Friday, September 28, 2012
Wild Apricot's list of free webinars in October 2012
Walk to School Day October 3
The neighborhood party of the year takes place October 3 from 7:30 - 8:30 am in Lincoln Park (East Capitol Street between 11th and 13th Sts NE) to celebrate Walk to School Day!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Hungry children - a look back to 1875
According to History of the Labor Movement in the US 1: From Colonial Times to the Founding of the AFL, the Fall River, Massachusetts textile worker strike,
called the "Great Vacation," lasted for eight weeks and ended in the workers' defeat. When the strike had stretched into its third week the discouraged workers decided to call it off. But when they discovered that the employers were now demanding more than the 10 per cent cut, they continued to hold out. On September 27, 1875, the strikers marched to the City Hall to demand bread for their starving children. They were greeted by three companies of militia and a cordon of police who prevented them from presenting their demands.
The Democratic Underground's highlights of September 27, 1875 add:
In the latter half of the 19th century, about one out of every six children between the ages of 10 and 15 were working -- in textile mills, print shops, coal mines and factories. Their labor was often critical to their families’ survival.
Why blog this? We may not have one of every six children working, but we do have many hungry and poor children (see DCFPI's blog post "In the Wake of the Great Recession, Poverty Rates in DC Remain High for Certain Groups of Residents").
Need help writing? Here's some advice from the pros
Source: shareasimage.com via Susie on Pinterest
Need a little help writing (at all) and writing well? I found the NYT piece Writing Rules! Advice From The Times on Writing Well helpful and reaffirming.
Long Live Activist Brian Anders!
Longtime DC activist, Brian Anders, passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday August 28, 2012. (Look for announcements for a speak-out/ memorial for this Thursday, prior to his memorial at Joseph’s House at 4pm). Brian was a devoted advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. He was one of the core members of Community for Creative Non Violence, including when it was at its most active in the 80s. CCNV was a vibrant community of anti-war and social justice activists, who succeeded, through direct action, in forcing the federal government to hand over the massive building at 2nd and D st. NW, so that CCNV could turn it into a shelter and community center for people without housing. The group also held dramatic actions at churches in the city, to get them to share space and resources with those who needed them most. Their organizing gained national momentum, and spurred passage of the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act, an important Federal bill that provides funding to programs to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. CCNV coupled their work to end homelessness with anti-war actions, always making the connection between the need to end imperialist war and suffering abroad, and to redirect those resources to helping those economically marginalized at home. While lacking its former community and activist spirit, the CCNV shelter still stands today. Brian went on to advocate for justice for low-income and marginalized communities in DC for the next decades.Prior to his work with CCNV, Brian suffered PTSD as a result of serving in the military during the Vietnam war. He worked on healing throughout his life, channeling his energy into compassionate service and fiery advocacy. He was part of veterans’ peace organizations, and told me once that he spent months in prison in Texas for taking part in an action to block a weapons shipment. Over the decades, he worked at various organizations, helping get people into housing and helping people access needed services. He believed strongly in serving others in any way he could, in living in community, and in treating all people with dignity and respect. He had a healthy dose of disgust for politicians who rest in the pockets of the wealthy, and for the nonprofit industrial complex, which he understood to be wearing away at the true spirit of community and resistance in which many service providing organizations began.
Brain closely mentored young advocates, including members of a series of local groups who conducted direct actions to end homelessness, such as housing occupations, since the early 2000s. He was a down-to-earth human being, and he touched many lives. Brian apparently wanted people to memorialize him by taking action, speaking out on, standing up for justice and compassion. I hope we can honor his memory in this way.
Two excerpts from the Journal of Brian Anders, which he started writing in July 2012.
Page 1
Living in joy. What exactly does that mean?
When do we ask the question what prevents us from living in joy?
Is it the need to blame others for our mistakes? Is it the inability to learn from our mistakes or forgive ourselves for any pain we caused to them or others? Could it be something as simple as being afraid to love ourselves?Page. 5
Now is the time to be grateful and accepting of gifts I’m receiving from the divine.
