African-American scientists, poets, and musicians including, Duke Ellington, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Senator Edward Brooke, and Dr. Ralph J. Bunche. LeDroit Park remains essentially intact today and serves as home to many prominent African Americans.

The adage “Things fall apart” is correct because even after a prestigious reputation and being home to some of African American’s finest, LeDroit Park began to fall apart. By the 1970s, 80s and 90s the old characteristics and culture which made the neighborhood special began to become memories of the pass. The Old Victorian mansions, and homes became distorted, some blocks turned into drug corners, and the tenacious spirit was a thing of the past.
LeDroit’s reputation as a good place to live had been distorted by the crime stint that was prevalent in the 1990s. Watson has seen the neighborhood go from good to bad, to back good since her time being here, and she says it’s just apart of life. “Every ten years or so it seems like the things just change, the people and everything. I’ve seen so many of my friends move out and now their houses are being renovated and rented to Howard students” said Watson.
Crime:
These percentages represent the risk of personal and property crimes for this area as compared to the national average.

*Table provided by Washingtonpost.com
Murder 1213% Rape 122% Robbery 424%
Assault 271% Burglary 63% Larceny 81% Vehicle Theft 281%
Total Risk203%

Neighborhood Watch Clubs were formed in the 90s when crime and drug trafficking became a community issue. “I’ve never been scared to walk around, but I definitely remember a time were drugs and crime were a big issue within the community. Some of the neighbors would ban together and try to come up with ways to get those thugs off the street” said Watson.

Despite the decline in the 80s and 90s these days LeDroit Park is positioning itself as an up-incoming neighborhood again; with houses being restored, and various blocks being renovated, the neighborhood is back to restoring its historic greatness.
Statistics:
Although the neighborhood only spans across a few city blocks, today the population exceeds 2,300 and the relationship demographic are as follows: Single- 72%, Married- 12%, and Divorced- 11% with the median age being 30 years old. *Statistics provided by Washington Post.

The wide mix of people living in LeDroit Park reflects the neighborhood’s in-between state. There are longtime residents, “pioneers” who invested when the area’s potential wasn’t quite so obvious, and renters who are finding that living alone or with four friends can be fairly inexpensive.

Watson admits she has considered relocating to another area, but none of the pitfalls have been off-putting enough to make her and her family want to leave. “Yes I’ve thought of leaving, but this is home- and honestly the neighborhood has gotten better. I still love sharing the history with my grandkids, and this is just home.”

Watson has learned throughout the years that
no neighborhood is perfect, and she takes the good with the bad and continues to be fulfilled. She did say if it ever got to the point were she feared her safety she would certainly move but she doubts she’ll live to see that day.

If you currently live in LeDroit Park, it is surely a joy to stay in and a convenience. With just a short bike ride away you have access to downtown, 14th Street, and Columbia Heights, and the neighborhood is near a number of bus and metro stations.

Alpha Kappa Psi presents its 1st annual "Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship" Award

Alpha Kappa Psi honored John Knight on behalf of Reel Pangea Films with the first annual “Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship” Award. Senior hospitality management major Kiara McCoy presented the award during a career panel in Founders Library Browsing room on December 1, 2010 held during the Fraternity’s week to the student entrepreneur. McCoy also serves as the fraternities Scholarship Chair.

Reel Pangea is a campus organization/company geared towards bringing together the Howard University student body, through the development and practice of each other’s crafts, connecting various majors to achieve professional and career-driven tenacity.

When company creator John Knight accepted the award he said, “I was really excited to apply and impressed that a fraternity on campus was giving a scholarship away. I don’t see many organizations doing things like this and truly giving back to students.”

He continued by talking about his struggles and triumphs since creating the business.

“This scholarship will allow my team and I the opportunity to purchase some of our own equipment. We have a contract with the Hilltop now so we’ve really been bringing in revenue and I think this will give us the extra saving money we need to take ourselves to the next level” he said.

The Fraternity awarded the company with $500.00. “I was really passionate about starting this scholarship program because as a student leader and being in a professional business fraternity it seem to go in line with our purpose and chapter goals” said Kiara McCoy.

The award recognizes Howard University students that are entrepreneurs. To be considered you must be a Howard University student, create a business plan and submit all application components prior to the deadline.

Future entrepreneurs have been advice to visit fraternity website regularly to find out information about future scholarships. “I do want this award to be annual so the fraternity will continue to fundraise to make this possible every semester” said McCoy.

Confederate History Month

Democrats and civil rights leaders are outraged by the recent proclamation made last week by Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell that April will now serve as Confederate History Month. Initially McDonnell stated, "the month will serve as a time to remember and pay tribute to the soldiers who fought and died for the south in the Civil war." Since the initial proclamation McDonnell has received tremendous backlash from various supporters, civil right leaders, democrats and minorities around the country.

