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Reparations: A Very Basic PrimerReparations: a process of repairing, healing and restoring a people injured because of their group identity and in violation of their fundamental human rights. In 2019, the House held a Hearing on H.R. 40, Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act. There was no vote but the hearing itself was historic. We take a look at what led up to this point. 
A Timeline Leading Up to The “Revitalization” of Barry FarmWith the deconstruction and rebuilding of Barry Farm under way, it is important to understand some of the key factors of this process, what led up to it and how it has been affecting the existing community. Here is a somewhat concise timeline of events to provide context and stay updated on the fast-changing neighborhood. 
Incompatible Allies: Black Lives Matter, March 4 Our Lives and the US Debate about Guns and Violence 
Initiative 77 & The Crisis of The Tipped Minimum Wage 
After a two-year effort by District residents who want the city to use violence prevention rather than aggressive policing methods like Stop and Frisk, the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act (or NEAR Act) was passed. If the NEAR Act is to succeed in giving communities control over how they are policed, community members must understand it. . . . → Read More: The NEAR Act and the Future of Policing in the District of Columbia 
Thanks to the recent passing of the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act (NEAR Act), the District of Columbia will create a program similar to Chicago’s Cease Fire program. What will it mean for DC’s communities? Come to the screening of The Interrupters and find out more. Doors open at 5:30 PM. The movie begins at 6:00 PM Sharp. . . . → Read More: The Interrupters Screening and Discussion  )%  %categories-linked( Communities, Justice System, Potomac Gardens  documentary, NEAR Act, Potomac Gardens, screening, The Interrupters 
Beyond voting or joining a well publicized march or rally, many citizens are unsure how to become politically engaged. One of the most effective ways to have an impact on public policy is to tell your local representatives what you want. Lobbying is not just for professionals paid by corporate interest groups. In fact, government and the institutions they regulate are far more fair, just and equitable when regular citizens like you and me show up at their office and insist that they listen to what we have to say. With that in mind, the DC Alliance for Youth Advocates (DCAYA) will meet with Councilmembers and staff to advocate for a more youth-friendly District budget for FY2018 at the Wilson Building on Thursday, May 11. According to the DCAYA, the District’s proposed FY2018 budget leaves significant funding gaps for a number of key programs that could better address the needs of children and youth. Council markup on the mayor’s proposed budget is scheduled for May 16-18, so May 11 is a critical time to reach out to members and remind them of the importance of our budget asks for DC’s youth, which include: Transportation: $2 million to extend transportation subsidies to adult and alternative learners through the School Transit Subsidy Program Youth Homelessness: Up to $3.3 million more to fully fund the Year One objectives of the Comprehensive Plan to End Youth Homelessness Expanded Learning: An additional $5.1 million to fund the new Office of Out-of-School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes and better meet the need for quality youth development programming Youth Workforce Development: A comprehensive implementation plan for coordinating and funding youth workforce development initiatives to build on the progress of DC’s WIOA State Plan Per-Pupil Funding: A 3.5% increase in per-pupil funding in the FY18 budget to bring DCPS closer to an adequate standard for education funding next school year Proposed Tax Cuts: Ensure revenue is available to fund these and other critical priorities by delaying the $40 million in estate tax and business tax cuts slated for 2018 For more information, contact Jamie Kamlet Fragale, Director of Advocacy and Communications for Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, or CLICK HERE.
