Interested in public policy, the DC budget, research and information to inform and improve the caliber of public policy discussions or advocacy? This is the place for you: information and intelligence that improves advocacy is the stock in trade of this blog.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Long-term elections issues roundtable, August 2 at 7:00 pm
Mayor Fenty's August 2 sked
At 10:45 am on August 2, Mayor Fenty will make remarks at the opening of the Watha T. Daniel, Shaw Neighborhood Library (1630 7th St NW). A description of the library was previously posted on this blog and you can find pictures at DCist.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Must-use writing and editing tools
succinct writing designed to ensure that the reader will understand as easily and clearly as possible. Plain language avoids the complications created by verbose, convoluted writing common in technical, legal and other fields.
Do an Internet search and you end up with a gazillion hits. Rather contrary to the idea of Plain Language, I think! Seriously, there is some useful information and tools on Plain Language, including a handbook for the federal government. What I find most interesting about this approach to sharing information is that the reader is the focus of the effort, not the writer. As a guide for the federal government, much in the document is not useful to the rest of us. But there are nuggets to take note of, including:
- Use plenty of transitional words and phrases (e.g., however, therefore)
- Create a reader-friendly format (e.g., use bold, italics, headings, and sub-headings)
- Leave the right margin ragged rather than justifying it
- Leave lots of white space
- Avoid using ALL CAPS
In my mind, these tips should be applied at least to letters, fliers, reports, and brochures.
Roy Jacobsen of Writing, Clear and Simple—has shared a fab resource, the terrific tool known as the Yahoo! Style Guide. Jacobsen writesWhat’s that? "What’s a style guide, and why should I care?"
A style guide is a set of guidelines or standards covering issues such as language use, spelling, or punctuation. They help settle issues when usage "rules" don’t have a clear answer.For example, should it be "web site" or "website?: "Home page" or "homepage?" How exactly should I organize and format a collection of citations? A good style guide can help you answer those questions.
The Yahoo! guide is designed for web applications—blogs, websites, email, and more! The guide website also features Web words, writing strong headlines, editing, and resources.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Lamond-Riggs civic group holds candidate debate August 3
CM/candidate Mary Cheh on DC Politics with Jonetta July 29
Voter guides
Anyone else doing a voter guide? Let me know via email.
Candidate forum on education
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Are you conducting a school supply drive for DC kids?
No muss, no fuss, no strings. I'm doing this just 'cause.
Donate the school supplies K-12 students really need!

If you are volunteering on Beautification Day on August 21, or just feel like stopping by to drop off items for classrooms and/or students, there is a special list for you!
So read before you shop! Make the most of every penny!
More on WaPo's experiment writing about intriguing regular people
New on Twitter
- Channel 9's Bruce Johnson, @brucejohnson9
- Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, @washlegalclinic
- Office of the State Superintendent of Education, @dc_osse
- Serve DC, @servedc
- DC Office on Aging, @dcagingnews
- DC Government, @DCGovernment
How safe will the District's children be when disaster strikes?
- having a plan for evacuating children in early learning (child development, child care)
- reunifying families after a disaster
- having a plan for evacuating children with special needs from early learning settings
- having an evacuation plan for schools.
Twelve states—including Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, California, and Maryland—have achieved all four criteria. Of the 12, five states took the 2009 scorecard to heart and improved their preparedness for children.
Save the Children considers the four criteria to be minimum standards, the floor for preparedness, not the ceiling.
The District fell short of scoring four for four because, according to the scorecard, it does not have an evacuation plan for schools. However, the 2008 District Response Plan states that the Board of Education has directed "all schools to develop school emergency response plans and establish school-based Emergency Response Teams."
Notwithstanding the assessment of Save the Children regarding preparedness plan development by child development facilities, questions remain about the rigor of these plans, the capacity of facility staff to carry the plans out, and the logic of having early learning professionals and not disaster experts develop the plans. These same questions apply to out of school time (OST) programs. Further complicating matters is that there is not a central list of all OST providers, making immediate contact and communication impossible. Finally, the city's 2008 emergency response plan does not seem to consider the reality that the city's hundreds of child development facilities each have their own response plan or that OST programs may or may not have disaster response plans.
