Starting Tuesday, September 1, MPD will use their new Twitter account @DCPoliceTraffic to share real-time traffic information. If you want all traffic all the time, follow the new Twitter account.
Twitter handle updated August 31, 11p.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Tell your clients: Attend September 16 financial ed session
Achieving Financial Wisdom in the Fall w/CAAB's Financial Education 1-Day Money Management 101 Workshop http://t.co/Fgfa9sEpgA @susiecambria
— CAAB (@CAAB_GreaterDC) August 31, 2015
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Worthwhile reminder: Get involved
MPD's Assistant Chief Diane Groomes recently shared the information below (emphasis added) as a follow-up to Chief Lanier's email Addressing Violent Crime in Washington, DC.
Good afternoon all ....sorry it took me a while to compile this information but I want to send further information on how the Patrol Districts combat violent crime such as robberies, felony assaults, shootings and also citizen complaints that are brought to the attention of the commander...this is in addition to the support that the Chief of Police has provided via specialized units and the patrol support teams.....Each district has an established Crime Suppression Team composed of ten to sixteen uniformed officers that address specific issues that the commander focuses on .... Since June these units have been able to
Make 788 arrests
Recovered 79 GUNS
Executed 43 search warrants
Recovered 23 ATVS
Seized/Recovered hundreds of grams of Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin and PCP
I would like to remind all that each District holds a monthly Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) meeting at their district and at these meetings it is your opportunity to discuss your concerns directly with your Commander and their team.... Also each district has PSA Lieutenants that hold regular community/PSA meetings that can address the concerns in a particular PSA and hold problem solving sessions with those in attendance by involving other agencies and entities for long term issues such as nuisance properties and systemic disorder and crime problems
The schedules and Points of Contact for each are available on our WEBSITE ... also you may inquire through the listserve any additional information you may have
Thank you
#dcfy17 artwork
With the start of FY 2017 budget development in the not too distant future, the blog needs new artwork.
And yes, I really was that bored.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Ward 5 ed council fall meetings
The Ward Five Council on Education's fall meeting sked includes a bevy of interesting sessions. Monthly sessions take place the third Tuesday of every month at Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Ave NE). Session topics are:
- September: Navigating School Administration: "Cutting the Red Tape"
- October: School Safety and Attendance
- November: Know Your Ward 5 School: Charter and DCPS Options
- December: Policies and Media Outlets: "Who Is in the Know"
Questions? Contact the council by phone, (202) 505-4309, or via email, ward5coe@gmail.com.
AG's Commercial Division gets permanent director
AG Karl Racine has appointed David Fisher as the permanent Deputy Attorney General for the Commercial Division. This division is responsible for all manner of wonky DC government legal stuff, working with 10 District government agencies. The division provides legal advice and transactional support on real-estate transactions, bond issuances, and other work.
Learn more about Fisher and the division in the release.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Nonprofits, sign up to participate in National Voter Registration Day
Nonprofits are encouraged to sign on as a partner. Join the effort by September 1 and you will receive by mail a toolkit including posters, stickers, and other materials so you can make the most of your efforts to help DC residents register to vote.
September 24: Being Unbanked/Underbanked: What is it and how does it impact the DC community?
"Being Unbanked/Underbanked: What is it and how does it impact the DC community?" takes place Thursday, September 24 from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center (2730 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave SE).
Sponsored by Capital Area Asset Builders, CNHED and others, the event will consider how banking status impacts low- and moderate-income individuals and families and considers ways to reduce the number of unbanked residents in DC. According the invitation, "Participants can expect a robust discussion about cross-sector strategies that can contribute significantly to a more inclusive, equitable DC economy."
Speakers will include:
- Joe Valenti, Center for American Progress
- Michael Morris, from the National Disability Institute
- Andrea Ambriz, US Treasury Department
- Joyce Northwood, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Dave Beck, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
- Representatives of DC-based nonprofit organizations working on addressing the needs of unbanked/underbanked DC residents
Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Thought you might be interested Thursday: Judy Blume
The 92nd Street Y describes the June 2, 2015 Judy Blume with Samantha Bee conversation this way:
In her highly anticipated new novel, In the Unlikely Event, Judy Blume creates a moving story of three generations of families, friends and strangers, whose lives are profoundly changed by unexpected events. The beloved author of Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and Summer Sisters discusses her new book and extraordinary career with moderator Samantha Bee.
