Network Immersion 2020: Washington, DC
We were so excited to welcome AnBryce’s new Executive Director, Jhae Thompson, to campus last fall to talk about our program. One idea that came out of that visit was to adapt the biannual NYU/ND scholar visit, which had scholars visit each other’s campus, to a joint Foundation-focused visit to DC. The idea of creating connection points between programs and scholars is so important, but we wanted to bring the Foundation into the equation in a bigger way. The goal of this was to better understand the deep connections the Foundation has to educational programming and initiatives in the DC area and also the Foundation's impressive network of supporters who are interested in helping all those associated with AnBryce.
A huge thanks to The AnBryce Foundation, the Welters, Thelma Duggin, Jhae Thompson, and Rachelle Barrs for their tremendous hospitality. Please enjoy pictures and reflections from our trip.
The trip started off with a get acquainted lunch at Shake Shack. It was such a treat to meet scholars from NYU, who had just arrived from New York. A quick walk took us to the Supreme Court, where we had a private lecture in the courtroom. Students loved taking pictures on the steps before our large group split into two to visit museums on the mall. The National Museum of Art had the most amazing docent show our group art from mainly European countries. Several students returned later in the week for the Degas Exhibit, which was touring in March. Our own Karla Burgos Moron '19 welcomed us to Notre Dame's DC Offices in Keough Hall that night for more discussions and delicious Mediterranean food. The adults all fell into bed full and worn out from the walking. Several students, however, stayed up to finish mid-terms and work that was assigned ahead of break.
Saturday sent everyone out of the city to the site of AnBryce's Saturday Institute and SAIL Programs. Students rotated into classrooms with instruction for all ages. Highlights were rocket launching with 4th graders and a fantastic Financial Literacy session with Morris Clarke from Bank of America. In the afternoon we toured Mt Vernon and had deeper discussions about our founding fathers, slavery and legacies. We lightened the mood considerably with a trip to Georgetown for mass, walks around town and bowling. We even met up with some 1st Gen peers from Georgetown University.
Sunday was a farewell brunch before NYU scholars headed back to New York and Notre Dame scholars visited the Holocaust Museum. Monday we were able to visit one more museum, The National Museum of African American History and Culture, prior to saying good bye to Maria McKenna and Richard Pierce. They were headed to meet freshmen in Ireland. Odalis Gonzalez, who was spending her semester "abroad" in DC, joined scholars for dinner--it was SO good to see her and hear about her internship with the Hispanic Federation.
We cannot wait for the next trip!