October 1 is #AskAnArchivist Day (!!)

#AskAnArchivist day is tomorrow! What is an archivist? We can tell you that and more Oct. 1, noon-1pm. pic.twitter.com/ootRHr0N2M

— DC Public Library (@dcpl) September 30, 2015

Upcoming hearings in the Committee of the Whole

On September 29, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson shared the Committee of the Whole's updated list of hearings.

To receive updates from the COW and the chairman, sign up online.

October 18: Events DC Anacostia Riverwalk Cleanup

Want to make a difference in the ecosystem?   Join Events DC, Anacostia Watershed Society, and residents of all ages in cleaning up the area surrounding RFK Stadium Sunday, October 18 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Those who participate will receive complimentary tickets to the DC United game at 2:00 pm.   DC United is playing Chicago Fire.

Registration is required.

Hispanic population in DC by origin

Media Tweets mayor-council breakfast Sept. 29

TA: Free image source

Need another source of free pictures?   Check out picjumbo, free for personal and commercial use.   Some of the categories are food, people, business, technology, and things.   There are more, promise!

Mayor-Council breakfast, Sept. 29 style

> 9/29, 9a: Mayor-Council Breakfast @ JAWB. Follow your favorite journo for Tweets. @MayorBowser @ChmnMendelson @councilofdc

— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) September 28, 2015

Applications being accepted for assistive technology loan program

The Assistive Technology Program for DC is making loans to eligible DC residents so that they may purchase assistive technology devices and services.   Made possible by a federal grant, the loans are much more affordable than traditional bank loans.   Interest on loans through this program are 4%.

Learn more about applying: Assistive Technology Financing Loan Program.

Learn why and how DC's needle exchange is working

D.C.'s needle exchange program is working. A researcher at @GWpublichealth explains why: http://t.co/2t2VISKzu7 via @OberandOut @wamumetro

— WAMU 88.5 News (@wamu885news) September 28, 2015

Social media, communications, fundraising advice for nonprofits

Did you know this about the Anacostia River?

The Anacostia is thought of as a Washington DC river, but five-sixths of its watershed is actually in Maryland pic.twitter.com/Hm4oKoT5ju

— Anacostia Trust (@AnacostiaWater) September 22, 2015

PDS has a new website

PDS has launched a new website design! Check out the site at http://t.co/ht7FGrigMM.

— DC Public Defender (@pdsdc) September 22, 2015

@hgil's Tweets of the September 25 DCR Storified

FY 2017 budget development sked

The Bowser Administration's budget team is shaking up budget development, starting with a emphasis on "District Priority Goals" which are "a set of broad, cross-cutting goals that will guide Mayor Bowser's first term."   The not-new goals are:

• A Strong Economy for All
• A World Class Education System
• A Healthy Community
• A Safer, Stronger DC
• Sustainable Neighborhoods

Agencies are being required to develop their FY 2017 performance plans now.   Which makes complete sense.   Agencies are also required to develop work plans.   Work plans will be reviewed by the Office of the City Administrator, mayor's budget team, and deputy mayors before being finalized.

Key dates for FY 2017 budget development:

• September 30: Draft agency performance plans due to Office of the City Administrator (OCA)
• Mid-October: Agencies discuss their capital budget needs with Capital Budget Team
• Early November: FY 2017 targets given to agencies
• Mid-December: FY 2017 agency budget submissions due to OCA
• Mid-December: Agencies meet with Capital Budget Team to discuss FY 2017 capital budget enhancements

Later this year, the council will vote on the budget sked, including what information they want to see in the budget along with the date by which Mayor Bowser must present her proposed budget.

Speak up! Community meeting on high school diploma requirements, Sept. 29

SHAPPE (Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals and Educators), the DC State Board of Education, and the community will talk about high school diploma requirements Tuesday, September 29, 6:00 - 8:00 pm at McKinley High School (151 T St NE).

Two of the questions to be discussed are:

1. Should DC expand the ways by which students can earn credits toward a high-school diploma?

2. If you pass the GED (General Education Development) exam, should you receive a high-school diploma?

Questions?   Contact Cathy Reilly, via email, dc.s.h.a.p.p.e@gmail.com or by phone, (202) 722-4462.