What is self love? What is the key to seeing oneself as worthy of being loved and giving love? How- when can we learn self acceptance? With all of our weaknesses? How do we move past self hatred and learn to live in love?
Unconditional love? Begins within not from outside of us. Not looking for some religious answer, or even a scientific explanation or believe that it takes a form of trust. Giving in to your higher self. Ending the way within.
Brian, rest in peace.
If you have comments, please leave them with the original post.
Photo: Daniel del Pielago
Mayor Gray guests on NewsTalk September 27
Mayor Vince Gray will make an hour-long appearance on NewsTalk September 27 from 10:00 - 11:00 am. Tune in to NewsChannel 8 streaming here: http://news8.net/. If you have questions or comments for NewsTalk guests, call (703) 387-1020 or email between 10:00 -11:00 am.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Program: Police, Protests and Press Coverage, October 2
The Council for Court Excellence is holding the program "Police, Protests and Press Coverage," October 2 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Georgetown University Law Center (600 New Jersey Ave NW, Hart Auditorium).
The program will address a hypothetical real-life scenario when police and protesters interact and how the press covers it. The program will be moderated by Patrick Madden of WAMU.
More information is on the CCE website and in this event flier.
Changing behavior with fun
The folks at Volkswagen are onto something cool and useful: Identifying ways that fun will result in behavior change for good.
TheFunTheory.com shows how doing things differently can result in behavior change, change for good. The piano staircase example here and below illustrates that making a small change to a public staircase can engage people and perhaps lure them from their usual transport, the escalator, to the static, and musical, staircase.
What are the ways the District―government and community―can use fun to change behaviors to elicit better results on individual and community levels? I'm no design expert so I encourage you to read what Dan Lockton has to say in the post "Thoughts on the 'fun theory'" (the theory stuff starts in the Triggers section).
Will using fun theory in DC policies and practices solve all our problems? Certainly not. But maybe instituting fun along with other behavior change mechanisms will put us on the right path to better health, improved auto safety, and greener living.
Have thoughts about this subject? Comment!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
THEARC has affordable space
Nonprofits spend a lot of time, too much time, looking for free and affordable space for meetings, events, and more. In a 2009 survey, respondents agreed that an online resource listing free and affordable space would be useful.
Entering information into the this online resource is easy. Just provide the basis about your organization, the contact person, and the free space.
Please encourage your colleagues, neighbors, board members, and neighborhood organizations to enter their space info into the database.
Committee on the Judiciary update
The Committee on the Judiciary has released the latest Hearing Overview Sheet (PDF) listing all upcoming hearings the Committee has scheduled as of September 24, 2012. More information about the Committee and updates to the hearing schedule are on the committee webpage.
To receive email notices of updated Hearing Overview Sheets, email Brian Moore, Committee Clerk.
A new approach to eradicating poverty
What interests me about this approach to ending poverty is that it is turning the solution to the problem on it's head. Rather than just talking about the problem, Yumkella and partners will tackle poverty through the proxy energy head on. Says Yumkella:
But people rather talk about poverty alleviation, saving the poor people in Africa than talking about a true partnership with Africa to transform those economies. That's politics. That's an old paradigm of development in Africa: Africa as a receiver as a poor nation, "save their souls." No, it is about partnerships, it's about making Africa a viable entity in a 21st century global economy. That's the issue. Politicians will talk about poverty because it's a little bit more sexy.
Is the same true in the District of Columbia? Do we talk about ending poverty? Do we create action plans to end it? Do we nibble around the edges?
Yumkella's position is to be aggressive. Ending poverty, says Yumkella, is "doable."
We have the best minds working on this, our friends from the United Nations, friends form the World Bank, the international energy agency. We feel very excited because we just got a big boost in Rio...over 50 developing countries stepped forward wanting to be part of this initiative. The challenge now: we've got billions of dollars of pledges -- how do you convert pledges to real action on the ground over the next 10 years. Can we hold ourselves and countries and businesses accountable that what they pledged they really meant to do?