I favor Bee's intro: "I have to say I'm so thrilled to be here. You know I don't often get starstruck. But tonight is the most profound exception to that rule."
I venture to say I would be squealing like a tween if I were to meet Blume. I loved her books when I was growing up and almost got suspended from middle school for sharing Forever with my friends. My parents prevailed over other parents arguing that at least we were reading. Anyway. Watch the Blume/Bee 92Y Talk. Enjoy.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
FY 2017 budget development starts soon
Ready for #dcfy17 budget development? Word is budget instructions for DC gov agencies to be out in a week or so.
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) August 27, 2015Tuesday, August 25, 2015
August 27: Mayor Bowser to make major public safety announcement
MailChimp's style guide to online writing, rocks
- Writing Goals and Principles
- Voice and Tone
- Grammar and Mechanics
- Writing Blog Posts
- Writing Email Newsletters
- Writing for Social Media
- Writing for Accessibility
- Copyright and Trademarks
- Word List (what's hyphenated, what phrases and words are capitalized, and the like)
If you are strapped for time, read TL;DR. This sections briefly covers the most important subjects.
An important word from MailChimp about use of their guide:
If you work at another organization We invite you to use and adapt this style guide as you see fit. It’s completely public and available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. All we ask is that you credit MailChimp.
Thanks to the fine folks on PCDC for sharing this and other valuable information.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Mayor Bowser's August 25 sked
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 (newstalk@news8.net) the show.
October 27: DCPCA Annual Meeting
The event takes place at the Kellogg Conference Center.
Direct questions to DCPCA via email.
Community walk-through reports and updates
Miss one of community walk-throughs organized by the Bowser administration? Check out what was identified, who walked, and more! Reports of each walk, broken down by ward, are on the mayor's website.
The image below shows some of what you will see in the reports; this is only one part of a Ward 8 walk. One improvement to the report would be for MOCRS added a date to the status column.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Understanding migration in DC key to many public policy issues
- Capital of Nomads: Part 1 How Migrants Shape, Use, and Ultimately Define the Washington, DC Metro Area
- Capital of Nomads: Part 2 Migration Varies by Family Status, Class, and Other Demographic Factors
- Capital of Nomads: Part 3 Mapping Mobility in the Nation's Capital
Post 1 presents an overview of migration in the region, by area and overall. Stone concludes with what many of us know: That the population in the metro area is migratory and transient. His description of the population of the District is easy to understand:
We might think of this in life cycle terms: young students and interns move to DC, get married and move to the suburbs, then, when their kids hit school age, maybe they move somewhere closer to family and affordable education. But it’s very clear that the migration dynamo driving the DC metro area isn’t Virginia or Maryland: it's the District of Columbia itself.
Part 2 examines the patterns of migration by things such as class and family status. As was the case in Part 1, Stone explains the data. And he includes easy-to-understand graphs such as the one below which shows in and out migration by age group and jurisdiction.
Stone considers which states gain people from and lose people to DC in Part 3.
It is Stone's summary of the series that offers food for thought for those interested in community, public policy, and the like:
These trends imply that the DC metro area may provide amenities that serve mobile, low-family-commitment individuals very well. For those without large families and who are comfortable moving frequently and not putting down deep roots, the DC metro area will work well. In other words, high-performing, long-hour professionals are likely to thrive. But on the other hand, the metro area does not appear to provide the right benefits to attract and retain families and older people. The reality is that families and older people aren’t sticking around. Maybe the amenities aren’t good, or maybe the prices are too high, but these groups are in fact valuable for promoting the formation of social capital in a locality. Family ties, and especially multi-generational family ties, encourage people to make social (and financial) investments in their communities and their neighbors that they might not otherwise make. Parents with kids care about the local schools and parks more than 20-somethings. By alienating these essential social builders, the DC metro area makes for itself a situation of ongoing social disconnection, high and persistent inequality, contentious gentrification debates, and perpetual transiency.