At a minimum, all child- and youth-serving programs should have well designed disaster/emergency plans, perhaps using the foundation laid in the Department of Health's and Department of Human Services' 2007 final rules for child development facilities. The regulations require facilities to comply with Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services among other rules. According to the rules, each early learning facility
- shall develop and implement policies and procedures including in the areas of emergency evacuation and sheltering in place (330.1, p. 003823)
- shall establish and implement emergency contingency plans for medical and non-medical emergencies including during natural/man-made emergencies that require evacuation from the building, temporary displacement, or sheltering in place. The decision may be authorized by a government official. (360.9, p. 003850; 369.9, p. 003862)
- shall develop and implement specific protocols for evacuating infants, toddlers, and non-ambulatory children in a safe and prompt manner. (369.8, p. 003862)
As a start, the District government, its families, and its children would be well served to go well beyond these final rules by:
- ensuring that Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency approve all disaster/emergency preparedness plans of all programs serving children and youth by a date certain.
- creating a central database of all programs serving children and youth, with the immediate emphasis on OST programs, and developing and implementing a process to regularly update the contact information.
- reviewing and updating the 2008 emergency response plan for the city.
Calling Democrats in Ward 2
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Ward 5 civic associations sponsor candidate event, July 28
According to the email from Edgewood's Michael Clark about the event, then-candidate Adrian Fenty's 2006 one-on-one interview responses are Edgewood Civic Association web site. Fenty was asked about such issues as education and training, affordable housing, and public health.
More information is available from Michael Clark via email.
How invested are CMs in improving parent engagement in schools?
The question is this: Will those elected officials in DC who have supported punishing parents for poor engagement in their children's education promote this funding opportunity as a way to recognize those parents who are engaged? Will these officials use this opportunity as a way to encourage other parents to become involved?
And who, pray tell, are CMs who believe punishing parents is the answer? At-large member David Catania, At-large member Kwame Brown, and Ward 6 member Tommy Wells; all three have in the past support sanctioning parents for at least one kind of bad behavior.
Do they believe punishment is the only answer? No. And the Lowe's grant is one way for them to demonstrate that they are interested in more than punishment. Now, during election season, is a great time for all three to discuss ways to make genuine and lasting improvements in family functioning, including parent engagement in education.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Caffeine and intrigue July 28
Ward 5 Community Town Hall rescheduled for July 28
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Upcoming candidate fora and such (corrected 7/25 3p)
- Ward 5 Dems Candidate Forum: July 26, 6:30 – 9:00 pm at Michigan Park Christian Church (1600 Taylor St NE)
- Washington Interfaith Network Election Accountability Night: July 26, 7:30 – 9:30 pm at Asbury United Methodist Church (11th and K Sts NW)
- DC Senior Advocacy Coalition Forum: July 29, 8:30 – 10:00 am at Mt Vernon Methodist Church (900 Massachusetts Ave)
- A Conversation with the Leading Candidates for Mayor and Council Chair (co-sponsored by: The Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, the D.C. Appleseed, D.C. Vote, Consortium of Universities, the ACLU-NCA, the NAACP, the D.C. Consortium of Legal Services Providers, the Defeat Poverty D.C., and the Access to Justice Commission): July 29, at 6:30 pm at UDC (
The Windows Lounge, Building 38, 2nd Floor, UDC Auditorium, building 46E, 4200 Connecticut Ave NW) - GLBT Chamber of Commerce Forum: August 12, time TBD at Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave NW)
- Jewish Community Relations Council Mayoral Forum: August 24, 8:00 – 9:30 pm at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue (600 I St NW)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Is anyone publishing voter guides this election season?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Mayor Fenty on DHS homelessness milestone
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Candidate Vincent Orange is on Twitter
Free seminar: Climate Change, Human Health and the Well-Being of Vulnerable Communities
Climate change is predicted to increase the intensity and negative impacts of urban heat events, prompting the need to develop preparedness and adaptation strategies that reduce societal vulnerability to extreme heat. The potential health impacts resulting from climate change are essential to policy discussions about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and about social adaptation to climate change. Children represent a particularly vulnerable group that is likely to suffer is proportionately from both direct and indirect adverse health effects of climate change. (Joint Center)
This event is free and details are on the Joint Center's web site. Registration is required by July 26.
Silent Auction/Wine Tasting/Jazz Night fundraiser for foster parent organization
The DC Metropolitan Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (DCMFAPA) is hosting this fundraising event to support their vital work with foster parents who care for abused and neglect children. The event is taking place on July 23 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm at the Stewart R. Mott House (122 Maryland Ave NE). The press release is here.
