The Loops Foundation is so proud to have sponsored the 3rd annual Davon McNeal Spring Break Trip 2023!  

The trip commemorates the life and legacy of Davon Thomas McNeal, whose life was cut too short by stray gunfire when he was only 11 years old. It is held during the time of DC Public Schools Spring Break, which has typically seen an increase in violence due to at risk students being out of school with little supervision.  

Crystal McNeal, Davon’s mother, will be leading the trip and has a long legacy of working in Washington DC as a Violence Interrupter. Crystal is the daughter-in-law of the founders of the “Guardian Angels”, a watch group that patrols the neighborhood and provides counseling to youths at risk. The 25 kids selected are from different communities with a specific focus in historic Anacostia area and the Frederick Douglass Community. Daily, students will utilize restorative practices like healing circles to address trauma, neighborhood conflicts and barriers to a successful life. 

This healing retreat for traumatized youth in DC will take place at Disney World in Orlando Florida! It is the perfect place for enrichment learning in addition to fun and fantasy. The change in seasons combined with increased community violence can disrupt the balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns, mood, and mental health issues overall. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression. Sun exposure can also help with anxiety and depression, which are all reasons why Crystal has chosen this location for their Spring Break trip. 

When Crystal McNeal called us, we knew it was time to step in and give these young kids a trip to remember. This week Davon’s friends, peers, and neighbors had a Spring Break to remember, complete with beach time and taking in the Disney Parks - thanks to his guardian angels.