A new life for Sursum Corda
Sursum Corda Co-Op would be demolished, redeveloped to 6 times current density under new proposal... http://t.co/WievQlMmDS
— Michael Neibauer (@WBJNeibs) August 19, 2015
Saturday, August 22, 2015
TA: Tips to improve blog traffic
Kim Garst (@kimgarst) earlier this week Storified the #SocialCentsChat on improving blog traffic (see How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog). The essential information from the chat is below. What are your takeaways? Leave your faves in a comment.
A1: No. Bad or inconsistent blogging is worse than no blogging. If there isn't the commitment, don't do it. #socialcentschat
— emilymanahan (@EmilyManahan) August 18, 2015Every blog post you write has to be high quality, otherwise, don't blog! #socialcentschat
— Ian Cleary (@IanCleary) August 18, 2015In response to the question "What are three ways people should be driving traffic to their blogs?",
A2: Write Long content. @searchmetrics report showed that long content appears higher in search results #socialcentschat
— Ian Cleary (@IanCleary) August 18, 2015Important caveats to the long post rec by @RizoltSEO and @ScribblerKris.
A2 Being present on the right social channels. You have to be reaching the RIGHT audience #SocialCentsChat
— Jade Phillips (@lifeofaworkgirl) August 18, 2015always have your readers in mind when creating #blog content. Think, "what would they be looking for answers to?" #socialcentschat
— INNOVEX (@INNOVEXco) August 18, 2015And this final thought: Your website is also important. Don't let your website languish in favor of your blog or, in fact, social media in general. Apply the lessons you learn from the chat to your website also.
Friday, August 21, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
There's a new Google group in town
OAPIA explains the group:
This group was created so that community members can have a space to connect with fellow like-minded individuals interested in all things AAPI. Members are encouraged to share their own news or events that are happening in DC (whether it be an upcoming happy hour, film screening, workshop, etc). MOAPIA will occasionally post updates on current and upcoming events/initiatives.This space is also a way for members to get their questions answered regarding government programs and services. Have a question about sidewalk repairs, small business support, safety, language access, or any other topic? Post your questions here! Or if you just want to voice a concern you have or concerns about your neighborhood, post it here and we will be sure to follow-up.
We look forward to hearing from you and finding ways to better serve you.
Thought you might be interested Thursday: How well do we know the research underpinning policy?
I've long been a fan of evaluation and using information―good information―to make decisions. The test and the results (published on Vox) are interesting. If the test results hold true in DC, there is much work to be done to education elected and appointed officials, providers, and the community about what works and what doesn't work.
Test designers Benjamin Todd and William MacAskill (of 80,000 Hours) reach a similar conclusion, not about DC, but about the public and electeds in general. They wrote about it on Vox:
What can we learn from this? Sadly, it isn't possible for the public to know ahead of time whether a nice-sounding idea will actually help people or hurt them. Whether it’s a politician proposing a new social program for young people or a charity fundraiser describing how they are going to help the homeless, neither your head nor your gut can consistently tell you if their approach is going to work. A lot of things that sound good don’t do good, and vice versa.Instead, you have to get experimental evidence. What trials have been run? How did the people who didn’t get the program compare with those who did? Were they comparable groups? What do experts who conduct reviews of the field’s research conclude?
Reactions on Hacker News are also quite interesting. While the readers may not be social science and human services experts, they do have an interest in science and order. I am particularly enamored with the comment by NateLawson. He suggests all legislation include A/B testing; it is a twist on sunsetting provisions.
Thoughts?
