So…you may not know me. But the kids at the OK house do. I’ve been around since October, learning from Michaelanne, eating snacks, singing songs, and hanging out with the kids. I’m the intern this year. My name is Monielle, but you can call me Mo.

Wanna know where I came from? Me too! (haha) I hail from Washington, DC. I moved to Philadelphia in 2006 as a transfer student to Temple University. I graduated Temple in 2009 with a Bachelors degree in Religion, minor in Theater. Maybe I know a little something, maybe I know nothing. My goal is to learn something here at Ayuda, in order to take it with me where ever I end up. I like the arts. You know, like music, dancing, painting, writing…that type stuff. Which leads me to my next point: I’m gonna be teaching a class here this semester!!! Whoot Whoot! Fun right?

I will be teaching “Performance Writing”. We made that name up because we didn’t have another name for it (haha, that’s how we do ‘round here). During this class I will be teaching kids how to write visually engaging poems, songs, monologues, and perform them effectively onstage. They will be learning how to use their voices, stage space, body language, hand gestures etc. All of these components work together to present a performance that connects well with the audience. Hopefully, the kids will be able to work through shyness, fear, and learn teamwork/support during the time we will be working together amongst other things. The kids are pretty brilliant. I am looking forward to seeing them work hard to get their performance styles just the way they want them. Just the way they want it, expressing them selves freely and creatively. Pray for us!

Oh I almost forgot…i will be co-teaching a class with Michaelanne on bearing the fruit of Christ. Gal. 5! So exciting

Lots of exciting new classes for the Youth in Hunting Park!

My name is Shawn and I am 14 and in the 7th grade.  I’ve been coming to the OKA House for about 3 years and have been involved in Music Production 1, Video 1, Pastels, Beginning Drawing, and DJing.  My favorite piece of art that I have done is a self portrait that I drew and sold for $180.  The best part about the OKA House is having a place to come and chill.  I am mostly interested in drawing and playing games.  My wish for the OKA House is to have at least 200 kids.  When I grow up I would like to be an artist, police officer, or a doctor.

I

Helping My Friend - by K.J. Age 14

In the fall, I took  a photography class. I took pictures of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Our theme was “Imma Be – The Future Me.” I took a picture of me brushing my friends hair, and I took pictures at the hair salon and barbershop in my neighborhood. I want to be a hairstylist.

In the spring this year, I am looking forward to doing more drawing and painting classes. I want to try different things. I like to be creative.

-KJ, 14, 9th grade

After 6 weeks of HARD WORK!

Closing Remarks from our three amazing WorkReady Teens:

Hi everyone!!!! its Nathalie Nunez here! And I’m so happy that I was able and blessed to work with a great team on 3 big projects!!!! It was nice to tell everyone the latest news on the block! but sadly it is time to say see you later because it is not really a goodbye!!! God bless everyone and thank you!!!

Ello everyone it’s Brittany again here to recap the entire summer! :] So in these seemingly short six weeks the team and I have knocked out 3 major projects.  The first finished project was reshaping and reinstalling the Community Garden mural.  Doing this took just two days to do but a lot of work was put into it but we got it done and it looks better than before.  Second was the mural on the bridge which took some more time but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.  The best part was painting the grass which was a lot of fun and only took a few hours to paint.  Last but not least was the main project which was the mosaic.  After days and days of putting tile to mesh it was finally time to put it up on the wall at Joy in the City.  To me, this project proved to be the toughest and most time consuming project compared to the other two but, in my opinion, because it was the hardest it will come out to be the best and most beautiful one out of all three.  I am truly blessed to have been able to be a part of this experience to be able to bring the Hunting Park community art and to be able to show through bad times there is always something to turn to and look at and it will be able to give us all hope and peace within ourselves! This is Brittany signing off! :]

Sup guys it’s Gustavo here. Brittany and Nathalie  pretty much summed up the past six weeks.So the only thing let for me to say is that this summer has been an interesting experience. Since this is my first year working at the OKA House, I’d like to give my opinion in my point of view. Even though I’m completely new to the OKA community, I didn’t feel like an outsider but more like a member of the community. I was glad to see the projects completed and glad that I was apart of them. I gained a lot of experience here and I hope to return next year. I hope I get to blog again but until next time this is Gustavo.

Well done! What an amazing summer crew!