What can we learn from Yumkella? What can we take from his aggressive and active approach? Who's willing to do the work? Please leave your comments or even better, ask to join the conversation on Branch.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Opportunity Summit September 25
More information is on the DGS website. Reservations are required.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Capital Area Food Bank's new home
CAFB explains why the new facility:
Because hunger in this region is increasing dramatically, and our former facility lacked the space and technology required to meet the growing need. Though many of our partner agencies are seeing increases of up to 200 percent in the numbers of people who come through their doors, the Capital Area Food Bank was forced to turn away millions of pounds of donated food each year due to a lack of storage capacity.A bigger facility means that we can distribute a higher quantity and quality of food. It also means we can expand our nutrition education and outreach programs, which address the root causes of hunger.
Advocacy and learning calendar updated September 20
- Fallout from Federal Tax Reform: Implications for State & Local Revenues (September 21)
- Break ground in the Capital Area Food Bank’s Urban Demonstration Garden (September 22)
- How DC Government Works (September 25)
- Webinar: Coaching to Support Solution-Based Casework in Child Welfare (September 26)
- Daniel Burnham Forum on Big Ideas (September 30)
- Common Ground: A Roadmap to Investing in What Works for Children in Tough Fiscal Times (October 2)
- America's Report Card 2012: Children in the U.S. (October 10)
If there are events you think belong on this calendar, email me the information and I will add it.
Do you know Charles Wilson?
You can get to know something about him and his work with others in two Washington Examiner 3-minute interviews. The first interview, in March 2012, concerned r.e.e.l. According to the interview,
River East Emerging Leaders, a nonprofit community action group begun in February 2009 that comprises roughly 100 area residents. The group's goal is to stimulate economic development and civic interaction in those struggling neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River.
The second interview, in September 2012, has Wilson talking about the Historic Anacostia Block Association and Anacostia's past, present, and future.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sign the petition for Paid Sick Days
In 2008, Washington, D.C. passed a groundbreaking law allowing many workers in the District of Columbia to take paid time off to recover from illness or instances of domestic violence. However, the law does not cover everyone. It does not protect anyone who has been working for less than a year or any tipped restaurant worker, even though these workers still get sick. Over 80% of restaurant workers in the District of Columbia cannot take paid sick days. Workers who lack paid sick days risk losing their wages or even their job if they stay home to take care of themselves or their families. No one should have to choose between their health and their economic security. Paid sick days for all would not only protect people’s jobs and financial security, but it would also reduce the District’s health care costs, limit the spread of illnesses, and boost business productivity. If you agree sign the petition here.
Save School Libraries' pop-up library, Barracks Row Fall Festival Sept 22
Stop by the booth between 1:00 and 4:00 pm to grab a book, enjoy some refreshments, and take action in support of this community effort to bring school librarians back to some DC public schools.
You can donate books to the pop-up library by dropping them off at 109 13th St SE between Wednesday and Friday this week (there will be a box under the steps) or take them to the festival on Saturday.
Photo: From CHPSPO.
Join the Office of Justice Programs on Facebook and Twitter
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Community college announcement is part of Mayor Gray's regular bi-weekly presser Sept. 19
Mayor Vincent C. Gray is scheduled to release the UDC Community College Transition to Independence Advisory Board report September 19 at 10:00 am at the mayor's regular bi-weekly press briefing. The briefing takes place in the Mayor’s Press Briefing Room (Room G-9) at JAWB.
The report will identify the actions necessary for UDCCC to operate independently from UDC. The advisory board which was appointed last fall, has made four recommendations. Three of the recommendations have been adopted by the DC Council and included in the FY 2013 Budget Support Act. The recommendations are designed to move UDCCC forward on the path towards academic, operational and financial independence.
Watch the briefing live via DCN (District of Columbia Network) (formerly Channel 16) or stop by the ground floor.
Interested in federal taxes and spending?
Want to learn more about the choices that can be made regarding the federal debt?
