2012 Top-Rated Nonprofit

Operation Understanding DC

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Arts & Culture, Children & Youth, Civil Rights, Community & Neighborhood Development, Cultural & Ethnic Awareness, Economic Development, Intergroup & Race Relations, Race, Youth Community Service Clubs

Mission: Operation Understanding DC's mission is to build a generation of community leaders who will work to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination, and to promote respect, understanding and cooperation within their communities.

Community Stories

248 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

1

ajaib123 General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/01/2023

My fully house burnt due to fire broke out due to which my house, gold, cash and house hold items value worth 40 lakh indian rupees lost..

No help me here only govt give me rupees one lakhs.......... Now I m totally home less all photos and proof of fire incident added below sir....

Bank A/C No. 0087040120000083
IFSC code JAKA0RAMBAN

1

Dianne Zemnaan S. Board Member

Rating: 5

10/31/2017

I have been involved with this organization for more than 15 years. First as a student and now as a board member. Operation Understand DC is a transformative organization that actively works to impact change by growing a generation of leaders who are trained to tackle issues surrounding racism, anti-semitism, and all forms of discrimination.

This program is nearly 25 years old and its ability to remain sustainable over such a long period of time, speaks to the value that it provides not only to the individual students it engages, but the community who they in turn serve.

1

Kitwheatley Board Member

Rating: 5

10/31/2017

I'm both a parent of an OUDC alum and a present board member. OUDC does a wonderful job educating young people about the real meaning of diversity and inclusion. The high school students in the program learn about themselves, their communities and history, and communities and histories they often knew nothing about. And they learn to be leaders in working for social justice. It's a great program, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

alevy01 Board Member

Rating: 5

10/31/2017

OUDC has changed my entire life. As a participant in 2005, a staff member in 2012, and a current Board member, this organization has taught me how to organize, how to act, how to think critically, how to engage in rich dialogue on difficult and sensitive topics, and so much more. It has changed the way I see the world and the way I walk through it. It has provided me with a change and action-oriented perspective on relationships, work, politics, etc. I can't thank OUDC enough - not only for what it's done for me, but what it's done for the world by shaping young leaders over the past 23 years.

Previous Stories
10

Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

There are hardly words to describe my experience with Operation Understanding DC (OUDC). OUDC changed my life by challenging me to recognize the inequities and injustice that surrounds me everyday, and has empowered me to strive to make positive change. Inspired by OUDC, I have organized a Black-Jewish dialogue/programming group on my college campus, and have educated many on the relationship between our two groups. Further, OUDC has lead to me study race relations and social justice in school...this has led me to pursue a masters in public health in order to hopefully one day relieve America's population of vast health/health care disparities that plague our nation in unimaginable ways. OUDC is with me everyday and I am so grateful for the experience I had in Class 12.

2

rbr27 General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/30/2013

This organization does amazing work and has positively affected several Black and Jewish students and their families that I personally know. Each student goes forth not only a better human being but an ambassador for understanding and empathy, and a force for justice and peace. The organization changes the world one person at a time which is the best and only way to really be effective.

1

Tierra R. Client Served

Rating: 5

10/29/2013

When I was introduced to OUDC I was in the 11th grade, and it changed my life. I was exposed to the jewish culture and shared dialouge about my history. I found my bestfriend (a jewish man) and continue to expose others to the lessons I learned in that year long program as a junior in high school.

3

C.tyger Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/29/2013

I am an alumni of Operation Understanding DC (OUDC) Class 17. To write a simple review of this organization would be undermining its grandness, however I will try to keep it short. OUDC directed me towards a path so few of my fellow African-American brothers refuse to take. A peculiar path that holds delicate footprints of advocates for social justice instead of the common path stampeded with individuals who are indifferent towards society's problems. This organization has made me aware and active of social issues regarding not just the Black community, but the global community as well. As I conversed with my Jewish counterparts in the program, I became aware of issues that affected them and discovered many similarities. Our conversations helped me understand that OUDC was organized for the betterment of mankind. To understand each other is necessary for world peace and compromise. I thank God for this program because it has awakened the leader within me.

1

samteicher Client Served

Rating: 5

10/29/2013

This program was life-changing for me (Class 13). One of the greatest and most profound experiences of my life. To learn what we did through this structure is brilliant. Jewish and Black American cultures, the Civil Rights Movement, dialogue workshops... while making lifelong friends and getting to visit some of the most important places in American history with the actors who helped make the Civil Rights Movement a success? C'mon...what more could you want?

-Sam

Previous Stories
1

Client Served

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

Operation Understanding DC (OUDC) is by far the greatest thing I have participated in my life and my experiences from the program have played a major role in my life. OUDC brings together Black and Jewish rising seniors from the DC area in a year-long program. In it, I learned. I learned about history; of Black culture in the United States: slavery, literature, the Civil Rights Movement, West African song and dance; the history of the Jewish people: ancient Israel, assimilation and persecution in Europe and the Holocaust, immigration through Ellis Island. We learned about the shared community of Blacks and Jews in SW DC that existed into the 70's. We learned that our families can cook some pretty delicious traditional foods. Our month-long summer bus trip through NYC and the South was one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life. I visited the monumental places of the Civil Rights Movement, like the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and the Lorraine Motel; met with both leaders of and participants in the Civil Rights Movement; saw beautiful Southern synagogues whose memberships had dwindled down to enough barely to hold a mincha; prayed at churches, synagogues, and mosques, and got an experience of Jewish summer camp at Camp Ramah in Georgia. But what really defined OUDC for me was how much I came to understand myself. And that came not only through the lectures, the video clips from Eye's on the Prize, and the workshops on dialogue facilitation, but through the people who were in OUDC Class 13 with me. At first they were my fellow classmates, and then my friends, and finally a family I will never stop caring about. We learned from each other, having a fun time doing it, and I loved every second of it. My friends in OUDC helped open my eyes and mind outward, and eventually inward, not only to the necessities and opportunities for racial, ethnic, and religious dialogue, but to how different every person is, even if we have a shared religion, race, area code, or flag. Every person has their own beliefs and views, unique experiences and memories, and stories that should be shared. It is a beautiful thing, how we different we all are, and how much people can learn from one another, between individuals, and within our communities, our neighborhoods, our countries, our cultures, our world. And we need to talk to one another, as individuals, as groups, as countries. The facilitation of dialogue is crucial if we want to bring ourselves together and begin laying the foundations for a world with less racial intolerance, religious discrimination, national conflicts, and fear of "the other." Operation Understanding DC enabled me to understand many things outside of what was "me." And through OUDC, I eventually began to understand myself, and how I am shaped by the world around me, and how I can help make it better. And the best part is, I had a hell of a good time doing it.

1

donnellpowell22 Donor

Rating: 5

10/29/2013

IMAGINE.

-traveling on a bus with 30 awesome people for 3 1/2 weeks!
-acquiring new knowledge about your own culture, religion, and SELF.
-forming lifelong relationships.
-meeting folks who were on the same balcony the day MLK died.
-hugging a Holocaust survivor.
-eating delicious Jewish & Southern style dishes.
-taking the stand for what is RIGHT.
-changing the WORLD.

Stop imagining, and PARTAKE! OUDC changed my life, are you ready for this JOURNEY?

1

psch21 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/29/2013

I am an alumna of OUDC (Class 15). The opportunities and community that this program has given me are truly amazing. I still keep in touch with the program staff and my class. They have opened doors for me and I was able to intern this past summer with an organization that has a wonderful mission of peace and justice.

1

lloydwolf Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/23/2013

I have been involved as a volunteer (photographer) with OUDC for many years, and have continue to be inspired by the energy and uplifting values they foster. Many programs speak about social change and inter-ethnic dialog, but Operation Understanding has long and consistently effectively delivered on their mission, on their promise. I trust they are able to continue to build up our young people with the meaningful and proven skills that are embedded into the program's action plans.

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Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

OUDC has significantly improved the lives of numerous young people in the Jewish and African-American community in the DC area. I have been moved by the depth of the awareness of history, culture, communication, and personal growth it has engendered in its goal of increasing understanding and collaboration.

class19 Client Served

Rating: 5

08/13/2013

This program really helped me reach my full potential and develop my leadership skills. Operation Understanding DC provides support, education and fun. Operation Understanding is the best program I have ever participated in. I have been touched by the sincerity of the leaders and directors of OUDC and have met friends I will never forget. I have learned so much and can apply everything Operation Understanding has offered to my life. I am so glad I did the program.

caitycec Client Served

Rating: 5

08/13/2013

This program is truly unique. I was encouraged to apply for the program by a school counselor and being accepted meant the world to me. This program lit me on fire with passionate Civil Rights activism history and gave me the opportunity to follow the history in the cities where they took place during the summer journey which followed the path of the 1961 Freedom Riders. This is a once in a life time experience that I was lucky to take part in and is one of the most important initiatives in order today that will help make this world a better place by teaching young leaders and instilling the fire that will never burn out for social justice and activism.

2

ericahorne Client Served

Rating: 5

10/16/2012

Operation understanding helped me figure out who I am as a person, my passions in life, and how to achieve everything I want. With the immense amount of negativity and hatred in the world, operation understanding was the light at the end of the tunnel. Oudc gave me the tools to combat discrimination and hatred while giving me the best friends that I could ever ask for. Oudc is so much more than an organization. It really is a family and an amazing one at that. It truly is hard to write in words how much oudc has touched my life and fantastic the organization really is.

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1

Client Served

Rating: 5

08/05/2009

OUDC is an amazing program for young teens to become even better leaders in their communities and really discover themselves. I think that by being a part of this program I have found a strong sense of self and much more self-confidence. OUDC gives you the skills to take all of the great information that you learn and share it with the rest of the world so that little by little everyone will be making changes in the way we think about other who think, feel, and act differently than ourselves.

1

TMTB Client Served

Rating: 5

10/13/2012

OUDC has broadened my daughters persective on life. It has also broadened my families perspective on life. They are well organized and informed, the trainings provided give families an opportunity to embrace diversity.

1

efern Donor

Rating: 5

10/10/2012

My daughter's participation with this organization has been one of the best experiences of her high school career. It has broadened her world view in ways that her academic school and family experiences have not been able to do. The speakers she has had the opportunity to learn from and meet have made history come alive and have inspired her to strive to improve her wider community. Understanding that one individual CAN make a difference was eye-opening and inspirational. In addition, so much of her growth and wider world view has come from the other program participants. OUDC does a great job of selecting a highly diverse group of kids to part take in this special program. While very different, they all do have a common thirst for knowledge and making an impact. They have grown together, learned to truly listen to one another even when they don't agree (I wish our elected officials would learn to do that) and to work together to create a better community. They truly want to make the world in which they live a better place. My daughter was forced out of her comfort zone many times and is better for it. We can't wait to see how the experience with OUDC will impact her college and career choices!

Sally26 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2012

This is a unique organization that is dedicated to developing tomorrow's leaders. It brings together 12 Black and 12 Jewish students for an entire year; they meet every few weeks and spend an intensive 3+ weeks on the Freedom Summer route through the South. These are special kids who learn leadership skills, understanding of and appreciation for one another's culture and set of beliefs, and the ability to mediate differences. They get out of their comfort zone and they struggle with ideas that may be foreign to them, but they end up feeling good about each other and are the better for having challenged themselves. If we are thinking about our future and our children's future, we would all be better off if every child had the opportunity to experience what these kids have done throughout the year. We can't say enough about how character building this program has been for our son. It's life-altering for him and his community - we thank OUDC for that.

1

brykanefield Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2012

Our daughter's experience with Operation Understanding DC not only empowered her to believe she can make a difference in the world, but also became an inspiration to us, as we witnessed the power of an organization so capable of nurturing and growing future leaders. OUDC demands much of each year's high school juniors, requiring a year-long commitment of time and energy during what is arguably their most challenging year of high-school. For that investment, the organization creates a group of young leaders who understand the history and sources of discrimination...and more importantly, equips them with the tools to fight future discrimination and build a more understanding world.

SirJoseph G.

SirJoseph G. Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2012

Literally every single experience we had during this program was educationally beneficial and life changing. I now know more about the Jewish and Black histories then 99% of the world. Plus, this program taught me how to see the world and certain events through a different perspective. I couldn't have mentally matured without this program.

Emily A Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2012

As an alumni of OUDC, I can say with certainty that this is a life-changing experience. OUDC challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and into other peoples' shoes and it taught me the importance of discussing controversial issues. There is nothing like hearing a first-hand account from a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and then going to Jumu'ah services, Shabbat services, and Church services all in one weekend, discussing each event with my classmates along the way. I have continued to implement the lessons I learned from OUDC in college and will always remember the conversations I had with my OUDC classmates. There is truly nothing like this program. I am so grateful that I was able to have this experience.

Hilde P. General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

08/19/2012

My daughter had the privilege of being selected for their leadership developmental program and it has had a huge transformative impact on her life and ours. She is fired up in making an impact toward a more equitable society. As she prepares to go to college, she is focusing on course of studies that will prepare her to be active in eradicating social injustices. There is no other program available to 17-year old High School students that removes blinders and empowers them into becoming active, participating citizens, whose voices will be heard and who matter.

Fgb B. Client Served

Rating: 5

08/16/2012

A Great organization with focused opportunities for Young Leaders. Every Young Adult should have the OUDc experience. I'm glad to be apart of this wonderful experience!

mouse00000 Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/14/2012

This organization has taught me how to truly understand those around me. With their extensive education initiative they really take their mission seriously. Quality organization.