TA: Free social media education resource

Hootsuite has launched Podium, a "new online social media education and certification resource, where you can gain critical skills in social media marketing—completely free."

Features of this new program are on-demand videos, quizzes, and worksheets.   Course topics are:

1. Introduction to Social Media Marketing
2. Optimizing Your Social Media Profiles
3. Social Media Strategy - from A to Z
4. Growing Your Online Community
5. Content Marketing Fundamentals
6. Social Advertising Fundamentals

The certification exam costs $199.

Rachel Sadon takes helm at DCist

Rachel Sadon is the new editor-in-chief at DCist following the departure of Matt Cohen (see Matt Cohen to WCP).   Follow Sadon on Twitter, @Rachel_Sadon or email her, rachel@dcist.com.

Thought you might be interested Thursday: there's a science to story time

Science Friday's The Science of Story Time confirms what many parents already know: "... reading with kids has positive effects ranging from increased vocabulary to greater success reading independently."

The recently published study "The Words Children Hear: Picture Books and the Statistics for Language Learning" investigated how picture books with words added to the number and diversity of words children learn early in life.   (More in the abstract; article behind pay wall.)

Naturally, science books for kids are identified in the segment.   Recommendations include You Are Stardust by Elin Kelsey and Soyeon Kim (2012); I, Leonardo by Ralph Steadman (1983); and Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell (2011).   Have suggestions?   Leave them in a comment on the Science Friday segment page.

Learn how DC government programs to address homelessness will change October 1

CNHED's September monthly meeting will focus on homelessness.   The discussion topic is the District's Tools for Homeless Families and Individuals: Housing, Jobs and Services.   The event will be held Tuesday, September 29 from Noon to 2:00 pm at Mount Vernon Place UMC (900 Massachusetts Ave NW).

DC government reps will be Kristy Greenwalt, Director of the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness; and folks from DOES and DHS.   Panelists will talk:

• How programs will change in Fiscal Year 2016 to meet the goals identified in Homeward DC
• Updates on housing interventions such as Targeted Affordable Housing and Rapid Rehousing more effective and reports on any improvements
• Improvements to connect residents to housing, services and jobs

RSVP online.

Great Gmail news

You can now block individual senders in Gmail.

The new feature was announced September 22; see Stay in control with Block and Unsubscribe.   The feature is easy to use.   On your computer, go to Settings, then to Filters and Blocklist.   Blocking is the second option on the page as you can see from the screen shot to the right.

Gmail will be rolling out the new feature to use on handhelds over the next week.

Addition, 8:13 pm: You will see in the image that the way to block senders is to block them from inside the conversation. Open the email and on the upper right side of the message (where the reply arrow is), click the More down arrow and the Block function is there.

DC Council's handbook: A resource for all

Did you know the Council of the District of Columbia has a handbook (PDF)?   It does and it is super useful to understand the history of DC and Home Rule, the current committee structure, the role of the council and the mayor, how the council is organized, and much more.

This is a terrific resource for training/educating staff and community members interested in learning advocacy, how government works, or the history of the District.

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League of Women Voters' event: Money In DC Politics, Oct. 3

Buy your ticket today for the Saturday, October 3, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm League of Women Voters' event Money In DC Politics.   The lunch event takes place at The Beacon Bar & Grille at The Beacon Hotel (1615 Rhode Island Ave NW).

According to the invitation,

Investigative reporter Patrick Madden and Government Affairs Lobbyist Craig Holman, Ph.D. will join us for a conversation about the Pay-to-Play culture in the District of Columbia. Madden will talk about his research following the money, linking campaign contributions in DC Council elections to government contracts. He and Holman will discuss the situation in DC today, how other cities are handling this issue, and the possibilities for reform. They will answer the questions:

Does campaign cash have undue influence over how District of Columbia lawmakers approve contracts?

Does the appearance that the government can be bought harm the integrity of the D.C. Government?