What the release does not say is that the organization has received funding from Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) to support and train foster parents; funding in the FY 2011 budget was eliminated.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Public Benefit Warm-Line: Help without Hang-ups
How it works: Those whose benefits have been terminated, denied or reduced call the warm-line and leave a message. The call will be returned within 24 hours—and the process has begun. A free lawyer will be assigned for those cases under the jurisdiction of the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Public benefits appropriate for the warm-line are:
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- General Assistance for Children/GAC
- IDA (Interim Disability Assistance)
- D.C. Health Alliance
- DC Healthy Families and Medicaid
- Food Stamps (SNAP, Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program)
The flier about the program is here.
Calendar updates
- Pew’s July 22 event "Evidence to Guide and Direct State Home Visiting Investments"
- New America Foundation’s "Local News and Online Media Access in Washington" on July 28
- Capital Cause’s "To DC, With Love Street Festival" on July 31
- SAMHSA’s September 16 "Designing a Recovery-Oriented Care Model for Adolescents and Transition Age Youth with Substance Use or Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders"
- The November 18 conference call "Healthy Transitions to Adulthood – Policy Implementations"
Give Back to DC Youth Happy Hour, July 29
You can help young people in DC achieve a better future by volunteering or helping out in other ways the nonprofits young people rely on for homework help, career exploration, adult role models, and just plain fun. When you attend this free Give Back to DC Youth Happy Hour with happy hour specials, you will learn about ways in which you can give back to DC youth (and, as with all their happy hours, you'll also meet other young education professionals). The organizations which will be represented at the July 29 event are College & Career Connections, Higher Achievement, Mentors, Inc., One World Education, and Young Professionals Committee of the DC Public Education Fund. More on each of these nonprofits on the YEP-DC event page.
Ward 6 Dems to hold mayoral candidates forum and endorsement meeting July 27
While the candidates forum is open to all members of the community, the endorsement balloting will be limited to registered Ward 6 Democrats.
Direct questions to the Ward 6 Dems via email (ward6dems@gmail.com).
Mayor Fenty at library groundbreaking July 19
From the executive branch as noticed in the July 16 DC Register
- Public hearing on state plan for weatherization assistance program: The Department of the Environment is holding a public hearing on the FY 2010 State Plan for Weatherization Assistance Program on July 27 at 10:00 am at the Department of the Environment (1200 1st St NE, Suite 700).
The weatherization and energy assistance programs provide services to eligible DC residents under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the Reliable Energy Trust Fund (RETF), and Natural Gas Trust Fund (NGTF). Details about the hearing, testifying at the hearing, the state plan, and the federal energy assistance programs are in the hearing notice.
- Proposed rules regarding implementation of the Living Wage Act: The Department of Employment Services published proposed rules in the July 16 DCR. The proposed rules amend previously adopted rules (published March 16, 2007). DOES will take final rulemaking action in not less than 30 days from the date of publication.
- Comments sought on Community Services Block Grant State Plan and Application for FYs 2011 and 2012: The Department of Human Services is seeking comments on DC’s state plan by August 20. According to the
notice, the application
presents a plan to reduce poverty in the District of Columbia through the provision of a wide range of services and activities that assist low-income families and individuals to:
- Remove obstacles and solve problems which inhibit the attainment of self-sufficiency;
- Secure and retain meaningful employment;
- Attain an adequate education;
- Make better use of available income;
- Obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living environment;
- Obtain emergency assistance to meet immediate or urgent needs; and
- Achieve greater participation in the affairs of the communities in which they live.
- The Metropolitan Washington Regional HIV Health Services Planning Council’s next meeting will be held on July 29 at 5:30 pm at One Judiciary Square. More information is in the hearing notice.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Public policy and practice reads for July
As an advocate, I highly recommend Report on the Listening Post Project Roundtable on Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying. A product of the Johns Hopkins Listening Post Project, this report summarizes a 2009 event focusing on nonprofit involvement in advocacy, challenges, realities, and steps to increase participation in the public policy arena. This document follows up on a survey which found a "lack of meaningful depth in much nonprofit advocacy activity" according to CLPI.
Some of the key findings from the survey and 2009 event are, again according to CLPI:
- Fewer than 15% of surveyed charities spent as much as 2% of their budget on advocacy.