1

Jaleelah Thompson Client Served

Rating: 5

08/14/2012

Eye-opening, life changing, dynamic : Just a few words to describe my OUDC experience. Before joining Class 18, I considered myself pretty open minded and knowledgeable about Jewish and Black culture. But as I discovered through workshops, conversations, and research, I was more than ignorant. This program has opened my eyes to subjects and issues I would have never had a view on without OUDC. I am proud to say that I have talked to civil rights leaders in the Black and Jewish communities. Thank you OUDC for educating me in my own culture and opening my eyes to the world around me, you have not only given me an irreplaceable experience but also beautiful friendships from both cultures.

1

Daria F Client Served

Rating: 5

08/14/2012

Operation Understand DC is the best organization that I could have ever got involved in. Their focus on educating the youth about history, activism, and the culture of others helps in the overall goal to build strong community leaders. As a participant in the program I have learned more about myself through the history programs, the verity of speakers presented, and my classmates. This year long opportunity is one of a life time! I encourage everyone, who has the chance to be apart of this program, to participate.

Jeff Billingslea Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/14/2012

This organization not only is developing the children within the program, but also kids and adults alike outside of the program. By openly spreading equality and the complete expulsion of racism, anti-semitism and all forms of discrimination. This organization takes its time to teach all about the importance of understanding one another through religion or day to day encounters! This non-profit is deserving of the award!

judy kramer Client Served

Rating: 5

08/13/2012

My daughter is a member of OUDC's current class, and I have witnessed first-hand how the OUDC experience has transformed her. Through the weekend-long retreats, the Sunday afternoon seminars and the summer journey, she has learned so much about her own history and culture (Jewish) and the history and culture of the African American community and the civil rights movement. She has acquired close friendships she might not otherwise have had. When she returned from the summer journey through New York City and the South, meeting with social justice activists, religious leaders and leaders of the civil rights movement, she decided to pursue social justice programs in college, and our college search is now focused on schools that offer such programs. OUDC's leadership is outstanding. They are experts at expanding the horizons of the students, their families and the communities in which they live.

Stacy K. Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

02/11/2012

I work at a school that regularly sends students to the OUDC program. Not only does our school benefit from the rich relationships established from OUDC through its staff and network, but also by having our own students come back to teach their fellow students and teachers about what they have learned. Recently, one of our african-american male OUDC students invited his jewish male OUDC colleague to speak at our Martin Luther King Memorial Chapel. It was a powerful and authentic realization of the mission of OUDC.

Previous Stories

Advisor

Rating: 4

02/10/2011

I am a diversity director at a MD independent school. We have had various students from our school go through the OUDC program with wonderful results. I know OUDC graduates to be fantastic facilitators and end up educating their own school communities as a result of their experience. I find OUDC to be well-run and organized in its selection process and implementation of the program.

amrobert09 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/26/2011

Transformative. Enlightening. Empowering. Those are a few words our high school students used to describe the “Stereotype” workshop facilitated by OUDC students last year. Our program counselors and staff could not stop talking about the visible difference we saw in our students after the workshop. There was a heightened sense of self-awareness and consciousness that was not there before. Thank you OUDC for empowering our students.

j.schwarz Client Served

Rating: 5

02/24/2011

One of the best experiences of my life. OUDC transformed not only the way I percieve and interact with others but the way I see myself and my role in society.

Judith H. Donor

Rating: 5

02/21/2011

For a small nonprofit organization, OUDC does huge things. Both of my daughters were participants in this program. They both have told me that this program made a huge impact on them. In fact, they both said that this is a life changing program and if you have the opportunity to become part of this program, you should do so. I am grateful to the OUDC staff for helping my daughters to care about their community and to become active participants.

FASMD Donor

Rating: 5

02/07/2011

I am a parent of a member of the 16th class. This experience was transformational for our daughter. OUDC helped her to see where she fits into our world and how she can help our make our world a better and more understanding and tolerant place. The opportunity to go on the summer journey made the civil rights movement more than an historical event in a textbook. She was given a chance to speak to surviving members of the movement and to see the landmark places of the movement. This solidified for her the sacrifices made on her behalf by those who came before. She is a better person, student, and member of society, as a result of this experience.

jbutler Board Member

Rating: 5

02/07/2011

My daughter's experience as an OUDC class member was truly life altering. She now teaches in a low performing urban, public school and the leadership skills, cultural perspectives, and understandings she developed during her year with OUDC are helping her to succeed in a very challenging endeavor. As a parent, I grew along with my daughter. For those students who are fortunate to be accepted into the program, OUDC provides them with a unique set of tools to make a real difference in the world.

Jamie Butler,
Parent of a former OUDC student and current Board member

awollack@gmail.com Client Served

Rating: 5

02/04/2011

OUDC has been such an important part of my life and continues to impact me years after I graduated from the program. It has helped shaped my education, career path, my way of thinking, my identity, and my understanding of history.

esiegel General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

02/04/2011

It is important that divergent views of all peoples in our society become respected and that the ingetrity of those in society with whom we differ is maintained. OUDC teaches participants to celebrate our differences and to impart that knowledge and passion for inclusion to others who are touched by the students who facilitate and teach. Training the leaders of tomorrow to foster inclusion of ideas, views, colors, races, sexual orientations, etc is critical if the United States is going to maintain its leadership on the world stage. I applaud OUDC. As a parent of a person in Class 17 and a civil rights lawyer, I am proud of this organization and its results.

jazzjester Board Member

Rating: 5

02/03/2011

As a parent of a former participant (Class 10) and a current Board Member, I cannot laud and support the mission and program of Operation Understanding enough. The exposure provided to the participants, and by virtue of that their friends and family, has been described as inspirational, momentous and an awakening. The Black and Jewish youth involved seem to find a direction that put them on a life-track of giving, sharing and positive change. What a difference involvement can make!

rich Donor

Rating: 5

02/02/2011

A teenager who recently took part in Operation Understanding's program provided it with the greatest compliment: he told me it changed his life. Now in college, he is studying urban development as a way to put some of the ideas he talked about during the year-long program to practical effect.

rachel Client Served

Rating: 5

02/02/2011

OUDC has served our school incredibly well. Each year their staff and youth participants lead workshops on Diversity in our school and prompt important conversations between and among our students. Our student participants rave about their experience in this program and develop maturity, sensivity, awareness and strength in leadership that will serve them in all relationships and experiences their life time through. Even our staff has participated in development training with OUDC's support and assistance. I feel very fortunate to benefit from the very large greatness of this relatively small program in so many ways.

jamiejosephson General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

02/02/2011

i have both recommended students for the Operation Understanding program and had OUDC students present to my class. In both situations, the result of involvement with OUDC was wonderful.

My class last year that had presentations from OUDC had their eyes opened to the lack of understanding or knowledge they had about their classmates and community. They began to look at individuals less from the outside and more from their actions.

This year, I recommended one of my students for participation in the program as a new transfer student at our school. His experience has made him feel that he can learn and change from exposure to new and different people. The experience encourages him to learn and grow rather than get stuck in the place he began.

heather Volunteer

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

I've provided briefings for the students in Operation Understanding. The students are inspiring to me--thoughtful, engaged and serious about finding new understandings about and across race, religions and other differences. This is remarkable leadership development for the next generation.

orengade Volunteer

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

My daughter is a member of Class 17, and I recently spoke with a parent from Class 1, who said that OUDC was central to her son's entire high school experience and in some ways made him the person he is today. My daughter is so excited and amazed at how open the kids are and how quickly they connected. I am thrilled with the beginning of this program, and can't wait to watch it unfold. What an opportunity for these kids, and what an opportunity to change the world! Thank you, OUDC!

EKugler Volunteer

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

My son was an OUDC participant in Class 5. Now some 10 years later, I see the impact on him and his fellow class-mates. They are aware, engaged, articulate champions of respect and inclusion, working around the world to improve the lives of people of all backgrounds. Each person touched by OUDC touches many others on a daily basis.

Tony Board Member

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

OUDC is one of the best non-profits in Washington, DC. It teaches sustainable life lessons and leadereship skills to young adults that transcend daily and normal experiences.

esther511 Donor

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

We have known a number of young people who participated in Operation Understanding in the recent past. They are all incredible young people with a desire to give back to society. I am not sure if they started out that way or became that giving through their participation in the program. My children have been grown for a long time, but if there had been OU when they were teens, there would have been no question, but they would have been involved in the program. I have been to the graduations and have heard young people speak about their experiences. Impressive to say the least!

egoldman12 Volunteer

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

OUDC is the solution to our nation's societal problems. In today's world ignorance, racism and prejudice actively block our youth and incoming generations from fully understanding someone's background different than their own. The problem with this issue is that when understanding for one's culture is absent, people have difficulty getting along with and treating him/her with respect. Operation Understand D.C. brings African Americans and Jews together to help promote understanding for different cultures and help eradicate racism, antisemitism or any sort of prejudice for that matter wherever it may exist. OUDC is a phenomenal non-profit organization which is helping to coalesce our nation one youth at a time.

stsullivan Volunteer

Rating: 5

02/01/2011


Through her participation in OUDC, a student who found herself a member of a desperately small minority at our suburban Virginia high school felt part of a bigger metropolitan family. OUDC supported her in so many ways and faculty at my school could see her growth in dealing with sensitive discussions in the classroom and her willingness to develop friendships across racial lines. She blossomed into a calm, well-adjusted young woman in the year with OUDC. Her praise for the OUDC mission and its successful outreach continues to be always extremely positive and sincere. Well done!

leslie123 Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

I am been affiliated with OUDC for over 15 years, as a donor, wife of a board member, facilitator of programs, and currently, as a parent of a participant. My son who grew up with OUDC as a household name, came home from his first program weekend saying that he was really glad that he participated, that he already has really good friends, and that he's happy for himself in addition to looking good for college. OUDC is the real deal: mission focused, competitive for the best participants, and providing a remarkable experience for the participants and the people with whom they interact.

quikgrass Client Served

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

I am an alum of Class 5 of OUDC. This organization and its teachings have collectively done more to shape my life as a Jew and an adult than any other experience or organization of which I have been a part. At a time when Judaism was not a strong part of my life, OUDC showed me the importance of recognizing my own heritage, and how it was my personal responsibility to educate others about the facts of history and relationships. Not a week goes by when I don't think about or act upon the lessons and methods I learned here, and I actively engage many people in discussion about OUDC's goals and training. While I now live 3,000 miles away and can only donate so much every year, I will never cease to benefit from how OUDC has shaped my outlook on life.

polizpowell Donor

Rating: 5

02/01/2011

This program changed my child's life. OUDC provides a safe and nurturing environment to discuss issues of diversity. The program inspires youth to tackle the tough issues and talk about sensitive subjects. My son developed amazing friendships. Our entire family became involved in the program thru program participation, selection of program candidates and spending time with other parents. We will remember this experience forever. I would recommend this program to any student who wishes to expand their circle of friends while exploring the common differences and similarities we all share.
Sincerely,

The Powell Family

Barbara Donor

Rating: 5

09/26/2010

I have been a donor for three years. In a time when we cannot justify many contributions because of the squeeze of the economic situation, we have been consistent in our support of OUDC. We feel that if we need to work with teens to learn about others and celebrate their differences in order to leave them a better world than they came into. OUDC does this in bucketfuls.

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Donor

Rating: 4

08/08/2009

As a parent of a student in Class 13, I know that my daughter's experience that year has taught her much about two wonderful cultures, although one she was born into. Since it is a year long program she has had time to process what she has learned and work out any additional issues within the closeness of OUDC. But even more importantly, she has also learned how to talk to people who say offensive or factually incorrect things about other people (not limited to African Americans or Jews). She sees herself, her classmates and OUDC as a community of people who understand and promote equality everywhere. I feel that we are fortunate to have this opportunity for our kids because we live somewhere where OUDC exists, we fit the profile and we believe. OUDC Rocks!!

erica Client Served

Rating: 5

09/22/2010

Operation Understanding DC is an outstanding program that brings together young people from the African American and Jewish communities to learn about their shared history and to confront current issues of racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination. It empowers these young people by helping them to strengthen their character and identity and provides them with a set of skills that enables them to become advocates and forces for social justice.

