Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 21, 2004

Children to " invade" Metro

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is participating in the annual national observance called " Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day®" on Thursday, April 22, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participating employees will bring their daughters and sons, ages 9 to 16, to work to learn more about the work-day world of Metro. Seventy youths are participating in the program. During the program, children will spend a portion of the day with their parent. In addition, representatives from various offices will give presentations and the children will spend a portion of the program with a " Metro mentor" who will focus on the child’s area of interest. " As generations have done before them, our children learn about careers and occupations, and about the jobs their parents and other adults perform, by participating in the kinds of hands-on experiences we provide during events such as " Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day®," " stated Chief Executive Officer Richard A. White, the father of two young boys. " It is important that we expose our children to these kinds of experiences so that they have as wide a view as possible about career possibilities in transportation." The youngsters, from schools in the metropolitan region, will participate in a variety of activities to learn more about the various jobs at Metro and how the regional bus and rail systems are able to provide transportation for more than a million riders each weekday. The day’s program will begin with a general meeting and overview of Metro’s mission and offices. Then, the youngsters will get a behind-the-scenes look at some aspects of Metro not open to the general public. " Youngsters appreciate these opportunities and they and their teachers let us know that they find these experiences valuable," said Christal Murray, coordinator of Metro’s annual " Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day®."

News release issued on April 21, 2004.