View RollCall’s coverage of FiscalNote’s announcement of $500,000 in seed funding and stock shares to establish The Wendy Martinez Legacy Project, which will support advancing women in tech and programs that empower women and promote community through running.
How You Can Support Relief Efforts in California
Creative Commons image courtesy of Dawn Armfield
The Camp and Woolsey wildfires have devastated several areas across Northern and Southern California. According to The New York Times, 44 people have died, and 225,500 acres have been scorched as a result.
If you are wondering what you can do in response, there are many ways that you can donate help the people and communities affected.
Local community foundations are extremely important when disaster strikes, because they are experts on the needs of their local communities, have established processes for vetting and giving out resources, and are committed to both the immediate need and the long-term recovery efforts.
Some accredited community foundations in California include:
California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund (Los Angeles County)
North Valley Community Foundation Evacuation Relief Fund
Ventura County Community Foundation has activated the Hill Fire and Woolsey Fire Sudden and Urgent Needs Effort as well as the CONEJO VALLEY VICTIMS FUND to support relief and recovery efforts following the shooting in Thousand Oaks that took 12 lives
In a time when Californians are dealing with multiple tragedies, remember that you can make a difference where it counts: in the local community.
Businesses and individuals together can end homelessness
In a feature article for the Washington Business Journal’s annual Giving Guide, our CEO Bruce McNamer talks about how it is possible to end homelessness if we can increase the supply of supportive and affordable housing and help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move out of shelters and into a stable home.
Maximizing the tax benefits and impact of your giving
Dear donors,
As the end of year approaches, I am amazed at how much we have accomplished together for our community. Thanks to your continued generosity, The Community Foundation made more than $96 million in grants to nonprofits responding to critical needs in our region. This includes Building a Safer, Stronger DC, supporting victims of domestic violence in Prince George’s County, closing the opportunity gap for Montgomery County’s vulnerable youth and families, assisting local workers to launch living-wage careers, and providing assistance to reunite families separated at the border and detained in the region. Learn more about our work and impact in the community from our FY 2018 annual report.
As you are looking for meaningful ways to make a difference this holiday season, now is an ideal time to consider replenishing your fund at The Community Foundation. One of the many benefits of doing your giving through The Community Foundation is that you can add to your fund now, claim the charitable deduction on your FY18 tax filing, and make grants at any time you wish. This is especially attractive under the new tax law — using a donor-advised fund you can bundle multiple years’ worth of giving into one year to gain the maximum tax benefits available.
We can help you maximize the tax benefits and impact from a range of gifts.
You can make gifts of cash via check, credit card, or wire transfer. Click here for details.
Now is a great time to turn gains in your portfolio into charitable support that will make a lasting impact toward strengthening our region. Making a gift of appreciated securities held long-term allows you to take an immediate charitable deduction for the full fair market value while avoiding capital gains taxes typically due upon sale. Click here for our wire transfer instructions.
If you are age 70.5 or older, an IRA charitable rollover (QCD) allows you to make a tax-free transfer of up to $100,000 each year directly to certain types of funds (but not to a DAF) at The Community Foundation without taking the distribution as taxable income. Contact us for more information.
We can also accept gifts of complex assets including closely held stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, or other real assets. Contact us to explore your options.
As you are considering your year-end giving plan, please keep in mind our December 14 deadline for recommending grants to ensure grantees receive the funds by December 31. You may submit grant recommendations through your DonorCentral account. Feel free to contact Kathy Matthews (202-263-4773 or [email protected]) with any questions.
We appreciate your continued partnership and support as we build thriving communities that are more equitable, just and vibrant.
Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season,
Bruce McNamer
President & CEO
P.S. I hope you will consider making a gift to the Fund for Greater Washington to support The Community Foundation's work to build thriving communities in the Greater Washington region.
The Resilience Fund Combats Hate and Intolerance in the Greater Washington Region
Announces New Grants to Local Nonprofits Serving Immigrant and Muslim Communities
The Resilience Fund has announced $200,000 in grants to seven nonprofits supporting our neighbors experiencing hardship as a result of shifting federal policies and growing anti-other sentiment. The grant awards will enable these organizations to provide legal or medical services, conduct advocacy, and help protect the civil rights of immigrants, refugees, Muslims and other vulnerable communities in our region.
“In light of recent tragedies from Pittsburgh to Louisville, we are reminded of both the strength and the vulnerability of our communities, including in the Greater Washington region,” said Tonia Wellons, VP of community investment for the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and Terri D. Wright, VP for program and community for the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, who co-chair the Fund’s Steering Committee. “The Resilience Fund is one tool to help stem the rising tide of intolerance, fear, bigotry, hate and anti-other sentiments that impact us locally. These grants will support the critical work of nonprofits responding to community needs to ensure our neighborhoods remain resilient, thriving, and more equitable and inclusive places to live.”
Grant Awards
The Resilience Fund’s latest grants will support:
DC Law Students in Court to expand immigration representation by leveraging hundreds of pro bono hours from student attorneys who will represent clients seeking release on bond before the Arlington Immigration Court. This will be the first legal clinical program of its kind in DC.
Identity, Inc. to help mitigate the negative consequences of new MCPS policies and practices on immigrant students and their families, including the visitor ID policy, Free and Reduced-Price Meals paper application, and high school athletics registration. Identity will advocate for policies that reduce barriers to equitable participation.
Jews United for Justice to conduct advocacy around the Montgomery County Trust Act, which would formalize rules preventing police and other local emergency services from cooperating with ICE; and the statewide Trust Act which will amend the Maryland Dream Act, so all young people have equal in-state tuition regardless of DACA status.
Justice for Muslims Collective to organize and empower Muslim communities to challenge federal anti-Muslim policies and societal bigotry. JMC will host community-building events, complete a DMV assessment on the needs of Muslim communities, organize rapid response mobilizations, and host community defense and wellness workshops.
League of Women Voters of Virginia to conduct voter services and voter education programs in Northern Virginia, specifically Arlington County, Fairfax area, Loudoun County, and Prince William area.
Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care to provide medical, dental, and behavioral health services to undocumented children separated from their parents at the border and receiving shelter in the region. Mary’s Center will provide behavioral health care in its School Based Mental Health program at 18 public schools, and wraparound care at its health centers.
The Fuller Project for International Reporting to counter hatred and intolerance by expanding its reporting, training, and raising awareness about the issues facing immigrant women, children, and their families.
About the Resilience Fund
The Resilience Fund was created in early 2017 as a collaborative partnership of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, and other foundation and individual contributors. It supports the critical needs of nonprofits who are responding to changes in federal policy and budget priorities, as well as the climate of intolerance and hate, both of which are disproportionately impacting local people of color, and immigrant and refugee communities.
Since the Fund’s inception, it has raised and leveraged more than $1 million and granted out $550,000 to organizations supporting our neighbors affected by changes to immigration and deportation policies, as well as efforts to build community cohesion and combat anti-other sentiment. Grants have supported immigrant-serving organizations providing advocacy, legal representation, medical services, training on legal and civil rights, and assistance with reuniting families separated at the border and detained in Maryland or Virginia. The Fund has also responded to increases in incidents of hate and intolerance in the region by supporting grassroots community engagement, voter education services, and the expansion of educational programs in local schools that teach news literacy as well as tolerance, respect and inclusion.
Call for Proposals
The Resilience Fund is interested in identifying community-based solutions which respond to federal policy shifts impacting our region. Organizations located in or serving the Greater Washington region may submit a letter of inquiry for a rapid response grant to address current or emerging issues affecting our neighbors and communities. We will entertain inquiries linked to immigration, justice reform and civil rights roll-backs, and efforts that expand access to citizenship and democracy including voter registration and participation efforts (GOTV). New proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by the Resilience Fund Steering Committee in 2019.
Grants may support special projects, programs, or include general operating support. Grant awards may range from $10,000-$30,000. For more details on proposal submission guidelines, click here. Letters of inquiry may be submitted through our online application system. Contact Melen Hagos with questions at [email protected].
Join Us!
If you share our commitment to ensuring our communities are strong and resilient, we invite you to stand with us by contributing to the Resilience Fund.