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12

Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/02/2009

My son participated in this program. At first, he was reluctant to tear himself away from the summer camp he had been involved with for many years. Once he immersed himself in the OUDC experience, however, he never looked back. His appreciation of the culture and history of oppression of African Americans came alive in a way that has resonated deeply within him. He made enduring friendships that have stood the test of time. He was forced to thoroughly examine his belief system. While he had always been a "fire in the belly" social activist, this experience ignited him.

daimler General Member of the Public

Rating: 4

09/14/2010

When my son first told us about Operation Understanding DC, we were very skeptical about the program, we were expecting them to ask us for thousands of dollars to be in the program, after about 6 months into the program, I will say that this is one of the best things that has happened to us, the way the organisation has encouraged our children and the parents alike to communicate and engage each other, I am always looking forward to the parents meetins that we have, we always have about 20 parents from different backgrounds sharing experiences about our religions, backgrounds and I have personally learnt a lot about the Jewish community from the program. The organisers are unbelieveable nice, especially AJ. I love how they are encouraging our young to be great leaders of tommorrow. The summer journey was a good experience and it has helped my son. Dolapo. I wish them many more years and the very best.

imanijack Client Served

Rating: 5

09/12/2010

I heard about Operation Understanding DC through a friend who is in the graduating class before me. Initially I was nervous about joining the organization. I thought I would be thrust into intimate situations with 22 strangers and this made me a little uneasy. Now, a senior, going into her last 5 months of OUDC it is bittersweet. My classmates and I came in strangers, we are now a unique family. I will miss the retreats and memorable speakers like Georgette Norman, director of the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. Though these thoughts are sad I am overjoyed and excited in entering the facilitation and speech making portion of our year long leadership program. I believe whole heartedly that my classmates and I will build a generation of community leaders that will promote respect and understanding in our communities, we WILL work to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination, we will make this world a better place.

dominique1 Client Served

Rating: 5

09/10/2010

I first heard about Operation Understanding DC (OUDC) through my high school. When I read about the program, it made me realize that there was a good chance to learn about my history as well as others. OUDC is a program that brings African Americans and Jewish students together to explore their history while also working to promote respect. During this past summer, we took a 23-day journey, following the path of the freedom riders. It was one of the most enriching experiences. I met mayors of different cities as well as people who contributed and partiicipated in the civil rights movement. I got a lot out of the journey, and not only did I learn about history, but I also touched it. It was so amazing because it opened my eyes and changed my outlook on life. I now valu emy life more than ever because I know some of the sacrifices that people have made to get me here today.

zaydek Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/09/2010

Operation Understanding isn't just a non-profit organization looking to educate students, but a unique experience that's definitely life-changing. One question I always asked myself and teachers was why does history matter? It already happened! And it wasn't until after our 3-week summer journey across the states did I really start to understand and rely on the importance of history- without it, it repeats itself! There's nothing more ignorant that we can do today than nothing. So start now and contribute, support, or just plain tell your friends about OUDC because they know where to start, and their volunteers know where to continue.

sam-edelman Client Served

Rating: 5

09/09/2010

OUDC is an amazing organization. As a current participant, I can't even begin to describe all that I have learned and gained from this program. We have learned about different cultures and have been challenged to analyze our connections to our own. We have learned about activism, oppression, power, and many other relevant issues. This experience has been invaluable for me.

russellcrock Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/08/2010

This organization is fantastic. I have spent the last eight months with 21 fantastic teenagers and I have learned more than I ever thought possible. We have learned about each others cultures, histories, and religions. We have seen each group's successes and failures. And what I have learned has helped me challenge my own beliefs, notions, and stereotypes. This will help me better serve my community today, tomorrow and far into the future. An organization that can do this is extremely rare.

dmichels Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/08/2010

This organization is amazing! They take a group of teens in the time of life where they are very self-focused and introduce them to the world! I am so impressed with this group. They select a group of teens who would never intersect in real life, then they challenge them, stimulate them, educate them, and show them their history, their culture and the world in which they live. They come through the experience not only older and wiser, but committed to promoting social justice and working to better the planet. Hooray for OUDC!

leahragen Client Served

Rating: 5

09/07/2010

The experinece of OUDC is impossible to describe with words, but the knowledge and relationships I have gained not only changed my world and my self perception, but will continue to encourage me to change the world.

4

happily served Client Served

Rating: 5

10/09/2009

Throughout the years, my experience in oudc has had an tremendous impact on how I interpret the world. I think more critically about the possiblie perspectives of others and look for empathetic connections.

4

oudc.lover Client Served

Rating: 5

10/09/2009

I have had an amazing experience with Operation Understanding DC. When I joined this program, I did not feel I had that leadership capability. But over the year while I worked with them, I came into my own. What developed my leadership skills most was, as a member of OUDC, I fascilitated discussions on stereotypes, labels, prejudice etc.

6

stackblack Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

being a part of the 9th class of OUDC truly shaped my perspective on the world and has had an influence on my thought process since I was in the program. Looking back, I know my year with OU influenced my education and career choices. I am now studying for a Master's in Social Work with a concentration on Community Organizing and working with minor juvenile offenders in Baltimore City.

4

diane.lazar Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC was a lifechanging experience. I learned about, history, culture, religion, civil rights, the importance of activism, public speaking, music and made lifelong friends. I can only praise OUDC and recommend it to others.

4

ane2104 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

Operation Understanding DC remains one of the most formative experiences of my life. I came in hoping to learn more about the history and culture of Black and Jewish people; I came out with meaningful, lifelong friendships and a passion for educating others about issues of identity and discrimination. A lot of the activism I participate in at college I can directly credit to my experience in OUDC. It is an amazing program that teaches you about yourself and your ability to change the world. After spending six months learning about the history and culture of Blacks and Jews with my 31 other Black and Jewish peers, we embarked on an amazing three-week summer journey. Meeting with civil rights leaders of the past and present, and staying up late into the night discussing complex issues of identity, privilege, and power formed unbreakable bonds among the participants and left us forever committed to be active in our communities. As we crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of Bloody Sunday, we tossed a pebble over the side and watched as it made ripples that grew and grew. OUDC is like that pebble; touching so many individuals, it continues to create little ripples that will one day grow into waves of change.

1

dnell22 General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

Tracing history through a “summer journey” which allowed me to visit historical landmarks pertinent to the Civil Rights Movement and Holocaust and also speaking with activists who were involved in these acts of discrimination was jubilant. As my intellectual skills grew from gaining the knowledge of history that my textbooks lacked, articulation was becoming a strength as opposed to a weakness. Being in a diverse group that consists of different individuals who all have different backgrounds has developed my social skills. Diversity plays a key role in life because it releases you from your comfort zone, and it allows you to think from different perspectives based on race, religion, and culture. For me, the most moving place on the trip was the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. Standing below the balcony where he was shot, I felt a suffocating sense of grief and hopelessness. I then realized that hopelessness was not what King would have wanted. The responsibility he felt for the future was a responsibility each of us now feel. In “A Letter from a Birmingham,” King say, “I am here because injustice is here.” OUDC has taught me not just to address injustice when I am confronted with it, but also to seek it out.

1

Gkline0 Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

By far the most impactful experience of my 22 years. there is no other real life experience quite like this. Because of OUDC I co-founded tufts African american alliance.

1

pjg2001 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

It is difficult to describe in words how meaningful my OUDC experience was, and how important it has been to my life. It was in OUDC that I was truly introduced to brilliant, enthusiastic people of different backgrounds and cultures. It was in OUDC that I learned how important it was to devote my life to improving my community and society at large. The staff has had a tremendous impact in building my self-confidence, public-speaking ability, and understanding of people whose lives differ from my own. OUDC taught me to question what I thought I knew, and seek out the answers that I recognized I did not know. Nearly a decade later, it remains in many ways the most important formative experience of my life.

3

kyle.sinick Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I will never forget my OUDC class 9 experience for as long as I live. OUDC taught me a lot about my own heritage as an American Jew as well as a deeper understanding of the experience of blacks in the U.S. In many ways, I feel that I have a greater appreciation for this country's history and the American experience today through this program. I sincerely believe that everyone should have the chance to participate in a program like OUDC.

1

djkrum14 Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

Operation Understanding DC is a wonderful program. It provides students an eye-opening experience to learn about important social as well as political issues in the U.S., and I know first hand that it has had a strong impact on students.

4

iloveoudc Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

Operation Understanding DC (OUDC) introduced me to inspiring places, peers, and activists as part of a year-long program with other Jewish and African-American teens. With the knowledge I gained in OUDC, I feel I MUST continue work in eradicating racism, anti-semitism, and all other forms of discrimination.

4

IJS Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC had a huge and lasting impact on my life. The program introduced me to critical thinking about racial and judicial history in the U.S. and introduced me to people from my own city who I never would have had the chance to meet, and whose experiences opened my eyes to the world around me. Since OUDC, I have been active in communal and political events, always with an eye toward democracy and justice.

4

J_G Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC was an amazingly effective facilitator of cultural, religious, historical and social exploration. It expanded my understanding of complex social issues and helped me grow to be comfortable engaging in dialogue on tough issues, even with people I don't know well. It also gave me a better understanding of who I am.

4

SarahF Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC quite literally changed my life. It instilled in me a commitment to racial justice that has informed my career and educational pursuits ever since.

4

kajs17 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

There are no words that can explain the impact that OUDC has done for me. The experiences and the people I met throughout the journey has had a lasting impression on me.

4

EM Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC continues to have a profound impact on me, even though I participated in the program ten years ago. Academically, I was inspired to study the Civil Rights Movement in college because of exposure through OUDC to the places and people involved in the Movement. Personally, OUDC introduced me to the people who remain my closest friends. But the most important lesson I learned from OUDC is that everyone has a story to tell. As a teenager, I was so excited to learn of the varying lives of my fellow participants. Now as a teacher, I share the same appetite for learning of the lives of my students. OUDC taught me how to ask questions and how to find connections -- even with people with whom I never would have expected to share commonalities.

4

mef021 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC has been one of the mose influential experiences on my life thus far. It has taught me so much about not only my own culture and race buth jewish culture. It was an amazing opputunity to meet 31 other great students and share moments I know none of us will ever forget. I was in class 12 and memories of oudc are with me every day.

4

ieppler Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

Operation Understanding DC led me to reevaluate my core beliefs: on race, on religion, on my country's history, and on my future priorities.

4

sam.aleinikoff Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I participated in the 12th class of OUDC and started my OUDC journey over four years ago. While the official program lasted about a year, the journey will last for the rest of my life. Learning about the different forms of discriminatory attitudes and stereotypes that society and each one of us holds and beginning to work to fight against my own stereotypes and those ingrained in societal structures in OUDC has led me to concentrate on inequalities studies in college. Outside of academics, OUDC has helped me to open myself to new experiences in terms of race relations and also generally. Overall, OUDC has changed the way I see myself and my interactions with others. It has helped me to realize and given me the tools to fight against inequalities that I see in the world.

4

BDS Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

As a former participant, I feel that OUDC was instrumental both to my personal development and my decision to take issues of social change seriously.

6

rnjames Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

Operation Understanding has been such an integral part of my personal development. As a student and then as Program Director, I saw the program change the ways in which people from different backgrounds communicate about important issues in our world. OUDC is all at once a leadership development program; a college-preparatory experiential learning course; and an example of the power young people have to end racism and discrimination in all their forms. The staff and Board of Directors of OUDC care deeply about the mission of the organization and make meaningful connections with students, parents, and families that are long-lasting.

6

maxmoline Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

When I joined other teenagers from the DC area, all black and/or Jewish, I had no idea what to expect. I went in almost clueless about the connections between the two communities, and came out with some of the closest friends and richest experiences I've ever had.

6

Abby Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I participated in OUDC about 6 years ago and its work in breaking down religious and racial divides has been a real foundation for my work as a community organizer.

10

OUDC Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I joined other Black and Jewish youth in year-round workshops about historical struggles and modern day approaches to fighting for social justice. The highlight was a month-long civil rights-focused journey into the Deep South. We talked with different players of the Civil Rights Movement, including those active today. They included a journalist who has worked to prosecute klansmen, a woman who suffered during the Edmund-Pettis Bridge police beating, and members of the reconciliation project in Greensboro. The pace was always dizzying, but the material remained rich and impactful. Eventually, we became the subjects of our own histories as we spread out into the community to share what we had learned.

7

LaraWinter General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I have seen first-hand the great work that this organization has done with the youth of D.C. It is truly a positive influence in the community.

5

cagallag Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I was a participant in OUDC. I was interested in the program because I knew little about the connection between the African-American and Jewish communities. OUDC is a great program because I learned about the historical significance of this connection and about modern race-relations. As a group, we shared our personal stories of racism/ anti-Semitism and our reactions to speakers/events. Our Summer Journey was our chance to truly bond. We traveled to New York City and the Deep South over a month-long journey in July. My class laughed, cried, and sang together. We were unified by our desire to educate ourselves on parts of history that are over-looked. Although we argued and complained, I feel like that was all part of the process. I learned to recognize the differences in people, and at the same time, realize that if I made the effort, I could find the similarities. Although we discussed the past, OUDC is a program that also focuses on the future. In the final stage of the program, we facilitated discussions on stereotypes to churches, synagogues, and youth groups. I now feel a need to speak out against passive racism, when before I would have let things go that didn't necessarily apply to me. As a college freshman, I try my best to continue to speak out against things that are racially offensive. Without OUDC, I don't think I would have had the courage or even recognized the need to speak up.

10

Quincy Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

As a parent of an OUDC student and volunteer, I have been so impressed with the work of OUDC in bringing kids and their parents together to get past any cultural differences and work together to bring about social change. The strong friendships among the group and their commitment to changing the world gives hope that the next generation will solve some of our longstanding social problems.

11

jams123123 Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC changed my life and taught me how to have the confidence in myself, and also gave me the skills that I needed to be an effective leader in my community.

10

acedoh Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

My experience as a member of Operation Understanding DC's Class 11 is something that I can never forget. Brought together our Junior year of high school, a time when most seek to explore their identity and understand what they want to hold on to as they head off to college, OUDC was the ideal environment for reflecting. In talking with several Civil Rights leaders, we were given the chance to reflect about our respective heritage as well as the common links that bind humans cross-culturally. My experience with the group has led me to constantly reevaluate my role and responsibility in a world that suffers still from problems of discrimination.

10

oudcalum5500 Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I participated in OUDC as a junior in high school. My experience was without a doubt the most significant of my life. It inspired me to dedicate my college years to preparing myself for a career of public service and revolutionized my worldview with respect to the importance of diversity.

10

oudcclass13member Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC is a singular experience. I completed the OUDC program as a member of the 13th class almost two years ago, but to this day my experiences in it have maintained their grasp on the way in which I act within and view the world.

