Meet Michael Covin: Helping DC Residents Find Jobs for

Meet Michael Covin

Helping DC Residents Find Jobs for a Better Life

Ward 7 resident Michael Covin spends much of his time helping others secure employment, training, and a better life. The Department of Employment Services Program manager has resided East of the River for more than10 years including a stint in Anacostia, Dupont Park and now Greenway.

“We feel this part of the city has a quiet pride to it. We moved here because we chose to not because it was more affordable,” said Covin who lives in a three-bedroom semi-detached house with his wife, Dawn, and three daughters – Logan, Kaylan, and Aydan. Their oldest daughter, Christian, is currently studying at Temple University.

Early Life

Before moving to Southeast, Covin, a North Carolina native born in Fort Bragg to military parents, graduated from Fayetteville State University. After graduation,

by Anthony D. Diallo Covin worked in New York City for a while then relocated to Logan Circle “before it became desirable” after following “the love of my life here because I had to be closer to her.”

Dawn Covin, like her husband, was a military brat and no stranger to moving and relocating from time to time. The couple, who first met in North Carolina, did not hesitate to pull up stakes and move to Atlanta around 2009 for what they thought were better opportunities. It proved to be a mistake for the family after they learned that “Atlanta is not DC further south. There is only one DC!”

“It was fine when I was making the same money I made in DC, but when I changed jobs and my salary changed [the Peach State experiment failed],” Covin said recalling his threeyear stint in Georgia as a Workforce Development Manager.

The Atlanta experience, even with its significant southern charm and hospitality, made the

Michael and Dawn Covin

Covin family appreciate the DC area even more and particularly East of the River “where it reminds us of the South with its sprawling lawns.”

Public Servant

In his work for DOES, Covin, 52, covers and manages the American Job Centers that are located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE and Minnesota Avenue NE. He was promoted to this position in 2019 after serving residents for the prior five years as a DOES Workforce Development Specialist.

It’s his job to make sure that District residents interested in various employment options are efficiently job-ready and appropriately trained. This entails leading clients from orientation and assessment. to services that include resume creation, interviewing skills, and online applications.

He reviews hundreds of training folders each quarter to ensure strict Department of Labor compliance while providing millions of dollars in. Covin has touched the lives of literally thousands of residents in all wards of the city, honing their skillsets and assisting them to enhanced futures.

Although Covin loves his job, he realizes there is a limit in the amount of people he can effective-

ly serve. “My biggest challenge is being so busy helping those I encounter while knowing that thousands more in the city don’t get the information on the much needed services we o er,” Covin laments.

Mr. Resource

Covin has garnered a great reputation amongst his clients for being persuasive, compassionate, driving, and resourceful.

“I met him through the DOES program about nine years ago,” said Christopher Turner, a Returning Citizen. “He made me more employable. He doesn’t just help you and give you something for nothing. He demands that you do stu to help yourself. I call him the Michael Jordan of resumes. He shopped me in front of di erent employers and really helped me,” said Turner, 56, who now considers Covin one of the most in uential people in his life.

Covin makes it his mission to know all the latest training programs and workshops o ered to city residents, not only those at DOES, but other DC departments as well. He knows about the best summer camps within the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the latest community programs at the DC Department of Human Services (DHS). His knowledge is crucial in pointing people in the right direction.

Hardships

Everything has not always been smooth for Covin. He, like many of us, has experienced hardships and heartache. For instance, while in Georgia, Covin had to temporarily receive public assistance in the form of food stamps.

Later, after returning to the District and acquiring less than lavish housing for his family, Covin had to admit himself into a homeless shelter, the Central Union Mission, for a while because there was no space for him to stay with them.

Partially to stay humble, remind himself of his personal and professional mission, and to motivate his clients, Covin keeps his Union Mission identi cation and his food stamp paperwork closeby. “Honoring God and sacri cing my time and e orts to see others come out of homelessness and other barriers motivates me. African Americans discovering their passions and buying homes motivates me. Fathers overcoming their barriers and their past to provide and lead their families motivates me,” Covin said while stating that hugs from his youngest daughter, Aydan, also are a highlight for him.

Making A Difference

Covin was and still is important to Faith Gazdzicki. They met about three years ago when she joined his place of worship, the Anacostia River Church, which at the time fellowshipped at Anacostia High School before moving to the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) during the pandemic. He was a welcoming member who provided her with helpful resources when she was in search of full-time employment.

“He is extremely resourceful, very kind, and neighborly,” said Gazdzicki, who is a Human Resource Manager for a non-profit organization.

Colvin envisions becoming an entrepreneur within the next 10 years and owning franchises of Capitol Career Connections sta ing companies (www.capitolcareerconnections.com). They would be in inner cities and cater to the minority population who often face economic and social barriers.

“Serving those in need is my passion, Colvine said. “I want to leave a legacy of homeownership, entrepreneurship, public service and African Americans carving a lane that of success that is family centered and nurturing to our children. I want us to realize that with community, we all win.” ◆

As word of the gallery’s reopening spread, local small businesses sought out Britton and asked to work with her. In turn, they introduced other crafters, artisans and artists. “I partnered with several businesses and carried their products.” Britton explains. “Now, the boutique and market has regular hours. People need to shop. People want to spend money with local business and with black businesses.” She now works with over 75 creators at any given time and rotates the work of the artists frequently. To comply with the initial COVID restrictions, she created an outdoor marketplace with ve separate booths o ering products from new vendors daily. While initiated to comply with physical distancing practic-

es, the outdoor marketplace concept stuck

Britton hopes that her boutique and outdoor marketplace can introduce the concept of buying local and buying Black to a wider audience. “Black businesses have the things you need. It can be a greeting card, it can be a bowtie. It doesn’t have to be culturally Black; you’re buying something from a Black business.”

In addition, the ne art she exhibits is, as she calls it “a big deal,” as she consigns the work of important local artists like Marvin Sin and national artists like Woodrow Nash, Deborah Shedrick, Lydell Martin and Larry Poncho Brown (Baltimore Artists’ Collective partnership) among many others.

She also o ers work from designer and crafters who produce jewelry, textiles, clothing, candles, self-care products and other home goods such as furniture and carpets. She carries the crafts of Demali Afrikanware, Shukri Goldsmiths, the designs of Cynthia Williams, Ms. Hubbard’s Babies which are specialty dolls and Kuumba Kollectibles which produce greeting cards & cultural products. In addition she has partnered with “brick & mortar” businesses Ida’s Idea and I’m So DC!

Mixed in with locally sourced products, the boutique sells work from international artisans hailing from as far away as Nigeria, Mali, Ghana and South Africa. Britton also o ers a number of singular antique African artifacts for specialty collectors.

During the 12 days before Christmas, Britton will extend shopping hours for her annual holiday market. Following a three-decade long tradition, the “BZB Shop Till Ya Drop” holiday market shopping bazaar extravaganza will transform 119 Raleigh Street with an even greater selection of arts and crafts to gift to loved ones. From Dec. 14 - 24, to accommodate the annual holiday market, Anacostia Art Gallery and Boutique will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Anacostia Art Gallery and Boutique

Regular Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 14-Friday, December24 – Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anacostia Art Gallery and Boutique is located at 119 Raleigh Street SE, WDC 20032. Call the gallery at 202.550.7060, visit the gallery online at www.anacostiaartgallery.com or email BusyBee@anacostiaartgallery.com for more information.

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“Ho Ho Ho, teddy bears, angels & gifts for all- oh my! Kim Johnson. Urban Oasis Photography

Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, DC’s alternative art source. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com. ◆