Empower DC
The District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project (Empower DC)'s mission is to enhance and improve the self-advocacy of low income and working people in the District of Columbia in order to bring about sustained self improvement in their quality of life. Take action for affordable housing, child care and government accountability with Empower DC.
Upcoming Events
DEBATE: Empower DC vs. Mayor’s office on PUBLIC PROPERTY
Come one, Come all!
This Tuesday, November 20th at 7 PM, Empower DC will debate a representative of Mayor Fenty’s office on the topic of Public Property.
The debate has been organized by ANC 5C and will be held at All Nation’s Baptist Church.
Please come out and support us! Let us know if you are coming! RSVP to Parisa@empowerdc.org, (202) 234-9119
Tuesday November 20th, 2007 - 7:00 PM - All Nations Baptist Church, 2001 North Capitol St, NE @ Rhode Island Ave
City Council Action Day to SAVE PUBLIC PROPERTY
Friends of Empower DC:
We are requesting your assistance to reach our goal of having at least 100 people at the City Council Building on Tuesday September 18th at 9 AM to demand an end to public property giveaways for private profit.
Tuesday September 18th, 2007 - 9:00 AM
Wilson Building – 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Rally * Press Conference * Convergence on the City Council
Our Message:
WE DEMAND A MORATORIUM ON PUBLIC PROPERTY DISPOSITIONS UNTIL OUR BROKEN SYSTEM IS FIXED
Change DC Law: Listen to Communities, Not Developers
PUBLIC PROPERTY for PUBLIC USE –
NOT PRIVATE PROFIT
(no public property give-aways)
There is always a public use for public property
PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT:
We Endorse the Sept 18th Action: _________ organization name
I/We pledge to turn out ____ to the action number of people
return to Empower DC – fax (202) 234-6655, parisa@empowerdc.org
Saturday June 2- Fish Fry and
Fundraiser
FISH FRY & Veggie Burgers and FREE MOVIE NIGHT!
Saturday, June 2
Cookout - 6:30 pm
PLACE: 2548 University Place, NW
(at 14th and Clifton Sts, NW)
Outdoor Movie & Discussion @ Sunset
*will be moved indoors in case of rain*
Screening of Michael Moore’s
“BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE”
An exploration of the deadly Massacre at Columbine High School in 1999 –
12 killed; 24 wounded – and the Gun Lobby’s influence on violence in America
*Also view footage from past Social Forum held in India*
Fish fry and veggie burger sales
benefit EmpowerDC’s Delegation!!
Can’t make the dinner? Support the delegation by sending a check made out to Empower DC to 1419 V Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009
(Bring a lawn chair, friends and family, & relax!)
Saturday Jan. 19th- 3rd Anniversary Celebation!
EMPOWER DC 3rd Anniversary Celebration!
Celebrate our Successes!
Honor the Work of Community Leaders!
Have FUN!
PERFORMANCES By:
Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project
DC Guerilla Poetry Insurgency
Friday, January 19th 6-8 PM
The Sumner School – 1201 17th St, NW 3rd floor
RSVP to Empower DC (202) 234-9119
Donations will be accepted to support the work of Empower DC! Suggested Donation $5-10
No One will be Turned Away! Donate an item for our fundraising raffle!
Saturday Nov. 18th- Child Care Information Fair
You may be Eligible for FREE or REDUCED COST Child Care!
CHILD CARE INFORMATION FAIR
Learn about child care services available in DC
Register On-Site for the Child Care Voucher Program!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18th
11 AM – 4 PM
TURKEY THICKET REC. CENTER
1100 Michigan Ave, NE
Find Out About Affordable Child Care For:
Low-Moderate Income Working Parents
Parents of Children with Special Needs
Parents in Job Training/Job Search
FOR MORE INFO CALL (202) 234-9119
To find a child care provider call WCDC at (202) 387-0002
To determine your eligibility for the child care subsidy & find out what documents to bring, call ECEA at (202) 727-0284
Sponsored by the DC Early Care & Education Administration, Washington Child Development Council & Empower DC
Wed Nov. 1st -
People’s Property Campaign Meeting
Join the next meeting of the
People’s Property Campaign
Wednesday Nov. 1st, 7:00-8:30 PM
Ella Jo Baker Co-op
2548 University Pl, NW basement
(off of Euclid St b/w 14th & 15th, NW – close to Columbia Heights Metro, 14th/16th St buses)
The People’s Property Campaign (PPC) is calling for an end to the give-away of public property for private profit.
We are fighting to protect public property (like schools, libraries, parks, government buildings) for public use. Our ultimate goal is to change DC law to ensure that all public property is used to benefit public needs such as recreation, affordable housing, job training, etc – NOT condos for the rich.