- Charities want to be more involved in advocacy. Charities identified dedicated funding for advocacy staff and increased general operating support as the top two keys to expanding their advocacy.
- Charities perceive philanthropy generally as discouraging advocacy, and nonprofit advocacy actually was negatively correlated to private funding.
- Board involvement makes a big difference in nonprofit advocacy, but too often boards are missing in action now.
- Coalitions and associations can play an important role in nonprofit advocacy and lobbying, sometimes as a substitute for involvement of member organizations and often as a support to organizational involvement
Youth issues, youth-only hearing, October 9
Chancellor Rhee's upcoming community events
- Chancellor’s Community Forum: Your Child and Testing: On July 28 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Shaw Middle School at Garnet-Patterson (2001 10th St NW), parents can attend this event to learn from Chancellor Michelle Rhee and DCPS leaders about the assessment tools DCPS uses including DC BAS, DC CAS, and DIBELS. Parents will learn about why, when and how DC Public Schools administers tests and will receive tips on how to read your child’s score sheets.
- The Chancellor Is Listening in Ward
67: This is your opportunity to sit down one-on-one with the chancellor for five minutes and share your most important questions and concerns. July 29 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Kenilworth Elementary School (1300 44th St NE). (Thanks, Diana Winthrop for catching the error!)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Information, notes from July 15 DC Farm to School meeting
Mayoral candidate debate, July 29, sponsored by seniors group
Why am I posting an event focused on older adults issues? Well, almost 13% of children in DC live with a grandparent as head of household. And many grandparents care for their grandchildren with little or no assistance from the parents.
More information is available from Dawn Quattlebaum at Seabury Ward 5 Aging Services, 529-8701 x229.
Friday, July 16, 2010
From the City Council
- July 9 Committee on Health update
- July 9 Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary update
- Explanation of CM Wells’ disapproval of foster care contracts
- Summary of FEED DC introduction by CMs Cheh, Catania, Kwame Brown, and Wells. FEED DC stands for Food, Environmental, and Economic Development in the District of Columbia. The legislation proposes to attract grocery stores to locate in parts if the city with high numbers of low-income people by creating a public/private partnership. More in FEED DC on CM Cheh’s web site.
- B18-344, "Expanding Access to Juvenile Records Amendment Act of 2010", passed the council on first reading July 15. According to a CM Wells’ press release, "This is an important step to break through barriers created by strict confidentiality laws that at times have served to disconnect and isolate at-risk youth and families, and prevent accountability of decision makers by the community." The committee report is here and the committee print here.
- Ward 2 CM Jack Evans remembers Desi Deschaine on the anniversary of his death one year ago. (July 8, 2010 accessible here)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Reminder -- green jobs breakfast series starts July 19
Ward 8 Farmers' Market changes location
If you missed Jonetta today, listen to the archived show!
Today on DC Politics with Jonetta, July 15 (special two-hour show!)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Going back to school healthy - fliers in Chinese and Amharic
A healthy head start on back-to-school - fliers in Spanish, French, and Vietnamese
Free legal clinics, August 14
A_R Flyer Filled - English
A_R Flyer Filled - Spanish
Ward 4 Democratic Endorsement Forum
Improving the mental health of those in minority communities
A healthy head start on back-to-school
Only kids' ER east of Anacostia ribbon cutting, July 14
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tent City update
Have you taken a stand in support of affordable housing and holding public officials accountable for the promises they make? If not, there is still time – but the time is now!
The Take Back the Land DC-ONE DC Intentional Community is going strong on the corner of 7th and R Sts MW. On July 13, between 8:00 – 11:00 pm, Tent City activists and others will be participating in an Empowerment Circle at which “Affordable Housing in DC: Where Did It Go?" will be discussed. And for fun, hoola hooping is also on the agenda! The July 14 evening agenda includes an Empowerment Circle on “Criminalization of the Poor and Homeless in DC.” Following this, from 8:30 - 10:00 pm, musicians, comedians, and stand-up artists will entertain the committed.
If you are looking for ways to support the activists, stop by in the mornings with ice or at other times with flash lights with batteries, tarps, chairs, tents, tables, fruit, and water. More information is available by contacting Jane Zara at 202-390-2449 or
via email.
Finally, catch up on the media coverage: WJLA, DC Examiner, and Washington City Paper.