Reflecting on the Tragedy in Pittsburgh
Our hearts are breaking for the innocent victims and families who have lost a life or a loved one to senseless acts of violence fueled by hate and intolerance – from Pittsburgh to Louisville and other tragedies that have afflicted our country. The rhetoric of hate and bigotry has been translated into acts of terror so heinous that there are no suitable words to describe the feelings of grief or to soothe the pain and despair. The growing anti-Semitic, anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ path of pursuit is appalling and conjures up painful events in our country’s history that we have long worked to overcome. But here we are at this juncture once more and, as we reflect on past horrors and mourn the present circumstances, we must also make a clear decision not to abandon our hope for a better future. During these times, we are reminded of both the strength and the vulnerability of communities, including our own, and that there is still more work to be done to more intentionally build a community that values people from all walks of life and fully embraces the strength of our diversity. In the Greater Washington region, we are committed to Building Thriving Communities by continuing the important work to ensure our neighborhoods are more resilient, equitable, just, and enriching places for all who call our region their home.
How you can help those affected by the Mass shooting in pittsburgh
If you’re looking for ways to help the victims and their families, first responders, or the broader Squirrel Hill community, our friends at The Pittsburgh Foundation have launched a Critical Needs crowdfunding program to support organizations assisting victims of the mass shootings at Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill.
The Critical Needs event, under the #LoveIsStronger banner, is underway now and will continue until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at www.pittsburghgives.org, the Foundation’s donation portal. People contributing to one or more of eight designated organizations during that period will have their donation matched dollar-for-dollar by the Foundation – up to $150,000.
The new Donor Central is now live
A new and improved version of Donor Central is now live! You can expect a cleaner interface and better presentation of your fund’s data — including your fund summary, spendable balance and grants activity — along with a streamlined process for grant recommendations.
If you are a current Donor Central user, you should have received a welcome email on Moday, October 29 with a link to access the new Donor Central site. When you visit the new site, you will need to create a new account using your email address as the username. We’ve included a quick start guide for you to read through to help make the transition to the new site as seamless as possible.
To create your new account, please click on the “Don’t have a Blackbaud ID? Create a new one” link, and enter the information requested on the next page. Make sure to use the email address included above as your user name. Once you’ve created your new account, you’ll be ready to access all that Donor Central has to offer.
Please keep in mind: We do NOT recommend that you use the feature to sign in with your Google account (if you have a Gmail address), as that option is less secure than creating a Blackbaud account.
If you have not yet signed up for a Donor Central account, you are welcome to take advantage of this free and secure online tool which makes it easy to submit your grant recommendations and get up-to-date information on your fund balance, gifts and grants. Contact us for more information.
If you have any questions, we are here to help! Please contact us at 202-955-5890 or [email protected].
Meet the 2018 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year
On Thursday, November 1, 2018, The Community Foundation saluted Linda Youngentob as the 2018 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year at our annual Celebration of Giving.
Linda’s philanthropic journey was first shaped by her parents who emphasized tikkun olam, the belief that we all have a responsibility to heal the world. While pursuing a busy career in the telecommunications field, Linda and her husband, Bob, always made giving and volunteerism a top priority for their girls, Lisa, Jamie, and Casey. In addition to supporting numerous international causes, Linda spearheaded the first Mitzvah Day at Washington Hebrew Congregation in 1992, which galvanized hundreds of congregants to volunteer with local nonprofits and has since become a national model adopted by synagogues around the world.
As a faculty member of Montgomery College’s Macklin Business Institute, Linda proudly cheers on her students at graduation.
More recently, Linda felt compelled to focus her professional, volunteer, and philanthropic resources on her main passion: empowering youth to achieve their higher education goals, attain professional success, and give back to the community. She left a successful career in the private sector to become a Macklin Business Institute faculty member at Montgomery College, where she eventually joined the Montgomery College Foundation Board and now co-chairs its Capital Campaign.
While impressed by her students’ talent and drive, she was deeply troubled by the overwhelming barriers holding them back from completing a college degree. To tackle these larger issues, she became a volunteer and board member for several youth-focused organizations: CollegeTracks, FutureLink, and Identity, Inc. She also tapped into her business acumen and networks for Compass, an organization that enables nonprofits to address pressing challenges in order to make a deeper impact.
Linda worked one-on-one with CollegeTracks students and served on the Board, helping the organization expand to serve hundreds more students dreaming of earning a college degree.
In 2014, Linda and Bob took the next step in their philanthropic journey by opening a giving fund at The Community Foundation. Linda quickly became an active member of our Sharing Montgomery Grants Committee, lending her keen analytical skills to assess high-impact nonprofits supporting our County’s low-income neighbors. While connecting and learning from other inspiring philanthropists, Linda quickly found even more ways to activate her friends and family to experience the deep joy in giving back.
All of us at The Community Foundation express our deep appreciation to Linda for her thoughtful leadership, tireless advocacy, and strategic philanthropy which have touched the lives of so many throughout our community. She is an inspiring example of the positive difference each of us can make when we give where we live.
SOME CET Preparing Adult Learners for Careers in Healthcare
This post is part of a series highlighting the impact of our grantmaking through the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative. Launched in 2008, this coalition of funders aligns its investments in effective, data-driven workforce development efforts. Grantees are selected to receive funding and lead sector partnerships. So Others Might Eat Center for Employment Training (SOME CET) is one of three grantees from our most recent round of awards.
The SOME CET is a tuition-free adult workforce-training program that prepares adult learners for national, industry-recognized certifications for careers in healthcare and building trades like engineering, electrical, HVAC, and more. The program empowers people to move themselves out of homelessness and poverty and into living wage careers through hard and soft skills training, adult basic education, and career development.
Greater Washington Works selected SOME CET to lead a healthcare sector partnership that trains and places DC and Prince George’s County residents in Certified Medical Assistant and Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist occupations. The organization has partnered with the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation and employer partners including Abundant Health Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Providence Hospital, and Unity Health Care. “Because of this initiative, the number MD residents enrolling in SOME CET has increased by 172 percent between January and October of 2018, making them the fastest growing subpopulation of our students,” says Emily Price, SOME CET’s Chief Program Officer. “Moreover, the grant funds offered through GWW have allowed us to expand to meet this demand and initiate some best practices in the field of Adult Ed and Workforce Development.”
IMPACT STORY: CHARLES DOZIER as told by SOME CET
Charles Dozier is one of the most remarkable individuals we have worked with during this grant period. Mr. Dozier distinguished himself throughout the program with his professionalism, enthusiasm for the medical field, and drive for excellence and self-improvement.
Mr. Dozier maintained a 3.6 grade point average while excelling in his basic skills courses. As evidence of this, he attained an educational functioning level gain in reading (equivalent to 2 or more grade levels of primary school) and a point gain (equal to more than one grade level) in math. Mr. Dozier also successfully passed his National Healthcareer Association Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam. During this time, he was also in the process of applying to Georgetown University and was accepted after completing their interview process.
Mr. Dozier served as an extern at Providence Hospital, one of our industry sector partners, and was hired on 4/9/2018. One of the benefits about this job that he found most appealing was that Providence offers tuition assistance, allowing him to continue his education. While he has delayed his enrollment to Georgetown due to both time and financial considerations, Mr. Dozier has registered at UDC and intends to begin prerequisites for a nursing degree this coming fall.
The Workforce Collaborative is a coalition of local workforce investors who share a common commitment to addressing poverty and income inequality by helping workers advance their skills and credentials so they can earn family-sustaining wages. Current Collaborative partners include The Community Foundation, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase & Co., the Consumer Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, the Moriah Fund, Northern Virginia Health Foundation, the Weiss Fagen Fund, the Marian Osterweis Fund, United Way of the National Capital Area, and the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.
Greater Washington Works is a $1 million grantmaking initiative of the Collaborative designed to address local employer hiring challenges by meeting the talent needs of local IT and Healthcare employers. Greater Washington Works will support at least 250 local workers to launch living-wage careers in the IT and Healthcare sectors.