4

ADZ Client Served

Rating: 4

10/08/2009

I participated in this program several years ago and the summer trip greatly improved my understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. The experience also made me feel strongly about how much farther we have to go as a nation in order to ensure equal rights for all. As our group toured through Southern towns where African Americans still could not join country clubs because it was "simply tradition," I realized I was having an opportunity few Americans have: seeing how the past, present, and future of our country mix and mingle in American homes and streets.

10

rjennifer Donor

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I have seen OUDC change the lives of the students who participate. They dream big, and their enthusiasm inspires their families, friends and audiences. They make us all believe that, through their sheer willpower, there will be a future free of racism and Antisemitism.

3

OUDCAlum5 Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I participated in OUDC as a high school junior many years ago. The experiences I had that year affected many of my life choices since then. The program served as an inspiring call to action for me, by showing me that committed, passionate people can change the world when they work together towards a common, just goal. I often think back to the lessons learned in OUDC when engaging in dialogue about race and other difficult issues in our society. The experience was nothing short of spectacular, and I am gratified to see so many more students have the same opportunity to learn and become advocates for social justice.

10

kw General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

One of my best friends has been involved in the OUDC for years now. She has put incredible time and effort into her involvement with the organization which in turn has been integral in shaping who she is today and doubt who she will be tomorrow. As a result she consistently amazes me with the care and involvement she puts forth in bettering her community, not just in Washington D.C. but in every place she ventures. The OUDC has instilled in her qualities that i greatly admire and made her not just a friend but a role model to me as well.

10

zb Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

OUDC has played a significant role in shaping my everyday thought process. I have learned so much not only about my own culture but also so much about different religions and the Jewish culture. I have had the opportunity to live and breathe significant moments in US history and have been forever changed. I don't think that I realized how much I grew as a person from my year-long venture in the program until afterwards. OUDC breeds community activist leaders and pushed me to get involved in my community. It helped me learn about my surroundings more and look critically at social political movements. It is an excellent organization and feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in it.

6

eljordan Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

One of my very good friends from high school participated in OUDC and thought it was one of the best experiences she had throughout her years. It is always so important, especially in a city like DC, to support and encourage understanding between racial, ehtnic, religious, and socio-economic boundaries. This is such a beneficial program for all kinds of people and so many people I know that have been involved say it has made them realize the importance of cooperation and understanding, and has helped them move forward in their lives with new outlooks. I have personally been affected by my third-party participation and really appreciate everything I have experienced and learned through OUDC.

4

Kinglypresence Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I am a graduate of OUDC class 6. I have been actively involved in many nonprofit organizations, but none have left such a lasting impact as OUDC. The experience I attained from my involvement with OUDC is invaluable. Not only did I attend various workshops addressing prejudice, but I also had the opportunity to engage my peers and in turn expand my outlook on the various prejudices different groups face. Had I not been given the opportunity to be a part of the OUDC organization I fear I would have been more apprehensive in stepping out of my comfort zone and allowing myself the opportunity to experience new situations.

6

EW Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I participated in OUDC in high school and it's had a lasting impression - though i'm neither Muslim nor Jewish I helped start a Muslim-Jewish dialogue group at my college in part because people knew I had experience and skills in cross cultural dialogue facilitation. I have lasting memories of the month long summer trip that have been incredibly impactful, including an experience with the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama that has informed my decision to go to law school and use those skills for those most vulnerable and in need of legal aid. In addition to this I made lifelong friendships.

7

ebsin Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I have come into contact with a great number of people who have done OUDC and it has changed their lives. I hope to have my children and their children get involved in this non-profit because it shares deep experience and promotes deep learning.

7

rkm Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

As a member of OUDC Class 14, I can honestly say that it completely changed the way I view the world and myself. From speaking with powerful activists to discussing the issues that occur in our society today, I gained a wealth of information about myself and my peers that continues to resonate in my life today. The topics we discussed as a class prove to be relevant in my everyday life, and I know that I will continue to be close with the friends that I met through OUDC. It was an amazing experience for me, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

7

Capri4eva Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I completed Operation Understanding DC in 2002. Although it has been over 7 years since I graduated from the program, it is still to date, the most life altering experience that I have had. Throughout College, Law School, and in my work experience, I have been able to draw on my OUDC experience in various capacities, including how to address discrimination and how to engage in a productive dialogue with people who I may disagree with. The best part of Operation Understanding DC is that it is accessible to everyone. Had the program not been free, it is highly doubtful that I would have been able to participate and have the amazing cultural experience that I had as I travelled throughout the United States visiting sites of Civil Rights importance and sites that had significant Jewish History.

7

dgerson Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2009

I was part of class one and the experiences I had as a participant have really shaped my perspective for live. There are experiences, from politicians like Eleanor Holmes Norton and Barney Frank talking to us to, most of all, the intimate relationships made with other members of the group, that I will never forget.

7

zlinsky Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

As a member of OUDC class 11 I can attest to how great a program it truly is. I learned to appreciate the rich culture and history of African Americans as well as my own Jewosh American heritage. The program taught me how to deal with discrimination both directed at me and at others. Furthermore it gave me the opportunity to meet many great people and visit some very important places. OUDC has certainly had a profound affect on my life.

7

mrp509 General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

As a fellow Washingtonian, I believe OUDC is a perfect example of the type of programs that can really make a difference today. Unfortunately, I was never able to become active in the program; however, I truly believe our society today needs to implement the type of understanding and tolerance advocated in OUDC. It is an amazing program, and the District is fortunate enough to have it!

7

jplotz Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

Five years ago, I entered OUDC as a member of Class 11. I am now a senior in college and I still think about OUDC everyday. OUDC helped give me causes to care about, ways in which to think about them, and the courage and confidence to act on them. I learned so much about other cultures, about my own culture, and about myself, and grew as a writer, speaker, and person through the program. This year, as I try to figure out what to do in my post-college life, I at least know that I hope to find a job in which I can continue to work towards the kind of world we envision in OUDC.

8

roger Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

My wife and I were born in segregated states and had virtually no opportunity to meet youths who were not just like and so we felt like outsiders...just what segregation was designed to make us feel. It was therefore with the greatest joy that we watched our daughter make very good white friends in OUDC and I was powerfully touched as I saw this happy integrated group of youngster on buses tha would show what Americca really looked like. It was a wonderful trip and Elizabeth still has good white friends whome she met about 15 years ago in OUDC.

7

glamktg Donor

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I was not a member of this organization; my niece was. I was pleased to offer them some financial support because the kids were greast and the goials were worthy. Gerald Linda

7

rebecca.summer88@gmail.com General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I was never fortunate to be a participant in OUDC but i had friends in high school who were part of the program. It is such an important organization to bridge African American and Jewish youth in our DC community. My friends made invaluable friendship and learned an incredible amount about their peers' cultural backgrounds, which in so many ways were similar to theirs. The students shared holidays, milestones and generally bonded as high school friends in an educational, challenging and fun setting. The summer trip that the group took to important Jewish and African American sites in the South was an opportunity that every student should have. I wish I had been able to see the places and meet the people that they did.

7

jakedelhomie@yahoo.com Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

OUDC is an amazing program that provides youth from all socioeconomic classes in DC the opportunity to engage in a year long program learning about and working towards social justice through the lens of the Civil Rights movement as well as from people working against injustices today. We are not only engrained with the message of action but learn how to spread that message to the greater community through speeches and facilitations that participants lead in the second half of the program.

7

dcresident Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

OUDC is an incredible program that has enhanced racial and cultural understanding among people who would have met otherwise. By combining a leadership training of sorts, racial and cultural tolerance and a better understanding of this country's complex and often tumultuous history, OUDC has shaped new leaders that will create a more tolerant world. This program has truly transformed lives.

7

cdorsey Board Member

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

OUDC has successfully transformed the perspectives of not only hundreds of young people, but also the many thousands they have connected with since their program years. Though I have been a teacher, mentor and trustee for the organization, I have also benefited and grown immeasurably by my contact with the students.

7

md2td Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

OUDC is an incredible program that changes the lives of the students who are fortunate enough to be apart of it. I truly cannot say more--this organization re-shapes the way young people think about culture, religion, responsibility and their place in the ever-globalizing world.

7

jwalker1414 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I was a member of OUDC class 11 and the experience has forever changed the way I interact with others and the world. Over a year of intense meetings, culminating in a month long spiritual and emotional journey through New York City and the heart of the southern United States, we explored the deep-rooted histories of African-American and Jewish people and the many places where these histories have intertwined. Not only did I set to rest many questions about my own Jewish heritage, but I learned how structures like institutionalized racism came to be in this country. The friends and memories I made on my year long journey with OUDC will be with me wherever I go in life. The program spurred my interest in social justice and I will forever be indebted to the organization for providing me such an eye opening experience.

7

Ayalowitz Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

Learning about the Civil Rights Movement, and the role that young people played, and meeting with Civil Rights leaders across the south, made me realize how important it is for our generation to keep the struggle for social justice alive. OUDC makes you think about tough questions facing our community and our country, and once you begin to think about what's going on in the community, you can't stop thinking about it. Operation Understanding gave me the opportunity to meet people and develop lifelong friendships with people from all over the Washington, DC, area who I would never had met. Those friends, who I continue to learn from, our invaluable and I would never have had such a diverse group of friends without OUDC.

5

ycannon Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I was a member of Class 3 of Operation Understanding DC high school students, and my experience began when I was a junior in high school in 1997. Our year long program helped me to make friends from all walks of life, and to understand my potential to create change in the context of a larger civil rights movement, a movement in which much has been accomplished, but in which a lot more work remains to be done. Our summer journey, and especially the time we spent in cities in the south that served as major battlegrounds during the Civil Rights Movement, had a profound impact on me. I chose to become a lawyer and pursue a career grounded in ideals of social justice based in large part on my experience with Operation Understanding DC. This organization deserves to be recognized for the unparalleled experiences that it affords to its participants and the promotion of tolerance it brings to the entire DC area community.

7

4grand Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

When looking for a meaningful organization to which I could render voluntweer services, I found a perfect fit with OUDC. For several years, I have been a member of the Recruitment/Selection Team, helping to choose the best students for each yeatr's class. OUDC annually brings together a group of African-American and Jewish young people (high school juniors) to give them an intensive and extensive experience in working toward the betterment of society. The goal is to expose the participants to people, plsces, and ideas that will help them understand and accept various cultural, sociological, ideological, and religious differences. The results: numerous outstanding OUDC graduates who have extended this knowledge into their college and professional worlds, thus reaching and teaching hundreds of others about tolerance, respect, acceptance, and understanding.

7

moparka Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

This was a unique experience for my entire family and me. It allowed me to meet new people, develop new understandings of my peers and my community, and learn about social justice history. It increased my civic awareness and made me a better, more engaged member of my community.

7

ehorne Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

Operation Understanding DC was more than just a great experience. For me, the program served as the beginning of a socially active life that I am still living today. On the summer journey, I met a Civil Rights activist that told me I was capable of doing anything I put my heart into. I'd heard that same phrase many times before, but it was hearing it that extra time from someone with so much passion and history that set me into motion. Because of everything the program offered and taught me, I feel able to affect change wherever I go. Currently, I lead a multicultural leadership program at my college that brings together the campus and its surrounding community. I find that I utilize the tools I garnered from OUDC on a regular basis and that I do a better job because of the things I learned. I can't express in this paragraph how much OUDC meant to me while I was a participant and how much it means to me now. It is a truly fantastic program!

7

gmarwell Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I was a member of Class 11 and still can remember all of the things that were instilled in me as we spent our year together. The program offers a wonderful, unbiased view of the histories of both groups and gave us a collective knowledge that we could all draw from as we went on our journey. The journey, our month-long tour of the Civil Rights Movement, made quite an impact on me, and I remember coming back from the trip inspired, and with a burning desire to help others and be open to all cultures. Living my life in a positive way, encouraged to engage in dialogues with people of all cultures, and being able to understand things in new ways have all contributed to where I am today, and I look forward to passing along the lessons and values I learned and gained in this program as I graduate from college.

8

myalo Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

Operation Understanding DC was a life-changing experience. Eight years later I am still feeling the effects of my participation with this group. Not only does OUDC provide an eye-opening educational opportunity, but the program itself is a powerful tool in training life-long leaders who are committed to the fight for equal rights and greater cross-cultural understanding. OUDC!

7

JEpner Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I am proud to have been a member of OUDC Class 9 in 2003-04. The best thing I can say about OUDC is how deeply it influenced me during my college years and beyond. First, I learned about OUDC because so many people I knew at my school had participated in prior years. After my participation, this continued. In fact, I encouraged my younger brother to apply and participate three years later, which he did. Having the opportunity to learn about African-American cultural history led me to major in Religion while attending Amherst College. Apart from my own Jewish religious background (which is deeply meaningful to me), I was exposed to African American religious traditions, which I found fascinating and meaningful. In addition, I resided in the Charles Drew Black Culture House at Amherst College during my sophomore year. In short, without OUDC, my understanding of American history, culture, politics, and religion would be much less complete. The critical point is not that I learned all there is to know, but that it is always possible and always important to learn more about other cultures and that the best way to do so is through direct relationships with others. It is one thing to read numerous books; but to meet people and get to know them is a far more powerful thing.

5

mbikoff Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

As a member of OUDC Class 14, I learned about the African American and Jewish communities across the country. We met with some of the most famous leaders of the Civil Rights movement, and spoke with many other influential people. After the Simmer journey to New York and the South, I held programs and led workshops to help OUDC's message of peace and understanding reach out to others. Operation Understanding DC has been the most life changing experience for me.

