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 DC Campaign’s first fundraising dinner was held at the Ritz-Carlton on Thursday, November 30, 2006. Over 200 friends and supporters came together to raise funds to support the work of DC Campaign whose mission is to improve the lives and well being of teens in DC.
The master of ceremonies was Jay Cooper, the former host of Black Entertainment Television’s Teen Summit. DC Campaign Youth Leadership Task Force members, Christina White and Donnell Kie presented the coveted Conversation Changers Award to Roderick Williams on behalf of Charles Mann of the Good Samaritan Foundation for their tutoring and mentoring work with District teens since 1993. Board member, the Honorable Vincent Gray surprised Jeff Thompson, founder and CEO of Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio & Associates, with the  “Standing in the Gap” award for his work with the nonprofit community.
As the keynote speaker, Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty highlighted the problems of teen pregnancy and its costs to District residents. He wrapped up the evening thanking DC Campaign for the work they do with teens, parents, government agencies, non-profits and community based organizations to reduce the teen pregnancy rate. The text of his remarks is at the bottom of this article.
 
Captions: (Top) Youth Leadership Task Force members Christine and Donnell with Mayor Fenty (in center.) (Second) Board President John Ray, Mayor Fenty and awardee Jeff Thompson. (Third) Board member Dr. Herbert Niles and founding board member Ginna Fleming. (Bottom) Guest Mrs. Stephens and board member Dr. Sharon Malone.
Read Mayor Fenty's complete speech.
Teen pregnancy and birth rates in D.C. are nearly twice the national average, are far higher than rates in other Western countries, and are higher than rates in some developing countries. One in six teenagers in D.C. becomes pregnant each year, and many of these teens will have a second child before they are 20. Sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates in D.C. surpass national rates on all fronts, and low-income, minority youth in D.C. are at the highest risk for HIV infection.
With rare exception, the future for families begun by teen parents is extremely bleak. Typically, teen mothers do not graduate high school and consequently, have severely diminished earning capacity. Child support is beyond the financial capabilities of most teen fathers. Children born to teens are twice as likely to be abused or neglected. Sons of teen mothers are three times as likely as other boys to enter the criminal justice system, and daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen parents, themselves. Families begun by teens are fragile and require tremendous emotional, social, and financial support.
How much does teen pregnancy cost District taxpayers?
Each year, Washington DC spends hundreds of millions of dollars on support programs for families that were started by teens. For the community, the economic cost of teen pregnancy is staggering. At Washington Hospital center, 15 percent of all adolescent births are high-risk. Each high-risk birth can cost an average of $57,000 verses $6,180, which is the cost of a normal birth.
Children of adolescent mothers are twice as likely to be victim of abuse and neglect. Annually about 5 percent of children with teen parents go into foster care, which can cost upwards of $20,000 per child.
Boys born to teen parents are nearly three times more likely to wind up in jail than the sons of mothers who delayed childbearing until their twenties and prison costs are over $50,000 per year.
What can we do to help DC Campaign achieve its mission?
Put the needs of DC adolescents at the top of the city’s policy agenda. The most current DC data is 79 pregnancies per 1,000 girls 15-19 years old, a significant reduction but still far too high. We must redouble our efforts by increasing the availability of health care, opportunity and support for all teens, boys and girls.
DC Campaign has noted that in neighborhoods with high instability, a lot of violence and limited opportunities for its young people, the boys get guns and the girls get babies. We’ve got to do better by our teens and it takes everyone in the city to make that happen.
DC Campaign actively works to change the conversation from one of blame and shame to a discussion of what a community must provide its young people so they can grow up to be healthy, productive and self sufficient adults. Youth development builds on the strengths and assets of teens rather than trying to fix their deficiencies.
DC Campaign partners with local and national organizations to further the agenda of teen pregnancy prevention through advocacy, roundtables, and coalitions.
Overcoming the challenges faced by so many D.C. youth will take our combined investment, commitment, and hard work. DC Campaign recognizes that this work cannot be done alone but must be fostered and cultivated through effective partnerships and collaboration.
Together, we can ensure a future in which our youth have not only the right, but also the responsibility to rise as far and as fast as their talents and determination can take them. Your support for DC Campaign is an investment in the vitality of not only Washington, D.C., but in the vitality of our nation.
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