William Lockridge Educational And Scholarship Fund

Patterned after the hit TV series Dancing with the Stars, the WOLCFs Dancing with the Scholars (DWTS) is its annual fundraiser to support and provide scholars with educational and financial resources. On November 9th, nearly 300 people filled THEARC for Dancing with the Scholars XIV (DWTS). The theme of this years annual fundraiser was Shine Like a Diamond, the program included a dance competition with high school students from first-place winners, Ballou Senior High School. Dancers from KIPPDC came in second place, and Bard High School came third. Judges for the evening were Carlene Reid, Ward 8 State Board of Representative; D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson; and Eboni-Rose Thompson, Ward 7 State Board of Education Representative. Jazzmyne Townsend, DC 2024 Teacher of the Year and educator at Simon Elementary School, was the guest speaker for DWTS XIV, and ABCs Good Morning Washingtons Britt Waters returned for the fourth consecutive year as Mistress of Ceremonies. The WOLCF also recognized former Mayor, the Honorable Vincent C. Gray for his unwavering support of the residents of the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Foreign Service Initiative (USFSI), under the umbrella of the IAP, is designed to address former President Joe Bidens mission to diversify the top ranks of government agencies and to give high school students in Wards 7 & 8 the opportunity to learn about careers in international affairs. Not long after his inauguration in January 2021, the Presidents first ambassadorial nomination was Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. President Biden said the nomination reflected his pledge to make institutions reflect the American public they represent at home and abroad. In Southeast Washington, D.C., the WOLCF carries the Presidents mandate with the USFSI. In 2024, 20 students committed to attending six sessions in the Spring and Fall semesters on the following topics: International Trade, Domestic and International Media, Travel and Tourism, African History and global Civilizations, Culture, Fashion, and Food, and International Diplomacy. The sessions enabled student participants to interact, question, and even role-play with international trade experts. African tourism representatives, U.S. Department of State officials, and local, national, and international media personnel. The International Ambassadors Program (IAP) is not just about traveling abroad and engaging in a cultural exchange. Its about personal growth, understanding, appreciating other cultures, and developing a broader worldview. By taking students to Africa, the WOLCF enables them to learn about their ethnicity and connect with their ancestors by visiting countries where their families have roots. Lockridge Ambassadors cultivate more nuanced perspectives of their racial and cultural identities through these encounters and international travel. For most Lockridge Ambassadors, participating in the IAP marks the first time they have applied for and received a passport and country visa. The best part? The WOLCF fully covers these expenses, ensuring that the journey to Africa is a stress-free and fully supported experience. Highlights of each country visit include spending time with local students and their families, meetings, and paying courtesy visits to the U.S. Ambassadors at the American Embassy. The WOLCF has taken close to 20 Lockridge Ambassadors to Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, and, most recently, Madagascar.

Other sponsorship and fundraising activities The WOLCF also recognized Marthas Table at the Common for its community work, and the President of the United States honored Wanda D. Lockridge with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.