Misc. from DC government
- Defining "College and Career-Readiness" for our Youth, July 13:   The next Education and Youth Development Plan conversation will tackle the challenges associated with measuring youth progress toward college enrollment and career-readiness. This meeting, convened by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, is being held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Southeast Neighborhood Library (403 7th St SE). Ahnna Smith is coordinating this work; contact her (258-6197 or via email) for more information.
- Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Library closes July 13, new library opens August 2: The interim library located at 945 Rhode Island Ave NW will close Tuesday, July 13 at 5:30 pm to move to the new library which is scheduled to open on Monday, August 2. The new Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library will be located at 1630 7th St NW, across from the Shaw Metro station. Features of the new 22,000 square foot, three-story library include separate reading areas for adults, teens, and children; a children’s program room; capacity for 80,000 books and other materials; more than 30 public access computers with free Wi-Fi internet access; a large program room for up to 100 people; and two 12-person conference rooms.
- MPD’s 4D National Night Out info: The Fourth District’s event is being held August 3 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Field #3 at Takoma Community Center (6300 3rd St NW). Activities will include child and youth fingerprinting by NY Life Insurance, face painting, meeting and greeting your PSA officers and officials, boat safety demos by MPD Harbor Patrol, food, health screenings, and much more! Read the event flier here.
- SAMHSA awarded DC $10.6 million for substance abuse prevention: The Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration (APRA) in the Department of Health will receive more than $10 million in federal funding over five years, which doubles resources for prevention, to
expand and build on the existing substance abuse prevention infrastructure in the District. As part of the agreement, the infrastructure will be sustained after the funds expire guaranteeing a continuation of enhanced substance abuse prevention in the District.
The grant is part of the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant program administered by SAMHSA. According to SAMHSA,
The Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) program is one of SAMHSA's infrastructure grant programs. SAMHSA's infrastructure grants support an array of activities to help grantees build a solid foundation for delivering and sustaining effective substance abuse and/or mental health services.
What this means practically is that each participating state is required to develop a system that combines public health research with evidence-based prevention programs to build capacity. Grantees are also required to maintain the infrastructure after the SAMHSA grant ends.
Monday, July 12, 2010
More candidate fora
- DC Fights Back is holding a Mayoral Candidate Forum on August 4 at 6:00 pm at Eastern Market. (From the MWPHA Yahoo Group)
- From r.e.e.l. Monthly Newsletter (July):
National Night Out in DC, August 3
For more on NNO and specific events, go to the MPD web site.
Parcel 42 Tent City update
Members and supporters are making the following demands:
- Revising the District's woefully inadequate definition of affordable housing
- Dedicating more resources to the development of housing for families making less than $50,000 a year
- Stabilizing funding of the Housing Production Trust Fund
- Producing income-tiered housing on Parcel 42 that is affordable for families making no more than $50,000 a year
Stay on top of Tent City activities by reading their blog and following them on Twitter. Take action by joining the supporters or providing water or fruit to those staying in Tent City. More information on the blog.
Housing Choice Voucher Program changes proposed
Written comments are being accepted for 45 days after publication in the Register. Details about submitting comments are in the notice.
More transitions
- Aaron Morrissey is the new DCist Editorin-Chief. He is replacing Sommer Mathis. Aaron’s email is aaron (at) dcist.com.
- Jason Cherkis’ last day as Loose Lips was July 9. He will now be covering social services, so email himemail him with ideas and leads.
CFSA issues final rules re: grandparent subsidy program
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Standing up for what is right in Shaw
The marchers entered Parcel 42 and built a tent city. The reason? Mayor Fenty promised to build affordable housing. And then didn’t. Making matters worse, according to Take Back the Land, Parcel 42 was sold to developers.
Affordable housing is desperately needed in the city, especially housing for families earning less than $50,000 and particularly for those earning less than half that. Take Back the Land and ONE DC have argued that they will build the housing if the city will not.
The fight is far from over. People young and old are being urged to gather at Parcel 42, at the corner of 7th and S Sts NW, to show support and demand that police refrain from arresting the people who are trying to provide housing for those in need. Supporters are gathering in the morning on July 11. And ONE DC is demanding to meet with Mayor Fenty so he can commit to build affordable housing on the lot.
