Testimony of Jani Cousins: The Power of Out-of-School-Time Programs

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Jani Cousins, I live in Ward 7, and I attend Cesar Chavez Public Charter for Public Policy.  I am a member of the DC Action Youth Advisory Team and the Mikva Challenge Youth Safety Justice Council. I’m here to talk about the importance of providing accessible and engaging out-of-school-time opportunities to all young people in the District of Columbia.

I joined my first OST program in my sophomore year. This was the student government organization at my school. We were in charge of everything that happened in the culture of our school from hosting pep rallies to planning the senior trip and even funding senior activities. We also organized huge out-of-school events like feeding the homeless and even meeting the mayor at an affordable housing hearing. 

Through that experience, I discovered my passion for public speaking. I joined Tech Turn Up, where I learned how to code and I created a project to advocate for affordable housing. I joined LearnServe International to further advocate for affordable housing. Then I became an intern at the Office of the Attorney General.

All this demonstrates the impact that one school program had on my life and how I am continuing to climb this growth ladder. As a person of my circumstances, coming from a low-income family and also not being very social, these OST programs have benefited me by providing for me and helping me break the barrier of social anxiety. The people who I have met and the things I have experienced have brought out parts of me and created opportunities that I have never experienced before. I have made lifelong relationships and met council members and learned to network. I got to travel, which was my first time outside of the DMV. OST programs have also provided me with stipends, food, and resources in times that were really hard for my family. This is just the beginning of how these programs have benefited my life. I encourage the DC Council to pass and fund this legislation so all young people in DC like me will have these kinds of opportunities. Thank you. I would be glad to answer any questions you may have.