The conversation will be followed with questions and answers for our speakers from the audience.

TA: Visuals drive engagement

How to Create Stories that Stick Using Visuals and Social Media from Stacey Miller

WMATA continues to underserve people with disabilities

.@MartinDiCaro Thanks for highlighting #WMATA riders w disabilities issues @kojoshow http://t.co/rruDCe0OFk #brokenelevators #access4all

— Carol Tyson (@DanceforMyself) September 21, 2015

Thank you, Carol. I want to emphasize issues facing people with disabilities who use transit. It is under reported. https://t.co/jxQcVqG0SL

— Martin Di Caro (@MartinDiCaro) September 21, 2015

Learn: Teens, Medicaid, and birth control, Oct. 7

Making Medicaid Work for Teens is the latest forum from DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.   It takes place Wednesday, October 7, 9:30 am - Noon.

Highlights:

• Keynote: Dr. Susan Polan, Associate Executive Director, American Public Health Association
• Medicaid 101: Stephanie Hafiz and Darla Bishop, AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia
• Minors' Rights: Brenda Rhodes Miller, Executive Director, DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

RSVP via email, dcchalfday@gmail.com.

LRCA is now online

In addition to having a new website, Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association is on Facebook and Twitter, @LRCADC.

Mendo's media briefing on September 22 leg meeting

Get the September 22 COW agenda and the September 22 legislative meeting agenda.

CM Grosso's summer update video

DC's Ombudsman for Public Education releases 2015 annual report

Prescription drug take-back day is Sept. 26

Safely dispose of prescription drugs Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at all MPD district stations and some substations.   Locations open for disposal are:

• First District Station (101 M St SW)
• First District Sub Station (500 E St SE)
• Second District Station (3320 Idaho Ave NW)
• Third District Station (1620 V St NW)
• Fourth District Station (6001 Georgia Ave NW)
• Fourth District Sub Station (750 Park Rd NW)
• Fifth District Station (1805 Bladensburg Rd NE)
• Sixth District Station (100 42nd St NE)
• Seventh District Station (2455 Alabama Ave SE)

September 24: AG Karl Racine speaks at 5D CAC meeting

Attorney General Karl Racine will talk about prisoner early release, crime reduction initiatives, and synthetic drugs at the Thursday, September 24, 7:00 pm 5th District Citizens' Advisory Council meeting.   The meeting is being held at the Fifth District Station (1805 Bladensburg Rd NE).

WaPo has a cool, useful new feature

Good new feature on WaPo. https://t.co/W8aXjKJJQs

— Tim Craig (@timcraigpost) September 15, 2015

Mayor Bowser's latest economic development plans, legislation

Want info on @MayorBowser's plan to create new jobs & diversify the economy? See release & CBA http://t.co/SUR1Nj042O

— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) September 19, 2015

In case you missed it

...Ellen Efros is the new General Counsel for the Council of the District of Columbia.   Before taking the council gig, Efros was Deputy Attorney General in the DC Office of the Attorney General.   Her email is eefros@dccouncil.us.

...John-Paul Hayworth is the new ED at the DC State Board of Education.   Hayworth joined the board in July.   According to the release,

Mr. Hayworth served most recently as Manager of Federal Affairs and Senior Policy Advisor in the Executive Office of the Mayor where he was an advocate on behalf of the education agencies under the jurisdiction of the mayor, including the District of Columbia Public Schools, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education.

You can contact Hayworth by phone, (202) 741-0888, or john-paul.hayworth@dc.gov.

... Charles L. Thomas, Esq. has moved from the office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.   Thomas is now Special Counsel in the Office of Special Counsel.   You can reach him by phone, (202) 299-3278, or by email, charles.thomas5@dc.gov.   (Note: Thomas' email changed with the move.)

...Anthea Seymour is the new DHS Economic Security Administration (ESA) Administrator.   Prior to DHS, Seymour was Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer at St. Elizabeths Hospital and before that, worked at CFSA.   Her email is Anthea.Seymour2@dc.gov.