Our work has included: Raising awareness about the public property issue; informing neighborhood residents about properties at-risk in their neighborhoods; testifying at City Council; holding the city accountable to creating an inventory of public property; supporting residents of many communities in their calls to preserve at-risk properties in their neighborhoods.
RSVP to Empower DC (202) 234-9119
Oct 30th- Housing Cooperative Survival Guide Meeting
Insure the Longevity of Housing Cooperatives
JOIN the Coordinating Committee for the publication of
“The Housing Cooperative Survival Guide”
Next Meeting:
Monday, October 30, 2006
6:30 pm
1419 V Street, NW
Please let us know if you can attend
Call Empower DC (202) 234-9119
We believe this housing cooperative survival resource guide will provide cooperative members, board of directors, managers, employees and other interested parties, with a greater understanding of the fundamentals of housing cooperatives in order to develop stronger and long lasting housing cooperatives.
Community Meeting- Tues Sept. 26th- We Need Affordable Housing Now!
Tuesday,
September 26,
2006 - 6:30 pm
Reeves Center – 14th & U Sts, NW
Let’s Require Developers To SET ASIDE Affordable Housing (Inclusionary Zoning)
Call Empower DC (202) 234-9119
EMPOWER DC 2nd Annual Picnic– Sun. July 9th
Sunday,
July 9th,
2006 - 5:00-8:00 pm
Malcolm X Park (16th & Euclid Streets, NW)
Bring A DISH to share! Bring a donation to help!
(Rescheduled due to rain from original date of June 25th)
Call Empower DC (202) 234-9119
US Social Forum Fundraiser- Thurs.
6/29, 7-10 pm
June 29, 2006 7:00-10:00 pm
Busboys & Poets, 2014 14th St. NW
First Ever U.S. Social Forum
Raising Consciousness, Raising Money
sliding scale: $5 - $500
call Linda at (202) 234-9119
Media Skills Training - Tues. June 27th 6:30-8:30 PM
June 27, 2006 6:30
- 8:30 pm
1536 U Street NW
Monthly Empowerment Circle
Dealing Successfully with the Media
Learn How to Get Your Tenants’ Assoc. or
Campaign Message Out to the Community
Center for Community Change
Please RSVP (202) 234-9119
Tues., May 23- Affordable Housing Forum: Save
Section 8 Housing!
Tuesday,
May 23rd- 7:00 pm
Reeves Center – 14th & U Street, NW - 2nd Floor
(U St/Cardozo Metro, 90’s, 50’s & “S” buses)
Section 8 Vouchers; Section 8 Housing
In Danger of Elimination!
Attend - Affordable Housing Forum:
Preservation of Section 8 Housing;
Protection of Tenants’ Rights
What Is The State of Affordable Housing In The District of Columbia?
There are 52,000 households on the DC Housing Authority’s Waiting List
-40,000 are waiting for a Section 8 vouchers
Poverty is Growing in DC - $16,600 for a family of three
-From 2000 to 2004, it grew from 11.5% of the population to 14.4 % of the population;
What is the Status of Project Based Section 8 housing in the District of Columbia?
-12,000 units expect to expire in next 10 years;
“as of May 2005, Section 8 contracts covering about 5,800 units were scheduled to expire in the Second half of the year,”
-In 2006 – 1,300 units of Section 8 housing is due to expire.
Call Empower DC for more info, Action, & RSVP 202/234-9119
Sat., March 25- EMPOWER DC's Second Annual Membership Meeting
Saturday,
March 25th- 11 am - 2 pm
1149 V St. NW
Light lunch and childcare provided (RSVP required- call 202/ 234-9119)
Being a Member of Empower DC Means:
* Being a Leader in a City-Wide Social Justice Organization *
* Having a Voice in Organizational Decision-Making *
* Taking Ownership – Knowing this is YOUR Organization! *
All Are Welcome to Attend & Participate
Only Dues-Paying Members Can Vote on Resolutions
Join Empower DC so you can vote! Download flyer with Membership form here.
Tues, Feb 28- Kojo in Your Community, 6:30 PM at
All Souls Church
Tuesday February 28th
- Doors open at 6:30 pm
All Souls Unitarian Church, Washington DC
(corner of Harvard & 16th Streets. NW)
Please join us for "Kojo In Your Community," the radio series that
takes The Kojo Nnamdi Show out of the studios of WAMU-88.5 FM and into
neighborhoods throughout our metro region.
Every day from noon to two, listeners call into The Kojo Nnamdi Show
with their fresh perspective. This special live event takes us one
step further, letting the audience drive the discussion in a community
forum.
The first "Kojo In Your Community" of 2006 is taking place on Tuesday
evening February 28th at All Souls Unitarian Church, 1500 Harvard St,
NW. Two one-hour conversations will be recorded for broadcast on The
Kojo Nnamdi Show. Please arrive at 6:30 pm; taping starts at 7:00 pm
sharp.