Take a look at Choices for Federal Spending and Taxes, a presentation made by CBO Director Doug Elmendorf at the recent Wellesley College Goldman Lecture. This is the latest in a series of university presentations. Others this year include talks at the University of Michigan and Harvard.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Learn from other advocates
I've watched a few of the videos in the EPA Office of Environmental Justice's 20th Anniversary Video Series and find them to be thoughtful, thought-provoking, inspirational, and challenging. You don't have to be interested in or knowledgeable about the environment or environmental justice to appreciate the struggles faced by communities and the solutions crafted by interested parties.
EPA asked federal and local government officials, non-profit leaders, and students
how they approach developing solutions to environmental and health issues in communities and we asked which moments in their efforts to advance environmental justice have changed the way that they think about solutions to environmental and health problems in communities. We also asked them to share why these lessons are important for the next generation who will receive the torch and continue to move it forward to achieve the goal of environmental justice.
Teri Blanton, former Chair for the citizens' group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, for example, talks about the lessons she learned working with local residents―engaging them, encouraging them to take ownership over decision-making processes, and training leaders to advocate for healthier communities.
I was particularly taken with Vernice Miller-Travis's perspectives on working on issues in Harlem. She explains that after two years of yelling and screaming, she "just couldn't do that anymore." That approach to the work "wasn't productive, it wasn't moving us any further, it wasn't stemming the pollution, it wasn't addressing our issues..." She and others changed directions, deciding to talk with the various parties, something that resulted in benefits to her neighbors.
These videos would be terrific professional development tools, a starting place for colleagues, volunteers, board members, and interns to have a discussion about integrating new and different ways of doing advocacy.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Welcome back, DC Council
The DC Council is back from recess and according to their calendar, they have a busy early-Fall. Some of the highlights of what to expect:
- Committee of Whole: The COW will meet Wednesday, September 19 at Noon (Note new day.). The agenda was not online as of 7:45 pm September 14. You can watch the DC Council in action by using the council's online tool Granicus or the OCT council link (Channel 13).
- Legislative Meeting: The council's next Legislative Meeting is Wednesday, September 19 at 1:00 pm or immediately following the COW (Note new day.). The 42nd leg meeting agenda is online (PDF).
- Upcoming hearings and roundtables: Selected events include the September 20 roundtable on Department of Parks and Recreation Summer 2012 Programs at Fields, Aquatic Centers, and Recreation Centers; and the Department of Parks and Recreation Permitting Process & Residency Requirements for Facility Use (PDF), September 24 oversight hearing on Department of Employment Services’ Summer Youth Employment Program (PDF), and the October 29 Implementation of the Healthy Schools Act of 2010 and the District’s Environmental Literacy Plan (PDF) public roundtable.
- Ward 2 CM Jack Evans: According to his September 14 newsletter,
Next week, I intend to introduce a bill that would require each public school to have a full time librarian, art teacher and music teacher. It is hard for me to believe that we continue to invest nearly $2 billion a year into our public schools (yes, that's "billion"), with the highest per-pupil funding formula in the nation, and yet have the worst educational outcomes in the nation. This suggests to me that our money is not being spent in the right places.
The CM will also introduce legislation to limit the extent to which the council may intervene in the contracting process. Again according to the newsletter,
Too often we have seen allegations of ethical violations by members of the Council who are seen as advocating for or against a particular vendor that may have personal or campaign involvement with the member. Some of these contracts are for large amounts of money. I believe contracting should happen through a merit-based selection process that is insulated from political pressure.
CM Evans will also take on campaign finance reform and the commuter tax.
Today on NewsTalk: CM Mary Cheh
Today on NewsChannel 8's NewsTalk, broadcast live at 10:00 am, CM Mary Cheh will talk about taxi service, Über, ethics reform, speed camera fines, and more. Tune in to NewsChannel 8 streaming here: http://news8.net/. If you have questions or comments for NewsTalk guests, call (703) 387-1020 or email between 10:00 - 11:00 am.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Conversation about success of services for young people during summer 2012
Join sponsors DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, DC Alliance of Youth Advocates, and National Summer Learning Association at the September 27 event "One City Summer Community Conversation and Debrief." The purpose of the conversation is to learn about the Trust's report evaluating the success of summer programs and discuss lessons for the future.