7

erh244 Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

Sometimes I forget how OUDC changed my life. I try to explain to my friends and family about the experiences I have had, but really am unable to properly describe how the program impacted me and my peers. Not only do I know more information about race relations and religion because of OUDC, but it also set me on a path of social justice. I always knew that I wanted to "change the world," but OUDC gave me the skills, confidence, and experience to believe I can and never stop fighting the good fight. I credit OUDC for making me the person I am today and giving me the knowledge and strength to be a leader within my own communities as well as to use my unearned privilege to try and fix our society. OUDC has created some of the best leaders I have ever known, and I cannot wait to see what we will continue to accomplish because of this amazing organization.

7

NatalieF Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

As a member of class 11 I can say that the lessons learned in Operation Understanding have continued to permeate all aspects of my life and have acted as a guide for navigating the continually complex issues of multiculturalism and religion after high school and into college. I now am able to facilitate these important discussions and am trying to help people in my community see the world the way Operation Understanding taught me to see it. If OUDC taught me anything, it is that it’s not enough just to see what’s wrong with the world: I will only have truly learned something from my experiences if I can educate and motivate others to change. After all, it was at the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation in Oxford, Mississippi, where we were told that we are the people that we’ve been waiting for.

7

Imani2468 Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I was a part of OUDC class 13 and it is by far the best experience that I have taken part in. I not only learned so much about my own culture but about the Jewish culture as well. Before entering the program I considered myself an open person but upon graduating I realized that my horizon expanded far beyond what I ever imagined. OUDC has shaped my life in a way that I didn’t expect, and I am very appreciative of the experience.

7

elevine Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

As a former participant of the organization (class 8), I can say without hesitation that OUDC was a life-changing experience that continues to play a role in my life today. With OUDC, I learned skills around cultural understanding, facilitating workshops, and intergroup dialogue. OUDC led me to both study Sociology in college and ultimately pursue a career in social justice.

7

Alaz Board Member

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

OUDC's approach enables young leaders to form meaningful relationships while learning about historical injustices. They take their knowledge and friendships with them into their current high schools and communities, as well as into their future experiences at college and in the workplace. OUDC adds value to individual lives and thereby transforms communities.

7

brinichols Client Served

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

When I was 16 I had the opportunity to participate in an amazing experience because of this organization. We learned all about the civil rights movement, and the importance of social justice in our everyday lives. Traveling through the deep south with my peers changed my perspective and my life. I am now a teacher in the inner city, working with the tools that OUDC gave me years ago, and are still entirely relevant today.

8

HMO Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/07/2009

I have heard numerous Operation Understanding students speak at my synagogue through the years and I have always been transfixed by all of them. It is clear that Operation Understandig provides a thoroughly inspiring and educational experience for the participants and they do a tremendous job of sharing their knowledge with their community

12

elpetty Client Served

Rating: 5

10/01/2009

Operation Understanding DC is a phenomenal organization that helped shape my worldview and broaden my horizons as a high school student. As a participant in OUDC's inaugural class, I experienced first-hand the passion and dedication of the Organization's founder, Karen Kalish. Since that time, the organization has remained true to its mission while growing and expanding. It truly remains one of my fondest experiences, and I am confident it will continue to thrive and change lives.

7

SarahHonberg Client Served

Rating: 5

10/01/2009

OUDC has changed my life. It has turned me into an advocate to make a difference in the lives of all children. I have learned not only about African American and Jewish culture but also the importance of working together for a cause

10

Washington DC General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

The best experience for teens and parents we learned a lot from the program. Our daughter Janell completed the program Class 11, Can't wait for our son Judah to share the experience.

10

TULIPS Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My daughter was a Class 11 member of OUDC. She gained great experience on diversity issues at OUDC. Now, she is always willing and ready to launch in any Deep South project she gets to know about. She introduced the Deep South project and travelled with her church youth group one summer. This summer, she was a member of her college Deep South project. She has made diversity issues her own where ever she finds herself. I am grateful to OUDC for the time she spent in the program.

9

cfp10 Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My daughter was nominated by her Rabbi to learn about OUDC and apply to the program. She was accepted to the program and through their workshops, lectures, and travels through the South this past summer, she has learned what it means to be a leader and learned of many injustices throughout history to become a person who understands tolerance. I am very proud of who she is and what she stands for and that to have an organization as OUDC to inspire her has given us lots to say "thank you" for.

9

shapiroima Donor

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My daughter participated in this program 10 years ago. What she learned in OUDC informed her life's work. She worked for social justice in co-ops in college and in her career so far. She has been the executive director of a group trying to work for peace in the Middle East. The group has now merged with a major Washington lobby where she is directing the college program. The roots of her participation in this line of work go back to OUDC, what she learned and absorbed during her year with them.

8

Barry General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

This is a truly exceptional activity for Jewish or Black students. The year long program provides a fabulous opportunity to learn how another minority group fares in today's world. It did a great job showing the value of diversity not only to my son, but to us parents as well. This is probably the best "extracurricular" activity you have never heard of.

8

jonathanbtucker Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

i was a student in the program in 2001 and OUDC completely changed my life. whereas prior i was very selfish and only concerned with my own material gain, now i am a full-time activist and educator dedicated to using my time and effort to improve the lives of others. the group dialogue that OUDC creates is amazing and unseen in the rest of society. the difficult but necessary conversations we had really opened us up to think critically about issues affecting both of our communities. we met with speakers who had and still are committing their lives to the movement for equality and justice. these speakers were highly influential on me and my class, inspiring many of us to start down the career paths that we are now pursuing seriously after college. my experience with OUDC cannot be quantified, but i know that had i not been in the program, i would not be the person i am today.

8

legumbs1 General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My daughter became a member of OUDC. I watched her grew into an educated young woman, who developed the ability to think on her own, to understand and accept racial differences and to truly appreciate diversity. I commend OUDC for its efforts in helping young people to understand and accept racial differences and be able to work together despite their ethnic and racial backgrounds. Truly this organization is serving a profound need to our city and should be supported in any way to continue their great work.

8

Lynngr Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

I was a professional who has referred students from our congregation to participate in the program. I have been overwhelmed by the value of their experiences and how well prepared these teens are to then share this experience with others! EVERY student I know who has participated raves about the experience and how greatly they were impacted through participation in the program. These teens have also addressed the adult congregation during morning services and their poise and passion are a great symbol of the profound change created through their participation with OUDC.

9

sweethome Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

As a former member of the OUDC board, I'll admit to being biased in favor of the organization. However, since returning to Montgomery, Alabama and the Southern Poverty Law Center (of which I'm a co-founder) in 1996, I've come to know OUDC in a much different way. Each year OUDC students have included the SPLC's Civil Rights Memorial and Civil Rights Memorial Center on their trips through the South; and each year I've had the opportunity to speak with these young men and women about my experiences in addressing issues of justice and tolerance. More importantly, I've listened to them - their questions, their comments. If ever anyone had any doubts about the merits of a program that brings young people together to bridge differences and create understanding, an hour with these kids would make a believer out any such person. They get it. And, they get it because of who they are and how OUDC has matured as an organization in the management of its mission. Congratulations to all.

9

mkgary Donor

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Our son had the privilege and honor to be in Class 6. His participation in OUDC was indeed "life changing" for him and the entire family. My husband and I got to see OUDC in action when we hosted my son's group in our Atlanta apt during the group's visit to the Civil Right South. We were amazed by the group's discussion of the day's events. The young people were comfortable enough with each other to be brutally honest, but respectful in their comments. They agreed to disagree. They realized that their life experience shaped their world views. They had the opportunity to envision themselves in the other person's shoes.

9

lorilincoln Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

As the parent of a Black, Jewish child, I seek out ways in which I can help her to know, understand and participate in both of her cultures. Operation Understanding-DC, in bridging the gap between African-American and Jewish rising seniors, not only has done that for students from both camps, but for my daughter in her own skin. She has gained such knowledge and respect for herself and for others that she is much, much happier and her confidence level is through the roof! She is now eager to being fostering and facilitating this understanding on her own. At the very beginning of her experience with OUDC, she encountered a teacher who scoffed at her dual identity. This upset her gremendously, and she didn't know how to handle it. Now, however, she is formulating plans to conduct a diversity workshop/program at her school!

11

misrael Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

This is a phenomenal organization that has a deep and lasting impact on the students who participate in it and the communities that they serve. As a rabbi, I have encouraged several students to take part in this program over the years and all have come back to thank me for letting them know about the opportunity. For many, it was their first real exposure to issues related to the civil rights movement and their first opportunity for real cross-cultural dialogue. The students report back several years later that they are still in close touch with the friends they made in the program and, in some cases, it has affected their career choice.

9

drdebr Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

This program makes profound differences in the lives of young people and teaches them to share what they discover with the world. I have never seen a profram make such a major difference in the lives of so many. And like a ripple on a pond, the changes are felt across the world. This program teaches about respecting differences, getting along, taking the time to learn about others ...all the things that would make this a better world.

11

David Donor

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Two of my children have been involved in Operation Understanding. Operation Undertanding gives participants the rare opportunity to take a serious, up close look at the issues of race and ethnic identity. They have the opportunity to meet and talk to the people directly involved in the struggle for racial equality and social justice. First hand, I have seen OUDC enriches the lives of the students that participate and the communities they live in.

8

rofehalev2 Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My son was a member of OUDC Class 12. His experience there truly solidified ideals and leadership qualities that he was incubating. His interactions with his peers and the experiences he had on the trip and with them in workshops, etc., inspired him to continue to work for the ideals which OUDC stands for in whichever community he has been a part of since then. As an educator, this is one program which I've seen which is truly successful.

6

Rhorvath Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

I was in OUDC seven years ago, and it was an incredible life-changing experience. I especially enjoyed the trip where we got to see first hand several civil rights locations and learn about the experiences that people had there.

11

jakerosen Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

I was a member of OUDC Class 8. The program drastically effected my perception of social interactions and personal identity. My mindset was immediately changed for the better, but more importantly the lessons have stayed with me to this day. I vividly remember what it was like to speak with civil rights heroes, converse with religious leaders, speak publicly about my perception of cultural understanding and much more. The lessons I learned have shaped the last decade of my life, and I fully expect that they will stay will me forever.

12

sueaft@gmail.com Former staff

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My husband is on the board-has been for years. Every year we get to watch the students transform into young leaders who really understand the foundations on which tolerance must be built. They mature beyond all expectations and are able to voice their thoughts and experiences eloquently. It is an amazing program!

11

Marti Donor

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My husband and I are involved with the Program OUDC. I cannot tell you how thrilled we are. Watching the young people early in the program change become involved, educated, tolerant,mature, and obtain their "voices" is simply beyond words! Kudos to all.

12

missbmusa@aol.com Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

OUDC shaped my life in ways that I could have never imagined. I learned not only about Judaism as a culture and religion, but I learned a lot about myself as an African-American woman. I was given the opportunity to meet 29 of the brightest high school students. One of the things I appreciated most about this group was that I did not have to talk as much; I became perfectly content with just listening to what others had to say. This type of group is key to bridging gaps in our society. I would recommend this group to anyone who wants to see the world in a different light, anyone who wants to learn about people and anyone who is up for the challenge of self-discovery and building better relations with different types of people. Though some of us may not talk everyday, we are forever connected by our OUDC experience. Viva OUDC!

8

mrdesouza Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

I was a member of the second class of OUDC. I can confidently say that the experience 13 years ago has made a major impact on my life. I learn so much about myself as an African American Woman and so much about the Jewish culture as well. Since being involved, I have completed a Master's degree in Psychology and always challenged my professors and classmates to be culturally sensitive. I have traveled around South East Asia, to learn more about their cultures and customs. I am a pastor of a Multicultural church in Columbia, MD. and I believe my life mission is to build understanding between people, which is currently focused on the invisible population: the homeless. OUDC was a great base to open your eyes to the world around you and feel free to ask questions and erase ignorance. As a result we have fabulous leaders who will take this experience and transcend the common themes into their professional and personal lives, as I have done.

12

alexamklein Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

OUDC is truly a unique and incredible organization. As a past participant myself, OUDC opened my eyes to another world and opened my heart to new friends. My fellow participants are now my best friends. Furthermore, I have decided to team with a fellow OUDC alum to try and spread the inspiration work of OUDC to our college campus. This is the essence of OUDC: teaching people how to come together, connect and relate on so many levels. OUDC goes beyond merely tolerating individuals to accepting and understanding how people are similar, different and everything in between. OUDC deserves this award because of all the positive reinforcement and love it provides to its graduates, their families and friends and everyone else they touch with their outreach and education programs.

11

helperone General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

This is a great organization with a great experience to offer youth. Helping them to build better relationships across generations and across racial, ethnic and religious lines. They deserve the interest and support because OUDC is building the leaders of tomorrow.

11

A.Lis-Perlis Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

I can not say enough about the greatness of OUDC and its affect on my life. Not only did I come out of the year-long program with life long friends, incredible new skills, and amazing memories, the program also showed me numerous ways that me passions for social justice work can be made into meaningful, fulfilling jobs and a future. I wish that I could find more way to utilize the alumni network, but then again I am only one year out of the program. Already at my university I have hooked up with some other alums and we are forging an African American Jewish Alliance. I cannot wait to start bring some of my OUDC passion and knowledge to my new community! I can actually say facilitating and being a part of meaningful dialogs are some of the happiest moments of my life and I owe my ability to be a part of them to OUDC

11

ChaimLavan General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

I have met and talked to or heard give presentations several participants and have been very impressed by what they have learned through the program.

