MAY 2014
EAST of the RIVER MAGAZINE
May Seminars Money Smart for Small Business Presents: Recordkeeping & Time Management Presented by: DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer & DCRA’s Small Business Resource Center Date: May 15, 2014 Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Location: DCRA; 1100 4th Street, SW Room E-4302 Washington, DC 20024 To Register, Go To: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com For More Information: Call (202) 442-4538 or email us at Jacqueline.Noisette@dc.gov or Claudia.Herrera@dc.gov
A Comprehensive Guide for Small Businesses Planning Why develop a business plan? The purpose for which you write a business plan is almost as important as the content of the plan itself. Writing a well-thought-out and organized business plan dramatically increases your odds of succeeding as an entrepreneur. This workshop covers the basics of business planning and why it’s important for business success. Topics include starting-up a successful business, the important linkages between the marketing, sales, and your financial projections, and gaining a competitive advantage. Date: Monday, May 12, 2014 Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
How to Open a Small Business in DC DC Government Economic Cluster’s Building Bridges to Success • Licensing Process (DCRA) • Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grant (DMPED) • Small Business Assistance and Façade Improvement (DHCD) • Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) Program (DSLBD) • Green Financial Incentive Grant Program (DDOE) Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
Senior Day The DCRA Small Business Resource Center takes great pride in launching its first Senior Day Program! The objective is to provide seniors with information that may benefit them in their day-to-day lives. Establishing a small business | Vacant property Family rentals | The DCRA regulatory process Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
Interested in opening a small business in the District of Columbia? At this training session, DCRA staff will walk you through everything you need to do to open a new business: • Benefits of incorporating or creating an LLC • Types of business licenses and how much they cost • How to apply for a business license • Zoning requirements for types of businesses • Obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy • What building permits are needed to do renovations • How to apply for a building permit Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014 Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
Somerset Prep DC Charter School
Free Public Charter School | Grades 6th - 9th
Nationally Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Now Accepting Enrollment Applications for 6th - 9th Grade Only! What Makes us Successful? 路 Focus on student achievement and character skills. 路 Research-based teaching methods. 路 State-of-the-art technology. 路 Collaborative teaching environment with certified teachers.
Contact Us Today! Jim Griffin, Principal 202-562-9170| jgriffin@somersetprepdc.org www.somersetdc.com EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 3
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 | CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
CALENDAR
08......... What’s on Washington 10......... East of the River Calendar
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
16......... The Bulletin Board 22......... District Beat • by Andrew Lightman 24......... T he Numbers • by Soumya Bhat 25......... T he Nose • by Anonymous 26......... Outreach and Wellness Center Enhances Healthcare by Candace Y. A. Montague
28......... Orr Parents Call “May Day” • by Virginia Avniel Spatz 29......... Barry Farm Redevelopment Plans Move Forward by John Muller
30......... Fendall Heights Dedicated after Year of Service by Charnice A. Milton
31......... T he Facts about REAL ID • by Charnice A. Milton 32......... Bellevue Resident Sought by Ivy League Programs
40
by Charnice A. Milton
34......... G lobal Rallycross Comes to DC • by Charnice A. Milton
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
36......... In Your Kitchen • by Twyla Alston 38......... A 23rd Question for the Corcoran • by Phil Hutinet 40......... C alling All Artists • by Charnice A. Milton 42......... April Marks a Big Month for Local Championship Boxing • by Dave Kletzkin 43......... Jazz Avenues • by Steve Monroe 44......... New Vendors at the Big Chair Flea Market • by Ferzana
REAL ESTATE
46......... Anacostia Business Improvement District Gets to Work • by John Muller 47......... Changing Hands • compiled by Don Denton
KIDS & FAMILY
48......... Kids & Family Notebook • by Kathleen Donner 53......... A Taste for Mentoring • by Stephen Lilienthal 54......... Kelly Miller School Poetry Club Does the Write Thing by Charnice A. Milton
THE CLASSIFIEDS 56......... The Classifieds
CROSSWORD 58 ........ The Crossword
ON THE COVER:
Photo courtesy of SHOWTIME. Story on page 42.
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Hill Rag • Mid City DC • East Of The River • Fagon Community Guides Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com
Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2013 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Look for Next Issue of East of the River on June 7 Online Daily, Printed Monthly | www.eastoftheriverdcnews.com
Editorial Staff Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Hit the City: Joylyn Hopkins • joylyn@joylynhopkins.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Retail Therapy: Scott Fazzini • scott.fazzini@gmail.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com The Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com Calendar & Bulletin Board Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com General Assignment Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Gwyn Jones • gwynjones@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Alice Ollstein • alice.ollstein@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com Jennifer Zatkowski • jenn@hillrag.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Elena Burger • elena96b@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com
BEAUTY, Health& Fitness Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW • www.quietwaterscenter.com quiet_waters_center@yahoo.com Mariessa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Society & Events Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com Homes & Gardens Rindy O’Brien • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com HomeStyle: Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com Production/Graphic/web Design Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Designer: Kyungmin Lee • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Account Executive: Jennifer Zatkowski, 202.543.8300 X20 • Jenn@hillrag.com Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com Billing: Sara Walder, 202.400.3511 • Sara@hillrag.com Distribution Distribution Manager: Andrew Lightman Distributors: MediaPoint, LLC Distribution Information: distribution@hillrag.com Deadlines & CONTACTS Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to editorial@hilllrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.
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Green Festival at the Convention Center
Green Festival is a vibrant, dynamic marketplace, America’s largest and longest-running sustainability and green living event. They bring together the world’s most trusted companies, innovative brands, national and local businesses, pioneering thinkers, and conscious consumers in one place to promote the best in sustainability and green living. Green Festival offers something for everyone, with the widest selection of products and services to work green, play green and live green from food, fashion and health to energy, construction and design. People can shop and enjoy vegan, vegetarian, organic foods, hands-on demos, educational activities and inspirational speakers. May 31-June 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (both days) at the Convention Center. greenfestivals.org/wdc
Bike-powered music at the 2013 Green festival. Photo: Balance Photography
Lamb Jam
On Monday, May 19, 6-9 p.m. at Eastern Market North Hall, top DC area chefs will ewe-night for the fourth annual American Lamb Jam produced by the American Lamb Board. This ultimate taste-off will feature top chefs and their creative preparations of lusty lamb dishes accompanied by several wineries, breweries and more. This year’s chefs are Michael Costa-Zaytinya; Wes Morton-Art & Soul; Dylan Fultineer-Rappahannock River Oysters; Ian Boden-The Shack; Jay Comfort-The Lebanese Taverna; George Pagonis-Kapnos; Frederik de Pue-MBK; Erik BrunerYang-Toki; Bryan Voltaggio-Volt; Victor Albisu-Del Campo; Dimitri MoshovitisCava Mezze Restaurant; Ed Witt-8407 Kitchen Bar/The Partisan/Red Apron; Aaron McCloud-Cedar; Lee Gregory-The Roosevelt; Billy McCormick-Virtue Feed & Grain; Franck Loquet-The Sofitel; Brian McPherson-Jackson 20 & The Grille; Anthony Lombardo-1789 Restaurant; Tucker Yoder-The Clifton Inn; RJ Scruggs- Occidental Grill; Tim Ma-Water & Wall; and Bertrand Chemel-2491 Restaurant. $60 general admission. $90 for 5-6 p.m. specialty cocktails, American lamb charcuterie and sheep cheeses. Must be 21. A portion of the proceeds benefit DC Central Kitchen. dc.fansoflamb.com
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Picnic at President Lincoln’s Cottage
This Memorial Day, consider the calm beauty of a picnic at President Lincoln’s (summer) Cottage on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home overlooking downtown Washington. During the Civil War, President Lincoln lived here to escape the heat and distractions of life at the White House. The tranquil surroundings at the Soldiers’ Home offered refreshing breezes and relative privacy during a period when the President confronted all-consuming decisions about military strategy, domestic policy, and foreign relations, and could not escape Washington or his responsibilities. There will be a wreath laying at 10 a.m. and special tours at 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. If you can’t make Memorial Day, President Lincoln’s Cottage welcomes you to picnic on the grounds anytime when the Cottage itself is open, 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m (Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). The entrance to President Lincoln’s Cottage is through the Eagle Gate, located at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Rd. and Upshur St. NW. 202-829-0436. lincolncottage.org
Photo Courtesy of President Lincoln’s Cottage
Brandywine River Museum of Art and Andrew Wyeth Studio Tours
Often called the “Wyeth Museum” for its extensive collection of works by grandfather N.C., father Andrew and son Jamie, the Brandywine River Museum is housed in a converted 19thcentury grist mill on the banks of the Brandywine in Chadds Ford, Pa. The reference address is 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road on U.S. Route 1. Open daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission is $12, adults; $8 seniors (65+); $6, students with ID and children ages 6-12. It’s about 2 hours from DC. brandywinemuseum.org. April through November, the Chadds Ford studio where Andrew Wyeth painted many of his most important works of art is opened for tours. Wyeth painted in the studio from 1940 until 2008. Thousands of works of art are associated with this studio, including those inspired by the farms and open space of the Brandywine Valley, and the Brandywine River that runs through Chadds Ford and the surrounding countryside. A shuttles depart from the Brandywine River Museum Tuesday through Sunday at 10, 10:45, and 11:30 a.m. and 12:15, 1, 1:45, 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. Purchase tickets online or call 610-388-2700. No kids under six.
Andrew Wyeth studio. Photo: Carlos Alejandro
“Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In” at the National Gallery of Art
In celebration of the recent gift of Andrew Wyeth’s “Wind from the Sea” (1947), the National Gallery of Art presents an exhibition focused on Wyeth’s frequent use of the window as the subject of his art. Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In will showcase some 60 watercolors, drawings, and tempera paintings completed after Wind from the Sea—the artist’s first fully realized exploration of the theme. Wyeth returned to windows repeatedly, producing more than 300 works that explore not only the formal but also the conceptual richness of the subject. Spare, elegant, and abstract, these paintings are free of the narrative element associated with the artist’s better-known figural compositions. The resulting images are often rigorous in their formal construction but deeply personal in subject. “Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In” is on exhibition May 4-Nov. 30 in the West Building, Main Floor. nga.gov
Wind from the Sea, 1947, tempera on hardboard © Andrew Wyeth. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Gift of Charles H. Morgan
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 9
Riders along the 2012 event course
C Public Library’s Fifth annual Tour de DCPL
May 17, 9:00 AM-1:30 PM. This free, family-friendly, event will start at Southeast neighborhood library, then bike to Northeast, Rosedale, Deanwood, Benning, and Anacostia libraries, concluding the trip back at Southeast. Register at tourdedcplv.eventbrite.com. PATRIOTIC AND MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVENTS Marine Barracks Evening Parade. Friday evenings through Aug 29 (no parade July 4). Guests admitted starting at 7:00 PM. Guests should be seated by 8:00 PM. Program begins at 8:45 PM. The Evening Parade has become a universal symbol of the professionalism, discipline and Esprit de Corps of the United States Marines. The ceremony begins with a concert by the United States Marine Band. Free. It is wise to have reservations that can be made online at mbw.usmc.mil. Marine Barracks (front gate), 8th and I sts. SE. 202-433-4073. 2014 Twilight Tattoo at Fort Myer. Wednesdays (except July 2), through Aug 20 , 7:00 PM with pre-ceremony pageantry starting at 6:45 PM. Members of the 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard), the US Army Band “Pershings Own,” Fife and Drum Corps and the US Army Drill Team will perform an hour-long sunset military Pageant. Over 100 Old Guard soldiers dressed in period uniforms will provide a glimpse of Army history from colonial times to the soldier of the future. Summerall Field on historic Fort Myer in Arlington, VA. twilight.mdw.army.mil Swing Time-The Musical! at the Naval Heritage Center. May 14, 24, 22, 23, 28 and 29; June 5, 8, 15, 25 and 26; July 2, 3, 9, and 10; 7:00 PM. Set in a World War II era radio studio, this lively musical revue features three men and three women who are working together to put on their live big-band war bond drive radio
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broadcast. Lots of delightful surprises ensue, as well as wartime romance and plenty of comedy. $39. Naval Heritage Center, Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. SwingTimeTheMusical.com
preter in Union uniform highlight the history of Fort Ward and army life in the Defenses of Washington. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA. 703-7464848. alexandriava.gov/FortWard
14 Names Added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial. May 11, 10:00 AM. Please join the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in honoring the 14 new names and status changes that will be added to The Wall in 2014. vvmf.org/2014-nameadditions#sthash.8ckufYMO.dpuf
GI Film Festival. May 19-25. The GI Film Festival is the nation’s only film festival dedicated to celebrating the stories of our nation’s armed forces. The GIFF will present films from new and established international and domestic filmmakers that honor the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty. Some of the films screened will be fan favorites. Others will be screened for the first time. All will in some way express the courage and selflessness of our fighting men and women and the value of their work. Festival at several locations in DC and Virginia. gifilmfestival.com
Washington Monument Reopens. May 12, 1:00 PM. The Monument will be open from 9:00 AM-10:00 PM until the end of summer. Reserve your time to take the elevator to the top at recreation.gov. Armed Forces Day at Nat’s Park. May 17, 4:04 PM. Nat’s vs. Mets. washington.nationals.mlb.com Edward J. Talbert: Reflections as Tuskegee Airman and Librarian. May 17, 1:00 PM. In recognition of 2014 Armed Forces Day and Older Americans Month, are you interested in the stories of a Tuskegee Airman and Librarian? If so, come out for a stroll down memory lane with Edward J. Talbert, 91 yearold World War II veteran and Capitol View Library’s first manager. Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. 202645-0755. dclibrary.org/capitolview
Sunset Celebration at Mount Vernon. May 24 and 25, 6:00-9:00 PM. This event offers a rare opportunity to visit Mount Vernon after the daytime crowds have departed. Visitors may take evening tours of the Mansion, relax and enjoy wine and desserts available for purchase, and delight in 18th-century music, dancing, games, and wagon rides. Stroll the lantern-lit grounds and immerse themselves in the 18th century as the sun sets on the plantation. $18, adults; $12, children ages 6-11; and free for five and under. Mount Vernon, VA. mountvernon.org
Soldier-led Tours of Fort Ward in Honor of Armed Forces Day. May 17, 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Tours of the historic fort led by an inter-
“Flags-In” at Arlington Cemetery. Memorial Day Weekend. Each year for the past 40 years, the 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) has honored
America’s fallen heroes by placing American flags before the gravestones and niches of service members buried both at Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldier’s and Airmen’s National Cemetery just prior to Memorial Day Weekend. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org National Memorial Day Concert. May 25, 8:00-9:30 PM (gates open at 5:00 PM). The National Symphony Orchestra performs the first of three outdoor holiday concerts. The concert is free and is broadcast live on PBS. Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifices made by so many … and a day for healing. On the eve of Memorial Day, come out and enjoy the National Memorial Day Concert, a deeply moving and reverential tribute to the men and women who have given so much to preserve America’s freedoms. Free. West lawn, US Capitol. National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center. May 25, 3:00 PM. Music Celebrations International presents an uplifting tribute to America’s fallen heroes, with a special commemoration for those who fought in WWII on this 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The program features Ralph Vaughan Williams’s A Song of Thanksgiving alongside classic favorites like “Hymn of the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan, “America the Beautiful,” and the march from The Longest Day. Free. Tickets at 800-395-2036 or musiccelebrations.com/may25kc. Memorial Day Wreath Laying at Arlington.
CALENDAR May 26, 11:00 AM. Arrive much earlier. Expect heavy security. There is free parking and a free bus ride to and from the ceremony. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org Memorial Day at the World War II Memorial. May 26, 9:00 AM. Wreaths will be placed in honor of our veterans. Guest speakers will give remarks. World War II Memorial, 17th St. between Constitution and Independence aves. NW. National Memorial Day Parade. May 26, 2:00 PM. Beginning at Fourth St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW and ending at 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. Expect a lot of music, color and old-fashioned patriotism. nationalmemorialdayparade.com Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. May 26, 1:00 PM. This year’s Memorial Day observance pays tribute to those who served and died in Vietnam. The ceremony will include Presentation of the Colors, and remarks by a special guest. The observance also includes a laying of wreaths by several patriotic organizations. Each year on Memorial Day veterans and their families congregate at “The Wall” to remember and to honor those who served in the US Armed Forces. On this special day prominent Americans from all walks of life come to the Memorial to deliver thoughtful and patriotic speeches. Women in Military Service Honors Memorial Day. May 26, 4:00 PM. The program includes formal military honors, remarks from servicewomen representing each of the services and the Women’s Memorial traditional Rose Petal Ceremony with personal tributes to departed comrades. Members of the public are invited to join in the personal tribute segment of the program. The Women in Military for America Memorial is the nation’s only major memorial honoring all servicewomen, past, present and future. Ceremony at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. womensmemorial.org Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedon. May 26, noon. “Rolling Thunder” is an annual motorcycle rally held in Washington, DC during the Memorial Day weekend. Thousands of motorcycles will depart from the Pentagon at noon and will roar across Washington, DC on their motorcycles as a tribute to American war heroes. Assemble at Pentagon north parking lot.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND DESTINATIONS Trinidad Art in the Alley. May 10, 6:0010:00 PM. Art in the Alley is a one-day art festival celebrating local art in local places. It is held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall in the alley behind 1200 block of Florida Ave. NE, Trinidad, DC. Gateway Open Studio Tour. May 10, noon5:00 PM. 17 Venues. 70 Studios. More than 100 Artists. Studio tour in in Prince George’s County’s Gateway Arts District. Maps and more information are available at gatewayopenstudios.org.
