NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 12, 1999 DHCD Provides $1 Million to Renovate Building for The Maya Angelou Public Charter School WASHINGTON, DC - The Department of Housing and Community Development provided See Forever and The Maya Angelou Public Charter School with a total of $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds for the renovation of the Oddfellows Building. The Maya Angelou Public Charter School, which operates 12 months a year, teaches juveniles and other at-risk youths academic, business, and personal skills. A symbolic ground breaking ceremony, in which representatives will remove boards from the building, will be held on Saturday, November 13, 1999 at noon in the Oddfellows Building located at 1851 9th Street, NW. Invited speakers include Othello Mahone, Interim Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, DC Councilman Jim Graham, and DC Councilman Kevin Chavous. During the ceremony, attendees will tour the building’s first floor and view the renovation plans. The 29,000 square foot building will have a youth and community development center, full-scale catering business that is operated by students, technology center, theater, academic center, and gymnasium. Also, the building’s second floor will be converted into a dormitory-style living center that will accommodate about 20 students. The Maya Angelou Public Charter School is in its third year of operation and has about 55 students. Providing this grant to See Forever and The Maya Angelou Public Charter School helps support Mayor Anthony Williams’ goals to improve schools and the lives of children and youths in Washington, DC. For more information, please contact Tia Matthews, Public Information Officer for the Department of Housing and Community Development, at (202) 442-7259.