Author: vpres10

On November 12, join Furthermore (led by José Ruiz, Natalie Campbell, James Huckenpahler, and Patrick McDonough) for a celebratory neighborhood listening party to play the documented sounds and stories of the communities in Bloomingdale and Eckington. Visitors to the lot will receive their own mixtapes of the city’s local sounds.

For the last month, artist collective Furthermore has collected narratives and sounds from folks in the neighborhood. Intersection Mixtape aims to both preserve what is interesting about the community and to empower residents to communicate their sense of identity and place.

Event is free and open to the public. Register to receive updates and rain date location.

When: Saturday, November 12, 12-3 pm

Where: The corner of Bates and North Capitol Streets, NW

Register: https://vanalen.secure.force.com/events/CnP_PaaS_EVT__ExternalRegistrationPage?event_id=a1Q2A000006FKR7UAO.

About Crossing the Street:
This event is part of the Washington, DC city-wide Crossing the Street grant initiative. Crossing the Street is made possible through a grant from the Kresge Foundation. The initiative, taking place in select neighborhoods around the District that are experiencing rapid demographic and social change, aims is to create more locally sensitive public spaces that promote health, happiness, and neighborhood wellbeing by engaging in civic activities that capitalize on community assets.

To learn more about the project, click here.

Free community movie nights on the Metropolitan Branch Trail for the month of July!

WHO: EVERYONE! Bring your blanket or chairs. Co-sponsored by Friends of Edgewood and Met Branch Trail 5K
WHERE: On the MBT under the Rhode Island Ave NE Pedestrian Bridge, near the “Big Lots” shopping center
WHEN: At dusk (8:30ish) every Thursday in July
WHAT: Thursday 7/7 – Back to the Future
7/14: Lean on Me
7/21: Inside Out
7/28: Cool Runnings

Our neighbors to the north in Edgewood are hosting an event designed to present neighbors – especially the elderly – with community resources to help them not only maintain their homes, but retain ownership of them.  Please see the flyer below for more information.

Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie will host a town hall meeting to discuss the location of the temporary homeless shelter in Ward 5.  The meeting will be held on Friday, May 27, from 6:00-8:00pm at 1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE.  The following is a message from Councilmember McDuffie’s website:

Dear Residents,

We all know that the conditions at D.C. General are simply not acceptable for the families and children that are currently housed at the site. On Tuesday, May 17, the Council voted to approve and fund a new plan for closing DC General with two new proposed sites in Ward 5. Some of you have contacted my office to voice your concerns regarding the new plan. Our office is committed to working with you to answer your questions and to discuss how we can move forward together with compassion for our most vulnerable population. I will hold a town hall meeting on Friday, May 27, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Rev. Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Sr. Community Life Center, Capital City Hall of Distinction (CCHOD) located at 1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE. I hope that you will be able to attend.

In February, Mayor Bowser proposed a plan to close D.C. General. As initially proposed the plan called for locating the Ward 5 temporary shelter at 2266 25th Place, NE. The 25th Place site presented serious challenges including its proximity to a trash transfer station, bus lots, a strip club, a night club, and freight rail tracks. Additionally, its distance from public transportation and grocery stores presented more problems. In fact, the Mayor’s proposed Ward 5 location was almost universally opposed by residents, advocates, and health professionals.

Under the new plan, the Council’s proposal provides the Mayor with two alternate locations in Ward 5: the former Metropolitan Police Department Youth Division Building located on 17^th and Rhode Island Avenue, NE, and the Penn Center, located at 326 R Street, NE. Additionally, the Council’s revised proposal would save District taxpayers at least $165 million when compared to the leases initially proposed in the Mayor’s plan.

Importantly, it should be noted that I prefer the Youth Division building, especially given that it is one of the sites that was developed as a recommendation by Ward 5 residents as a result of one of the several community meetings that were held after the Mayor’s initial proposal. Our office will continue to work with the Mayor to push for the preferred location on Rhode Island Avenue to be selected and to address any concerns that might arise from the community.

I look forward to hearing your input on Friday.

In Service,

 

Kenyan