More information about the event is in the Trust's announcement of the meeting.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Be in the know about education in Ward 5
You can sign up for the organization's Google Group using this link (you need to have a Google account).
Map by: Dcmacnut (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Advocacy in action: community opposition to the proposed AdMo Hotel
- Projects like the proposed Adams Morgan hotel not only doesn't expand affordable housing it threatens what affordability and diversity we have remaining.
- The City is finding money and tax breaks for luxury hotels while they are cutting Homeless centers, cutting TANF, and other social services geared towards DC's working-poor and families. This is a great paradox of City spending priorities and is not acceptable.
- Planning of any project, including this proposed hotel project, cannot allow the voices of those who will be most directly impacted be left out of the conversation almost entirely just because they are immigrant families and small business owners. This is discrimination and is inappropriate for planning in the 21st century in the Nation's Capital.
You too can sign on to the letter.
More information about the hotel and opponents' views are on the NoAdMoHotel website.
Using data to promote health equity
- Measuring and reporting disparities in social determinants of health
- Using data for strategy development and improvement
- Using data for public education
- How to find out what works
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
DeBonis is a must-read
Want the latest info on politicos, links to the latest news, tidbits about local happenings? Then be sure to read District of DeBonis every day. You can also find Mike DeBonis' stories in the Metro section, often writing with Nikita Stewart.
You can find DeBonis on Twitter―@mikedebonis. You can also find Stewart on Twitter―@kitastew.
Recess is almost over...
Are you ready for Councilmembers to return from recess? One of the first orders of business will be the Committee of the Whole at Noon September 19. An additional Legislative Meeting will follow the COW.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Help with the 2012 elections as a Voter Accessibility Guide
The DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR) and the DC Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE) are looking for DC residents to work on Election Day―Tuesday, November 6―as Voter Accessibility Guides. Guides provide voting assistance and support at assigned polling locations if needed by people with disabilities.
Guides must attend attend a four-hour training prior to Election Day and work a seven-hour shift on Election Day. A stipend of $100 will be given upon completion of service.
More information about becoming a Voter Accessibility Guide is in this flier (PDF). Apply on the BOEE website.
People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Save School Libraries Display and Book Exchange/Giveaway at H Street Festival
Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO) is helping ANC Commissioner David Garber organize a Save School Librarians Display and Book Exchange/Giveaway during the H Street Festival on September 15 (Noon - 6:00 pm) at Toki Underground (1234 H St NE). CHPSPO will be providing volunteers and is rounding up books for the exchange and giveaway. If you are interested in helping out, volunteer and donation details are on the CHPSPO post.
Be sure to stop by the Save School Librarians Display September 15 and sign the petition to save school librarians!
Affordable telephone service for low-income residents
Residents apply directly to telephone companies.
Lifeline Awareness Week 2012 is September 10 – 14. Additional information is available on the FCC website in English and Spanish.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Like data? This is the job for you
The Healthy Families/Thriving Communities Collaborative Council has an immediate opening for a full-time data coordinator. The coordinator is responsible for the technical and quality assurance; program implementation and evaluation; and data coordination and reporting tasks. Details are in the HFTCCC data coordinator PD.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
One day remaining to take Children's Budget Report survey
Procrastinate no more! The deadline to participate in the Children's Budget Report improvement survey is September 7.
The responses to date have been thoughtful and helpful. Examples include:
Differentiate expenditures by age groups of children (birth to five, six to 18, 18 to 24)Use graphs and charts to provide useful information. Provide fiscal information for each agency by program area/expenditure. Provide real information on budgets for each area.
Make it easier to understand how much money is being spent and what is spent for. Add comparison data/info from other locals, when possible, so we can measure ourselves.
But you're not off the hook. The Deputy Mayor for Education and the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services want all the input they can get! Please take the survey today.
Community College's new (interim) leader
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education has reported Calvin Woodland is the UDC Community College's interim CEO.
Sign up for the card with lots of benefits
September is "Library Card Sign-up Month." DC Public Library card benefits include checking out books, movies, and music and downloading free music and owning it forever. DCPL also makes available to all DC residents free computer use and homework help.
