The Gloria J. Parks Community Center is run through the University District Community Development Association (UDCDA), which is also home to Kensington-Bailey Housing Services. At Gloria J. Parks, there are a number of youth, teen, and senior programs available, Food For Thought included. The center hosts GED classes and communal space for myriad activities. The UDCDA also spearheads housing initiatives and is currently working on diminishing urban blight in the Bailey neighborhood. It’s real grassroots community-based programming geared at bettering the people and families of the neighborhood.
…the beauty is that so many women say, ‘Of course!’
The beauty of Food For Thought is that it is driven by the girls who want to be a part of it. Participants are aged 12-18 who show up between 3-6PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Food For Thought is based on principles of empowerment and building self-esteem. It’s non-traditional education, where they learn how to prepare food and make healthy choices, but are also exposed to community leaders in the area. Dayatra is continually seeking out good role models to come in and share their talents: “I’ve brought in urban gardeners, artists, poets, hairdressers, dance teachers, Sheila Brown from 1080 AM [the longest running black-run radio station in the country] to come in and inspire them.” She’s even brought in self-defense classes. She’s currently on the lookout for lawyers and teachers.
Facilitating Food For Thought has brought out the best in Dayatra as well. Seeing the girls encourage one another and being supported by other women has boosted her confidence and now you can see her jamming around town on her flute. She says, “You know how when you see someone sing and then a person criticizes them, so you never get up and sing? I’m not about that anymore. It’s more important to sing and make that record without fear and have someone say, ‘That touched me, she told my story.’”
If you are interested in presenting to the young women in the Food For Thought program, contact Dayatra Hassan at [email protected].
All photos by Alana A. Fajemisin
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