11

Mrs. T Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Our son participated in OUDC as a junior in high school. When we first read about the program, my husband said..."this sounds too good to be true". I agreed with him, but decided to support our son, and drive him into D.C. for his interview. Needless to say, many years later, I am still saying..."OUDC is too good to be true!" It has changed our son's life. He went from being a typical, highschool student, to being a dedicated, driven, young man with a passion!!! The good news, he stayed involved with OUDC, and now works with the program as a counselor.

11

tkdliz@gmail.com Former staff

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

I have been blessed to have participated on the summer journey twice as a staff member and know from my own experience, and through student feedback, what a lasting impact this program has on all involved.

7

magmack Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Several of my students have had outstanding experiences through their involvement in Operation Understanding DC. I am impressed with all this organization does to promote positive relationships within the context of understanding the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

6

marion1 Donor

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Both of our sons had the life-changing opportunity to take part in OUDC. Each learned and grew in ways they could not have imagined--in their mid-teens--which engendered in them the commitment to foster interracial, intercultural cooperation, fight intolerance, and work for equality in society, government, and personal relationships. Their participation was one of the highlights of their adolescence, helping to shape them into young adults of integrity.

6

kbaldwin Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

As a alumna of OUDC, I can honestly say that the organization provides its participants with a life-changing experience. Many programs seek to enlighten young people through intercultural exchanges and physical journeys, but OUDC truly excels at this goal. OUDC taught me lessons of pure history, how to spark intelligent dialogue, and the importance of recognizing cultural differences and similarities in order that we as a community can continue to move forward.

7

MALOURE Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My name is Maloure Sainteus and my daughter Sophia was in class 11 (OUDC).this organization provided her with such an understanding and acceptance of people from different background that I don't think I could have provided her.And through OUDC she received a 4 year tuition college scholarship.

7

oudcmom Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My son participated in year-long program with OUDC several years ago. It was a transformative experience for him and for the other young people who had the privilege of being part of the group. It is a program that trains tomorrow's leaders in cross-cultural understanding and deepens their commitment to social justice. Young African-Americans and young Jews come together to learn together about their histories, to discover commonalities, to wrestle with that which has divided them,to discuss identity, to build bridges in their communities, and to share their experiences with others. In an intensive year-long program for which they are carefully selected, they begin with several months of study and conversation, where bonds are formed over weekend retreats, learning and activities. Over the summer they embark on a monthlong trip to New York and through the South, retracing the steps of footsoldiers of the civil rights movement, and meeting with inspirational leaders along the way. When they return, they make their own contribution to the continuing struggle against bigotry by facilitating workshops for other high school students. This experience was significant for my son in many ways: he formed lasting friendships across racial lines, gained a greater appreciation of cultural diversity, of his own identity and the history of two peoples who have struggled with discrimination, and despite many common values, have too often been at odds. As an example of the influence this program has had on my son, he has continued his commitment to the ideals embodied in the OUDC program in his courses in college, where he has pursued a concentration in the study of inequality.

11

LAH Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My name is Lucy Hassell and I have have nothing but good things to say about Operation Understanding. I have known several youths who have participated both from my own synagogue and a partner African American church. These kids are the best and brightest-indeed must be to be eligible. They are the young people who will become leaders and professionally successful and therefore in a position to influence peers, change attitudes and instill good values. I have also participated several times in one of their workshops and was amazed at the depth of understanding the youth possess and impart to participants. This is a model for the way our society should work and I would love to see it expanded throughout the country.

11

jeffrey schein Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

My name is Rabbi Jeffrey Schein and I direct the program in Jewish education at Siegal College in Cleveland. I have long been a fan of Operation Understanding DC. I think the dialogue and understanding they generate between Black and Jewish teenagers is extraordinary. We were fortunate enough to have Rachel Feldman, the executive director of OUDC in our community last year. The impact of her visit is still being felt as the Cleveland community tries to figure out how to mount a program in the spirit of Operation Understanding appropriate to the Cleveland community.

11

Patches Donor

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Operation Understanding provides a great experience for the participants - Jewish and African American high school juniors - who study and travel together to get a better understanding of each others culture and history - and for the larger community, because the students speak throughout the community about their experiences.

12

tosca Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Over an active period of participation of 8 years, I watched successive groups of diverse high school juniors many of whom had never met people outside of their ethnic group, turn into seniors who had formed friendships and bonded with each other across ethnic and class lines - through their participation in Operation Understanding,D.C. (OUDC)- which they have uniformly called a "life-changing experience." Many have gone off to college and facilitated or led groups preaching tolerance and some have made it their career. While they are still students, their enthusiasm influences friends and acquaintances around them, including their parents and their friends. These students all learn to appreciate and understand others' beliefs and roots which somehow also results in their becoming equally as informed and secure in their own roots and culture. It is really a wonderful thing to see.

8

Sushi22 Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Operation Understanding DC is a life changing experience. It provides Jewish and Black students not simply to understand their own cultures but also gain a broader understanding and knowledge of other backgrounds. Through education and promotion OUDC provides young adults opportunities to organize, facilitate and truly make a difference.

8

sarahpo Board Member

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Operation Understanding is a very special program that has a profound impact on the students who are privileged to participate and on their families as well. Two of my daughters took part in the program and grew enormously as a result and are now following career paths inspired by their experience with OUDC. It is my privilege to serve on the Board and dedicate myself to the growth and continuation of a truly unique and powerful program.

11

mragen Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

OUDC changed how i view everything. It made me more aware of the world and the problems we face today. It introduced me to great people and new ideas. It really made me a better person.

11

dhenryspires Client Served

Rating: 5

09/30/2009

Great organization so wonderful that two of our children have participated. They have definitely grown as individuals and have come out of the experience with a clear idea of who they are and the principles that they will defend in any environment.

11

sunny General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

OUDC is truly wonderful! Bridging gaps by bridging people is an awesome concept. Like many parents I like to support my children in all aspects of their life. My daughter has always had a thrist for knowledge about cultures and civil rights for everyone - not just one group. She often involved herself in causes and groups she felt could make a positive change. She found it in OUDC. She had the opportunity to travel the south and found her experience simply fantastic, educational and emotional! I gained so much from what she learned because the experiences didnt just stay with her - she used concepts and methods learned there to organize groups in college to learn about diversity. OUDC is necessary, educational, fun and a blessing. KEEP UP THE OUTSTANDING WORK!

11

clarencephn Donor

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

My daughter, Candyce Phoenix, was a member of OUDC. She gained much knowledge and understanding of different cultures and as a result has been very determined to spread equality among all groups. I am very proud of her and OUDC's affect it had on her.

7

sniderjanet Donor

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Our daughter gained so much through her time spent with OUDC. It was a life changing experience for her and our family. I would encourage any high school junior to try to connect with this amazing organization.

10

scottrec Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

I am an alum of Operation Understanding DC and a big fan! OUDC is one of the few organizations I have seen in the DC area -- perhaps the country -- that is able to bring together such a diverse, committed group of young leaders and prepare them to go out and change the world. OUDC gave me the confidence to facilitate cross cultural dialogues in college, and has guided my career decisions since. I hold OUDC up as the model -- in philosophy, approach, and impact -- for a youth leadership program I now have the privilege to lead here in DC.

7

aaronfine191 Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

I am a member of the 14th class of OUDC and I highly recommend the program. While the program was a fantastic learning experience, the most meaningful part was the friends that I made. I was welcomed like family when I traveled to southeast dc for a fellow classmates prom. The month long trip through the South was also a fantastic learning experience and great time for self reflection and character building.

7

Pleasedparent Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Wonderful program - a highlight of our son's high school career. A life changing experience for most participants, the program which is both experiential and didactic, provides an opportunity for African American Youth to be challenged in their thoughts and actions.

11

ishkabibl Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Two of my children have gone through the OUDC program and for both of them it has had a profound effect on their outlook on life, politics and friendship. In both cases, they developed not only a deep understanding of African-Americans, their history and culture, but also developed a profound understanding of themselves and their own backgrounds as Jews.

10

irabarb General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Two of my grandchildren have had the extraordinary experience of participating in OUDC. I had the pleasure of meeting each of their groups when they visited New York and could watch them in action. I was impressed not only with the participants but with the quality of the leadership. I know that the experience will be a positive life-long influence on their lives, the proof being that they have made and maintained friendships with some of the people they've meet through OUDC.

10

jbadatreyim@hotmail.com General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

As a director of a school which sent many students to OUDC I was always impressed with the claiber of the training and the change of our students. It instills a sense of pride and encourages dialogue between Jewish American and African American teens-the future of our country. We invited OUDC to faciliate discussions with our teens and adults. Always an extremely thought provoking session.

10

DCCOUNSELOR General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

As a high school guidance counselor at a private school chock full of incredible opportunities, it is high praise indeed for me to say that OUDC offers students an uparalleled experience. The chance to meet leaders of the civil rights movement is particularly special because this is a generation that will soon be lost to old age and the course of life.

7

1drmom Donor

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

My daughter was a member of OUDC back in 2001 and is STILL involved as an alumni, helping with interviewing and other special activites. Rachael Feldman at OUDC has done an OUTSTANDING job in introducing youth to opportunities and experiences that otherwise would not be available.

7

salamodara Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

OUDC set me off on a career of activism, working to heal the divides between diverse communities. I am using many of the same skills and lessons I learned as a 16 year old in OUDC with the 16 year old Israelis and Palestinians that I work with today.

7

lisa General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Participating in the OUDC program has been the best, enriching experience for my daughter thus far. She has grown so much while participating in the program. She has made lasting friendships. More importantly she has a new awareness of the socioeconomic and racial challenges that exist in our society. The program lets children explore their similarities and celebrate their differences. I highly recommend the OUDC program.

10

OUDCDAD Donor

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

My son participated in OUDC when he was in high school more than 10 years ago, and has remained actively involved with the organization as tour group leader, on the applicant selection committee, etc. I have been a strong supporter of the program for the same time. The intense year-long OUDC program promotes candid interactions leading to true understanding between black and Jewish students, and also between their parents who meet several times on weekends. Respect for the opposite culture is an inevitable result. Following a month-long summer tour to historic Jewish and civil rights sites around the country where the group meets with key participants, during the fall semester pairs of students discuss their experiences at churches, synagogues and mosques. Lifelong friendships develop among members of the OUDC group. It is a life-changing experience. Although the program focuses on promoting understanding between two specific cultures. the lessons learned readily translate to a broad appreciation and respect for other cultures. OUDC is a truly outstanding program in concept and impact.

7

JKC Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

The OUDC program provided a life-changing experience for my daughter. She was able to share her cultural and personal identity while gaining an understanding of others. It was an amazing and invaluable learning and growth opportunity for her.

10

jacksonw Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Operation Understanding DC not only provided me with the opportunity to learn about John Lewis, Medgar Evers, Hosea Williams, and many other often unmentioned grassroots leaders of the Civil Rights Movement through academic research and information, but also allowed me to learn more about the Movement by visiting the historic cites and seeing them first-hand. Walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with my OUDC classmates was an unforgettable emotional experience for me and was the closest I had felt to any aspect of the Civil Rights Movement in my entire life.

10

OUDCClass8Member Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

I was a member of OUDC Class 8. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Years later, I am in my final year of law school, poised to embark on a legal career of public service and civil rights. In classes in college and law school and in my work experiences, I am constantly reminded of the lessons I learned with OUDC, and feel compelled by a mission to improve race relations and push our nation further towards the ultimate goal of equality. OUDC was my great awakening in high school, and I am proud that it continues to be such a great program for all those who are lucky enough to participate.

7

blfriedman Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

My daughter was ember of class 14 of OUDC and I can not express what an amazing experience it was for her and our entire family. Not only did she learn about the culture of two very vibrant communities, she learned about the on going civil rights struggles. I was impressed with the boldness in which the leaders tackled many challenging issues. They never shy away from debate that may be uncomfortable, and never ever speak down to the student participants. All organization could learn form the OUDC model.

8

rdk58 Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Our daughter had the good fortune to be selected to participate in the OUDC program when still in high school. It was a wonderful experience for her and for us as parents. The interaction of the kids and the parents during the year long program helped establish lasting relationships and created may fond memories. We look forward to supporting the program in the years to come.

8

Pierre Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

My two daughters participated in the OUDC program as high school juniors and seniors. They learned to communicate and share important feelings and experiences with peers and adults in a wholesome and challenging environment. Their exoeriences at OUDC prepared them for leadership roles in their college years and beyond. More importantly, OUDC encouraged them to reach levels of maturity and acquire interpersonal skills that are all too rare in our society. I wholeheartedly endorse this program.

11

anthonyscooper Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

During the late 1990's, I served as a Board Member of Operation Understanding of the District of Columbia (OUDC). Of all the volunteer organizations that I have been associated with, I rank OUDC as the best in terms of its ability to reach and teach young people diversity and leadership skills. Later, my daughter enrolled in the program. What she learned from shared experiences with her fellow classmates served her well in college and beyond. It has made a big difference in both our lives. Despite moving to a difference part of the country, I continue to follow the progress of each OUDC class. I am a long time donor to the program.

8

Jenice View Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

OUDC was an important program for both of my daughters in terms of deepening their understanding of themselves as young African American women, as allies in the important history of Jewish-African American solidarity, and as citizens of the world. It is a model for how to "do diversity" beyond quickie workshops. OUDC goes deep.

6

Bill Ragen General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

My daughter participated in OUDC. She learned a great deal about our history, in particular the Civil Rights Movement, and developed a better understanding of how folks from different backgrounds can and should learn to work together while respecting our differences. She also learned how to facilitate discussions over thorny and sometimes contentious issues - a skill that will serve her well in all sorts of ways in the years to come. I am sure that years from now, she will look back on her experience with OUDC as a vital part of how she learned to move forward in the world and make a positive difference.