DC GlassWorks and Sculpture Studios Spring Open House. May 10, noon-5:00 PM. There will be food, beer and “folks blowing glass.” DC GlassWorks, 5346 46th Ave., Hyattsville, MD. dcglassworks.com Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays and Other Endangered Sea Creatures at Art Enables. May 10-June 20. Opening reception May 10, 1-4 p.m. Off-Rhode Gallery will be featuring the original art created for the upcoming graphic novel Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays and Other Endangered Sea Creatures. Off Rhode Gallery at Art Enables, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE. 202-554-9455. artenables.org/off-rhode Natasha Trethewey Presents Final Lecture as US Poet Laureate. May 14, 7:00 PM. Natasha Trethewey will conclude her tenure as the 19th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress with an evening lecture in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Tickets and reservations are not required, but early arrival is strongly recommended.. loc.gov ZooFari. May 15, 6:30-9:30 PM. ZooFari is back with more than 100 of the area’s finest restaurants. Join them for a delicious evening of gourmet food, fine wines, celebrity chefs, and conservation. nationalzoo.si.edu National Gallery of Art 3,000th Concert of Its Free Weekly Series. May 18, 6:30 PM. Launched in 1942, the Gallery’s program is one of the longest-running concert series of its kind in the United States, and one of the few that is still open to the public, free of charge. The program—played by Irish pianist Míċeál O’Rourke—includes compositions by Beethoven, Chopin, and John Field. The event also represents Ireland in a series of concerts associated with the Month of European Culture, presented in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. nga.gov Truckeroo. June 13, July 11, Aug 8 and Sept 12; 11:00 AM-11:00 PM at the corner of Half St.and M St. SE. Over 20 food trucks, live music all day, shade and picnic tables and games. truckeroodc.com DC Vote’s first Annual 3 Star Ball. will be held on Thursday, May 22 atop the National Association of Realtors building (NAR) in downtown DC. Honoring the founders of DC Brau (beer) and, Washington Life’s Nancy Bagley, the rooftop soiree will feature live music by a DJ, an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and more. Event is all in the name of Taxation Without Representation. Tickets will be $75. Event is from 6:30 to 9:30 PM.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD TWB (adult) Modern Dance Classes at THEARC. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:3011:30 AM through June 18. The Washington Ballet (TWB) announces a new partnership with modern dance troupe, Company E which who will provide these professionally oriented dance classes at THEARC. $12 per class ($6 for EOR residents). THEARC Theater, 1901 EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 11
Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org Been Rich All My Life (film screening). May 11, 2:00-4:00 PM. Containing rare archival footage of live performances, this heartwarming and inspirational documentary explores the careers of the Silver Belles-- five tap dancers who performed in 1930s Harlem at the famed Apollo and Cotton Club as part of the chorus girl line-up. Still sassy and brassy, some of the dancers, now in their 80s (and still dancing) talk about their lives as performers—the heartaches and the triumphs. Discussion of the film follows. Free. For information or to attend, call 202-633-4866. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu The Human Scale: Bringing Cities to Life (film screening). May 14, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM. Based on the research of Danish architect Jan Gehl, this insightful documentary examines how the quality of life in urban communities can be improved by urban planners and architects re-orienting their design towards pedestrians and cyclists. Discussion follows. Free. For information or to attend, call 202633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Bedazzling Beads! at Anacostia Community Museum. May 18 (repeats May 31), 2:004:00 PM. Join artist Deidra Bell as she leads a hands-on workshop making personal bead ware for different occasions. Free. For more information or to attend, call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu The Washington Ballet Spring Performance at THEARC. May 23, 7:30 PM and May 24, 11:00 AM. General admission, $20. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. Call 202889-8150 to learn more. thearcdc.org Exploring Haitian Bead Art. May 29, 10:30 AM-noon. Gail Granowitz and associate JeanDaniel Lafontant, from Spiralis Ventures Gallery in New York, share their insights on the Haitian bead artists the gallery represents. Free. For information or to attend, call 202633-4866. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Community Entrepreneurship: Using your Creativity to Start a Business. May 30, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM. Do you have an artistic streak or creative flair? Get pointers on how you can turn your creativity into a business from Kathleen Manning, artist and store manager of Beadazzled. Free. For information or to attend, call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Dancing for His Glory presents: Beauty for Ashes at THEARC. June 1, 7:00 PM. A riveting story of tragedy to triumph told through dance! $15. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org Mambu Badu: Allison McDaniel, Danielle Scruggs, Kameelah Janan Rasheed & Yodith Dammlash at Vivid Solutions. Through June 27. Mambu Badu is a photography collective founded in 2010 by Allison McDaniel, Danielle Scruggs, Kameelah Rasheed, and Yodith Dammlash. The collective’s mission is to find, expose, and nurture emerging self-identified woman photographers of African descent.
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“Mambu Badu” is an adaptation of the Swahili phrase “Mambo Bado” which is loosely translated as “the best has yet to come.” At this moment, we dwell in an exciting space of possibility where we can grow as artists. We invite other Black/African American female photographers to join us in this journey. The Gallery at Vivid Solutions, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. vividsolutionsgallery.com Parallels: Sculptures & Installations Nara Park at Honfleur Gallery. Through June 27. In Parallels, Nara Park explores the symbolic meanings of water in different contexts. Park creates sculptures and installations imitating the natural environment by using packaging boxes custom-designed to resemble rocks and plants. The incorporation of water in these simulations of nature take into consideration the practical and spiritual roles it plays as an essential element. In Park’s fabrications, the distinction between reality and representation vanishes. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. honfleurgallery.com Home Sewn: Quilts from the Lower Mississippi Valley. Through Sept 21, 2014. The first in a series of collections-focused exhibitions, Home Sewn features quilts created by Annie Dennis (1904¬¬–1997) and Emma Russell (1909¬¬–2004). Quilts represent classic American quilt patterns and techniques passed down through five generations. This exhibition examine the generational, social, and economic fabric of an African American quilting community in rural Mississippi. In addition, fieldwork and interviews with present-day African American women quilters give voice to the continuing tradition of quilting in these communities. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens Pond Tours. Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30-10:30 AM. Come and enjoy a stroll around the beautiful Aquatic Gardens of Kenilworth. See many aspects of pond life including varieties of plants, turtles, frogs, dragonflies and birds. Free. For all ages. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. 202-4266905. nps.gov/keaq The Washington Ballet Adult African Dance Classes at THEARC. Thursdays, 11:00 AMnoon. $12 ($6 for residents with 20020 and 20032 zip codes). THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org The Washington Ballet Zumba Classes at THEARC. Mondays, 7:15-8:15 PM and Saturdays, 9:00-10:00 AM. $12 ($6 for residents with 20020 and 20032 zip codes). THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org What’s Blooming at the US Arboretum in May and June? Late azaleas, rhododendrons, mountain-laurels, southern magnolias, sweet bay, Chinese dogwood, herbaceous peonies, herbs, old garden roses, lilies, Satsuki azaleas, southern magnolias, mountainlaurels, southern catalpa, fringe-tree, arrowwood viburnum, day-lilies, water-lilies, rhododendrons, firethorn, linden viburnum, rosebay, goldenrain-tree. The grounds are open to the public Fridays through Mondays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. They look forward to seeing you at the National Arboretum, where
science meets beauty. Free. There are two entrances: one at 3501 New York Ave. NE, and 24th and R sts. NE, off of Bladensburg Rd. 202-245-4521. usna. usda.gov
SPORTS AND FITNESS Washington Nationals Baseball. May 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31 at Nat’s Park. Tickets, $5, up. washington.nationals.mlb.com Pups in the Park. May 17, June 22 and Sept 7. Purchase a discounted ticket for you, your family and your favorite family pet and support the Washington Humane Society. $10 of every dog ticket purchased will benefit the Washington Humane Society. $25 for you; $10 for your dog. washington.nationals.mlb.com Washington Mystics Basketball. May 16, 24, 30 and June 1 and 6. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. wnba.com/mystics Mothers Day 8K. May 11, 9:00 AM. Fletcher’s Cove, 4940 Canal Rd. 240706-0098. safetyandhealthfoundation.org/eafna The Water Gun Run (adventure racing). May 17, 9:30 AM. They have shortened the hardest 5K course in DC and will provide each participant with their very own big water gun for this event (feel free to bring back up). You will navigate through 2 miles of trail in the heart of DC in Ft. DuPont Park, 3600 F St. SE. dcrunningclub.com BKB Annual 5k Run/Walk. May 17, 8:00 AM (rain or shine). West Potomac Park. 703-577-2344. bkbfoundation. com/annual-5k DC United at RFK. May 17, 7:00 PM vs. Montreal; May 21, 7:00 PM vs. Houston; May 31, 7:00 PM vs. Sporting KC. RFK Stadium. dcunited.com Yoga @ the Library. Every Saturday, 10:00 AM. Wear some comfortable clothing and bring a mat, but if you don’t have one, yoga mats are available for use during the class. The classes are taught by Yoga Activist and are held on the lower level of the library in the Larger Meeting Room. This class is free and open to the public. Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-281-2583. dclibrary.org/benning Ranger Fit Challenge at Anacostia Park. Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 PM at the Anacostia Park-Skating Pavilion. Challenge fitness course along the river trail with Rangers available to advise, encourage and promote healthy lifestyles. Free. For all ages. 202-472-3884. Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. Open daily; Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM6:00 PM. Four indoor courts. Six outdoor courts. Summer hourly fees at $6 to $10 EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 13
CALENDAR for adults. Kids 17 and under play for free. 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-645-6242. dpr.dc.gov
Youth entrepreneurs sell seedlings at Aya Community Markets. Photo: Courtesy of Dreaming Out Loud
Free public tennis courts in Wards 7 and 8. Fort Davis Community Center, 1400 41st St. SE; Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver St. SE; Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, 4300 Anacostia Ave. NE; Randle Highlands Tennis Courts, 31st St. and Pennsylvania Ave. SE; Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE; Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr Ave. and Joliet St. SW; Congress Heights Recreation Center, Alabama Ave. and Randle Pl.SE; Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a firstcome, first-served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr.dc.gov Tidal Basin 3K Monthly Run. Third Wednesday of each month at noon. This run is free and informal. West Potomac Park (meet on Ohio Dr. at West Basin Dr., near the Tourmobile stand). 703-505-3567. dcroadrunners.org Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. Oct 5. Registration now open. 703-587-4321. wilsonbridgehalf.com Marine Corps Marathon Registration. Register online at marinemarathon.com. Marathon is Sunday, Oct 26.
SALES AND MARKETS Grant Avenue (flea) Market in Takoma Park. May 11, June 8, Sept 14 and Oct 12, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. The market is at the intersection of Grant Ave. and Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park, MD with antiques, collectibles and funky finds. grantavenuemarket.com NLPNA Yard Sale. May 17, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. The North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association yard sale is in the triangle park between the 1300 blocks of North Carolina Ave. and A St. NE (between 13th and 14th streets). This annual event is our primary source of funding for community building activities including tree plantings and Buzz distribution Donations may be dropped off from 8:00-10:00 AM on the day of the sale. . For more information or to volunteer, call 202-543-3512 or e-mail elizabeth_knits@yahoo.com, with “yard sale” as the subject. Lions Flea Market in Palisades. June 1 (rain or shine), 10:00 AM-4:00 PM in the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot at MacArthur Blvd. and Arizona Ave. NW. The Palisades-Georgetown Lions Club raises funds from this event and others such as the Christmas Tree sale to support organizations ranging from charities to schools to the Lions Foundation. This community flea market is sponsored by Palisades-Georgetown Lions Club. Rent table space for $35 and remove items promptly at end. Contact Mary at 202-363-6122 for more information. Ward 8 Farmers’ Market. Opens for the season on June 7. Saturdays, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. The market is at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. ward8farmersmarket.com
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Aya Community Markets @ Minnesota Avenue
Thursdays, June 5-Nov 20, 3:00-7:00 PM at 3924 Minnesota Ave. NE in the parking lot of Unity Health Care. dreamingoutloud.net H Street FRESHFARM Market. Saturdays, 9 AM-noon, Apr 19-Dec 20. The H Street Market is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year. SNAP (EBT/Food Stamps) accepted. 13th and H Sts. NE. freshfarmmarket.org Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Market. Thursdays through Dec 18, 3:00-7:00 PM. North end of 8th St., between D and E, NW. freshfarmmarket.org RFK Stadium Farmers’ Market. Open Saturdays, year-round (weather permitting), 8:00 AM-3:00 PM. The market also has merchandise vendors. It can be seen in the RFK parking lot from the interestion of Benning Rd. and Oklahoma Ave. NE. Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays. Set up (depending on the weather) after 10:00 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3:00-7:00 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 AM-8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year-round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last
continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com
Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7:00 AM-9:00 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.
Anacostia Big Chair Flea Market. Saturdays, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. The market features a diverse mix of art, crafts, imports, antiques, collectibles and furniture every Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The market will also feature local specialty food items such as fruits and vegetables, flowers, preserves, prepared foods and beverages. 2215 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. bigchairmarket.com
Eastland Gardens Civic Association Monthly Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30-8:00 PM at Kenilworth Elementary School Auditorium, 1300 44th St. NE. Contact Javier Barker, j58barker@ yahoo.com or 202-450-3155.
Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays year round (rain or shine), 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London named the market one of the top farmers’ markets in the country. During the peak season, there are more than 30 farmers offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit pies, breads, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps and herbal products. 20th St. and Mass. Ave. NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202-7753532. or georgetownfleamarket.com
CIVIC LIFE
Grosso Near You (informal) Meeting. Third Thursday, 8:00-9:30 AM, Big Chair Coffee and Grill, 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. The meetings will provide the opportunity for constituents to bring ideas and issues directly to Councilmember Grosso as part of an effort to make the DC Council more accessible. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton.house.gov Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM. 2524 Penn. Ave. SE. 202-581-1560. Councilmember Barry’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. 2100 MLK Ave, SE, #307. 202-698-2185. Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon-2:00 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting.
Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7:00-9:00 PM. UPO-Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600. Anacostia High School School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday. 6:00 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R sts. SE. Deanwood Citizens Association General Body Meeting. Fourth Monday, except Aug. and Dec., 6:30 PM. 1350 49th St. NE. Deanwood Citizens Association General Body Meeting. Fourth Monday, except Aug. and Dec., 6:30 PM. 1350 49th St. NE. Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday. 6:30-8:30 PM. Kenilworth Elementary School (auditorium), 1300 44th St. NE. Greg Rhett jrhett3009@aol.com or 202-388-1532. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE.
ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7:00 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE (Branch Ave and S St. SE). 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b.us ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7:00 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@verizon.net ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Sixth District Police Station, 100 42nd St. NE. 202-398-5258. 7D06@anc.dc.gov ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. anc8adc.org ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Sts. SE. 202-610-1818. anc8b.org ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7:00 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7:00 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202 561-0774 ◆
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BULLETIN BOARD On Thursday, June 18, pools will be open six days a week through summer. Photo: Courtesy of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation
DC Outdoor Public Pools Open Memorial Day Weekend
DC Outdoor Public Pools Open will be open weekends only until school is out. On Thursday, June 18, pools will be open six days a week through summer. All outdoor pools are open weekends, noon-6 p.m. Weekday hours are 1-8 p.m. Every pool is closed one day a week for cleaning and maintenance. Barry Farm pool is still currently under renovations, and is scheduled to open mid-summer. All pools are free for DC residents. Have picture ID. Pools east of the river are Anacostia Pool, 1800 Anacostia Dr. SE. 202724-1441; Barry Farms Pool (closed until mid-summer), 1230 Sumner Rd. SE 202-645-5040. Benning Park Pool, Southern Ave. and Fable St.SE. 202-645-5044; Douglass Pool, Frederick Douglass Ct. and Stanton Ter. SE. 202645-5045. Fort Dupont Pool, Ridge Rd. and Burns St. SE. 202-645-5046; Fort Stanton Pool, 1800 Erie St. SE. 202678-1798; Kelly Miller Pool, 4900 Brooks St. NE. 202724-5056; and Oxon Run Pool, 4th St. and Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-645-5042. dpr.dc.gov
Anacostia Community Museum’s Summer Soiree
The Anacostia Community Museum presents an evening of dancing, and great food celebrating the rich culture of Washington, DC at the Summer Soiree on Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m. at the Smithsonian Castle, 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW. Getting the party started is the legendary 3rd Generation Band reprising their popular R&B/contemporary music performances that kept the crowd coming back for 20 years to the recently-closed Engine Room at the SW Waterfront’s Channel Inn. The fun heightens with a hand dancing competition, showcasing DC’s official dance. The soiree also features a silent auction. The Summer Soiree promises to please so put on your dancing shoes, dress to impress and come ready to party. All proceeds support Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. Attire: Cocktail. Tickets: $150. For more information or ticket purchase, please call 202-633-4875 or emailACMinfo@ si.edu. 16 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Designing Dreams 2014 Pitch Competition
In their first-ever Pitch Competition, one local DC organization or group with a socially or environmentally responsible initiative will receive $20,000 of professional design services from MakeDC to help “realize their dreams.” Pitch Night takes place on Saturday, May 17, from 5-8 p.m. (door open at 4:30 p.m.) at the District Architecture Center, 421 7th St. NW. Competition finalists will present their projects and needs to the jury in a Pecha Kucha-style format. Once all of the presentations have been made, the jury will deliberate and announce a winner that night. Pitch Night Finalists are Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the DC Youth Orchestra, the Anacostia BID, Kid Power, Latin American Youth Center, Joseph’s House, and the Georgetown BID. Light fare and a cash bar will be part of the event. But this isn’t a private, closed-door gathering: They’re inviting the public to join them, meet the finalists, jurors, and the MakeDC team, as well
as participate in the competition. Everyone will have a voice toward the People’s Choice--giving the audience a full vote at the jury table. Tickets are $15. makedc.org
Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library “100 by Summer” Library Card Challenge
Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE has launched a “100 by Summer” Library Card Challenge because every person deserves a library card. The challenge is to get 100+ DC Public Library cards to 100 Washingtonians by June 21. DC Library key chains and pens will be given to new card holders during this period. For more information, contact Diamond Newman at diamond.newman@dc.gov or 202-281-2598.
Paddle Nights on the Anacostia
Come discover your Anacostia by joining AWS in the free Paddle Nights on the Anacostia Program this summer. June Paddle Nights are
June 6, 12, 19, 24 and 26. AWS provides the canoes, life jackets, paddles and safety lesson: everything you’ll need to have a great paddling experience. Each event starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 7:30 p.m. Paddle Nights are first-come, first-served. Boats launch from the Ballpark Boathouse, First St. and Potomac Ave. SE. anacostiaws.org
Free Performances and Live Music at Anacostia Arts Center
Anacostia Arts Center, with the support of the Kresge Foundation, is offering free arts events. Eclectic Tuesdays offers a variety of performances from burlesque, to improv, to spoken word. Live Wednesdays offers music from local DC bands, from funk to rock. Eclectic Tuesdays and Live Wednesdays runs through June 4. Anacostia Arts Center is located at 1231 Good Hope Road SE. Events are free and reservations are recommended. Shows begin at either 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. Visit anacostiaartscenter.org/events for event details and to make reservations.
Remaining Eclectic Tuesday performances are May 13, TBA; May 20, Burlesque with Candy Del Rio; May 27, Washington Improv Theatre’s Intro to Improv Workshop; and June 3, TBA. Remaining Live Wednesday performances are May 14, Immaletchufinish; May 21, Black Notes; May 28, BOOMscat; and June 4, Louis Weeks.
Free Outdoor Gym and Fitness Area Opens at Anacostia Park
The National Park Service, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, opened a new fitness station in Anacostia Park, Anacostia Dr. and Nicholson St. SE, near the recreation center, at a ceremony on Tuesday, Apr. 22. The outdoor fitness area and exercise equipment support the National Park Service’s commitment to Healthy Parks Healthy People, an initiative that harnesses the power of parks and public lands in promoting the health of people and the environment.
Construction Starts on Anacostia Riverwalk Trail Linking DC and Maryland
Construction has started for the $22.1 million project across the District of Columbia and Maryland line to deliver the missing link in almost 70-mile regional bicycle and pedestrian trail network. By connecting Benning Rd. in the District with Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Bladensburg, MD, the four-mile trail segment creates new connections between communities, the Anacostia River and its natural resources while enhancing recreational and educational opportunities for trail users. At the same time, the trail increases accessibility to transit stations and makes bicycle commuting more attractive by reducing travel times by as much as 30 minutes. Within the District, the EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 17
segment is part of the planned 28mile Anacostia Riverwalk Trail that will connect 16 waterfront neighborhoods to the Anacostia River, Southwest Waterfront, Nationals Park, Washington Navy Yard, RFK Stadium, National Arboretum, and other popular destinations.
Good Neighbor Day at Kenilworth Park
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY SOLICITATION NO.: 0027-2014 Land Development Planner
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY (DCHA) is seeking a qualified professional Land Development Planner to assist DCHA in the full range of services to the planning and possible redevelopment of Lincoln Heights/Richardson and Greenleaf properties. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Administrative Services/Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, beginning on Monday, April 28, 2014; and on DCHA web site at www.dchousing.org SEALED PROPOSALS RESPONSES are due to the Issuing Office by 11:00am on Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Contact the Issuing Office, LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod on (202) 535-1212 or by e-mail on or lmmcleod@dchousing.org for additional information.
