WJC students Caleb Bell (Lee University) and Lanie Rivera (Westmont College) take photos of Crisis Pregnancy Center clients and their families.

Although Washington Journalism Center students often volunteer at the Capitol Hill Crisis Pregnancy Center (CHCPC) as part of the semester’s Neighborhood Engagement component, it is not often that we get to interact with the clients who visit the center. But on April 7, 2013, some of us were able to meet these people, hear their stories and learn about their lives.

The CHCPC photo ministry was inspired by similar projects, and it seemed like an outlet to serve the surrounding community while using God’s given passions and privileges.

On Sunday, April 7, three students and I walked over to Stanton Park on Capitol Hill. We photographed three families, but I think we provided more than just nice photos – we gave self-confidence, excitement for the future and an enjoyable afternoon in the sun.

Although the day was planned well in advance (I pitched the idea to the WJC/ASP professors, the day was organized with CHCPC and other student volunteers were gathered), the extent to which the ministry blessed each one of us was surprising.

We connected with each person and child, and we were also able to celebrate each family by showing them their beautiful photographs. The expression on their faces when they reviewed the photos on the camera was priceless — they were astonished and proud.

To see more photos from the day, follow this link.

*Photos by ASP student Jacob Bechtol

WJC Spring 2013, with program coordinator Rose Creasman Welcome
Photo Credit: Lanie Rivera

WJC students took a tour of the Washington Post this past week on April 5th, 2013. Students were guided by Washington Post tour guide Timothy Smith, and were able to witness the Post newsroom on a typical work day.

Students sat in on a planning meeting among executive editors, and saw an historic copy of one of the Post’s most famous front pages: the Watergate cover-up.

The tour was coordinated by WJC mentor Mike Plunkett, who works on the Washington Post design desk.

After the tour, Terry and Rose treated students to a burger and fries at the nearby Post Pub.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts can change your life.

It was a normal Thursday night in DC, and my roommate Leah and I went out to grab some dinner and explore the DC nightlife. It was a pretty uneventful night, until the ride home.

We hopped on the D6 bus bound for our apartments at the Dellenback Center, but quickly changed our minds when we glanced out the bus window and saw the bright red  “Hot and Ready” sign gleaming from the store window of the Krispy Kreme near Dupont Circle. As every good Southerner knows, you can’t pass up an original glazed doughnut when the sign is on, so the next thing you know we were pulling the yellow cord and racing toward delicious pastries.

We ended up with a dozen original glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which was way more than two girls could ever need, and started walking to board the D6 bus bound for home. Read the rest of this entry »