Project Description

Thanks to the generous support of Herb Kohl Philanthropies, a group of teens from COA’s Goldin Center got the incredible chance to take a 5-day trip to Washington, D.C.! During the week of March 26th, 34 teens and nine chaperones enjoyed five exciting days of sightseeing, historical and cultural tours, and college campus visits. Youth attendees came from COA’s Goldin Center, COA’s Riverwest Center, Journey House, Milwaukee Christian Center, and Silver Spring Neighborhood House.

For most of the teens and chaperones, this was their first visit to D.C. So everyone took full advantage of the opportunity to experience all that D.C. has to offer. Teens went on sightseeing tours of the White House and the United States Capitol Building and also got to tour famous memorials, like the Lincoln Memorial and the recently built Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. They also visited iconic national landmarks like the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.

The fun didn’t stop there. Over the course of the trip, the teens also visited the Smithsonian Institute and the National Museum for African American History and Culture. When they weren’t sightseeing, snapping pictures, and learning about Washington, D.C.’s rich history and diverse cultural offerings, they were chowing down at world famous restaurants, like the legendary Ben’s Chili Bowl.

Teens also took advantage of the chance to tour two of D.C.’s most distinguished college campuses: Georgetown University and Howard University. According to COA’s Teen Coordinator Tamika Glenn – who led organizing and chaperoning efforts for the trip – the teens loved having the chance to learn the history of D.C. and they were particularly inspired by the examples of creativity and leadership they saw in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Many teens said their experiences in D.C. made them feel empowered to become leaders in Milwaukee. All in all, the trip to D.C. was a wonderful experience for all involved. According to one teen, the trip gave them “memories that will last a lifetime.” COA is deeply appreciative of the support from Herb Kohl Philanthropies. Without their support, this trip would not have been possible.