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On Saturday, May 17 (rain or shine), 10 a.m.-3 p.m., join them for their second annual Good Neighbor Day service and celebration event. The day will start at 10 a.m. with 2 hours of volunteer service in the park, followed by a family-friendly celebration from noon-3 p.m. that includes park tours, scavenger hunts, face painting and fun. Wear clothing appropriate for the work at hand-long sleeve shirts, long pants, and no open toe shoes. You may also want to bring an extra set of clothes. Gloves and all equipment will be provided. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Volunteers with special needs should email the volunteer coordinator in advance of the event. RSVP recommended. Please contact Tina O’Connell at tina@ friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. The park has ample free, off-street parking and is metro accessible (Deanwood). For additional information, visit friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.
E-Books, Audiobooks, Music and More! at Deanwood Library
Would you like to take advantage of all of the free digital materials that DC Public Library has to offer, but don’t know where to start? the Deanwood Library staff is here to help. They will gladly walk you through using your Nook, Kindle, iPad, smartphone, laptop or other electronic device to download books, movies, music and more. Come to the Deanwood Neighborhood Library on Wednesdays, noon-2 p.m. and, if possible, bring your device with you. Deanwood Neighborhood Library, 1350 49th St. NE. 202-698-1175. dclibrary. org/deanwood
Herd of Goats Removes Invasive Plants Around Anacostia Watershed
The Anacostia Watershed Society, in partnership with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will use a herd of goats to help manage invasive plant populations along the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River in Hyattsville, MD. Beginning on May 8, 60 goats will feed on nonnative kudzu (Pueraria lobata) to naturally and safely clear a large section of the invasive plant which will improve the overall health of the river. Kudzu is a non-native, invasive vine that spreads quickly and outcompetes native vegetation. The herd of goats, provided by EcoGoats of Davidsonville, MD, will feast on the kudzu for eight days. Grazing the kudzu night and day, the herd of goats will be supervised and checked on daily by AWS and EcoGoats staff members. Employed by many land management entities, this removal technique is considered a low impact and sustainable land management practice. Unlike machines or herbicides, the herd of goats will not compress or contaminate the soil around the river’s habitat and will reduce the invasive plant biomass that would routinely be disposed of in local area landfills, potentially furthering the spreading of kudzu through composting and mulching products.
Free Bike Clinics at Anacostia Library
Volunteers from The Bike House collective will provide bike repair services at no cost for the public outside of Anacostia Neighborhood Library on the second and fourth Saturdays in May, June, and July from noon to 2:30 p.m. (with the exception of Saturday, May 24-Memorial Day weekend). Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-715-7707. dclibrary.org/anacostia
South Capitol Street Corridor Project Update Meeting
The District Department of Transportation will hold a public information update meeting on Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at
the Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 2616 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, about the progress of the South Capitol Corridor Street Project, which includes replacement of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and transforming the city’s southernmost entrance into a grand urban boulevard. The South Capitol Corridor Street Project is one in a series of transportation, environmental, economic, community and recreation projects included in the larger Anacostia Waterfront Initiative Program. From the Tidal Basin to the city’s northeast border with Maryland, the 30-year, $10 billion AWI Program is transforming the shores of the Anacostia River into a world-class waterfront. For more information and to follow the project’s progress, visit anacostiawaterfront.org/SouthCapitolStreetCorridor. To join the project email list or ask questions, contact Bryon Johnston at ddot.awi@dc.gov or 202-741-8528.
Artist Studio Tour: Baltimore, MD
On Saturday, May 17, 10:30 a.m.2:30 p.m., visit Baltimore’s Downtown Cultural Art Center Gallery, then the studios of Karen Buster (printmaker and mixed media) and Poncho Brown (painter and printmaker). Bus leaves promptly from the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. $10 transportation fee. Call 202-633-4866 for information or to attend. anacostia.si.edu
Community Vision Cruise on the Anacostia River
On Monday, June 16, 6-8 p.m., join NSC Partners for a Community Cruise on the Anacostia River on a vintage 1928 Chesapeake Bay boat. Enjoy food provided by Aqua 301 and dessert by Ice Cream Jubilee. Every paid attendee will be entered to win a pair of tickets to the Washington Nationals vs the Atlanta Braves later this season. Scott Kratz, Director of the 11th Street Bridge Park Project, will be on hand to share unique engineering renderings from the deck of the Half Shell as it glides under the actual proposed span. Leaders of other groups
working for a clean Anacostia River and for youth environmental education can answer your questions about our community’s unique, watery “front yard”. This is a rare opportunity to get a closeup look of renderings with the actual span in the background. Space is limited so tickets will go quickly. Tickets are $60 and available online at eventbrite.com.
East of the River Exhibition Call to Artists
Honfleur Gallery presents The Seventh Annual East of the River exhibition this summer, highlighting the creative minds of Wards 7 and 8. Throughout the last seven years, Honfleur Gallery has changed the format only slightly, always keeping with the goal of supporting local artists for this group exhibition. Artists living, working or who have roots in the areas East of the Anacostia River may submit up to 10 images for review. Emerging, mid career, and established artists all are encouraged to apply. Visual artists working in any media may apply. Works created from January 2010-present will be accepted. Selected artists must be present for opening reception on July 11, 2014. The deadline is May 16 at 5 p.m. The exhibit opens July 11. Apply at honfleurgallery.com.
Spring Shepherd Parkway Community Clean-Up
Join your neighbors on Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet at picnic tables near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Aves. SE. Gloves, bags, and light refreshments will be provided. Wear boots and clothes you can get dirty. Since 2011, they’ve removed tens of thousands of pounds of trash and invasive species. The 205 acres of Shepherd Parkway are the cleanest they’ve been in decades, but there is much work still to be done. For more information, contact Nathan Harrington at nbharrington@yahoo.com or 301-758-5892.
Preparing Your Spring Garden
On Saturday, May 24, 10:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., join TV personality DerEAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 19
BULLETIN BOARD Fundraising Committee of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association. Standing left to right; Earl Williams, Nancy Harris, Ann Curtsinger, Sheila Brown, Don Murray; seated, Terence Peete, Michelle Peete
might, call 202-255-4318 or email dcbees at dcbeekeepers. org. They can get an experienced beekeeper to help you out. Insecticides truly will not take care of your situation, but they can. Beekeepers are fighting climate, pesticides, pests, habitat loss, pollution and lots of the things that challenge human health, also. Honeybees are under extreme threat, and swarms represent the unique populations that have not only figured out how to survive pests, pesticides, and climate change, but thrive. Beekeepers can grab those bees, give them safe homes somewhere else, and help ensure a healthier future where honeybees can continue to make our food supply and green spaces grow.
Hillcrest Community Civic Association Art Auction and Wine Tasting
DC Outdoor Public Pools Open will be open weekends only until school is out. On Thursday, June 18, pools will be open six days a week through summer. All outdoor pools are open weekends, noon-6 p.m. Weekday hours are 1-8 p.m. Every pool is closed one day a week for cleaning and maintenance. Barry Farm pool is still currently under renovations, and is scheduled to open mid-summer. All pools are free for DC residents. Have picture ID. Pools east of the river are Anacostia Pool, 1800 Anacostia Dr. SE. 202-724-1441; Barry Farms Pool (closed until mid-summer), 1230 Sumner Rd. SE 202-645-5040. Benning Park Pool, Southern Ave. and Fable St.SE. 202-6455044; Douglass Pool, Frederick Douglass Ct. and Stanton Ter. SE. 202-645-5045. Fort Dupont Pool, Ridge Rd. and Burns St. SE. 202-645-5046; Fort Stanton Pool, 1800 Erie St. SE. 202-678-1798; Kelly Miller Pool, 4900 Brooks St. NE. 202-7245056; and Oxon Run Pool, 4th St. and Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-645-5042. dpr.dc.gov
ek Thomas of WTTG Fox 5 (the Garden Guy) as he leads a workshop on the ins and outs of creating a luscious and productive home garden for the upcoming spring season. Free. For more information or to attend, call 202-633-4866. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu
CROP Hunger Walk and Food Drive
The Annual District of Columbia CROP Hunger Walk and Food Drive to be held on May 17, 11 a.m., at Franklin Square Park, 950 13th St. NW, with the closing ceremony to follow at Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. This year’s DC CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk encourages walkers to “start where they are,” wherever they are in the District and meet up with neighbors at Franklin Square Park at 11 a.m. to raise money and food for local feeding programs. Walkers should register online at cropwalk. org to start raising money now, and bring canned goods the day of the walk. This year’s 20 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
beneficiaries are DC Hunger Solutions and Capital Area Food Bank. Canned goods will be donated to the Capital Food Bank.
Art Enables Second Saturday Free Arts Workshop
All are welcome to attend a free community art workshop on the 2nd Saturday of every month, 1-4 p.m., at Art Enables, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE. All materials are provided. Art Enables is a studio and gallery for emerging artists with developmental disabilities. Reach them at 202-5549455. Read more about Art Enables at artenables.org.
Save the Bees
It’s finally spring and beekeepers are at least as happy as you are about that. The weird weather has created a situation where, now that it is warm, that survivor bees in the wild are likely to build up quickly and swarm. If you see a swarm of bees, or even think you
Washington Monument to Reopen May 12
The Washington Monument will re-open on May 12 after a 32-month closure due to damage from an earthquake. Public tours of the Monument on the day of the reopening, May 12, will begin at 1 p.m. The tickets will be available on a first come-first served basis starting at 8:30 a.m. that day at the Washington Monument Lodge, located on 15th Street, between Madison and Jefferson Drives. Tickets for tours on May 13 and all future dates will be available on the NPS reservation page recreation.gov, starting on April 16, at 10 a.m. Because of the closure of the Monument, the National Park Service will begin extended operating hours on May 12. The Monument will be open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. until the end of summer. The Washington Monument has been closed since Aug. 23, 2011, due to damage received in a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. It is now in the final stages of the restoration, which included repairs to more than 150 cracks in the structure.
DC Circulator Summer Service Hours
The DC Circulator is running extended service hours for the summer season on the following two routes: Union Station-Navy Yard route will run Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.9 p.m. and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.). Extended service will be provided for Washington Nationals baseball games and buses along this route will run additional service on game days. Potomac Ave--Skyland via Barracks Row route will run Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Both routes are increasing service by two hours on weeknights and adding Saturday service. The extended hours will last until Sept. 30. For every Washington Nationals night game (beginning at 4:05 p.m. or later), the Union Station--Navy Yard route service will operate until midnight. For Sunday home games, Circulator will operate this route from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Known for its convenient 10-minute headways, the Circulator costs $1 a ride, with additional discounts for seniors and District students. More information about the routes and schedules is available at dccirculator.com. ◆
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Shadow Boxing by Andrew Lightman
T
he long road to November’s general election began with the Democratic primary on April Fools’ Day. Muriel Bowser handily won her party’s nomination with a plurality of 43.38 percent (42,045 votes). In a reversal of fortune largely engineered by US Attorney Ronald C. Machen, the incumbent, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, trailed her by a more than 10,000-vote margin.
Candidate None of the Above
The real story, however, was not those who voted but rather those who stayed home. With the election results now certified, it appears that 73 percent of registered Democrats failed to visit the polls. Only 99,395 ballots were cast. This, according to Mike DeBonis of The Washington Post, is fully 5 percentage points below the previous record low turnout (32.1 percent) set in the September 1998 contest between Anthony “Tony” Williams and Kevin P. Chavous. As reported in last month’s District Beat and confirmed by DeBonis, the severity of the drop in voter turnout in the April Democratic primary increased from west to east. In particular it mirrored a substantial collapse in support for Gray across the city’s eastern wards. The vast majority of Democrats in Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8 voted with their feet for Candidate None of the Above. Yet, it remains to be seen whether the April
22 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Fool’s Day primary will prove a harbinger for November’s general election. Here, history may provide prove a guide. In both 2010 and 2006 there was a drop of 5 to 10 percentage points in voter participation between the Democratic primary and the general election. While the primaries were by definition limited to party members, and the generals were unrestricted, these differences do signal a reduction of interest on the part of the electorate. In contrast, the 1998 and 2002 contests saw 3 to 4 point increases of voter participation in the general elections as compared to the Democratic primaries. These increases in voter interest undoubtedly resulted from the campaigns mounted against the Democratic nominees by Republican Carol Schwartz. So history offers two lessons. If voters perceive a November general election as uncontested, their already low level of engagement may drop again. Alternatively, if the candidacy of David Catania (IAt Large) gains traction, it will likely increase voter participation by a few percentage points. In neither case will the large number of non-voting former Gray supporters in the eastern wards turn out to support the Democratic mayoral nominee.
Courting the Blues
Common wisdom holds that in District politics the Democratic primary is THE election. No Republican or independent has ever been elected mayor of Chocolate City. Solid Democratic support from the eastern wards (4, 5, 7, and 8) has been the bedrock of this Democratic hegemony. Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8 are among the city’s “bluest,” containing the fewest Republicans and independents. With the exception of Ward 8 they encompass many of the city’s highest-voting precincts such as the much storied 110 in Hillcrest. In the 2002 general election victory over Republican Carol Schwartz, Anthony “Tony” Williams garnered 47.95 percent of his support from the District’s eastern wards (38,284 votes). In the 2006 general election Adrian F. Fenty collected 52.35 percent of his support from these precincts (55,933 votes). In 2010, with opponents writing Fenty’s name onto the ballot, favorite son Vincent C. Gray drew 60.73 percent of his total from the east (59,500 votes).
Muriel Bowser announces her candidacy. Photo: Andrew Lightman
On April Fool’s Day of this year Muriel Bowser drew only 23 percent of her support (9,650 votes) from Wards 5, 7, and 8. Ward 4 gave her 8,223 votes. Ward 3 awarded her the largest haul, 8,730 votes. Interestingly, Wards 3 and 4 together contributed 40.32 percent of her total support. If history repeats itself Democrats will flock to their standard-bearer in November’s general election. Therefore, Bowser should be able to increase her total take from the eastern wards. However, by the same token the historically low voter engagement demonstrated in the April Fool’s Day primary is likely to continue. So the pickings are likely to be slimmer than usual: somewhere between 25,000 and 28,000 additional votes. Two things stand in the path of an eastern expansion in Bowser’s support. First, many in these neighborhoods still consider “Fenty” a four-letter word. Bowser will have to convince this population that she is not “Fenty in a dress.” Second, many of the possible additional voters cast ballots for Gray in spite of Machen’s corruption investigation. They are among his staunchest loyalists. Without a firm nod from the mayor these voters may join their peers to vote with their feet for Candidate None of the Above in November’s general election. Absent the typical strong eastern Democratic voting bloc, especially in Wards 5, 7, and 8, the election will be fought in Wards 3, 4, and 6. Perhaps a low-turnout western contest is precisely what Bowser wants. Such a scenario would enable her to effectively employ her proven ability to raise funds, her strong support from The Washington Post, and her well-tuned GOTV
(Get Out The Vote) machine. Some clues to her strategy may be gleaned from her behavior since the election.
Radio Silence
Since making the victory rounds immediately after the election, Bowser has been uncharacteristically quiet. For example, from April 17 to 28 she went silent on Twitter. During this same period her campaign largely ceased its daily volley of press releases. It also refused to make her available for a recent interview with Washington Post columnist Emma Brown on the specifics of her education platform. The Washington Post reports that the campaign has declined to commit to schedule any debates with Catania before the August 6 deadline for the submission of nominating petitions. Bowser’s low profile and refusal to share a platform with Catania other than the council dais accomplishes three things. It reinforces the notion that the November general election is a ratification rather than a contest by treating it as a non issue. It denies her opponent any opportunity to further legitimize his candidacy by facing her as an equal on stage. Finally, her silence denies Catania any fodder for political attacks or policy disagreements. Keeping to the shadows for the next several months, Bowser can amass cash by courting former Gray contributors anxious to earn a place in the Democratic nominee’s good graces. If the recent primary is a predictor of her campaign style, Bowser will hoard her resources to the end. Then, in the weeks immediately preceding the election, she will conduct a blitzkrieg campaign of advertising and direct mail. This will be quickly followed by a well-orchestrated ground game designed to bring out her supporters. Bowser’s silence has removed much of the daily drama of a normal campaign, leaving Catania to box at shadows. u
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) FOR JOB ORDER CONTRACT (JOC) PROGRAM IFB No. - 0009- 2014 thru 0012-2014
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY (DCHA) will receive sealed bids for Job Order Contracts 0009-2014 thru 0012-2014. INVITATION FOR BID DOCUMENTS will be available at the DCHA Procurement Office, 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E., Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services, Washington, D.C. 20002-7599 (Issuing Office); between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Wednesday, May 7, 2014. A copy of the Bid Documents may only be obtained upon registration by the Contractor and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Two-Hundred Dollars ($200.00) payable to the District of Columbia Housing Authority, in the form of a money order, certified company check or cashier’s check. NO CASH ACCEPTED. The DCHA reserves the right to reject the bid of any Contractor who fails to register and pay the amount designated for the Bid Documents. Bid Documents will be available at the mandatory pre-bid conference. A MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2014 at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-7599, 2nd Floor Board Room. Parking is limited to street meter parking or an adjacent parking lot. SEALED PROPOSALS RESPONSES are due Thursday, June 12, 2014 @ 10:00 a.m. at the Issuing Office identified above. Please contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at 202-535-1212 or via email at lwashing@dchousing.org for additional information.
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 23
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
the NUMB3RS 3.327.649.10
Making Sure New School Funding Goes to All Students Who Need It by Soumya Bhat
DC
’s school reform won’t be successful without dramatic improvements in test scores and graduation rates for the city’s lowincome students. These children come to school with many challenges, but extra resources can help level the playing field at high-poverty schools – by supporting things like longer school days, more social workers, and access to extra-curricular activities that middle class children take for granted. High-poverty schools in the District get no special treatment in local education funding. But that will change next school year. Both Mayor Gray and the DC Council endorsed the idea of adding more resources to serve low-income students. And the mayor’s proposed budget for the 2014-15 school year adds more dollars to the city’s per pupil funding formula for students considered to be “at-risk.” Big questions remain, however, over whether these new investments will be used well and reach the DC students most in need.
Proposed Changes to the School Funding Formula for FY 2015
Both DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools get most of their resources from local funds, which are based on a per-pupil funding formula. The formula has a base level per student, and there are supplemental amounts for students with extra needs – such as special education and English language learners. Total funding for DCPS and each public charter school is calculated by multiplying the per-student funding 24 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
amounts by the number of students in each category. In recent years, the formula has not included a supplement for poor or atrisk students. But this year, an education “adequacy study” commissioned by Mayor Gray recommended, among other things, adding one-third to the base funding formula for each at-risk student. The DC Council also blessed the idea of a new supplemental weight for “at-risk” students, with legislation adopted late in 2013. The new supplement for at-risk students reflects nearly 37,000 students – including those who are homeless, in foster care, or eligible for food stamps or welfare benefits. Altogether, that is nearly half of the students in both DCPS and the public charter schools. This will mean lots of good things for many schools. But it’s also true that DCPS did not allocate these dollars to schools in a transparent way. And it appears that some schools with large concentrations of need will not see their share of the city’s enhanced educational investments next school year.