Watch The Politics Hour featuring Mayor Muriel Bowser

Missed @MayorBowser's appearance on #PoliticsHour? Stream the whole show here: http://t.co/QO4A1MgMkZ pic.twitter.com/8dNNZD810b

— The Kojo Nnamdi Show (@kojoshow) September 18, 2015

Chat with WaPo's Eugene Robinson Sept. 22

Have a question for Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson?   Ask now and tune in Tuesday, September 22 at 1:00 pm to see your question answered and learn what others are thinking about and what Robinson has to say about those subjects.

Redoubling efforts to improve the Anacostia River and waterfront needed

On September 3, the National Park Service announced they would be closing Buzzard Point Marina.   That same day, Buzzard Point Marina to close in December, after a half-century of use ran in the Post, presenting the various perspectives and context for the decision.

Doug Siglin, Executive Director of the Anacostia Waterfront Trust, is cautiously optimistic that the National Park Service's plans to close the the Buzzard Point Marina may actually turn out to be a good thing.   Why?   Because if (yes, a big if) NPS is telling the truth, they will take action on the results of their promised study of "other recreational opportunities on the Anacostia River."

Siglin's op-ed about the marina closure decision is below and printed as submitted.

The National Park Service announced last week that it plans to close the Buzzard Point Marina, on the Anacostia River near its confluence with the Potomac. The 58 people who have docked their boats at the marina’s slips, some for many years, are understandably dismayed.

What I found most interesting was the National Park Service's comment, according to the Washington Post story, that it "will study other recreational opportunities on the Anacostia River." I am cautiously optimistic that this is true, and that because of it, the closing of the marina ultimately might turn out to be a good thing.

In an era of shrinking appropriations from Congress, the National Park Service needs to conserve scarce funds and, the sad truth is, the Buzzard Point Marina is a casualty of these constraints. Fortunately, there is strong demand coming from the community for a new vision for the Anacostia Waterfront and broad support for improving access from the numerous organizations responsible for its administration.

As a person who has spent much of the last 20 years working in and around the Anacostia, I have experienced firsthand the need for kayaking, canoeing, rowing, sailing and other water-based recreation on the river. While the loss of the Buzzard Point Marina may reduce these opportunities a little, it could also allow the National Park Service to redirect resources toward expanding water-based recreation upstream as part of the Anacostia Park experience.

I implore the National Park Service to use this opportunity to invest in the future of “upstream” communities near the Anacostia in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8 by providing not only additional water recreation, but additional park-based recreation as well. Anacostia and Kenilworth Parks are huge, and not nearly as well programmed as they should be. Such a pledge could also spur action by others to finally address the lingering environmental problems preventing DC residents from swimming, fishing, boating, and playing in their own public backyard.

Legacy toxins from past industrial use, some carcinogenic, hide untreated in the riverbed, and each fresh rain washes tons of chemicals from roads, parking lots, and other hardscapes into the Anacostia. Unless these sources of pollution are finally addressed, and it will require the efforts of more than the National Park Service, then expanding recreation access will only go so far.

Now that we know Buzzard Point Marina will close in December, all of us who are committed to the future of the Anacostia Waterfront must redouble our efforts to create new ways for the community to engage with the river and complete the important environmental work that remains.

Siglin is not the only one concerned about the Anacostia and its surroundings.   Dennis Chestnut and Brenda Richardson, two long-time DC residents and environmental activists, expressed their concerns about the river and the challenges facing it and the communities which live on the eastern border in Fixing the District — a plan for east of the river in November 2014.   Here's what they had to say, in part:

Every four years, issues affecting the 150,000 residents on our side of the Anacostia get attention, and posters and T-shirts proclaim that we are all that year’s variation of "One City." But when the votes have been counted and the excitement dies down, our neighborhoods' disconnection with the rest of the District remains.

Here is a simple but profound truth: We in Wards 7 and 8 are separated from the far larger and richer part of the District by a polluted river and 1,000 acres of securely fenced-off (or seriously neglected) federal land. So here's a suggestion for Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser (D): Act aggressively to make the river and the acres around it a place that really unites our city, instead of one that holds us apart.