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
OCFO reports, Aug. 2015
Here is the latest from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer:
- New Bond Ratings Signal Continuing Strength of the District's Economy, August 13
- DC Economic Indicators, July 2015, August 18
Urban agriculture comback
Is an urban agricultural renaissance afoot in DC? These farmers say you betcha. http://t.co/QL0QyPsPfI @wamu885news @OberandOut
— Metro Connection (@wamumetro) August 18, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Beacon House has a new director
Monday, August 17, 2015
September 30: Conference on mental health, incarceration, and action
Attendees will hear from experts and engage in conversations about juvenile justice, women and girls in the justice system, and re-entry risks and opportunities, just to name a few topics.
Several crowdsourcing opportunities
If you have a little free time and want to be a sleuth or just contribute to the community's well-being, here are some crowdsourcing opportunities you can do from the comfort of (fill in the blank):
- DC government agencies social media―This list contains info about executive and legislative branch agencies and schools. The huge gap is schools' social media presence information. If you run or work in a school or interact with one, please add social media platform info so others can join in the conversation!
- ANCs 2015―This list contains the names of and contact information for ANCs. Records need a review. Residents, advocates, and others are particularly interested in emails ANCs actually use and social media info.
- Ward 7 Communication Channels―This list contains all manner of information-sharing sources/resources in Ward 7. Included are Yahoo and Google groups, websites, elected officials info, and more.
- Free and affordable meeting space (DC)―If your organization has free or low-cost meeting space available, please add that information to this online spreadsheet. Nonprofits spend too much time looking for affordable space. Let's help each other out!
Connect with Ally Schweitzer
I overhauled my website, for the maybe 0-1 people who care about that http://t.co/AglhnNSwnG
— Ally Schweitzer (@allyschweitzer) August 13, 2015
Connect with Schweitzer about music and more. All of her contact info is on her revamped website, along with links to her recent work. Check it out.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
August 26: Creating visual content webinar
Join the free webinar How to Create Visual Content for Your Nonprofit Tuesday, August 25 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Topics include:
- How to create visually compelling images for social media
- The importance of creating infographics
- How to use Instagram to create video content
- Low-cost photo and video editing tools
- How to launch fundraising campaigns in visual format
Learn about additional free webinars.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
DC worst in nation for kids per WalletHub report
DC ranks 51st overall, 51st in "Early Foundations & Economic Well-Being", 43rd in "Health," and 51st in "Education" according to the WalletHub's report 2015's Best and Worst States for Underprivileged Children.
None of this is surprising. And while the report does not offer policy and practice fixes, WalletHub does include the section "Ask the Experts." Advocates and policymakers can use the experts' answers to three questions to make improvements in DC. The questions are:
- Does being raised in poverty have lasting consequences for children in adulthood?
- Are elected officials placing a sufficiently high priority on the needs of underprivileged children? What can they do to improve the welfare of children in poverty?
- How can families and communities mitigate the negative effects of poverty on children?
Let's adopt this style guide to simpler words!
Hooray for King County, WA (@kcnews)! Their style guide includes a table of simpler alternatives to pompous words: http://t.co/EejuPcwPd4
— bradley fields (@bradleyfields) August 11, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
DGS gets a permanent director
Pleased to announce retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Christopher E. Weaver as new @DCDGS. pic.twitter.com/Uj9rA3TluL
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) August 14, 2015
Chris Murphy takes leadership, community gig at Georgetown
According to the release, "Georgetown President John J. DeGioia says Murphy will help strengthen the university’s relationships with governmental and community leaders throughout the Washington area and actively support policies and partnerships that advance the university’s mission and vision." In addition, Murphy "will have oversight of the Office of Federal Relations, the primary liaison to the federal government that advocates on behalf of the university on higher education issues affecting students, faculty, and staff."
Congrats Chris!!!
Get ready for Car Free Day Sept. 22
Car Free Day is September 22 according to an August 13 press release from COG.
Those who commit to participating (take the pledge here) may also choose to join a team―#teamwalk, #teamrail, #teambus, #teampool, #teamtelework, or #teambike. Team members are eligible for prizes. Participants are also encouraged to show or write about benefits of alternatives to driving alone.