Come talk about DC's Changing Housing Market and other topics on your
mind. Bring your friends, family, and colleagues and let our wider
WAMU radio audience hear the view from your neighborhood!
Get more details at www.wamu.org and www.kojoshow.org
Wed, Feb 22- NOON Rally – Funding for Schools AND Housing, Not One or the Other!
Wednesday, February
22, 12:00 PM
In front of the District Building, 1350 Penn. Ave. NW
INVEST IN DC! We will join together -- the School Modernization Coalition, the Fair Budget Coalition, and the Affordable Housing Alliance -- to demand secure sources of revenue that are adequate to the task of recovering crumbling school buildings AND meeting the extraordinary need for housing for DC's most vulnerable
residents.
Wed, Feb 22- 6:30 TENAC Meeting to Save Rent Control
Wednesday,
February 22, 2006, 6:30 PM
Place: National League of American Pen Women
1300 17th Street, NW
(Corner of 17th & N)
Please attend an emergency meeting to save rent control.
This will be a planning session for a demonstration protest via the John Wilson Building to be held soon.
All tenant leaders, tenant association presidents, et al, are invited.
(Dupont Circle red line metro, take Dupont Circle exit)
Alternate metro line stop: (Farragut North red line metro, take L St exit)
D.C. TENANTS’ ADVOCACY COALITION
REPRESENTING ALL D.C. TENANTS
P.O. Box 7237, Washington, D.C. 20044
Phone: (202) 628-3688
Website: www.tenac.org
E-mail: tenacdc@yahoo.com
Feb. 18- EMPOWER DC's ANNUAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION & RECOGNITION EVENT
Saturday, February
18, 3:00-5:00 PM
The Flemming Center, 1426 9th Street NW,
(intersection of 9th & P Streets)
* Meet, Greet and Get to Know your fellow activists!
* Hear about your victories & upcoming actions!
* Cheer for the winners of Empower DC's annual awards, including the winner of our first annual Dorothy Scott Award!
* Take part in our special Cakewalk fundraiser!
* Help yourself to refreshments!
For more information call Empower DC at (202) 234-9119
Child care will be available for this event at the Flemming Center – please RSVP
We are always looking for volunteers! To help out with this event, or other Empower DC activities, give us a call today!
Jan. 24- Monthly Empowerment Circle- TOPIC:
Building Political and Advocacy
Capacity
A
Video Screening and Discussion- "Southwest Remembered: A Story of Urban Renewal"
Tuesday, Jan. 24,
2006 -6:30 pm
1419 V St., NW, DC 20009
Southwest Remembered: A Story of Urban Renewal is a 55-minute award-winning documentary about a District of Columbia neighborhood that was broken up and bulldozed thanks to an urban renewal project.
Does Gentrification Today = Urban Renewal or Negro Removal of Yesterday?
Seating is limited, please RSVP to
Empower DC (202) 234-9119
Dec. 19th- The City Govt. Has Been Selling, Giving-Away and otherwise disposing of
PUBLIC PROPERTY
INCLUDING DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Many have become CONDOS for the RICH
STOP THE ROBBERY *TURN OUT * TESTIFY * MAKE A CALL
Call the Council, Submit Written Testimony:
Monday, Dec. 19th- 9:00 AM
Wilson Building- 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Call (202) 724-8191 to Sign Up
Don't Be Silent While Public Spaces Disappear.. STOP THE SALE OF:
Langston & Slater Schools
Truxton Circle Neighborhood
Old Congress Heights School
Congress Heights Neighborhood
Bruce School Keene School
Petworth Neighborhood Riggs Park Neighborhood
AND OTHER PUBLIC ASSETS!
The People’s Property Campaign is demanding that public property be used for community needs such as:
*Recreation for all ages (teens & seniors!)*
* Community green/play space* Shelter *
* Affordable housing * Health Services *
AND OTHER NEEDS LONG IDENTIFIED BY OUR COMMUNITIES!
LEASE – DON’T SELL – PUBLIC PROPERTY!
THERE IS ALWAYS A PUBLIC USE FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY
WE NEED AN INVENTORY OF PUBLIC PROPERTY
WE NEED NEW POLICY FOR DEMOCRATIC, COMMUNITY-LED DECISION-MAKING!
CALL THE COUNCIL & TELL THEM:
Committee on Gov’t Operations Members Include:
Carol Schwartz – 724-8105
Phil Mendelson – 724-8064
Jim Graham – 724-8181
Adrian Fenty – 724-8052
Vincent Orange (cmte chair) – 724-8028
*also Linda Cropp (council chair) – 724-8032
Submit written testimony by Jan. 2 to:
Committee on Government Operations, John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004
Check this space weekly for new and upcoming events from Empower DC.