How DCPS Will Spend At-Risk Funds
Some of the initiatives DCPS says will be supported include new guidance
counselors, staff for social and emotional supports, and additional instructional time through a longer school day at several low-performing schools. But the list also includes things that seem to have nothing to do with at-risk students or low-performing schools. Chancellor Henderson called for new “Proving What’s Possible” student satisfaction grants, to support field trips or anti-bullying efforts, but these grants will go to all schools. DCPS says some of the new at-risk funds will go for special education,
but those services should be funded out of the special education component of the funding formula. Importantly, these initiatives will not guarantee that schools with a large number of at-risk students will get added help. About 73 percent of the city’s at-risk students are in high schools and elementary schools, yet the bulk of the at-risk dollars were focused on middle grades, including middle schools in low-poverty neighborhoods. In particular, high schools with significant at-risk populations,
such as Anacostia High School, would see only minimal increases in local resources next year.
A Disappointing Lack of Transparency
The budget released by DCPS did not initially detail how the at-risk funds will be used next year. At the same time, the budgets for individual schools – which parentteacher advisory teams are asked to review and approve – do not list the number of students deemed at-risk and do not identify how much at-risk funding they will receive. This makes it impossible for parents and other stakeholders to assess whether their school will receive a fair share of the new educational resources being provided next school year. This happened despite the fact that the Council’s legislation (the Fair Student Funding Act) required at-risk funding to follow the student, with 90 percent of these funds going directly to schools. The school budget is now in the hands of the DC Council. Funding should not be taken away from one school to give to another, but the Council should look for ways to create some equity for the schools that were left out by DCPS before the budget is finalized.
Looking Forward
The 2014-15 school year budget only partially funds the at-risk weight recommended by the funding adequacy study. So there may be another round. That would give DCPS another chance to implement atrisk funding in a fairer and more inclusive way. DCPS could start its budget planning early next school year, and find ways to engage parents and experts in a dialogue over the best ways to spend at-risk funds. This should include plans for a fair allocation of funds – such as making sure that at-risk dollars match the number of at-risk students at each level – elementary school, middle school, high school, or education campus. And it should include plans to make sure that information on the use of at-risk funds is clear and accessible to everyone. Having new resources to improve the educational outcomes of poor students is a great opportunity. Let’s hope the chancellor, mayor, and Council make the most of it. Bhat is an education policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute ( HYPERLINK “http://www.dcfpi.org” www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. u
THE NOSE
The Mayor Presumptive
W
by Anonymous
hat if The Nose threw a party and nobody came. Would he drown his sorrows in brown liquor? Overdose on chocolate cake? Would he be forced to dance the electric slide in the company of his shadow? This precisely is the situation Muriel “Divine Miss M” Bowser (D-Ward 4) found herself in on April Fools’ Day. In the days leading up to the primary, The Nose, along with other members of his fast fading fraternity, spent hours prognosticating, slicing and dicing the polls. Unfortunately, much of their time and attention was expended on likely voters. In 2014, however, it was the stayat-homes who really mattered. Despite mailboxes overflowing with campaign mailings, land lines dunned by robo calls, 73 percent of registered Democrats, located overwhelming in the city’s eastern wards, chose not to vote. In fact, the 2014 primary election witnessed the lowest turnout of voters since the advent of home rule. Meet “Non-Voters,” the District’s new, vast “Silent Majority.” What did non-voters do on April Fools’ Day, The Nose, wonders? Were they eating bonbons and watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? Had they paid so much attention to Game of Thrones that they could not name any of the candidates? Had the cut and thrust of the endless mayoral debates led them to slit their wrists? Whatever the reason, the historically low primary turnout has denied Divine Miss M any
claim to the type of popular mandate enjoyed by her mentor, Adrian ‘Apple’ Fenty. This has opened the door to an independent challenge by David ‘L’Enfant Terrible’ Catania (I-At-large). To ward off Catania ‘The Terrible,’ Divine Miss M will be singing the following tune from now to November, cribbed from a Groucho Marx ditty *, Democratic voters have had their say, November makes no difference anyway, Whoever runs, I’ve been elected. Let’s keep the general election in perspective I’ve been elected. My opponents may be good, But let’s have one thing understood, Whoever they may be, I’ve been elected. The Democratic choice will never stand corrected, I’ve been elected. For nine months until I am sworn, I’ll be yelling from night to morn, Whatever the polls say, I’ve been elected. As I’ve kept repeating since first selected, I’ve been elected! As a famous man once pointed out, if one repeats a statement often enough with sufficient authority, fiction becomes fact. Repetition is the key to political victory. *“I’m Against It,” from Horse Feathers. Have a comment for The Nose? Email thenose@hillrag.com. u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 25
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Outreach and Wellness Center Enhances Healthcare Trusted Health Plan Opens a Community Outreach Center in Ward 7 by Candace Y. A. Montague
C
hef Marie Jo, a student in the University of District of Columbia’s Food and Nutritional Science Program, has just begun a cooking demonstration on how to prepare tau chicken, jollof rice, and sautéed spinach and tomatoes. As she explains how she creates the fragrant meal, a small audience settles in to watch. Some are hungry and curious about the taste while others are taking a break from the festivities. All of them are Trusted Health Plan members, and today is their day – a member appreciation day that encourages clients to come in and enjoy services such as massages, Da-GoGo and yoga classes, free fingernail painting, and haircuts. No paperwork to decipher or phone calls to agencies: just reap the benefits of being a Trusted Health Plan member and become more familiar with the new Health and Wellness Outreach Center created with members’ needs in mind.
Beyond the Paperwork
Cooking demonstrations are just one of the many services that Trusted Health Plan offers at its Health and Wellness Outreach Center, located at 3732 Minnesota Ave. NE. It has space to provide healthcare services outside the typical doctor’s visit. Services such as medication management, navigating Medicaid and Medicare paperwork, and locating providers are all part of the package for members. Caseworkers use the facility to meet with clients instead of requesting them to come to the central New Jersey Avenue office. 26 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
The center has conference rooms Tawana Moore, Trusted Health Plan member, gets a blood pressure for education classes and a multicheck from Gary Gunn during Member Appreciation Day. purpose room for exercise classes, as well as a resource library stocked with computers and books for members who want to research health, resources, or even jobs. There’s even a children’s room to give parents breathing room while they use the facility. “We try to get people to utilize their doctor not just in the case of illness. Trying to retrain people to do preventive-type things and cut back on the ER visits. People can come in with a whole lot going on that would affect their health. They could be behind in the rent. They could have transportation issues before their condition escalates to to get to their Chef Marie Jo, a student in emergency-room level. Sometimes appointments,” the University of the District of the issue is with paperwork or arColumbia’s Food and Nutritional stated Holli Muranging to see a specialist. Members Science Program, prepares for hammed, Health a cooking demonstration. can get help with that too. and Wellness Thomas Duncan, president and Outreach Center CEO of Trusted Health Plan, said staffer. the center helps keep members foThe center cused on their own care. “What we’re serves as a stopgap trying to do is keep our members acmeasure for those tively involved in their own health. members who are With this outreach center we’ve acon the borderline tually engaged our members. We’ve of a health crisis had over 80 members come to the and for those who appreciation day and do different just need someone things like yoga, HIV screenings, get to explain things haircuts, etc. Last week we had over to them in an ac100 members come by to visit for cessible manner. various reasons. We want to continue Clients who are to be a resource that our members diabetic, suffer can count on right here in their own from high blood community. It keeps them healthy. pressure, or have This is that step between home and HIV can get help the emergency room.”
Invest in Prevention
Healthcare centers and outreach centers like Trusted Health Plan’s are the heartbeat of healthcare reform in America. Although the health center model has existed since the 1960s it saw an expansion boom in the 2000s under President George W. Bush, when Medicaid and Medicare became more widely accepted. Outreach centers, while seemingly costly at first, actually save millions of dollars in healthcare costs. The national healthcare reform package (aka Affordable Care Act) includes $11 billion for health center programs over the next five years. Facilities like Trusted Health Plan’s center are designed to intervene and reduce the number of emergency-room visits, hospitalizations, and costly treatments by consulting with patients in advance of illness. According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, expanding health centers will save up to $122 billion in total costs between 2010 and 2015. Health centers would save as much as $55 billion for Medicaid over a five-year period. Not only do health and wellness centers lower overall costs of care but they also enhance the quality of life for people in medically underserved areas. There are physical and mental benefits to having places like the Health and Wellness Outreach Center. Members are reminded of appointments with doctors and receive information on lifestyle changes like smoking cessation, safer sex practices, and stress reduction. Home visits from staff at the center also assist with environmental changes that could affect health. Maybe a member’s child is having trouble
with his or her asthma because of a ventilation issue at home. These matters are outside the realm of a typical health insurance provider.
Something for Everyone
For Trusted Health Plan members, having services available at no extra cost that will fulfill their health needs and more is definitely a plus. Ward 7 Councilmember and Health Committee Chair Yvette Alexander said that the facility is just the kind of support that is needed. “It’s ideal that it’s located in the community where they serve; right in the heart of Ward 7. And it’s family-centered. There’s something for men, women, and children. They have everything from cooking demos to exercise classes to a place to occupy your children. It’s a preventive health facility.” Health and wellness is evolving all the time. “Office hours” is a loose term. Clients are now members. Self-advocacy is favored over waiting for instructions. And a company is now a community that works together to maintain optimal health. Trusted Health Plan’s Health and Wellness Outreach Center takes a more in-depth approach to service. It has adapted that new approach to healthcare. It’s not just about reaction to emergencies. It’s about preventing emergencies and prolonging life. That is where the insurance part truly begins. Trusted Health Plan’s Health and Wellness Outreach Center is located at 3732 Minnesota Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20019. For more information visit www.trustedhp.com or call 202-821-1090. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 27
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Orr Parents Call “May Day” But Two Schools of Thought Emerge by Virginia Avniel Spatz
“M
ay Day!” was the call at Orr Elementary School on May 1. Orr parents, concerned about school leadership and facilities, say they’d gone through channels for months before taking to the street. Community members first addressed Principal Niyeka Wilson, followed by the instructional superintendent and DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. They testified to the DC Council and brought concerns directly to Councilmember David Catania, chair of the Education Committee and candidate for mayor. “We’re at the point now where we need the public’s help,” says parent Laila Patrick, who helped organize Orr’s “May Day,” complete with signs, petitions, and drums. “DCPS and Kaya Henderson and Niyeka Wilson need to face the music.” Some parents, however, were surprised and disturbed by the focus of the demonstration. Nearly everyone agrees that Orr, one of the last “open plan” schools in the District, is way overdue for modernization. Not everyone agrees about the leadership needed to envision a new facility.
Overdue Modernization
Orr, 2200 Minnesota Avenue, SE, is one of the last unmodernized DCPS schools. “Open plan” designs, without classroom walls, were meant to allow flexibility. But the design also means noise and distractions. Orr continues to suffer these drawbacks, as modernization funds were withdrawn year after year, leading some to believe that the school is secretly slated for closure or repurposing. “The school community is justifiably frustrated with the continued delay of the modernization, a modernization that is badly needed in the Councilmember’s view,” says Catania 28 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
community members saw no contrition or understanding. “We told her that when she talks about a parent in our school she’s not just talking about them, she’s talking about all of us, especially our children,” Thomas’s testimony said. “How can you run a school if you believe the people learning are inferior to you?”
“Feeling Her Way In”
Tameka Young, who is active with her nieces and nephews at Orr, finds Wilson “respectful” and “down to earth.” Young describes Wilson bringing one niece, whose behavioral issues had disrupted the classroom, into her office, telling the child: “I have work to do, and you have work to do,” and suggesting a 25-minute “power nap.” When Young arrived on the scene, her niece was asleep amid drawing materials in the principal’s office; the strategy worked, Parents and students demonstrate outside Orr Elementary in Ward 8, May 1
spokesperson Brendan Williams-Kief. Catania visited the school, following the mayor’s defunding of renovations yet again, and is now “exploring ways to ensure that the renovations occur in a timely fashion.” After protest, $39 million in modernization funds were restored. Allyson Criner Brown, manager of the Tellin’ Stories Project which partners with Orr on parent engagement, says her organization expected to begin focusing on plans for the new building. Instead, parents raised leadership issues as a priority.
“She’s Talking About All of Us”
“I believe everything falls in place if you have a principal, that great leadership role, supporting us and representing us,” parent DaVita Robinson told the Education Town Hall radio program, a few hours before the May Day action. “If you have a principal who believes in the children and the teachers, then you’ll have good morale, great teachers, great students, and the school being modernized.” “Under [Wilson’s] watch some of
our best teachers, who have been there for years, [and are now] getting horrible evaluations, are planning on leaving....Under her watch our community is falling apart,” parent Isaiah Lyles said in recent testimony to the DC Council. “We assume she’s busy because no one Councilmember David Catania views disputed office“vault classroom” on ever sees her. My March 19. daughter still doesn’t even know who the principal is, and the child returned to her classroom. “I have to tell you that, growing up, and it’s April.” Cervantes Thomas, another Orr I would never have thought to go to my parent, told the Council about a principal’s office when I was having a Facebook comment Wilson posted bad day,” Young adds. “My niece does.” Speaking of bad days, Young bedemeaning the school community. “She talked about the parent as if she lieves that everyone has them. “We’re all human, and it seems to me that were nothing...” The principal apologized and met Ms. Wilson is being persecuted for with families, says DCPS spokesper- having feelings.” Similarly, Chicola Simmons, who son Melissa Salmanowitz. But some
has five children from pre-K to fourth grade at Orr, says, “I didn’t take [the Facebook message] personal. A person has every right to say whatever she wants, as long as they don’t do my children wrong.” And Wilson has never done her children wrong. “She could be a little more active with the children,” Simmons adds. “But she’s trying to feel her way in...Everyone was so used to [longtime principal] Miss Edwards who was with us forever.”
Two Schools of Orr Thought
Simmons, like many at Orr, is most concerned that the school “keep the programs that they have – the garden club, music, art gallery...that the children really, really like, and it’s very beneficial.” Patrick and Robinson told the Education Town Hall that budget decisions and the principal’s leadership put treasured staff, activities, and partnerships, like that with the Washington Ballet, at risk. Salmanowitz says this is not true. In addition, Wilson drew criticism for moving a special education teacher into a windowless, steel-doored space. DCPS insists that the space is an office not used by students. But parents, teachers, and others report “the vault” is regularly used for special education students, since their teacher was relocated there, and that students fear it. When Candi Peterson, Vice-President of the Washington Teacher’s Union, called the space “a classroom” in her blog, earlier this year, Salmanowitz demanded a correction. Instead, Peterson published pictures documenting student use and accused DCPS of a cover up. Catania declared student use of the space “completely unacceptable.” Criner Brown, whose organization has partnered with Orr since 2010 and “seen parent engagement grow exponentially” in those years, has watched parents take their concerns to the Council, through DCPS channels, and to the street. “There is an impressive community at the school among the parents, staff, and collaborators that looks out for the well-being of the children,” Criner Brown explains. “Therefore, it is not surprising to us [that parents are speaking up about] the dramatic changes by the leadership that have had a negative impact on teaching and learning, including cuts to the music program, curtailing field trips...parents are speaking up and taking action about decisions they see impacting not only their own children, but all students at the school.” But there are still at least two schools of thought among those speaking up: Robinson is among those who consider “the vault” part of the evidence that Wilson “doesn’t support her teachers or her students” and should be replaced. According to this group, leadership issues must be resolved before modernization planning can begin. Young draws a different “vault” conclusion: “I’ve never even heard of it. But if they’re using it, it’s because of the way the school is shaped. The building needs to be replaced.” David Holmes, of the Ward 8 Education Council, says his group “cannot say yea or nay” on any specific complaint but hopes to mediate a resolution. Mayor Vincent Gray and Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry did not respond to requests for comment. Per DCPS policy, Ms. Wilson re-redirected a query to the Chancellor’s communication office. Contact Teaching for Change, 202-588-7204 or teachingforchange. org, for information about the Tellin’ Stories Project at Orr Elementary. Virginia Spatz serves as feature reporter for the Education Town Hall on We Act Radio, educationtownhall.org. u
Barry Farm Redevelopment Plans Move Forward Hearing Scheduled for June
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by John Muller
fter being selected nearly a decade ago by Mayor Anthony Williams as one of four largescale public housing units to be redeveloped into a mixed-income neighborhood, Barry Farm Dwellings may finally be turning a corner. In March the DC Zoning Commission approved a June 16 public hearing for First Stage Planning Unit Development. “The project is moving forward,” says Kimberly Black King, director of the New Communities Initiative. “The goal is to commence demolition and construction in 2016.” The redevelopment of Barry Farm, covering more than 20 acres, could include 1,879 new mixed-income residential units, 50,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and 80,000 square feet of parks and open space. The new development would house residents of varying incomes in a mixture of residential units from apartments to condominiums to townhomes. “We are hopeful that the PUD [planned unit development] will be approved by this fall,” says Black King. “During this time we will be working with the development team to finalize the transformation plan that will be submitted to HUD [US Department of Housing and Urban Development] in response to the anticipated Choice Neighborhood Implementation Notice of Funds Available. The transformation plan will include all elements of the redevelopment, including identifying financing for the first phase and the timeline for which we expect that phase to be built.” Public meetings last summer and fall, held to brief the community on the redevelopment process, were contentious. One of them excluded members of the media and activists living outside of the immediate neighborhood of Barry Farm. Despite the acrimony the partnership between the DC Housing Authority, A&R Development Corp., and the nonprofit Preservation of Affordable Housing Inc. remains intact. With demolition optimistically planned to begin in 2016, the redevelopment schedule will begin to emerge as the city seeks public dollars and private financing. “A set timeline is unrealistic because there are many factors … that will have to
fall into place,” states Black King. “Therefore, setting a timeline for any development is always tentative. We prefer to have many of the moving pieces in place when we communicate a timeline to the community because we recognize that many of the community members and stakeholders do not have context of the overall development process and factors…. Without such context, delays or changes to timelines are often interpreted to mean a lack of commitment or priority.” The Barry Farm/Wade Apartments Choice Neighborhood Initiative Steering Committee will have monthly meetings in May and June. Meetings are posted on the New Communities website at www. dcnewcommunities.org.
Barry Farm Recreation Center Update
While the redevelopment plan for Barry Farm moves along administratively, construction of a new $26.3 million recreation center on Sumner Road center is slowly nearing completion. An 8,800 square-foot enclosed natatorium, with a six-lane pool, common play area, water slide, and locker room is expected to open this fall according to John Stokes, chief of staff for the Department of Parks and Recreation. The complete recreation center facility and grounds, scheduled to open in the winter of 2014-15, will include a multi-purpose room, an exercise room, senior room, outdoor gymnasium, and a combination field that can accommodate soccer, football, and baseball. Access will be open to all residents of Ward 8 and the city. “The new Barry Farm recreation center is part of an undertaking of unprecedented construction work in the history of parks and recreation in the east side of the city,” says Stokes. “In recent years a new Fort Stanton Recreation center has opened, the Bald Eagle Boxing Annex has been completed, $18 million has gone toward the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, and as part of ‘Play DC’ new playgrounds have been completed at Fort Greble, Oxon Run Park, and the Douglass Community Center Playground at the Ferebee Hope Recreation Center.” u
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Fendall Heights Dedicated after Year of Service
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n April 3 Franslene St. Jean told her story to an audience that included representatives from organizations such as the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A surgical technician in the US Navy, she was called to serve a one-year term in Afghanistan, leaving behind a then one-year-old son, two brothers, and a sister. “That is a lot of responsibility for a girl. And my devotion was to them,” she said in a DCHA press release. “I was their mother and their sister at the same time.” While raising them after her tour, St. Jean fell behind on her rent payments and was eventually evicted from her home. Thanks to a suggestion from VA she and her family arrived at Fendall Heights, an affordable housing project located in Ward 8.
by Charnice A. Milton
Residents also give back through advocacy activities including letterwriting campaigns and testifying to the DC Council regarding veterans issues. “They have voices that need to be heard,” Green said.