Car Free Day should resonate with many across the city. Consider, for example, FitDC, Mayor Bowser's challenge to the city to walk one billion steps. And then there's Sustainable DC, the plan to "guide the District to be the healthiest, greenest, most livable city in the nation!" Or, think about Age-Friendly DC and their strategic plan.
Learn more on the Car Free Metro DC website and then decide how you want to roll on September 22.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
A nice change of pace
Listen to the special sounds of street ball in the summer in Southeast D.C.'s Goodman League http://t.co/yVBxzkxdO1 pic.twitter.com/bmWL2c2sod
— WAMU 88.5 News (@wamu885news) August 13, 2015
DDOE renamed Department of Energy and the Environment
.@MayorBowser and @TommyWells announce that DDOE is now @DOEE_DC! #energy #environment #dc pic.twitter.com/k4R0CSlB7Z
— Julia RobeyChristian (@capitolhilldc) August 12, 2015Thought you might be interested Thursday: 25 years after The Truly Disadvantaged
In the book, Wilson, according to Harvard,
takes a look at the social transformation of inner city ghettos, offering a sharp evaluation of the convergence of race and poverty. Rejecting both conservative and liberal interpretations of life in the inner city, Wilson offers essential information and a number of solutions to policymakers. The Truly Disadvantaged is a wide-ranging examination, looking at the relationship between race, employment, and education from the 1950s onwards, with surprising and provocative findings. This second edition also includes a new afterword from Wilson himself that brings the book up to date and offers fresh insight into its findings.
The 2012 event featured five panels:
- "Deindustrialization and Joblessness"
- "Neighborhood Inequality and the Concentration of Social Dislocations"
- "Family Structure and Social Change"
- "Race and Segregation"
- "The State and the Politics of Inequality"
The first segment, starting with an opening by Wilson and followed by the first panel, is below. The remaining segments are on the event page.
If you have not read the book and would like to, it is available at DC Public Library.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Mayor Bowser talks crime Aug. 13
On Mayor Muriel Bowser's sked for Thursday, August 13 at 1:00 pm is media availability on crime. Joining the mayor will be leaders in the public safety arena―think Chief Lanier and deputy CA Kevin Donahue. The availability will take place in the John A. Wilson Building, Room 527.
August 16 and 17: #GiveLikeAJCIII, celebrate AJ Cooper and the goodness of DC
Many of you may know that DC Campaign's Policy Director, the late AJ Cooper III, was instrumental in the creation of "The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Fund Establishment Act of 2014," legislation that is the source of funding for many local organizations working to reduce the incidence of teen pregnancy in Washington, DC.Jay was deeply committed to the health and well-being of his hometown and viewed teen pregnancy as an obstacle that kept boys and girls from achieving their dreams.
In recognition of his advocacy and dedication to all the residents of the District of Columbia, the City Council passed a resolution making Jay’s 35th birthday the AJ Cooper III Day of Service in Washington, DC.
Jay believed that even the smallest act of kindness could change the world.
I hope you will join me in honoring my son’s memory by doing something good for someone else on August 17, 2015. For more information www.ajcooperdc.org.
You can help out at the BBQ; deets are here. Public policy and practice more your thing? There's a housing event Monday, August 17; info in the Tweet below.
Want to talk #housing with #DC #government leaders? Free event Aug 17 7pm, John Wilson Bldg #GiveLikeAJCIII @dcra pic.twitter.com/80eA9npNne
— David Sheon (@ANC_4D04) August 12, 2015Andrea Noble moves from local to national public safety beat at the Washington Times
It's official. I'm no longer covering local news at @WashTimes. On the national law enforcement beat instead. Follow or unfollow accordingly
— Andrea Noble (@anobleDC) August 7, 2015Thanks to @cuneytdil for the info.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
TA: Cleaning text
I'm on the web a lot. Between the blogs, work-related sites, and email, I copy and paste text all day long. Most often I use editpad.org but today for some reason, it wasn't stripping out the formatting. textcleaner.lutesonline.com did the trick.
Do you have a favorite formatting/other text cleaner? Share in a comment, please.
