Mission
The mission of Empower DC is to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low and moderate income DC residents in order to bring about sustained improvements in their quality of life.
We accomplish our mission through grassroots organizing and trainings, leadership development, and community education
Structure
Empower DC is a membership based community organizing project.
Empower DC's priority issue advocacy campaigns are determined by our membership at our quarterly membership meetings. The organization is led by its membership, Board of Directors and staff.
Organizing Principles
The organizing principles that guide the work of the organization include the following:
- Work with groups of people who share a common problem;
- Develop leadership through training and providing leadership opportunities, i.e. through direct experience;
- Develop the self-confidence of leaders and potential leaders;
- Encourage groups to develop action plans and implement them;
- Use the mass media to inform the larger community about issues and to gain support;
- Use confrontation when necessary as a means to force a recalcitrant target to negotiate or resolve an issue;
- Leaders, rather than staff, set the agenda for the organization and carry it out.