Preparing Our Region for the Future of Work
By Benton Murphy, Senior Director of Community Investment at The Community Foundation
![School+at+Work+Students[2].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58f791ec37c58188d411874a/1540581049324-JZJZAX4HMWWEZETX2DB0/School%2Bat%2BWork%2BStudents%5B2%5D.jpg)
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative, I am reminded of how The Collaborative was established at a time when our region was gripped by the Great Recession, with unemployment spiking to more than 7 percent and many of our neighbors unable to meet basic needs for food, shelter and healthcare. The Greater Washington Community Foundation helped mobilize and direct the local philanthropic response with major investments in homelessness, hunger, and education. The Collaborative was an opportunity to bring local philanthropists and businesses together to support both immediate and long-term solutions by investing in job training in fields from green construction to healthcare to help more of our neighbors get good, living wage jobs.
Ten years later, unemployment in our region is down (currently at 3.5 percent) and conditions have improved for many of our neighbors. Yet economic insecurity still remains a major challenge for many residents, especially people of color, and the Workforce Collaborative’s work is even more relevant today than when it was founded. Our recent VoicesDMV community engagement initiative surveyed more than 3,000 local residents on their experience in their communities and their overall quality of life. When asked what would happen if they lost their current sources of income, one in three people said they would not have enough money to continue to live as they do today for more than two months. This share rose to nearly half of people without a bachelor’s degree and more than half of people with household incomes below $50,000.
Our low unemployment rate masks deep issues of income inequality in our region. Black workers make just 47 percent of what whites make in Washington, DC alone, according to Census data. Since the Great Recession our local job market has become even more competitive, with a greater and greater share of job openings requiring some form of post-secondary education. Many jobs that once were the mainstay of the middle class—from bank tellers to librarians to cashiers at your local grocery store—are disappearing due to automation.
The impact on our workforce is clear—today average firms employ fewer workers and offer fewer opportunities for workers with no postsecondary education or training. The result is a widening gap between rich and poor that is keeping many un- or under-employed stagnating in low-wage work or struggling to meet the demands of multiple part-time positions. Yet access to job training programs is a challenge for many in our region, with nearly a third of Prince George’s County and Montgomery County residents rating access to education and training as a “major” barrier to finding a job, according to VoicesDMV.
It is with this reality in mind that The Community Foundation has refreshed our workforce development strategy to orient toward the Future of Work. We will continue our work to eliminate income gaps, especially those based on race or ethnicity, but with a specific focus on connecting workers to quality job opportunities in the occupations of tomorrow to help them enter and advance in their careers, build skills, and increase wages. We will also make investments in small businesses and local entrepreneurs that make up an increasing share of our local economy.
Enter into this new economic reality the potential for Amazon HQ2, with an estimated 50,000 new high-paying jobs. HQ2 presents a tremendous opportunity to spur our region’s growth, but what will it do to our relative prosperity? A recent op-ed by our CEO Bruce McNamer and Sarah Rosen Wartell from Urban Institute pointed out how racial and economic inequities that have long plagued our region could prevent many residents from having equal access to these new jobs, modern housing and other amenities that growth brings.
I interviewed some of our region’s workforce development system and policy leaders to hear their thoughts. Will these new jobs be offered to local residents rather than importing workers from across the country to fill these high-skill, high-wage jobs? Local leaders are hopeful that at least 50 percent of Amazon’s new workforce will be local, and yet they are also concerned that many in our region do not have the skills or experience to compete effectively against imported workers from other regions. Amazon’s recent partnership with Northern Virginia Community College— to provide a specialized Cloud Computing credential for its Amazon Web Services operation in Northern Virginia— has made local leaders hopeful that Amazon will think locally to meet its talent pipeline needs and provide opportunities for local residents to land fulfilling careers at Amazon.
As we consider the Future of Work in our region, we will look to continue to find ways to help employers—like Amazon—get connected to the right workers with the right skills. We will also work to examine closely how our region can offset the negative consequences that economic development on the scale that HQ2 can bring. From massive pressures to our transportation infrastructure, local schools, and, perhaps most worryingly, an increase in the upward pressure on housing prices and exacerbate our region’s existing housing affordability crisis, Amazon’s presence is a double-edged sword. The Community Foundation, through the Collaborative and our other Future of Work investments—can be a place where philanthropy can support efforts to ensure that all our region’s residents can benefit from the prosperity that Amazon may bring to the region.
If you’re interested in learning more about our focus on the future of work, I encourage you to take advantage of the following resources:
Plan Ahead to Maximize Your Year-End Giving
The Greater Washington Community Foundation would like to acknowledge the generosity exhibited by our donors in 2018. Throughout the year you’ve continued to demonstrate a strong philanthropic spirit by maintaining and establishing new funds, and recommending thousands of grants to local and national nonprofit organizations.
In an effort to assist you with carrying out your end-of-year philanthropic goals, please see below for The Community Foundation’s deadlines regarding year-end giving and grantmaking activities:
RECOMMENDING GRANTS FROM YOUR FUND
Grant recommendations submitted by December 14 will be processed by December 31, provided the grantee organization meets The Community Foundation’s due diligence requirements. Due to increased volume, we cannot guarantee that grant recommendations submitted after December 14 will be processed and mailed in 2018.
PLEASE NOTE: Grants submitted prior to December 14, 2018 must also be approved (meeting The Community Foundation’s due diligence requirements) to be processed and mailed by December 31, 2018.
Grant recommendations should be submitted through your Donor Central account. Questions regarding Donor Central can be forwarded to Emily Davis (202-973-2501, [email protected]).
MAKING GIFTS TO THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Stock and cash gifts (check, wire, online) submitted to The Community Foundation by December 31 will be earmarked as a 2018 contribution. Please note: The gift must be in The Community Foundation’s account by this day to be eligible for a 2018 tax deduction.
Gifts made online:
Gifts can be made online at www.thecommunityfoundation.org.
Gifts made via check can be sent to:
Attn: Finance Department
Greater Washington Community Foundation
1325 G Street NW
Suite 480
Washington, DC 20005
*Please include the name of the fund in the memo line of the check.
**Checks sent by US Postal Service mail can be earmarked as a 2018 contribution if postmarked by the US Postal Service on or before December 31.
Gifts of cash or securities made via wire transfer:
Please see the instructions for making gifts of cash or securities by wire transfer. Please contact the Finance Department at 202-955-5890 if there are any questions. Monies must be in The Community Foundation’s account by December 31, to be earmarked as a 2018 contribution.
Gifts made via transfer from mutual funds:
In order for gifts made from mutual funds submitted to The Community Foundation to be received by December 31 and earmarked as a 2018 contribution, the transfer must be initiated by December 7, 2018.
Investing in Root Cause Solutions to Addressing Poverty
The Green Clean Coop, photo courtesy of Impact Silver Spring
Starting a business can be challenging under any circumstances, but especially when you are committed to doing it cooperatively. That was the challenge—and opportunity—when five Montgomery County residents came together under the auspices of the nonprofit IMPACT Silver Spring to start a worker-owned environmentally-friendly cleaning service. Cooperative members pooled their savings for start-up equipment and supplies while graphic design and marketing help were provided by connections made through the IMPACT network. The result: The Green Clean Cooperative.
IMPACT also helped birth a financial lending cooperative, among other ventures. It’s an entrepreneurial model that attracted the attention of the Greater Washington Community Foundation and led to a grant from the Catalyst Fund. The new fund is focused on community-based efforts to support small business, mirco-enterprise development and entrepreneurship. In addition to IMPACT Silver Spring, grants ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 were awarded to CASA, Crossroads Community Food Network and Life Asset. Read more about these grants from the Catalyst Fund.
“The Catalyst Fund grants underscore the importance of investing in wealth-building and entrepreneurship and signal a need for more philanthropists and funders to invest in preparing workers for The Future of Work,” said Tonia Wellons, The Community Foundation’s Vice President of Community Investment. “The Community Foundation is making this one of the hallmarks of its strategy to disrupt poverty and build thriving communities across the Greater Washington region.”
