GapBuster, Inc. 
February Digest
Upcoming Schedule of Events
Hello Friend,

Did you miss us? Thank you for reading our newsletter last week! Due to all the information we had, and only one email to put it in, we have decided to change our style of email correspondence! 

From this month on, we will be sending you a monthly digest with the following month's events and happenings, with good news and glad tidings from the month before. This is such a busy time of year for us, with so many exciting events happening, that this is the best way we can bring our organization to you.

Coming upon us quickly is our fundraising campaign for a bus, which starts TOMORROW, February 1. We have another meeting of our HIV Peer Educator program February 1, which is already proving to be a stand-out public health program for area youth.

ESOL classes begin anew in February:

"Las Clases de Ingles comenzaran el 18 de Febrero, 2014. El ultimo dia para registrarse sera el 14 de Febrero 2014. Si necesita mas informacion por favor llamar a nuestra oficina. Hablamos Espanol. (301) 779-4252."

And we have a new website! We have a survey linked below that will let you give us your feedback, so we can make it the best possible home for us on the internet.

Finally, we love our community and want to include you in our digests. Please send us information about events and news so we can spread the word!

As the days grow longer may they grow warmer as well!


Sincerely,

Yvette Butler, MD
Executive Director, GapBuster, Inc.

February 1

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

 

For years, GapBuster has needed a bus or similar mode of transportation.

 

Our motto, "Educate, Elevate, Empower" requires our students to travel in the rich cultural and social environs throughout the DC metro area.

 

In the past, GapBuster, Inc. has hosted students on yearly college tours, leadership conferences, and NSBE & NASCAR competitions and the list keeps getting longer...

 

2014 will be the Kick Off year for the "GapBUSter, Inc. Capital Campaign."

 

Our goal: obtain sufficient funds to purchase and maintain a vehicle for our students.

 

Lack of transportation poses a significant obstacle that inhibits, and often discourages, community activeness among youth. Transportation limits our activities and has been the most significant challenge our organization has faced over the years. GapBuster, Inc. youth programs (i.e. Leaders-in-Training, 21st Century Community Learning Center, etc.) must be available to all regardless of transport. In order to meet our students' needs and provide them with a complete and enriching experience, we require a bus.

 

Our capital campaign begins TOMORROW, February 1 with student phone banking. Please, if you have the means, consider donating to us online or volunteering your time alongside our students to reach out to the community and to find those willing to give for what will be an invaluable addition to our program. 


SECOND HIV/AIDS PEER EDUCATOR MEETING  

GapBuster's first HIV/Peer Educator program meeting of 2014 was a big success and we're excited for our second session. We plan to meet in the Langley Park Community Center (1500 Merrimac Dr., Hyattsville). Our program is still accepting participants from high schools in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, so feel free to call us at (301) 779-4252 for more information or to join us!

 

Meeting for ten sessions every other Saturday from now until May, the participants will learn how to advocate for and educate their peers. Guest speakers will include NIH researchers and various members of the public health community. Additionally, the participants will assist in the preparation of our annual Teen Health Expo in Downtown Silver Spring in May (see below).

 

Information about the program can be found on our website, including a video that depicts our travels to South Africa and an information interest form so we can contact you or send you our materials. 

Week of Monday, February 3
4 February
Prince George's County 2015 Budget Hearings

Join County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III and other officials to share your ideas for Prince George's budget for the coming year. Residents wishing to testify and to be placed on the advance list of speakers are requested to contact the County Government at 301-985-3894Register to attend the listening session or watch a live stream on the web!

 

Dr.Henry A. Wise High School
12650 Brooke Lane
Upper Marlboro, MD

7:00 p.m.