A Year of Success
In the year since Fendall Heights opened, Green said, they have seen the residents take steps to achieve their goals. “Since we opened about eight families have found employment and five more found part-time employment,” she said. “About 18 families have started increasing their savings and seven began reducing their debt.” An after-school program that includes tutoring has enabled the residents’ children to raise DC Housing Authority Executive Director Adrianne Todman and Afghanistan veteran Franslene St. Jean pose in front of Fendall Heights, SOME’s newest affordable housing project. St. Jean lives at Fendall their grades. Green believes that part Heights with her son and siblings. Photo: DCHA Spotlight on Female Veterans of the success comes from having a “This was something I wanted to do for permanent place to call home. “They fairs (VA).” From there DCHA partnered with the a while,” said DCHA Executive Director don’t have to worry about where they will sleep Adrianne Todman. “Female veteran homelessness DC VA Medical Center and So Others Might Eat at night,” she said. “The families here now have a has doubled over the last few years and they’re not (SOME) to find affordable housing for vets. They sense of home.” Living with other families in simigetting help because they don’t consider them- found it at 2025 Fendall St. lar situations also helps. “They have really fostered selves as veterans.” According to a report from the a sense of community here,” explained Green. National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, “wom- Life at Fendall Heights en veterans face unique challenges that increase Fendall Heights is SOME’s first affordable houstheir susceptibility to homelessness.” For instance, ing initiative specifically for veterans. SOME be- Dedication veterans with children fear that youth protection gan moving families into Fendall Heights in April After the completion of work on the buildservices will address their situation as dangerous 2013. “We moved five families in during that first ing’s community center and staff offices, Fendall and remove their children. Also, a 2010 study from week,” said Rachel Green, SOME’s family services Heights was ready for its dedication ceremony. It the US Government Accountability Office found administrator. “By the end of the first month we was a chance for stakeholders to tour the building that more than 60 organizations with grant and received eight to 10 and we were completely full and see how their work and donations affected the per diem programs did not have the resources to by the end of the year.” Currently Fendall Heights veterans and their families. However, St. Jean’s tesprovide housing for veterans’ children. Finally, the houses 21 families with children and eight single timony was the highlight of the ceremony. Thanks highest unmet need for homeless female veterans adults. “The program is for female veterans, but to the services she received at Fendall Heights, was a lack of accessible childcare, which in turn was we do house male vets and single females as well,” she increased her credit score and began training a barrier to employment. to become a nurse, with plans to apply to George Green explained. To combat this growing issue DCHA took In addition to providing a place to live, Fen- Washington University’s midwifery program. Her advantage of the US Department of Housing and dall Heights also offers supportive services such as message to fellow vets: “I made it and you can Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive counseling and workshops focusing on financial make it, too. You don’t have to be on the street. You Housing (HUD-VASH) program. According to literacy and job readiness. As part of the HUD- don’t have to give up your dreams and goals and the HUD website it “combines Housing Choice VASH program it has a representative from VA aspirations.” Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless to provide case management and clinical services veterans with case management and clinical ser- twice a week. “Our goal is to help families get sta- To learn more about Fendall Heights call 202-797vices provided by the Department of Veterans Af- bilized and become self-sufficient,” said Green. 8806 ext. 1454. u 30 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
The Facts about REAL ID
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eginning on May 1 the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will issue REAL ID credentials or identification cards that comply with federal security regulations. While the initial round affects residents obtaining a DC DMV credential for the first time or needing a replacement, eventually every DC license holder will need a REAL ID to enter a federal government building or board an airplane.
Background
After the Sept. 11 attacks the federal government looked for ways to prevent more terrorist strikes on US soil. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, “All but one of the 9/11 hijackers acquired some form of U.S. identification document, some by fraud. Acquisition of these forms of identification would have assisted them in boarding commercial flights, renting cars, and other necessary activities.” To prevent this the 9/11 commission recommended that the federal government set standards for issuing identification documents. “Fraud in identification documents is no longer just a problem of theft,” the report stated. “At many entry points to vulnerable facilities, including gates for boarding aircraft, sources of identification are the last opportunity to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether they are terrorists.” This suggestion inspired the REAL ID Act of 2005, which establishes minimum document requirements and standards for issuing driver’s licenses and identification cards as well as penalties for using false documents. It also prohibits federal agencies from accepting forms of identification from certain jurisdictions until the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the jurisdic-
by Charnice A. Milton
tion meets the requirements. Finally, the act provides grants to jurisdictions that need help complying with the federal standard. So far 21 states, including Maryland, have updated their licenses to reflect the new federal regulations.
Enforcement
According to the DMV website, the REAL ID will be used for “accessing federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants and boarding federally-regulated commercial aircraft.” According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the REAL ID Act will be enforced in four phases, each beginning with a three-month warning period during which identification cards from non-compliant jurisdictions are still accepted. The first phase, which began on Jan. 20, affects restricted areas at DHS’ headquarters (full enforcement began on April 21). We are currently in the second phase, which affects restricted areas for all federal buildings and nuclear power plants (full enforcement will begin on July 21). The third phase, which affects semirestricted access to all federal buildings, will begin on Oct. 20 (with full enforcement beginning on Jan. 19, 2015). This is important for residents who need to visit federal buildings to apply for or receive federal benefits. In 2015 DHS will evaluate the implementation and effects of the first three phases and each jurisdiction’s progress in meeting the act’s standards. The results from that evaluation will help DHS set a date for implementing the final phase, which allows people with two forms of iden-
tification to board planes. DHS plans to implement this phase no sooner than 2016. In the meantime the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will accept other forms of identification including passports.
The Process
The May 1 start date only affects first-time applicants, those who need to renew their ID cards, and those who need to replace an ID that was stolen, lost, or in need of an address change. Residents with the original ID cards can still use them to enter some federal buildings and board airplanes, until they expire. Although some ID cards will expire past the 2016 deadline (as far as April 2022 according to the DMV), DC would still be considered in compliance with the REAL ID Act since it would have issued federally compliant licenses by then. Initially DMV Director Lucinda Babers presented a different process: “Residents who were issued a driver license or ID card prior to May 1, 2014, will be notified by the DMV, by mail or email, within the next 24 months, of the date they need to make an in-person visit and bring their re-
quired documents for revalidation and to be issued a REAL ID,” she wrote in an email. However, due to confusion over the process and deadlines the DMV reversed its stance. “In our attempt to clarify things, we confused everyone else,” Babers said in a statement to WAMU, American University’s radio station. According to the REAL ID Act every jurisdiction must require residents to present four types of documents to receive an identification card: photo identification, documents showing date of birth, social security number (SSN) verification, and proof of residency. Before receiving a REAL ID from the DMV, residents must bring one document showing proof of identity (for example, a birth certificate or unexpired US passport), one document showing proof of SSN (such as a social security card or pay statement reflecting someone’s full name and SSN), and two documents showing proof of DC residency (bills or bank statements). For more information visit dmv.dc.gov/ page/real-id-credential or contact the DC DMV at 202-737-4404 or dmv@ dc.gov. u
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Bellevue Resident Sought by Ivy League Programs by Charnice A. Milton
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n avid writer since the sixth grade, 18-year-old Zachary Wood has already made a name for himself as a poet and essayist. His work has been published in literary journals including BRICKrhetoric, Teen Ink, Frodo’s Journal, and the Adroit Journal. These accomplishments helped Wood get accepted into summer colleges at three Ivy League summer programs. “However, despite the fact that I overcame many obstacles to get admitted to Yale, Stanford, and Brown’s summer college programs, the only reason why I can’t attend is because I don’t have the money and their financial policies won’t allow them to give me money,” he said.
Who Is Zach?
Originally from Michigan, Wood lives with his father, sister, grandmother, and uncle in Bellevue SW. His mother still lives in Michigan. For three years he attended Bullis School in Potomac, Md. During that time he served in the Model U.N., as class president for two years, and in other programs. He also became well-known for his writing. Wood was a teen finalist in the 30th Annual Larry Neal Writer’s Competition in the poetry category in 2013, and his short essay, “A Critique of American Education,” was voted Teen Ink’s essay of the month for November 2012. Wood’s education took a different turn during his senior year. “I left Bullis due to financial reasons, and it’s a very long commute,” he explained, stating that it took two and a half hours each way. “Once I found out that I would be in some way set for college at Williams [College], I left Bullis and now I’m going to school online.” However, he kept writing and reading, which lead to a friend recommending him to apply for the Yale Writers’ Conference. “Typically it’s for older writers who are more experienced and have published novels,” he explained. “I was the youngest person to be admitted this year.” 32 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Financial Issues
Wood was also accepted into the summer programs of Yale, Brown, and Stanford universities. “All of the programs allow you to complete anywhere from 10 to 16 credits worth of college coursework, so that you can go into undergrad ahead of the game,” he explained. However, Wood’s financial standing, coupled with stringent financial aid policies, prevents him from Wood, 18, is a noted author who will attend Yale University this summer and going. He admits that Brown had Zachary Williams College in the fall. Photo: Zachary Wood more flexibility, but he missed the financial aid deadline. “Brown, Stanford, and Yale are very, very well-endowed WUSA 9 featured his story on the 6:00 p.m. news. institutions,” Wood explained. “To give me a few Within hours viewers raised over $5,000. Peggy thousand dollars to go there over the summer is Cooper Cafritz, co-founder of the Duke Ellington nothing for them. And so I found it very odd and School for the Arts, also watched the report, then rather disheartening that such incredible educa- offered to pay the rest. “It just infuriates me that tional institutions would deny someone the op- as a society we can have a kid like Zach, who is alportunity to go because they don’t have the money, ready proven himself, and there’s no money to help him,” she told WUSA 9. “Going to this program when they are perfectly capable of providing aid.” Wood considered other forms of financial aid. at Yale will help him immensely in doing well at “I considered raising money,” he explained. “I con- Williams. He needs to do very well at Williams to sidered taking a loan out, but credit wouldn’t allow go on to the next stage of his dreams.” For Wood it means graduating from Williams me to do that.” While he does not discredit the with a double major in political science and soschools, Wood feels like there should be a policy ciology, attending Harvard Law, becoming presichange. “For me, honestly, I think that the policy dent of the Harvard Law Review, and graduating should be the same as it is for undergraduate stusumma cum laude. It also means addressing the dents or graduate students,” he said. “If you get issues that almost prevented him from reaching into an institution like Yale University, Stanford those goals. “I think that this is a fundamental isUniversity, or Brown University ... they should sue about education in America,” Wood said. “You make sure that you can get there. Give me a grant; earn it, you receive an acceptance letter. Yet it’s give me a loan!” money that holds you back ... and it’s money that the institutions have in excess. If they have it in exA Second Chance cess, why can’t they just provide that little bit that’s On April 16 Wood created a campaign on Go- almost nothing for you to attend? I don’t think it FundMe, a crowd-funding website, with the goal should be an exception; I think the policy must be of raising $12,500 for Yale tuition. A day later different.” u
Help for Homeless Families in DC This year’s harsh winter brought into sharp focus the fact that DC’s system for sheltering homeless moms, dads and kids is broken. Today, families can get into shelter only on cold nights and otherwise are turned away. Shelter conditions are deplorable. And many families have been in shelter for too long. No one wants this to happen again next winter. DC can and should do more for parents and children struggling to find safe and adequate shelter. Ask the DC Council to adopt “Helping Families Home: A Roadmap for the District” at www.helpingfamilieshome.org. The plan puts DC on a path to provide families access to decent shelter when they need it, while helping families to quickly move from shelter to a safe and stable home. www.helpingfamilieshome.org
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Global Rallycross Comes to DC by Charnice A. Milton
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n June 21 to 22 RFK Stadium will play host to the Volkswagen Rallycross DC race. It will be the third event in the 2014 Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) series, which begins on May 18 with the Top Gear Festival in Barbados. “Volkswagen is excited to bring professional motorsports back to the Washington, DC, metro area and to be involved in such a fastgrowing, action-oriented sport,” said Clark Campbell, general manager of Experiential Marketing, Volkswagen of America Inc., in an Events DC press release. However, some residents are not as excited after the events of the 2002 Grand Prix of Washington, DC.
What Is GRC?
While rallycross racing is a relatively new sport in the United States, it began in 1967 in Lydden Hill, England, as a televised event. Rallycross is similar to rallying, or racing on public and closed roads, except the race takes place on a closed course. The sport came to the United States in 2010 during X Games 16 in Los Angeles, where it gained raves. The New Jersey Motorsports Park held three rallycross 34 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
events that were broadcast on ESPN2, and during the next year Global RallyCross Management was established to promote the sport and organize the first championship season. A typical rallycross race has five high-horsepower compact cars driving on a short course made of a mixture of dirt and tarmac and obstacles. According to the Red Bull GRC website, race day begins with one or two rounds of four-heat races that could last six laps each. Each course has a main route and a joker lap route, which a driver must take once during a race. While the joker route makes the track shorter, the driver must make a strategic decision to traverse it during the first lap or wait toward the end to gain position. Drivers earn points throughout the season depending on where they finish, and the driver with the most points is crowned GRC champion.
Opposition
Despite the growing popularity of rallycross, many residents living in the nearby Kingman Park and Hill East areas initially opposed the upcoming event. In a letter to Mayor Vincent Gray, ANC 6A Chairper-
son Nicholas Alberti wrote that his commission opposed the upcoming race because of constituents’ experience with the grand prix race in 2002. “During that event there were several full days of deafening racing noise with no possibility of relief for homeowners,” wrote Alberti. Later he explained that residents living as far away as Union Station, two and a half miles from the course, could hear the race. Ward 7 Commissioner Yvette Alexander also had some trepidation about the event after her constituents in the area complained about the 2002 race. “They said that it was like having the Indy 500 in their backyard,” she declared. She went into ANC 7D’s April 14 meeting with multiple concerns, echoing Commissioner Alberti’s plea: “Please don’t subject our community to that type of experience again.” (ANC 7D could not be reached for comment.)
Preventing the Noise Problem
During the meeting Erik Moses, senior vice president of DC Events’ Sports and Entertainment division, along with a representative from Andretti Sports Marketing, explained
that a GRC event is significantly quieter than other motorsport events. According to promotional material this is because of the cars’ “turbocharged engines and muffled exhaust systems. At 90-100 dB (decibels), GRC cars are quieter than a lawn mower (107 dB at 3 feet) and slightly louder than city traffic (85 dB from inside car).” It also states that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “permits worker noise level exposure of 90 dB for 8 hours a day with a graduating scale of 95 dB up to 4 hours and 100 dB for 2 hours.” Since the maximum amount of noise over two days will be under two hours, they argued that noise impact will be minimal. Also, the track’s position in Lot 8 of RFK Stadium, with the added buffer of the Anacostia River and DC General, would help minimize the impact. However, in the ANC 6C opposition letter Commission Alberti responded, “There is no possibility that the Rallycross competitors will be able to keep the sound at the levels that meet the city ordinance while racing in the RFK lots.” He added a list of maximum sound levels for different zones from the DC noise ordinances, which range from 55 dB (nighttime in a residential, waterfront, or special use zones) to 70 dB (daytime in an industrial zone). “These are fullthroated racing cars, often running at 8000 to 9000 peak RPM,” Commis-
sioner Alberti wrote. “They are powered by small displacement engines that generate 550-600 horsepower.”
Other Concerns
An additional concern was the possibility of using another track paved in RFK Stadium’s parking lot. Before the 2002 race the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission and promoter National Grand Prix Holdings LLC split the $3.5 million cost of building a track as part of a 10-year contract. After complaints from surrounding neighborhoods the contract was not renewed, yet the race track is still visible. However, Moses stated that the GRC track is less permanent; the tarmac and dirt take three weeks to build and will be removed after the event. The promoters are also working with area organizations to find new ways of becoming “good neighbors.” For instance, Volkswagen Rallycross DC will partner with So Others Might Eat to hold a food drive. For every non-perishable food item fans will receive a piece of memorabilia. Also, the promoter will host Andretti S.T.A.R. (Science, Technology, and Racing), a pre-event program created to teach children about science and engineering.
Don’t Judge Too Quickly
“After the meeting people were satisfied that the sponsors answered their concerns,” said Councilmember Alexander. However, she and the promoters realize that some residents are still not convinced. “If they have any concerns they can contact DC Events or my office,” she offered. Moses is asking residents to reserve their judgment, saying “I just hope people will be more open-minded.” Tickets for the Volkswagen Rallycross DC race are $45 for adults and $20 for children. To learn more about the event visit rbgrcdc.com or contact DC Events at 202-249-3000. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 35
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
A Taste of Jamaica with Juliet Campbell
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by Twyla Alston
y the invitation of a close friend and Jamaican national, I travelled, family in tow, from 60 degree highs in DC to 75 degree lows in Jamaica during a sweltering and adventurous Spring Break. After three flights (10 hours of travel), we arrived in Kingston, Jamaica with the standard mixture of excitement and exhaustion typical for an international trip. Processing through customs was a crawl, yet, the tenor of the airport was sweet with the British sound of proper Jamaican accents a buzz all around us. An offer of Spice Bun and Tastee cheese—a Jamaican Easter tradition—greeted us before I could even gesture for help with my luggage. Within seconds of clearing Customs we were wading warmly into Twyla and Juliet Campbell with completed Brown Stew Chicken (from Left). Photo Monica Brown. the culture of a people whose national slogan is “Out of Many, One whose playground was a yard pep- were growing along the roads. People.” The beauty and character of pered with fruit trees (banana, cocoTaking a break at work, Juliet’s this notion followed us from this mo- nut, jackfruit and pineapple). Mother daughter Shanike dashed into a marment throughout our trip as “One” of five and wife to Desrick for 15 ket to get me a fruit called Nasberry— woman—Juliet Campbell guided me years, she revealed that she and her it is sweet like a plum, but looks like a through the tastes of Jamaica. husband share in cooking at home— kiwi. Within an hour, we had tasted Five years ago, I met Campbell a practice common for Jamaican and seen 10 or more tropical fruits.. when she was hired as a nanny to families. She began learning to cook Fresh fish is available to anyone move to DC to help with the growing at nine and has passed this knowl- who can fish or is willing to pay the family of my friend Eleanor (our host edge on to her children. Her son is a U.S. equivalent of $7 per pound. for this trip). We became fast friends. chef at a local resort and travels to the Least costly was chicken, coming in At that time I took both their hands U.S. as a chef for hire. at the U.S. equivalent of $4 a pound. and taught them to source local and Everywhere you go food is fresh, Meats like shrimp, lobster, goat and imported food throughout the met- Juliet explained. Each of the 14 areas oxtail are even more costly and thereropolitan area. During this trip, Juliet in Jamaica, called parishes, have their fore for the lower to middle economwould do the same for me in Jamaica. crops. “The soil, climate and condi- ic class these are likely reserved for tions of certain areas make certain special occasions. Many Peoples—One Cuisine Many Tastes—The Tongue on Tour crops do better.” We travelled roads Another key to the distinct JaDuring a pit stop at Juliet’s two- lined with ferns like delicate feathstory country home, my children ers, stopping to taste fresh fruits and maican approach to cooking is the joined Campbell’s grandchildren vegetables around every bend. Many influence of the “many” cultures that
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form “one” unique cuisine. Many peoples, beginning with the Arawak and Carib natives, and next the Spaniards; then British who brought and enslaved Africans in the mid 1600 left an impression on this one cuisine. Later after a revolt by African Jamaicans known as Maroons and the eventual abolishment of slavery, Chinese and East Indian indentured workers came and left their impression on the one cuisine. Amazingly, although the disparities of Jamaica’s economic situation are real, these peoples—like the foods that they together influence—are yet one. Marcia Parkes, a Jamaican neighbor in Ward 8 explained that a family event “at home might include, whites, Chinese, blacks and Indians.” She explained that their national pride supersedes common racial identity. Facing the world they stand arms locked as “Proud Jamaicans.” Similarly the spices and cooking methods of East India, China, Africa, Britain, Spain, and natives all exist in a harmony. It makes Curry Goat, Escovitch Fish, Ackee and Salt Fish, Spice Bun and Cheese and Brown Stew Chicken, corn porridge, and peppermint tea with sweetened condensed milk from the same kitchen all make sense.