According to the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, the median net worth of business owners is almost 2.5 times higher than non-business owners. For people of color, the distinction is even greater. Just ask Amilcar Pena. As a worker-owner of the Green Clean Cooperative, he is taking home around $20 an hour, compared to the $10 to $12 he would earn working for a private company, he says.
“It’s heartening to see The Community Foundation investing in innovative strategies that go beyond managing symptoms to root cause solutions,” said IMPACT Silver Spring Executive Director Jayne Park. “While jobs can help people get out of poverty, they need assets to stay out of poverty.”
The Catalyst Fund grew out of The Community Foundation’s long history of supporting job training and workforce development solutions, including through leading the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative for the last decade. It was created after an anonymous donor passed away in 2016, leaving a $6 million bequest for an endowed fund. His wish was to see the gift benefit the Greater Washington region—a place he called home for 50 years.
In his later years, the donor discussed with his financial advisor, Nicholas Durso of Sun Trust Bank, how best to create a lasting legacy. “He was a good man who wanted to help people who wanted to help themselves,” says Durso. The Community Foundation offered the perfect vehicle: a field of interest fund that allows donors to support organizations working within a specific geographic region toward a specific purpose.
“The Community Foundation offered the infrastructure and expertise and has been the perfect partner,” said Durso, who works closely with the staff. “In recommending grantees, they’ll say, ‘you knew the donor best, what are your thoughts?’ It’s a collaborative relationship.” The Catalyst Fund “is a reminder of what a great man he was,” says Durso of his client.
The anonymous donor would undoubtedly be pleased to know that 10 months after the Green Clean Cooperative was launched, it already has 19 clients and is providing steady income for the worker-owners who share in profits and continue to put money back into the business every month.
Establishing a legacy fund with the Greater Washington Community Foundation is an excellent way to create a lasting impact. To learn more, please contact Vice President, Development and Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Rebecca Rothey at 202-263-4766 or [email protected].
Art with a Purpose
Guest post by Jessica Truitt, Deputy Director, Kid Power, Inc.
This is the fifth post in a new blog series on “Building A Safer, Stronger DC,” featuring stories from grantees of the City Fund Safer, Stronger DC portfolio. View the full series here.
“Ohhhmmmmmmm”. That is what one might expect to hear in a yoga class or what immediately comes to mind when thinking of the practice of mindfulness. It sounds goofy, perhaps embarrassing, and not something that everyone wants to say, especially in front of others. However, mindfulness is so much more, and incredibly beneficial when working with students.
Mindfulness is the act of being present and calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings. It can be done individually, in a group, and through a variety of different conduits. “Ohm” doesn’t even have to be mentioned once. Studies have found that when students practice mindfulness, there are wide-ranging benefits, including cognitive outcomes (attention, focus, and improvement of grades), social-emotional skills (emotional regulation, empathy, perspective taking, behavior in school, and increased social skills), and overall wellbeing (lessening of anxiety, stress, posttraumatic symptoms, and depression)[i].
With school-aged children, practicing mindfulness can take on many forms. This includes doing “body scans”, guided deep breathing exercises, or giving students the time and space to reflect on their actions and self-calm. Many schools and after-school programs have adopted mindfulness practices into their lesson plans with promising results. The Washington Post, the Wall-Street Journal, and other publications have highlighted successes of mindfulness in schools, with some schools replacing detention with “mindfulness rooms” or incorporating it into morning meetings. Schools have found that after practicing mindfulness, their students exhibit more compassion and engagement, have better emotion regulation, and are better able to focus on the task at hand[ii].
At Kid Power, a DC-based non-profit that has been serving elementary and middle school students and their families for the past seventeen years, the addition of mindfulness to our enrichment programs seemed a natural fit. Kid Power seeks to inspire youth leadership by promoting academic advancement, physical and emotional wellness, and positive civic engagement in traditionally underserved communities throughout the District of Columbia. Serving over 400 students through free after-school enrichment programming and an additional 150 students during our free Summer Leadership Academy, we provide students with a wide range of activities that enhance our holistic approach, including Citizenship (leadership, youth voice, and community service), Academics (Academic Power Hour and STEM programming), and VeggieTime (gardening, nutrition, and environmental science).
Inspired by the mindfulness movement, Kid Power successfully piloted our Art with a Purpose weekly enrichment program at all elementary school program sites during the 2017-18 school year as an extension of our civic engagement, leadership, and wellness programming. While providing students with a creative outlet, Art with a Purpose lessons were designed to get students thinking about how they handle and express their emotions, how to self-reflect and self-calm, and how to positively work with others. Students participated in activities such as making necklaces, where each color reflected a mood or emotion that they had experienced that day or creating masks where half of the space showed the self that was shown to others and the other half expressed what the student was going through internally. Each lesson is written with discussion and reflection questions, providing youth with the space and structure to share feelings and observations about their emotions.
While we may not have roomfuls of students chanting “Ohm” or quietly meditating, we believe that incorporating mindfulness into hands-on and engaging activities is incredibly beneficial to the students that we serve. In fact, according to our year-end surveys, 95% of parents said that due to Kid Power programming, their students had better conflict resolution skills, while 86% of students gained more self-confidence.
Programs like these enhances Kid Power’s strong commitment to civic engagement and leadership programming and are incredibly easy to incorporate. Devoting time and resources to developing programs that acknowledge the internal development of the child are incredibly important, whether this be a full enrichment period, a brief check-in, or giving a student the space and time to sit quietly and reflect.
[i] Mindful Schools. Research on Mindfulness. August 30, 2018. https://www.mindfulschools.org/about-mindfulness/research/#reference-29
[ii] Mindful Schools. About Mindfulness. August 30, 2018. https://www.mindfulschools.org/about-mindfulness/research/#reference-29
We Are All About Community
Guest post by Lizzie Majewski, Director of Operations at Teens Run DC
This is the fourth post in a new blog series on “Building A Safer, Stronger DC,” featuring stories from grantees of the City Fund Safer, Stronger DC portfolio. View the full series here.
Who are we? Teens Run DC!
What do we do? We Run This City! – Saturday practice cheer
We are all seeking OUR PEOPLE, our TRIBE, our COMMUNITY. Whatever you call it, we strive for this connection to others in the groups that we form. We seek out community to find support, love, and a sense of security. A community is not made up of one type of person, but it is often colorful and inclusive. Teens Run DC, which I have had the pleasure of being a part of for over two years as a staff member and volunteer, is the type of community that you want to talk about, and return to time and time again. It is the community that makes you feel full and joyful because the people are so great. Teens Run DC, a nonprofit serving youth through mentoring and running programs, is composed of a vibrant community of youth, parents, teachers, volunteers, mentors, and staff. Now in its ninth year, it is a community that has made its impact on Washington D.C. and continues to offer a place for those looking for family, a sense of home and security, and lasting friendship.
Community for Teens Run DC foremost starts with the creation of a healthy and safe space for our youth. Teens Run DC ultimately promotes the physical, social, and emotional well-being of youth through two critical avenues: mentoring and distance running. At our seven partner schools throughout the District, Teens Run DC offers in school and out- of -school practices and events. In their in school sessions, our trained Coaches/Mentors teach kids crucial SEL (social-emotional learning) topics that will help them thrive amongst their peers and in their greater community. Youth learn to communicate and to lead, and to set goals for their day and for their future. Example topics from sessions include communication and leadership, healthy eating and nutrition, running form and safety, and stress management.
Youth often come to Teens Run DC looking to escape the chaos, stress, or even bullying they may experience in the lunch room or at recess, and most importantly they come to feel connected to the other members of Teens Run DC, as well as their Coach. Many of these youth then come back for after-school practices, where topics from the classroom are built upon during physical activity. By teaching kids to set goals and train for races, we hope to foster their increased connectedness to others, self-efficacy, and physical and academic performance. Furthermore, we hope that our Coaches have instilled transferable skills onto youth to help them navigate an increasingly violent and divided society. The youth we serve grapple with the trauma of exposure to community violence. Schools in struggling neighborhoods need additional support to address problematic behaviors and attitudes that impact social emotional well-being, ultimately leading to high rates of academic failure. Truancy, out-of-school suspensions, and low graduation rates indicate inadequate support to address complex student needs; and are risk factors for cyclical violence and poverty, which disproportionately impact individuals of color throughout DC. By placing strong Coaches and Mentors at school sites, we offer non-judgmental leaders for students who may just need another listener. Coaches are available to students both in and out of the classroom.
