07/26/2025
We are approaching our final week of SOS summer camp. 13 years! This year we were able to send students to Camp Carl, a overnight week camp. We were able to provide full or partial scholarships to over 10 students for our summer day camp.
Each week focused on a specific topic (topics). Week 1 focused on Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy (Dollar Bank) as well a Drone Class by UA Vistas (India Jones) as well as a visit to Jump City. Week 2 was visits to Edward E. Parker Art Studio and Gallery where Cheryl Stephens instructed the campers in planting and painting. Preparing the rear outside entertainment center for hopefully a fall youth gospel rap event. We also discussed social media and social justice and DEI with Kevin Carter and Attorney Kelynn Poinsette. The KingTif Network worked with the campers to develop a podcast. Film Producer, Brian Wright paid the campers a visit as well. One of our campers interested in photography visited WOVU radio for a tour and a interview with the Black Unicorn. Yoga sessions continued throughout the weeks with Kimnerly from My Village Yoga. Sports week was conducted by The Little League LLC (Monte Gaddis) as well as a Tennis Pop Up Clinic by Kyle Harris of Advantage Cleveland Tennis & Education. There was even an Environmental Week with Tracie Williams (Urban Naturalist) and Taunya Young (Environmental Education Outreach Coordinator). Each day a different Metro Park (North Chagrin, Canal Way, Garfield Park and the Botanical Garden) The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, one of our Funders took the campers on a tour to discuss the important of water conservation. Our upcoming and final week is Culinary Week under the instruction of Chef Gardner, The Executive Grill at East Tech. The campers will take a field trip on Wednesday to the food trucks (Walnut Wednesday). I know I have forgotten something or someone. Please accept my apology. Thank you Janice Eatman Williams, Director of FOCUS as CWRU for student volunteers. Thank you Tamiko Jenkins and Kathy Watson for help with Journaling and Natasha Webb Prather for the YEI (Young Entrepreneur Institute) series. My appreciation to Ernia Sims for her expertise and our SOS Staff, Karen Douglas, SOS Camp Supervisor, June Ervin, Food Service. This could not have been done without the support of my church, Emmanuel Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. David A. Cobb. Our annual fundraiser, Soup 4 the Soul and funding from NEORSD, the Kaulig Foundation and donations made this a reality! Praise God for another successful year!