Saying no nicely
Asked to do or join things that you just don't want to or have time for? Read 15 Little Phrases That Will Make You Remarkably More Productive for nice ways to say no (think "No, but thank you for asking!" and "I'm sorry but there is already too much on my plate.").
Thanks to @CapHillStyle for sharing.
@cuneytdil brings us a new political and other news aggregator
Hat's off to Cuneyt Dil for creating the local news aggregator newsletter District Links (subscription link). Read the archives. Send tips, links, events, things to via email, cdil@currentnewspapers.com.
Learn more about this up-and-coming journo: Twitter, @cuneytdil, LinkedIn.
Thanks to Dil for sharing on Reddit.
David Axelrod, still the believer, on democracy and the power to transform
The campaign season has started, and not just on a national level. Last week, I launched #DCison16 to keep track of media and social media hits associated with local candidates. So it seems appropriate to share the February 2015 Harvard Book Store video David Axelrod: Believer - My Forty Years in Politics.
Viewers learn in the first several minutes of the program that David Axelrod has been involved with 150 campaigns at all levels of government. And in all that time, he has believed in democracy and "in the power of stories to unite diverse communities and ignite transformative political change."
Sit back and watch the video.
Interested in reading the book? DC Public Library has it.
Monday, August 10, 2015
August 26: Cinema from the Street, continued
In the first film, "join a courageous mother as she struggles to protect and raise her daughter in one of D.C.'s most infamous and inhospitable shelters." In the second, "journey alongside a survivor of homelessness and sexual assault as she reflects on her past trauma and present path to recovery." Following the documentaries will be a Q&A with directors moderated by renowned activist Marita Golden.
Learn more about and make reservations for Cinema from the Street, Part 2.
Free webinars in August, curated by @WildApricot
These are perfect for interns and summer employees!
Sunday, August 9, 2015
GGW is hiring!
@ggwash is looking for FT #EastofTheRiver communications managers/directors based in #Ward7 + #Ward8 http://t.co/MlnzMl7T40
— DCBridgePark (@DCBridgePark) August 5, 2015August 19: Stop Police Terror Project DC general body meeting
Attend the Wednesday, August 19 Stop Police Terror Project DC general body meeting and learn about the organization and the campaigns and actions that are have planned.
Meeting deets: 7:00 pm start time and the location is The Justice Center (617 Florida Ave NW).
Free books for kids online in 20 languages
Have family, friends, clients, customers, or neighbors who don't speak English and need access to children's literature? The International Children's Digital Library Foundation makes books available free of charge and registration is not required. Presently, literature is available in 20 languages:
English
Arabic
SimChi
Traditional Chinese
Croatian
Dari
Filipino/Tagalog
French
German
Hebrew
Italian
Korean
Pashto
Persian/Farsi
Polish
Portuguese
Mongolian
Russian
Spanish
Thai
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Project Create has a new home
Nonprofit Project Create celebrated its new home July 24. You can now find this organization and many of its programs in Ward 8 across from the Big Chair. Here are the particulars:
2028 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, 2nd Floor (Across from the Big Chair, above Mama’s Kitchen)
Washington, DC 20020
Phone: (202) 889-0655
Email: studio@projectcreatedc.org
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday Noon - 7:30 pm
TA: A new, cool Twitter and Facebook tool
The tool has a ton of already-loaded photos with search capacity, or you can upload your own. Type in what you want to say, select a typeface (there are presently nine), and move the text around in the image. The final step is to download, post to Facebook, or Tweet. Oh, and before you post, you get a preview.
And all for free with no sign-up or log-in required. (This may actually be the best part!)
Friday, August 7, 2015
#DCision16 is now live!
The blog will do all the work for you, finding media and social media links so you can learn more about the candidates for the Council of the District of Columbia in 2016.
Want your local news about candidates delivered to your inbox every day? Subscribe to the just-launched #DCision16 blog by yours truly.
What you won't find: promotional and fundraising information; I will leave that to the campaigns.