Alee Wade, the Associate Program Manager and coach for the Saturday Mentoring program, describes her view of how the program has impacted youth. She states:
“We create a safe, welcoming space for youth to connect with adults and other youth, fostering personal growth. Disconnected youth not only become engrained in our community but also find their voice and learn more about themselves. For example, the first time I met one of our students Michael*, he was quiet and reserved. As time progressed, he became more comfortable with our community and began to open up to me and share information about his life. He eventually would not leave practice without saying goodbye and giving me a hug. It was impactful knowing I played a role in this student’s personal growth!"
Outside of its school program, Teens Run DC holds a Saturday Mentoring Program weekly at Yard’s Park where youth are paired with individual mentors to both run with and interact with outside of practice time. John*, a regular at our practices, has found his community through this aspect of Teens Run DC’s programming. It all started when Jen Edmond, former Director of Programs, found John running near Yard’s Park one weekend over a year ago. She invited him to join Teens Run at our weekly Saturday practices. John started showing up, and he kept coming back. Fast forward one year later, and John has found his voice and his groove at Teens Run DC. He has taken almost five minutes off of his 5k time (This is a very BIG DEAL), and he rarely misses a Saturday practice or race. He usually crosses the finish line displaying one of his signature dance moves, and he has even been noticed and congratulated by the top finishers of Park Runs, which are informal 5ks Teens Run DC participates in at Anacostia Park once per month. In addition to his physical growth, we can tell that John has found a community at Teens Run DC and truly enjoys his time with us.
Executive Director Steve Hocker notes of his experience, “The work our Team does with Teens Run DC is life changing for us as individuals, because of the impact we have on the lives of the youth we serve in DC.” Steve and his wife Linda never miss Saturday practice, and Steve has been a crucial mentor to John on his journey.
Those who are seeking community can come to Teens Run DC, and they will be welcomed. Too often we tell people what we are looking for and forget to accept people as they are. If you are ever in Yard’s Park on a Saturday from September-May, think about joining us. Teens Run DC is open to all: old and young; runners and walkers; introverts and extroverts; and locals and travelers. You do not have to be a teen to join. Volunteers come to DC from all over the country, looking for a place where they can make an impact in their community. Youth come from various schools to find friends and supportive, caring adults. We strive to create a safe community, where kids can escape violence and bullying and work through the issues they may be facing at school or at home. Our hope is that youth will become invested in our community and then their own community, creating positive impact in the larger world.
*Name has been changed
Defending Procedural Justice in DC
Guest post by Abigail Scott, Esq., Co-Director, Civil Protection Order Project of DC Law Students in Court
This is the third post in a new blog series on “Building A Safer, Stronger DC,” featuring stories from grantees of the City Fund Safer, Stronger DC portfolio. View the full series here.
Photo courtesy of DC Law Students in Court
Every year thousands of individuals in DC appear without representation to defend themselves against allegations of criminal conduct in Civil Protection Order (CPO) proceedings. They face losing custody of their children, deportation, incarceration, or other severe consequences we generally think are only the result of criminal proceedings - where defendants have guaranteed counsel and the government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. No such procedural protections exist for CPO respondents facing the same consequences. Additionally, petitioners need only prove the alleged conduct by a preponderance of the evidence, and they are much more often represented by counsel. The shocking lack of procedural protections makes it exceedingly difficult for the accused to discredit fabricated allegations.
Consider this typical outcome for an unrepresented CPO respondent: last year, a woman’s ex-husband served her with a CPO petition after a yearlong custody battle. At one point, her ex-husband had gotten aggressive and she grabbed a knife to defend herself, but never used it. Nonetheless, her ex-husband had heard a CPO could supercede the family court order that granted her full custody. She was served and days later had to defend herself in a CPO trial. She did not know how to admit evidence or cross-examine her ex-husband. She lost and the judge granted the CPO, giving her ex-husband temporary custody and issuing a no-contact order. Months later, she texted him to ask about their daughters. She was arrested and charged with criminal contempt. At that point, she became a client of Law Students in Court’s (LSIC) criminal clinic. She faced 180 days in jail and a $1000 fine. Because her CPO was not appealed, her defense attorney could not argue that the order was invalid or that she never threatened her husband. The government easily proved that she had sent the text. Had an attorney intervened during her CPO proceeding, her life would be vastly different. Instead, she lost custody of her children and now has a criminal record that defines her future opportunities.
With seed money from the City Fund, DC Law Students in Court (LSIC) officially launched the Civil Protection Order Project (CPOP) in late Spring 2018 to address this need. LSIC provides high quality legal assistance to thousands of the District's poorest residents each year. In particular, its work on behalf of CPO respondents serves a critical need that no other organization provides. CPOP represents respondents in Civil Protection Order (CPO) matters at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. CPOP’s office space is located in the courthouse building, in the same hallway as the courtrooms that hear CPO matters, making CPOP accessible to respondents on the day of their trial. With the support of the City Fund, CPOP was able to bring on a full-time staff member and presently provides same day and extended services at the court office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
When a petitioner files a petition for CPO, a trial date is set two weeks out and the petitioner may use those two weeks to prepare for trial. Unfortunately, respondents are typically not alerted to the fact that they have a CPO trial until a few days before, and have no organization other than CPOP available to help them understand what it means, what are the effects, or what is needed to challenge the allegations. By contrast, there are more than 10 legal services organizations in the DC area which provide representation to petitioners. A majority of persons represented by CPOP reside in Wards 7 and 8 and are often the most in need of legal assistance.
When both petitioner and respondent appear in court on the day of their CPO trial, both parties are required to first speak with the court negotiators. The negotiators cannot offer advice or discuss any legal ramifications of consent CPOs. As a result, respondents often say that the negotiators and the court do not “hear” their concerns or wishes and are only accounting for those of petitioners, who are more than likely represented by counsel. This can feel frustrating and disincline a respondent to adhere to any obligations imposed through the CPO. CPOP has been successful in mitigating these concerns by stepping in and facilitating peaceful resolutions, thus ensuring compliance with the orders in the long run.
When people involved in intrafamily disputes are assisted there is a reduced opportunity for disagreements to escalate. We help avoid conflict before it happens in a structured setting where both parties have opportunity to air any concerns. We ensure that both sides negotiate a settlement in a non-violent manner in their cases. LSIC and the CPOP staff members would like to thank the City Fund for its critical support of our project that is reducing intrafamily violence and serving those most in need in the District.
Schedule of Fall 2018 Donor Site Visits
Join our Sharing DC and Sharing Montgomery Committees to visit high-impact nonprofits serving our region. Site visits offer a great way for The Community Foundation’s donors to learn about some of the most critical issues facing our communities and the organizations working to address them. Each visit typically lasts one hour, which includes time to talk with the organization’s leadership about the mission and goals, tour the facilities, observe a program in action, or talk directly with people whose lives have been touched by this work.
To attend any of the site visits below, please contact [email protected]. Directions and additional information about each visit will be sent to registered guests as the dates draw near.
Tuesday, September 25
10:30 a.m., DC
Community of Hope creates opportunities for low-income families (30% of which are headed by youth) experiencing homelessness to achieve good health, a stable home, family-sustaining income. Community of Hope’s temporary housing program, Girard Street Family Shelter, provides temporary shelter and supportive services for 20 homeless families with children, while their transitional housing program provides apartment-style housing and supportive services for 10 homeless families with children where the head of household is in recovery from substance abuse. Permanent housing solutions are also offered through scattered-site homes.
Wednesday, September 26
2:00 p.m., DC
Casa Ruby manages a 24-Hour Support Services Center that provides immediate and/or emergency support to clients, including but not limited to: food, clothing, emergency care and referrals to other services. Casa Ruby also provides case management, peer youth counseling, DC ID vouchers, legal, health and other wrap around services to its target populations. Casa Ruby runs the Trans Life Center and Drop In Center which daily extends a full range of support, that also includes career services all complemented by our on-site preventive health services testing for sexually transmitted illnesses and weekly group therapy to address mental health.