One of the main concerns is that McDonnell doesn't mention slavery in the proclamation. Co-Founder of BET Networks and one of McDonnells major democratic supporters Shelia Johnson said "The complete omission of slavery from an official government document, which purports to be a call for Virginians to ‘understand’ and ’study’ their history, is both academically flawed and personally offensive. "

L. Douglas Wilder, former governor called the passing of this month “mind-boggling to say the least.” Wilder supported McDonnell during his race for governor against opponent republican R. Creigh Deeds, but does not support McDonnell’s decision. Johnson went on to say "I must condemn Governor McDonnell’s Proclamation honoring ‘Confederate History Month,’ and its insensitive disregard of Virginia’s complicated and painful history, the remnants of which many Virginians still wrestle with today."

Many students in the surrounding areas had mixed emotions about the proclamation. LaMont Russell, Howard University senior Business Administration major from Chicago Il said "I think it is very insensitive, and shows me how far the United States hasn't come in regard to progression. For this idea to even be considered to go in our nations history is mind-blogging." Similarly Mark Chen, Junior Finance major attending Georgetown University said "I thinking its very insensitive and unnecessary proclamation, while I'm personally not offended, I can see how it would be offensive, and I'm completely opposed to adding American history that is offensive to any group."

In lieu of the controversy McDonnell released a public apology April 7, 2010 stating "The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed."

According to CNN.com McDonnell also announced Wednesday that he would add the following language about slavery to the proclamation. "(I)t is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this (Civil) war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights," the new language says, "and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders."

Only time will tell what exactly will be done or if the decision passes, but Americans and Virginians specifically will be watching and listening for the final outcome.

African American taking advantage of International Study

For many African-American college students, going to a foreign country is a far-away dream instead of a priority, making students who do study overseas a minority within a minority.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, African-Americans are more than 12 percent of U.S. higher education enrollment. These figures go against the rapid growth in study abroad participation overall. Students going abroad have more than doubled since the mid-1990s. Less than 90,000 students took part during the 1995-1996 school year. By 2005-2006, more than 220,000 students were getting their passports stamped.

“One of our challenges is that because statistically students of color are from lower economic backgrounds, we have trouble with the study abroad hump. Study abroad is always perceived as an add-on to education, which, in this globalizing world, I think we do our students a disservice by not building it more thoroughly into our curriculum.” said Joseph Kinsella, associate vice president of international programs at DePaul University on Chicago's North Side.

Similar efforts are in place at UIC(another university in Chicago), where low numbers for African-Americans enrolled in study abroad contrast with a higher than average enrollment of total minorities.

Kinsella said what students fail to realize is “As students return from abroad they tend to be the best sources of information for their peers,” Kinsella explained. “Focused outreach by the study abroad office has also helped students move beyond some of the preconceptions they might have about studying abroad: ‘It’s not for me. I can’t afford it. I don’t know a foreign language.’” Kinsella added peers tend to dispell myths, encourage other students, and become the best advocate for study abroad.

Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn: My life in Spain

Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn is a Howard University 2007 graduate. She had the opportunity to study abroad Fall 2005 spent a semester in Granada, Spain. "The experience proved to be one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I had the opportunity to live with an incredible host family that taught me about the customs and traditions of Spain as well as assisted me in language acquisition and cultural assimilation." said Jamison-Dunn. Jamison- Dunn traveled with, AIFS program through Howard which, also provided her with a lot of support in the transition from an American to Spanish lifestyle.

During her journey, she was able to travel all around Spain and learn about the country's rich history and legacy. She also traveled to Portugal, London, and Morocco through AIFS. "In all of the locations, our group was provided with cultural excursions and the opportunity to learn about the language and traditions of each country. I also was able to personally travel to Italy and France with a smaller group of AIFS students. Visiting these countries was absolutely amazing" Jamison- Dunn said.

When asking for final thought on study abroad Jamison-Dunn said "Overally, my trip to Spain was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I am very greatful that I had the opportunity to broaded my development and expand my horizons."

Jillian Sweeny: My four months abroad!

Jillian Sweeny is a junior Journalism major at University of California, Irvine Campus from Northern California. Jillian had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy during the fall 2008 semester. Jillian said “I'd known for a long time I was going to study abroad, it was just a matter of where. My older sister studied abroad in France for a semester when I was in high school and always said she wished she had stayed the year. It was then I cemented the idea of staying an entire school year in another country while learning the language.”