Mayor Fenty's sked July 12
Emergency and proposed rules re: Newborn Safe Haven Emergency Act of 2010
ANC 1B's new address
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B
2000 14th Street NW, Suite 100B
Washington, DC 20009
DCHA use of capital funds hearing, July 14
Child Support Guideline Commission’s Public Meeting, July 31
Friday, July 9, 2010
Today on NewsTalk
Is punishing parents the best way to address truancy?
Using data to drive improvements in health outcomes
- There were nine air pollution-particulate matter days in DC in 2005. This means that the air quality was unhealthy for sensitive populations because of the amount of fine particulate matter in the air.
- An average of 11.5% of babies born between 2000 and 2006 in DC were low birthweight meaning that these children weighed less than 5.5 lbs. at birth.
- Twenty-three percent of adults over the age of 18 over the years 2005 to 2008 reported having the social and emotional support they need. According to the report, "Poor family support, minimal contact with others, and limited involvement in community life are associated with increased morbidity and early mortality. Furthermore social support networks have been identified as powerful predictors of health behaviors, suggesting that individuals without a strong social network are less likely to participate in healthy lifestyle choices."
RWJF and the university want more out of the report than data. They want action to improve health outcomes. Crowdsourcing was the answer. Through August 6, Community Health Action Forum—an online discussion board—will be open for suggestions on ways communities can use the rankings to improve social, economic, environmental, and behavioral outcomes with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes.
While DC sources report on all the measures as that in the RWJF-University of Wisconsin report, the value of the effort is really in the idea generation and sharing. So take a look, submit your idea, and vote for ones you like.
Kids are counting on you to address pediatric health issues
District-wide Pediatric Health Forum: On May 11, 2010, the Children's National Medical Center, the DC Primary Care Association, and the DC Department of Health came together with you as a group representing several organizations and agencies throughout DC to learn more about pediatric health issues in the District. During that meeting, we discussed access to health care services and how to move forward as a stakeholder group to improve our children's health. You spoke, we listened, and the result is a list of the top pediatric health priorities that we will collaboratively address. Please Note: These health conditions are in no particular order: Asthma, Mental Health (Developmental Delays and Substance Abuse), Obesity/Overweight, Oral Health, Sexual Reproductive Health (STIs, Teen Pregnancy, HIV), and Violence/Injury Prevention. It is up to us as a city to work together and develop a strategic approach to accomplish our goals and help make our children healthier. Click here if we can Count on You to assist in addressing the top pediatric health priorities. Over the summer, we will convene interest group meetings to begin detailed discussions of the priority pediatric health issues. The second forum will take place in October; the date is forthcoming so stay tuned. Thank you.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Transitions
- Jennifer Guste Leonard is now Non-Public Education Strategy Coordinator in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education. Her email address is jennifer.leonard@dc.gov. Jennifer is working on all things special education.
- Dr. Carey Wright has been named Chief Academic Officer (CAO) for DC Public Schools. Details on her background are on the DCPS web site. Dr. Wright’s email address is carey.wright@dc.gov.
- Sommer Mathis' new phone is (703) 842-1765 and email.
- The new Washington City Paper Loose Lips is Alan Suderman; his email is asuderman@washcp.com.
Donate blood now
Political forum, July 21
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Expert public testimony on the current homeless crisis in DC
Public roundtable on mental health and youth violence, July 8
Committee staff report that the July 8 roundtable is but the first public step in the effort to address the associated problems of mental health and youth violence. Committee staff will use the summer recess to conduct meetings, interviews, and research to better understand the problems so that an appropriate solution can be developed for the District.
More information, including how to submit a written statement, is in the hearing notice.
Yowza! This is some serious candidate following!
Nonprofit news
- Friends of the Earth has moved! They are now located at 1100 15th St NW, 11th Floor, WDC 20005.
- DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s Brenda Rhodes Miller had something to say after the DOH release of the latest teen pregnancy numbers. Listen to her commentary on WAMU here (click on one of the icons below "Listen to this feature.")
- The DC Time Bank campaign has kicked off! Go to the web site to learn how you can participate in this new local economy.
- Legal Aid moved their Anacostia office location to Suite LL-1 at 2041 Martin Luther King Ave SE effective July 1.
- The Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association has a new web site.
- You can now watch Hudson Institute events as they happen via computer by going here www.hudson.org/WatchLive. For questions about streaming Hudson events, contact Gerardo Pantoja at (202) 974-2421 or send an email.