Tuesday, October 2
11:00 a.m., DC
Since its founding, Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) has connected homeless LGBTQ youth with housing and has provided them with free clothing and toiletries, showering facilities, and donated cell phones and lap tops. SMYAL also offers the Transitional Living Program for runaway homeless LGBTQ youth 18-24. The Transitional Living program facilitates movement towards greater self-sufficiency and successful achievement of goals. Young people are encouraged to explore their interests and futures in the areas of employment and career, education, living situation, personal effectiveness and well-being, and community-life functioning.
Thursday, October 4
11:00 a.m., DC
Sasha Bruce Youthwork (SBY) works to improve the lives of runaway, homeless and disconnected youth in the Washington area. Services include transitional housing, counseling, life skills training, workforce preparation and positive youth development activities. SBY offers programs such as transitional housing for homeless young women and their babies in Ward 7, as well as a Homeless Youth Drop-in Center which uses a harm reduction framework for unaccompanied youth up to the age of 24.
Wednesday, October 10
10:00 a.m., DC
Pathways to Housing DC’s Housing First program focuses on getting people with severe psychiatric disabilities and other complex medical challenges off the streets and into a safe and stable place of their own. The traditional pre-conditions such as sobriety or documented mental health treatment that must be met before the person is offered housing are taken away, but each person served is held accountable in other ways. Each program participant signs their own lease for an apartment that they choose and 30% of their income is relegated towards their rent.
Thursday, October 11
1:00 p.m., Montgomery County
EveryMind (formerly known as the Mental Health Association) provides crisis intervention, supportive listening and referrals through the suicide prevention hotline. It is also the lead of Serving Together which utilizes technology and a network of partners to guide veterans, service members, and their families to the most appropriate services and resources available.
2:30 p.m., Montgomery County
Family Services serves over 12,000 vulnerable residents with a wide array of programs. Join us to learn about its supports services to help low-income parents with young children achieve financial stability and career counseling and life-skills development for parenting teens.
Monday, October 15
3:15 p.m., Montgomery County
Liberty’s Promise provides an after‐school and internship program for young immigrants and first-generation American students to deepen their civic education and gain valuable job skills.
Tuesday, October 16
2:00 p.m., DC
Miriam’s Kitchen provides services including meals to street outreach, wraparound services for permanent supportive housing, case management, and social services for people experiencing homelessness. Almost half of those served by Miriam’s Kitchen live with a medical, mental, or other disabling conditions while a third report problems with drugs or alcohol. Additionally, Miriam’s Kitchen serves as an advocate to improve the homeless services system and find more equitable housing solutions.
Monday, October 22
9:00 a.m., DC
Latin American Youth Center’s (LAYC) homeless youth Drop-In Center (DIC) program, provides referrals to safe and stable housing for runaway, homeless, street, and unstably housed youth. The DIC offers comprehensive services and support for these young people through emergency care and supplies, crisis intervention, coordinated entry assessment, case management, family intervention, and aftercare support. In addition, LAYC has created the innovative Promotor Pathway® to assist the region's most vulnerable youth. These young people work one-on-one with Promotores (guides/navigators) who build long-term relationships and connect youth to the full range of programs and services they need to become successful young adults.
Wednesday, October 24
11:00 a.m., DC
The Neighbors First Families program of Friendship Place provides long-term, wraparound, supportive services to formerly homeless families with children. Many of the families are housed in units that are unsafe or inadequate, and their long-term stability hinges on being able to relocate to safer housing where well-being and recovery are possible. Friendship Place serves those with serious mental health challenges and who have had a long history of homelessness, to those who’ve become recently displaced by a job loss, health set-back or family crisis and who need only short-term help to get back on their feet.
Thursday, October 25
10:00 a.m., Montgomery County
Red Wiggler Community Farm provides comprehensive on‐farm training and education programs for adults with developmental disabilities. In addition to providing organic produce to the community, the farm’s surplus food is donated to local group homes and the Manna Food Center to help alleviate hunger.
Tuesday, October 30
5:00 p.m., DC
Today’s homeless women are beset by layers of challenges, including being under- or unemployed, unskilled, uneducated and suffering from addictions, trauma, and/or mental health problems. Generational homelessness is more often an issue, leaving women who have never experienced stability of home, work and family. New Endeavors by Women (NEW) combats these challenges through programs which provide safe shelter, advocacy and case management, independent living skills education, substance abuse recovery assistance, parenting skills training, academic enrichment activities, employment and career counseling, and strategies for obtaining and maintaining permanent affordable housing.
Tuesday, November 6
10:00 a.m., Montgomery County
Stepping Stones Shelter provides emergency shelter and support for approximately 88 homeless families with children each year. Its programs help families provide hope for the future while promoting self‐sufficiency.
11:30 a.m., Montgomery County
Hearts & Homes for Youth provides shelter and support to youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, mental health issues, homelessness, and other trauma. Its programs aim to help youth make positive life choices and build brighter futures.
Wednesday, November 7
1:30 p.m., Montgomery County
Manna Food Center is Montgomery County’s primary food bank which serves over 35,000 people annually through its Smart Sacks and summer food programs for children, food recovery partnerships with local restaurants and caterers, and the main food distribution program which helps families struggling to put food on the table. Join us to learn about Manna’s ambitious plans to expand its reach to help an additional 10,000 people each year.
Friday, November 9
1:00 p.m., Montgomery County
Housing Unlimited provides affordable, independent housing for adults in mental health recovery in Montgomery County.
Tuesday, November 13
6:30 p.m., Montgomery County
FutureLink provides a career exploration and self-advocacy program for economically disadvantaged college students. Following the 14-week seminar, students benefit from mentoring, tutoring, academic advising, scholarships, and internships geared to help them graduate from college and secure jobs which provide a living wage.
Tuesday, November 27
10:00 a.m., Montgomery County
Identity, Inc. provides programs and services to help more than 3,000 Latino youth and their families reach their highest potential and successfully transition to adulthood. Using a trauma-informed, positive youth development approach, Identity’s programs include leadership and academic enrichment for middle and high schoolers, mental health counseling, gang prevention/intervention programs, and workforce development.
11:30 a.m., Montgomery County
CCI Health and Wellness Services connects low-income patients with holistic healthcare services delivered by a multilingual and diverse staff. Join us to learn about the adolescent health services which equip teens and young adults with reproductive healthcare, integrated health services, and education.
Thursday, November 29
3:30 p.m., Montgomery County
Asian American LEAD provides afterschool, mentoring, and summer programming for low‐income and underserved Asian American youth that promotes positive identity development through education, leadership development, and community building programs.
Saturday, December 1
10:00 a.m., Montgomery County
Horizons Greater Washington addresses the “summer slide” problem in which students lose reading and math skills over the summer months. Horizons sticks with K-8th youth over nine years, providing a summer camp and school-year Saturday support filled with academic, recreational, and enrichment activities geared to kindle a lifelong passion for learning and foster collaboration, creative problem-solving, and grit.
Thursday, December 6
4:30 p.m., Montgomery County
Per Scholas offers a free IT training, certification, and career placement programming for individuals from often overlooked communities that equip them with the skills to enter the diverse technical workforce of today.
6:00 p.m., Montgomery County
IMPACT Silver Spring facilitates community networking programs and events focused on building intentional relationships among diverse peoples to foster trust, collaboration, and value exchange in the pursuit of healthier individuals, families, and neighborhoods.
Tuesday, December 11
2:00 p.m., Montgomery County
Mary’s Center operates federally qualified health centers to provide healthcare, family literacy, and social services. It uses a holistic, multipronged approach to help all patients access individualized services that set them on the path toward good health, stable families, and economic independence. Join us to tour the newly expanded site in Silver Spring.
