My name is Angela Clemente and I'm 14 years old. I am Mexican-American and I speak both English and Spanish. I was born in the U.S.A but growing up I only learned to speak Spanish. English was never spoken in my household because neither of my parents knew how to speak it. When I started school at 5 years old, it was a bit difficult or should I say it was extremely difficult! I didn't know what everyone was saying and I felt left out even when everyone tried to involve me in everything. I cried after school telling my parents that I couldn't do it, that everything was going to be difficult. Eventually, I got used to my school and learned English during my year in pre-kindergarten. Now I can

Ana Silvia Galeano began volunteering with CHEER in June 2019. In looking for an opportunity to be involved with the community, Ana responded to a CHEER announcement for an Events Coordinator posted on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website. Since then Ana has helped the Engagement and Leadership Development Team with multiple events. In particular, she helped with help picnic events with the parent group (CONEXO) at the New Hampshire Estates Elementary School (NHEES) and with a local group in Takoma Park located on Maple Ave (the Maple Tree Group). CHEER Empowernment and Leadership Development Coordinator, Vanesa Pinto, stated that Ana relates easily with CONEXO parents as she i

In September 2018, the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) approached CHEER to help reach Long Branch community members to become more connected to the Long Branch Stream which feeds into Sligo Creek. Because of CHEER’s connection to the Long Branch neighborhood, CHEER was able to bring dozens of people and a more representative variety of participants to their "What Lives in Long Branch?" events. One of the major events for this program was the Festival Del Rio Anacostia on October 12. This event looked to connect the growing and diverse Hispanic and minority groups in the DC area. The festival took place at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park on the Anacostia River and included a boat tour fo

Olanike moved to the US from Nigeria seeking asylum. She was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure and was referred to our Long Branch Healthy Food Access Program by one of our partners, MobileMed. When our community health worker (CHW), Rosemary McCloskey, contacted her initially, we discovered that: she didn’t know much about diabetes, she didn’t have her own transportation, and she was trying to get a job and enroll her children in Medicaid. Olanike had a lot on her plate! After getting to know her, Rosemary signed her up for the Healthy Food Access Program to have her fruits and vegetables delivered to her home. First, Olanike set the goal of lowering her blood sugar levels.

In 2018, CHEER conducted listening sessions with residents on Maple Avenue in Takoma Park which stirred interest in bringing residents together to support each other and address pressing concerns. Out of that, Enku Woldmedhin, assisted by a CHEER Community Health Worker, Anthea Levy, organized the Maple Tree Group. With CHEER’s help, the group applied for a neighborhood events grant through Montgomery County. With those funds, the Maple Tree Group organized and hosted a picnic on October 19 at Opal Daniels Park. 35 adults and almost 50 children attended. Although most of the attendees were from the Ethiopian Community on Maple Avenue, there were also residents from Mali, China, and Guam an

The 2019 Lunch & Learn summer enrichment program was held at Takoma Park Elementary School in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools TPES and PBES, the camp enrolled 198 students – the highest enrollment yet. The program serves children from local elementary, middle, and high schools. The elementary school children participated in math and reading instruction taught by MCPS teachers. According to pre- and post-tests, 83% maintained or improved their math or reading abilities during the program. Way to go kids in holding back that summer learning loss! All of the campers participated in enrichment activities and were provided free breakfast and lunch through the MCPS Summer Food Me

The Purple Line, a light rail interconnecting MD suburbs and the Washington DC metro, is currently under construction and will put two stations in the heart of the Long Branch community by 2023. The construction of the Purple Line has a tremendous opportunity to bring improvements to the Long Branch community. But the full benefits of that change will not be realized if we don’t have participation from all segments of the community. Long Branch residents have an urgent need to put forth a community vision for development around the Purple Line stations in Long Branch. CHEER is taking a leadership role in mobilizing the community to develop its own vision for the future of Long Branch. A