Although Jillian was very adamant spending an entire year in a foreign country unfortunately that dream was deferred. Jillian stated “Plans changed as my major doesn't allow its students to leave for an entire year. I chose Italy because I spent a few days in Southern Italy through a high school program and, to borrow the perfectly fitting cliche, had the time of my life. I'd travelled to France, Canada, Ireland, and Spain, and although I love Ireland and seriously considered it as an option, I wanted to experience the challenges of language barriers."

In preparation, Jillian studied beginner Italian courses for a year before making her way to Florence. She chose to study through American Institute of Foreign Study(AIFS) because it was the only program offered through the University of California system that had most of what she was looking for, “it offered home-stays in Florence, which is surprisingly difficult to find in a program” Jillian said.

When asked to sum four month experience up Jillian left me with these words “My experience is typical in a few ways. I made new friends, gorged myself with Italian food, learned how to read a map, improved my broken Italian, took an innumerable amount of photos, and couldn't believe it had all gone by so fast by the time I got home. In other ways, however, my time abroad was a unique experience that ushered clarity and growth into my life. I'm not going to say it creates epiphanies, or it fixes problems, but studying abroad was definitely a stage of learning in my life and I am grateful for the experience.”

Shannon Clemons: The Best Experience of My Life

Shannon Clemons is a senior Biology major at Howard University from Chicago Il. Clemons had the opportunity to study abroad in Sydney, Australia during the fall 2007. Clemons had a lot to say about her experiences and how it changed not only her Howard experience but life. Clemons said “On July 17th, 2007, I kissed my parents goodbye to board a twenty-three hour plane ride to the Land Down Under. Arriving in Sydney was like arriving in paradise. The water was crystal blue, but on occasions where the blue bottle jellyfish were in attendance, we couldn’t get into the water at the beach due to thousands of the poisonous creatures that would be in the water and washed up on shore.”

Going abroad you have to step outside your comfort zone. There are various living conditions that you have to adapt to, some students stay in home stays with natives of that specific country, and some people live with other students in similar situations. “I lived in a house with fourteen other people. Our home was exactly five minutes walking from the beach and ten from our uni (uni is short for university, it is Aussie slang). The biggest adjustment of all was being the one of few Black people that reside in Australia. For instance, here at Howard I am used to being surrounded by people of color in my classrooms, my living accommodations and at the local grocery store. I’m used to classes with a maximum of sixty people, not a minimum of one hundred or so and being the only student of color in a class of one hundred was awkward.” Shannon said.

While abroad in any location you learn who you really are, without outside influences. Shannon was often asked by people if she knew anyone in Sydney before I arrived and she replied “No, but that was the best part! I truly had to become independent and rely on myself. I studied at the University of New South Wales and one of the classes I took was Greek Mythology. Before this class, I never had a course that required me to share how I personally felt about ideas that challenged my to write about my own philosophy, which for me started out as a challenge. As time went on, this class along with my “Thinking About Reasoning” philosophy class forced me to open up my mind and encouraged me to embrace my own philosophies. These courses also helped me to have more confidence when expressing myself, which overall, helped me to gain something that I never really possessed, faith in myself. In addition to the course work, I was very fortunate to participate in a research project that focused on neuromuscular fatigue. Working on this research project was very interesting and helped to give me a better understanding of the motor learning systems of the body. While working n the research project I was also taking Motor Learning, Growth Development and Physical Activity and Human Anatomy which all helped to make the learning experience even greater.”

When asked what her favourite memory and best feelings were about study abroad Clemons had a lot to say and replied “One of the best parts of my study abroad experience was being able to have site of others experiences who surrounded me. One of my best friends in Sydney was a young man named Cade from Lubbock TX and he too had never been out of the United States and didn’t have many African American friends back home. Cade grew up line dancing and I grew up doing the electric slide, neither of which would ever be seen in Australia. Just like I had my own experiences down under, Cade did too, but our experiences were vastly different as far as how we were dealing with our time in Sydney. Because we were close, this gave me the opportunity to understand and see what he was going through in addition to myself. So not only do I now have my perspective on living in Sydney from my point of view, but I have also seen first hand the perspective of another individual, which caused me to have an even broader experience. Overall, studying abroad has been one of the best experiences of my life. While in Australia, I was able to explore the Great Barrier, hike through the oldest rainforest in the world “The Daintree Rainforest”, swim with sea turtles, dolphins and sharks, cuddle with koalas and kangaroos, and to top things off, I went bunjee jumping, THREE TIMES!!! Because of all of my experiences, junior year has been my favorite collegiate year thus far and I know the best is yet to come.”

Clemons remains an advocate for study abroad, will graduate this May from Howard University, and will attend Medical School in the Fall; Shannon Clemons is a true example of how study abroad can holistically impact your life.