Tuesday, December 18
2:00 p.m., Montgomery County
CollegeTracks works one-on-one with over 1,000 high school students, particularly those who are low-income and first in their families to go to college. The personalized coaching approach helps students navigate the college application and financial aid process. Volunteers and alumni then follow-up to help ensure students enroll, persist, and graduate from college or technical school.
Wednesday, December 19
10:30 a.m., Montgomery County
Interfaith Works serves over 16,000 people each year with emergency food, shelter, clothing, and other vital services. Join us to learn how the organization has realigned its programs and services to go deeper, helping our lowest-income neighbors lift themselves out of poverty instead of merely responding to crises.
Mentoring Matters
Guest post by Rev. Judie S. Martin, Executive Director, InnerCity Collaborative Community Development Corporation
This is the second post in a new blog series on “Building A Safer, Stronger DC,” featuring stories from grantees of the City Fund Safer, Stronger DC portfolio. View the full series here.
On a 95-degree day, high risk intervention strategist (mentor) Ronnie Myers ventured to Lincoln Heights to pick up five youth, ages 13-19. He gazed across the street to see what they see on a daily basis – crime, drug deals, fancy cars pulling into and out of the public housing complex, elderly women at the bus stop and young mothers with children just hanging out on the block. The youth thank Mr. Myers for coming to take them out for a meal at Chipotle and to talk about the upcoming school year. The conversation is mixed with highs and lows. The highlights are around going to school and having somewhere else to go every day. The lows are wondering whether they will make it through the year, as they begin to recount the friends that have been shot, bullied and even killed, just going to or from school. But despite all of that, they are eager and glad to hear about programs offered by the InnerCity Collaborative Community Development Corporation, including mentoring, housing assistance, counseling, and other social service referrals.
Through the Credible Messenger Initiative of the District’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services and with funding support from Safer, Stronger DC, InnerCity Collaborative CDC has been able to work with some of the toughest youth, engaging in some of the riskiest behavior. These children and adolescents are at important periods of development and are vulnerable to taking the wrong step, which is why mentors are important for them. Mentors may not be able to change how fast a child’s brain develops or force a child to make certain decisions, but mentors can share their worldviews, experiences, knowledge, support and advice, as well as provide a positive influence. By introducing youth to new experiences and sharing positive values, mentors can help young people avoid negative behaviors and achieve success.
For example, another youth in our program has turned her artistic talent into a t-shirt that is being promoted as the DYRS call to action for anti-gun violence campaign, GUNZ DOWN DC. She and several other youths from our program are helping to promote this CTA on several media outlets throughout the city. Many of these youth, who have been victims of violent crimes themselves, have also made a song to accompany their message.
Research studies have found that there is a benefit of program participation for youth, with at-risk youth being most likely to benefit. A study of 46 programs for delinquency (e.g., aggression, drug use and academic achievement) found mentoring for high-risk youth to have a positive effect on delinquency, academic functioning, aggression and drug use.
Above all, mentors are motivators and role models, who believe in their mentees, see their potential and help them get to where they want to go. Children and adolescents, in contrast, have more limited worldviews and experiences, are individuating themselves, and are beginning to rely less on parents and more on peers. This is even more complex for adjudicated youth with whom the work of the InnerCity Collaborative CDC has as its primary focus. We provide high risk mentoring and wrap around support for the family as well as the youth. This type of engagement highlights the greatest need of the communities we support, family nurturance and guidance. If you think back to when you were a teenager, you may remember trying to figure out who you were and how to navigate through social norms. And most of us had a responsible adult that helped us to make those life choices. Such is not the case for many of the District’s inner-city youth and their families.
Despite the importance of mentorship for youth, one in three young people report never having an adult mentor while growing up. This statistic translates to approximately 16 million youth, including 9 million at-risk youth, reaching age 19 without ever having a mentor. For children and adolescents, finding a mentor can be more difficult. But thanks to the Safer, Stronger DC opportunity and the DYRS Credible messenger initiative we are changing lives and communities.
A Monarch Butterfly Spreads His Wings
Guest post by Karen Gardner, Executive Director, Reading Partners
This is the first post in a new blog series on “Building A Safer, Stronger DC,” featuring stories from grantees of the City Fund Safer, Stronger DC portfolio. View the full series here.
Right around this time last year, we first got to know Anthony* as a charismatic second grader who really liked to tell tales. Tall ones. One of the stories he liked to tell was about a shark in his bathtub, which included what the shark ate, how the shark got into his bathtub and even where it went when the water was drained. Anthony was an imaginative thinker who had thoughts and opinions on just about any topic. But when you asked him to read, the normally outgoing student would transform into a shy one, barely uttering a word.
Anthony found decoding and reading fluently a challenge. It caused him to daydream in class and rarely engage in reading, so his teacher recommended him for Reading Partners, a one-on-one literacy tutoring program for kids struggling with reading. Thankfully, Anthony’s school, Malcolm X Elementary in Ward 8, was one of two schools where Reading Partners’ program expanded significantly with the support of the City Fund just two years prior.
Anthony was about a year below grade level. When the site coordinator assessed him, she noticed that because he struggled to decode words, he would just skip over a word if he didn’t know it. He was quickly paired with two seasoned community tutors, Ms. Layla and Ms. Beth, who both had experience with shier students.
To help Anthony move past his shyness and gain more confidence, his tutors worked with their site coordinator to find ways to incorporate his own stories into the lessons. They figured if they could get him to talk about something he was really interested in, he might become more comfortable with them and therefore more comfortable reading aloud.
One day, Anthony was completing a normal lesson with Ms. Layla. The site coordinator was listening in on their session because they were always full of energy. After reading a book about butterflies, Anthony began asking Ms. Layla questions about the text just as she would have done. The site coordinator listened more closely and realized he was quizzing Ms. Layla specifically about the Monarch butterfly and was utilizing information from a previous session. She was so astounded at his confidence that she sat back in awe. Anthony went on to show Ms. Layla where in the text certain answers were and shared the information he previously learned.
This interaction showed that all his hard work had paid off. He was able to decode larger words, understand the text, and relate it to his own prior knowledge. This once shy student had developed into a now confident super reader that read literally everything on the walls as he walked the hallway with his site coordinator!
Reading Partners gave Anthony a place where he could move away from feeling like he might make a mistake, to where he had the courage and knowledge to correct a mistake. In the reading center, he could be himself. Now, in class, he is more inclined to raise his hand and readily speaks up. Anthony learned how to use the context clues in the text to better understand vocabulary words and no longer shies away from multisyllabic words. He is a much more fluent reader and now reads with expression.
Without Reading Partners, Anthony’s full potential might not have been realized. He would have continued to be afraid to read for fear of making a mistake and he most likely would have fallen even further behind.
If not for the literacy skills he acquired, Anthony also might not have discovered that he loves facts and that non-fiction books are his thing! And he might not have made new friends in Ms. Layla and Ms. Beth, who truly loved listening to his stories, no matter how tall. Their commitment to Anthony’s success contributed to the fact that he’s now on a path to a brighter future. I’m thrilled to share that Anthony finished the school year on grade level. He now understands that reading matters.
Reading matters because it is the foundation for all future learning. Yet nationwide, 80% of students from low-income households are not reading proficiently by fourth grade. In addition, not reading proficiently by the end of fourth grade makes students four times more likely to drop out of high school. Illiteracy in our country is an epidemic with serious consequences for our communities — but it’s a solvable problem. In fact, research shows that no one factor can so dramatically shape a person’s chance of success and well-being as learning to read.
Reading Partners is fully committed to strengthening our communities by working with students like Anthony. At Reading Partners, community tutors from all walks of life come together to share their love of reading and learning, empowering the next generation to succeed in school and in life. Anthony’s accomplishments are a great example of what can be achieved when a community comes together and encourages a child to excel.
In the words of his site coordinator, “Without Reading Partners, Anthony may not have blossomed into such a wonderful, brilliant student. He always has a tall tale and he can go on and on about these stories. I can see him writing a script for a children’s movie someday. When I think of Anthony, I think of the Monarch butterfly.”
*Names have been changed.