Want to get involved cleaning up the Anacostia River, making a difference east of the river?   Contact Siglin by phone, (202) 223-4560, or email, dsiglin@anacostiatrust.org or Chestnut, Executive Director of Groundwork Anacostia River DC, by phone, (202) 650-5651, or email, dennis@groundworkdc.org.

Miss the September 16 crime and violence hearing? Watch it here.

Meet Aja Taylor, BFC's new advocacy director

Bread for the City has announced that Aja Taylor is the new (and first) advocacy director.   The announcement tells us this about Taylor:

Aja is an award-winning community organizer previously based in our Legal Clinic. She will be leading a team of community organizers and client leaders at Bread for the City and beyond, as we work to staunch the bleed of affordable housing, and ensure that all DC residents can afford to live and work in the city they call home. In coalition with cross-sector partners, other tenant organizers and others, Aja’s charge is to work toward building the power needed to create the political will to preserve and create 22,000 units of affordable housing.

Contact Taylor email, ATaylor@BreadfortheCity.org.

Thought you might be interested Thursday: Get your kids talking

30 Questions to Ask Your Kid Instead of "How Was Your Day?" offers more than 30 questions.   It explains why the question is not a good one: "That question actually sucks. Far from a conversation starter, it’s uninspired, overwhelmingly open ended, and frankly, completely boring."

Alternative questions are:

• What was the funniest thing that happened today?
• Did anyone do anything super nice for you?
• What was the nicest thing you did for someone else?
• Which one of your teachers would survive a zombie apocalypse? Why?

In response, readers contributed a number of questions, including:

• Who do you want to get to know better? Why?
• 3How would you compare your teachers to the Hogwarts professors? Are there any Dumbledores? [Yes, Harry Potter is still a thing for my kids; YMMV.]
• What do you wish you had said, or hadn’t said, in any of your classes?

@cuneytdil adds WCP to his workload

Cuneyt Dil, @cuneytdil on Twitter, this week announced that he will be writing at Washington City Paper for the next several months.   He will report on politics and city happenings.   While interning at WCP, he will continue contributing to the Current and publishing District Links.    And of the latter, if you have not subscribed, do so right now!

Here's what CMs said at the beginning of the September 16 crime and violence public hearing

Recess ends for DC Council

The Council of the District of Columbia returns to work Wednesday, September 16, 2015 after a two-month recess.   The first day back is a busy one (check out the council calendar).

The history of streetcars as told by local historian John DeFerrari

Metro Connection's Rebecca Sheir describes John DeFerrari's new book Capital Streetcars: Early Mass Transit in Washington, D.C. as a "joyride" through the century 1862 to 1962.

Learn more about the history of this early form of public transit in the September 11 edition of Metro Connection on WAMU or hear DeFerrari in person at an upcoming book talk:

• Saturday, September 26, 1:00 pm, Georgetown Neighborhood Library Peabody Room (3rd floor)
• Tuesday, October 6, 6:30 pm, Busboys and Poets Brookland (in partnership with Politics & Prose)
• Sunday, October 11, 5:00 pm, Upshur Street Books
• Saturday, October 17, Noon, National Capital Trolley Museum

Mayor Bowser guests on The Politics Hour Sept. 18

Friday: Join @kojoshow and @tomsherwood for a special live edition of The Politics Hour with @MayorBowser. Free! http://t.co/2vPLKuqAWy

— WAMU 88.5 News (@wamu885news) September 15, 2015

Witness list for Committee on the Judiciary September 16, 2015 crime and violence public hearing

Witness List 09152015 by Susie Cambria

Chat about emergency management and those with disabilities Sept. 15

@susiecambria Join @DisVisibility & @NatCounDis Twitterchat on Emergency Management 9/15 5pm ET https://t.co/tctIQT5AWm

— Dara Baldwin (@NJDC07) September 15, 2015

September 16: Public hearing about stemming crime and violence

The Committee on the Judiciary (Ward 5 CM Kenyan McDuffie, chair) is holding a hearing on crime and synthetic drugs Wednesday, September 16 at 5:00 pm in the Council Chamber (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW).   The hearing will be streamed live; watch it via the council website.

