The story behind a successful advocacy campaign is not all gold and glory. Come hear about the innovative strategies, the trials and the errors that taught panelists what works to make an advocacy campaign successful. Panelists will tell the stories of what they did to move stubborn Councilmembers, to raise the profile of their issue, to change public perceptions, and to ultimately win.
We will also explore how these successful advocates tried to stay accountable to DC communities who were impacted by their legislative and budget policies. The panelists will share what worked (or didn’t) and what we can learn so that we do better as we continue our advocacy into the future. Join us for a panel discussion on:
How We Win: Lessons from Successful Campaigns Friday, April 25th 10:00am-12:00pm At the Shaw Library 1630 7th St NW
Featured Panelists
Mike Wilson, Respect DC,Minimum Wage Campaign
Elizabeth Falcon, CNHED, Housing for All Campaign
Nikki Lewis, DC Jobs with Justice, Paid Sick Days Campaign
Naomi Iser, Employment Justice Center
Samantha Davis, So Others Might Eat And more TBA…
The DC Adult and Family Literacy Coalition, an advocacy group dedicated to advancing adult education as a vital component of the District’s education system, hosted a mayoral candidates forum in March. They asked twelve questions listed below, which cover not only adult education but also employment, poverty, health care, human rights, etc. Three of the candidates provided written responses to these questions, which you can find at the following links: Jack Evans DCAFLC Responses | Reta Lewis DCAFCL Responses | Tommy Wells DCAFCL Responses
1. USA Today and other sources have recently noted D.C to be the most literate cities in the nation, yet nearly 20% of DC adults are functionally illiterate, many of whom have a high school diploma. Why do you believe this is the case and what will you do as mayor to address this issue?
2. As mayor, how will you support research and development of computer literacy training for adults?
3. DOES and UDC-CC offer a wide range of workforce development programs but these programs all require an 8th grade reading and math skill level (in English). According to data from OSSE AFE, 90% of DC adult learners are below this level. What can the city do to help adults get the skills they need to access the training programs that will help them secure family-sustaining jobs?
4. Not everyone who is homeless lacks the education or skills needed to obtain a job. However homelessness poses significant barriers to employment coupled with discrimination from the employer. How can you help the” job ready” homeless population overcome barriers to employment and work with employers to rid discrimination?
5. I have been volunteering for two years and I have not been able to get a job due to my disability. How will you ensure that all residents who want to work are able to obtain employment, specifically those with a disability?
6. The conditions in shelters are inhumane. People looking for shelter are treated like animals. As mayor, how do you plan to change conditions in shelters?
7. What steps will you take to increase affordable housing units for the low-income population (under 40% AMI)?
8. How will you ensure affordable housing is accessible for residents who are seniors or have disabilities?
9. HHS and CMS are considering making changes to the 6 protected drug classes in the Medicaid Part D Prescription drug benefit. Specially, they are considering removing anti-psychotics by 2015, anti-depressants by 2016, and immunosuppressants thereafter. The District has spent the last 30 years de-institutionalizing mental health facilities and integrating people with physical and intellectual disabilities into the community. As a candidate for mayor, what is your position on this proposed change?
10. Our city has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control. How do you plan to address the issue of HIV/AIDS as mayor?
11. How do you plan to collect and use community input to make decisions on public programs/policies?
12. As mayor, how do you plan to address the issue of systemic racism in education, housing, and literacy?
Next Tuesday, April 1, 2014, is DC’s Mayoral Primary. Given that the District of Columbia has never elected a mayor who wasn’t a Democrat, so far as I know anyway, the primary can be counted on as a prediction of the election itself. A Google search of the District’s mayoral race reveals that most news outlets are reporting on who’s likely to win and not so much on their position on the issues. One exception is the Examiner.com article, D.C. mayoral candidate forum addresses sustainability and the environment.
If you were unable to attend any of the candidate forums but want to know what the candidates think about income inequality, the achievement gap, the wage gap, housing affordability, and other pivotal issues, you can watch the Un-Forums. These one-on-one conversations with the leading mayoral candidates were held on three evenings in March at the University of the District of Columbia Law School before a live audience. The forums were moderated by Mark Segraves of NBC4 and Marc Fisher of the Washington Post. Participating candidates were Muriel Bowser, Andy Shallal, Jack Evans, Tommy Wells and Vincent Orange.
Mark Segraves Interviews Andy Shallal and Tommy Wells.
In 1974, the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) published its architectural guidebook with “Twenty Walking and Motoring tours of Washington and the Vicinity.” Within its Southeast Washington tour, you could start at the Navy Yard and Marine Barracks, go by the Maples (the old Friendship House), St. Mark’s Church [as well as other sites], Eastern Market, Philadelphia Row, Potomac Gardens, and finish up at the Congressional Cemetery.
Yes, along with Eastern Market, Philadelphia Row, and the Congressional Cemetery, Potomac Gardens public housing project is worth a visit for the architecturally interested:
The text reads:
Potomac Gardens Apartments
1225 G Street, S.E.,
1967 — Metcalf and Associates.
There are 352 low-rent apartments in 14 buildings; 144 of the units were designed especially for the elderly. The project includes recreational, administrative and geriatric facilities.
In fact, in 1971, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the regional business association, gave its Award for Excellence in Architecture to the builder, Edward M. Crough, Inc., and the architectural firm, Metcalf and Associates, of Potomac Gardens. The Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies at Catholic University is named after Potomac Gardens’ builder.[1]
Maybe we can return to the 1974 perspective and take a new look at Potomac Gardens as an architectural asset.
P.S. Thanks to our neighbors Sandy and Barry for finding this book and its reference to Potomac Gardens!
On Friday December 6, 2013 activists from Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia gathered near the headquarters to make a statement to passerbys about the National Security Agency, the US’s principal spy agency conducting warrantless, unconstitutional dragnet surveillance on all Americans and much of the world: CLOSE THE NSA. and SAVE AMERICA.
It isn’t enough to be outraged. Times like this require concerted, committed, and focused grassroots [creative] action. With Bill of Rights Day approaching on December 15 speak out, and for millions of others whose rights are being trampled by the emerging surveillance state. There has never been a better time to raise your voice!
Organizations represented during the banner drop include:
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
CODEPINK: Women for Peace
Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition
Restore the Fourth
We Act Radio
Filmed by Robin Bell
Edited by Adwoa Masozi
Music by Petteri Sainio
The story behind a successful advocacy campaign is not all gold and glory. Come hear about the innovative strategies, the trials and the errors that taught panelists what works to make an advocacy campaign successful. Panelists will tell the stories of what they did to move stubborn Councilmembers, to raise the profile of their issue, to change public perceptions, and to ultimately win.
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