6

Gary123 Donor

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

This program takes youth from different backgrounds and cultural experiences and spends a year both teaching about each other's cultures and having the students learn from each other. During the "Summer Journey" students spend more than 3 weeks travelling to New York and throughout the south visiting places of historical and cultural importance. They also speak with individuals who experienced the civil rights movement first-hand. This program is a life-changer for all those who go through it. Each student leaves the program as an ambassador of more than simply cultural tolerance, but of understanding and appreciation of another's culture.

8

mgoggin32 Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

I worked for the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) for seven years and some of the best young leaders I met during that time were youth formed by this program. They engage in a meaningful summer trip to places of importance to the Jewish and African-American communities and return home transformed and willing to work to build more tangible bridges of understanding between the two groups. They also learn how to share their story with others in the community, leveraging the impact of their experience. I'm proud that a young person from my own church is a graduate of this program and wish that others would make such a commitment to engage in it.

8

benmansfield Board Member

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Operation Understanding is a great program which creates the leaders of tomorrow. Many of the students who participated in it have gone on to work on diversity issues and have made a huge difference in the world. It is definitely the best non-profit....

8

Howard Ross Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

I have been a professional diversity consultant for 25 years, and recently served as the Professor of Diversity in Residence at Bennett College for Women and I have to say that the OUDC program is, quite simply, the best of it's kind that I have veer seen. OUDC raises the bar for its participants far beyond simply exposing them to their shared history, it develops true leadership capability and genuinely inspires students to become active agents of change in their communities. I have been with the students and also had some of them work with my company after they have emerged from the program and they are profoundly impacted in the most positive of ways.

8

Friend1 Donor

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

It's been my pleasure to help support students who participated in this program and then watch them use the lessons learned into the real world. Operation Understanding of the District of Columbaia should be commended for their vision and putting their plan into action to help generations of people learn to respect our differences, understand our differences, and go on to teach others those same valuable lessons.

8

robyn Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

I had the opportunity to volunteer for several years with OUDC. I interviewed students applying to be in the program. It was a well run process in which great care was placed to draw applicants representing as diverse pool as possible. Great care was placed in the hands of panel of volunteers, board members and staff to select an appropriate mix of students who had both strong identities that they could offer the group and an openness to learn from others. It always fascinated me to see the transformation of the students in the interview process to the end of the program. There is no doubt that the year long program made a life long imprint on their lives. Love the organization!

8

sgarlock Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

OUDC was the most formative experience of my entire teenage life. It gave me the tools to really understand and critique history and the world around me. It encouraged and guided me to want to take action and effect change, and it gave me the toolkit to feel prepared and able to do so. And, more importantly, OUDC helped me learn to get along with and form real friendships with others from different backgrounds. My diverse group of friends and connections to other parts of the city and the country has helped me feel like a better person and a better citizen. OUDC gives teens the framework to make connections with one another in order to help change the world.

8

westcliffe19 Board Member

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

The term "life-changing experience" has been reiterated and repeated by my daughter and her fellow OUDC particpants over the past few years. The opportunities for experiece and exposure to the 'real' world, as a positive learning tool, with chances for self-discovery and growth, is the plus not often afforded to our youth. From the dark pages of historical discrimination to the opportunities for historic change, OUDC provides this springboard and more.

8

ljrunner Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

As a parent of an OUDC participant, I cannot say enough wonderful things about what the OUDC experience offered! The learning opportunities were extraordinary and my son learned new and important perspectives regarding the Jewish/African American relationship. The learning, coupled with the amazing journey to New York City and the South provided him with a meaningful experience that will be cherished. The lessons learned about both differences and similarites provide him a place from which to inform others and be an abassador for understanding.

8

keita Client Served

Rating: 5

09/29/2009

Participating in Operation Understanding DC was one of the most important experiences of my life. I consider the year I was in the program to be a watershed moment in my development. They taught me that I could be a leader, a visionary, a change maker and a great community member. Participation in this program introduced me to the importance of caring about my community and the communities around me (a great lesson to learn in your teenage years).

8

ellenb Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/27/2009

Operation Understanding DC made me a better leader, a better friend, and a better member of my community. Participating in this program reinforced my desire to turn serving my community into a career.

8

wallydc Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/25/2009

I'm a parent of a student participant in OUDC. This outstanding program provided a life changing experience to my son. During the twice monthly workshops and seminars he and his fellow participants engaged in discussions about racial discrimination, conflict resolution, effective communication techniques,the roles played by both Jews and African Americans in their struggles to end all forms of oppression with local, regional, and national leaders. The five week summer journey throughout the south, meeting with those who marched with Dr. King and hearing their experiences provided an upclose look and an expanded understanding of the civil rights movement. My son also improved his public speaking skills and speech writing ability as he shared his OUDC experience. I highly recommend this excellent program.

7

ashmash826 Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/20/2009

I participated in OUDC my junior year of high school. I learned a lot about black and Jewish culture and I also learned about different forms of discrimination and injustice. I also learned how to fight back agaonst discrimination and injustice. OUDC was very crucial to my development as a leader.

10

Jhzimmerman Client Served

Rating: 5

09/20/2009

I was a member of the first class, and am so pleased to see that 15 years later OUDC is strong, vibrant, and creative. OUDC was a vital part of my education and I continue to rely upon the lessons I learned, not only in my person life, but as a culturally competent and sensitive psychologist.

9

pschwartz Client Served

Rating: 5

09/19/2009

My experience with OUDC thus far has been extraordinary. I came into the program passionate about eradicating discrimination. I now feel that I have the tools to do this and I with a stronger sense of who I am as a Jewish female. Before I became a participant in OUDC I never knew how to react to statements that I found offensive or derogatory, now I am able to stand up and speak. Our summer journey was very powerful we met with civil rights foot soldiers, mayors, lawyers, along with men and women that are currently fighting for various social justices all who inspired me to continue working towards eradicating discrimination. My classmates are great and I hope to stay in touch with them after we graduate!

10

fmspires Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/19/2009

My daughter was happy to participate in this organization to help build her resume for college but had not really embraced the idea of a year long commitment.She seemed to get through the meetings alright for the first 6 months without any hiccups but did not demonstrate much more enthusiasm since the beginning of the program. The summer journey that included meeting and hearing from the civil rights leaders of our historical past seemed to spark the fire that I'd hoped to see from her experience. She marveled at the authenticity of the speakers and historical locations that OUDC tapped into for their experience. The experience has enhanced her personal drive to no longer be an onlooker but instead an advocate for justice more than my daughter had ever expected. For this reason alone amongst, this organization deserves an A++ in my grade book.

9

ronnierey Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/18/2009

My name is Reynauld Smith and I am a retired AP US History teacher from the District public school system. For more than 10 years I have been one of the opening presenters with Operation Understanding. My presentations usulally include an overview of the Civil Rights Movement and African American History, my personal involvement in The Movement and specific Civil Rights issues of today. The concept of bringing African American and Jewish students together to study the history and culture of each group lends itself to numerous positive outcomes. At least seven of my former African American students have been selected to participate in the program and all, but one, have completed college. All of my former students were products of the District of Columbia inner city and many of these students had no desire to attend any College of University. Very few of my students had ever met anyone that was Jewish or middle/upper middle class. To witness these students step out of their confort zone and actively embrace the culture of another group is humbling. The Summer Travel component where students visit historical Jewish and African American sites from New york to Mississippi, is "Life Altering." Students visit sites important to jewish and Afrian American history and culture and get the opportunity to meet the people that created and lived that history... The campus of Tuskegee University, Dr King's personal lawyer, participants in the Selma to Montgomery March, former members of SCLC and SNCC. As a former educator this the ultimate example of "Primary Source." Finally Students must become active participants in making a positive difference in Race Relations in America...registering voters and helping to rebuild churches in Missippi and speaking with Holocaust survivors and ensuring them that "We Will Never Forget." I think the greatest reward of this program is that it addresses one of the major divisions in our society..."RACE." To have these teenagers come together for one year and forge bonds of friendship and love helps me to remain optimistic about the future of American Race Relations.

11

methenymc Volunteer

Rating: 5

09/18/2009

As a member of OUDC's class 15, my outlook on life has changed. After spending three and a half weeks this summer with my 29 other classmates, experiencing an intense, educational, and eye-opening journey through New York City and the Deep South, I can say that I have become a much more aware person. I'm aware not only of the many problems people face in our country, but also of how communities on the smaller and larger scale function. I've learned just how subtle some of the largest social problems we face are and how to dig beneath society's surface to find them. But OUDC has also done something with this awareness; it has taught me not only the neccessity of being aware, but also the neccessity of making others aware. Over the summer we took lessons from community leaders, activists, lawyers, politicians, history, and a whole host other sources. We learned first hand what sort of actions need to be taken to create a change. What I took from it was primarily the importance of public awareness. Our country's problems, no matter what they are, will not even be confronted, never mind changed, if people don't understand and are not aware of them. What OUDC has done for me is inspire me to take this message to my community and make it aware. My life has never felt so fulfilling.

12

ScottH Donor

Rating: 5

09/18/2009

Operation Understanding DC is a program that has truly changed the lives of my two daughters. Although we raised our children to be accepting of people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, of people who were not as well off as they were, and of those who are physically challenged, OUDC took them so many steps further. It taught them to understand more fully the challenges that African Americans have faced for so long, and in some cases still do, in this country. Even moreso, it gave them the opportunity to develop friendships, and kinships, that will no doubt last a lifetime. It has given them the confidence to go out into the community to facilitate understanding between different racial and ethnic groups. And, it has driven them to grow into other groups that have similar missions. As a result of the profound impact that OUDC has had on my daughters, I have already seen them develop into social leaders in their community and can foresee them doing so much more I could have ever hoped for in fighting discrimination f all kinds, and in fostering respect, understanding and cooperation within their communities. OUDC has come a long way in the fifteen years it has benefitted the DC metropolitan area, and can do so much more as it is able to grow its programs. They have benefitted so much for the wonderful program directors they have had over the years and it would be wonderful to sse the program continue to thrive and grow.

9

Christopher Williamson Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/25/2009

i am in the current class, CLASS 15 AND i can honestly Operation Understanding DC was one of the best and still is the best experience i have had in my life. From meeting actual Civil rights workers and leaders to hearing inspirational speakers like Joanne Bland who recalled her gut-wrenching story of Bloody sunday and her triumph i have never been so much humbled. Oudc also gave me a chance to explore the fascinating history of the jewish culture and what they have experienced. i can honestly say that addiition will greatly help my life in the future. Not only learning about another culture was great but learning about my own culture as an African American was really moving. All my life I have been proud to be black but i didn't know why since the media portrays black in a negative way, but after this program and going to the deep south and listening to people like Rev billy Kyles and J charles jones I now know what it means to black and I am proud of how far the African american community has come. moreover it gave me a sense of pride in myself. Never will you meet a man who in one year who went from a indifferent person on social justice issues like racism and anti-semitism to now where I am motivated to eradicate these issues and make a difference in my community so everybody can have equal opportunity. I must leave you with one last thing. that is that you can never replace going to historic sites like kelly ingram park and Edmund pettus bridge with hearing about it on books or on tv. Seeing the actual sites where these fateful events happened was one of the most moving and sensitive experiences i will ever have. i stepped on the same ground where thousands of people put there lives on the line. There is so much more i would like to write but I could go on for days about this program seriously.

10

JSE Client Served

Rating: 5

08/21/2009

"Understanding" is the operative word in this Organization. I can't say enough about OUDC, it is a fantastic organization that has changed lives and is shaping future leaders who will have a massive impact on our world. My daughter was a member of Class 12 and continues the mission of OUDC by leading a diversity education club at her university. The experience changed her life and helped our entire family understand the lives, customs, and cultures of others.

10

adreiman Former Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/20/2009

OUDC was one of the single most meaningful experiences of my life. I could not wait to join OUDC after my brother graduated from Class 10. I was constantly in awe of the stories he told, the friends he made, and the impact that the program had on his life. Just as the experience changed my brother, it made me into the person I am today. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount about both African American and Jewish culture, but I learned about the ways in which our two communities have worked together in the past to accomplish something that lives on today. I learned about Jewish movements, and the Civil Rights Movement. I listened to incredible speakers, many of whom were unsung heroes. They amazed me with their courage, and inspired me to stand up for what is right and what I believe in. Joanne Bland, from Selma, Alabama, is one of the most amazing women I've ever met in my life. She has been with the program since Class 1 and continues to affect each participant with her stories from Bloody Sunday when they arrive in the historically vibrant town. In addition to the educational part of the program, I grew so much as a human being and a global citizen. I expanded the lens with which I view the world, and I have become much more aware of my own judgments, opinions, and actions. I don't know exactly who I am, but OUDC helped me to understand who I ultimately want to become. I turned 19 three days ago. I had a small birthday party at my house to celebrate the end of summer and going back to college. I invited only five friends from my high school. However, I invited the 29 people who I graduated from OUDC with. They are my true friends. They are the people I want to share exciting news with, or lean on when its just been one of those days. They are the people who challenge me politically, spiritually, and emotionally. They are my family.

