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Dear Reader,
During our Fall 2025 programming, Liberty's Promise Montgomery County youth from Northwood, Wheaton, John F. Kennedy, and Montgomery Blair High Schools and A. Mario Loiederman Middle School partnered with Montgomery Parks for eight cleanup events at five parks. Since 2023, our youth have contributed:
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165 total community service hours
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26 bags of trash collected
- and 80 pounds of oversized debris removed
Students from Baltimore met with Councilwoman Phylicia Porter at City Hall (see photo above), gaining firsthand exposure to local government and civic leadership. This experience reinforced a sense of inclusion and belonging, highlighting the impact of our work in transforming the immigrant experience from one of isolation to active participation in the community. One student expressed, "I feel like I'm finally part of the city now." A special thank you to the Office of Councilwoman Porter for making this visit possible.
Students from E.L. Haynes Charter School also had the opportunity to learn about their local government when they met with Washington D.C. Council Member Charles Allen (Ward 6). Youth were able to ask questions about issues they see in their community regarding topics like immigration and the health care system. Their visit with Council Member Allen helped them better understand the issues in their community and how government officials are working to address them.
In Montgomery County, both middle school and high school youth visited Montgomery College's Rockville Campus. For many of our middle school youth, this was their first time being on a college campus. During their visit, students toured the facilities while learning about college programs and student life, and gaining a better understanding of what higher education entails. Our high school youth met with financial aid advisors, who explained the application process for scholarships and grants. They also visited the Gudelsky Institute for Technical Education where they learned about the Automotive Technology and Building and Construction Technology Programs.
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During the fall, we implemented our new Trades Program across four Montgomery County Schools. So far the program has reached 238 students, exposing them to various career pathways in the skilled trades, offering a meaningful alternative to the traditional college track. Throughout the program, students had the opportunity to hear from speakers who have successful careers as electricians, carpenters, or construction workers. We are looking forward to the upcoming expansion of the Trades Program to our Prince George's County and Washington, D.C. high schools.
As many of our youth are preparing for the next step in their path to success, our program officers are working with students to prepare college essays, create resumes, and apply for scholarships. Many of our students have started receiving college acceptance letters already. One student from E.L Haynes, Jaylee, has been accepted to Georgetown University! This accomplishment reflects the dedication and hard work of our youth.
Next week, our students will have the opportunity to attend a career fair/seminar hosted by the Baltimore Orioles. A special thank you to Desire Jones, Policy and Community Engagement Fellow from the Office of Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, for helping us expose students to careers with professional sports organizations in Baltimore.
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This month's Alumni Spotlight shines bright on Miskir Belayneh, an alumni from our Silver Spring Community Program.
Miskir, originally from Ethiopia, is currently a fourth-year medical student with a strong interest in community-engaged work, health equity, and mentorship for immigrant youth. She will be collaborating with us in order to introduce immigrant youth to careers in medicine and help them better understand the healthcare system as both a career pathway and a resource. As an immigrant herself, she hopes to share the resources and guidance she wished she had when she was a student.
If you participated in one of our clubs when you were in high school, click below to join the Liberty's Promise Alumni LinkedIn Group to network, share opportunities, and stay engaged with fellow graduates!
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On February 3, Program Officer Leandro Travieso was appointed—alongside several other nominees—to serve as a commissioner on the Out of
School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST) Commission.
Since joining the Commission, Leandro has served as Chairman of the Outcome and Needs Assessment Committee, where he has drawn on his experience at Jackson-Reed High School to ensure that the voices and needs of the students we represent remain central to OST decision‑making. His consistent engagement has played a key role in the development and approval of a district-wide OST Youth Survey, which will be
administered by after‑school programs across the city—including the programs of Liberty’s Promise.
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Maryland
Virginia
Washington, DC
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Questions?
Contact us at info@libertyspromise.org
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