Summer programs can be difficult for many families to access because of cost and other barriers. To help bridge that gap, Mission First Housing Group provides young residents with opportunities to participate in academic enrichment programming that keeps them learning and engaged throughout the summer.

From June 29th–August 7th this year, 25 young residents from The SeVerna, SeVerna on K and Golden Rule Apartments participated in a range of fun, educational and engaging activities designed to promote learning, creativity, teamwork, physical activity and personal development as part of Camp Upward, which serves Mission First properties in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood of Washington, DC.

The children participated in interactive activities designed to enhance problem-solving, critical-thinking and math skills. Every child received one-on-one reading support with a camp counselor each day, allowing staff to provide individualized attention, encourage reading development, build confidence and support literacy skills.

Through building and testing structures, creating simple circuits, conducting science experiments and more, campers explored STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) concepts. They also expressed their creativity through arts and crafts, and participated in numerous team-building activities, such as sack races, egg races, basketball games, relay races, cooperative challenges and group problem-solving activities.

According to one of our Youth Program Counselors, “The summer program provided a balanced combination of STEM learning, academic enrichment, literacy support, creativity, physical activity, teamwork, community experiences and recreational opportunities, helping campers learn and grow while enjoying a positive and engaging summer camp experience.”

To support on-site programming, campers visited the Smithsonian's National Zoo and the American Association of Medical Colleges, and participated in Ride Days, where they were encouraged to bring their bicycles or scooters and ride on designated bike trails.

Camp Upward also welcomed the local fire department to Golden Rule Apartments, and campers explored a fire truck and learned about fire safety and the role firefighters play in the community.

This summer’s Camp Upward experience culminated with a trip to the Great Waves Waterpark, which provided an opportunity for recreation, social interaction and physical activity.

For nearly a decade, Mission First Housing Group and Georgetown University have fostered a strong relationship focused on providing academic support to young residents in Washington, DC.

The partnership was first initiated by the late Dr. John Hirsh, an esteemed professor of English who led a long-running volunteer reading and tutoring program for children at a housing community not far from Mission First’s properties. Hirsh’s work prioritized reading comprehension that helped young people think about literature critically and excel in language arts.

In late 2017, Dr. Hirsh brought the program to Mission First’s properties in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood of DC. Over the years, Georgetown University students have provided thousands of hours of literacy and reading tutoring to Mission First’s Kindergarten-5th grade children at Golden Rule Apartments, SeVerna on K and The SeVerna throughout the school year.

Dr. Hirsh’s mentee and long-time program tutor Bradley Galvin introduced Mission First to Georgetown University’s Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service (CSJ) elevating the partnership to the next level.

“He helped us rekindle the spark of this connection,” said Nicole Reeder, Associate Director, Educational Equity Programs for CSJ. “It aligns with continuing the legacy of Professor Hirsh and staying true to our CSJ values.”

Through the partnership, Georgetown students have the opportunity to work directly within Mission First communities, allowing them to build meaningful relationships with families while gaining greater exposure to community-based service.

“For many of our youth, we engage with them during the school day,” said Nicole. “So, meeting their parents or seeing them outside of school is rare. Partnering with Mission First gives us the opportunity to be at your front door and working with the team there on-site to see where things are.”

After two weeks of training, Georgetown students support our Youth Enrichment Program by providing tutoring and academic assistance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00–7:00 pm. The partnership also provides additional volunteer capacity to help Resident Services continue and strengthen youth programming and academic support.

“For our Georgetown students, it's really a chance to get them engaged in DC, deeper than just being on campus,” said Nicole. “It's really showing them a different side of DC that they wouldn't see historically walking outside of campus.”

As part of the program, students and young residents also take field trips to the university to experience campus life, explore the programs offered and see the spaces where they might someday be students.

“Overall, we see this as an exciting opportunity to bring together higher education and community-based Resident Services in a way that provides meaningful benefits for both Georgetown students and Mission First residents,” said Mo Peterson, Mission First’s Regional Director of Resident Services.

The partnership benefits both Georgetown students and Mission First residents. The program creates an opportunity for Georgetown students to gain hands-on community experience. Mission First residents benefit from additional educational support, mentorship and engagement, while creating a sustainable pipeline of university engagement that supports Resident Services programming and responds to identified resident needs.

“The biggest piece that we share with our tutors is that, yes, you're working on reading or you're doing math or you're doing science, but also, you're building a relationship,” said Nicole. “You are meeting a young person or multiple young people, and you are forming a mutual reciprocal relationship. You're showing them maybe something that they haven't seen before.”

We are pleased with this renewed and expanded partnership with Georgetown University.

Mission First wishes our school-aged residents a great 2026-2027 School Year!

Thanks to a generous donation from ACHIEVEability, our Resident Services team distributed 40 backpacks with school supplies to young residents at Freedom Village, MPB School Apartments and Apartments at New Market West in August. ACHIEVEability is a West Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that works to permanently break the generational cycle of poverty for low-income, single-parent and homeless families and is a long-time services partner of Mission First. They receive donations from corporations and community partners to ensure kids have the supplies they need for the new school year.

Mission First hosted an end-of-summer Children’s Corner event at Amandla Crossing in Edison, NJ. The staff and residents read books and watched the movie Sing 2. The kids enjoyed snacks as they took a moment to take a break before the busy school year. Also, to make memories of the first day of school in September, staff greeted students as they left for the new year of learning. They took your traditional “Back to School” photos and got them excited for the day.