10

RuckerB Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/18/2009

As a current member of the OUDC class (Class 15) I must say that OUDC is simply an outstanding program. Not only has the program blessed me with the privilege of learning another culture and group of people, but it helped me understand and appreciate my own. As an African American male who lives in a society where people who resemble myself are not perpetuated by the media as successful and great people, I lost a since of pride in whom I was. However, I now take pride in who I am and that is because this program has helped me to redefine who I am. The final thing that I have truly taken from the program is my new sense of responsibility to fight for social justice and I know I can do it along the side of my OUDC community. I am now creating a Social Justice club at my school, in the process of setting up speeches at local churches and synagogues about oppression, and I am talking to my family about racism and antisemitism. I am now strong enough and passionate enough to talk about subjects that are usually pushed under the rug and this is all thanks to OUDC.

10

lmandeles Donor

Rating: 5

08/13/2009

This is a wonderful organization. My daughter participated five years ago and it was a life changing experience for her. The Black and Jewish kids in the program were extraordinary and I have no doubt that OUDC achieved its goal of forging a new understanding and commitment from them that has influenced their work and community leadership. My daughter, for example, learned from OUDC that her activism could matter and she has been involved as a leader on her campus in promoting understanding and civil dialogue about Israel-related issues. OUDC operates on the assumption that individuals change the world - it equips these young people to be agents of change. A great cause.

9

Bruce Shulman Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/10/2009

This one year program is wonderful. It teaches the history of both the Jews and Blacks in the U.S., promotes understanding between the groups, including issues on which Blacks and Jews may differ (e.g. affirmative action, Israel, Islam, etc.) and results in many warm and long-lasting friendships among Blacks and Jews. Originally started in Philadelphia, this program has spread to other cities, such as St. Louis, and is highly effective in helping to assimilate disparate groups of high-school children into an increasingly diverse society.

8

Kareth Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/09/2009

OUDC taught me more in one year than any other institure of learning did in my entire life. In the program we learned about important Civil Rights figures such as Revrend Billy Kyles, and Doug Jones, the lawyer who, after many long years, brought those who were responsible for the infamous 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to justice. We also met with the African Hebrews, which was a HUGE experience that shook my own moral existence!! We also visited different kinds of synnagouges and churches, some of which were very interactive, and others that were very deep and spiritual, and some that were both. But what really made the experience so much more meaningful was going through it with my classmates and my faciliatators, AJ, Jon, Leslie, and Liz. It was somthing about the selection of my twenty-eight other classmates that was too perfect-not because we all got along perfectly, but because we all had unique perspectives and ideals that we were not afraid to share with each other. That is the kind of atmosphere and strong community that OUDC breeds, and that is why the program helps to create a better sense of Understanding between indiviuals of all kinds of backgrounds, wether they be socioeconomic, religious, racial, cultural, or even age-related. In short, this program is absolutley PHENOMENAL!!! My faciliatators warned me that this program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that even if I were to go visit all the same places with the same people, it wouldnt be the same--and they were absolutley right. Throught this program I feel as though now i finally have a purpose, and that purpose is to fight injustice in any way that I can. OUDC has given me the tools to stand UP and speak OUT, and to get others to do the same. (The program even gave me a new passion for reading, which i never used to do!!) I know that anyone who joins OUDC will have their minds opened, and their ambitions focused on building a better tomorrow.

8 lsnider

lsnider Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/09/2009

O.U.D.C. is an incredible organization run and staffed by amazing individuals who make up a team that inspires and equips several dozen African-American and Jewish youth for a unique and necessary purpose. OUDC provides its students with the knowledge and tools to learn more about the rich and complex histories and narratives and contemporary issues involved in each community in the United States, and their interaction and relationship. It is not often in life that a person has the opportunity to learn for the sake of learning. Of course, this is hopefully the case in high school, college, and further higher education, but there are always grades involved and in that sense as a student you work for grades that measure your knowledge. Also, in the long run as a student you work towards earning your degree. Operation Understanding D.C. is not for a grade; its purpose is to enrich the understanding of young Jews and Blacks in the DC metro area of their own histories and the current intricacies of the Black-Jewish friendship in America (and around the world by extension I think). Since OUDC I have been very involved in the Black-Jewish relationship on my college campus, and my experiences and dedication to social justice issues will be a constant in my life in the years to come. Additionally, I an indebted to OUDC for lifelong friendships. Moreover, I now have a handful of friends to whom I know I can turn to for advice, a helping hand, etc. for anything relating to social issues in our communities. We like to think of OUDC as having a ripple effect in the sense that the program touches more than the 32 students in each class - its message that knowledge and friendship can help us overcome historic prejudices in order to eventually eradicate all forms of antisemitism, racism and all discriminations, reaches parents, friends, teachers, family, and others who are related to each year's OUDC Class.

8

mbf5588 Client Served

Rating: 5

08/08/2009

This organization changed my life Not only did I learn so much about black and jewish culture/history and connections, I also met amazing people who I KNOW will be the agents of change in the future. The people I met inspired me and motivated me to continue to be a positive leader in my own community. OUDC has inspired me to continue to make working for social justice my career.

7

izzyruth92@yahoo.com Client Served

Rating: 5

08/08/2009

As a member of Class 15, I think that this is one of the best and most rewarding programs or non-profits I have ever come in contact with, and it opened my mind and truly carried out its mission. OUDC makes me want to become an activist and fight racism and prejudices in my communities today

7

lklein@sterlingsystems.net Donor

Rating: 5

08/07/2009

Self-segregation is common in America, yet it is not a path I want my children to follow. My child's participation in OUDC has opened her mind to these challenges. It has provided her open dialogue with peers and enabled her to develop friendships with people of other races and religions. Experts in the civil rights movement and Jewish history and culture share their insight with these students. They are encouraged to develop their own ideas and share them with their community.

7

ojnwoka Client Served

Rating: 5

08/07/2009

OUDC changes lives. It places young students on the difficult yet essential path of being advocates of freedom. It awakes one's sleeping spirit to join in the cause of equality, justice, and righteousness. Although the program lasts for one year its effects remain for a lifetime. I am privileged to have been able to meet young Black and Jewish students in my community to build a coalition of Love. OUDC changed my life.

7

ez Client Served

Rating: 5

08/07/2009

OUDC not only strengthened my understanding of social justice while I was in high school, but also made me believe in the power of individuals and groups of people working together to change the world. It is a small organization, but had a huge impact on my life and on the lives of so many others connected to the program. I can think of few organizations that do so much with so little.

7

me Donor

Rating: 5

08/07/2009

Operation Understanding provides young African American and Jewish high school juniors/seniors with unique and life changing experiences. Their goal is to develop a network of young leaders working to promote values of social justice,understanding,fairness,curiosity about and concern for others. Their programs are thoughtful,intelligently organized. They help the participants begin to challenge assumptions they have held, listen to and respect the perspectives of those who disagree with them and provide them with access to inspiring leaders and social activists or holocaust survivors I have seen the changes in the lives of several young people who have participated in OUDC. They all have a spark to make the world better and tools to go about effecting this.

7

ScooterB Client Served

Rating: 5

08/06/2009

OUDC is a watershed experience that leads to social action for most of the participants who are fortunate enough to participate in the program. I know it was for me.

7

hkrat Client Served

Rating: 5

08/05/2009

Being a member of OUDC was the single most important thing I ever did in high school. The program opened my eyes to a world of knowledge and experiences I never would have dreamed accessible, and it has definitively shaped the person who I am today, and will be for the rest of my life. OUDC has allowed me to connect better with African-Americans and Muslims, stand up for those less fortunate than I, educate people about ignorant comments at work, and become more closely connected with the Jewish community. Bringing together Black and Jewish teenagers to learn about and experience first-hand their shared histories of struggle and triumph is monumentally important in a world of ever-increasing shorter and less personal human interaction. I was challenged in OUDC to confront difficult viewpoints, confront history, and confront myself. I could not recommend the program more highly.

7

alex Client Served

Rating: 5

08/05/2009

Participating in Operation Understanding DC continues to be one of the most important and defining experiences of my life. The dialogues we had, the people we met and the sites we saw continue to effect me and inspire me in my social justice work. It helped shape the way I think about race, religion, civil rights, social justice and privilege. Meeting with people who changed history in the Civil Rights Movement such as members of the Montgomery Bus Boycott or Greensboro lunch counter sit ins, and those who continue to fight for civil rights, such as public defenders, left me in awe and inspired me in ways that a classroom never could. Walking in the footsteps of those who fought for a better society, in places like Selma, Alabama, is something that I will never forget. Seeing small communities with just a handful of Jews helped me further connect with my Jewish identity. I credit Operation Understanding DC to getting me started on a path of social justice. Although I participated in this program four years ago it continues to effect me, and I think and talk about it often. Thanks to OUDC I know that I will be spending my life doing social justice work.

8

jeremy.halpern Client Served

Rating: 5

08/05/2009

Operation Understanding DC was an amazing opportunity for me. It greatly increased my confidence and my ability to act in spite of my being younger. This program increases social awareness and provides a forum to discuss many deep issues on race, religion and the nature of prejudice.

10

musiq4oudc14 Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

Operation Understanding DC is a great program for individuals who want to become great civil rights activists and become great community leaders. OUDC has really help me to better apreciate the history of my culture and heritage, and better understand the history of the Jewish heritage and culture. I would definately recommend this program to all youth interested in coming out of their shell, learning more about African American and Jewish culture and heritage, and becoming great advocates of the moral progression of society.

11

Jack Moline Board Member

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

Two of my children have been transformed by the OUDC experience. Their horizons were broadened and they came away with a better sense of self and a deeper devotion to others. They also learned a lesson not being taught well in other DC environments: you can disagree strongly with someone and still hold that person close to your heart. In addition to helping Jews and African-Americans understand each other better, the neighborhoods, economic circumstances and values these kids represent offer them all insights into others. These kids are tomorrow's leaders.

10

xbsparrow Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

OUDC provided me with an experience I will never forget. I made some great friends and such memorable experiences as a result of the program. Our tour through the South was eye-opening, and made me want to create social change.

10

Richard Dreiman Board Member

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

I have been privileged to witness firsthand the tremendous impact OUDC has had on my son and daughter, both alums. Each came away from the year-long OUDC experience with deep friendships among African-American and Jewish students, and a shared, profound understanding of what religious and racial tolerance and understanding really mean in daily life. I was also fortunate to serve on the Board, where I interacted regularly with the leadership of the program, as well as the students. OUDC lives its values every day by encouraging African-American and Jewish student leaders to take up the challenge of being thought and change leaders.

8

JNussbaum Client Served

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

As a group dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding and combating racism, anti-Semitism, and all forms of prejudice in American society, OUDC had a profound impact on my world view and my relationships with those around me. The program brings together African-American and Jewish students from the DC-VA-MD area for a year-long journey of understanding. While the group helped train me to actively promote cross-cultural exchange and combat prejudice, its impacts on the personal level were much more profound: I became aware of prejudiced stereotypes I did not know I harbored, realized the ways in which societal inequality impacts different peoples' life chances, and came to a deeper understanding of my own roots. These lessons I took away from OUDC will continue to shape my life.

8

Dan Nathan Client Served

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

OUDC is an important, unique and well-run organization. My daughter is participating this year in the program along with about 30 other Jewish and African-American 11th/12th graders. Through the program they are learning a great deal about their heritage, the history of the relationship between the groups, the history of the civil rights movement, and, perhaps most important, themselves. The program imparts these lessons by choosing students with open minds and educating them through a combination of contacts with notables in civil rights, history and other relevant fields, including bi-weekly educational sessions throughout the year, cultural exchanges with members of the other group, and a summer journey through all the significant stops in the history of the civil rights struggle in the U.S. The students are exposed to people and experiences that they might otherwise not see. And they bring these experiences and lessons back to their communities through public speaking -- for which the program helps train them -- and other interactions. I can't speak highly enough about the mission of this organization, and their skill at satisying that mission. The group's facilitators are energetic and well-trained, and the choices of subject matters and venues are always spot-on. By helping raise a generation of enlightened and open-minded youth, they are making a real contribution to relations between the cultures, and help ensure that these participants will be a positive force for societal change.

9

frankas Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

The difference that Operation Understanding DC made in my life is unimaginable. The people in this organization changed me from a person that thinks to a person that acts, and now I know I can make a difference in the world. The greatest experience of my life by far!

7

dkb General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

Operation Understanding of the District of Columbia (a/k/a OUDC) is an amazing program that brings together African-American and Jewish high school students for a year of inter-cultural education, travel, and discovery. Roughly 30 students from the D.C. metropolitan area learn together about Jewish and African-American culture, history, and religious traditions, and explore issues of identity, discrimination, and stereotypes, during a year of programs, lectures, and retreats. The students have just returned from a three-week summer journey in NYC and throughout the deep South, where they visited churches, synagogues, community centers, museums, and memorials, and met with local civic and religious leaders, as well as participants in and heroes of the civil rights movement. OUDC is a transformational experience for these students, who become inspired to join our nation's efforts to battle discrimination and foster greater respect and understanding in our communities.

7

kbr Client Served

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

Operation Understanding is a youth leadership and diversity program that includes intensive education about Jewish and African American history, a month-long bus trip to see history and current challenges close up, and an outreach portion. I did OUDC in high school, and learned about continuing civil rights struggles in this country. Now I am studying to be a civil rights attorney. My OUDC classmates are working on social justice issues we learned about all around the country. It was an amazing program.

7

greenbergsam Client Served

Rating: 5

08/04/2009

OUDC provided me with an amazing year-long experience that helped me learn about and analyze important issues in our society. Not only did the program give me an understanding about race and its role in our nation, the program helped me look at broader issues of justice where activism and leadership is still needed.

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