 

PDF with more information

Week of Monday, February 10
12 February
Prince George's County Budget Hearing
Laurel High School, Spartan Hall
8000 Cherry Lane
Laurel, MD
7pm

14 February
Valentine's Day Skate with the Wheaton Knights
Come skate the night away and support Wheaton High School's trip to the National Conference of the National Society of Black Engineers, where they and other GapBuster students will be attending and competing

Laurel Roller Skating Center
9890 Brewers Ct.
Laurel, MD
Time: TBD

End of ESOL registration classes is today. ESOL classes begin on the 18th. Don't wait to register, it might be too late! 
Week of Monday, February 17
17 February

1-Day College Tour

Take a day to visit colleges and universities in the Baltimore region, including Towson and Morgan State.

Cost is $25 and travel will be by bus.

 

18 February 

Beginning of ESOL classes

12 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday, 6-8pm

REGISTRATION ENDS ON THE 14th!!!!! Accepting students until the class is filled

Call (301) 779-4252 for information in English y en Espagnol


19 February 

Meeting for 21st Century Community Learning Center Parents by the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).

EFNEP will present about healthy cooking and eating for the parents of students in the 21st CCLC.

6-9pm

Flyers in English and Spanish

  

26 February

Meeting for 21st Century Community Learning Center Parents by the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).

EFNEP will present about healthy cooking and eating for the parents of students in the 21st CCLC.

6-9pm

 

 

March 1
Wheaton Knights host National Society of Black Engineers, Jr. NASCAR invitional at Wheaton High School
 
The competition will likely take place at 10am on March 1.

Come support our Wheaton Knights, the CEP Team Hakuna Matatas, and our Sligo All-Stars!

 

In other news, Wheaton won the previous NASCAR competition and 2 invitationals overall. Our CEP team has one invitational victory under their belt and our Sligo middle-schools have placed 2nd.

In This Issue
New website!
GapBuster has a new website! We would appreciate your feedback as we continue to work on it. Here is a link to the survey where you can check out our internet home and let us know your (constructive) thoughts!
The survey will only be up until March 1, so if you are interested in commenting, please do so!
Form about Interest
If you would like to send us your information to indicate interest in any of our activities, please click here to fill out a Google form.
National Society of Black Engineers, Jr. Clothing Donations
GapBuster, Inc. is calling for clothing donations for our students attending the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) conference in a few months. Because there will be professional events and presentations the students will have to attend, we want them to look their very best and most professional.

Thus, if you have any professional clothes- suits, jackets, button-up shirts, shoes, dresses, skirts, etc. - and would like to donate to our high school men and women, please call us at our office at (301) 779-4252.
Coat Giveaway
Tonight at 6pm, GapBuster will have given coats from Burlington Coat Factory to young people in the community. We thank LULAC for the donation to provide the kids with coats of their choice! Everyone deserves to stay warm in style.
Blue Drop is back!
Blue Drop Initiative is a 12 week mentoring program that guides local middle school and high school youth by providing peer led mentoring on positive relationships and helpful everyday skills. In 2013, Blue Drop Initiative was welcomed to the University of Maryland, College Park campus.They will be involved with the middle school students in the 21st Century Learning Center.

 

New ties with UMD
Anthropology Department
GapBuster, Inc. welcomes anthropology students from the University of Maryland to join us this spring.

Capital Scholars
Students from the Public Leadership College Park Scholars program will be working with GapBuster this Spring by assisting with the bike shop and bike safety class. The Scholars will be working closely with the Bike Shop managers, to ensure each student is getting the most information out of the Bike Safety class. The Scholars hope to make a lasting impact with the students at GapBuster.
Thanks to Home Depot
GapBuster would like to thank Home Depot for their generous donations to our organization for our work with the National Society of Black Engineers. For our NASCAR NSBE competitions, Home Depot donated three drills, several carrying cases and gift cards for further supplies. These donations will be a huge help to our teams, who did not possess some of the basic tools to compete. Thanks, Home Depot!
Contact Us
(301) 779-4252
gblc_office@yahoo.com

6200 Sheridan St
Riverdale, MD 20737
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www.gapbuster.org

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