Leon Harris
7News DC
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Leon:
ArtStream helps young individuals with Down syndrome communicate better
From the outside, it looks like the group of teens and young adults standing in a circle are just playing a version of the game known as Telephone. But instead of whispering in the ear of the person beside them, they are looking that person in the eyes and → Read More
"Cars for the Cure" in Great Falls raises money, awareness for Type 1 diabetes
Inside the Sevila's garage in Great Falls is a car-lovers paradise, a dozen antique and classic cars and a few motorcycles dating back to 1931.Three years ago, Michael Sevila, 15 years old, was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. While still in the hospital, h → Read More
Severe weather causes flight delays nationwide
Millions remain trapped in a travel nightmare tonight as a deadly storm marches across the country, hitting the Northeast.Right now, seven states are under winter weather alerts, while roads are treacherous and thousands of flights have been cancelled.As m → Read More
Harris&39; Heroes: Youth camp brings together teens impacted by Huntington&39;s Disease
Having a parent with a fatal illness is hard on any child. But what if that youngster is also at risk for developing that same terminal disease? A first of its kind camp brought together teen and young adults impacted by Huntington's Disease.The peaceful s → Read More
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Tucked among the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains sits a special camp.It's called Camp Fantastic and the more than 100 youngsters attending share a common bond. They all have-- or had-- cancer.I don't think anybody realizes the emotional effect it has → Read More
Harris&39; Heroes: Teachers volunteer so kids from low-income housing can attend camp
Dozens of children from low income households in Montgomery County are getting the opportunity to go to camp this summer. And its all thanks to their teachers during the school year who have set up a makeshift camp in their students backyard.Twice a week, → Read More
Harris&39; Heroes: Field of dreams
A free summer program for youngsters in Ward 7 and Ward 8 in the District aims to inspire success both on and off the baseball field.Its a hot summer day in Southeast DC, but these young baseball players cant wait to get on the field.Like other baseball ca → Read More
Free afternoon program teaches children about eating healthy and growing vegetables
WASHINGTON (WJLA) - Tucked among low income apartment buildings in Washington, D.C. grows Common Good City Farm and an educational program for local children. The free afternoon program which is held from 4:30-6pm is called LEAF, which stands for "Learning For Environment, Agriculture and Food." "This is a city so a lot of (children) have never been in a place where they can get their hands… → Read More
D.C. educator turns tragic loss into promising mission
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – Every morning, Linda Jackson greets her "babies," as she likes to call them, with a warm smile. Jackson is executive director of Northwest Settlement House, but she's more like a proud "grandma." More on this story "This silver hair has helped quite a bit," said Jackson with a laugh. There are nearly 50 infants to 3-year-olds at the early childhood center. But for Jackson,… → Read More
Harris' Heroes: 5-year-old boy starts a food drive for needy in Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WJLA) -- This week's Harris' Hero proves you're never too young to make a difference. More on this story Sparked by a discussion in school, 5-year-old Campbell Reid started a food drive to help the hungry. It’s called Campbell's More Than Soup Food Drive. Campbell is a typical 5-year-old. He goes to school and plays soccer and t-ball. But this young student at Saint Stephens and… → Read More
Md. elementary school running club puts kids on the fast track to success
FREDERICK, Md. (WJLA) – Students at an area elementary school are running circles around their peers—literally. Five years ago the school built a small track, and students from kindergarten through fifth grade spend their recess running laps, a number of them racking up 100 miles or more in a single school year. More on this story It's recess at Orchard Grove Elementary School in Frederick, and… → Read More
Teens create engineering club for girls at Rockville high school
ROCKVILLE, Md. (WJLA) – Two 15-year-old girls are sparking interest in engineering among their peers. The teens started up an afterschool program for girls only that focuses on the fun behind the science. At Magruder High School in Rockville, a group of girls is learning about agricultural engineering. But it’s not your typical classroom. Sophomores Valerie Lehman and Joyce Chung started the… → Read More
Code4Life makes computer programming fun for D.C. middle schoolers
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – Fifth and sixth graders at D.C.'s KIPP Northeast Academy are learning HTML and CSS. This week, the lesson is on how to change text and background colors. It's part of a program called Code4Life, designed to teach basic computer programming skills by making it fun. The nonprofit Economic Growth D.C. Foundation created the program for middle school students with a specific… → Read More
2 African Americans make history performing lead roles in Washington Ballet’s ‘Swan Lake’
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – In an historic move, two African-American ballet dancers performed the lead roles in the Washington Ballet's "Swan Lake" Thursday evening at the Kennedy Center. It's the first time this has been done in a major ballet company and challenges the idea of what principal roles in classical ballets should look like. Misty Copeland, 32, danced the role of Odette/Odile and… → Read More
D.C. Boys Choir sings for success
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – A D.C. woman with a passion for music is not just teaching boys how to sing. She’s building their self-esteem and helping them develop into confident and successful young men. Twice a week, the voices of the young boys rise like angels inside St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Center in Northwest Washington. The boys sing in the D.C. Boys Choir and range in age from 6 to 18. “I… → Read More
PG County volunteer group makes education fun for students of all ages
CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. (WJLA) – It's a special day for the youngest students at Robert R. Gray Elementary School in Prince George's County; storyteller Hazeline Harris is dressed as the Cat in the Hat from the Dr. Seuss book of the same name to read to children in the school's Head Start and Kindergarten classes. Harris is a member of the Prince George's County Chapter of the Continental… → Read More
‘Pancake Saturdays’ help former felons stay out of jail
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – A D.C. man is proving that sometimes it just takes food and friendship to help others turn their lives around and stay out of jail. Graham McLaughlin started a weekly gathering on Saturdays at his home that includes friends and former felons. They start their morning with a short jog through Southeast D.C. Then, it’s on to some exercise. Following the workout, the group,… → Read More
Students cook up success in Careers through Culinary Arts Program
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – It’s closing time at a D.C. deli, but not for Chef Troy Williams and his wife, Yvette. They are holding a cooking class in the deli’s kitchen for high school students in D.C. and Prince George’s County, Md. It’s part of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program or C-CAP. The program trains students not only in proper knife skills and food preparation, but also gives them life… → Read More
Military members give back to area youth through Operation Heroes Connect
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – A few months ago, Zenia Boswell worked in the White House Military Office providing presidential travel support. Now, the retired Army staff sergeant is serving a different role as a mentor with Operation Heroes Connect. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Tee Hanible started the nonprofit organization that pairs current and former military members with children in D.C. and Virginia… → Read More
National Gallery’s Art Around the Corner program harnesses D.C. students’ creativity
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – While Washington’s youngsters live close by, many have never been to an art museum. A program at the National Gallery of Art is finding innovative ways to teach D.C. Public Schools students real-life lessons. The staff members of the museum’s Art Around the Corner are this week’s Harris’ Heroes. The students come to study art, but also to learn critical thinking skills that… → Read More