Getting a library card is easy. You can apply online or visit any branch. Details are here.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Wild Apricot's list of free nonprofit webinars
Details about CFSA's move
Child and Family Services Agency has shared this important information about their upcoming move to 200 I St SE:
Over three weekends from September 8-23, 2012, the DC Child and Family Services Agency will move 780 employees from three locations to a new agency headquarters at 200 I Street, SE. As that time draws near, we want to share some general information that will help you stay in touch as we transition to our new home. It’s especially important to let you know about the aspect of our move that will have the greatest impact on social workers and foster parents: Re-location of our in-house Healthy Horizons Assessment Center for pre-placement and 30-day health screenings (see box).Moving: CFSA employees and lawyers from the DC Office of the Attorney General assigned to CFSA will vacate the current agency headquarters at 400 6th Street, SW. Also moving will be all CFSA employees at 955 L’Enfant Plaza and a family assessment unit co-located with the Safe Shores-Child Advocacy Center at 429 O Street, NW.Not Moving: CFSA functions that will remain in the community include: 10 units of social workers co-located in neighborhoods with the five Healthy Families/Thriving Communities Collaboratives; the CFSA Youth Empowerment Center at 3700 10th Street, NW; and sexual and institutional abuse investigation units co-located at the Safe Shores-Child Advocacy Center.
Contacting CFSA: All telephone numbers (including fax lines) and e-mail addresses for CFSA will remain the same. At the completion of the move on September 24, 2012, the new mailing address will be: DC Child and Family Services Agency; 200 I Street, SE; Washington, DC 20003.Directions to CFSA: As the attached map shows, CFSA’s main entrance will be on 2nd Street, SE. We will be about three blocks from the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station on the Green line. M Street, SE (also about three blocks from our new location) is an active route for Metro buses. Parking in the area is very limited.
No Interruption in Critical Services: Throughout the move period, CFSA will continue to take and investigate reports of child abuse and neglect 24/7 without interruption. To report child abuse or neglect in the District, continue to call 202-671-SAFE. To report child abuse or neglect in person, begin coming to our new location on September 10, 2012, at 8 a.m.
The Healthy Horizons Assessment Center will also operate without interruption—but will shut down at 400 6th Street, SW upon opening at 200 I Street, SE. See the box and attached flyer (PDF) for details.
Looking Forward: CFSA has prepared for this move for months, and we expect it to be smooth. We’re looking forward to having key functions under one roof and to welcoming you to our new headquarters this fall.
Join The DC Food Revolution!
Help transform the local food system by working with others in the Healthy Affordable Food For All effort. The group meets every Monday from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Center for Green Urbanism (3938 Benning Rd NE). The first hour is dedicated to hearing a featured story, sharing skills, and breaking bread together. The second our is small group work. One group focuses on research on the food system and the other focuses on and outreach and community building. More information on the workgroups is in this video and in this HAFA Google doc.
RSVP online. Additional information is available from Mac Gaskins via email or (202) 718-8323.
Accessibility notes: There is parking on site. If driving, from Benning Road turn onto 39th Street to go up the driveway to the property. If taking public transportation, Minnesota Avenue on the Orange Line is the closest station.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
WaPo forum on city leadership and accountability
Panelists include Barbara Lang, president and CEO of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce; Kojo Nnamdi, host of The Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU radio; Carol Schwartz, a former D.C. Council member; and Clinton Yates, Express editor and opinion writer for The Root DC.
More information about the event and details about RSVPing are online.
September 4 Advocacy and Learning Calendar update
- Caring for America: A Dialogue on Justice, Dignity, and Health Care Policy (September 5)
- Restoring Confidence in the Power Grid (September 6 and September 10)
- Strategies for Increasing Father Involvement (September 17)
- Tools for Communicating Your Core Messages (September 25)
- Making Systems Work for Young Homeless Families - Building Collaborations and Effective Policies (September 26)
- Outputs vs Outcomes: Taking The Mystery Out Of Measuring Progress (October 10)
If there are events you think belong on this calendar, email me the information and I will add it.
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