Rocketship DC Partners With “Man the Block” To Ensure Safe Passage To School

With this in mind, Rocketship DC is working closely with community organizations to ensure the safe passage to and from school for our Rocketeers. We know this will help improve educational outcomes for our children and work to help improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and communities.

On May 16th, Rocketship rallied with school leaders, students, parents and teachers at Freedom Plaza, advocating for funding and calling for volunteers for the Man the Block Safe Passage program. The program was founded in 2011 by Marco Clark, CEO of Richard Wright Public Charter School, with the goal to reduce the number of safety related incidents involving students during their passage to and from school.

Smiling faces work wonders. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, volunteers, and public safety experts have come together.  

We are helping to station community volunteers at metro stops frequented by students, in areas known for conflict, and outside of schools in the morning and after dismissal, a protective presence is created and a powerful message is sent: The safety and future of our students is of utmost importance. We will accept nothing less than the best for our kids.

Since its inception five years ago, Man the Block has seen more than 300 volunteers work together with 22 public charter schools.

We can help. Man the Block is focusing on increasing funding and volunteer participation, which we proudly embrace as opportunities for community advocacy and parent engagement.

When parents volunteer, they become partners invested in improving our neighborhoods. Our rally on May 16th got the attention of DC Councilmember LaRuby May, who is now considering legislation that would provide greater resources to programs like Man the Block.

Man the Block, Rocketship DC and the Metropolitan Police Department are working together, increasing coordination and creating a visible police presence in the area surrounding our school. We believe this is an important piece of an overall strategy to provide a world-class educational environment for our students.

Recently, we hosted a meet-and-greet breakfast with the police officers of the 7th District, engaging parents and school leaders in a dialogue about how we can work together to advocate for our students and the families in our communities, and fostering a sense of trust and communication.

As a member of the Mayor’s Action Team, I’ve seen firsthand the result of partnerships like this. When schools and communities join forces, everyone benefits. It is our goal at Rocketship to make sure every student in DC, not just those attending Rocketship schools, gets to and from school safely. Our work with Man the Block is just the beginning of what will be a legacy of leadership and advocacy. I look forward to watching Rocketship DC be a catalyst for positive change in our district.

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Jacque se mudó a Washington, D.C. en 1995 mientras servía a su país en la Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos. Se involucró de inmediato en las comunidades del Distrito 8, donde decidió residir. En 2000, fue elegido Comisionado de la ANC en representación del Distrito Uninominal 8B07, sirviendo por 4 mandatos hasta 2008. Durante este tiempo, también fue seleccionado como Capital City Fellow por el ex alcalde de D.C., Anthony A. Williams, llegando a ser su Coordinador de Asuntos Comunitarios.

Tiene una larga trayectoria trabajando tanto con escuelas tradicionales como con escuelas charter públicas. Él cree: "Si mejoras la educación de una comunidad, verás una disminución en el desempleo, en la delincuencia y en muchos de los otros problemas sociales que pueden afectar a los barrios urbanos. O eres proactivo para brindar una gran educación a los residentes, o reaccionarás a los efectos negativos de no hacerlo más adelante... es así de simple".

Sigue a Jacque en Twitter: @Ward8First