)% %categories-linked( Education, Social Services children and youth, DC Alliance of Youth Advocates, DC City Council, DCAYA, District budget, FY 2018, lobbying 
Cross-Posted from Street Sense by Ashley Clarke The D.C. Office of Planning is amending the Comprehensive Plan, a long-standing document that outlines priorities for D.C.’s future growth and change. In a statement from the Office of Planning, Director Eric Shaw encouraged residents to read the Comprehensive Plan and make suggestions for changes. “‘Planning an Inclusive City’ is the guiding vision for the DC Comprehensive Plan. An inclusive city is one where every member of the community feels welcome wherever they are in the city, and where everyone has a fair and equitable opportunity to live a healthy, successful and fulfilling life,” Edward Geifer, associate director of the Office of Planning, wrote in an email to Street Sense. A heterogeneous coalition was born out of the Office of Planning’s call to the public. Community organizations, for-profit and nonprofit developers, faith groups, tenant advocates and other local organizations have formed a loose coalition of interested parties to identify priorities for creating more affordable housing and community support for under-resourced communities in D.C. The coalition met over several months to reach an agreement on a series of priorities that are listed on their website at www.DCHousingpriorities.org. According to the 2016 annual census done by the D.C. Council on Homelessness, 8,350 people experience homelessness on any given night in the city. Coalition members want to see growth in the city but also want the Office of Planning to know that growth does not mean pushing marginalized people further to the margins. “It is possible to build new housing, including a good measure of affordable housing, and grow the District’s tax base in a way that makes business sense and advances the public good. The result can be a combination of new housing and amenities for residents and increased revenue for the city so it can continue to enhance quality of life,” said Aakash Thakkar in the a news release. Thakkar is the senior vice president of EYA, a real estate development firm that is part of the coalition. Coalition members believe that more affordable housing and targeted support for D.C. communities should be in the Comprehensive Plan. Philip Stump-Kennedy told Street Sense that Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) joined the coalition in hopes of using the Office of Planning as a tool for their mission. Stump-Kennedy is the regional tenant organizing manager at LEDC. He said he is tasked with the preservation of affordable housing in D.C, which is one of the priorities the coalition wants addressed. He referred to the lack of affordable housing in D.C. and said it is important that subsidized housing like Section 8 housing is maintained in the District. Stump-Kennedy also believes rent control is an important part of affordable housing preservation. The rest of the coalition agrees and lists the protection of tenants as a priority. Stump-Kennedy said that the LEDC focuses on organizing tenants, connecting them with attorneys and other tenant associations. Stump-Kennedy said there is strength in numbers and organization. “We need policies that preserve the affordable housing we already have as the District develops. It’s clear the city needs more units to meet the demand of the people coming here, but we also need strategies to protect tenants who are struggling to stay in the city. Those goals don’t have to be in conflict,” said Rob Wohl, a tenant organizer for the LEDC, in a news release. The coalition members believe that the development of affordable housing and equitable economics requires the participation of all D.C. communities in order to move toward a solution. A full list of organizations and businesses in support of the D.C. housing priorities can be found on their webpage. Residents can get involved by signing up for updates at plandc.dc.gov and submitting proposed amendments during the open call period for amendments. 
It seems like it’s been years since January 20, 2017. A lot of people, many of them devout moderates, said that we should give Donald Trump a chance. He’s not really going to do the things he says he’s going to do. He’s not a true conservative. He’s just saying those things to get elected. Others preferred to heed the words of Maya Angelou: “When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.” Candidate Trump showed us who he was throughout the campaign. President Trump didn’t hesitate to tell us how he feels about his constituents during his inaugural address: “Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge; and the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.” Me, my daughter Joshua and her friend Nicole took a camera to the inauguration, but alas we missed the speech. Although we tried at several locations, we never made it past security. In what seemed like symbolism, we found anti-Trump protestors north of the mall, all of them in Maya Angelou’s camp. South of the mall, we found many more pro-Trump attendees, also trying to get through security. There were also a number of protesters on the south side of the mall whose motivations I still don’t understand. The video is below: Within hours of the inauguration that so many of us missed, the pages on LGBT rights, civil rights, climate change, and health care were removed from the “issues” section of the official White House website. Like icing on a mostly Styrofoam replica of Obama’s real inauguration cake, the video below popped up on my daughter’s twitter feed as we were making our way home. Amazing. This brave woman stood against anti-Muslim protesters at the Islamic Center in Washington D.C. That’s a true ally. #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/bp2DycFL9m — sarah amy harvard (@amyharvard_) January 20, 2017 I fear that the anti-Trump enthusiasm will wane as the long days of the Trump Administration stretch into weeks, months and years. On the whole, I’d have to say that January 20, 2017, was not a good day. |
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