According to the official hearing notice (PDF),

To date, 110 homicides have been committed this year in the District, representing a 41 percent increase over last year. "These homicides and other violent crimes have devastated families and communities across the city," said McDuffie. "The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the steps that the city is taking to prevent and respond to violent crime, to address the underlying causes, and to prioritize community responses to what we must view as a public health crisis." Councilmember McDuffie has been discussing holistic strategies to combat crime in the District with Mayor Muriel Bowser, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier, representatives from federal partners, residents, and national and local organizations. As a result of those discussions and additional research and outreach by his office, McDuffie will be introducing a legislative package in September to offer community- and evidence-based solutions to violent crime.

If you are testifying at the hearing and are still working on your testimony, you might want to take a look at information, research, and plans.   Some may be a bit dated but they are still valid.

• Preparing for east of the river youth crime meeting Apr. 24 contains research for organizations, particularly BIDs, wanting to play a role in crime reduction
• What is summer without the youth curfew discussion?
• Task force addressing juvenile crime in DC, on GGW, lists the proposals by task force convened by then-CM Tommy Wells (Ward 6)
• Youth Violence Myths and Realities
• Chavous Plan for Saving Our Youth
• Value of Positive Youth Development is a framework for developing youth programming and interventions
• Final Odmcyfe Youth Development Strategy 3 15 05 Final represents the work of the Williams admin and nonprofits to appropriately address youth crime, disconnection and violence

Banned Book Week 2015: September 27 - October 3

Banned Book Week 2015 is September 27 - October 3 and unfortunately, not much has changed since 2014 (see Get ready for Banned Books Week Sept. 21-27, 2014).   The following books are still banned or challenged:

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• Ulysses by James Joyce
• Beloved by Toni Morrison

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom reports the 10 most frequently challenged or banned books in 2014 included The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.   And Books Challenged or Banned in 2014-2015, by Robert P. Doyle lists

books challenged, restricted, removed, or banned in 2014 and 2015 as reported in the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom from May 2014 to March 2015 and in American Libraries Direct (AL Direct), by Robert P. Doyle.

You can take a stand for intellectual freedom in DC in several ways.   DC Public Library Foundation and several restaurants are ready for the week and will be celebrating DC Public Library September 25 at UNCENSORED: Opening Night a fundraiser to support library programs like the District of Change lecture series and the Our City Festival as well as the work of local artists and DC's arts and culture scene.   Zaytinya, Jack Rose Dining Saloon and Mockingbird Hill have created banned-book themed cocktails and will be serving them in advance of the event.

• Zaytinya will be serving The Odyssey―inspired by Homer’s tale, this beverage features Metaxa, Mastiha, lemon juice and maraschino liqueur.
• Jack Rose Dining Saloon will serve A Bedtime Story―based on The Perks of Being A Wallflower, this cocktail combines Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, Kombucha Green Tea Infused Dolin Blanc, Amontillado Sherry, Leopold's Fernet and Orange Bitters.
• Mockingbird Hill will be mixing "First Aid For Street Fighters"―riffing off of Steal This Book, Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend is combined with Tio Pepe Fino en Rama, Lemon Juice and Orgeat.

Other Banned Book Week events are UNCENSORED: Information Antics, an exploration about the ways information is used and abused.   It features the work of DC-based artists.   Guess the Banned Book, an event for children, takes place September 27 at Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Library.   Uncensored: A Conversation with Banned Authors takes place September 29.   Authors Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Deborah Hautzig will talk about censorship and intellectual freedom.   Learn more about these events and find others on the DC Public Library calendar of events.

DC is not terribly friendly to babies according to new WalletHub report

The District of Columbia tied for 34th place in the Overall Rank WalletHub issued in their annual report on the best/worst states in which to have a baby.

