New events added to Advocacy and Learning Calendar, May 20

Webinars and events have been added to the Advocacy and Learning Calendar.   There are many more on the calendar than those highlighted here:

• Affordable Care Act and Youth - Solutions Desk - Helping Youth Transition (May 22)
• 21st Century Drug Policy Reform: A Conversation with Gil Kerlikowske (May 23)
• Congratulations, the IRS Says Your Organization is Exempt: A Webinar that Discusses What Happens Next (May 29)
• A New Era in Nonprofit Marketing: Why Winging It with Social Media No Longer Works (June 4)
• Stuck in Place: Urban Neighborhoods and the End of Progress toward Racial Equality (June 5)
• DC Environmental Network Brown-Bag Pay Dirt: Composting to Reduce Waste, Create Jobs, and Protect the Bay! (June 6)

If there are events you think belong on this calendar, email me the information and I will add them.

Consider signing this petition supporting neighborhood schools

Education experts, advocates, community leaders, and parents have come together to support and advocate for matter-of-right neighborhood schools and other important education policies.   This group, primarily comprised of parents, is gathering signatures on a petition to 1) gain support for some basic principles and 2) move the issue of matter-of-right neighborhood schools.   The petition's preamble says this:

A critical mission for our city is to ensure great, matter-of-right schools from pre-school through high school graduation in all of our communities.

In large parts of the city, parents have little confidence that there are viable, matter-of-right neighborhood options for their children, and find themselves at the whim of a lottery system. That reality undermines their enthusiasm and even willingness to stay in the city and detracts from quality of life for all of our citizens.

The petitioners are encouraging folks across the city to sign the petition.

EOTR residents: Your input is needed!

Dreaming Out Loud is conducting a survey of east of the river residents about the idea of locating a farmers market in Ward 7.   The nonprofit organization is interested in hearing about the items residents buy or would buy at a farmers market, where they shop for groceries now, and whether they would shop at a farmers market.

Why is this organization interested?   Because they founded Aya Community Markets.

Please take the survey and encourage others to do the same.

Your action is needed to protect the $15 million One City Fund

Attend the Committee of the Whole's May 22, 10:00 am vote on the FY 2014 budget and hold up* the sign (below) and you'll let CMs know that you support this important investment in the community and nonprofits, the organizations providing valuable services to residents.

Public presence is essential.   So organize your colleagues to attend the first reading of the budget support act.

Support onecityfundsign from Susie Cambria

*Hold the sign at chest level; anything else will likely considered to be demonstrating and demonstrating is not allowed in the Council Chamber.

CM Tommy Wells on NewsTalk May 20

Ward 6 CM Tommy Wells will guest on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt May 20 at 10:00 am.   Wells will be asked about the FY 2014 budget, streetcars, ethics reform, legalizing marijuana, and his run for mayor.

Tune in to NewsChannel 8 streaming here, http://news8.net/, to see the conversation.

If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email the show.

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Is your organization offering summer programming for children and/or youth?

Summer is right around the corner and parents are still looking for programs for their children and teens and young adults (to age 24) are searching for meaningful activities.   If your organization/agency (nonprofit or DC government) have programs for kids, enter the information into this form and it will be included in The BRIDGE Project searchable database (and yes, the website is undergoing a complete overhaul and will feature youth programming!).   Please complete the organizational and program information; it won't take long, promise!

Pre-COW media briefing, May 20

DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson will brief the media about the May 21 Committee of the Whole May 20 at 10:00 am in Room 123 of JAWB.   Additional information is available by calling (202) 724-8032.   If you can't make it to the Wilson Building, you can watch the briefing via Granicus.

Save the date: May 22 for one final push for the One City Fund

We're not done!   Another push, a final one, is needed to ensure the $15 million One City Fund survives as proposed during the May 22 first vote on the budget support act.

If you believe in the value of the One City Fund to improve the lives of DC residents via nonprofits all over the city, turn out May 22 to the John A. Wilson Building to show your support (small sign to hold here).

More details to come May 20.

FY 2014 budget update, May 16

CM Budget Updates

The Mayor Gray Report

Do you receive The Mayor Gray Report?   It is the weekly report to stakeholders, community leaders, and opinion makers of the important steps the Gray Administration is taking to move the District forward.   If you would like to receive this regular update or suggest topics, projects, or initiatives to be profiled in future editions, email Sheila Bunn, Sheila.Bunn@dc.gov.

CM Tommy Wells' new staffer

Ward 6 CM Tommy Wells has hired a new Communications Director and Senior Policy Advisor―Jack Pfeiffer.    Pfeiffer's contact info is:

1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 109
Washington, DC 20004
jpfeiffer@dccouncil.us
www.TommyWellsWard6.com
(202) 724-8063

FY 2014 DC Council budget deliberations continue May 15

The DC Council will meet May 15 starting at 9:30 am in Room 502 to discuss the FY 2014 budget support act.   You can watch the deliberations on Channel 13 via OCT stream.   Or, you can head to the Wilson Building and sit in any of the hearing rooms.

Mayor Gray's May 15 schedule

On Mayor Gray's May 15 schedule is his regular biweekly presser from 11:00 am - Noon in Room G-9 at JAWB.   The mayor will talk about the interim report from the Power Line Undergrounding Task Force.

If you can't make it to the Wilson Building, you can watch the presser on Channel 16.

DC Council FY 2014 budget deliberations May 14

The DC Council will meet May 14 starting at 9:00 am in Room 502 to discuss the FY 2014 committee reports and budget support act.   You can watch the deliberations on Channel 13 via OCT stream.   Or, you can head to the Wilson Building and sit in any of the hearing rooms.

Supporters of the One City Fund should hold this sign up while they are watching in one of the JAWB rooms.