The Beach House, My House
One day before my return to the U.S. at a beach house that Marilyn Monroe visited in Jamaica, our stops along the road for fruit, sips of coconut water, nights gulping dark Malt, and braving jerk pork culminated. It was time to cook in the Jamaican kitchen. Camp-
WIDE SHOE OUTLET bell chose to prepare Brown Stew chicken. Brown Stew Chicken is approached various ways in Jamaica. Some prepare this dish by browning sugar to the point just before it is black and then pan searing seasoned chicken in it followed by a lengthy simmer with marinade vegetables. The result is a somewhat sweet and savory dish. Others start with a browning sauce instead of browning the sugar, and then follow all the other steps the same. This method results in a Brown Stew Chicken where the flavors play off each other more apparently without sweetness as its backdrop. Campbell’s method used a browning sauce, a couple of Maggi brand Season Up seasoning packets, onions, garlic and aromatics. The result was magnificent. The aromatics opened the senses, while the garlic and onions added a mellow rich flavor. These flavors were offset by the delicate surprise of sweet spices (ginger, anise, perhaps some clove). I rested for a final night in Ocho Rios with this question in my heart. “How do I bring these flavors East of the River?” So I came home, flapping the Maggi seasoning packets against my thigh anticipating the redo in my kitchen. I visited Harris Teeter, Giant and Safeway to see if they had Grace browning sauce or Maggi Season Up or anything similar—no luck. Finally I decided to converge my years of experience in the kitchen, technical savvy and experience with the tastes of Jamaica to reverse engineer an authentic redo of the Maggi Season Up. And with consultation of my Jamaica sources, and intense scrutiny—I did it.
1 large onion, quartered and sliced 1 whole head of garlic, minced 2 3-4 fresh thyme sprigs 2 tablespoons Kitchen Bouquet browning sauce (source: any local grocery store) 7 teaspoons Jamaican Style Seasoning Mix (recipe below) 1/3 cup oil (vegetable, canola, or olive oil) 2 cups water
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Jamaican Style Seasoning Mix Recipe salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 1/4 teaspoons sugar 1 1/8 teaspoons nutritional yeast 1 1/4 teaspoons (source: Capitol Hill Yess Organic) onion powder, 1 1/4 teaspoons chicken boullion 1 teaspoon coriander, 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon spices 1/2 teaspoon curry powder 1/2 teaspoon celery seed 1/4 teaspoon anise seed pinch dried basil pinch dried parsley pinch ground clove pinch
Directions:
Combine all the Jamaican Style Seasoning Mix ingredients in a spice/coffee grinder and blend for 15 seconds, then set aside. If no grinder is available use ground anise and celery seed. Next in a medium bowl combine chicken, scallions, onion, garlic, pepper, thyme, 7 teaspoons of “Jamaican Style Seasoning Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken Mix” and browning sauce. Cover and mariServings: 6-8 nate refrigerated at least 20 minutes. 3-4 lb chicken, washed, patted dry and cut In a 6 quart pot heat oil over medium high into 12 piece (thigh and breast cut across heat. Add each piece of chicken to pot shaking the bone) off onions, garlic and thyme into the marinade ½ lime juiced about 1 tablespoon bowl (reserve for sauce). Lightly brown the 4 scallions, sliced and mashed chicken on both sides (about 8 mins per side). Add water to the marinade bowl, swish to gather juices and then pour the entire contents over the chicken. Nestle the marinade ingredients with a spoon to move the liquid to the bottom of the pot. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 40 mins. Check occasionally to ensure it is not sticking/burning. Chicken pieces will easily be pulled from the bone, but not mushy when done. Serve with peas (Kidney beans) and rice. u Peas and Rice prepared by Juliet Campbell. Photo Twyla Alston.
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 37
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
A 23rd Question for the Corcoran
Entrance to THEARC
What Will Happen to ArtReach at THEARC? article and photos by Phil Hutinet
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n a recent in-depth article in the Washington City Paper art critic Kriston Capps asked a series of questions, 22 in all, about the future of the Corcoran Gallery and School of Art & Design. Touching on everything from its merger with George Washington University to its finances and what will happen to the collection, the article pointed to an uncertain and seemingly dire future for the hallowed Washington institution. Now let me ask a 23rd question (and please feel free to join the conversation and ask a 24th question): What will happen to the Corcoran’s ArtReach program at THEARC, which has provided visual arts training to Ward 7 and Ward 8 youth since 1992? The Corcoran is at THEARC, you ask? Yes, and so is Children’s Hospital, the Washington Ballet, and many well-run, world-class cultural and educational programs. They have a profound impact on residents of all
ages in the surrounding east-of-theriver communities that often become the dumping ground for failed social service agencies that do little to help residents and much to remunerate their founders. While the Corcoran’s ArtReach at THEARC provides a wide variety of year-round visual arts activities, ArtReach’s programs fall into two primary categories, a community art gallery and a visual arts instruction program for area youth. The community art gallery maintains a rigorous exhibition schedule showcasing a wide range of work and talent, from beginner student projects to critically acclaimed artists. Much of the programming seeks to connect the immediate communities with the visual arts through a shared and understood visual language. Recent exhibitions this spring have included photo exhibitions of the Navy Yard and Anacostia communities, and in May the Corcoran’s photojournalism students will exhibit a series of socially
charged photographs as part of their regular curriculum. Arguably the visual arts programming component of ArtReach has the greatest community impact. Students aged 8-18 work in all mediums from painting to sculpture. They learn
(LEFT) Corcoran Community Gallery at THEARC. (BOTTOM) Corcoran Director of Community Partnerships Melissa Green discussing enrollment options with a resident parent.
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techniques from on-site instructors and world-renowned resident artists like Mia Feuer. Feuer’s critically acclaimed “An Unkindness,” a massive sculptural installation depicting a nightmarish landscape reshaped by oil extraction, hung in the Corcoran’s rotunda from November 2, 2013, through February 23, 2014. With access to Corcoran resident artists such as Feuer, neighborhood children receive a level of art instruction more privileged than what is found in Washington’s exclusive private schools or the region’s highestranked public education systems. The students’ training in the visual arts goes even farther. As Melissa Green, director of community partnerships and the program director for ArtReach, explains, “studies have shown that if a child does not visit a museum by age 13, the likelihood of that child visiting a museum will diminish rapidly every year, such that when they reach adulthood the
likelihood of them setting foot in a museum is virtually zero percent.” ArtReach’s curriculum includes bringing students to the Corcoran on a field trip every semester. In addition students present an annual exhibition of their work at the museum (not the college) where they are introduced to the exigencies of professional art shows, including properly framed work, interaction with a curator, and the spotlight that comes with an opening reception. While the classes will continue through the end of spring semester 2014, and the community gallery exhibition schedule will go on as planned through May, a dark shadow has been cast over the ArtReach program. Director Melissa Green and the staff who run the program are among the 600 Corcoran employees Capps describes as being on the chopping block. If the ArtReach program is eliminated and if Melissa Green and the staff get pink-slipped, what happens to the community gallery? Where will residents send their children to receive visual arts instruction in their community? What are the long-term consequences? I have just derailed the conversation by asking questions 24, 25, and 26! None of us, I hope, will ever have to answer these questions, and the program will continue for another 22 years. Like the rest of the media, East City Art was promised answers by April 7, only to be told by Corcoran public relations that negotiations are still underway and are quite complex (which may very well be the case). When I visited Corcoran’s ArtReach program at THEARC in February my goal was to write a profile about this extraordinary community resource. Instead, like all discussions about the Corcoran these days, it has focused on an anxious and ambiguous future for the Corcoran’s bellwether visual arts program. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 39
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Calling All Artists by Charnice A. Milton
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his summer will be a busy one for Honfleur Gallery and its parent organization, the Arch Development Corporation (ADC). Not only will the gallery host the seventh annual East of the River Exhibit, starting July 1, it will also honor its third East of the River Distinguished Artist on Aug. 16. Also, ADC announced a new loan fund for artists and five renovated art studios that are available for rent. With deadlines for the exhibit and award coming as early as this month, both Honfleur and ADC hope to bring more east of the river-affiliated artists to Anacostia.
East of the River Exhibit
East of the River Exhibit was created to highlight artists from Wards 7 and 8. “Throughout the last seven years,” stated a press release, “Honfleur Gallery has changed the format only slightly, always keeping with the goal of supporting local artists for this group exhibition.” For instance, last year featured a solo show for BK ADAMS • I AM ART, winner of the first annual East of the River Distinguished Artist Award in 2012. “This year one of the ideal outcomes would be having five artists, for whom we can curate mini-shows,” said Piper Grosswendt, the creative assistant for Honfleur. “This will highlight a broader range of works from five artists, rather than having a show with 15-20 artists, which is how it’s been in the past.” For this exhibit Honfleur is asking for visual artists in any media who 40 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
live, work, or have roots east of the river to submit up to 10 images for review by 5:00 p.m. on May 16. They will accept any work created between January 2010 and the present. Any artist, from emerging to established, can apply. “We always like finding new talents we haven’t worked with before,” said Grosswendt. “That is the
most exciting thing about putting on this show.” Artists selected for the show will be notified on June 6, and art must be dropped off and ready to hang by July 1. The artists may receive small grants (between $250 and $500) for their work, half of the funds being provided before the exhibit and the rest at the end.
(Left to right) Luis Peralta Del Valle, the 2013 East of the River Distinguished Artist Award recipient, poses with panelists Zoma Wallace, DCCAH Art Bank coordinator; Sharon Gautier, art collector and Gautier family representative; Shaymar Higgs, founder and head designer, Peerless Creatives; and artist, and musician Terence Nicholson, owner and founder, 5 Rings Arts Services. Photo: Honfleur Gallery
East of the River Distinguished Artist Award
Co-sponsored by Honfleur and the Gautier family, the East of the River Distinguished Artist Award was created to honor artists living in Wards 7 and 8 who are making a positive impact in DC’s art community. “Although these East of the River artists have been working in the District of Columbia over a number of years, their role in the DC cultural scene is often overlooked,” stated a press release. “In recognizing them, the award will help document the East of the River cultural history and continue the long succession of EOR artists.” Last year Anacostia resident Luis Peralta Del Valle won the award. “Luis Peralta Del Valle demonstrates a hunger and passion for living and loving. It comes through in his art and in his service,” said fellow artist Terence Nicholson in an East City Art blog interview. The award is open to artists from all disciplines who have lived east of the river for at least one year and worked in DC for more than five years. While a second party can nominate someone, the artist must complete and submit the application. Applications must have at least two pieces completed or in progress from the current year. After the June 13 deadline (at 5:00 p.m.) a panel of local artists, art advisers, and others with knowledge of the area east of the river will judge each application based on artistic merit (70 percent), community impact (20 percent), and experience (10 percent). The winner will be notified by July 22 and honored during a ceremony on Aug. 16. The winner will receive $5,000.
Artist Studios on MLK Jr. Avenue
In February ADC announced that five renovated studios are available for rent. Located on the second floor of 2208 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., the spaces are Metro-accessible: an eight-minute walk, four-minute bus ride, or three-minute bike ride from the nearest station (Anacostia). Monthly rent varies from $170 (for
a 60 square-foot studio) to $350 (for a studio up to 180 square feet). The studios include utilities and a communal slop sink and are accessible 24 hours to the tenants, who will have keys to the front door and their individual space. “We’ve had a lot of interest in them, I would say, from a variety of artists,” said Grosswendt, including filmmakers, photographers, painters, and jewelry-makers. “It would be a good way to have artists actively working artists who we can connect with and work with on different projects.” She also believes that the studios could help foster collaboration and a sense of community among the artists working there.
Kresge Loan Fund
ADC has partnered with the Kresge Foundation, a Michiganbased nonprofit dedicated to funding opportunities in low-income areas, to create the Kresge Loan Fund for Artists and Art Organizations. While the program targets artists and art-based nonprofits located east of the river, those located west of the river are eligible if they are planning an exhibit or performance in Wards 7 and 8. Funds can be used for a variety of projects including cultural community events. Each loan will be free for up to 60 days; afterward, the loan will be annualized at 3 percent. Each application has a $35 application fee and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Kresge Loan Fund offers four options. The first, the bridge loan, gives up to $10,000 for a maximum of six months to artists or organizations who have secured a contract or grant that is not readily available. The second, the benefit loan, provides up to $10,000 to organizations hosting a fund-raising benefit. The third, the performance loan, provides up to $5,000 for productions; however, if the production takes place in an Anacostia-based venue the fund will provide up to $7,500. The last, the Anacostia location loan, provides up to $10,000 for moving and other expenses required for relocating to Anacostia. u
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 41
Photo courtesy of SHOWTIME
April Marks a Big Month for Local Championship Boxing
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by Dave Kletzkin
he boxing scene in our nation’s capital is alive and well. With a card featuring big-name fighters from other major East Coast cities, fans packed the DC Armory on April 19 for the biggest night of boxing since Mike Tyson’s last hurrah at Verizon Center in 2005. The success of the evening prompted Showtime Boxing to hold a local workout the following week to showcase the talents of Adrien Broner, poundfor-pound one of the best fighters in the world, for an upcoming bout In Las Vegas. With as much talent in the building as at one of Muhammad Ali’s late 70s fights at the Old Capital Center, the ageless wonder Bernard Hopkins of Philadelphia, six months shy of his 50th birthday, defeated Beibut Shumeno to became the oldest undisputed champion of any weight class in boxing history. Co-main event participant Paulie Malignaggi of Brooklyn suffered a fourth- round knockout at the hands of welterweight champion Shown Porter. In an earlier bout “Kid Chocolate,” Peter Quillin, also of Brooklyn, successfully defended his middleweight title against Lukas Konecny. Washington proved it can be a great host city to big-time boxing events, even when its major draws come from other more prominent boxing towns. The Barclays center in Brooklyn has become a popular venue for championship fights and would have been a fitting destination, as two of the night’s three major fighters hail from there. The attendance of 6,823 marked the largest for a local boxing event since DC’s own Lamont Petersen defeated Amir Khan in a championship bout in 2011 at the Washington Convention Center. The local fighter of the night was Upper Marlboro’s Lamont Roach Jr., a freshman at the University of Maryland. He won a unanimous four-round decision.
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One of the highlights of the evening was Bernard Hopkins’ entrance to the ring, when he wore a green alien mask. Formerly known as “The Executioner,” Hopkins has adopted a new nickname, “The Alien,” to portray his “otherworldly” abilities at 49 years old. Hopkins playfully toyed with his younger and overmatched opponent for 12 rounds en route to becoming the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world. Fans chanted “B-Hop” loudly throughout the fight, cheering on Hopkins whose last major fight in the area took place at RFK in 1993. Local celebrities in the crowd included NBA hall of famer Adrian Dantley, NBC 4’s Jim Vance, and Adrien Broner. The success of the evening has Showtime Boxing already talking about showcasing another major fight card in DC sometime this summer. On April 24 Adrien Broner held a workout from Bald Eagle Recreation center in Southwest to promote his upcoming championship fight with Carlos Molina. “They love me in DC” Broner said as he prepared for the May 3 fight. “I like the environment in DC and I want to bring the intensity to DC. We’re going to have fun.” The former three-division world champion was excited at the notion of having an upcoming fight held locally. With large local venues including the DC Armory and Washington Convention Center, fans would most like to see bigname bouts return to the Verizon Center. Its central location, top-of-the-line facilities, and crowd capacity make it the Madison Square Garden of our city. Whether promoters decide to take advantage of the Chinatown venue or not, we can expect to see more big-name bouts take place locally. Have questions or comments? Email Dave at dave@hillrag.com. u
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
jazzAvenues by Steve Monroe
Bobby Hill Jr. Award Always Our Jazz Hero
As a fortunate area listener of WPFW-FM Pacifica Radio for these past 35 years, this jazz fan will always cherish certain programmers for their lively and educational shows that enrich our understanding of the people and the trends making our music such a treasured heritage. Jerry Washington, Nap Turner, Hodari Ali, Jamal Muhammad, Miyuki Williams, Bob Daughtry, Tom Cole, Katia Stitt, Willard Jenkins, Fish Middleton, Jimmy Gray, the “Gator,” and others come to mind. None have been more valuable in my mind than Bobby Hill Jr., always a local hero and now a national one with the recent announcement of his receiving the 2014 Jazz Hero award from the Jazz Journalists Association. “I am truly humbled and honored by the JJA award,” said Hill. “I respect the people also on the list of awardees, and the work that they all do. Until I pull someone from a burning car or catch a toddler falling from a window, I didn’t think I would ever see my name aligned with the word ‘hero.’ It is such a daunting tribute. I have so much more to do to truly honor JJA’s praises.” Hill, in his 31st consecutive year as a producer, programmer, and onair host at WPFW (89.3 FM), currently does the Friday morning edition of “Overnight Jazz – Part I” from midnight to 2:00 a.m. From 2007 to 2010 he was program director of WPFW, “implementing a new program grid that introduced shows on issues regarding LBGT culture, exoffenders, parenting, DC politics, and poetry. The schedule led to WPFW’s greatest growth, with audience numbers increasing by 50,000 and time people spent listening raised by more
than 50 percent,” according to JJA information. Moreover, Hill has spearheaded the Transparent Productions jazz shows at Bohemian Caverns and other venues since 1997. Coming up this month are shows by Mark Taylor’s Secret Identity, May 11, and The Bill Cole Untempered Trio, May 18. Go to www. bohemiancaverns.org for more information.
Enjoy “Elements of Life”
Trombonist, composer, and bandleader Reginald Cyntje, proving to be one of our young masters, has now covered all the bases, in attempting to capture the essence of our most important emotional and physical environments, with his two most recent recordings, last year’s “Love,” and “Elements of Life” released this week on his Reginald Cyntje label. Helped mightily again by a superb core of musicians, including Allyn Johnson on piano, Amin Gumbs, drums, Brian Settles, soprano/tenor sax, Herman Burney, bass, Victor Provost, steel pan, and Christie Dashiell, vocals, Cyntje has fashioned a solid work of entertaining compositions. The title tune brims with Provost’s steel pan on Cyntje’s islandflavored melody, and Dashiell’s vocals provide a panoramic opening for some sparkling, brightly melodic work by Johnson on piano. Then Settles, our esteemed home-boy saxophonist and educator, delivers some spurting lines to spice the tune along, followed by Cyntje with some bravura lines, and the mood is then flavored again by Provost’s ringing raps. Other highlights include “Sky,”
“Fire,” and “Earth Revisited.” Go to www.reginaldcyntje.com for more information on the CD.
