Financial Report for BreaktheTide Grant.

BLACK HISTORY EXPO

The Black History Expo took place on February 24, 2024, at Long Reach High School in Columbia, Maryland. The event was sponsored by the National Pan Hellenic Council of Howard County and the Howard County Public School System. The 2024 theme of Black History Month and the Black History Expo was African Americans in the Arts. The Columbia Maryland Continentals created a display that focused on African American Women in the Arts. Our goal was to teach youth and adults about the contributions of African American women in the Arts by using the extensive collection of our member, Kim O’Bryant.

Adult Participants: 250
Youth Participants: 51
Total Participants: 301

UNHEARD PERSPECTIVES SHOWCASE

The  Unheard Perspectives Showcase took place on February 24, 2024, at Hammond Middle School in Laurel, Maryland. The Showcase is a “challenging, performance-based program designed for third, fourth, and fifth graders to hone their research skills and delve deeper in American History by studying the often-unheard perspectives that are not always in textbooks. Continentals served mentors to students competing competition this year. This event is sponsored by the Howard County Public School System Elementary Social Studies Office, the Gifted and Talented Education Program and the Student Access and Achievement Office.

Adult Participants: 144
Youth Participants: 72

PEABODY CONCERT & RECEPTION

The Columbia Maryland Continentals organized a fieldtrip to the Annual Peabody Concert in Laurel, Maryland on February 25, 2024 for students attending Cradlerock Elementary and Lake Elkhorn Middle Schools and their siblings and parents. The Annual Concert is hosted by the Columbia (MD) Links, Incorporated and the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute. The purpose of the concert is to expose African American youth in Howard County to the talented African American college students who attend the Peabody Institute.

The students had the opportunity to hear and meet undergraduate and graduate students perform arias, play string and brass instruments, and steel drums. Educational information was provided about the historical origin of the musical pieces performed that were created by African American writers.
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Adults): 237
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Youth): 47

END OF YEAR PARTY FOR PEA BODY CONCERT PARTICIPANTS

CONGRATULATIONS & HAVE A GREAT SUMMER BREAK!
The Columbia Chapter Members followed the academics, attendance, and behavior of the students who participated in the Peabody Concert Fieldtrip throughout the school year. This group of students maintained high grades, good attendance, participated in gifted and talented courses, and were recognized for exhibiting outstanding behavior during the Peabody Concert in February. We treated them to healthy snacks, treat bags, and a special sweet treat for stellar year! This event took place on April 12, 2024.
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Adults): 5
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Youth): 13

AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN

The 2024 African American Read-In and Harriet Tubman Door Decorating Contest took place at Cradlerock Elementary School in Columbia, Maryland on February 27, 2024. The African American Read-In is an annual activity that takes place across the United States to expose youth to books and poetry by African American writers and illustrators. The Continentals invite friends and community organizations to join them in reading to the students in all of the classrooms at Cradlerock Elementary School. Volunteers also served as judges for the Harriet Tubman Door Decorating Contest. The classrooms with the most original door
decorations depicting Harriet Tubman received a prize. Over 40 plus volunteers came to Cradlerock to read books to students in support of the Read-In!

PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Adults): 104
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Youth): 475

PREPARING THANK YOU BAGS FOR GUEST READERS FOR THE 2024 AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN

On February 21, 2024, the Continentals met at Cradlerock Elementary School to assemble 50 snack bags for readers volunteering for the African American Read-in and Harriet Tubman Door Decorating Contest on February 27, 2024. Volunteers give up their lunch breaks to read to students, so we assemble snack bags that consists of healthy snacks, bottled water, and a thank you to show our appreciation. It may not be a full lunch but it serves as a form of nourishment to help them make it through the rest of their day.

COLLEGE AND CAREER BOUND BULLDOG WEEK

BUTTONS FOR CRADLEROCK STUDENTS

Cradlerock Elementary School requested 500 buttons for their students to wear for College and Career Bound Bulldog Week., April 8-12, 2024. Students participated in a range of activities that included learning about colleges and careers through video presentations, middle and high school classes to take in order to prepare for college, careers that don’t require college, and exposure to surveys and assessments that suggest which careers match your student’s strengths and personalities.

PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Adults): 79
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Youth): 475

CAREER PRESENTATIONS

Members of the Continental Societies, Inc. presented to students about careers in the field of Law.

PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Adults): 79
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Youth): 475

AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE HEALTH FAIR

On April 27, 2024, the Columbia Maryland Chapter of Continental Societies, Inc. participated in a Community Health Expo sponsored by the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County. The Continental’s provided information about healthy eating to manage diabetes in children. They also provided healthy fruits and other snacks as giveaways for participants attending the event.

PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Adults): 234
PEABODY CONCERT ATTENDEES (Youth): 69

Continental Societies, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit, international service organization dedicated to the socioeconomic and cultural welfare of underserved children and youth. The mission of Continental Societies, Inc. is to create environments within communities that empower children to have access to quality appropriate opportunities to reach their optimal potential. There are 49 chapters in 21 states in the USA, District of Columbia and Bermuda.

The National Initiatives of the Continental Societies include Literacy Development, Asthma Awareness, Obesity Prevention, Career Exploration and Support, and Oral Health. Continentals also have a 5-point H.E.E.R. Programmatic thrust + Arts and Humanities. H.E.E.R. stands for Health, Education, Employment, and Recreation. The Columbia Maryland Chapter carries out the National Initiatives and Programmatic Thrusts of the organization in Columbia, Maryland and it has successfully served the Columbia Community for over 30 years.