“Inner City Blues”: The Dual Reality of Building a Safer, Stronger DC
By Manon P. Matchett, Community Investment Officer, Greater Washington Community Foundation
As a proud and happy resident of the Hillsdale community for the past 15+ years, I have dutifully crossed the Anacostia River every day to travel to work. Most of that time has been spent working in philanthropy. The landscape has changed significantly these last few years.
The optics of my commute change as I travel downtown. As I exit the Frederick Douglass bridge and drive past the new DC United Audi and the Washington Nationals stadiums on each side of me, I am reminded of how change has come, slowly and sometimes painfully. Neighborhoods that were crime-ridden and desolate are now thriving communities with quaint restaurants, trendy boutiques and high-rise luxury apartments. Streets have awoken from their coma with a promise never to sleep again. This is a new city hustle and bustle, that is energizing, even calming. Yet, not all communities are experiencing the region’s progress and prosperity in the same way.
The reality of the work that I do at The Community Foundation and how our focus on improving our communities personally affects me and my family has hit home in recent weeks. Within the last month, yellow crime tape has decorated my street. Shots were fired. On the street where my family lives. The most frightening experience was watching Metropolitan Police officers canvassing my block for bullet casings. I walked away after the twelfth marker was placed on the street. Last Sunday, a young man, with a bright future was gunned down on his way home from the corner store. I purposely drive in the opposite direction, so I do not have to see his deathbed – a small plot of bloodstained grass.
As a community leader, funder, convener and advocate, The Community Foundation has a long history of responding to urgent and emerging community challenges by addressing both short-term needs and creating long-term solutions. Most recently as the number of violent crimes committed in the District has surged, particularly in communities like mine which are located East of the River, I have participated in conversations with the philanthropic community, community-based organizations, and the District Government to identify ways we can contribute to and accelerate various violence prevention strategies. As a result of these conversations, The Community Foundation has mobilized the generosity of local funders to support the implementation of a pilot program that targets a small set of District neighborhoods using the Cure Violence methodology. While this program is just beginning to launch, I am heartened by the ongoing work of local community groups who are already offering a range of solutions to address violence prevention in our homes, in our schools, and in our communities.
In 2016, the Greater Washington Community Foundation assumed grantmaking for Mayor Bowser’s Safer, Stronger DC initiative. This was a targeted, place-based approach to meet the unique and varying needs of high crime neighborhoods. Since then, we have successfully conducted three grant rounds totaling $4 million to 95 organizations serving 13 Police Service Areas in Wards 1, 5, 7, and 8. I am immensely proud of what this portfolio of organizations is achieving.
Over the next few weeks, grantees from the City Fund Safer, Stronger DC portfolio will share their stories of how their respective organizations provide necessary safety-net, violence prevention and violence intervention services to some of the most vulnerable populations and under-resourced communities in the District. None of them will tell how grueling and sometimes discouraging their work can be. Many mask the pain of being unable to help everyone. Quite a few are still grieving the loss of life and potential of those they have served. Yet, all of them wake anew each day ready to start all over again filled with hope and courage.
My own commuting mentality is evolving. On good days, I am not just crossing the river, I am crossing a bridge. I am coming home to new residences, redeveloping commercial corridors and more options for shopping and dining. Despite all this, I make the journey home filled with anxiety and trepidation because I do not know what to expect. To ease my spirit, I hum the lyrics to “Inner City Blues” from the iconic and native Washingtonian Marvin Gaye. Some days “it makes me wanna holler and throw up both my hands.” My heart calms as I turn onto my street and see an MPD cruiser parked nearby. It is temporary solace knowing that my community has one more night of peace.
Building A Safer, Stronger DC Blog Series
Building A Safer, Stronger DC is a new blog series featuring stories from grantees of the City Fund Safer, Stronger DC portfolio.
A Monarch Butterfly Spreads His Wings, by Karen Gardner, Executive Director of Reading Partners
Mentoring Matters, by Rev. Judie S. Martin, Executive Director, InnerCity Collaborative Community Development Corporation
Defending Procedural Justice in DC, by Abigail Scott, Esq., Co-Director, Civil Protection Order Project of DC Law Students in Court
We Are All About Community, by Lizzie Majewski, Director of Operations at Teens Run DC
Art with Purpose, by Jessica Truitt, Deputy Director, Kid Power, Inc.
Hope for the Girl in the Twirling Skirt, by Andrea Powell, Founder and Executive Director, FAIR Girls
Fund Combats Domestic Violence in Prince George's County
Photo provided by Community Advocates for Family & Youth
“We have seen a dramatic reduction in crime in Prince George’s County over the last decade, but some of the most horrific violent crimes that have occurred in recent years stem from domestic violence,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.
That is why in March 2017 the County Executive established the Domestic Violence Community Assistance Grant Fund to assist nonprofit organizations who are working on the front line to protect women and men from domestic violence.
“The effects of domestic violence are deep and long lasting,” said Jackie Rhone, Division Manager of the Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Division of the County’s Department of Family Services. “When we know better we do better; through education, prevention and partnership we can end the cycle of abuse.”
Since its creation, the division has been working to address domestic violence in multiple ways – from education and prevention to direct services for survivors. For instance, says Rhone, her office implemented an evidence-based curriculum called “Safe Dates” that has been used in County middle schools, sponsored a series of men’s conferences on domestic violence and developed a partnership with House of Ruth Maryland and other nonprofits in the County.
The County’s Domestic Violence Community Assistance Fund was established at the Greater Washington Community Foundation with an initial contribution of $250,000 to provide annual grants and capacity building support to nonprofits to support enhanced services for individuals and families directly affected by domestic violence. The goal is to help families achieve a greater level of independence, strengthen families’ ability to cope with healing, and rebuild the family unit by helping to remove challenges to gaining self-sufficiency – such as providing legal services, counseling services, support groups, employment, training and housing.
“We are passionate about our work, but we quickly realized government can’t do this work alone,” said Elana Belon-Butler, Director of the Department of Family Services. “That’s why we collaborate with others such as the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The Community Foundation is a great partner because of their knowledge of both domestic violence and of our community needs. They also share our sense of urgency, accountability, follow through and reporting. These are things that can’t be minimalized.”
In 2017, some of the critical services that the Domestic Violence Community Assistance Fund supported included: public awareness campaigns that targeted certain areas heavily impacted by domestic violence; services to individuals and families directly affected by domestic violence; legal issues (protective orders), counseling and family services; emergency and basic needs to survivors as well as other kinds of wraparound supports. In 2018, the Domestic Violence Community Assistance Fund will include support for survivors of human trafficking.
“Domestic violence can affect anyone – regardless of income, background or location,” says CAFY CEO Arleen Joell, who received a grant in the amount of $75,000 from the fund.
Community Advocates for Family & Youth (CAFY) supports victims of crimes in Prince George’s County – from those affected by breaking and entering crimes to family members who have lost a loved one to homicide. But the largest percentage of their clients – 52 percent – are victims of domestic violence. Those clients face multiple challenges. Thanks to the Domestic Violence Community Assistance Fund, nonprofits like CAFY are increasingly able to address those challenges with wraparound services such as legal and mental health services, security deposits, first month’s rent and transportation assistance.
For instance, CAFY recently helped a client who had a protective order and was in the process of moving to another city by putting her up in a hotel for several nights, paying to store her worldly possessions until she found a new job and place to live, and covering the cost of a U-Haul when she was ready to relocate. When another woman with a protective order needed her locks changed, CAFY took care of that critical need for her. They also provided legal counsel, so she could file for child custody and begin divorce proceedings. The client would not have been able to afford these costs on her own.
Desiree Griffin-Moore, Executive Director of The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County, points out that this is not the first time the Community Foundation has partnered with the County. The Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative Fund was established at The Community Foundation in 2014 by The Office of the Prince George's County Executive and Prince George’s County Public Schools to support community-based organizations providing quality free and/or affordable out-of-school time programming for youth and families. “We have a longstanding relationship with the County which has always valued our transparent, equitable process and our knowledge of the community,” she said.
Adds Jackie Rhone: “The work is easier when we don’t have to educate someone about the County and its demographics.”
“This is hands down one of the best partnerships Prince George’s County government has entered into,” adds Belon-Butler.