“The Language of Birds”
Veteran saxophonist, flutist, and bandleader Charles Rahmat Woods has released his solo recording, “The Language of Birds,” an introspective collection of seven originals. He calls the production a “Jazz meditation.” The title track, Woods says, is “a flute propelled shuffle blues” inspired by a statement attributed to King Solomon – “We have been taught the language of birds” – and is a tribute to all the great “ancestral masters” of jazz. “Water Bird” is a floating treatise utilizing a Native American handmade flute. “Choctaw Jane” is a soprano sax melody dedicated to Woods’ grandmother. “Barack” is a catchy melody written upon the election in 2008 of our current president. See www.rahmatshabazz.com for more information. Woods is to perform on May 14 at Maggiano’s Restaurant and on May 24 at Union Arts. May Highlights: Blue Note at 75, The Concert, May 11, Kennedy Cen-
ter … Michael Feinberg/Humblebrag, May 12, Blues Alley … Marty Nau, May 13, 20, 27, Twins Jazz … Akua Allrich, May 17, Loews Madison Hotel … Larry Brown Quartet, May 17, Caberet at Germano’s/ Baltimore … Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, May 23-24, Kennedy Center … Tim Whalen, May 23-24, Twins Jazz … Ron Carter, May 2325, Bohemian Caverns … Lena Seikaly, May 24, Blues Alley … Sharon Clark, May 25, Blues Alley … Collector’s Edition/DeAndrey Howard, Kristine Key, May 30, Westminster Presbyterian Church … May Birthdays: Shirley Horn 1; Richard “Groove” Holmes 2; John Lewis 3; Ron Carter 4; Mary Lou Williams 8; King Oliver 11; Red Garland 13; Jackie McLean 17; Fats Waller 21; Sun Ra 22; Archie Shepp 24; Miles Davis 25; Hilton Ruiz 29; Benny Goodman 30; Louis Hayes 31. Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@jazzavenues.com and followed at www. twitter.com/jazzavenues. u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 43
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
New Vendors at the Big Chair Flea Market by Ferzana
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utdoor markets, ushered in by spring, are all about the sunshine, lazy strolls, eclectic shopping, and great eats. The Big Chair Flea Market returns for its second year in historic Anacostia with new vendors and hopes to keep growing. Located a block from the Big Chair and across the street from the Bethel Christian Fellowship Church, at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Pleasant Street SE, the market expects to feature a diverse mix of art, crafts, imports, antiques, collectibles, furniture, and food. The Big Chair, originally built of mahogany in 1959 and rebuilt with brown-painted aluminum in 2006, is a famous public sculpture. On a bright and sunny April 19 the fledgling outdoor market celebrated its grand opening with almost 20 vendors, as customers browsed and chatted. The hunt is on to add to the growing directory of vendors and community partners. There were 30 vendors at the height of the first season, and the organizers would like to build up to 40-50 vendors for the second season. With stall fees starting at $30, the goal is to find vendors with a “building spirit” dedicated to the long-term success of the market. Historic Anacostia has seen a surge in arts and crafts vendors in recent years, and this market will only add to the options available to local residents. Diverse Markets Management (DMM), the company that organizes the established Eastern Market on the other side of the river, has added the Big Chair Flea Market to its programming. “We believe the neighborhood deserves, and will support, an outdoor market. That’s why we’ve returned for a second season” states Michael Berman, DMM’s executive director. Farm-fresh produce would be a welcome addition to the food offerings in the area. Rudy Coates, the onsite market coordinator, is working on finding a farm or fresh produce supplier. Coates knows that that the only fresh food alternative for many is the Giant supermarket 44 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Clockwise From Top Right: 1. Big Chair In Historic Anacostia 2. Copper Creations By Alchemy Legion 3. Grilled Chicken By Omar The Grill Master 4. Fabric Earrings by Berkley Of Bxxtra II
on Alabama Avenue, and would onions, jollof rice, and homemade love to see a local alternative. In habanero hot sauce. These delights many ways Anacostia remains a can be washed down with sorrel or food desert where residents can find ginger juice. liquor faster than milk. New vendors join regulars from Not-for-profit organizations in the first market season, such as Ward 8 are invited to set up infor- Maryam Clark, a baker with over 40 mation tables for free. Coates would years of experience, who makes tasty also love to collaborate again with bean and sweet potato pies, chocothe Washington Area Bicycle Asso- late brownies, and cheesecake desciation to host another free bike re- serts, and sells slices starting at $3, a pair clinic for community members. bargain compared to the over-priced New vendors Alchemy Legion options at other markets. Clark is and Berkley of Bxxtra are jewelry committed to coming to market evartists. Legion works mainly in cop- ery Saturday with baked goodies for per. It is one of the “most versatile her neighborhood regulars. metals,” notes Legion as she counts Bethel Christian Fellowship the different colors that copper can Church, with a congregation of 250 take on, including black, green, and members, is the market’s commutraditional rust. From Anthony nity partner and is helping DMM Driver, her father, Legion learned to make it a successful gathering fold-forming, chasing, and repous- place. The Big Chair Flea Market sé techniques to shape metal with will be open every Saturday from hammers, creating bold and chunky 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Plans are jewelry pieces. Berkley works with to remain open until the end of the found objects, jewelry components, outdoor market season in October. acrylic and spray paints, and fabrics Vendor applications and marto produce her oversized earring ket information can be found on the pieces. “It all began with a recy- website at http://bigchairmarket.com. cling art class,” Berkley recalls, and now, she is making earrings from Ferzana is a thinker, writer, and blogrecycled denim. Berkley hopes that ger. You can follow Ferzana’s ramwomen will be “beautifully extraor- blings at @byFerzana on Twitter or dinary,” the motto of her business. Facebook or check out her start-up blog The Big Chair Flea Market is at www.byFerzana.com. u building its food vendor base and has added panAfrican fare this year. Omar Koite, the grill master of Star Halal Meat and Grocery of Takoma Park and College Park, brings West African-inspired barbeque east of the river. Marinated for hours, the chicken and lamb are cooked on real wood charcoal and can be smelled before seen. The mouthwatering meats come Big Chair Flea Market Sign with sautéed
Get Your East of the River Location
Address
River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School 420 34th St , NE CVS - East River Park 320 40th St , NE Safeway – NE 322 40th St , NE 6th District Police Dept - Main 100 42nd St , NE Ward Memorial AME 240 42nd St NE Kennilworth Elementary School 1300 44th ST NE Unity East of the River Health Center 123 45th ST NE First Baptist Church of Deanwood 1008 45th St NE Deanwood Public Library 1350 49th ST NE Hughes Memorial United Methodist 25 53rd St NE Capitol Gateway Senior Apts 201 58th St , NE Marvin Gaye Rec Center 6201 Banks Pl NE Watts Branch Recreation Center 6201 Banks St , NE Langston Community Library 2600 Benning Rd , NE Anacostia Neighborhood Library 3935 Benning Rd NE Benning Branch Library 3935 Benning Rd NE Marshall Heights CDC 3939 Benning Rd , NE Kelly Miller Recreation Center 4900 Brooks St , NE Tabernacle baptist Church 719 Division Ave NE Randall Memorial Baptist Church 4417 Douglas St NE 5026 E Capitol St NE East Capital Church of christ Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 350 Eastern Ave , NE 7-Eleven 950 Eastern AVE NE Riverside Center 5200 Foote St , NE Mayfair Mansions 3744 ½ Hayes St NE Citibank: East River Park 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE Chartered Health Center NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE The Minnicks Market 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Lederer Gardens 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Suburban Market 4600 Sherriff Rd NE Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 4601 Sheriff Road NE Dave Brown Liquors 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast Dave Brown Liquor 4721 Sherriff Rd NE A & S Grocery 4748 Sheriff Rd NE St Rose Pentecostal Church 4816 Sherriff Rd NE Malcolm X Rec Center 3200 13th st SE St More Catholic Church 4275 4th St SE Fort Davis Recreation Center 1400 41st St , SE Ferebee Hope Recreation Center 3999 8th St , SE 2409 Ainger Place SE Emanuel Baptist Church IHOP Restauarant 1523 Alabama Ave, SE Giant Food Store 1535 Alabama Ave , SE SunTrust Bank 1571 Alabama Ave , SE Parklands-Turner Community Library 1547 Alabama Ave , SE Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office 1717 Alabama Ave , SE Garfield Elementary 2435 Alabama Ave 7th District Station 2455 Alabama Ave , SE 6th District Police Dept - Satellite Station 2839 Alabama Ave , SE Service Cleaners 2841 Alabama Ave , SE Safeway – SE 2845 Alabama Ave SE Pizza Hut 2859 Alabama Ave , SE America’s Best Wings 2863 Alabama Ave , SE M&T Bank 2865 Alabama Ave , SE Washington Senior Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave , SE St Timothys Episcopal Church 3601 Alabama Ave SE Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library 3660 Alabama Ave , SE National Capital Parks--EAST 1900 Anacostia Dr , SE Kid smiles 4837 Benning Road SE 4405 Bowen Rd SE Pimento Grill East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave ,SE St Johns Baptist Church 5228 Call Place SE Capitol View Branch Library 5001 Central Ave , SE Marie Winston Elementary School 3100 Denver St , SE
MIDCITY
FA G O N C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
Subway 4525 East Capitol St Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl , SE Anacostia Museum for African Amer History 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation 3030 G ST SE ARCH 1227 Good Hope Rd , SE Anacostia Pizzeria 1243 Good Hope Rd , SE SunTrust Bank 1340 Good Hope Rd , SE Unity Health Care Inc 1638 Good Hope Rd , SE Bread for the City 1640 Good Hope Rd , SE Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc 2300 Good Hope Rd , SE Dollar Plus Supermarket 1453 Howard Rd , SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services 1526 Howard Rd SE Dupont Park SDA Church 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE Orr Elementary School 2200 Minnesota Ave SE 601 Mississippi Ave , SE Hart Recreation Center Southeast Tennis and Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave , SE The ARC 1901 Mississippi Ave , SE Neighborhood Pharmacy 1932 Martin Luther King Jr , SE PNC Bank 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Bank of America 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE C Aidan Salon 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Big Chair Coffee 2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic 2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE The United Black Fund 2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE The Pizza Place 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor 3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave , SE National Children’s Center Southeast Campus 3400 Martin Luther King Jr , SE Assumption Catholic Church 3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE CVS - Skyland 2646 Naylor Rd , SE Harris Teeter 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE Thai Orchid Kitchen 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE St Francis Xavier Church 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church 3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE CVS – Penn Branch 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE 100 Randle Pl , SE Congress Heights Recreation Center Johnson Memorial Baptist Church 800 Ridge Rd SE Ridge Recreation Center 800 Ridge Rd , SE Savoy Recreation Center 2440 Shannon Pl SE PNC Bank 4100 South Capitol St , SE Rite Aid 4635 South Capitol St , SE United Medical Center 1310 Southern Ave , SE Benning Park Community Center 5100 Southern Ave SE Benning Stoddert Recreation Center 100 Stoddert Pl , SE Union Temple Baptist Church 1225 W ST SE Senior Living at Wayne Place 114 Wayne Place SE Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library 115 Atlantic St , SW Bald Eagle At Fort Greble 100 Joliet St SW Covenant Baptist Church 3845 South Capitol St Faith Presbyterian Church 4161 South Capitol St SW Henson Ridge Town Homes Office 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE The Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW CCN office 224 7th ST SE Eastern Market 225 7th St SE YMCA Capitol View 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE 301 53rd Street, SE CW Harris Elementary School DC Child & Family Services Agency 200 I Street SE
For more distribution locations, contact 202.543.8300 x.19 EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 45
REAL ESTATE
Anacostia Business Improvement District Gets to Work
N
early five years after preliminary discussions and planning began, evidence of the Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) can be seen and felt on the commercial corridors of Good Hope Road and lower Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. During repeated storms this past winter, snow and ice vanished from the sidewalks thanks to the BID. On a recent weekday Dwayne Stewart, 38, and Ricky McDonald, 21, wearing fluorescent neon vests emblazoned with the logo of the Anacostia BID and working with Career Path DC’s Clean Team, were busy planting flowers and caring for a tree box. A Mayor’s Order in April 2012 designated the Anacostia Business Improvement District Corporation,
by John Muller
comprised of 30 square blocks. It is bounded on the west by all lots bordering Howard Road, between Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and the intersection with Anacostia Drive; on the north by all lots bordering Good Hope Road between the Anacostia River and the intersection with 18th Street; on the east by all lots bordering Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue between S Street and the intersection with Magnolia Street; and on the south by Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and the intersection with Magnolia Street. By the fall of 2012 the initial organizers had elected the first board of directors, and in March 2013 the Office of Tax and Revenue performed the first assessment. “Our funding is from assessing the commercial prop-
erties,” says Ed Grandis, executive director of the BID. “There are about 168 commercial parcels within our service area. We have a collection rate of about 75 percent, which is excellent for a new BID.” The mission of the Anacostia BID is to supplement services already offered by the city and address needs prevalent in Anacostia such as landscaping, beautification, and trash removal. With implementation of the Anacostia BID, hopes are that new programming will revitalize the retail district and energize commercial property owners and tenants to invest in the community such as through facade improvements. The presence of the BID presents another mechanism to market and promote the neighborhood to local residents and to visitors from other parts of the city or region. The BID looks to increase existing sales, create jobs, and increase the occupancy rates in commercial properties throughout the BID area by attracting new tenants whether they be small businesses or national tenants.
Anacostia BID’s Clean Team
Dwayne Stewart, left, and Ricky McDonald, right, work with Career Path DC’s Clean Team and the Anacostia BID.
46 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Before becoming the executive director of Career Path DC, an organization which
provides “transitional employment,” Charlie Whitaker was well-known in Anacostia and its environs. In 2009 Whitaker worked with the United Planning Organization to establish the Blue Team, which performed “general street maintenance” activities. After leaving United Planning, Whitaker started Career Path DC in 2010 and has since provided employment opportunities for hundreds of returning citizens. The three-person Clean Team in the Anacostia BID joins crews maintaining areas of Congress Heights, Deanwood, and a stretch of Minnesota Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benning Road. A $100,000 Commercial Clean Grant from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development has provided funds for the team to remain through September 30. “The Clean Team in Anacostia is important for many reasons,” says Whitaker. “Our presence doesn’t just increase the appearance of an area; it also helps with public safety. We are a professional and visible face that people can turn to if there’s an emergency.” Another simple reason the Clean Team is important, Whitaker says, is that it provides a venue for modeling new behaviors. “When you see the guys cleaning up the street every day, residents begin to take pride in their neighborhood and don’t throw down so much trash.” For more information on the Anacostia BID visit www.anacostiabid. org. Ed Grandis will hold weekly office hours at NURISH Food & Drink, located inside the Anacostia Arts Center at 1231 Good Hope Road, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon. For more information on Career Path DC visit www.careerpathdc.org. u
Anacostia River Realty
CHANGING HANDS
Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIs, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker ofямБce on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.
Sales. Rentals. Property Management. 202-678-7325 1920 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE Washington, DC 20020
www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com The East of the River Experts!
Neighborhood
Price
BR
FEE SAMPLE ACHILLUM
6115 DAKOTA AVE NW
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 2702 2ND ST SE 607 ATLANTIC ST SE 1103 CONGRESS ST SE 640 CHESAPEAKE ST SE 127 WILMINGTON PL SE 1211 ALABAMA AVE SE
DEANWOOD
4917 FITCH PL NE 5401 HUNT PL NE 609 49TH PL NE 1012 51ST ST NE 908 52ND ST NE 4910 MINNESOTA AVE NE 211 55TH ST NE 4501 JAY ST NE 208 35TH ST NE 564 48TH PL NE 5501 EADS ST NE 5074 JAY ST NE
FORT DUPONT PARK 4322 SOUTHERN AVE SE 4343 F ST SE 1519 FORT DUPONT ST SE
HILL CREST
2250 38TH ST SE
$540,000
3
$240,000 $185,000 $175,000 $155,000 $135,000 $100,000
3 3 3 2 3 2
$320,000 $269,000 $235,000 $230,000 $220,000 $207,000 $200,000 $200,000 $186,500 $140,000 $135,000 $133,000
4 3 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2
$330,000 $129,000 $126,100
4 3 3
$482,000
5
2330 BRANCH AVE SE 2900 P ST SE 3446 HIGHWOOD DR SE 3221 POPE ST SE 3414 HIGHWOOD DR SE
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5125 QUEEN STROLL PL SE 5400 BASS PL SE 5345 ASTOR PL SE 5113 HANNA PL SE 5100 C ST SE 5025 AYERS PL SE
RANDLE HEIGHTS
2813 BUENA VISTA TER SE 3503 21ST ST SE 1501 ERIE ST SE 3452 24TH ST SE
$380,000 $349,000 $325,000 $315,000 $275,000
2 5 3 3 2
$305,000 $196,500 $140,000 $139,000 $80,000 $59,000
4 2 3 3 2 1
$250,000 $228,000 $125,000 $90,000
8 3 0 2
$28,000
2
$290,000
2
$80,500 $60,000 $37,000
2 2 1
$79,000
2
CONDO ANACOSTIA
2320 CHESTER ST SE #101
CHILLUM
5414 1ST PL NW #203
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3211 8TH ST SE #2 400 XENIA ST SE #1 4717 1ST ST SW #103
HILL CREST
2016 37TH ST SE #201 u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 47
KIDS & FAMILY
Kids & Family
Notebook by Kathleen Donner
Play Golf America Family Festival at East Potomac Golf Course
On May 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the largest public golf festival in DC is back with free lessons, contests, retail specials, prize drawings and equipment demos by leading manufacturers. There will be a food and beverage tent located near the putting and the driving range. Free lessons include PGA 10-minute lessons held on the left side of the lower level of the driving range; full swing clinic at the grass tee driving range for all skill levels; short game clinic on the putting green in front of the driving range; and a junior clinic hosted by The First Tee of Washington, DC located on Practice Hole #3. The contests include a mini-golf challenge, beat the pro challenge and a hole-in-one shootout. golfdc.com/-play-golf-america-day
Paws to Read at Capital View Library
On the first and Third Thursday of each month, preK through 6th grade kids observe or read books to therapy dogs. Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. 202-645-0755
Children’s Health Systems “Bringing It All Together Day” Health Fair
This health fair is on Friday, June 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Children’s Health Center, 2501 Good Hope Rd. SE. Event vendors are Children’s National Generations Program, Children’s Law Center’s Healthy Together, WIC, IMPACT DC; and other local programs. There will be free Domino’s Pizza, fruit, water, music, and fun. For more information, call Elva Anderson, LPC at 202-476-6944. 48 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Join the museum and staff from Play-Well Teknologies for an exciting LEGO Build. Photo: Courtesy of National Building Museum
Colgate Mobile Dental Clinic Van Visits Capital View Library
On Tuesday, May 13 at 9:30 a.m., Colgate’s Bright Smiles Bright Futures program comes to the Capital View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. Children and youth, ages 3-12, with completed consent form from parents or guardians, will receive free dental checkups, free items (toothpaste, tooth brush, brushing instructions) and referrals if warranted. Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. 202-645-0755
Jazz Family Day and Performance by the Jazz Academy of Music at the National Archives
On Saturday, June 7, noon–2 p.m., get ready to get in the groove with the Jazz Academy of Music! Bring your family to enjoy an afternoon of jazz including a performance by an ensemble from the academy. Learn what jazz has to do with the National Archives, meet the youth musicians, visit an instrument petting zoo, and try other handson activities. The noon performance in the McGowan Theater is followed by activities in the Learning Center. Attendees should use the Spe-
LEGO Build at the National Building Museum
On June 1, 2-4 p.m., join the museum and staff from Play-Well Teknologies for an exciting LEGO Build as you discover how to make strong, tall towers. Design buildings that you think should be added to our nation’s capital. Cost per child ia $25. Purchase tickets online. The program is for ages ages 6, up. Prepaid registration is required. Tickets must be purchased by the end of the day Thursday, May 29. Adults are free but must be accompanied by a child. The National Building Museum is at 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. nbm.org
cial Events entrance on Constitution Ave. at 7th St. NW. 202-357-5000. archives.gov
National Center for Children and Families Lead Agency for DC YouthLink in Wards 7 and 8
The National Center for Children and Families has been selected as lead agency for the DC YouthLink program in Wards 7 and 8. DC YouthLink is a coalition of community-based or-
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 49
KIDS & FAMILY the Mead Center. Voices of Now gives young artists the opportunity to devise and perform autobiographical theater pieces that pose challenging questions relevant to their communities and investigate those questions by recounting personal stories. A primary goal of the program is to create positive change within the artists’ community by empowering young people to engage in dialogue centered on their daily experiences of their world. This year’s plays examine topics including gender equality, sexual identity, mental health, self-esteem, the ramifications of the civil war and the questions that emerge when grieving a loss, among others. All performances will be followed by a talkback. For more information, visit arenastage.org/education/voices-of-now.
