Summer Adventure and Fun at Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center

With school well underway, some students are still daydreaming about summer days at the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center in Lafitte.

Who could blame them?

This past summer, the center's summer camp brought fun, engaging, and confidence-building activities to 45 youth, ages 8 to 14, that included horseback riding, Dooky Chase's lunches, streetcar rides, and campers standing tall every morning to say, "I am able."

And for the third year running, local teens and college students stepped up as staff and mentors through the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program.

Hands Down the Favorite Activity

Ask the campers about their favorite part of the summer, and you'll get the same answer again and again: horseback riding.

A visiting organization brought three horses right to the center's lawn, and every camper got a turn in the saddle. It wasn't just a joyride, though.

Kids learned horse safety, grooming, and riding basics, along with patience and what responsibility looks like when someone depends on you. When the end-of-summer celebration rolled around, and campers shared their highlights, the horses won by several lengths.

Beignets and Mardi Gras Indians

Camp went well beyond the center's grounds. Campers took a historic New Orleans streetcar to the French Quarter, explored the French Market, and dug into beignets from Café du Monde.

Another day, they visited the Washitaw Mardi Gras Indian Museum, where they learned about the history and artistry of one of the city's most treasured traditions. They also met with Chief David, who customizes the costumes.

Eating Like Presidents, Civic Leaders, and Musicians

Camp meals came from Dooky Chase's, just a block away, and the campers feasted on the iconic restaurant's menu. Thanks to their generosity, the meals were provided at a discount, keeping the money and the flavor right in the neighborhood. Campers even visited with the Dooky Chase's family, and learned about the restaurant's legacy of culture, community, and service.

And because no summer is complete without them, there were also some pizza days and snowball days.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Camp was not school in summer clothes, but it was packed with learning. Two retired teachers pitched in. One came twice a week to work with younger kids on sight words, and another helped with math. Small academic breakout sessions, creative arts, and an "All About Me" story time rounded out the days.

Guests dropped in, which included:

• NOLA Keys Music conducted an interactive music workshop on rhythm, teamwork, and self-expression.
• Jabbar Juluke, an assistant football coach at the University of Texas, stopped by to talk with the kids
• Le'Kedra Robertson led a youth leadership session called "Mic'd Up."

Every morning started with exercise, stretching, and team-building, and every Monday, campers headed to the nearby Treme Recreation Community Center to swim, building fitness, water confidence, and teamwork.

"I Am Able": The Power of Affirmation

Confidence was the heart of the whole summer. Every morning, each camper stood up and spoke an affirmation, "I am able". Combined with the etiquette lessons, the horse care, and the leadership sessions, the goal was clear: give these youth confidence - and what the team calls "the power of their tongue" - to walk into any room and own it.

At the end of the summer awards ceremony, campers proudly held up their certificates, parents filled the room, and the camp counselors hosted a celebratory meal. Then one woman stood up to speak, and it became one of the most touching moments of the camp. She gave a powerful testimonial about what the camp meant to her grandson, a second-year camper, whom she's raising.

The camp was facilitated by Positive Minds Positive Movement, in partnership with Providence Community Housing, and Enterprise.