2015's Best and Worst States to Have a Baby considers costs in three areas: budget, health care, and baby-friendly environment.   Measures in the categories include Hospital Cesarean-Delivery Charges, Hospital Conventional-Delivery Charges, Average Annual Infant-Care Costs, and Average Annual Wage of Pediatricians (budget); Infant Death Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate, and Number of Midwives & Obstetrician-Gynecologists per 100,000 Residents (health care); and Air Pollution, Number of Superfund Sites per 100,000 Residents, and Number of Child Care Centers per 100,000 Residents (baby-friendly environment).

DC fared poorly in the budget ranking (49) and the health care ranking (41) budget excelled in baby-friendliness (3).   The District took first place in the metric "Number of Midwives & Obstetrician-Gynecologists per 100,000 Residents."

In the "Ask the Experts" section, experts offer advice for new parents, those thinking about being parents, and policy makers.   This is a huge benefit to electeds and appointeds who want to know what the problem is and have a solution or two handed to them.

Roper Center moves, archive still available

Roper Center has just announced they are moving to Cornell, from their present home at the University of Connecticut, November 7.   Roper@Cornell, as the institution will be known informally, is "the world's largest archive of public opinion data," containing "more than 600,000 survey questions and 20,000 datasets from U.S. and international polls since 1935."

The announcement reports that the current data sets will be available during the transition north.

Neil Albert takes helm of Downtown DC BID

Neil Albert starts his new gig as President and Executive Director of Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID) today.   His email is neil@downtowndc.org.

Read the Albert announcement release.

Brookland home to new Free Little Library

A family in Brookland has just opened a new Free Little Library at 2618 10th St NE.   Stop by, take books, leave books, and enjoy the latest neighborhood amenity.

September 29: Free webinar about policy and integrated care for child trauma

"Addressing Policy Challenges in Implementing Integrated Care for Child Trauma," a free webinar, takes place Tuesday, September 29 at 2:30 pm.

The expert speakers will share their recommendations for effectively addressing the public policy challenges associated with implementing integrated care and addressing child-trauma in non-traditional settings.

Register.

September 11 DCR in Tweets

TA: Bulleted lists in presentations tax audience member brain power

Bulleted lists are bad, according to The Scientific Reason Why Bullets Are Bad for Presentations.   Lists―actually all lengthy text―challenges those watching a slide presentation.

The blog post author writes, "Bullet points make information more difficult to remember, especially when the bullet point lists are accompanied with auditory information."   And continues,

Dr. Atherton explains that when you accompany a lecture with bullet point slides, your audience will switch between reading and listening. This type of task switching is cognitively exhausting.

(Watch Atherton explain in Learning Technologies 2011 - Dr Chris Atherton - From cognitive psychology to learning design.)

Ethos3's concrete example of transforming a common slide into ones from which audiences will actually learn is easy to understand and quite helpful.

Recap of September 2 DCSBOE session

Universal childcare community roundtables, September and October

Universal ChildCare NOW D.C. Coalition, which throughout the summer gathered information from parents about their need for child care, is now having a series of community roundtables to hear more from parents about universal childcare.   The roundtables take place:

• September 24 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Anacostia Library (1800 Good Hope Rd SE)
• September 28th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Capitol View Library (5001 Central Ave SE)
• October 5 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Lamont Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Ave NE)
• October 11 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, Shaw Library (1630 7th St NW)

RSVP here.

View the flyer in English and Spanish.

Thought you might be interested Thursday: The Pledge

View image | gettyimages.com

The Weird History of the Pledge of Allegiance takes readers through the history (1892 - 1954, updates to present) of America's Pledge of Allegiance.

I've never given the pledge much thought beyond the superficial.   It's an interesting and quick read.   And instructive.

Matt Cohen to WCP

Washingtonian and Washington City Paper report DCist's editor-in-chief Matt Cohen is moving to WCP at the end of September.   Cohen will be the arts editor at WCP.

Learn more in DCist Loses Top Editor Matt Cohen to Washington City Paper and Matt Cohen Will Take Over the Arts Desk.

September 30: DCPS chancellor on the state of DC Public Schools

DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson and News4 Anchor Jim Vance will talk about the state of DC Public Schools Wednesday, September 30 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Dunbar High School (101 N St NW).   According to the announcement, "The Chancellor will discuss our progress toward making DCPS a vibrant school district that provides a world-class education for all."