WBJ tech journo leaves post
Kasra Kangarloo announced his farewell today in Fare thee well, D.C. tech. It's been real. Kangarloo is not just leaving the tech beat or DC. He's moving to Thailand. He explained, "For the time being, I’ve decided to take a break from journalism at large and head out to Thailand, where I will teach English to small children."
Do good, replenish, rejoice, and return!
Never saw Chocolate City? Watch it now.
Filmmakers Ellie Walton and Sam Wild consider gentrification, public housing, poverty, public policy, and yes race, in this 2003 documentary. Walton's website describes the film this way:
In 2003, over 400 families from the Arthur Capper's housing project in South East Washington DC were forced from their homes as part of a massive nation-wide redevelopment programme. "Chocolate City"” explores the rapid gentrification of Washington DC through the eyes of a group of local women who are fighting to return to their neighbourhood. Although living in the shadows of power, their story celebrates the strength of communities and the capacity of art to inspire change.
Wild describes the film this way:
Through the experiences of a number of largely black residents the film explores how the city is being altered as property prices rise and local communities are forced out of the world's most famous capital.Two brief media reviews: D.C. Locals' Long Wait For Hope: 'Chocolate City' and Chocolate City Takes on Gentrification.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Reports from the OCFO
Here's an update on reports posted on the OCFO website:
- FY 2016 budget (July 17, 2015)
- June 2015 Review of District of Columbia Economic and Revenue Trends
- DC Economic Indicators, June 2015
- May 2015 Review of District of Columbia Economic and Revenue Trends
- Financial Status Report (Operating) -- May 2015 of FY 2015
Thought you might be interested Thursday: Happiness
How have Americans defined success, prosperity and contentment? How have they carried out their pursuit of those ends? And how does the course of history square with their lofty goals? Brian, Ed and Peter mull these questions over in stories across the centuries — from a mesmerist who urged his followers to think happy thoughts to an early hit in the recording industry that will just crack you up.
When the guys say they will "just crack you up," they are referring to what I think is a terribly odd segment―Laugh It Up, Fuzzball. The other segments are outstanding. They are: Comma Chameleon, So Happy Together, Single Serving, Don’t Worry — Be Happy!, and Chasing The Brass Ring.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
@GarberDC launches at-large council campaign
I'm excited to announce that today I'm launching my campaign for DC Council At-Large (D) for 2016. Here's why: https://t.co/IA4q7GL9em
— David Garber (@GarberDC) August 5, 2015
Volunteer opps galore at the 2015 DC State Fair!!
- Marketing Street Team
- Social Media Ninjas
- Day-Before Logistics
- Pet Parade Volunteer
- Set-Up
- Welcome and Information Tent
- Crowd Control
- Check-In/ID Checker
- Contest Registration
- Preparation
- Kids’ Activities
- Press Tent
- Winners’ Table Display Volunteers
- Social Media Outreach Volunteers
- Clean-Up
Literacy, mentoring and boys of color event Aug. 5
“Why We Can’t Wait: Empowering Males of Color Through Mentoring & Literacy” Panel Discussion, 8/5 http://t.co/6HmTpHIryc via @TeamupCalendar
— Ward7Outreach (@Ward7Outreach) August 5, 2015
ANCs can use formal form to weigh in with DCRA
There is now an official "great weight" form for ANC commissioners to fill out when they have something to say... http://t.co/WYcYQhbNCi
— Michael Neibauer (@WBJNeibs) August 3, 2015Wondering if other agencies can/should use this form. Also, is there a better way to do this than a PDF form? Like a hard-copy form and an online form?
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Looks good: Digital inclusion best practices webinar Aug. 6
Dear city tech/internet friends: Sign up for the #DigitalInclusion Webinar on 8/6 w/ @leagueofcities @NextCentCit http://t.co/0Iwkmrkwzm
— Denise Linn (@DKLinn) August 4, 2015
TA: Ways to engage your members, followers, general public
5 Super Solid Ways To Engage Your Supporters Online (PLUS 28 Affordable Tools to Help You Do It) is a must-read for nonprofits, community and civic orgs, and residents. My two favorite ways: the quiz and photo contest.
Why: Well, neither are as common as the other methods and so hold promise for something special.
