"In America there are two classes of travel — first class, and with children." — Robert Benchley
For nearly 30 children who recently left South Los Angeles to visit Washington, D.C., and its environs, it was a first-class trip all the way around.
The trip came courtesy of the Rejected Stone Christian Fellowship church in Los Angeles, which aims to make sure children and adults experience America's beauty firsthand.
"We want to take kids out of their environment, to inspire them and to let them know the world is bigger than their block," Pastor Walter Davis said. "Our goal and purpose is to help people with their self-esteem... Travel is an educational component of our ministry."
This year, 52 people (28 children, 24 adults) boarded an AirTran plane on July 28 for a four-day trip to D.C. For some this was their first trip on an airplane, and for others it was their first time out of the city.
While in the D.C. area, they visited the Smithsonian Institution, the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum, and Howard University, an historically African-American institution.
"On the tour of Howard University we had excellent tour guides, young black males, juniors in college who shared their experiences of what they had to overcome to get to where they are," Davis said. "That's what we're trying to do — enlarge the children's view of life and what they are capable of doing. We want to teach them you can have a goal and complete it."
Another highlight of their trip was a visit to the Department of The Treasury, where the group witnessed the printing of millions of dollars in $100 bills.
"It was fun and very interesting to see them make all those stacks and stacks of freshly made $100 bills," said 13-year-old London Edwards, a student at The Accelerated School in Los Angeles.
"It was tempting, too," she said, laughing. "I was thinking 'I wish they could give us some of that money.' I won't be greedy, just (a) $100 bill."
Before leaving Los Angeles, Davis tried to secure a visit to the White House for the entire travel party but that wasn't possible. But U.S. Representative Diane Watson, a Democrat whose 33rd District takes in much of South Los Angeles, managed to get six of the children in for a tour of the executive mansion. Names were pulled from a hat and Edwards was one of the lucky ones.
"I learned a lot of things and saw a lot of things I thought I'd never see in a million years — going to the White House is something not too many people get to do," Edwards said. "I feel really blessed. The White House was beautiful and I really liked the Blue Room and the Red Room."
For those who didn't make it into the White House, there were no shortages of adventures. Davis said they visited the U.S. House of Representatives in session, with U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr., a Democrat from Illinois, at the helm, sitting in for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who just happened to be in the Capitol Rotunda when the group arrived, stopped to greet and pose for pictures with the visitors.
Another highlight of their trip was a visit to Ben's Chili Bowl, a prominent black-owned eatery that has been in business for 50 years and gained additional fame when Barack Obama stopped there for a bite to eat.
While checking in at the Los Angeles International Airport before leaving for the trip, several of the children, when asked what they were looking forward to on their trip, talked about flying for the first time and swimming in the hotel's pool once they arrived in D.C. Others had loftier goals in mind.
Nine-year-old twins Jonathan and Joseph Branch, students at South Park Elementary School in Los Angeles, said that this was their first trip on an airplane and they just wanted to have lots of fun, swim, see Obama and meet his two daughters.
They didn't get the opportunity to see the president or his daughters, but they undoubtedly had a lot of fun and history-learning adventures.
"Everyone loved it — the trip was a great success," Davis said. "At church Sunday, the children had a chance to stand up and talk about the trip. Mothers were in tears because they couldn't envision a vacation like this with their children based upon their income."
With a cost of nearly $40,000 for the trip — raised through car washes, fish frys, raffles and a gospel brunch — Davis said he sees the value in the effort and will continue their fundraising for next year's planned trip to the Grand Canyon.
"The children put in some work as well... 97 percent of them come from single-mother homes with no contact with their fathers," Davis said. "They help with the fundraising, which teaches them you don't have to wait for somebody to do for you. You can set goals and reach them."
Pat Munson is a writer for the L.A. Watts Times.
Photo of Rejected Stone Christian Fellowship church contingent by Jan Ford; photo of the White House from Wikimedia Commons
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