Empower DC and the Barry Farm Tenant and Allies Association (BFTAA) confronted DC Mayor Vincent Gray during his planned photo opportunity at the “ground breaking” for the new Barry Farm Recreation Center. While the ground breaking occurred on the grounds of the existing Rec Center, the plans for the new one have not yet been made public and the only existing public plans have the Center built on another location entirely, not only raising the question of why the ground breaking was at the wrong location, but why the existing Rec Center has to close in order to build a new one slated to be built on a separate piece of property.
Through the power of protest, Barry Farm residents and Empower DC won a reprieve for the Center as the city promised not to shutter the facility until they actually meet with the residents. Empower DC organizer Schyla Pondexter-Moore spearheaded the organizing of the action. Executive Director Parisa Nouruzi was featured on the news, as well as members Joe-Ann Donaldson, Phyllissa Bilal and Michelle Hamilton. See news clips below.
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