Charise Van Liew

WETA Hometown Hero October 2006. Charise Van Liew is the founding director of FLY (Facilitating Leadership in Youth).

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Charise Van Liew, American University Alumna and Founding Director of FLY (Facilitating Leadership in Youth), is the focus of a month-long WETA Hometown Heroes profile airing in October.

WETA selected Van Liew for her deep commitment to empowering local D.C. youth through the upkeep of the Barry Farm Community Garden.

As an American University student concentrating in Peace and Conflict Resolution, Van Liew was inspired to start FLY through a freshman service project aimed at creating a community garden in Anacostia’s historic Barry Farm in 1999. Van Liew continued her project through her college career, creating relationships with the Barry Farm youth, and eventually receiving The President’s Award for her volunteer service.

Noticing a need for creative after-school programs for Anacostia’s youth, Van Liew, along with two other American University students, developed their student volunteer ventures into the sustainable non-profit FLY (Facilitating Leadership in Youth). Housed at the Gatepost Center in the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE, it operates on a budget funded by 12 local foundations, 2 national foundations, DC Department of Health (APRA), and over 300 individuals. Significant in-kind support is provided by American University.

Now serving 40 children and teens ages 9-18, FLY’s mission is to provide support beyond the classroom through year-round tutoring, arts, mentoring, and leadership programs. All programs are free-of-cost to Barry Farm residents.

The Barry Farm Community Garden – the inspiration for FLY – “has continued to be one of the organization’s standout programs. The Barry Farm community was founded by freemen who earned their living from farming. Today, the Community Garden is a link between neighborhood youth and their heritage. Although the garden is open to the community, youth plan the garden and choose which vegetables to plant and the size of the garden beds. They are also responsible for garden upkeep and fundraising.

Assisting the students are FLY volunteers consisting of young area professionals as well as American University students. Van Liew has encouraged the growth of a cooperative environment centered on the Barry Farm Garden. The garden acts as a valuable social arena for the children to spend time. The garden is surrounded by a baseball field and recreational center frequented by the FLY’s participants.

Van Liew’s efforts have not gone unnoticed in her community. Youth Service America awarded a mini-grant to FLY’s community garden youth in 2002; in 2005, Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization focusing on hunger, included the garden in their Conference of Leaders community service event.

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