- Brenda Donald, most recently the Maryland Department of Human Resources Secretary, has been appointed as the vice president of the Center for Effective Family Services and Systems at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, where she will formulate national policies for disadvantaged children. Brenda left DC for Maryland in 2007. While in DC, she was Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Families and Elders under Mayor Anthony Williams and director of Child and Family Services Agency. More on her move to Casey in the press release.
- SOME seeking volunteers for Splash 'N Dash. The second annual event is being held August 8; volunteers are needed from 6:30 - 11:00 am at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Swim Center to help check in, direct, and time race participants. Contact Tracy Monson, via email or 797-8806 ext. 1011 to learn more.
- The DC Assembly on School Health Care is winding down operations. The web site is still live and Jennifer Guste Leonard, former ED, will try to help on issues related to school health; contact her via email.
- Martha's Table recently achieved accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The accreditation acknowledges the quality services provided by this nonprofit.
- WEAVE’s great news: Since the SaveWEAVE campaign last fall, the board and staff have gotten back to basics, engaging in intensive strategic planning, adding board members, providing top quality services, and creatively raising money. The organization reports that much remains to be done, but the plan in place will set them on the course to rebuild this essential member of the DC community. More on WEAVE here.
Redesigned DC agency web sites
According to a recent piece by DCist's Aaron Morrissey, the new template is “designed to make agencies' online presence simpler and easier to navigate.” You may recall that CFSA some time ago sought input from providers and advocates about what they wanted in a new web site. CFSA’s Mindy Good is pleased with the initial roll out but has said that it is still a work in progress. I have yet to go through the entire site but will soon and you can be sure I will be emailing Mindy with suggestions.
When you visit the sites, you may notice that the URLs have changed. No worries—you can still use the DC government format (agency abbreviation DOT dc DOT gov) to get where you are going. And yes, there are still exceptions including the Office of Planning (planning.dc.gov) and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (dcbiz.dc.gov).
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Lots of cool events added to calendar
- Building Local Government Support for Good Food on July 15
- Social Media Club Breakfast DC on July 20
- Department of Health School Health Symposium on July 30
- Immigrants and Public Health - Improving Health for All on July 28
Other items added too. If your organization is sponsoring a child-, youth-, or family-related advocacy event or learning opportunity, email Me the details and I will post the info to the calendar.
Dems election events
- On July 12 starting at 6:00 pm, the Gertrude Stein LGBT Democratic Club is holding its Endorsement Meeting and Forum for the Offices of City Council Chairman and At-Large Member of the Council. The event is taking place at Town Nightclub (2009 8th St NW). For more information, contact president Jeffrey Richardson at 491-9517 or via email or visit the web site.
- On July 21 at 6:30 pm (tentative), the Ward 2 Democrats and the Logan Circle Citizens Association will host a Mayoral Straw Poll at the Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle NW). More information is available from Ward 2 Dems prez Pat Allen at 296-0720 or via email or from the Ward 2 Dems web site.
- On July 24 from 10:00 am - Noon, the Ward 7 Dems are hosting a Mayoral and Council Chairman Candidates Forum and Straw Poll. The event is taking place at Fort Davis Community Center (1400 41st St SE). More information is available from Ward 7 Dems chair Lee Wilson at 584-8477 or via email or from the Ward 7 Dems web site.
- The DC Latino Democratic Caucus Mayoral Forum and Endorsement Meeting is being held July 24 at 4:00 pm at Josephine Butler Community Center (2437 15th St NW). More information is available from DCLC president Franklin Garcia at (703) 338-7095 or via email or from the DCLC web site.
DYRS releases issue brief on juvenile justice system improvements, challenges
Thanks to Jason Ziedenberg for sharing the publication on the JJ Google list.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Martha Ross on summer youth employment
Tech stuff for non-techies
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Free webinars July 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Got ideas for improving Ward 8?
Ward 1 Candidates Forum
Friday, July 2, 2010
Office Hours with Dr. Nyankori
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Community Services Block Grant public roundtable
The District is required by federal law to receive public comment on the city's plan for Community Services Block Grant activities. The Department of Human Services and the United Planning Organization (UPO) in its capacity as a community action agency, will testify. The public is encouraged to testify; details about registering and location of the roundtable are in the hearing notice.