(Re)Searching an American Slave Ship at the American History Museum Front row (L-R): De’Sean Carter, Lamar Tate, Nigel Toler, Chavia Burgess. Back row (L-R): Lionel Carter, Ja’niya Tate, Jaiyla Burgess. Photo: GreenVisionz Productions
Do The Write Thing Spring Break Camp
Do The Write Thing engaged 15 children, ages 4-8, in a six-day spring break camp at the Kenilworth Courts Community Center. The week included the customization of a book using photos of the children taken in costumes representing the characters in a book about community workers, recording the text of the book in a portable recording studio to create a read-along version of the book, arts and crafts, physical activities and games, and several trips (including to the National Children’s Museum at National Harbor and Glen Echo Park for the Hansel and Gretel puppet show). The DC Housing Authority underwrote the cost of the camp. Read more about Do The Write Thing at dtwt.org. ganizations that provides an array of services to court-involved youth. NCCF will help support juvenile offenders who are committed to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services and living at home, while partnering with local and national organizations to improve the reentry process so that it meets the needs of the youth, their families, and the community. With nearly 100 years of experience providing comprehensive services to children, youth, and families who experience abuse, neglect, homelessness, and/or extreme poverty, NCCF has responded to the changing needs of the community, earning respect and recognition as a leader in the social services field. Nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation, NCCF has served youth in the juvenile justice system for more than 40 years in Maryland and the District of Co50 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
lumbia. NCCF will begin its role as a lead agency for DC YouthLink in October. nccf-cares.org
Voices of Now Festival at Arena Stage
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host the Voices of Now Festival, a four-day event featuring original works of theater written and performed by nine different youth ensembles from the internationally renowned Community Engagement program. The festival will bring together more than 100 artists, ages 11-24, from DC, Maryland and Virginia who have been working with professional theater artists from Arena Stage for the past year to devise original oneact plays. The 2014 ensembles will come together May 14-17, to perform and discuss their work in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at
This program, which is appropriate for all ages, will highlight the history and people that lived the experience of the Middle Passage and explore the research that the Smithsonian is currently doing in recovering these stories. Visitors will interact with facilitators in a hands-on environment of
The Washington Ballet presents: Who Cares? & Green Eggs and Ham
Set to the music of George Gershwin, this exuberant ballet captures the best of Broadway! This captivating ballet performed by The Washington Ballet Studio Company in the intimate THEARC Theater, will delight audiences of all ages. Performances are on Saturday May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (both days) at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. Adult tickets are $50; children’s tickets are $35. Get the EOR discount if you reside in Ward 7 or 8 and pay only $15. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org National Building Museum is at 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. nbm.org Set to the music of George Gershwin, Who Cares? captures the best of Broadway! The stage comes alive with balletic adaptations of Green Eggs & Ham and Aladdin along with a sneak preview of Lucy Bowen McCauley’s world premiere, Eight. Exuberant stories and ballet for the whole family to enjoy. Photo: Tony Brown
early 19th century American maritime material culture—specifically, the material culture that helped anti-slavers identify slave carrying ships—and connect this with the stories of those people who would have lived this experience. Additionally, it will showcase the research that curators at the museum are doing, connecting the stories and tactics used by 19th century anti-slavers to the very similar methods employed by Smithsonian researchers to find slave ships today. Go to the “On the Water” exhibition at noon or 2 p.m. on May 13, 15, 16, 20, 22, or 23 at the National Museum of American History, 14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. americanhistory.si.edu
LEARN THE ADDRESS
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, documentarian Ken Burns, along with numerous partners, has launched a national effort to encourage everyone in America to video record themselves reading or reciting the Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech. Visit learntheaddress.org and learn how to participate and “Share Your Gettysburg Address” by following three simple steps. Your video will be included among presidents, politicians, entertainers, journalists, and hundreds of others who have taken the challenge to LEARN THE ADDRESS.
National Pizza Day at Deanwood Library
On Friday, May 16, 1 p.m., celebrate National Pizza Day at Deanwood Library. There will be stories, a movie and sumptuous pizza bites. This program is for ages 5-9. Deanwood Neighborhood Library, 1350 49th St. NE. 202-698-1175. dclibrary.org/deanwood
$1 Hot Dogs and Kids’ Socks Giveaway at Nat’s Park
On May 19, 7:05 p.m., at the Washington Nationals vs. Cincinnati Reds game, $1 hot dogs will be available for purchase at select Nats Dogs stands until the start of the 6th inning, while supplies
last. On June 1, 1:35 p.m., at the Washington Nationals vs. Texas Rangers game, kids’ socks will be given to the first 10,000 fans, 12 years and under. washington.nationals.mlb.com
National Symphony Orchestra Family ConcertMozart’s Magificent Voyage
In this concert from Classical Kids Live! conducted by Ankush Kumar Bahl, Mozart’s young son Karl longs to leave boarding school and spend more time with his famous father. When he stumbles upon a magic traveling trunk, his wish comes unexpectedly true as he’s swept back in time to Mozart’s childhood! For ages 5, up. Come early for the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo,” a project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO. Immediately following the 3 p.m. performance, meet concert artists for a free Kids’ Chat. Sunday, June 1, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets from $15. Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. 202-416-8000. kennedycenter.org
Dig Into Reading: Summer Reading Kick-Off
It’s the Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library Summer Reading Kick-off for ages 2-5. Join them on Wednesday, June 4, 10:15 a.m. for sidewalk art and popsicles. Children are invited to wear swimsuits. Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-281-2583. dclibrary.org/benning
President’s Park Celebrates Opening of TRACK Trail
On Apr.26, The National Park Service and Kids in Parks program celebrated the grand opening of a new TRACK trail at President’s Park. The TRACK Trail program encourages youth to get outside and explore President’s Park. A booklet helps kids and their families go on a “scavenger hunt,” discover the treasures within the park and then log their hike to earn free
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SHINING
STARS MONTESSORI ACADEMY, PCS
MONTESSORI CERTIFIED AND TRAINED TEACHERS
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prizes. Visit the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion near the intersection of 15th and E Sts. NW. For more information on Kids in Parks and TRACK Trails, visit kidsinparks.com/trails.
saur Park, call 301-657-1286. history.pgparks.com
National Archives to Host Summer and Fall Sleepovers in Rotunda
The Emily Jordan Folger Children’s Festival for students in grades 3 to 6 is held each spring on the stage of the Folger Elizabethan Theatre. It is open to schools in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. This exciting and popular event features surprise guests, audience participation, and great performances of Shakespeare’s plays. Each group performs a scene or combination of scenes from any of Shakespeare’s works. Cuts are permitted; modern language adaptations are not. Shakespeare’s own words must be used. Performances last between 10 and 20 minutes. Balcony seating is available for parents and general audience members. The festival is May 12-16. 9 a.m.2 p.m. Accepted Schools will pay a nominal fee. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202544-7077. folger.edu u
The National Archives will host summer and fall sleepovers for children 8-12 years old in the home of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The sleepovers, scheduled for Aug. 2 and Oct. 18, will each allow 100 children and parents to engage with National Archives records in fun and educational ways before rolling out their sleeping bags to spend the night in the historic National Archives Rotunda. The sleepovers will include numerous hands-on activities, including exploring exhibitions of the National Archives Museum. Guests also will be treated to movies in the Archives’ William G. McGowan Theater before turning in for the night, and will enjoy breakfast and more activities the next morning. Registration for both of the ticketed sleepovers will begin later this spring. For more information, visit archivesfoundation.org/sleepover.
Dinosaur Park Open Houses
Dinosaur Park is a 41-acre park in Laurel, MD, featuring a rare deposit of fossils from the Cretaceous Period (144 to 65 million years ago). On the first and third Saturdays of the month, noon-4 p.m., you’re invited to join paleontologists and volunteers on-site to interpret fossil deposits. Programs start every twenty minutes, are free and appropriate for all ages. Dinosaur Park is on the 13200 block of Mid-Atlantic Blvd. in Laurel. Dinosaur Park preserves one of the most important dinosaur fossil sites east of the Mississippi River. Visitors can explore a garden of Cretaceous-era plants and view interpretive signs which describe Maryland’s dinosaurs, the prehistoric environment, and the African American history of the area. For information about visiting Dino52 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Emily Jordan Folger Children’s Shakespeare Festival
A Taste for Mentoring Food for Life Links Good Food with a Great Cause by Stephen Lilienthal
T
he clock’s hands are inching toward the 6:00 p.m. deadline. Marisa Stubbs turns toward Kanedra Wilkins and promises, “You’re going to see life like you’ve never seen it before.” Already the kitchen at the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church has witnessed a flurry of action verbs: chopping, blending, dicing, cutting, mixing, slicing, and peeling. True to Stubbs’ promise, more frenzied action takes place. When 6:00 p.m. arrives the three-course dinner is ready to be savored: wild mushroom soup, pan-roasted salmon with lentils and mustard beurre blanc sauce, and apple galette for desert. Customers who order online come and then leave, carrying boxes of the restaurantquality meals. Stubbs and the students participating in her nonprofit program,
Food for Life (FFL), are producing three-course gourmet meals weekin, week-out, for nine weeks every season. But FFL is a program that manages not only to produce tasteful cuisine but to address an important social problem. And that is due to the foresight of Marisa Stubbs.
Preparing to Help DC Youth
Stubbs, whose family moved to Prince Georges County from Mississippi over two decades ago, feels fortunate to have been guided by caring adults, including her parents. “I must have had 15 adults who cared about me and would constantly ask me questions such as “When are you going to take your SATs?” After college, the Peace Corps, and work for local nonprofits, Stubbs considered attending graduate school for an MBA but ditched that idea for L’Ac ademie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg. “I come from a family that really enjoys food,” she explains. “I’ve loved cooking since I was eight.” But even then she was thinking beyond just making braised beef for DC diners. She possessed “the notion” that she could not
Marisa Stubbs (front, extreme left) with spring 2014 students at Food for Life.
only cook but train DC young adults to do so. After working in restaurants she forged ahead with her idea. She had spent time volunteering with a nonprofit that helped point young people in positive directions. FFL’s target group is 18-23 yearolds, who are often not working and often not in school. As Stubbs writes in an e-mail, “There’s a huge gap in services for this age. Outside of college, there are few opportunities for secondary education; they have ‘aged out’ of the safety net, and this group often deals with issues of employment and transitioning to independence.” But there are great opportunities in restaurants. Bureau of Labor statistics for May 2013 show the DC metropolitan region had 18,650 restaurant cooks, sixth highest among the nation’s metropolitan areas. Stubbs has succeeded through relentless perseverance and hard work and lots of assistance from her advisory board and the Care Company, the faith-based organization that FFL is part of. Evidence she was on the right track came when the DC Social Innovation Project (DCSIP) selected FFL as runner-up in their Bright Ideas Challenge. What sets FFL apart from many other nonprofits, says DCSIP’s Darius Graham, is Stubbs’ “passion and experience and the ability to make it happen.”
FFL in Action
FFL hosts six to eight students each seasonal session. Students start by learning how to cook basic dishes
such as roasted chicken and leek soup. By the end of their instruction they will be preparing more demanding dishes such as house-cured salmon or braised pork belly. E-mails to social service agencies and youth oreganizations help to recruit students. FFL also has participated in DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Students receive stipends but are spared costly tuition payments. Dinner orders are taken in advance using PayPal. Stubbs handles FFL’s administrative work on Fridays and part of Mondays, which is also time for the weekly shopping. Meals, which cost either $15 or $20 per plate depending on the menu, are prepared on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays students receive instruction from Stubbs in food and life skills.
Reviews Are In
FFL produces satisfied students and customers. LaShawn Johnson, 21, a winter 2013 FFL alumna, works at the Avenue Suites, a Georgetown hotel. She says Stubbs’ help represents “the reason I have this job.” Stacy Morgan, who is seeking culinary work, concedes “I’m not a fan of school,” before adding that “Food for Life was one of the best learning experiences I ever had.” It’s not just the students who rave about FFL. Martha Byers, an FFL customer, says she is not a food critic, “but I think the meals are pretty good.” Stephen Lilienthal is a freelance writer. u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | MAY 2014 H 53
KIDS & FAMILY
Kelly Miller School Poetry Club Does the Write Thing article and photos by Charnice A. Milton
A
t 4:45 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon a group of Kelly Miller Middle School students chatted away in their seats as Braxton Dunnmore, an assistant educator, told them they had 10 minutes to work out their nervous energy before Marion Ingram, their teacher, arrived. “What are we doing today?” they asked. “We’re doing free-verse,” said Dunnmore. While some students continued their conversations, many already had pencils and paper ready to write. This was a typical start to Kelly Miller’s poetry club, one of many programs offered through Do the Write Thing of DC Inc. (DTWT), which Ingram serves as executive director.
Kelly Miller’s Poetry Club
Marion Ingram gives pointers to a student after her spoken-word performance.
ing Ingram, then DTWT’s program director, to the post last year. Nordè currently sits on the DTWT board Do the Write Thing of DC Inc. as a founding member. The organizaDTWT was founded by Ward 5 tion runs a gifted and talented proteacher Gerald Nordè Jr. and licensed gram at H.D. Woodson High School as a nonprofit on September 14, 2011. (with plans to expand to Cardozo “He worked with children in middle Education Campus this summer), and elementary school for over 10 Kelly Miller’s poetry club, and a Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) host site for media arts. W h i l e DTWT bears a similar name to the Do the Write Thing Challenge from the National Campaign to Stop Violence, InMarion Ingram (third from the left) with the Kelly Miller Middle School Poetry Club. In its first year the club has performed
years,” said Ingram, who currently serves as DTWT’s executive director. “He had a dream that he wanted to do something that would involve STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] enrichment and literary arts.” Nordè initially served as executive director before promot-
at monthly Busboys and Poets’ Youth Open Mic nights and will release a book of poetry at the end of this month.
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gram explained that the two are different entities. “We’re all-inclusive, where we do more than one facet of literary arts. We’re focused on book publishing, whereas their ‘Do the Write Thing’ is more a national nonviolence campaign, structured more around peace in communities,” said Ingram. “We do the same, however it is not the only facet we are involved in. We do media, publishing, video workshops, and songwriting workshops, where our youth has the opportunity to write, sing, and make movies about peace.” The poetry club at Kelly Miller began this school year. Ingram admits that it had a slow start. “Initially we had short attendance, it was inconsistent attendance,” he explained. “A lot of times I would have special guests come and perform to entice them to write.” However, as the year progressed Ingram did not need the special guests once the students began to perform their own material. The students are more animated during the meeting’s “glow and grow” portion, when the teachers and students critique performances. “The glow and grow segment of the live performance has inspired them to do better,” Ingram explained. “Now that they’re being critiqued by their peers they want to be the best they can be and eliminate the opportunity or possibility to have ‘grows.’” That was evident at today’s meeting, where a girl named Brianna read her poem, “The Unknown.” “It’s not always easy to get this one to come up here, and she’s going second!” Ingram announced to the class, leading a round of applause. After a quick read-through her classmates raised their hands to give their opinions. “You should speak louder and your pace moves too fast,” said one student. Ingram agreed, saying “I felt it was a very good piece, but a lot of people may not have com-
prehended the whole concept or rhythm.” He gave Brianna another chance to improve her performance, offering her pointers along the way. This time she slowed her pace, her voice was clearer, and the feedback was more positive.
For the Love of Performance
In-class performances help the students practice for the Youth Open Mic at Busboys and Poets, held every third Friday of the month. The restaurant, along with the DC Youth Slam Team and Split This Rock, hosts the event at its 5th and K Street location. Kelly Miller’s poetry club has been performing since September. “For them, it’s like Showtime at the Apollo,” said Ingram. “A lot of kids never get the opportunity to leave this neighborhood. A lot of them couldn’t even tell me how to get downtown to 5th and K Street. A lot of the parents would not take them to 5th and K Street when I had the invites to other programs. It’s really important to give them the opportunity for exposure and to display their talents.” As they continued practicing, Ingram noticed a change in his students. “I’ve seen them come from being timid about writing on paper and no one wanting to stand up in the front to read, to now fighting to see who would stand up to read first,” he said. In the beginning, he noted, about 75 percent of students felt awkward and shy when performing. Now he thought the number had fallen to about 15 percent. “I’ve seen a dramatic turnaround in their self-confidence, self-esteem, and their ability to perform and write,” he said.
Getting Published
While performance is a popular aspect of the club, there is another side that is important in DTWT. “I wanted to provide them with the opportunity to become paid authors at a young age,” said Ingram. During the DTWT SYEP and “Bookin-a-Week” workshops participants write, edit, and publish poetry books, then organize book signings and other promotions. Some of
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their works include “Our Planets, Ourselves: Solar Cycle Poems by Do the Write Thing Youth,” “Black Flames: Catch the Fire through Poems by Youth in DTWT of DC’s Summer Program,” and “Poetry in Motion: The Birth of Success.” By the end of the month the poetry club will release a collection of its work, tentatively known as “Kelly Miller: Poems and Spoken Words” (the club will pick a name at a later time). To promote it they will hold book signings at Eastern Market and area churches during the summer, as well as at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Legislative Conference in the fall. This will give the students a chance to learn entrepreneurial skills as they sell their books to their communities and online through Amazon.
Providing an Outlet
One of the goals Ingram set for the poetry club was “to provide a safe outlet for everyone to feel comfortable to share, out of their heart, soul, and mind, things perhaps that would otherwise fester in open society.” He believes he has done that. Ingram added with a laugh, “We have a very young group, but they’ve got some wisdom and words to share!” For instance, he described a student whose earlier poetry had dark themes that reflected what she saw in her neighborhood. “You never know what these children are exposed to in their own environment,” he said. “Just seeing her grow and providing an outlet for her so she could see that there are better things outside of what she’s witnessing at home, it feels like my job is done every time I’m with her.” He continued: “As long as we can provide outlets for the youth where they can continue to share their hope and desire for ambitions and escape, then as an educator and as an artist I’m doing my job because I’m providing that platform.” To learn more about Do the Write Thing of DC Inc. visit www.dothewritethinginc.org or contact them at 202-239-8293 or info@dothewritethinginc.org. u
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