The event features a reception, the discussion, student performances, and interactive displays featuring innovative programs at DCPS.

This event is free and open to the public.   RSVP on the DCPS website.   Childcare will be provided.   Free parking is available at Friendship Public Charter School – Armstrong Campus; the parking lot is accessible off of P St.

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September 12: Families, see how easy and fun early learning can be

The STAR Family Festival is back: Saturday, September 12, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW).

The festival features:

• Workshops for parents to support your child's early learning
• Fun activities, crafts and games for children
• Free children's books
• Door prizes including $200 gift baskets and other giveaways

Lunch will be provided (while supplies last).

Learn more online (dclibrary.org/starfestival) or by calling (202) 727-0321.

MPD shuffles leadership

MPD staffing changes of note:

• Cmdr. Daniel Hickson has been reassigned to the Academy from Youth and Family Services Division.
• Cmdr. Jacob Kishter moves from 3D to Youth and Family Services Division.   Kishter replaces Hickson.
• Vendette Parker has been promoted to commander and takes over 7D.

All changes are effective immediately.

AARP seeking tax prep volunteers

DC AARP's Tax Aide program is looking for volunteers for the 2016 tax season.   Volunteers prepare taxes for low-income DC residents for free.   Volunteers receive all the equipment and training they need.

More information about the program and the sign-up are on the AARP Tax Aide web page.

CNHED has a new home

In case you missed the news, CNHED (Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development) has a new home:
727 15th St NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005   

Buh-bye DC history

Murals that depict the history and fabric of life in the District are being erased. http://t.co/8JvzzlgfTO pic.twitter.com/2rgBgqbfal

— City Paper (@wcp) August 31, 2015

The September 4 DCR in Tweets

September 14: Child Car Safety Seat Check

To kick of Child Passenger Safety Week (September 13 - 19), DMV is hosting a Child Car Safety Seat Check Monday, September 14 from 2:00 - 6:00 pm at the Inspection Station (1001 Half St SW).   DDOT, MPD, FEMS, and Children’s Hospital reps will be on hand to show people the proper way to install all manner of seats―rear-facing, forward-facing, and boosters.   They will also talk about when seat belt use is appropriate (think age/size).

Those without a seat can receive a free one at the event presuming the child is present so the proper size is given.   Supplies are limited.

September 19: Stand Up For Trees

Become a Tree Advocate―participate in the Casey Trees Saturday, September 19 Stand Up For Trees event.

Attendees will learn about the state of trees in DC, which DC government agencies are responsible for maintaining trees, and more.

Learn more and register for the free event.

Thought you might be interested Thursday: Girls can change things

In case you missed it, Girl, 9, Challenges Company's Description of Boys' vs. Girls' Pajamas is a story of a young girl who didn't like that Vineyard Vines described pj bottoms for girls as "lazy" pants but those for boys as "lounge" pants.

Inform Meyer Foundation's strategic plan

We're launching an online forum to help inform our strategic planning process. Log in to join the conversation! http://t.co/xO9bLbWTyV

— Meyer Foundation (@MeyerFoundation) September 2, 2015

The Meyer Foundation's community forum has two parts.   The first is now, between September 2 and 7.   The second is September 8 - 16.

During the first part, the foundation is interested in hearing general reactions to a presentation on their website (follow the link above and sign in with Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn).   Foundation leader Nicky Goren has posted several questions to get the discussion started.   The second part will consider ways to refine the long-term goals discussed in the foundation's plan.

Have questions about the forum? Email Maegan Scott, mscott@meyerfdn.org.

Woof! (The Doggie Day Swim is September 12!)

Apartment renters: Participate in the energy and water use survey

The Department of Energy and the Environment―through grantee Steven Winter Associates, Inc.―wants to learn more about how much energy and water households which rent use.   The goal of the project is to help residents lower bills and save energy and water.   The information will help inform a new program to provide free tools and resources to help residents.

If you are interested, participate in the five-minute, confidential survey.