What do you think? Tell us in a comment.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Will we or won't we?
@MacFarlaneNews dear sweet baby J NOOOOOO! #wmata is a terrible subway system -> it won't be able to handle Olympic size crowds @MayorBowser
— janny frimpong (@pronouncedjenny) August 3, 2015ICYMI: John Oliver on DC's lack of statehood
While the entire segment is worthwhile, I most love the song (starting at 15m17s).
The next MacGyver will be a girl!!!
Some fab organizations came together to create The Next MacGyver, a competition to answer the question "Could television be the secret weapon that gets more girls into science?"
The National Academy of Engineering, The USC Viterbi School of Engineering, MacGyver Foundation, Lee Zlotoff, and The Paley Center for Media have selected five finalists and runners up. Each finalist received $5,000 and was paired with a successful Hollywood producer as a mentor who will help them develop their original pilot screenplay.
Watch the top 12 pitches and panel discussion in the YouTube video below.
Read Here Are 5 Contenders For A New, Female Macgyver—will One Help Drive Girls To Engineering? for a summary of the competition and the need for girls and women in STEM.
Listen to CM Grosso talk with Kojo Nnamdi
If you missed the July 29 Kojo Nnamdi program featuring a discussion about education with CM David Grosso, have no fear. You can listen to the talk here, D.C. Council Member David Grosso. What the site has to say about the CM's appearance:
The first day of D.C. Public Schools is less than a month away, but before the school year can start, there are two big issues to deal with: a controversial, embattled food contract, and behind-schedule construction. D.C. Council Member and Chair of the Committee on Education David Grosso joins us to discuss the challenges facing D.C. Public Schools and other local public policy issues.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Dionne Calhoun: Now in CM McDuffie's office
Dionne Calhoun is now Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for Ward 5 CM Kenyan McDuffie. You may know Calhoun from her time in At-large CM Grosso's office.
Get in touch to congratulate Calhoun on her new gig:
- via email, dcalhoun@dccouncil.us
- (202) 724-8918 office
- (202) 297-0152 cell
Learn about and comment on DC's Wildlife Action Plan
- Wednesday, August 5, 6:30 - 8:00 pm with a presentation from 6:45 - 7:15 pm, National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Visitor Center Auditorium)
- Thursday, August 6, 6:30 - 8:00 pm with a presentation from 6:45 - 7:15 pm, DDOE's Aquatic Resources Education Center (1500 Anacostia Dr SE)
No RSVP is required.
The 2015 plan updates the the 2005 plan, providing direction for the city to comply with federal requirements and meet the very real needs of the District's wildlife and habitats.
Listen: Ivy City residents featured on Taking Action
Empower DC dedicated their July 28 edition of their radio program Taking Action to Ivy City, a community with which Empower DC has worked over the years. About the recent radio program, from their website,
With the city moving toward circulating a Request for Proposals for the development of the historic Alexander Crummell School, this edition of Taking Action is focused on the future of the school. Empower DC’s Parisa Norouzi talks with two current residents, Andria Swanson and Belinda Taylor, as well as an alumna of the Crummell School, Ms. Remetter Freeman, about their vision for the site, the history of the school, and why Crummell is so important to their community.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Have something to say about the police and public safety?
The Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) and the Council for Court Excellence (CCE) are conducting a survey to collect information that will help the two nonprofits "better understand residents’ opinions about safety and policing in their neighborhoods." Or, take the survey by texting "iamsafe" to 313131.
All responses are confidential.
The organizations will make the report of the findings available this fall.
DC history: The Crummell School and its role in the community
Crummell School is a nationally designated historic landmark. Learn more about the school and its namesake Alexander Crummell.
Also on the website is information about friends group:
The mission of Friends of Crummell School is to achieve the restoration and reuse of the historic Alexander Crummell School, the heart of the Ivy City community, in a manner that serves, protects and uplifts area residents and their environment.Members of Friends of Crummell School include area residents, Crummell alumni, clergy, advocates, historic preservation professionals, architects, planners and community development experts.
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