Our Beginnings
The Sequoia School originally began as a summer co-operative in 2016, enrolling children who did not meet the minimum age requirement of many summer camps in the District of Columbia. Originally called Young'uns Summer Cooperative, it started as a community experiment between parents of the District in collaboration with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), to fill a gap in summer programming. Young'uns Summer Co-op grew from one site in 2016 to four sites in 2019 out of rented classrooms offered by DPR. Now in its eighth year, the Sequoia School as Young'uns successor, has become a full-service, year-round, licensed childcare program, settling in the Trinidad neighborhood.
Management
YOUNG KIM, Executive DirectorBefore starting Sequoia School, Young spent fifteen years as an analyst in higher education policy at a think tank and higher education association. While the work was rewarding, the hours he spent in the office did not mesh well with the arrival of his then newborn daughter. So he decided to leave the world of higher education policy to start his own company to change the lifestyle he led. The company he started would ultimately become the childcare center he now directs.
BA in Government and Spanish from St. Lawrence University MPHIL in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford Fun fact: Young is an avid basketball fan. From time to time, he likes to join pick-up games on weekends. |
SELMA RAMIC, Director of AdministrationSelma was 18 years old when she moved from Bosnia to the United States. She worked as a linguist in Kosovo and Bosnia and as Counterintelligence (CI) Screener in support of US troops in Afghanistan. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom to her daughter, Selma worked as a lead recruiter in private and public sectors in Virginia. Selma joined forces with Young to continue the growth of the summer program into a full-time child care program. Selma directs the organizational administration of the child care center.
BA in International Relations from York College of Pennsylvania MA in International Studies from Georgetown University Fun fact: Selma likes to travel the world. She has traveled to five continents in the world. Her next destination: Antarctica. |